Appendix A: To Memorial I

MEMORIAL I.

Appendix A (1).

Extract from "Chronicles of The Mayors And Sheriffs of London"

(Translated By H. T. Riley, Esq., M.A., Barrister-At-Law.)

"Against this it happened, about the Feast of Saint Katherine [25th November] in this year [1267] that a dispute arose between certain of the craft of the Goldsmiths and certain of the craft of the Tailors; to whom adhered on the one side and the other, some of the trade of the parmenters (fn. 1) and some of the tawyers; (fn. 2) which persons held great assemblages, and for three nights together went armed throughout the streets of the City, creating most severe conflicts among themselves. Hence without doubt, as was said, more than five hundred of these mischievous persons were collected together at night, and in the affray many of them were wounded; but still no one would (fn. 3) act a part that belongs only to the Bailiffs. For every one was waiting by force of arms to take vengeance on his adversary, against the peace and his own fealty to his Lordship the King: the Bailiffs and discreet men of the City understanding which, had more than thirty of them seized and imprisoned in Newgate; and these, on the Friday next after the Feast of Saint Katherine [25th November] appeared before Laurence de Broc, the Justiciar assigned for gaol delivery, who took proceedings against them in the King's behalf saying that they, against the peace and their fealty to his Lordship the King, had gone armed in the City, and had at night wickedly and feloniously wounded some persons, and had slain others, whose bodies, it was said, had been thrown into the Thames.

"They however denied violence and injury, &c., and as to the same put themselves upon the verdict of the venue. (fn. 4) But on the morrow, those who by the said venue were found to have been in the conflict aforesaid, were by judgment of the said Justiciar, immediately hanged, although not one among them had been convicted of homicide, mayhem, (fn. 5) or robbery. Hence, one Geoffrey, surnamed "de Beverley," a parmenter by trade, because certain of those misdoers had armed themselves in his house, and he himself had been present with them in arms in the said affray, were hanged together with twelve others who had been indicted as well goldsmiths as parmenters and tawyers. All this however was done, that others, put in awe thereby, might take warning that so the peace of his Lordship the King by all within the City might be the more rigidly maintained."

APPENDIX A (2).

Articles Of The Armourers (Rendered By Mr. Martin).

"Memorandum, that in the hustings of the Common Pleas, held on Monday, in the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, the 15th year of the reign of our lord the King Edward, son of King Edward [1322], in the presence of Sir Hamoun de Chigewell, then Mayor, Nichol de Farndon, Robert de Swatclyve, Reynaud de Conduyt, Hugh de Garton, Henry de Seccheford, Roger de Palmere, John Poyntel, Robert le Callere, John de Preston, Roger de Fowyk, Elys de Suffolk, and Simon de Abyndon, Aldermen, Richard Corbantyn and Richard de Hakeneye, Sheriffs, by assent of Hugh de Aungeye, William de Segrave, Roger Savage, Thomas de Copham, William de Langhull, Richard de Kent, Gilot le Heauberger, Hugh le Heaumer, Master Robert le Heaumer, Simon le Heaumer, Robert de Skelton, John Tany, Henry Horpol, Elys de Wodebergh, William le Heaumer, Oliver le Heaumer, William de Staunford, John de Wyght, Richard de Seyntis, William de Lyndeseie, John de Kestevene, Robert le Proude, Robert Seymer, Reynaud le Heauberger, Roger le Saltere, Richard de Blakenhale, and Geffrey — (fn. 6) armourers; it was ordained and agreed to for the common profit that henceforth armour made for sale in the City should be good and fit, according to the form which follows:—

"To wit, that hacquetons and gambesons covered with sendall or cloth of silk, should be stuffed with new cotton cloth and silk tow, and with old sendall, and in no other manner. And that white hacquetons should be stuffed with old cotton cloth, and with new cloth within and without. Also because men have found old basnets, bruised and worthless, newly covered by persons who know nothing of the trade, and they are put in hiding places and carried into the country, out of the said City, for sale, and even in the said City itself; of which men cannot discover whether they are good or bad, of which thing great danger might arise to the King and to his people, and villainous slander to the foresaid armourers and the whole City; it is ordained and agreed that no smith or other man who make the irons of basnets, shall henceforth cover any basnet himself for sale, but shall sell them out of his hand quite new and uncovered, as was customary before this time. And they shall remain uncovered until they have been seen by the four who have been sworn, or by two of them, whether they are fit for covering or not. And if there is found in the house of any armourer, or elsewhere in any house, armour for sale, whatever it be, which is not serviceable, or otherwise than is ordained, that it shall be immediately taken and carried before the Mayor and Aldermen, and by them judged good or bad according to their discretion. And to keep and oversee this matter well and loyally, Roger Savage, William le Toneler, Master Richard le Heaumer, John Tany, are sworn, and if the four cannot attend, the two shall do what is necessary." (See "Riley's London," p. 145.)

APPENDIX A (3).

Articles Of The Tailors. (fn. 7)

"John Bernes, Mayor, anno 45.—On Wednesday next after the Feast of St. Valentine, in the 45th year of the reign of King Edward the Third after the Conquest [19th February 1371], there came good men of the trade of the tailors of London, and delivered to the Mayor and Aldermen a certain bill in these words:—

"To the honourable and wise Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London, the good men of the trade of tailors of the said city, show that a grant has been made to them by our lord the king, by his letters patent, enrolled in the book F, at folio 38 of the same book; for the purpose of ordering and regulating their trade, and the faults of their servants by the view of the Mayor of the said city, or of another whom the Mayor shall depute for this purpose, and to correct and amend them by the most sufficient of the said trade, as seems best to them to do for the common profit of the people; and also that no one within the freedom of the said city, shall hold a table or shop of this trade, if he is not of the freedom of the said city; and that no one be received into the freedom for this trade, unless he is vouched for by good and loyal men of this trade, as being good, loyal, and suitable for the same trade. Many divers people using this trade in the said city, and in the suburb thereof, who are not free of the said city, have tables and shops of this trade contrary to the aforesaid grant and the freedom of the said city, of which they pray a remedy. And because the foresaid good men have ordained amongst themselves for the good government of the said trade, and for the common profit of the people, that any man of the said trade who spoils the cloths cut by him, or which he has occasion to employ, and will not make amends for his misdeeds to the complainants, nor will be ruled by the masters of this trade; that the first time he offends he shall pay to the Chamber of the Guildhall, 6s. 8d.; and to the alms of St. John the Baptist, that is to say, to the priests and poor men, 3s. 4d.; and the second time he offends, he shall pay to the said Chamber, 13s. 4d.; and to the said alms, 6s. 8d.; and the third time that he offends he shall pay to the said Chamber, 20s.; and to the said alms, 13s. 4d.; and that he shall have, at the third time, imprisonment according to your discretion; and if any of the said trade prays for any one after he is attainted for his ill-deeds, or favours the said offender in his misdeed, he shall pay to the Chamber half a mark; and that each master be bound to answer for his servant if he does not show his faults to the masters of the said trade for the time being, after that he is attainted of this. Which Ordinances the foresaid good men pray you to accept and approve, and that they may be enrolled before you, for the good government of the said trade and common profit of the people.

"And they desired that the said Articles might be here accepted and enrolled, etc., and executed according to the form of the same bill. Afterwards, viz., Thursday next after the Feast of St. Matthias the Apostle, the 45th year of the reign of King Edward the Third after the Conquest, the foresaid letters having been seen, and the premises being considered by the Mayor and Aldermen, it was agreed and granted by the said Mayor and Aldermen that the foresaid articles should be enrolled in the foresaid form, and observed for the common profit of the whole people; and that delinquents should be punished according to the form of the same articles, etc."

APPENDIX A (4).

Ordinance (fn. 8) That The Yeomen Tailors Shall Not Use Liveries (fn. 9) or Brotherhood Amongst Themselves.

"Memorandum, that 19th April the third year of the reign of King Henry V. after the Conquest (1415), it was intimated to Thomas Fauconer, Mayor, and the Aldermen of the City of London, by incessant reports, that certain servants and apprentices of the tailors of the said city, called 'yeomen taillours,' live by themselves alone in companies, and take and inhabit divers dwelling-places in the said city against the licence or will of their superiors of the said city or the masters of the same art. The inhabitants of which houses in former times, like irregular and law- less men without a head or government, have often assembled together in great numbers, and made divers assemblies and conventicles in divers places within the said city and without, and have beaten, wounded, and ill-treated many lieges of our lord the king, and especially now lately one Thomas Tropewell, one of the masters of the foresaid trade, severely, from malice and design aforethought; and have made many rescues against the servants and officers of the said city while arresting malefactors and disturbers of the peace of our lord the king; and have committed, and daily endeavour to commit, very many other evils and enormities to the injury of the peace of our lord the king and the manifest disturbance of his people. Whence divers evils and dangers to our lord the king and his people, as well as scandals and injuries to the masters of the foresaid art, who know nothing of the said evil deeds, have often happened, and will probably continue to happen for the future, unless a remedy is soon and speedily applied by the governors of the said city. Concerning which the said Mayor and Aldermen, after careful deliberation on the premises being inclined to repress this malice and these enormities, and wishing to oppose to their power, as they are bound to do, the evils, scandals, and injuries of this kind, which are likely easily to happen (which God forbid) unless they are speedily resisted, caused to appear before them in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the said city on the 25th of April then next following, Thomas Whityngham, now master, and the wardens of the trade aforesaid, to discuss the premisses why, although they have the special government of the foresaid trade, under the Mayor and Aldermen and other governors of the foresaid city, they allow their servants and apprentices to inhabit houses of this kind alone by themselves, in companies, without a superior to rule them, and to commit and perpetrate these evils and crimes so lawlessly. The said master and wardens, having first obtained leave to address the Mayor and Aldermen, by their grievous complaint signified that they were deeply grieved at these misdeeds and crimes, because scandals and many injuries daily happen to the master and good men of the foresaid art by the lawlessness of these men, and are likely to happen in the future, which God forbid, unless they are repressed. They are much concerned at the companies of these men living alone by themselves in houses, because, although they have been often warned by the same masters of the said trade to evacuate their houses, on account of their crimes committed by reason of their fellowship together in the foresaid houses, they disregard the warnings of the said masters and will not leave the foresaid houses, but have expressly refused so to do and still refuse; requiring the said Mayor and Aldermen with due instance, to deign to send for the said causes for David Brekenhok and John Stanbury, and others living in a certain house at Garlykhyth, (fn. 10) alone by themselves, in company together.

