Records of the Cordwainers and Glovers: Documents to 1601

Records of the Cordwainers and Glovers.

The following is a rough 17th-century partial translation of Elizabeth's confirmation of the earlier grants to the Cardiff Cordwainers' and Glovers' Guild. It has been compiled by collating the version printed in the Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, 20 April 1861, with another imperfect copy among the Fonmon Castle muniments.

Elizabeth Dei gratiâ Angliae Franciae et Hiberniae Regina Fidei Defensor omnibus ad quos presentes litterae pervenerint Salutem. Inspeximus quasdem Litteras Patentes domini Richardi quondam Ducis Gloucestriae Magni Camerarii Constabularii et Admiralli Angliae et Domini Glamorgan et Morgannuck sigillo Cancellariae Villae suae de Cardiff sigillatas de confirmatione quarundam Litterarum Patentum per dominum Edwardum tertium quondam Regem Angliae progenitorem nostrum Hugoni de la Spencer juniori Domino Glamorgan et Morgannuck heredibus et successoribus suis ac Burgensibus Artis et Mysterii de le Cordyners et Glovers Villae de Cardiff et successoribus suis imperpetuum factarum concessarum et confirmatarum sub eo verborum tenore qui sequitur: Ricardus Dux Glocestrie Magnus Camerarius Constabularius et Admirallus Anglie et Dominus Glamorgan et Morgannuck omnibus ad quos presentes litere peruenerint Salutem. (fn. 1) We have beholden the Letters Patent and grants of our predecessors, Lords of Glamorgan and Morgannok, of famous memory, granted at first by our good and gracious lord, King Edward the Second, as followeth: Edward, by the grace of God King of England, Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine, to all Our Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earls, Barons, Justices, Provosts, Sheriffs, Officers, Mayors, Bailiffs and all Our faithful people, Greeting. Know ye that We of Our especial grace have granted to Our beloved Hugh de la Spenser, Lord of Glamorgan and Morgannok, and to his heirs and successors for ever, and to the Burgesses of the Arts or Crafts of Cordwainers and Glovers of the Town of Cardiff and to their successors for ever, for good rule and order to be kept in their several crafts and liberties, all and every of these articles following. These reverend men being witnesses: Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate and Metropolitan of England; John, Bishop of Norwich; John, Bishop of Chichester; Adomar de Valence, Earl of Pembroke; Edmund, Earl of Arundel; John de Segrave, Chancellor; William Martin; and Richard Daumory, Steward of Our Household. Given by Our own hand at Westminster the fourth day of March in the seventeenth year of Our reign [1323/4.] Also confirmed by King Edward the Third to Edward de la Spenser and to the Burgesses of Cardiff of the several Crafts aforesaid, the three and thirtieth year of his Grace's reign of England and the twentieth of France [1359/60]. And also confirmed from time to time by the Lords of Glamorgan to the aforesaid Burgesses. And We Richard, Duke of Gloucester, as much as in Us lieth, do accept, ratify, confirm and allow all the former grants as aforesaid. First, We do grant to Our Burgesses aforesaid of the Arts and Crafts aforesaid that they may lawfully have a house or hall to common in when they have occasion for matters concerning their Craft. And they shall choose yearly by the consent of all the Brethren two of the most discreet men to be called Masters for the year, to rule, correct, oversee and keep good order in their Company. And also We grant that they take two of their Journeymen, by consent of all the Craft, to be called Wardens of the Company for the year. And they shall warn all the Brethren when the Masters of the Company shall have occasion to confer together in their Hall; and every Brother being warned and neglecting to come, and every Master, shall lose three shillings and four pence, and every Journeyman twelve pence; the one half to Us, Our heirs and successors, and the other towards finding the poor decayed Brethren of the Company and towards the burying of strangers of that Craft dying in poverty within the said Town. Also we grant to the Masters for the time being authority to fine or amerce any offender according to their discretion. And if any manner of person make any brawl or tumult in the place of assembly, he or they so offending shall lose twenty shillings; the one half to Us, Our heirs and successors, and the other as aforesaid. And if any Journeyman or servant shall be wronged by the Master for any right to him belonging, and complaint be made to the said Masters, that Master shall lose ten shillings, to be impleaded to the uses aforesaid. And if any shopholder or master "sloke" away any of his master's servants, and any proof be had thereof, the same shall lose twenty shillings; the one half to Us Our heirs and successors, and the other as aforesaid. Also We grant that no manner of person or persons whatsoever shall keep any shop of the Crafts aforesaid in the Town of Cardiff aforesaid, unless he shall have served seven years as apprentice in the said town, on pain of twenty shillings a month from every man so offending; the one half to Us, Our heirs and successors for ever, and the other as aforesaid. Also if any person or persons whatsoever shall come into the said Town with false indentures, thereby to seek the Freedom of the said Craft, the Masters of the said Company shall send some credible messenger, on the costs and charges of the said party, unto the town or city where the same indenture doth specify; and if the same indenture be not recorded in the records of the said town or city, then the said indenture is to be of none effect. Also it is provided that every prentice is to pay for his Freedom in the said Craft three shillings and four pence, and every other foreigner shall pay five pounds if he may obtain the good will of the Company; the one half to Us, Our heirs and successors, and the other as aforesaid. Also every foreigner must dwell one whole year in the Town aforesaid, before he may have the Freedom of the said Company; and also bring a testimonial to show of his behaviour where he hath before dwelt; and also shall show himself a skilful workman, before he may be received to be of the said Company. Also, if any Master or Brother of this Company shall hereafter seek to bring in any friend of his, contrary to the true meaning of these Articles or Orders and the good will of all the Company or any three of them, that Master or Brother so offending shall lose forty shillings for every fault; the one half to Us and to Our successors; and the party that seeketh to come in to be free shall pay the uttermost penny as is contained in this Order. And if the Master of the Company shall seem to take any money less than is due or laid down in this Order of any person or persons, the said Master shall pay double so much money to the uses abovesaid. Also We grant unto Our Burgesses aforesaid that no informer, searcher, promoter or any other person or persons shall make or intermeddle from henceforth with any manner of wares belonging unto the shoemakers of the Town of Cardiff, but only the Masters and Wardens of the said Company, upon pain of forty shillings; the one half to Us, Our heirs and successors, and the other as aforesaid. Also We grant unto our Burgesses aforesaid that no manner of person or persons whatsoever from henceforth shall pitch or set up any standing of shoes, boots or any other wares belonging to the said Craft, anywhere in the Town of Cardiff but in common shops, on pain of forty shillings for every such fault upon every man so offending; the one half to Us, Our heirs and successors, and the other half as aforesaid. And that no manner of person shall sell any wares belonging unto glovers in this Town of Cardiff aforesaid, unless they have been prentices for seven years to the said Craft, on pain of forty shillings to the aforesaid uses. Also We grant to Our Burgesses aforesaid that no forestaller or any other person or persons whatsoever of the Crafts aforesaid shall set up any shop, booth or standing within seven miles compass of the Town of Cardiff, unless it be in a borough town at any time or times, or anywhere as in villages or churchyards or by church doors on Sundays or saints' days or offering days or any other times, for to annoy the Town and Market of Cardiff, upon pain of forty shillings every fault, the party being warned. And for every time that every booth-holder or forestaller or any other shall be warned and not obey Our orders, he or they shall lose every month forty shillings; the one half to Us, Our heirs and successors, and the other half to the uses aforesaid, to be recovered in any of Our Courts, wherein no wager of Law, essoign or protection, shall be allowed. Also that no manner of person or persons shall buy any wool-skins in the said Town of Cardiff but the Burgesses of that Craft, upon pain of forty shillings to the uses aforesaid. Also We grant that yearly for ever hereafter all the Masters and Journeymen of the said Crafts shall assemble themselves together upon the feast of Saint Michael Archangel yearly, at their common Hall of their said Crafts, at the hour appointed by the two Masters of the Crafts for the time being. And every Master therein making default shall lose three shillings and four pence, and every Journeyman twelve pence, to be paid to the uses abovesaid; and then and there all the said Masters and Brethren shall elect and choose two new Masters for that year then next following, of the most discreet of their Company. And the old Masters shall yearly hold their accounts justly and truly, in the presence of all the Brethren and Company, on pain of forty shillings to be paid to the uses aforesaid. And every shopholder refusing the office or execution thereof, being once elected to be Master for the said year, shall lose forty shillings to the uses aforesaid. And every Warden elected and who shall refuse the said room shall lose twenty shillings to the uses aforesaid. Also We grant that no manner of person or persons of the Town of Cardiff, of the Crafts aforesaid, shall from henceforth take any servant to be instructed or taught in the Crafts aforesaid under the term of seven years, on pain of ten shillings every month any person so offending. Also every Apprentice also every "gron" [?] of Cardiff is to pay three shillings and four pence, and every foreigner or any other person not being prentice is to pay five pounds, to the uses aforesaid. And every Master is to record his prentice in the records of the Town. And also the Masters and Wardens shall go about quarterly to search and enquire and view the wares of the said Company, to see whether there be any unlawful wares in their custody; and if they do find any such wares, the party so offending shall lose three shillings and four pence for every fault; and the Masters and Wardens so neglecting to do their duty shall lose for every fault four shillings, the one half to Us and the other to the uses aforesaid. And the same Wardens for the time being shall give and yield their accounts quarterly before the said Masters for the time being, upon pain of four shillings to the uses aforesaid. Also it shall be lawful for the two Masters and Wardens of the said Crafts for the time being for ever after to levy by distresses all and singular such sum or sums of money as shall be found due for any offence contrary to these articles aforesaid; and the same distresses are to be brought into the Hall of the said Crafts, there to remain until payment be made of the said forfeiture. And if any Brother of the said Company or Craft do withstand or gainsay the said Masters, or make rescue against the said Masters or Wardens of the said Crafts, for so doing he shall lose forty shillings to the uses aforesaid. And if any Brother do withstand or gainsay the said Masters, having sufficient distress to levy the amercement for the said offences, then he or they so offending shall lose five pounds to the uses aforesaid; to be recovered in any of Our Courts wheresoever, wherein no wager of Law or essoign or protection shall be allowed. Also, where anything shall be concluded by most voices to be for the commodity and profit of the Company, if any particular man will seem to controul or be obstinate to the greatest number, he shall forfeit forty shillings to the uses aforesaid. Also, when there shall be any assembling together of those that are summoned to appear, and any shall in anywise depart from their Hall until they shall have fully concluded and ended the purposed assembling together, every person or persons so offending of the said Company shall lose four shillings to the uses aforesaid to be paid. Also to all these ordinances truly and duly to be kept on our part, we Richard Peers and Philip Broock, being Masters of the said Crafts, and all the rest of the said Brethren incorporated within the said Town of the said Crafts, do bind us and our successors to our good and gracious Lord abovesaid yearly for ever to give a true reckoning of all the amercements and penalties abovesaid in our good and gracious Lord's Exchequer of Cardiff, before the Mayor of the said Town. And the said Masters are yearly to be by him the said Mayor sworn upon their corporate oath, at the feast of Saint Michael Archangel, for the accomplishment of all the former articles in all things as far as in them lyeth. (fn. 2) Et nos Ricardus dux Gloecestrie ex nostra gracia speciali confirmauimus omnes presentes suprascriptas predictis burgensibus nostris ville nostre de Cardiff post datum presencium imperpetuum. In cuius rei testimonium sigillum Cancellarie nostre de Cardiff apponi fecimus. Teste me ipso apud Cardiff predicta in festo Annunciacionis beate

