Old St. Thomas's Hospital, Southwark: a bird's-eye view looking east over the three courtyards. Engraving.

Unknown artist

Lettering: St. Thomas's Hospital. ; This Hospital was first founded in 1213, & named an Almery for converts and poor children; in 1215 it was converted into a Priory for Canons Regular, & at ye reformation was surrendered to ye crown. King Edwd. 6th gave it in a very decay'd condition to ye citizens of London, who immediately repair'd it for poor, impotent, lame, and diseas'd persons, but it has lately been entirely new built, & has receiv'd sevl. enlargements & additional buildings, by wch. it is made capable of receiving a far greater number of patients than ever, since ye foundation. The prodigious relief this hospital affords to miserable objects (many of whom would otherwise perish) will appear from ye numbrs. cured there, wch. were 4721 during ye year last past, & sev. of them were reliev'd with money & other necessaries at their departure; 353 were buried thence after much charge in their illness, & 621 are still remaing. under cure. The Ld. Mayr. Aldermen, & 250 others chiefly citizens & merchants, are Governours hereof.