"The Mayor and Aldermen, inclining to their supplications as just and conformable to reason, ordered Otho Bris, one of the serjeants of the said Mayor, to summon for the 29th day of April then next following the said David and John Stanbury, and two or three others of the said company, to attend and answer there before the said Mayor and Aldermen for themselves and others their fellows of the foresaid company dwelling together, concerning the premises and other matters to be objected to them by the said Mayor and Aldermen. At which 29th day of April there came by virtue of the summons made to them before the said Mayor and Aldermen in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the said city, as well the said David Brekenhok and John Stanbury, as — (fn. 11), etc., to answer for them selves and their fellows; who when charged with the premises did not and could not deny that they were guilty of the many enormities and crimes then and there laid upon the said company living together in the foresaid house, as was notorious and manifest to the Court; for which they submitted themselves to the grace of the Court. Therefore, the said Mayor and Aldermen ordered the same David and John Stanbury, that they and their fellows, inhabiting the foresaid house, or the same David and John, for themselves and their fellows, should appear there before the said Mayor and Aldermen on Thursday 2nd May next, to do and fulfil whatever the said Court shall consider right in their behalf, etc.

"At which day there came thither the said David Brekenhok and John Stanbury and others for themselves and the rest of the foresaid company living together. And the foresaid Mayor and Aldermen, after careful consultation together upon the premises, being of opinion that the livery or dress in which the said servants and apprentices, like young and unstable people, congregate and assemble together yearly by themselves without the government or supervision of their superiors of the said trade, or of any others, within the said city, and further that the houses in which they live together continuously by themselves alone without any fixed government, expressly tend and redound to the breach of the peace of our lord the king, the disturbance and probably the commotion of his people, which God forbid; consider and adjudge that the servants of the foresaid trade shall be hereafter under government and rule of the Masters and Wardens of the foresaid trade, as other servants of other trades in the said city are, and are bound by law to be, and that they shall not use henceforth livery or dress, meetings or conventicles, or other unlawful things of this kind.

"And further the said Mayor and Aldermen then and there enjoined the said David Brekenhok, John Stanbury and others then and there present, that they and all their fellows inhabiting the said house at Garlykhyth, and other houses of the same kind in the said city, should depart from and leave them before Sunday, the 6th day of May next, and should not take them again or others, to live in them together by themselves alone together, in any wise for the future, on pain of imprisonment and fine to be levied at the discretion of the Mayor and Aldermen for the time being."

APPENDIX A (5).

Confirmation Of The Ordinance Made In The Time Of Thomas Fauconer, Against The Brotherhood Of Yeomen Tailors, (fn. 12) Etc.

"On the 5th day of August in the 5th year of the reign of King Henry the Fifth after the Conquest [1417], there came hither William Devenissh, John Elis, John Spencer and John Cobbe, and others of the said trade, commonly called 'Yomantaillours,' and by their petition presented to Henry Barton then Mayor and the Aldermen, prayed that they would deign to grant to them and others their fellows being of the brotherhood of 'Yomantaillours' that they might assemble on the feast of the Decollation of St. John the Baptist next following and so henceforth yearly, in the Church of St. John of Jerusalem near Smythfeld, there to offer for the deceased brothers and sisters of the said brotherhood, and to do other things which they have been accustomed to do there, etc.

"The Mayor and Aldermen, after the inspection of a certain record concerning the government of the said trade, and of the servants and yeomen of the same, in the time of Thomas Fauconer, then Mayor, entered in Folio 151 of this book, and after consultation concerning the premises, considering that an assembly of this kind, although it is sought and prayed for under a pious pretext of goodness, if it were permitted, would nevertheless manifestly tend to the infringement of the foresaid ordinance and the disturbance of the peace, as other similar assemblies in the said trade have done, order and consider that in future times no servant or apprentice of the said trade shall presume by themselves to make or enter assemblies or conventicles, at the foresaid Church of St. John or elsewhere, unless with and in presence of the Masters of the said trade, etc., on pain of imprisonment and fine to be levied according to the discretion of the Mayor and Aldermen for the time being, etc. But that the foresaid ordinance and all the other ordinances ordained for preserving the good of peace and quietness in the said trade shall remain unbroken and entire."

APPENDIX A (6).

EXTRACTS FROM THE MANUSCRIPT ACCOUNT BOOKS RELATING TO THE AFFAIRS OF THE FRATERNITY.

(Selected by Charles Trice Martin, Esq., of the Public Record Office.)

Account Book No. 2.

31 Henry VI., 9 Edward IV., 1453–1470.

Easter 31—Easter 32 Henry VI., 1453–4. Wm. Knotte, Master.

f. 1.

Receipts from lands, 106l. 12s. 8d. Fines for employing "foreins," 4l. 9s. 3d. Fines from "galymen" for using shops in the city without licence. Fines for various causes, 14s. 4d. Legacies (W^m. Ecton), 13s. 4d. Admission to freedom, 66s. 8d. for one admission only. Received from W^m. Smale, for the support of Calais, 20d. Alms received by the Collector, 18l. 8s. 6d. For Apprentices, 3s. 4d. each, 19l. 5s. Entries, 20s. each (Robt. Yngleton of the Temple, 6s. 8d.), 16l. 6s. 8d.

Vacant Tenements.

Anniversaries of Thomas Carleton, at St. Paul's; John Creeke, at Abchurch; John and Idonia Halleyate; John Churcheman, Sir Ralph Basset, Gerard Braybroke and others, Hugh Talbot and William Pitfold, at St. Martin's Oteswych; and Ralph Holand at Aldermary Church, 59s. 5d.

Casual Expenses.

Search at Bartholomew Fair, 12d.

A barge to London, for the anniversary of Henry V., 6s. 10d.

Expenses of the Mayor and Wardens appearing before the Council at Westminster by the King's order, 13d.

f. 18 b.

A barge for a number of the Company to meet the Queen coming from Greenwich to Westminster, 4s.

Similar expenses to accompany the Mayor and Sheriffs to Westminster when they took their oaths.

½ yard and ½ quarter of red velvet for the chaplet with which the Master should be elected, and making, 9s. 2d.

Preparing the hall and chambers for the feast of St. John, including hire of altar cloths, 40s.

Torch offered at the Hospital of St. John, 19s. 3d.

Flourishing with green "bolles" 3 torches before the image of St. John in the Hall, 16d.

2 tapers in the Chapel of St. John at St. Paul's, and two in the Chapel of the Hall, 4 lb. at 7d. a lb.

Wafers on St. John's day, 13s. 4d.

Rose garlands for the Masters and their wives, 2s. 4d.

To Minstrels on the same day, 11s. 8d.

Bread and wine to the bp. of London after performing Mass in the Chapel at St. Paul's on St. John's day, 9d.

f. 20b.

Repairs of the Jewel House in the Hall—

Mending the middle pillar, stone, etc., total 4l. 6s. 5¾d.

32–33 Henry VI., 1454–5. John Belham, Master.

f. 27 b.

From Thos. Bradenham, Chaplain, for 2 chambers over the gate, 16s.

From Alice Benet, widow, for a tenement over the storehouse, 13s. 4d.

f. 32.

Fines, for not appearing on quarter-day, from divers brethren, 4s. 4d.

For impleading a tailor at Guildhall, 6d.; for trading without freedom, and for disobedience.

f. 36.

Quit rents paid to the Convents of Holy Trinity and St. Mary Overey, London Bridge, Prioress of St. Helen's, Prioress of Kilburn, Hospital of St. Giles for a tenement in Garlykhythe, St. Peters, Westminster, Prioress of Clerkenwell, and Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's.

Six flasks of oil for Chircheman's lamp in St. Martin Oteswyche.

f. 39.

To the Rector of All Saints, Lombard St., to keep a Chaplain to pray for the soul of John Buke and to provide a wax taper, 6l. 16s. 8d.

f. 41.

A cask of wine to the Accountant (yearly), 4l.

f. 41 b.

For the Feast of St. John:—

To the waytes of London attending upon the Company at the Feast of St. John, and going before them to the Hospital of St. John, 10s. To Henry Luter, 3s. 4d. To Thos. Reymer, with the trumpe, 12d. Hiring pewter vessel, 6s. 8d. Boat hire to Lambeth to invite the Chancellor to the Feast.

f. 50.