Ex'tu[m] vj° die Septembris 1666 p^r me
Will: Thomas,
Cl: Supervis.'
Examined by me
F. Edward, ald.

R. O. Baga de Secretis. Pouch 18. East. 4 Ed. VI. 1550.

Attorney General's Application for a Writ of Summons.

Villa de cardyff in Com' Glamorgan ss. M'd' q'd Henricus Bradshawe Armig' Attorn' d'ni Regis Gen'all' qui p' eodem d'no Rege sequit'r venit hic in cur' d'c'i d'ni Regis coram ipso Rege Apud

on the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the twenty second year of the reign of King Edward the Fourth after the conquest of England [25 March 1444]. And so much unto all whom it doth or may concern We notify by these presents. In witness whereof We have caused these Our letters to be made patent. Witness Myself at Westminster the 21st day of May in the thirty-first year of Our reign [1589.]

Examined 6 December 1666 by me
William Thomas, clerk, Surveyor.
Examined by me
F. Edward, Alderman.

Westm' in com' Midd' x^mo die Maij Anno regni Edwardi sexti dei gra' Angl' ffraunc' & hib'nie Regis fidei Defens' & in t'ra Eccl'ie Anglicane & hib'nie supremi Capitis quart' Et p' eodem d'no Rege dat cur' hic Intelligi et Informari q'd Will'us Wastall Shomaker, lodovicus ffrowde Shomaker, Howeldus ffluyd Shomaker, Will'us Wracksam Shomaker, Will'us Rider Saddeler & Evanus Cutteler vltimo die Junij Anno regni Regis Edwardi sexti t'cio vi et armis videl't gladiis baculis arcub's sagittis & fustib's in vna domo siue capell' voc' Seynt Peryns chappell iacen' et ixisten' in p'ochia de s'c'o Johanne in cardyff in p'd'c'o com' Glamorgan' sup' possessionem d'c'i d'ni Regis Intrauerunt Quequidem domus siue capell' ad d'c'm d'm Reg? de iure p'tinet et spectat Ac in possessione d'c'i d'ni Regis fuerunt [sic] Et q'd d'c'i Will'us Wastall, lodovicus ffrovde, howeldus ffluyde, Will's Wracksam, Will's Ryder & Evan's cutteler exit' et p'ficua inde a ultimo die Junij anno regni regis Edwardi sexti quart' usq' diem exhibic'o'is hui's Informac'onis iniuste habuerunt et p'ceperunt et ad vsum suum p'pr'm converterunt contra pacem d'c'i d'ni Regis coronam & dignit' suas unde idem Attorn' d'c'i d'ni Regis petit advisamentū cur' in p'miss' Et q'd p'd'c'i Will'm's Wastall, lodovicus ffrowde, Howeldus ffluyd, Will'us Wracksam, Will's Rider & Evanus Cutteler som' hic ad respondend' d'c'o d'no Regi in p'miss'.

Henr' bradshawe.

Attorney General's Application for a Writ of "Quo Warranto."

Villa de kardyff in Com' Glamorgan ss. M'd' q'd Henricus Bradshawe Armig' Attorn' d'ni Regis Gen'all' qui p' eodem d'no Rege sequit'r venit hic in cur' d'c'i d'ni Regis coram ipso Rege Apud Westm' in Com' Midd' x^mo die Maij anno regni eiusdem d'ni Regis nunc Edwardi sexti dei gra' Angl' ffraunc' & hib'nie Regis fidei Defens' & in t'ra Eccl'ie Anglicane & hib'nie supremi Capitis quart' Et p' eodem d'no Rege dat cur' hic Intelligi et Informari q'd Johe's Kyett & Will'm's yeman Ball'i de kardyff p'd'c'a in com' p'd'c'o, p' spaciu' triu' menc' vltimor' p't't' & amplius vsi fuerunt et adhuc vtunt'r absqu' aliquo Warrunt' seu Regali concessione diu'sas libertates et ffr'unches' subsequent' infra villam p'd'c'am videl't h'ere tenere gaudere & ex'cere officiu' Scrutatoris et Gaugiat' in portub's de cardyff p'dict' ac tenere et exercere officiu' cokettoris siue ad ffaciend' deliberand' & dand' cokettes & certific' infra port'm ville p'd'c'e & crecos port'm adiacen' ac ad recipiend' sufficient' securitat' & obligac'ones in tracc'ones m'chandizar' quar'cu'q' & custumarior' em'gen' siue induct' in portub's de cardyff p'dict' siue in crecis eisdem portub's adiacen' et p'sertim p' Alducc'ons siue ffrandelen' transport' in alias regiones butiri lan' pan' siue alicui's metalli de portub's aut crecis pred'c'is Aceciam ad custodiend' et cons'uand' om'es et omnimod' seis' & fforisfacturas in eisdem portubus & crecis contingent' Necnon h'ere tenere gaudere et exercere quasd'm domos siue capell' d'c'i d'ni Regis voc' Seynt Peryns chappell in vill' de kardyff p'dict' in d'c'i d'ni Regis Regie p'rogatiue graue dampnu' et p'iudiciu' Ac in magnu' contemptu' eiusdem d'ni Regis coronam et dignitat' suas vnde idem Attorn' d'c'i d'ni Regis qui pro eodem d'no Rege sequit'r petit aduisamentu curie in p'miss' et debit? Regis p'cessu[u] versus eod' fieri ad respondend' d'c'o d'no Regi quo Warranto clamant h'ere libertat' & ffraunches' p'dict'.

