blazon or coat of arms of the City of London Commune Concilium tentum in Camera Guildhall Civitatis London, die Jovis, quinto die Septembris, Anno Dom. 1672. Annoque Regni Domini nostri CAROLI Secundi, dei Gratia, Angliae, Scotiae, Franciae, & Hiberniae Regis, Fidei Defensoris, etc. vicesimo quarto; coram Georgio Waterman, Milite, Majore Civitatis London, Ricardo Chiverton, Milite, Thoma Allen, Milite & Baronetto, Johanne Frederick, Milite, Johanne Robinson, Milite & Baronetto, Locumtenente Turris, Johanne Laurence, & Ricardo Ford, Militibus, Aldermannis, Johanne Howel Milite, Serviente ad Legem ac Recordatore dictae Civitatis, Roberto Hanson & Willielmo Hooker, Militibus, Roberto Vyner, Milite & Baronetto, Thoma Davis, Francisco Chaplin, & Jacobo Edward's, Militibus, Aldermannis, patient Ward, Armigero, Aldermanno, & Roberto Clayton, & Johanne Moor, Militibus, Aldermannis & Vicecomitibus dictae Civitatis, necnon majore parte Communiariorum de Communi Concilio ejusdem Civitatis tunc & ibidem assemblat. An Act for the Settlement and well Ordering of several Public Markets within the City of LONDON.  
FOR the better Order and Regulation to be had of the Market at Leaden-hall, and the Greenyards there, with the other Market Grounds thereunto belonging; and of the Market at Woolchurch, and the Market of Honey-lane, or Milk-street, as also the Market near Newgate, and all other Common Markets already settled and appointed, or which hereafter shall be settled and appointed within the City of London: Be it Enacted by the Right Honourable the Lord Maior, and the Aldermen his Brethren, and the Commons in this Common-Council Assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That the Rules, Orders, and Directions hereafter prescribed, be duly observed by all persons that are or may be concerned therein.  
And First, whereas by former Acts of Common-Council, the sale of Beef hath been restrained and appointed to be only in Leaden-hall, and the Greenyards there; which if now observed, would be very inconvenient to the Inhabitants of this City, in regard the late Butchery of the Stocks, and St. Nicholas-Shambles (which heretofore furnished with Beef and other Flesh Victuals, those parts of the City) are now removed and otherwise disposed of: Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all and every Butcher and Butchers, Poulterer and Poulterers (other than such as are hereafter excepted) Country Farmer, Victualler, Lader, or Kidder, who keepeth no Butchers, or Poulterer's Shop, or Shops within the City of London, or Liberties thereof, or within two Miles distance of the Liberties of the same City, may from and after the publication of this Act, take to Farm, or hire Stand, Stalls, or Places, in any the aforesaid respective Markets; and there sell, utter, and put to open show, or sale, his or their Beef, Mutton, Veal, Lamb, Pork, and other Butchery or Poultry Wares, or other Provisions, upon the four days of the week, in manner as is hereafter expressed (viz.) upon Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays weekly, between the Feast of the Annunciation, and the Feast of St. Michael, from six of the Clock in the Forenoon, until eight of the Clock in the Evening of the same day; and between the Feast of St. Michael, and the Annunciation, from eight of the Clock before noon, until five of the Clock in the Evening of the same day; and upon every Saturday in the Week all the Year long, from the aforesaid respective hours of six and eight of the Clock before noon, until eight of the Clock in the Evening of the same day, for so long time only as he or they shall furnish the said Stalls, Stand, and Places with wholesome Flesh and other Provisions in his or their own right, and not as Servant or Servants, or otherwise, in behalf of any others; any thing in any former Act of Common Council contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.  
Provided always, That no Butcher, or Poulterer whatsoever who keepeth no Shop or Shops within the City of London, or Liberties thereof, or within two mile's distance of the same City, shall in the said respective Markets, sell, utter, or put to open show or sale, his or their Butchery or Poultry Wares upon Mondays and Fridays weekly, upon pain that every such Butcher, or Poulterer shall for every time he or they shall sell, utter, or put to open show or sale in the said Markets his or their Butchery, or Poultry Wares, upon Monday, or Friday in any week, forfeit the sum of ten shillings.  
