Compton street, 1. St. John’s street, near Clerkenwell.† 2. Soho.†
Conduit alley, Quakers street.
Conduit close, Phenix street.
Conduit court, Long Acre.
Conduit street, 1. New Bond street, runs from New Bond street eastward to Swallow street. 2. Red Lion street, Holborn.
Connoway’s court, Nightingale lane, in Limehouse.†
Court of Conscience, also called the Court of Requests, was first instituted in the reign of Henry VIII. by an act of Common Council, for the recovery of small debts, under the value of 40s. and has since been confirmed by several acts of parliament. It is of great use to such poor debtors as are not able to pay their debts immediately; and also of great benefit to such poor persons as have small debts owing to them, and are unable to enter into a more expensive suit. The Lord Mayor and court of Aldermen appoint monthly such Aldermen and Commoners to sit as Commissioners in this court as they think fit, and these, or any three of them, compose a court, kept in Guildhall every Wednesday and Saturday, from eleven till two o’clock, to hear and determine such causes as are brought before them. They have the power of administering an oath to the creditor, of examining witnesses, and of making such orders between the plaintiff and defendant, the creditor and debtor, as they think most agreeable to equity and conscience; and if the debtor be unable to pay the whole sum at once, they appoint it to be paid monthly in such proportions as they judge to be in his power; but if he neglects paying monthly into court the small sums appointed, he may be served with an execution, and carried to prison; or if the person cannot be found, his goods may be seized.
A cause may be brought and determined in this court for the value of 10d. viz. 6d. for the plaint and summons, and 4d. for the order; but if the defendant does not appear the second court day after the summons, an attachment may be awarded against him.
If any citizen shall be arrested for a debt under 40s. this court will grant a summons for the plaintiff in the action; and if he does not appear on the first court day after the summons is left at his house, the court will grant an attachment against him, force him to take his debt, and pay the defendant his costs; and if any attorney in London shall presume to proceed in any such suit, after notice to the contrary, or shall refuse to obey the order of this court, upon complaint thereof to the court of Aldermen, they will suspend such person from his practice.
The fees taken by the clerks of the court of conscience at Guildhall are as follow: For every plaint 2d. For every appearance 2d. For every order 4d. For every remittance to the common law 4d. For every precept or warrant to commit to prison 6d. For every search 2d. For every satisfaction acknowledged on an order 6d. For warning any person within the liberties 6d. For serving any precept or warrant 6d.