| Description | It was unanimously resolved that the fine of 40 marks imposed upon Nathaniel Basnett by the Assembly of the previous October 14th should stand.
Edward Bavand, gentleman, petitioned that he might have a new lease for the lives of himself, Mary his wife and Robert his son and the longest lives of them, of one shop with appurtenances situate under the Pentice next to the High Cross, of which his ancestors had been tenants for three hundred years past and more. It was ordered that upon the surrender of his present lease for three lives, of which one was yet in being, he should have the new lease under the same yearly rent and covenants and for a fine of £30.
(ZA/B/2/165v) In a petition Elihu Yale stated that at the last Sessions of the Peace for the City save one he was convicted for writing and publishing a scandalous libel against Mrs Sara Hudson, wife of Gawen Hudson, Alderman, and that at the last Sessions he was fined £20 for this offence. His father had paid £10 of his fine and he now asked that the rest might be remitted as he had "noe estate nor stock in his owne hands". It was unanimously declared that no remission should be made.
William Wilson, Alderman, petitioned for a grant in fee farm of a part of Pig Lane without the Barrs, adjoining his land there. The Sheriffs were ordered to view the land and report their estimate to the next Assembly so that a lease might be granted for three lives or twenty-one years.
John Ward was admitted to the freedom paying 40s.
Randle Minshull, Macebearer, asked whether bills of store from the Custom house in the City ought to pay the City's custom. If they were chargeable he asked that any suit which should arise from distraint of such goods for non-payment might be made a City cause, defended at the City's charge. It was ordered that a written schedule of what goods ought to pay the City custom and what not, and what duties and fees were to be received for the same should be prepared and presented to the next Assembly.
John Anderson, merchant, petitioned to have some ground allotted to him near Flookersbrooke where he formerly had liberty to get clay, so that he might get more clay and marl to lay upon his lands thereabout. The Sheriffs and Treasurers were instructed to view the place and to report to the next Assembly whether the grant of this liberty would be prejudicial to the King's highway.
Alice Lingley, widow, relict of John Lingley, Swordbearer, preferred a petition, which was considered together with an order of Assembly made on August 7th, 1668, by which Richard Harrison, then Mayor, was to pay to the said Alice £10 of the money he received for the office of Swordbearer. With the consent of the Assembly, Richard Harrison referred the matter to the award of the Mayor and the Recorder.
The petition of Elizabeth Throppe, widow, for a fee-farm of the row before her house in Northgate street, with liberty to enclose and build there, was read but not granted.
A similar petition from Hugh Barkley, innholder, was read but not granted.
The petition of William Sarsfield, gardener, to have a lease of ground at Spittle Boughton, within the City's liberties, was read but not granted.
(ZA/B/2/166) The petition of the churchwardens and parishioners of St. Olave's against divers of the parishioners for refusing to pay church duties was read and laid aside.
Six auditors were appointed to audit all the Treasurers' accounts since Robert Morrey was first Treasurer, and to perfect the accounts before the following 8th March.
It was ordered that a jury should be impanelled to inquire concerning the City rents and lands.
For defence against fire it was ordered that ward ladders and hooks and a dozen buckets should be provided for every ward within the City and that a tax should be laid upon the City for this purpose.
It was ordered that no ground in Hough greene, Cow lane or elsewhere within the City should be broken up and no bricks made upon the City's waste without order in writing from the Mayor and Treasurers, on penalty of 5 marks for every offence. In future persons obtaining liberty to make brick upon the City's waste were to pay 6d. to the Treasurers for every 1,000 bricks made and were to level the places which they had dug up.
For the preservation of the City quarries it was ordered that no stone should be taken from them except for the use of the City, under penalty of 5 marks.
Persons who had been elected Aldermen and Councilmen and who had not yet given in their plate or made payment for this according to ancient custom were to do so before the following 25th March. Five Aldermen and twelve Councilmen were named.
Richard Wright and John Yong, late Sheriffs, were each to pay the Treasurers £5 for being elected Sheriffs without having first been Leavelookers.
To encourage merchants to bring goods to the City it was ordered that imported foreign goods, after having been brought to the Common Hall and after payment of the City custom, might be sold wholesale to anyone if within three days after public notice given by the Bellman the Citizens had refused to buy.
It was ordered that the house and lands at Watfeild pavement might be leased for twenty-one years under reasonable covenants and with sufficient security for the performance of these covenants.
Leavelookers who had not yet accounted to the Murengers were to give in their accounts. |