Henr' bradshawe.

[Translation.]

Town of cardyff in the county of
Glamorgan, to wit.

Memorandum that Henry Bradshawe, esquire, Attorney General of our lord the King, who prosecutes for our said lord the King, cometh hither into the Court of our said lord the King, before the King himself at Westminster in the county of Middlesex, the 10th day of May in the fourth year of the reign of Edward the Sixth, by God's grace of England, France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, and on earth of the Church of England and Ireland Supreme Head, And for our said lord the King gives the Court here to understand and be informed that William Wastall, Shomaker; Lewis ffrowde, Shomaker; Howeld ffluyd, Shomaker; William Wracksam, Shomaker; William Rider, Saddeler, & Evan Cutteler, on the last day of June in the third year of the reign of King Edward the Sixth, [30 June 1549] by force and with arms, to wit, with swords, staves, bows, arrows and whips, in a house or chapel called Seynt Peryns chappell, lying and being in the parish of Saint John in cardyff, in the aforesaid county of Glamorgan, entered upon the possession of our said lord the King; Which house or chapel of right belongs and pertains to our said lord the King and were [sic] in the possession of our said lord the King; And that the said William Wastall, lewis ffrovde, howeld ffluyde, William Wracksam, William Ryder and Evan cutteler the issues and profits thereof from the last day of June in the fourth year of the reign of King Edward the sixth until the day of the shewing of this Information wrongfully had and received and converted to their own use, against the peace of our said lord the King, his crown and dignity; wherefore he the Attorney of our said lord the King prays the advice of the Court in the premisses, And that the aforesaid William Wastall, lewis ffrowde, Howeld ffluyd, William Wracksam, William Rider and Evan Cutteler be summoned hither to answer unto our said lord the King in the premisses.

Henr' bradshawe.

Town of kardyff in the county of
Glamorgan, to wit.

Memorandum that [&c prout supra] John Kyett and William yeman, Bailiffs of kardyff aforesaid in the county aforesaid, by the space of three months last past, and more, have used and do yet use, without any warrant or Royal grant, the divers liberties and franchises following, within the town aforesaid, that is to say, to have, hold, enjoy and exercise the office of Searcher and Gauger in the ports of cardyff aforesaid, and to hold and exercise the office of Cocketter, for making, delivering and giving cockets and certificates within the port of the town aforesaid and the creeks adjoining the port, and for receiving sufficient securities and bonds in the carriage of whatsoever merchandises, and of customs arising in or brought to the ports of cardyff aforesaid or in the creeks adjoining those ports; and especially for "alducc'ons" or "ffrandelen'" transported into other regions, of butter, wool, bread (fn. 3) or of any metal, from the ports or creeks aforesaid. And also for safeguarding and keeping all and all manner of seizures and forfeitures in the said ports and the creeks adjacent; As also to have, hold, enjoy and use certain houses or a chapel of our said lord the King, called Seynt Peryns chappell, in the town of kardyff aforesaid; to the grievous loss and prejudice of our said lord the King's Royal prerogative, and to the great contempt of our said lord the King, his crown and dignity. Wherefore he the Attorney of our said lord the King, who prosecutes for our said lord the King, prays the advice of the Court in the premisses, and that due process may be made against them to answer unto our said lord the King by what warrant they claim to have the liberties and franchises aforesaid.

Henr' bradshawe.