Such squares as then existed, as Lincoln’s Inn Fields, had taken the place of Smithfield as a place of public resort. They were now laid out in three separate fields; these were surrounded by mulberry-trees. It was a common complaint that in summer evenings after work was over ballad singers stationed themselves at every street corner and bawled their songs to an admiring and a listening crowd, that their songs were coarse and lewd—perhaps it is the Puritan minister who complains,—and that young girls stood among the audience listening and laughing. In 1618 the chimney-sweepers sent a petition to Sir Robert Naunton stating that householders generally neglected to get their chimneys swept, to the great danger of fire and the starvation of their kind, 200 in number; and they prayed that the citizens might be compelled to have their chimneys swept at proper times, and that an overseer should be appointed to look after this duty. The Lord Mayor reported that it was unnecessary to appoint another overseer, because there were already officers annually sworn to inspect chimneys. So nothing more is heard of the chimney-sweep and his grievances. The subject of the City laystalls is unsavoury. But the removal of waste matter is always a trouble in every town. In 1670 orders were made for laystalls to be established at various points. It must be understood that all kinds of rubbish, ordure, decaying vegetables, etc., were shot out upon the laystall; when it was near the river the contents were from time to time shovelled out into the ebb tide. The following is the list of the laystalls as appointed in 1670:— {Billingsgate Ward {Bridge „ {Langbourn „ “(1) Dowgate Dock {Cornhill „ {Candlewick „ {Vintry „ {Walbrook „ {Dowgate „ {Portsoken Ward {Tower „ (2) Mile End {Aldgate „ {Duke’s Place Ward {Lyme Street „ (3) Holloway Lane End {Bishopsgate Within Ward { „ Without „ {Cripplegate Within and Without Ward {Aldersgate Without Ward (4) Bunhill Fields {Bassishaw „ {Coleman Street „ {Broad Street „ (5) Laystall at or near 3 Cranes {Cheap Ward and in Dunghill Lane, near {Cordwainer Ward Broken Wharf, till Key is {Queenhithe „ there laid open. Afterwards {Bread Street „ a Laystall at Puddle Dock