Covent Garden and Long Acre; one of them lying on the south side of a parcel of ground then laid forth for a new churchyard, containeth in length, from a parcel of ground then preserved for a Vestry House; on the east, 180 feet and 3 inches of Assize, and in Breadth, from a parcel of ground then laid forth for a street, Way or Passage of 50 foot broad on the south side of the said piece of ground laid forth for the said churchyard on the North, 33 foot of assize, and all other Conveniences for Building, to hold for 34 years to come, from the date aforesaid at the yearly rent of seventeen pounds and six pence, payable Quarterly, at or in the Dining Hall of the said Earl's commonly called Bedford House in the Strond, of the parish of St. Martin's-inthe-Fields."

Strype goes on to say that the abovementioned Palmer (the elder) "did, at his own charge, erect nine several Messuages or Tenements on the said ground."

It is curious that this lease does not appear in any other account of the market. A perusal of the same makes it clear that plans had already been made by the Earl

as to his future building operations; the lease bearing date 1631, and the church, market square, and piazzas having been constructed in 1633-8. The patent for the market was not granted till 1671. Thus it appears that from the time of the building of the church and the general improvements until the latter date, a great portion of the estate was let.

CHAPTER II

The improvements-Inigo Jones-Sundial-First markets held-Letting out of Market Place by Earl of BedfordThe Stocks Market in the City.

THE first steps taken by the Earl of Bedford were to demolish the old shanties, and to clear the property of all such encumbrances. He then called in to his assistance the celebrated architect Inigo Jones, under whose instructions were built the Piazzas or Portico Walk, which will be described in another chapter, and also the fine mansions and Church of St. Paul.

In 1668 the whole area of the square was gravelled and enclosed by rails, and in the middle a column surmounted by a sundial was erected.

Strype writes: "Within the rails is a stone Pillar or Column raised on a pedestal ascended by steps, on which is placed a curious Sun-Dial, four square, having above

it a mound gilt with gold, all neatly wrought in Freestone."

With regard to this the following entries appear in the accounts of the Churchwardens of the Parish:

Dec. 7, 1668.-Received from the Rt. Honl. the Earle of Bedford, as a gratuity towards erecting of ye column, £20 08. Od. Dec. 7, 1668.-Received from the Rt. Honl. Sir Charles Cotterell, Master of the Ceremonies, as a gift towards the said column, £10 08. Od.

Ap. 29, 1669.-Received from the Rt. Honl. The Lord Denzill Holles, as a present towards the erecting of the column, £10 Os. Od.

Nov. 27, 1668.-For drawing a modell of the column to be presented to the vestry, £0 108. Od.

Dec. 2, 1668.-To Mr. Wainwright for 4 Gnomens, £0 88. 6d.

The column existed for a considerable period, and was a favourite spot where old women congregated in order to sell milk, porridge, broth, etc.

The following lines appeared in 1738: