"More, (as _Matthew Paris_ hath) about the Year 1210, King _John_, in the Twelfth Year of his Reign, summoned a Parliament at _S. Brides_ in _London_; where he exacted of the Clergy, and Religious Persons the Sum of One Hundred Thousand Pounds; And besides all this, the _White Monks_ were compelled to cancel their Privileges, and to pay £4000 to the King, &c. This House of _S. Brides_ (of later Time) being left, and not used by the Kings, fell to Ruin; insomuch that the very Platform thereof remained (for great part) waste, and as it were, but a Lay Stall of Filth and Rubbish, only a fair Well remained there. A great part whereof, namely, on the _West_, as hath been said, was given to the Bishop of _Salisbury_; the other Part toward the _East_ remained waste, until King _Henry_ the Eighth builded a stately and beautiful House, thereupon, giving it to Name, _Bridewell_, of the Parish and Well there. This House he purposely builded for the Entertainment of the Emperor _Charles_ the Fifth;[77] who in the Year 1522 came into this City.... Being in Decay, and long disused, King Edward VI. gave it to the City in the Seventh[78] Year of his Reign.
"It is seated near to _Blackfriars_; from which it is severed by the Canal of the _Fleet-ditch_. It was obtained of the King at first for an Harbour of poor Harbourless People, that lay abroad in the Streets. It was soon after improved to be a Workhouse, not only to give Lodging to poor, idle, wandring Persons, Beggars, and others; but to find them Work, to help to maintain themselves. But tho' this was granted in the Year 1553, yet it seems, it was not before Two Years after, that the City entred and took possession of it by _Gerard_ their Maior, having obtained Queen _Mary's_ Confirmation.
"In the time of Queen _Elizabeth_, about the Year 1570 and odd, one _John Pain_, a Citizen, invented a Mill to grind Corn; which he got recommended to the Lord Maior, for the Use of _Bridewell_. This Mill had Two Conveniences: One was, That it would grind a greater Quantity considerably than any other Mills of that Sort could do. And the other (which would render it so useful to _Bridewell_) was, That the Lame, either in Arms or Legs, might work at it, if they had but the Use of either. And, accordingly, these Mills were termed _Hand-Mills_ or _Foot-Mills_.