Leather

Leather.

I. 1. Letter from Sir Roger Manwood and Thomas Meade (fn. 1) to the Lord Mayor, (fn. 2), respecting a controversy between the Free and Foreign Cordwainers of London, which had been referred to them by the Star Chamber. The Free Cordwainers had declared that the Foreign Cordwainers (paying their quarterage money to them) should be free to buy leather in the Leadenhall Markets (fn. 3) as they were; the Foreign Cordwainers declared that they were only permitted to buy leather on the Monday, and not upon Wednesday and Friday, as the Free Cordwainers did. They requested the Lord Mayor to inform them of the reason why the Foreign Cordwainers were so restrained.
Serjeants' Inn, Fleet Street, 25th April, 1580.

I. 2. Letter from the Lord Mayor in reply, stating that he had called before him and his brethren (the Aldermen), the Wardens, and some of the Ancients (Assistants) of the Free Cordwainers, who denied that they had either yielded or promised the Foreign Cordwainers that they should be free to buy leather in the Leadenhall Market, and reminding their Lordships that, even if they had done so, they had no authority to prejudice the interests of the City. He also directs their attention to the Act of Parliament of the fifth year of Her Majesty's reign, (fn. 4) which specially enacted that foreigners might not only buy in Leadenhall on Monday, but during the rest of the week in the Markets of Southwark.
26th April, 1580.

I. 101. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor, informing him that the Counsel for the Foreign Cordwainers had laid certain information before the Court of Star Chamber; that they had also received letters from the Lord Chief Baron and Mr. Justice Meade, who had been appointed by that Court to settle the matters in controversy between them and the Free Cordwainers. The Council direct that the Foreign Cordwainers be permitted to buy leather at all accustomed markets within the City, the same as the Free Cordwainers, until the next Court of Parliament, unless in the mean time good cause be shown to the contrary.
23rd June, 1580.

I. 628. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer, stating that Her Majesty had granted her Letters Patent to Mr. Edward Darcie, of the Court, for the view, search, and sealing of all such Leather as had not been provided for by Statute, assigning to him for the same after the rate of 10d. upon a dozen of lesser skins, and for some Buffes 10d. a skin. This being very prejudicial to former patents granted to the Companies, and no less hurtful to the Commonwealth of the realm, the City had set down certain reasons and inconveniences which would arise, and forwarded them to the Council, requesting their consideration and recommendation to Her Majesty for revoking the said Patent. They besought his good offices to obtain the revocation of the grant.
3rd February, 1592.

I. 632. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer, stating that he had a laid a copy of the Patent lately granted to Mr. Darcie before the Court of Common Council, who were of opinion that the search and allowance of leather had already been granted to the City by Charter from Her Majesty's progenitors, and confirmed by Her Majesty, besides the Patent and Privileges granted to the Fellowship of Leatherseller, for the same object. In order to peruse the Charters and privileges accorded to the City, as well as to seek the advice of their learned counsel, they had requested Mr. Darcie to refrain from publishing his Patent for seven nights, which he had refused, requiring the same to be published immediately. The Lord Mayor requested his Lordship's good favour in excusing him from complying therewith, and in the mean time besought him to bring the matter to the notice of Her Majesty, and obtain a final stay of the grant to Mr. Darcie.
30th January, 1592.

I. 641. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer, to the same effect as No. 632.
27th January, 1592.

I. 643. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer, stating that he had forwarded the City's reply to Mr. Darcie's answer. As to the inconveniences that would ensue by his Patent to the Commonwealth, he was unable to see how the same could be answered by Mr. Darcie, and therefore he had only set down in brief the points the City purposed to insist upon. With regard to the complaint made to the Council by Mr. Dewell, (fn. 5) the Common Hunt, of the wrong done to him in disappointing him of the office of Waterbailiff, of which he alleged he had a reversion through the intercession of the late Lord Chancellor, the grant had been made to him upon conditions which he had failed to comply with.
2nd March, 1592.

I. 647. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer, informing him that, in obedience to his suggestion, he had directed the Counsel of the City to attend upon Mr. Attorney-General and Mr. Solicitor, touching Mr. Darcie's Patent. Finding that Mr. Recorder had gone into the country, he had sent to him, requiring him to return with all speed to attend the meeting.
20th March, 1592.

I. 649. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer, relative to the consultation to be had touching Mr. Darcie's Patent. Their only desire for delay was the absence of Mr. Recorder, but having every confidence in the Counsel of the Crown, the City had directed such of their Counsel as were at hand to attend the conference, either this afternoon or upon Monday next as might be appointed.
11th March, 1592.

