Smithfield

Smithfield.

I. 330. Letter from Sir Christopher Wraye to the Lord Mayor, thanking him and the Aldermen for granting his request on behalf of his servant for the reversion of a lease of the sheep pens in Smithfield.
Serjeant's Inn, 3rd May, 1582.

I. 445. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, recommending them to grant a lease in reversion for twenty-one years of the sheep pens in West Smithfield, with the appurtenances, to Hugh Overed, Citizen and Haberdasher, who had served Her Majesty faithfully for the last three years, in the wars in Ireland, under the command of Sir William Stanley.
16th December, 1582.

I. 446. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council in reply. He had submitted their communication to the Court of Aldermen, who had desired him to inform them of the custom observed in the demising of the lands of the City. Certain surveyors were chosen, being the oldest Aldermen, who were directed to hear the suitors in such causes, and to treat with them for leases, and the conditions and convenants appertaining thereto, and upon their report the Court of Aldermen proceeded to the granting of such leases. With reference to the sheep pens, a former lease had been granted to a Citizen, which had certain years to run. The Surveyors, according to custom, and long before the receipt of the letter from the Council, had treated with the present tenant for a renewal of his lease, their grant being confirmed by the Court of Aldermen. They had also assented to a request from the Lord Chief Justice for a grant of the said sheep pens for his servant, upon the condition that if the present tenant should refuse to agree to the terms offered to him, his servant should have the next reversion.
10th January, 1582.

I. 488. Letter from Sir Christopher Wraye to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen. He understood that his request last year for a lease in reversion of the pens in Smithfield, for his chamberlain, Philip Medlome, had been granted and entered in the books, the assignment of the fine being referred to Mr. Alderman Haywood (Hayward) and others, which had, nevertheless, been deferred. He requested that the same might now be settled.
21st February, 1582.

IV. 118. Letter from Sir Henry Montague, Lord Chief Justice, to the Lord Mayor. He had been informed that it was intended to draw a market of raw skins into Smithfield, within the railed walk there, which it was thought would be such an offence that it would be better to have it a laystall, as it had been, than to be made so filthy an annoyance. He hoped that it might not be attempted, lest His Majesty should be offended.
28th April, 1618.

V. 7. Letter from Sir Henry Montague, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, to the Lord Mayor, expressing suprise that after so much money had been spent by the City about the paving and railing of Smithfield, with a view to reduce what before was a laystall to a place of use and beauty to that part of the City, it was now wholly neglected and suffered to lie so foul, and that there was no easy way across it. He had seen a lease granted by the City to the parishioners of St. Sepulchre of the pens in Smithfield, whereby they agreed to cleanse the same and remove the soil, except such as was made by reason of the Hay Market there. They contended that one Bourne, the City's Officer for the weighing of hay and straw, should be required to keep that portion of Smithfield clean; but he, pretending that the profit of his office would not balance the charge thereof, likewise refused to cleanse it. Bourne offered that if the parishioners would for the present cleanse it, and the City would repay him the 200l. he paid for his office, and grant him a lease of it for thirty-one years, he would give 20l. per annum rent to the City, and be bound daily to cleanse the place: if this were not accepted, then he desired to have a lease for thirty-one years at 20s. per annum, and to be bound to cleanse it. The Lord Chief Justice submitted these offers to the City's consideration, and begged that some speedy course might be taken to redeem the neglect of times past.
12th January, 1618.

VII. 142. Order in Council confirming an agreement between the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen and Clement Lanier, His Majesty's Patentee for weighing of hay and straw brought to the City, for ascertaining their respective rights concerning the weighing of hay and straw in Smithfield.
10th April, 1634.

VII. 174. Order in Council, reciting that two Petitions had been presented to them, the one from William Peake and others, parishioners of St. Sepulchre, who, by deputation from the City, held the office of weighing of hay and straw in Smithfield, &c., stating that they had at great charges cleansed and paved Smithfield, in lieu whereof they had for some years enjoyed the said office; that Clement Lanier had obtained a patent of the office from the King; that the Lord Keeper, at the City's instance, and with the consent of both parties, had directed a trial at Common Law to determine the question; that disputes had arisen, and the City's beams had been thrown down; and praying that the trial might proceed, and the petitioners continue in the mean time in possession of the office. The other Petition from Clement Lanier alleged that the City had no right but possession, and that he held the patent from the King, subject to a rent; that a writ of Quo Warranto against the City had been obtained, but nothing had been done. The Council therefore direct that the trial at law shall proceed and be heard in the ensuing Easter them, the City officers in the mean time holding possession and receiving the benefits of weighing hay and straw in Smithfield, Puddle Dock, and all other places within the Liberties of the City, and being accountable to Lanier for the mean profits if the trial should pass against them.
Whitehall, 18th March, 1635.

VIII. 160. Same as No. 142, Vol. VII.