And to the end the respective hours aforesaid may the better be observed in the said Markets, It is further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that a Market Bell in all the several Markets within the City of London, shall Ring twice every day, (that is to say) the first Ringing from the twenty fifth of March, yearly, until the twenty ninth day of September, at seven of the Clock before noon, except upon Monday, and then the first Ringing shall not begin till eight of the Clock in the Forenoon: and from the twenty ninth day of September yearly, until the twenty fifth day of March, at eight of the Clock before Noon, and not before, except upon Monday, and then the first Ringing shall not begin till nine of the Clock before Noon; and that the second Ringing of the Market Bell for raising of the said Markets shall begin to Ring from and after the twenty fifth of March, yearly, until the twenty ninth day of September (except on Saturdays) half an hour after four in the Afternoon, and to continue Ringing till five of the Clock, and from and after the twenty ninth day of September, until the twenty fifth day of March yearly, (except on Saturdays) to begin to Ring half an hour after three of the Clock, and to continue Ringing until four of the Clock in the Afternoon: and that the second Ringing of the Market Bell upon Saturday weekly throughout the year, shall begin half an hour after seven of the Clock, and to continue Ringing until eight of the Clock in the Evening of the same day. And if any Butcher, or Butchers, Poulterer, or Poulterers, Victualler, Country Farmer, Lader, Kidder, or other person whatsoever, shall sell, or put to open sale any manner of Butchery, or Poultry Wares, or other Provisions in the said Markets, before Ringing of the Market Bell at the said several hours and times in the Mornings respectively; such Offender, or Offenders shall be proceeded against, as forestallers of the Market, as by the Law in this case is directed and appointed. And that no Butcher, Poulterer, Victualler, Country Farmer, Lader, Kidder, or other person whatsoever, shall sell or put to open sale, any Butchery, or Poultry Wares, or other Provisions, after the end of Ringing the Market Bell at the said several hours in the Afternoon respectively, but shall then departed from the said Markets, upon pain that every person selling Butchery, or Poultry Wares, or other Provisions after the said respective hours in the aforesaid Markets, shall forfeit the sum of ten shillings for every such Offence. And if any Butcher, Poulterer Country Farmer, Lader, Kidder, or other person whatsoever, shall sell, utter, or put to open sale in the said Markets, any manner of Fleshmeat upon any other day or days than is before hereby limited and expressed, such Butcher, Poulterer, Country Farmer, Lader, Kidder, or other person shall for every such Offence forfeit the sum of twenty Shillings.  
Provided always, that no Butcher, Poulterer, Country Farmer, Lader, Kidder, or other person whatsoever, shall upon the Saturday in any week bring into any of the said Markets, any manner of Flesh meat, after six of the Clock in the Afternoon, between the twenty fifth of March, and the twenty ninth of September, yearly; nor after four of the Clock in the Afternoon, between the twenty ninth of September, and the twenty fifth of March, upon pain of forfeiting the sum of ten Shillings for every time any such person shall bring into any of the said Markets any manner of Flesh meats, after the said respective hours.  
And further be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Stall, Standing, or Place within any of the said Markets shall from and after the publication of this Act be let or allotted to any Butcher or Poulterer, who doth or shall keep any Butchers or Poulterer's Shop within the City of London, or Liberties thereof, or within two mile's distance of the Liberties of the said City, for so long time as he or they shall keep any Butchers, or Poulterer's Shop within the limits aforesaid.  
And further, That no Butcher, Poulterer, or other person whatsoever shall have and enjoy more than two Stalls, Stand, or Places within any one of the Markets aforementioned, at one time.  
Provided always, That the Country people and others resorting to the said Markets, being not Butchers, not Poulterers, nor selling any manner of Flesh meat, or Poultry, may stand, or sit and vend their Herbs, Fruit, Eggs, Butter, and other such like Provisions, and Commodities in the Markets, upon every working day in the week, between the Feast of the Annunciation, and the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, from seven of the Clock in the Morning, until five of the Clock in the Evening of the same day: and upon every working day between the Feast of St. Michael and the Annunciation, from six of the Clock in the Morning, until four of the Clock in the Evening of the same day, so as the same persons that bring them first to Market do continue the selling thereof, and do observe the Ringing of the Market Bel or keeping the said hours accordingly.  
And it is also further Enacted (in regard that the Market is most principally intended for the benefit of Housekeepers, who buy for their own use and behoof) That the Retailers and Traders of this City, who buy to sell again, shall not enter into any of the aforesaid Markets, to make their Provisions, and buy of any of the Market people there, to carry the same to their several Houses and Shops, until the Afternoon of every day, to the end that Housekeepers may provide themselves in the morning of every day at the first hand and pay moderate Rates for their Provisions; upon pain that every such Retailer, or Retailers, or Traders, shall for every time Offending herein, forfei forty shillings.  
And forasmuch as all dead Flesh meat and other Victuals, and Provisions of all sorts of Fruits, Herbs, Fish, and the like, aught to be sold in open and common Markets, allowed and appointed, and not under private Stalls or at Tavern doors, or in any Street or Common Passages, or in any private Places, or carried up and down, and sold by way of Hawking; by means whereof, much unwholesome Provisions, dangerous to the Health and Bodies of his Majesty's Subjects, may be uttered and sold: Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Butcher, Poulterer, Country Farmer, Lader, Kidder, Victualler, Gardener, Fruiterer, Fish-seller, or other person or persons whatsoever, shall from and after the publication of this Act, sell, utter, or put to show or sale, by way of Hawking, or as a Hawker, or in any otherwise, any Beef, Mutton, Lamb, Veal, Pork, Poultry, Butter, Cheese, Fish, Fruit, Herbs, or other Victuals, or Provision whatsoever, in any private House, Lane, Ally, Inn, Warehouse, Street-stall, or Common Passage, or other place or places whatsoever, within the City of London, or Liberties thereof, but only in his or their open Shop, or Shops, or in the public Market place, or places, and in Market time only, according as is before appointed, upon pain that every such person so carrying, or offering to put to sale, by way of Hawking, or in any otherwise, any Flesh meat, Poultry, or other Victuals whatsoever, as aforesaid, in any private House, Lane, Ally, Inn, Warehouse, Street-stall, or Common Passage, or other places whatsoever, being not his, or their open Shop, or Shops, or the Common Marketplace, shall forfeit the same Goods so offered to sale, without any manner of favour, according to the ancient Custom of the City of London, used and approved; and the same so forfeited, shall be disposed of to such Prisons within this City of London, as the Lord Mayor for the time being shall direct and appoint.  
And to the intent that Forestall, Regrating, and Engrossing of Victuals, and other Commodities may be the better prevented, and the Laws made against the same more effectually observed, It is Declared and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no person, or persons, from and after the publication of this Act, shall buy, or cause to be bought, any Victuals, or other things whatsoever, within the said City of London, or Liberties thereof, coming to any the Common Markets of this City, or make any Bargain, Contract, or Promise, for the having and buying of the same, or any part thereof, so coming as aforesaid, before the same shall be brought into one of the said Markets, ready to be there sold: And also, That no person, or persons that shall by any means Regrate, Obtain, or Get into his or their Hands, or Possession, in any the said Markets, any Victuals or other things whatsoever, that shall be thither brought to be sold, shall from henceforth sell the same again in their Shop, or Shops, or any of the Markets, or other places within this City and Liberties thereof, or shall Engross, or Get into his or their Hands, by buying, contracting, or otherwise, any of the things aforesaid, in the said Markets, with intent to sell the same again, in the same, or any other Markets, or places within this City, and Liberties thereof, upon pain that every such Forestaller, Regrater, and Engrosser, shall for every such Offence, forfeit forty shillings.  