I. 651. Letter from the Court of Aldermen to the Lords of the Council, informing them of an assault committed by Mr. Darcie, one of the gentlemen of Her Majesty's Privy Chamber, upon Sir George Barnes, (fn. 6) Knight, Alderman, at the house of the Lord Mayor, in his presence and that of Dr. Fletcher, at a conference concerning his Patent for the search of leather. A true report, testified by those present, had been forwarded for the information of the Council. The assault was the more unlawful, being done in the house and in the presence of the Lord Mayor, His Majesty's Lieutenant within the City. The matter becoming known to the apprentices and others thereabouts, the Lord Mayor with difficulty defended Mr. Darcie (whose life was in danger), and had him conveyed away. They requested the Council to take the case into their consideration.
22nd March, 1592.

I. 652. Letter from the Court of Aldermen to the Lord Treasurer, excusing the delay which had taken place with reference to the conference to be held touching Mr. Darcie's Patent, and requesting him to fix some day in the following week for the hearing of the cause.
22nd March, 1591 (2).

II. 14. Letter from Lord Burghley to the Lord Mayor, touching Her Majesty's Patent to Mr. Darcie, of her Privy Chamber, for the search and sealing of leather.
1st September, 1594.

II. 70. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord High Treasurer, concerning the Patent granted to Mr. Darcie.
4th September, 1594.

II. 82. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council, enclosing a Petition from certain prisoners of the Company of Leathersellers. complaining of the great injustice inflicted upon them and the rest of the Citizens, by the Patent granted to Mr. Darcie, and begging that a trial at law might be held to determine the question.
23rd January, 1594.

II. 83. Copy of the Petition to the Queen.

II. 84. Articles containing the enormities of Mr. Darcie's Patent, and why the same could work no such effect as was pretended, for reforming the abuses committed in making and selling of leather.

II. 119. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council, enclosing a Petition from the wives of certain Leathersellers, who had been imprisoned, complaining of the great extremity offered unto them by Mr. Edward Darcie, in the pursuit of his Patent—a thing very grievous to this whole City—and beseeching that the said Leathersellers might be freed from prison and molestation, and permitted to follow their vocation.
6th November, 1595.

II. 126. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council, begging permission to take law proceedings to test the validity of the Patents granted to this City and to Mr. Darcie, for the search and sealing of leather.
27th November, 1595.

II. 142. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council, acknowledging the receipt of their message signifying Her Majesty's intention to revoke her Patent granted to Mr. Edmund Darcie, upon conformity of a competent fine of 4,000l., to be paid to Her Highness by the City of London and the Company of Leathersellers; and beseeching the Queen's clemency towards the citizens, on account of the dearth existing, and the subsidies lately levied upon them, and that Her Majesty would not insist upon such a fine for the redemption of a right granted to them by charter, which they had never yet forfeited.
24th January, 1595.

III. 171. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to the Lords of the Council, stating that about two years previously one Philip Onslowe had obtained a Patent for the sole gilding and painting of leather, pretending to be the first inventor thereof, and informing them that one Paul Dickinson, a Freeman, had practised it for two years, and one Buckett for ten years, before the granting of the Patent; and that Dickinson was by order of the Patent restrained from using the mystery, in which they had satisfied themselves he was skilful. The Patentee had assigned his Patent to two citizens, named Higgins and Downes, who had sent for foreign workmen from beyond seas. The Court, conceiving it not to have been the King's intention to take the labour from his subjects and give it to strangers fetched hither on purpose, and believing the suggestions upon which the Patent was obtained to be untrue, prayed the Council to intercede with His Majesty either to revoke the Patent or to allow Dickinson and any other English subject, having skill therein, to practise the art, notwithstanding the Patent.
10th August, 1614.

VII. 112. Letter of the King for reformation of abuses occasioned by the inefficiency of the officers appointed to search and seal tanned leather, directing the Lord Mayor, on St. Bartholomew's Day next, to admit and swear into the said offices for the year ensuing, the eight persons of whom the four Companies using the cutting of leather made certificate to the Attorney-General to be honest and expert, and to see that in future none were admitted but the best experienced and honest men upon the certificate of the said Companies; that the said Companies were careful and diligent in their quarterly search; and that the tanners reported where they found hides gashed, in order that the offenders might be punished.
17th April, 1634.

VIII. 132. Same as No. 112, Vol. VII.
17th April, 1634.