66 History of the Company. 



instance, we have mentioned the *' Adam and Eve 

 without Temple Bar," the " Crown at Holborn 

 Conduit," the " Blue Boar at Holborn Conduit," 

 the ''Talbot" or ''White Talbot" in Wood 

 Street, the " Golden Bull in Chepe " the " Goat in 

 Chepe," the "Dolphin in Westchepe," the "White 

 Lion in Cheap," and lastly, and most famous of 

 all, the " Mearmayd Taverne in Westchepe." 



Very little interest attaches to any of these, ex- 

 The"Mermayd ceptiug the " Mermaid," which stood 



Tavern." q^i the Same side of the street as, 

 and close to Saddlers' Hall, on a spot w^hich may 

 be identified with a fair amount of ease, between 

 Gutter Lane and Foster Lane. The earliest 

 mention of it in the Company's books is on the 

 14th February, 1614: — 



" This dale likewise Richard Harrison is fyned in ten 

 shillings for fetching of wyne the last q'ter daie-at the 

 Mearemayd, in West Chepe, being formerly inty- 

 mated to fetch it elsewhere by reason of an offence 

 committed by the new Tennt vpon the Lord Mayor's 

 daie last." 



Again, on the 27th May, 1628 : — 



"At this Court Thomas Clowes desired to have his 

 Lease of the Mearemayd Tavern, made equal with the 

 terme he hath in the house some tyme graunted to 

 Mr. Fleet out of w''^' hee hath taken three roomes to 

 add vnto the Taverne. The w^^' his request it is referred 

 to the view of Mr. Warden Houghton Mr. Warden 

 Symson John Laney and Nathaniel Bush." 



This tavern was destroyed in the Great Fire, 



