in the world at the present time excepting the Vatican ^church^
at Rome dedicated St Peter. It is 500 feet long from E to W.
& 285 wide from N to S. & 404 fet. high
& it contains 47 monuments of fine marble erected
over the tombs of certain Lords, Bishops, Generals, Earls
& other Titles who have distinguish themselves in the
military service of Great Britiain & otherwise Lord
Nelsons Monument is the largest & most noted, their
Bodies are placed in vaults under the building & their
monuments mostly erected on the floor above. This
cathedral bears up three lofty spires & the whole
Building is splended inside & out. It was first built
by St Augustine in the year 610. It was destroyed
by fire in 961 & rebuilt the following year. It was
not till the reign of Athelstan that London became
the metropolis of England & it was to this prince more
perhaps than to any of his predecessors that the cath
edral of St Paul was indebted for its permanant esta-
blishment & preeminance. In 1086 this cathedral was
again destroyed by fire which also involved the greater
part of the Metropolis in ruin. Maurice who was then
Bishop of London had been chaplain & chancellor to
King William conceived (says Stow) the vast design
of erecting the magnificent structure which immediately
preceded the present cathedral which was sufficiently
erected by 1099 to admit of public worship. But It was
againe partly Burned in 1132 & again in 1135–6 it sus-
tained considerably injury, the central tower was comple
ted in 1221, & they continued to add unto it from time
to time. The lofty spire of the catheeddral was fired
by lightning in 1444, & not repaired till 1462, in June
1561 the spire was again set on fire which destroyed
spire & roof, & Queen Elizabeth commenced to repair
it which was afterwards accomplished by Laud &
King Charles the first who expended £104,330. 4^s. 8 ^p.
but Immediately dissentions arose between the king &
parliment, & the whole cathedral suffered beyound any
former example. the revenues of the church was confisc
ated, the money & materials siezed by the parliment
& the whole dody of the buidding was converted into
stables & Barracks for draggoons &c But It was
again repaired [during] the reign of Charles the second but It was
not finished before it became a pray to the flames in the
great fire of London in 1666 which desolated the
chief part of the Metropolis the above is a brief history
of St Pauls Church untill 1666,

in the world at the present time excepting the Church at Rome dedicated St Peter. It is 500 feet long from E to W. & 285 wide from N to S. & 404 fet. high & it contains 47 monuments of fine marble erected over the tombs of certain Lords, Bishops, Generals, Earls & other Titles who have distinguish themselves in the military service of Great Britiain & otherwise Lord Nelsons Monument is the largest & most noted. their Bodies are placed in vaults under the building & their monuments mostly erected on the floor above. This Cathedral bears up three lofty Spires & the whole Building is splended inside & out. It was first built by St Augustine in the year 610. It was destroyed by fire in 961 & rebuilt the following year. It was not till the reign of Athelstan that London became the metropolis of England & it was to this prince more perhaps than to any of his predecessors that the cath edral of St Paul was indebted for its permanant establishment & preeminance. In 1086 this cathedral was again destroyed by fire which also involved the greater part of the Metropolis in ruin. Maurice who was then Bishop of London had been chaplain & chancellor to King William conceived (Says Stow) the vast design of erecting the magnificent structure which immediately preceded the present Cathedral which was sufficiently erected by 1099 to admit of public worship. But It was againe partly Burned in 1132 & again in 1135–6 it sustained considerably injury, the central tower was comple ted in 1221, & they continued to add unto it from time to time. The lofty Spire of the Cathedral was fired by lightning in 1444, & not repaired till 1462, in June 1561 the spire was again set on fire which destroyed spire & roof, & Queen Elizabeth commenced to repair it which was afterwards accomplished by Laud & King Charles the first who expended £104,330. 4s. 8 p. but Immediately dissentions arose between the King & Parliment, & the whole cathedral suffered beyound any former example. the revenues of the church was confisc ated, the money & materials siezed by the parliment & the whole dody of the buidding was converted into Stables & Barracks for draggoons &c But It was again repaired during the reign of Charles the Second but It was not finished before it became a pray to the flames in the great fire of London in 1666 which desolated the Chief part of the Metropolis the above is a brief history of St Pauls Church untill 1666,