Memorandum pasted in of 8 dishes, 2 dozen saucers, and 1 saucer, weighing 27½ lb. at 3d. a lb., lost at the feast.

33–34 Henry VI., 1455–6. Geo. Ashton, Master.

f. 64.

Fines for speaking unlawful and dishonourable words about another member, 10d. and 3s. 4d.; for disobedience and unlawful words against the Master, 3s. 4d.

Receipt for sale of cloths, etc., taken as distress.

f 70b.

To each Chaplain, bread and wine for celebrating Mass, 20d.

3 Chaplains of the Company, 10 marks each.

Others at St. Martin's, St. Peter's, Cornhill, and St. Paul's, and payment to the rector of All Saints, from 3l. 6s. 8d. to 8l.

f. 75.

Boat hire to Lambeth to invite the Archbp. of Canterbury to the feast.

To the Master of St. Giles Hospital, to receive John Vicory, tailor, into the Hospital, 24s.

To John Forde, poor brother, 6s. 8d.

f. 95.

34–35 Henry VI., 1456–7. John Pounce, Master.

f. 101.

At the bottom of the page of receipts for entries, are eight names. Wm. Rouse, Clerk of the Crown, Walter Taillors, gentleman, and 6 others of various trades, with no sum entered.

Fine for pursuing the trade in the house of a certain barber, 3s. 4d., and from John Gonner, because his yard did not comply with the Standard (non tenuit assisam), 4d.

f. 110 b.

Mass on St. John's day in St. Paul's, celebrated this year by the bp. of Lincoln, not of London as before.

35–36 Henry VI., 1457–8. John Jordan, Master.

f. 128.

Fine for selling an apprentice without licence (De Nicholao James pro fine quia vendidit apprenticium Johanni Haukyns sine licentia et non presentatum coram Magistro), 20d.; for selling cloth called "Whitlynyng," cleaned contrary to the custom of the city, 2s.; for selling "Whitlynyng unwette," 8d.; from Thos. Fox, for unlawfully beating his apprentice, 5s.; from Ric. Saunderson and Michael Rogger for not being present on quarter-day, 17 Oct., 8d.

Expenses of a plea of the Prior of Holy Trinity against the Company in the hustings, 20s.

f. 137b.

To the Sergeant of the Mayor, sent to the Chamberlain of the Company to bid him not to allow any one of the Mistery to change the copy of his freedom to another Mistery, as Ric. Gyles did, 12d.

Coal used at the assembly of armed men in Tailor's Hall, at the Watch made by the city at the Mayor's commandment, 5d. 12 dozen arming points (fn. 13) for their armour, 2s. 9d. Beer for them, 6d.

f. 140.

Beating with gold and silver, and painting the "gyton" and 2 standards for the barge, and 8 trumpet banners with scutcheons of arms, 7l. 6s. 8d. A lance to carry the "gyton," 14d. Silk fringe for the banners, 4s. 8d. A silver gilt knob for the salt cellar, and making and enamelling of plates "de la sonnes cum holy lambes," on the great cups, 34s. 10d. 2 cophyns to put the evidences in, 7d. To John Hunt, painter, for painting the Image of St. John in the hall, the ewry bord and the tresaunce, 33s. 4d.

f. 147.

36–37 Henry VI., 1458–9. Wm. Boylet, Master.

f. 160.

Several fines for unjust yards, 4d. each. Mending the glass window at the chapel at St. Paul's, 5s. Paid to the Warden of the "Yomen Feleship" for the search of "foreigns" at the Mayor's order, 20d.

f. 168.

37–38 Henry VI., 1459–60. Wm. Langedon, Master.

The livery of cloth at this time is only to the Master and his wife, the Wardens, the Mayor's Serjeant and swordbearer, and the clerk and beadle.

f. 177 b.

Tinning the Meteyard, 6d.

Burial of Walter Dolphyn, late Almoner, 3s. 11d.

f. 189.

38 Henry VI.—1 Edward IV., 1460–1. Rob^t. Colwich, Master.

Fine for not appearing at the funeral of a brother, 4d.

f. 200.

For four soldiers to guard the Tower of London by the precept of the Mayor, according to the ordinance of the city, for 17 days at 6d. each a day.

Mending 2 vestments in the chapel at St. Paul's, 3s. 4d.

1–2 Edward IV., 1461–2, John Derby, Master.

f. 206b.

Fine from Roger Waryng and Rob^t. Walthawe, for not being present at the Mass for the soul of John Mounse, 8d.

f. 211

No mention of the Anniversary of Henry V., this year. Going to Westminster with the Mayor, 20 July, to talk with the Lords there concerning the loan of 100 marks to them.

Breakfast to the Solicitors engaged in the confirmation of the Charter, 9s. 4d.

To 10 brethren riding to meet the King, 3l. 6s. 8d

Breakfast to lawyers at Powleshed in Crokedlane, 12s.

2–3 Edward IV., 1462–3. Wm. Person, Master.

From Sir Robt Wynkfelde for a tenement in the Vyntrye, 40s.

f. 228.

Fine from John More, "Boccher," for working at new garments, 8d.

Boat hire with the Mayor to Westminster at the King's command. Eight horsemen going to meet the King, 6s. 8d. each. Costs of a suit against Ric. Knyght, Surgeon, who was condemned, 13s. 1d.

3–4 Edward IV., 1463–4. Roger Tygo, Master.

f. 243 b.

Fines of 12d. for wearing cloaks too short, after the manner of gallants, contrary to the ordinance of the Company.

From the fraternity of clerks for occupying Tailors' Hall divers times, 9s. 4d.

f. 247.

36 qrs. of coal bought by Hugh Caundissh to distribute among the poor Almsmen, 15s. 10d.

To a joiner for making "la pewes" in St. John's Chapel in St. Paul's, 4l. 1s.

To 10 brethren riding to meet the King, 6s. 8d. each.

20s. paid to relieve Luke Philibowe, late brother and tailor, notwithstanding that he had lost the privileges of the fraternity by not paying for more than three years.

A silver shield with a lamb enamelled, placed on a silver cup, 19d.; a silver gilt bowl with a cover, 49½ oz. at 4s. 8d.; another, 12¾ oz., at 2s. 10d.; another, 32¼ oz., at 2s. 8d.

2 silver flagons, 58 and 55 oz., at 3s. 8d.; a silver gilt salt cellar, 90 oz., at 4s., To buy which Thos. Reymond, late Master, bequeathed 20l.

f. 251.

4–5 Edward IV., 1464–5. John Fayreford, Master.

Fine of 20d. paid by Walter Holand for dishonourable words used in the Hall against John Horseley and others, late Wardens of the "Yomen felaship." 36 qrs. of coal given away yearly by will of Hugh Caundyssh. To John Percivall, Serjeant of the Mayor, for taking to Newgate Henry Clowgh, tailor, for dishonourable words used by him against the Mistery of Skinners, 8d.

Barge hire, to Greenwich, for the Master and others going to invite the King and Queen to the feast of St. John, 4s.

Boat hire to Westminster and Lambeth to invite lords, 14d.

For the composing, writing, illuminating, and painting a table of the indulgences and remissions granted to the fraternity by divers popes, archbishops and bishops, and other prelates of the church, hanging in St. Paul's, 10s. 1d. (fn. 14)

f. 267 b.

For "dyghtyng" of the gold balance, 2d.

5–6 Edward IV., 1465–6. John Stodard, Master.

f. 274.

Silver gilt salt cellar, square, with a pelican on the cover, weight 15 oz., at 4s., given by Margaret Bate, widow.

A silver parcel gift "belcup," with 6 silver spoons, with images of St. James, weight 30¾ oz., at 2s. 11d., bequeathed by Jas. Caton.

f. 211 b.

Fine of 26s. 8d. from Thos. Wylly for fraudulently acquiring the liberty of the City.

f. 281.

Boat hire to Fulham, Chelsea, Lambeth, and Westminster, to invite lords to the feast.

Rent from Lady Joan Mountferrant, tenant of a house in the Vintry, 20s.

f. 290.

6–7 Edward IV., 1466–7. John Phelip, Master.

Silver cup and cover given by Hen. Ketelwell, 12¾ oz.

Fine of 10d. from Robt. Gilmyn for clothing his apprentice ill, to the great disgrace of the Mistery; from John Rounde, for exemption for ever from the office of Master, 4l.

f. 296 b.

Received from the Fraternity of Clerks for the use of Tailors' Hall, divers times, 8s. 4d.

f. 299 b.

Paid to the Sheriff of London by virtue of a writ of the King called fieri facias, for Queen's gold, 20s.

To John West, Serjeant of the Mayor, for summoning the Wardens of the Drapers to appear before the Mayor, 12d.

Breakfast given by the Master, Wardens, and Brethren at Southwark, to obtain the goodwill of the inhabitants there to be free of the Company, 5s.

7–8 Edward IV., 1467–8. Thos. Burgeys, Master.

f. 317.

Half of the expenses of a breakfast given to the Rector and Churchwardens of All Saints, Lombard Street, to discuss a matter concerning the White Lion in Gracechurch Street, 8s. 6d.

8–9 Edward IV., 1468–9. Walter Baron, Master.

f. 325.

The tenements from which rents are received are in the following places:—

f. 329 b.

Fine from John Wardall for reviling a Warden, 2s. 4d.

f. 330 b.

This year, and once or twice before, among the entries occur two names with no sums given, and the following memorandum after them:—

"Assignat' Magistro pro exhennio dato Majori."

