66 High in the midst of this most happy land One finds it difficult to imagine the rough beef-and-beer Englishman of that period having his "spirits cheered " by "milk, porridge, and broth," but the bard, perhaps, was related to Taylor the "Waterpoet." On May 12, 1671, William, Earl of Bedford, received a grant of the square from Charles II. by Letters Patent. In 1679, when it was rated to the poor for the first time, there appear to have been twentythree salesmen, rated respectively at 28. and 18. in the £ (Cunningham). Probably the earliest allusion to the market is that found in the churchwardens' accounts-date, March 1656—“ paid to the painter for painting the benches and seates in the Markett Place, £1 10 0.” In 1666 a payment was also made "for trees planted in the Broad Place," meaning the square in front of the Piazzas. In "The Gentleman's Magazine of August 20, 1853, appears a copy of the lease between the Earl and certain parties to whom he let the market. It is rather a quaint document, and runs as follows: "This indenture made the six day of July in the thirteenth yeare of the raigne of Oe Soveraigne Lord Charles The Second, by the grace of God etc., between the Rt Honl William, Earle of Bedford, Lord Russell, Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, Knight of the most noble order of the Garter, of the one part; and Adam Pigott, Citizen and cutler of London and Thomas Day of the parish of St. Clements Danes in the county of Middlesex, tallow-chandler, on the other part." The document continues: "The earl did for the considerations therein mentioned, demise, grant and to ffarme, lett unto the said Adam Pigott and James Allen, all that markett in the parish of St Paul, Covent Garden, etc., to be held every day of the weeke except Sunday and the ffeast day of the birth of our Lord, for buying and selling of all and all manner of fruits and fflowers, roots and herbes whatsoever, and also liberty to build and make cellars and shops all along on the outside of the garden wall of Bedford House garden, so as in such buildings noe chimneys or tunnells be made or putte and soe as such shops be made uniforme in roofs and ffronts one with another and be one ffoote lower than the now garden wall and not above eight foot in Breadth from the wall all alonge the said wall except against the jetty or round of the said wall, against which the said shoppes were to be bt three foote of the most, according to a modell or ground plott of the said buildings to the said recited indenture affixed, together with all other liberties and all tolls, customs, stallage, pittage, and all other p'fitts, comodities, advantages and emoluments whatsoever to the said markett in any wise belonginge or appertaining, ariseing or renewing. The said markett to be kept within the Rayles there and the markett people to sit in order between the said Rayles and the said garden wall from one end to the other end thereof," etc. The same was to date for twenty-one years at the yearly rental "of fourscore pounds of the lawful monies of England." At this period the Stocks Market was the most important market of the metropolis. It was situated on the site of the present Mansion House, and was established in 1282 by Henry Walis, Lord Mayor. Stow says that the market was named after a pair of stocks which stood here for the punishment of offenders. Strype writes: "Up farther north is the Stocks Market. As to the present state of which it is converted to a quite contrary use for instead of Flesh and Fish sold there before the Fire, are now sold Fruits, Roots and Herbs; for which it is very considerable and much resorted unto, being of note for having the choicest of their kind of all sorts, surpassing all other markets in London." Stocks Market was removed in 1737 to the site of the present Farringdon Street, where it became known as the Fleet Market, doubtless owing to its close proximity to the River Fleet. It still exists under the name of Farringdon Market, but has been quite eclipsed in importance by Covent Garden. |