And whereas, for Accommodation of Market people, with Stalls, Board's, Shelter, and all other like things necessary for their Standing in any of the Market-places within the City of London, and cleansing and keeping clean the same; and otherwise for defraying the incident Charges of Repairing and Maintaining the same Markets, and to Gratify and Reward the Care and Attendance of such persons as shall be employed therein, there hath always been given and paid certain reasonable Rates for the said Accommodations and Charges: And to the intent that the said Rates may be ascertained and made public to all Market people, whereby the persons that shall from henceforth, by Order of the Committee for Letting of the City Lands, with Approbation of this Court, be employed therein, as Collectors, or Receivers of the same Rates, may be prevented from Demanding, or Extorting more than is allowed, as is herein after expressed: Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all and every person, and persons, resorting to any of the said Markets, to sell, and vend their Commodities, shall from henceforth pay unto such person, or persons, as from time to time shall be thereunto appointed, as aforesaid, to take and receive the Profits of all, or any of the said Markets, to the Use of the Mayor, Commonalty, and Citizens of the City of London, of, and from all Market people thereunto resorting, for their Stalls, Stand, and other Accommodations, in the several Market-places aforesaid, after the Rates following (that is to say) for every Stall, or Standing of the length of eight Foot, and breadth of four Foot, used or employed for sale of Flesh meat, or Fish, for every day eight pence, or two shillings six pence per week; and for every such Stall or Standing, used or employed for sale of any other Commodities, for every day four pence, or eighteen pence per week; and for every Stall, or Standing of the length of six foot, and breadth of four foot, used or employed for the sale of Flesh meat, or Fish, six pence for every day, or two shillings per week; and for every such Stall, or Standing used for other Provisions, or Commodities, for every day, three pence, or sixteen pence per week; and for every Standing for Tanned Leather, six pence per day; and for every raw Hide, an half penny; and for every Horse Load of any Provisions or Commodities not upon Stalls, three pence; and for every Cartload of such Commodities, six pence.  
Provided that all Gardeners, and Country people, and others resorting to the said Markets, early in the Morning, to sell Herbs, Fruit, and other like Commodities, and there continue for no long space, quitting the Markets at eight or nine of the Clock in the Morning, shall pay for the Larger Places or Stand, only three pence, for every time they resort thither; and for the Lesser Places, or Stand, only two pence.  
And that the said Collectors, or Receivers shall not Demand or Require of the Market people more than according to the aforesaid Rates, without the free Consent and Agreement of the said Market people, for some extraordinary Conveniency, or Accommodation, unless in Leaden-hall Market, where other and larger Rates have been anciently paid for Stalls, or Stand therein; and that no person, or persons Inhabiting in or near to any the said Market places, or other person or persons whatsoever, upon pretence of any right whatsoever, other than the Receivers, or Collectors of the said Rates and Duties, shall from henceforth provide any Stalls, or other Accommodations in any of the aforesaid Market-places; or directly, or indirectly take, require, or exact any sum, or sums of money, or other Reward of the Market people, for any Stalls, Stand, or Accommodation of their place, and station in the said Markets; upon pain that every person offending herein shall forfeit and lose, for every time so doing and offending, twenty shillings.  
And for the better Order and Quiet of the Market people, and the reconciling all Differences that may arise therein, betwixt them and the Collectors, or Receivers in the aforesaid Markets; as also that the Rates and Duties may be the better collected, and certainly paid into the Chamber of London, without fraud, and the said Markets, more effectually supervised; for prevention of Abuses and Disorders that may arise therein, Be it Enacted, That the Committee for Letting the City Lands for the time being, shall and are hereby Authorized from time to time, by and with the Approbation of this Court, to appoint fitting persons for Overseers of the said respective Markets, and Collectors, or Receivers of the Profits, or Duties arising, or growing out of the same; and to Treat, and Agree with the said persons, and allow them for their Care and Pains, such part or portion of the said Profits, as in their discretions shall be found requisite: provided the said Allowance exceed not the tenth part of the whole clear Profits (all necessary Charges being deducted) upon condition that the said Overseers and Collectors, or Receivers that shall from time to time be thereunto appointed, by order as aforesaid, do give sufficient security to the satisfaction of the said Committee, for their Diligence and faithful Performance in their Office, and overseeing the Orders and Provisions aforesaid, observed, and giving a just and true account of their Receipts and Payments of the Moneys every week into the Chamber; and that the said Committee do once in every week meet together at the Guild-hall, and then and there audite the Accounts and Payments of the said Overseers, and Collectors, or Receivers, for prevention of any abuses that by neglect thereof might arise or happen; and also endeavour, upon any Complaints, and Grievances of the Market people, against the said Overseers, and Collectors, or Receivers, or otherwise, to compose and redress the same as soon as possibly they can; that so all disturbances to the Market people, and unnecessary Suits at Law may be avoided: and that the said Overseers and Receivers, or Collectors shall frequently attend, and be in the said Markets, during Market time, and diligently oversee the same; to prevent with their best care, any abuses or disorders that may happen, or be committed therein; and also to take care that the Provisions and Penalties appointed by this Act against all Offenders, contrary to the same, be duly and constantly put in Execution: and if any of the said Overseers, and Collectors, or Receivers shall be remiss, or corrupt herein, than they shall be forthwith displaced, and disabled of any Office, or Place touching the said Markets.  
And be it further Enacted, That in case the aforesaid Committee for Letting the City Lands, shall at any time hereafter and it most fitting, and advantageous for the benefit of the Chamber, to let the said Markets, or any of them to Farm; that then the Committee aforesaid, for the time being, shall and may treat with any person, or persons for Letting the same to Farm, upon the best terms they can, and report their proceed unto this Court for their Approbation therein.  
All which Pains, Forfeitures, and Penalties, Sum and Sums of Money to be forfeited, by virtue of this Act, shall be recovered by Action of Debt, Bill, or Plaint to be Commenced and Prosecuted in the Name of the Chamberlain of the City of London, for the time being, in the Court holden before the Mayor, and Aldermen in the Chamber of the Guild-hall of the City of London; and that the Chamberlain of the said City for the time being in all Suits to be prosecuted by virtue of this Act, against any Offender, or Offenders, contrary to the same, shall recover the ordinary Costs of Suit to be expended in and about the prosecution thereof; and if the Suit pass for the Defendant, than the said Defendant to recover his Costs; and that the Chamberlain for the time being shall not have power to take less of any Offender then herein is limited to be forfeited for every Offence.  
And further, That one moiety of all Forfeitures to be recovered by virtue hereof (the Costs of the Suit for Recovery of the same being deducted) shall after Recovery, and the Receipt thereof, at or before the twenty fifth day of March yearly, be paid and delivered unto the Treasurer of Christ's Hospital to be employed towards the Relief of the Poor Children, to be brought up and maintained in that Hospital; and the other moiety to him or them which shall first give Information of the Offences, for which the Forfeitures shall grow; and prosecute Suit in the Name of the Chamberlain of the said City for recovery of the same, any thing in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding.  
And whereas the Sergeant, and Yeoman of the Channel, and Yeoman of Newgate-Market, and Foreign-taker, while the Common Markets were kept in Leadenhal-street, Cheapside, and Newgate-street, did take care for sweeping and making clean the said Streets where the Market people resorted, and paid for carrying away the Soil thereof; as also for furnishing the Market people with Board's, and other Accommodations. In consideration whereof they received some certain allowance by consent of the Market people for their care and pains therein. Now forasmuch as the said Markets are removed out of the Streets, and made Commodious, at the public Charge of the City, and that the Revenue thereof aught to be improved for the benefit of the Chamber: Be it Enacted, That the several Officers aforementioned, shall from henceforth be wholly discharged from the Charge of Cleansing and Carrying away the Soil of the said Markets, and providing Board's and other Accommodations for the Market people, and likewise from any ways intermeddling with the Receipt of any Duties, Fees, or Profits, or taking any Money of any Persons resorting to, or standing in any of the Common Markets aforesaid, upon any pretence whatsoever; but that instead thereof the Sergeant and Yeoman of the Channel for the time being shall, during their Continuance in the said places, each of them, have and receive out of the Chamber of London, the sum of three pounds weekly; and Richard Robinson the present Foreign-taker, and Yeoman of Newgate-market, the sum of three pounds every week, during the term of his natural Life: All which sums respectively, and none other, shall be paid by the Chamberlain out of the Profits arising by the Markets, to the persons aforesaid, in full satisfaction of all their Right, Title, Claim, and Demand whatsoever, to any part or share of the Profits to be Collected of the Market people.  
Wagstaffe.   

Printed by Andrew Clark, Printer to the Honourable City of LONDON, at his House in Aldersgatestreet. 1672.