This year the names are Thos. Goodlok, peautrer, and Richard Wheler, clerk.

Received from the Wardens of the parish, clerks, and the fraternity called "Peny bretherhede" for the use of Tailors' Hall divers times, 11s. 4d.

Anniversaries.—Wm. and Alice Jawderell, at St. Mary's Abchurch; Ric. and Agnes Denton, at Trinity Church; Sir Hugh and Margery Talbot, at St. Martin's; Thos. Reymond, late Master, at St. Thomas's; Hugh Caundissh, at St. Martin's, and those previously mentioned.

The oil for Churchman's lamp is increased to 8 flasks.

f. 332 b.

Spent in inviting the Ambassadors to the feast of St. John, boat hire to Greenwich and back, 2s.

f. 337.

Sealing a quart measure for Robt. Jakes, 16d.

Account Book, No. 4.

37 Henry VIII.—3 & 4 Philip and Mary, 1545–1557.

Lady Day, 1545–6. Thos. Brooke, Master.

Expenses of Custume.

To my lord Mayor according to the old precedents, 40s.

To the Collector of St. Martin's Outwich, for a fifteenth granted to the King's Ma^tie.. for setting out the Soldiers, 13s. 4d.

Stone for the new Hearth in the Hall, 25s.

To the Armourer for scouring the harness, 10s.

A fifteenth paid, 14 Feb., 37 Hen. VIII. (1544–5), 13s. 4d.

The first part of the Subsidy, 21 March, 19l. 6s.

The second fifteenth, 13s. 4d.

Meat and drink for those appointed to make the book for the certificate of the Chantries according to a Commission to them directed, 40s. [See p. 526].

To the Recorder for "Accouncell" in making the certificate, 15s.

To Angell, Clerk, for Mass on Midsummer day, 6s. 8d.

Given in reward to my lord Chancellor's officers at such time as this Accountant made suit to stay that the saltpetre makers should not turn up the floor of our Hall, 10s. [Surely this must have been an extortion? for in the 4th James I., the Judges, at their meeting at Serjeants' Inn, resolved that the King's prerogative did not authorise the grantees of the monopoly "to dig up the floor of any mansion which served for the habitation of man." (The case of Saltpetre, 12 Coke's Rep., 13*).—C.M.C.]

Paid to the King's Majesty of and for certain money that was given unto this mistery by Sir Stephen Jenyns, Master Percyvall, and Mr. Acton, for to keep an obit and otherwise to be distributed by this Company, all which is now dissolved and now found due to the King's Majesty in arrearage, 52l. 10s.

Repairs in Hall and Garden, 20l. 13s. 11d.

Total payments, 163l. 10s. 10d.

Payments.

Salary of Priests.

And so the foresaid Accountant oweth upon his Account, 66l. 10s. 5½d.

Signed by Stephen Kyrton, Robt. Dawbeney, Ric. Botyll, and John Jukes.

Lady Day 1546 to Oct. 1546. Thos. Broke, Master.

To the collectors of St. Martyn's Owtewiche, for a fifteenth, 13s. 4d. For 12 trumpet banners, 4l.

1st Oct. 1546—Lady Day 1547. Ric. Holte, Master.

Received from the farmer of the Manor of Rushoke, given by Steven Jenyns, Knt., for the maintenance of the Grammar School at Wolverhampton, 6l.

Received of Rauffe Whyte, at his admitting into the livery, 5s. 4d., which the Master is accustomed to have unto himself.

A dozen apostle spoons bequeathed by John Fissher.

From Harry Whytehorne, for the third part of the gain he had of the sale of his apprentice, 8s. 10d.

Fine from Clement Fryer, for opening his shop upon the holy day, 16d.

Paid to the Lord Mayor, according to the old precedents, 40s.

To the clerk and beadle for their liveries, according to the old precedents, 3l. 5s. 4d.

To the Lord Mayor, according to a decree, towards the charges of his Mayoralty, 40l.

For a fifteenth and a half collected against the king's (Edward VI.) coronation, for garnishing the city, and for the delivery of 1000 mks. in a purse to him at his going through the city, 20s. For a subsidy, 15 June, 1 Edward VI., 18l. 15s. 4d. A refection to the Mistress and the Wardens' Wives and other, at the tasting of their wine and taking order for the provision for the dinner, 1l. 8s. 2d. Hat and tippet for the bargeman when the Mayor took his oath, and boat hire, 38s. 4d. For the whole blast of the king's trumpets playing in the barge that day, 3l. 2s.

Lord Wriothesley rented a house belonging to the Company in Bishopsgate St., 10l.

For the second payment of the subsidy due on 1 May, for Thos. Howday's chantry in Abchurche, 19s. 6½d.

1547–1548. Thos. Offley, Master.

Received from Mr. Medley, chamberlain of London, 50l., lent by this Company to the Chamber of London for the provision of wheat for the city.

To Mr. Brooke, recorder of London, for his advice given in making our book of. certificate as touching what priests, obits, lamps, and lights was found and kept by the Company, and what lands and other thing was given for the maintenance thereof, and how long they should endure, 13s. 4d. To the Clerk, John Huchenson, for drawing and engrossing the same book and searching evidences, 40s. To the pursuivant attending on the kings commissioners at Haberdasshers' Hall, when we desired a longer day to bring in our book, 3s. 4d. A dinner to the Commissioners, the Lord Mayor being there, 7l. 18s. [See p. 522.]

Two staff torches to light the Company from Paul's, the morrow after Simon and Jude, 2s. 4d.

Charges concerning the watch at Midsummer. Cleaning 13 pair of Almain rivets and other pieces of harness, 12s. 2 yew bows, 4s. 3 sheaves of arrows, 6s. 1600 cresset lights, 53s. 4d. Washing and trimming the fustian coats for the 8 bowmen, and sewing red crosses on their coats. 3 doz. straw hats with scutcheons sewed on them, 4s. 2d. To 24 cresset bearers and 10 bagbearers, at 6d. a night, etc. Total 7l. 10s. 11d.

1548–49, Ric. Wadyngton, Master.

Received from the Wardens of the Mistery of Salters for Portage Money for one year, 20s. (fn. 16)

Payments—

To John Angell, clerk, for singing the service of the communion on the Feast day, 11s.

To Mr. Coverdale, (fn. 17) for making a sermon the said day, 6s. 8d. To the parson of St. Martin Owtwiche, for that he had not the offering that day, which was put into the box for the poor of the same church, 2s.

To Mr. Edw. Myldmaye, one of the king's collectors, for making a copy of the books of the receipts of the money due to the king by this Mistery according to the tenor of the Act late made of colleges and chantries, 3s. 4d.

20l. yearly to be paid to the hospital in Smithfield, by a precept of the Mayor.

To the clerk writing the order of payments set out for the poor in the table in the parlour, 2s.

To Mr. Brooke, recorder, for his counsel in penning a bill of proviso, which should have been put into the parliament for corporations, 3l. [See p. 100.]

16 May, first payment of the relief granted to the king by parliament, 5l.

1549–50. Nic. Cosyn, Master.

Fine from Humfrey Kendall, who was translated from the Stryngers to this Company, 6s. 8d.

Sale of lands belonging to the Mistery in Cornhill, Bredstrete, etc., 2,133l. 3s. 6d.

Payments—

For having the children of "Poulles," for their playing upon vials and singing at the Feast day, 10s.

Costs about the furniture of 30 persons against the Mustering day made before my Lord Mayor and Aldermen, 11 Oct. 2 doz. sword girdles, 5s. 8d. Lace and points, 2s. 4d. 6 lb. gunpowder, 6s. 18 red caps for sculls, 21s. A pan to cast moulds for guns, 4d. Matches, 12d. Bread and drink and the soldiers' days' wages, 17s. 9 swords and 6 daggers, 30s. Bread and drink to the soldiers, 11 Oct., 20d. Wages, 15s. Candles, 3d. Bowstrings, 1d. White cotton for 30 white coats, and a yard of red cloth for the crosses, 3l. 18s. 12 Oct., to the soldiers when they were discharged, 15s. Scouring and leathering 13 pair of Almain rivets, 10s. 4d. To Selby, the Armourer, for fitting the harness, 1s. 8d. Artillery. 18 buff coats, 10l. 16s. 12 bracers, 4s. 12 gloves, 4s. 12 bowstrings, 6d. 16 arming swords, 40s. 16 daggers, 13s. 4d. 12 girdles, 2s. 8d. 8 handguns with moulds, 3l. 16s. 6d. 4 handguns with moulds, horns and touch boxes, 32s. 8 horns and touch boxes, 8s. 8 lb. of gunpowder, 6s. 8d. Trying the guns, and carriage to the Hall, 8d.

3 ells of canvas for bags to put the money in, paid to the king for redeeming the rent charge, 2s. 4d. To the clerk of the Company of Mercers, who was appointed by the Lord Mayor to come to all the Companies to confirm the great patent for redeeming the rent charge, 6s. 8d.

To the Treasurer of the Court of Augmentations for redeeming and purchasing money and quitrents, lately due to his highness out of the lands belonging to this Mistery, 2,006l. 2s. 6d. [See p. 104.]

These quitrents are the annual sums assigned for keeping obits, etc. The particulars are all given, the annual amount being 102l. 0s. 10d.

