Knock Fergus

Knock fergus, betn Rosemary lane end W. and the N. end of Betts str. Ed.

[Knock Fergus.] The south east corner of Rosemary-lane leads to Wellcllose square, situated between Knock Fergus and Ratcliffe-highway; and which is by some called Marine-square, from the number of sea officers who live there.

Knock Fergus.

Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 17, 1605.

1605, Oct. 7.
I gave only signification to you of the great offence that is taken by occasion of the great number of Irish people that frequent these parts, until I took more certainty of them. Understanding there was above 100 last Sunday before the Spanish Ambassador's lodging, I caused a constable of East Smithfield to bring 5 or 6 of them before me that speak English. By examining them I learn that Captain De la Hide, an Irishmen, took up 200 of them in Munster, Connaught and Leinster, by warrant, as he told them, from the King to levy such as were willing to serve. These embarked at Waterford, landed at Penrin in Cornwall, and came to the City. Their captain gave them only 2s. a man, so for want of money they have sold their swords and some apparel to defray their charges. Their often repair to the Ambassador's house is because De la Hide lodges there. Also that Captain Darcie has also sent over 120 out of Ireland, but himself has not come over. I find very easy persuasion might divert their intended course. Amongst them are many women, and many of the men seem to be of the better sort. They have so often presented themselves on the north side of Tower Hill beyond the Postern, before that tower where the titulary Desmont was lodged, in such numbers, and with that demonstration of affection to him, that I have removed him to a prison in Coldherbert [Coldharbour], where he can neither be seen nor see any of them, which he exceedingly stomachs. The offence generally conceived by all men by the wandering of those people up and down in troops, and especially about the Tower, is so great, that I could not forbear to signify the same, and to put you in mind that your lordships gave special directions to stay the transportation of the Irish. The resort of these people chiefly to these quarters, grows in part out of another notable enormity I have found in these parts, remote from that end of the suburbs subject to the view of you and other Lords, which you will think strange in the manner, and more strange in the toleration of such abuses. There is at the end of a new built lane called Hogge Lane, towards the fields leading to Ratcliff, a cluster of base tenements termed Knockfergus, peopled with Irish of very base sort, who live only by begging. The best of the inhabitants inform me that of 80 households lately erected the dwellers in them and all the stuff in their houses is not worth 40l., but are mere rogues and lewd people that live by stealth, pilfering and shifting, who disperse themselves abroad in the day time, and lodge there in the night. There are also 20 children at least, begotten upon queans amongst them, of which there is no father known. How to reform this I know not. To bind the landlords to the Star Chamber has for these many years served only to encourage offenders and bring scorn to the justices, who have taken great pains to inform these fearful abuses, certify the presentments, bind the offenders, and select the better sort and chiefest trespassers. The justices have given very dutiful attendance, but I never saw any course of proceeding. It may be the full measure of these abuses was not grown to that height it now is heaped up. If reformation be not taken, besides other inconveniences, the City will never be free from sickness. So many new buildings are erected in these parts daily, as if there were a strait command to join East Smithfield to Ratcliff.—The Tower, 7 Oct. 1605.
Holograph. 2 pp. (191. 51.)

Sir John Croke to the Earl of Salisbury.

Middlesex County Records. Calendar of Sessions Books, 1695.

Upon the certificate of Robert Bateman, esquire, and Robert Constable, esquire, Justices in the Tower Division, that they have viewed a certain new street called Cable Street, "heretofore called Knockfergus, or Stebunheath," the north side whereof lies in the hamlet of Wapping, Stepney, leading from Shadwell Market to Spitalfields Market, and judge the same fit to be paved with stone, from the corner house of the said Cable Street, over against the sign of the Windmill there, to the house of—Cartwright, inclusive, at the corner of Church Lane, it is ordered that the same be paved accordingly.— [Vide Sessions Book 526, p. 36 (p. 45)]