48 BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM. 
of Lewisham led through the City of London one hundred of his 
parishioners to Tottenam High Cross and there petitioned his 
Majesty against the privileges granted to our clients in the 
common of Westwood, and made many and slanderous accusa- 
tions against them thereby filling the ear of his most sacred 
Majesty with injurious regard of our clients. And whereas our 
clients are desirous to maintain the good esteem of their most 
dread sovereign and the peaceable occupation of the lands that 
have been granted to them and which they have at much cost 
fenced, etc., they desire to be confirmed in their possession.”’ 
Mr. Colfe appears to have heard of this petition, and being 
now thoroughly aroused, he, in the name of the parishioners, 
addressed petitions not only to the Earl of Salisbury but to the 
Earl of Somerset, Lord High Chamberlain, and to the Archbishop 
of Canterbury. This last gives a good picture of the proceedings, 
and may, therefore, fitly be quoted here. 
‘To y® right reverend father in God the Lord Archbishop of 
Canterbury his Grace Primate and Metropolitan of all England 
and one of his Majesties most Hon. Privy Councell. The humble 
petition of his Majesties poor tenants y* inhabitants of Lewsham 
in Kent neere Greenwich. 
‘*Most humbly shew to your grace many hundreds of y* 
poore distressed inhabitants of Lewsham yt whereas we have time 
out of mind quietly enjoyed a wast peece of ground of 500 acres 
called ye Comon of Westwood (as we can shew by auncient deeds 
since y® 5th or oth yeare of King Henry y* 5th being 196 years 
past, by an Act of Parliament reserving y* commons of y® manor 
of Lewsham to y® inhabitants, by y* Kings owne records calling 
it Westwood lying open and common and by witnesses for 80 
yeares as long as man can remember) yet Robert Raynes, Innocent 
Lanier and Henry Newport three of his Majesties servants ob- 
tained a grant and a lease for 60 yeares from his Majesty of y* 
said common upon a rent of 40 markes by y* yeare and y® last 
terme impleaded your poor suppliants in y* Court of Exchequer 
and gott a verdict and judgment and are now closing y® said 
common to y® utter vndoing of above 500 poore people. And 
whereas thei had possessed diverse of y* nobles and by them hade 
meanes to informe his Majesty that only 2 or 3 had y* chief benefitt 
of ye common and not y® poore, we were inforced to goe about 
and 100% of vs y® 19 of December with petition to y* Kings 
Majestie for his mercifull favore, who most graciously promised we 
should have justice and in y® end referred y* consideracon of our 
petition to y® Lords of his Privy Councell. We most humbly desire 
your grace when our petition shall come to be heard before you 
that your grace will afford us your gracious favour for our quiet 
enjoying of y® said common, it being as we do solemnly protest a 
chief stay and maintenance for pasture of cattell, furses and bushes 
for fyering to above 500 poore people and we shall pray to God 
for your graces health long life and eternall happiness.” 