A few pages further on are entries of a payment of 39l. 15s. 11d., for a rent charge granted out of the lands of the Mistery in consideration that the same was late paid for the maintenance of priests, obits, etc., and of a payment of 11l. 3s. 4d., being the half-year's quitrent due to the king out of the chantries of Betrice Rose and Bp. Fitz-James in St. Paul's, and other similar payments.

1550—1551. Robert Mellyshe, Master.

Fines from Ric. Tonge, Thos. Richardes, and John Whitpayne, "for that every one of them had reviled the other by calling one another knave," 30s. a piece. (fn. 18)

34l. 14s. 2d. of the money paid for redeeming rent charges was returned, the king having sold them by letters patent.

Land in Gracious Strete sold to Wm. Fawne, alias Johnson, for 50l.

Given to the Mayor and Sheriffs in support of their charges, 8l.

Cleaning the chapel at "Poulles," against Hallowtide, 4d.

An exhibition of 6l. 13s. 4d. granted to — Mayewe, Student of Divinity at Cambridge, by decree of 27 March, 5 Edw. VI. [See p. 528, for increase.]

Expenses concerning the law for our defence in the suit made by the Company of the Clothworkers, 26l. 4s. 9d.

"Expenses concernyng diverse our brethern occupieng the brode shere and rowyng at the perche, which was imprisoned by the procuremente of the Clothworkers, for that some of them wolde not suffer the said Clothworkers to make serche within their howses, and for kepyng of foreyns as they alledgid," 30s.

Expenses concerning provision made for to have shear grinders out of the country hither to London, at such time as the Clothworkers took order that they would not grind shears to this Company, 4l. 13s. The Mayor finally made order that the Clothworkers should grind shears for the Company.

Repairs of the school at Wolverhampton, 46s. 2d.

Annual payments of rent charges to the King from lands assigned for obits, etc.

1551–1552. Ric. Botyll, Master.

Sermon preached on the Feast Day by Dr. Kyrkham, parson of St. Marten's, 8s. 8d.

To the Master of the singing children at St. Paul's for their playing and singing at the Feast Day, 13s. 4d.

To the Waits of the City the same day, 6s. 8d.

Expenses in the law in the defence of this Mistery against the wrongful suit made by the Company of the Mistery of Clothworkers, 21l. 2s. 6d.

To Mr. Hewes, General Surveyor for London and Middlesex, for a quittance acknowledging the receipt of certain vestments and other ornaments late belonging to this Mistery, according to a certificate made to the King's Commissioners, 12d. [See Mem. XVII., p. 103.]

1552–1553. John Jakes, Master.

Received from the Chamberlain of London, 200l. in full payment of 300l. lent out of the common box of this Mistery to the Chamberlain to make provision of wheat and other grain.

Annuity of 40s. to the usher of the grammar school at Wolverhampton.

Augmentation of the exhibition of a scholar at the University, 33s. 4d.

To Walter Yonge, according to a decree made concerning certain money by him disbursed, concerning the Act for the true making of woollen cloths, 53s. 4d.

1553–1554. William Harper, Alderman, Master.

To the Lord Mayor [Sir Thomas White] in support of his charges, and for discharging this house of all charges concerning the having of a watch at Midsummer, if any such be, 40l.

To Mr. Thos. Offley, sheriff, 20l.

27 July 1553. To the Chamberlain of London, according to the Mayor's precept towards a reward given by certain of the Worshipful Corporations of the City unto the Queen's Grace, when she lay at Newhall afore her coming to London, 40l. (This was about three weeks after the death of Edward VI.)

To John Brewer and Thos. Lovelake, collectors for the parish of St. Martin's Outwich, towards the payment of 1,000 marks by the City for a fifteenth and a half given to the Queen the day before her coronation, and for making pageants, 20s.

17 March. To the collectors of the parish of St. Martin's Owtewich, for a fifteenth granted towards the provision of sea coals for the poor, 13s. 4d.

21 March. To the Chamberlain of London, towards the payment of 2,000 marks to be given to the Queen toward the maintenance of a garrison of men of war which her grace intendeth to keep near this city for the defence of her Grace and this her city, 100l.

To Thos. Vance and John Busshe, collectors of the parish of St. Martin's Owtewich, for a fifteenth granted for and towards the making of pageants against the coming hither of the Prince of Spain, (fn. 19) 20s.

To Bylby armourer, for mending and cleaning the armour in the armoury, and for leather, buckles, and oil, 20s.

A new frame in the armoury to hang harness upon, 13s. 4d. To Sir Geo. Barns, Alderman, for 28 morris pikes, 16d. a piece.

The charge for the furniture of 20 men sent into Kent against the rebels (fn. 20) there, the 27th of January. 12 Almayn rivets, 7l. 4s. 5 salletts, 10s. 5 bows, 10s. 13 bills, 23s. 4d., etc. Total, 14l. 17s. 1d.

The charge of the furniture of 60 men with harness which kept London Bridge continually during the time that the rebels of Kent lay in Southwark. 70 pair of Almain rivets, 12s. the pair, and a corslet, 40s. Bills, bows, arrows, etc. A dinner made to them at the "Sun" in Cornhill, 24s. 6d., Total, 59l. 9s. 7d.

Barge hire when the Corporations of the City went by water to Westminster to bring the Queen to the Tower, 48s. 8d. To minstrels for playing on the barge, 13s. 4d.

1554–1555. Guy Wade, Master.

Sale of tenements in Gracyoustrete, 10l.

Payments.

To the children of "Polles" and the musicians of my Lord of Pembroke for playing at the feast, 20s.

The second and last fifteenth due to the Queen, granted in King Edward's time, 13s. 4d.

1555–1556. William Clyfton, Master.

During the reign of Queen Mary, there is an entry for the Mass on the feast day, 12s.

To the Waits of the City for playing all the time that the service of meat came into the hall, and all the time of the election, 6s. 8d.

By way of gift towards the erecting of the roodloft in the church of St. Martyn Owtewiche, whereof the Company are patrons, by decree, 20s.

First payment of the subsidy granted 2 & 3 Philip and Mary, 11l. 12s. 5¼d.

To Mr. Sowthcote for drawing up a supplication for the expulsion of foreigns from working within the liberties of the City, which was delivered to the Mayor, 20s.

Payments concerning the furnishing of 6 men which the Corporation was charged to find, to serve the King's and Queen's Majesties, 21 October last, upon their affairs upon the seas, according to the Mayor's precept.

A page of items, armour, etc., 8l. 1s.

The men wore frieze breeches and jerkins, and red caps.

To the Chamberlain of London, for provision of wheat to serve the City in time of need, to be repaid at All Saints' next, 150l.

To priests and clerks at the general obit at St. Martin's Owtewiche, and for 2 great standards of wax, 10s. 4d.

1556–1557. George Heton, Master.

The Company was taxed in 100l. by Common Council toward the erection of Bridewell to be made an house of labour or occupations.

Costs in the law as well in our defence against the pretensed suit and claim of search made to such of this Mistery as occupy making of hats and caps, etc., as for other causes as may appear.

2 pages, Total, 15l. 4s. 4d.

Henry VII.'s obit and the general obit were restored during this reign.

The following appear from these Manuscript Books to have been Masters at the dates hereunder mentioned:—

The following are the names of the Masters mentioned in Book III., as far as can be ascertained:—

For the periods included in Books II. and IV., the names of the Masters will be found in the preceding extracts.

APPENDIX A (7).

EXTRACTS FROM THE COURT MINUTES RELATING TO THE AFFAIRS OF THE FRATERNITY (BY MR. N. STEPHENS).

[The reader will bear in mind that until 1752 the year commenced with the 25th March.]

"John Carusse admitted into this Company by waye of Redemption, and hathe pmesed to pay for his fyne 16s. 8d. and a Buck at Mydsomer."—[1st July 1562.]

"Precept from the Maior for the Comp^y to provide 35 Soldiers well armed every of them to receive 12d. for their prest money and no more—with a list of their names, and description of their armes.

"The names of such psons being free of the company as sent their servants to the Hall to make up the 35 clokes for the Soldiers—Richarde Tysdale and 2 Svants cut out the clokes, and 12 other persons sent 38 Svants to make them."—[July 1562.]

"Order from the Maior to discharge out of wage these Soldiers, and put in safe custody their armour, weapons and Clokes, and have the men in readiness to serve the Queen upon 3 dayes notice."—[19th August 1562.]

"William Kympton fyned 40s. for calling Stephen Myliney a craftie boye, whereupon the said William lefte in pawne with the M^r a ringe of gold for the payment of the said 40s. Nevertheles the M^r and Wardens upon the gentle submysion of the said Kimpton have remytted the moytee of the said fyne."—[29th August 1562.]

"The Master and Wardens arbitrate in a matter of Credit and Debt by consent of the Parties, of which Arbitration on various subjects there are many instances." (fn. 22) —[5th March 1562.]

"The Wardens have comytted Thomas Palmer to pryson for that he hath broken Henry Bourefelde his apprentice hede without any juste cause.

"Henry Bourefelde by composition had comytted his two appentices to sve w^th Thomas Palmer during and for so longe time and for such consideracon as they were agreed. And for that the said Thomas Palmer hath not onely evell used hymself towards the said two apntices, but also for that they have not had of hym sufficient meate and drynke as they ouygt to have had. Therefore it is decreed by tassente of bothe the said pties that the said Henry Bourefelde shall immediately take his said apntices from the said Palmer, and to use them as becometh apntices to be used."— [2nd April 1563.]

