quarrel about precedency. During the time of the fatal discontents of
Elizabeth's favourite, the Earl of Essex, it was the place where his
imprudent advisers resolved on such counsels, as terminated in the
destruction of him and his adherents. In the next century it was
possessed by the heroic Earl of Craven, who rebuilt it. It was lately a
large brick pile, concealed by other buildings and was a public-house,
bearing the sign of the Queen of Bohemia's Head, the earl's admired
mistress, whose battles he fought animated by love and duty. When he
could aspire to her hand, he is supposed to have succeeded, and it is
said, that they were privately married; and that he built for her the
fine seat at Hampstead Marshal, in the county of Berks, afterwards
destroyed by fire. The services rendered by the earl to London, his
native city, in particular, were exemplary. He was so indefatigable in
preventing the ravages of the frequent fires of those days, that it was
said his very horse smelt it out. He and Monk, Duke of Albemarle,[2]
heroically staid in town during the dreadful pestilence, and at the
hazard of their lives preserved order in the midst of the terror of the
times." The house was taken down, and the ground purchased by Mr. Philip
Astley, who built there the Olympic Pavilion. In Craven Buildings there
was formerly a very good portrait of the Earl of Craven in armour, with
a truncheon in his hand, and mounted on his white horse. The Theatre
Royal in this street, originated on the Restoration. "The king made a
grant of a patent (says Pennant) for acting in what was then called the
Cockpit, and the Phoenix, the actors were the king's servants, were on
the establishment, and ten of them were called gentlemen of the Great
Chamber, and had ten yards of scarlet cloth allowed them, with a
suitable quantity of lace."

[2] He married a daughter of one of the Fine Barber-women of
Drury Lane.