Obs. [LEASE sb.3] One who traffics in leases.
1549. Latimer, 7th Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 208. No hore mongers fayth, no lease mongers fayth, no seller of benefices fayth.
1550. Crowley, Epigr., 1169. Of late a leasemongar of London laye sycke, And thyncking to dye, his conscience dyd him pricke.
1615. Stow’s Ann., 868/1. Many houses … were all very sudainely inhabited….to the great … aduantage of Landlords and Leasemongers.
1884. Q. Rev., Jan., 117. Either by the landlord or the ‘leasemonger’ farms and tenements were let to the highest bidder.
So † Lease-monging.
1586. Ferne, Blaz. Gentrie, 99. If such a one … through good husbandrye, cheuisauncing, leasemonging … shall rise vp to a reuenew of hundredes.