"By arbitration of the Master and Wardens, by consent of Palmer and Bourfelde, it is ordered that Thomas Palmer shall pay Henry Bouerefeld 3l. 6s. 8d. heretofore owing by the said Thomas to the said Henry. And also there is money owing to a surgion for healing the apntice's heede of the said Henry, broken by the said Palmer. That the said Henry shall paye for the heaylinge thereof at his owne coste and charge."—[10th May 1563.]

"This daye Richard Wells and William Roberts comytted to warde for that they sett clothes upon ye tenters, as yesterdaye beynge Sonday, contrary to the ordenance of this house."—[10th May 1563.]

"This daye the Maister and Wardens certifle unto the Lord Mayor according to hys Lordeshipp's comandement, That a good and experte Journeyman or Srvant in the arte or ocupacon of Tayllory is to have ffower m^rks wage by yere."—[June 1563.]

"William Heton delyv^red into the hands of the Maister a rynge of golde in pawne of 40s. whiche the sayde W^m Heton is appoynted to paye to th'use of this house for that he hathe offended contrary to the ordinance in callynge of Thomas Wylford a pratynge boye."—[6th March 1563.]

"Precept from the Maior for the Company to provide 12 fayre Cressetts, with good and sufficient lights for the same, for the Muster and show of the Standing Watche, w^ch we have determyned to kepe upon the Vigil of the feaste of the nativity of St. John Baptiste, and also 12 able men to beare the said Cressetts and p'pare for evry 2 Cressetts bearers, one bagge bearer to beare Cressett lights, w^th strawen hatts upon there hede, having yo^r armes thereon, to assemble at Leadenhall befor 7 o'clock in the afternoon of the sayd vigill."—[10th June 1565.]

"Upon a Precept from the Maior 76 members of the Merchaunttailors Company contribute 185l. 16s. 8d. towards the building of the newe Burse."—[18th December 1565.]

"Serche made in the Vigill of St. Bartholomewe, in the ffayre kepte w^thin the pryncte of Great St. Bartholomews and Smithfield, by the Right Worshipfull Wardens of this Company and 4 Assistants, in the presens of the Sargeant at Mace to the Lorde Mayor and of the Clerk and Bedyll of the said Company, among all the Freemen of there sayde Company beinge occupiers in the sayde ffayre and keping Bothes and using any measures as yeards or ells w^thin the sayde ffayre. To see that they occupy none but such as were good and lawfull." (Here follows the names of 21 Freemen of this Mysterie then kepinge Bouthes at the sayde ffayre.)—[1567.] See Mem. XIX., p. 111.

"Whereas at this pnte this house is and stands indebted to divers psons in sondry somes of money amountinge in the hole to the some of 300l., the most parte is pntely due and payable, and for there is not any money remayning in the comen Boxe at this pnte to paye the same, Therefore the aforsayde M^r Wardens and Assistants agree that there shalbe levied of the Members of this Mysterie, being of the clothing by waye of Prete or lone towards the supplie and payment of the aforesayde debt, viz^t.:—every Alderman, or of every one who hath been M^r of this Mystere 40s.; of every one which hath not yet obtained to be M^r 30s.; and of evry one of the reste of the Clothinge that hath not bourne the room of one of the Wardens 20s To be repayed unto them as soon as the coen Boxe of this house shalbe of habilitie to paye it."—[December 1567.]

"Agreed by the Master and Wardens that the Livery shalbe called unto this place to knowe of evry of them what some or somes of money they will be contented to putt into the Lotery, all under one posye, in the name of this comon hall, and what gain soen shall growe, aryse, or come by the same money so to be putt into the sayde Lotery shalbe equally devided to and amonge all the sayde members of this Mystery that shall so putt in money under the sayde one posye in the Lotery aforesaide, and the sayde poyse to be devised by the sayed M^r and Wardens. 54 Members subscribed under this poyse hereunderwritten:—

One Byrde in hande is worthe two in the Woodde, Yff wee have the greate Lott it will do us good."—[August 1568.]

"Whereas Rob^t Donkyn, a loving mebre of this mystery, for the greate good will and hartye zeale he beareth to the same, hath declared unto the aforesaid M^r and Wardens that he is mynded to give and assure by his last Will and Testament unto this Mystery fo'ever, All these his lands, tenem^ts, and gardens in the pisshe of St. Botoulphe w^thoute Bishopsgate, being at this pnte of the yerely value of 26l. p^r ann^m or theire about."—[13th March 1569.] See Mem. CXXI., p. 389.

"This day the Master and Wardens have appointed that the whole Lyvery shall assemble here upon Monday nexte at 6 of the clock in the morninge, and so to give there attendance upon the M^r unto Shakelwell, ffrome whence they shall accompany the Corps of Sir Thomas Rowe to his buryall to Hackney Church, and that being done, to returne unto Shakelwell to take suche repaste as shalbe provided for them." —[15th September 1570.] See Mem. XXI., p. 115.

"M^rm that the right worssip^ll Rob^te Donkyn, being second Warden of this Worshipfull Company, deceased 14^th daie of this pnte month of February 1570."— [February 1570.]

"A lenthened complaint of 14 of the Handicrafts of the City to the Maior, Aldermen and Common Counsel, requiring that all apprentices and Freemen should only be admitted to the Companies whose arts they practised; with a long answer in opposition by the Merchant Taylors' Company."—[15th May 1571.]

"Several Letters from The Earl of Leicester and the Earl of Sussex in favor or Henry Evans, and from the Earl of Bedford and Sir H. Sydney in behalf of James Chillester, and Mr. Sergeant Manwood for favor towards—Wood, a brother of this Mysterie for the vacant Clerkshippe of the Comp^y."—[30th July 1571.]

"Nicholas Fulchamber, a brother of this Mysterie, elected in the room of John Hurgenson, late Coen Clerke of this Mysterie."—[6th December 1571.]

"In the cause of varience betweene Margery Story, p^t, and Thomas Taylor, d^ft, concerning a Cassock made to litle, it is ordered by the M^r and Wardens, with the consent of sayde pties, that the said Def^t shall paye to thands of the Clerke of this Mystery, for the use of the said Pn^t before the next Courte the some of ffortie shillings, and shall take to hym self the said garment to make his best pffitt thereof accordingly."—[12th January 1571.]

"A Precept from my Lorde Mayor to the M^r and Wardens of this Mysterie for furnyshing 188 men, viz^t:—94 furnished w^th corseletts and pikes, 36 w^th corsletts and halberds, and 58 with Kalevers and Moryans, for a shew to be made before the Queen's Highness on May Daye."—(Here follow several instruction from the M^r and Wardens for the occasion, with the names of the 188 men to serve as soldiers, and the names of subscribers for armo^r and powdre for the muster, also 7 seperate precepts from the Maior for previous musters, and other arrangements.)— [25th March 1572.]

"Pierce Evans, at the requeste of Mr. Chamberlayn, is admytted into the Fredom of this Company via redempcon gratis, who hathe pmysed to furnish agaynst the Eleccon Dynn^r a fat buck and a furken of sturgeon at his pper charge." —[10th May 1572.]

"Mr. George Heton, now Chamberlain of this honorable Cytie of London, giving his most hearty thanks unto this Worshipfull Companye for their greate benevolence in relyving him by annull pension of 13l. 6s. 8d., w^ch was to him lovingly and largely granted, of his free and good will hathe declared this psent daye in open courte that he is well pleased (God having otherwise well pvided for him) that the said annuity or annual pension should henceforth cease and be no longer paid; nevertheless it is agreed, notwithstanding his free release, that the some of 3l. 6s. 8d. shall be paide to him for the quarter ending at the feaste of the Annunciation."— [9th June 1572.]

"The election of M^r and Wardens particularly described, with all the ancient ceremony and observances used upon that occasion."—[13th July 1573.] See Mem. CXXII.

"Richard Page, apprentis, and Andrew Greene, his M^r, concerning a controversy between them about selling his apprentizes terme, it is ordered that the said apprentis, or his mother here pnte, shall pay unto the said Greene, over and above 40s. w^ch he hath already paid, the some of 10s. in money and a lode of coles betweene this and Michaelmas next; and it is ordered that the said Greene should set on his said apprentis to such a M^r of this Mysterie as the said apprentis and his friends shall lyke of."—[28th August 1573.]

"This daye a supplication was offered by dyvrs honeste men dwelling uppon London Bridge, in the behalf of William Ferman, their neighbo^r and a poor brother of this mystery, whom God hath lately stricken, together with his wiffe and mayde servant w^th blyndness, that it would please this Company to extend their Charities for their relief, Whereupon y^t was accorded and dcreed that all such penalties w^ch hereafter shall be due by any Brother of this Company for nonappearance uppon lawfull summons shall be from tyme to tyme gathered by the Coen Clarke and disposed for the saide blind people until they may be otherwise pvided. And it is further decreed that 20s. w^ch Mr. Geo. Heton, Chamberlin of this honorable Cytie, hath received to the use of this Mystery for the half of 40s. fyne, receved of a Stranger dwelling in Cornhill, for the makynge of certen newe clothes and garments, which was seassed uppon by the Wardens of this Mystery, and nowe by the saide Mr. Chamberlin paide in courte, shalbe also given to the relief of the sayde blind people, &c. &c."—[24th September 1573.]

