By the Mayor.

Whereas it hath been resolved in Com̃on Councill yt if our most Gratious Lord King George upon his comeing into this Kingdome be pleased to pass through this his City of London, yt he shall be received by us & our fellow citizens with all the Demonstrationes of Joy & affection as are suitable to our duty and Loyalty.

These are therefore to require you to have your Rayle Cloaths Standings Banners Streamers Ensignes & other Ornaments of triumph belonging to your Company in a readiness to sett up imẽadiatly upon Notice yt shall be given you of the time & place by any further precept & yt yor Cloaths Banners Streamers Ensignes & other ornaments be fresh & Good & yt you forthwith send to all the Liverymen of yor Company that they be well & decently apparrelled in their best Cloaths & Gowns to attend in their Standings yt so your Company may be ready (when required) to receive his Majtie to his satisfac͠on & the Honour of this City and thereof you are not to faile. Dated this 25th day of August, 1714.

Gibson.

23rd December, 1717. The Company having had great difficulty in getting in some of their rents, and various of the houses being empty, determined to sell their property in Mowse Alley, East Smithfield, and in Butcher Row in St. Botolph’s, Aldgate, agreeing to convey the fee simple to Mr. Robert Finlay for £1,250.

And it is further ordered by this Court that till such time as the said sume of 1250li can be laid out in a convenient purchase of houses or lands with the approbac͠on of the Court of Assistants, The same shall be forthwith placed out at Interest by the Governors upon such Government or other Publick securitys as they shall think fitt, But that the said sume of 1250li or any part thereof shall never be expended on the Company’s common occac͠ons or be any way lessened or broke into on any account whatsoever.

17th April, 1718. The following record was ordered to be made of the “reasons” for disposing of this property:

The Estate in East Smithfield in eleven years time produced to the Company above all disbursements relating thereto[119] but £28 15s. in the whole, Whereas the annual interest of £1250 at 4 pˀ cent. is £50.

Eleven years interest at £50 pˀ ann. for £1250 amounts to without computeing Interest upon Interest £550.

The Company have run behind hand for severall years by means of the great sumes laid out upon this Estate.