Smithfield, Long Lane, Bartholomew Close, Cloth Fair, and Duck Lane.

West Smithfield--or, rather, Smoothfield, according to Stow--is an
open place, containing little more than three acres of ground at
present, of an irregular figure, surrounded with buildings of
various kinds. Here is held one of the greatest markets of oxen and
sheep in Europe, as may easily be imagined when it appears to be the
only market for live cattle in this great city, which is held on
Mondays and Fridays. There is also a market for horses on Fridays;
nor is there anywhere better riding-horses to be purchased, if the
buyer has skill, though it must be confessed there is a great deal
of jockeying and sharping used by the dealers in horseflesh. As for
coach-horses, and those fit for troopers, they are usually purchased
in the counties to the northward of the town. The famous fair on
the feast of St. Bartholomew also is held in this place, which lasts
three days, and, by the indulgence of the City magistrates,
sometimes a fortnight. The first three days were heretofore
assigned for business, as the sale of cattle, leather, &c., but now
only for diversion, the players filling the area of the field with
their booths, whither the young citizens resort in crowds.

The public buildings in this ward are Bridewell, Serjeants' Inn in
Fleet Street, the Temple, the Six Clerks' Office, the Rolls,
Serjeants' Inn in Chancery Lane, Clifford's Inn, the House of the
Royal Society, Staple's Inn, Bernards' Inn, and Thavie's Inn,
Justice Hall in the Old Bailey, and the Fleet Prison, with the
churches of St. Bartholomew, and the hospital adjoining, the
churches of St. Sepulchre, St. Andrew, Holborn, St. Bride's, and St.
Dunstan's-in-the-West.