"Roger Robinson hathe lycens to take the lawe of Will^m Spooner, because the said Spooner hath sued him in the King's Benche, w^thout Lycens, and will not come hither, beinge warned by the Beadill according to his dutye."—[16th October 1573.]

"John Thomas hathe this daye taken uppon him for John Holbrooke, who was made free this daye p redempcon, that he shall give unto the Master nowe being 2 sugar loves of the waighte of 20 pounds, or 20s. before Candilmas next w^thout further delaye."—[30th October 1573.]

"By Precept from the Maior, the Company are required to call the members to the Coen Hall, and to exorte and strongly charge them that neither they nor any servants or apprentizes do hereafter in anywise insult, molest, or evyll entreate any strangers goynge or beinge aboute their busynes, but shall quietly, &c."—[9th March 1573.]

"Whereas at our coen playes and suche lyke exercises, w^ch be coenly exposed to be senne for money, evry lewed person thinketh himself (for his penny) worthy of the chief and moste comodious place, w^thout respects of any other for age or estimation in the coen weale, w^ch bringeth the youthe to such an impudent famyliaritie w^th their betters, that often tymes greate contempte of M^rs, parents and Magistrates follow^th thereof, as experience of late in this our coen Hall hathe sufficiently declared . . . . . Therefore it is ordeyned and decreed that henceforth there shalbe no more any playes sffuered to be played in this our coen Hall."—[March 1573.]

"A Devise for an act for the redresse of certen abuses hinderinge the coen weale of this Mystery was redd by the Coen Clarke, which provides that preferance shall be given to the brethren of the Company for leases when requiring the premises for their own dwelling, but not to lett to others, nor to hold them after the expiration of their lease unless they have previouly secured a new lease, 'For as there ought to be shewed favorable affection to all such as have brotherly love to this our Company, seeking as well the generall profitt of the saide Company as their owne private gayne. So ought their be better direction for such as, casting aside the due regard of the body of this Mystery, for their own private comoditie do think it right to kepe any tenem^t belonging to this Company after the determynation of their leases w^thout any renewed grante or lease to be by them obtained. Be it therefore decreed that all persons as be or shalbe hereafter tenants to this Company, shall before the expiration of their leases compound with the Company for their longer abode to be had in their tenm^ts, or ells the same shall be lett unto such other brethren of this Mystery as will sue for the same, so as he will paye therefore as much as any other. Notice of this order and devise to be given by the Coen Clarke w^thin the firste quarter of the last yeare of their said leases."—[12th June 1574.]

"The Coen Prayer usually to be saide on the Quarter days, as well after calling of the Livery as also of the Batchelors' Company."—[January 1574.] See Mem. XXVI.

"Letter from Lord Treasurer Burgley in behalf of dame Harper to remain in the House formerly on lease to Sir Will^m Harper, dec^d."—[21st March 1574.]

"Tho^s Haselfote elected Coen Clarke in room of Nich^s Fulchamber, dec^d. As it hathe pleased God to vysite this House by taking awaye of our late Coen Clarke Nich^s Fulchamber w^th the plage, and his wiffe also vysited with the same syckness, wee have thought good that the Quarter daye shall be put of."—[10th and 23rd September 1575.]

"2,100 quarters Corne having become musty by contrary winds and long voyage, a Precept from the Maior to meet the said loss."—[28th November 1575.]

"M^r Heton made his humble sewt that the annuytie of 20 marks a year, granted to him by Court of Assistants, and surrendered by him agayne, might be restored to him with arrearages since the tyme of the said surrender. Ordered, that the said annuytie be paid to M^r Heton oute of Coen Boxe, from the feast of the Annunciation of our blessed Lady the Virgin last past, without any arrearages to be allowed and payde unto him."—[2nd April 1576.]

"Whereas Mr. Geo. Heton, Chamberlin of London, a loving Brother of this Mystery, hathe granted unto him by this house of 20 marks yearly, which grante standeth only uppon curtesye and pleasure. The said M^r and Wardens so considering that the said Mr. Heton standeth not in so greate nede thereof as others, &c., . . . . . have decreed that the sayde Pention nor any part thereof shall be payde unto the sayde Mr. Heton after the feaste of St. Baptiste now next comynge, &c. &c."—[8th June 1577.]

"100l. lent for the repair of the Haven of Yarmouth, with this ptestacion, that they, the Company, be not hereafter bound by this psidente."—[11th July 1577.]

"Precept from the Maior for 200 men armed, dwelling within the Citty, to be provided by the more welthy and hable psons of the Companie."—[17th March 1577.]

"Ordered, that the lands appertayninge unto this Mystery shalbe viewed twyse evry yeare, Provided each day of their meeting a Dynner shalbe at the charges of the house, but 30s. only for a Dynner,"—[4th June 1578.]

"Ordered that a Bible of the newe forme, lately prynted by Xpofer Barker the Queen's Ma^ties prynt^r, shalbe bought and sett up in their Coen Hall, in some convenient place, for suche as resorte unto the saide Hall, may occupie themselves at Courte dayes while they gyve attendance for the heringe of their causes."— [30th October 1578.] See Mem. xxv.

"32 persons appointed to attend uppon my Lord Maior on Saturday morning, at 8 of the clock in the morning, in Cotes of Velvet w^th Chaynes of Golde, on horseback, with attendants."—[21st January 1578.]

"The Master, Wardens, and Assistants doe order that John Stowe a loving Brother of this mistery, for divers good considerations them specially moving, shall have paide to him, during his natural life, owte of the Coen Boxe of this Mistery, one annuytie of 4l. per annum."—[31st March 1579.] See Mem. XXXIV.

"Ordered, that Sir Thomas Bromley, Knight, now Lord Chancellor, and late a Counceylo^r unto this Mysterie, shall be gratified with a Tonne of good Gascoyne Wyne, in token of their good willes towards him."—[30th April 1579.]

"A letter from the Queen in behalf of Will^m Spark, for a lease of his dwellinghouse."—[20th May 1579.]

"Precept for 40 men in Blew Jerkyns to serve in her Ma^ties Shipps."— [6th July 1579.]

"Precept for the Company to provide 246 Soldiers, their proportion of 3,000."— [16th February 1579.]

"Ordered, that the Election Dynner for the examination of their scholars on Saint Barnabus daye shall from henceforth be kept at their school with but sixe mess of meate at the moste."—[28th May 1580.] See Mem. XXIII.

"Precept from the Maior for the well treating of strangers."—[14th March 1580.]

"The whole of the Assistants and tenn of the Companie to meet at St. Bride's Church on Friday at one o'clock, to goe from thence to Chancery Lane and attend uppon the boddy of Sir Will^m Cordell, Kn^t, late Master of the Rolls, unto Christ's Church, in good and clenly apparall, w^thout their lyv^ry hoods."—[14th June 1581.]

"Committee of Surveyors (members of the Court) appointed for taking down the roof of the Hall and setting it upp againe, according to a pattorne drawne for the same."—[22nd September 1584.]

"Precept from the Maior for the Companie to provide 395 soldiers, their proportion of 4,000 for the safety of Her Highness most Royal Person and the defence of this her chief Citie."—[17th April 1585.]

"Order for the Standing Watch, with 16 cressets with lights, &c., to attend at Greenwich by 7 o'clock at night, on the eve of St. John Baptiste."—[12th May 1585.]

"Precept by the Maior recommending the Company to adventure in the Lottery." —[26th July 1585.] See Mem. xxx.

"The names of 37 soldiers to be sent into Flanders, being this Companies proportion of 500 levied for that purpose."—[26th July 1585.]

"20l. presented to Mr. Sheriff Radcliff, and the Plate lent to him."—[18th August 1585.]

"On application for the loan of the Nappe out of this House to the Guildhall, it is agreed that this house hath never been charged with the loan of Napie thither, and therefore thinketh it not meet to pvide anie."—[19th October 1585.]

"John Swynerton, a brother of this Mysterie, being a Sewto^r to the said M^r, Warden, and Assistants, in which sewte they dealt with him very favorably, and their favorable dealing being opened to him he said it was not worthe thankes, saying further y^t they had neither wysdom, reson, nor consience in their doinge, w^th other hawghtie and unseemly speeches, and being willed to attende and not to departe or goe away, he very contemptuously went his waye. It is therefore ordered and agreed that he shalbe comitted to pryson, according to the discretion of the said M^r and Wardens."—[11th November 1585.]

"Ordered, that the said John Swynerton shalbe released of his imprysonm^t uppon his submission w^ch he hathe made before the M^r and Wardens, craving pardon for his rashe mysdemeanor and speeches then uttered."—[16th November 1585.]

"The Company undertake to pay 200l. for a final ende and agreement in reference to the lands in question supposed to be concealed, at such tyme as the same agreement shalbe well and pfectlie assured from her Ma^tie according to the advise of Lerned Counsell, and not before."—[3rd Jan. 1585.] See Mem. clxxvii.

"A Precept for provision of gunpowder and armes. Ordered, that 1,000 lb. of Gunpowder, 50 Arminge Swords, 50 Corslets, and 20 Halberts be provided."— [14th October 1586.]

"Ordered, that a newe patent of their armes be made by M^r Clarenceux, Kinge of the Herralds, and he to have the some of 5l."—[19th December 1586.]

"Agreed, that the Herrald shall have 15s. in consideration of his paynes taken aboute the Windows, and for his disposition of the settinge in the Armes in the West Window of the Hall."—[1st March 1586.]

