[164]. On 31st October, 1617, a warrant was issued to Thos. Norton, “Surveyor of His Majesty’s Wayes and Passages,” calling attention to the fact that in spite of the King’s commands, “sundry persons have gotten and used false keyes for opening the lockes and gates of His Majesties private passages through the feildes neere the Cittie of London, and that divers unruly coachmen, carters, and others, have and doe use with great hammers and other like tools to breake open the said gates.” (Privy Council Register, XXIX., 153.) This warrant seems almost too late to refer to Great Queen Street, and yet the fact that it also deals with the steps to be taken against “one Holford and his tennantes” for their default in allowing “the streete in Drury Lane in his Maties ordinary way” to be very noisome, seems to point to the Theobalds route. Perhaps the fields north of Holborn are referred to.
[165]. The entrance became known as “Hell Gate” or “Devil’s Gap.” The widening of the street to its present measurements is said to have been carried out in 1765 (Blott’s Blemundsbury, p. 370).
[166]. Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1611–18, James I., vol. 69 (36). Robert Cecil was created Earl of Salisbury in May, 1605; he died in May, 1612.
[167]. This form of the name occurs frequently.
[169]. In January, 1669–70, references occur to “John Jones, the master of the White Swan in Queen Street, Drury Lane,” and “John Jones, victualler, at the White Swan in Queen’s Street” (Historical MSS. Commission, Ho. of Commons Calendar, App. to 8th Rep. I., 155b, 157a). As late as 8th April, 1677, a letter was addressed to “Don Manuel Fonseca, Queen Street” (Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1677–8, p. 82). On the other hand, the title Great Queen Street is found in 1667 as the address of Viscount Conway (Ibid., 1667, p. 535), and occurs even in a passage which must have been written at least fifteen years earlier (see p. [50]).
[170]. See, e.g. Wheatley and Cunningham’s London, Past and Present, III., p. 135: “The houses in the first instance were built on the south side only”; Heckethorn’s Lincoln’s Inn Fields, p. 171; Parton’s Hospital and Parish of St. Giles, p. 133.
[173]. Lease to Edward Fort of 18th May, 1612, quoted in indenture of 10th February, 1625, between Jane and Richard Holford and Jeoffery Prescott (Close Roll, 22 Jas. I. (2601)).