Osborne's leap into the River Thames
In 1559, Sir William Hewet (Clothworker) was Mayor, whose income is estimated at £6, 000 per annum. Hewet lived on London Bridge, and one day a nurse playing with his little daughter Anne, at one of the broad lattice windows overlooking the River Thames, by accident let the child fall. A young apprentice, named Osborne, seeing the accident, leaped from a window into the fierce current below the arches, and saved the infant. Years after, many great courtiers, including the Earl of Shrewsbury, came courting fair Mistress Anne, the rich citizen's heiress. Sir William, her father, said to one and all, No Osborne saved her, and Osborne shall have her. And so Osborne did, and became a rich citizen and Lord Mayor in 1583
Picture No
13127836
Media ID
45375864
Size
3543px x 5315px
(7.5MB)
Credit
Mary Evans / Peter & Dawn Cope Collection
Source
Unattributed engraving
Date
16th century






