"The Arras Hangings ordered to be cleaned, which the workmen undertook to doe at 7s. for every Flemish Olne Square, the measure being taken by the Carpenter of the house, the contenth thereof appeare to Ryse to 408 Flemish Olnes."— [27th March 1587.]

"Granted to George Sotherton, a loving brother of this Mysterie, to have a doore to be made oute of his house into the batchelor's chamber for hym and his wief to walk there during the pleasure of the Court, also the use of a garrett or gallery over the said Chamber, at a yearely rent of 6s. 8d."—[22nd September 1587.] See Mem. 1.

"Two windows of the Hall ordered to be glased, and the armes of the olde benefactors to be sett upp."—[22nd September 1587.]

"This Court was informed that divers of the younge men, brethren of this Companie, that were chosen for waighters and the carrying most of the meate served into the hall at dynner, did murmer and mislike that they were kept soe longe w^thout their dynners and not appointed to sitt downe before the Dynner was fullie served in, and the tables taken upp in the Hall, and thereupon contemptuouslie departed away without their dynners, using some harde speech and apparent shewes of ther discontentment. Agreed, that such as departed awaie should be sent for at the next Court to answer their contempt, and to receive such orders therein as the Court shall awarde."—[1st July 1588.]

"5,000l. in loane to the Queen being required from this Company for the maintenance of armes and forces prepared against the invasion of this realm, purposed by the King of Spayne and the Duke of Parma. A Committee appointed for raising the same."—[17th August 1588.]

"Whereas, M^r Alderman Radcliff bath granted to this Company 100 loads of timber, to be delivered to them at Readinge, towards the building of houses for the harbouring of the poore of this Company, he doth assent at this Court that the Company shall at their pleasure dispose or make sale of the same, and make their provision otherwise for their building as they shall think good."—[17th June 1589.]

"A precept from the Maior for Company to make choice of a fitt man, who in behalfe of this Companie to observe what freemen of this Citty do harboure clothes or commodities brought to this City in their houses, to the defrauding the hospitallers of the duties and customes which should be collected at Blackwell Hall towards the relief of the poore, &c., &c."—[23rd September 1589.]

"On an order for the sale of Chantery lands, o^r M^r considering that certen tents in an alley situate betweene their Hall and the Church of St. Martin Outwich, bounded on each side by the living and revenue of this Companie, thought it good to take the benefit of this opportunity to purchase to thuse of this Society the said tents and alley at 30 years' purchase, the said tents being at the value of 4l. per annum."— [25th November 1589.] See Mem. 1.

"John Scott, a poor brother of this Company, exhibited a Petition to this House to the effect that John Haslewood, one of S^r Tho^s Rowe's almsmen, now deceased, owed him 8s. 8d. for norating or giving out the Psalms weekly at Pawle's Cross. Ordered that the same be paid out of the Pension now due, and the rest paid to the widow."—[20th December 1589.]

"The surrender of a lease purchased by the Company of a Messuage in St. Helen's, granted by the Prioress of St. Helen's, the fee simple of which was bequeathed to the Company by Sir Tho^s Rowe."—[24th March 1589.]

"A letter from St. John's, Oxford, proposing the sale of two houses to the Company, one being the White Horse, in Watling Street, the rent being 7l. per annum, thother being the Blewe Boar, in Bow Lane, at the yearly rent of 4l. 13s. 4d., either of them being in lease about 50 years, for the w^ch we desire twenty year's purchase, &c."—[28th August 1590.]

"At this Court, John Stowe, a Brother of this Companie, was chosen and admitted into the rowm and place of one of Mr. Dowe's almsmen."—[23rd March 1590.] See Mem. xxxiv.

"A letter from the President and Fellows of St. John's College, Oxford, requesting the assistance of the Company for the purchase of the advousen of the Vicarage of Charelburg, and the presentation to the living of St. Martin Outwich, in favor of one of their fellowship. The Company excuse themselves from the required assistance upon the ground of their heavy contribution to the Queen's service against Spain, and other burthens; in reference to the rectory of St. Martin, they state that, 'touching our small benefice of St. Martin's Outwich, we were not unmindfull of your Colledge, but fallinge into the valuacon thereof being under 20l., not onlie as y^t is in the Queen's books but extended to its utmost value and pfitt, we deemed it not a preferment for a double graduate in your colledge,' and therefore have granted the same to Dr. Bright, being beneficed hard by and resident upon the same benefice, at the veriee earnest sewte of the parishioners of St. Martin Outwich, who state that the livinge is not to beare any man's charge of itself, but is fitt to be bestowed uppon some that hath another staye, whose earnest request we could not well deny."— [30th June 1591.]

"A Precept from the Maior to this Companie, shewing the great enormytie that this Citie susteyneth by the practice and prophane exercise of players and playinge houses, and the corruption of youth that groweth thereupon, inviting the Companie by the consideration of this mischeyfe, to yeild to the payment of one annuytee to one Mr. Tilney, the Master of the Revelles of the Queen's house, in whose hands the redress doth rest. Albeit the Companie think it a very good service, yet waying the damage and enovacion of raysing annuyties on the Companies of London, they think this no fitt course to remedie this mischief, &c., &c."—[22nd March 1591.]

"John Stowe presented his Annalles, w^ch he prayeth maie be accepted as a small token of his thankfulness to this Companie."—[1st July 1592.] See Mem. xxxiv.

"At this Court, consideration being had of the building of the Companies Almshouses at Tower Hill, it is absolutely referred to the consideration, order and appointm^t of these three surveyors, viz^t.:—Mr. Rob^t Dowe, Mr. George Sotherton, and Mr. Nich^s Spencer. Mr. Rob^t Dowe ys also appointed Treasurer of the same."— [12th August 1592.]

"At this Court, Evan Morrice, Clothworke, who married the Wyddow Bright, the tenant of a tente at Dowgate, called the Fruterors' Hall, . . . . . agreed with the Company for a lease of the same, with a cellar (in dispute), for 21 years, at 10l. per annum."—[5th May 1593.]

"30l. presented to Mr. Sheriff Lee, and plate lent as usual."—[17th September 1594.]

"Guy Robinson, for a greate abuse against Mr. John Churchman, late M^r, suspended from all assemblings at the Hall on Quarter days and other feasts, not bring rushes, nor make any other provision at the Hall, until, by his humility and better behaviour, further order shall be taken, &c."—[30th July 1595.]

"30l. presented to Mr. Sheriff Halliday, sixteen of the principall Assistants to attend him Michaelmas Eve, also on the morrow after Michaelmas Day. The Plate agreed to be lent to him, which was retur^d by Mr. Alderman Lee, the late Sheriff." —[17th September 1595.]

"Phillip Cotton, fined 20l. for refusing to take upon him the office of a Wardens substitute, and was committed to the Counter."—[14th March 1596.]

"Inhabitants in Cornhill complain that Thomas Pearman, the Company's tenant, is about to receive an inmate into his house contrary to lawe, one that useth the trade of a brazier, being like to prove a greate annoyance, and almost the undoying of Nich^s Yong, our tenant, who by the art of musique getteth his whole living, and is already annoyed by another brazier who is lately placed in one of our tents there, being a greate disquietness to the whole neighbourhood, and not fitt to be placed in a house so neer the exchange. The said Pearman is appoynted to look out for another tenant, or the Company will consider if, by his lease, he can place any tenant without their consent."—[10th August 1597.]

"The Haberdashers take offence at being invited to joint search of felt in the hands of a Merchant Taylor, and summon the owner of the felt and the M^r of the Merchanttailors before the Lord Mayor, who being now M^r of the Haberdashers' Company, 'was very rownd' w^th our M^r, and did much reprehend the manner of our proceeding, and did commit Martin Foxwell (the owner of the Felt) to prison, but the next day he was discharged. Ordered that the said Foxwell shall advertise this Company if the Haberdashers ympose any fine upon him, and then the Company will take good advice how far their libertie extendeth."—[16th August 1597.]

"Att the motion and request of the parishioners of the pish of St. Martyn Outwich, who are now in hand to beautifie their church in respect Mr. Henry Rowe, Alderman, a Woor^ll pishioner of the said church, is at this present one of the Sheriffs of this honorable citty. This Company are content freely to give and bestowe upon the said parish of their owne free will (for they will not subiect themselves to any assessment) the some of 40s."—[17th October 1597.]

"A precept to attend the Queen from Chelsey to Whitehall. Another precept for the reformation of apparell, requiring of all freemen of the Company that their wief and children doe dutifully conform themselves in all poynts in their apparell." —[17th October 1597.]

"At the funeral of the Wor^ll Mr. Charles Hoskins a dinner of nine mess of meate was provided with the some of 20l., paid by the widow."—[10th January 1597.]

"Whereas at a Court of Assistants of 17th October last, fifteen pounds which had been given by three of the Livery by 5l. each, 'in regard the Company attended the funerall of their wyves,' was ordered to be spent upon some dynner, at this Court the said 15l. was directed to be laid out on pewter to srve the necessary occasions of the Company, and if the M^r and Wardens shall find that this some is not sufficient it is agreed that they may bestow 5l. more out of the stock of this house." —[31st January 1597.]

"Mr. Rob^t Hampson, a wor^pll member of this Societie, doth presently supply the roome of one of the Sheriff's of this Cytty for the present year by a note lately received from the Yeldhall, under the hand of one of my Lord Mayor's Clerks. The Merchantailors Company are to pvide for the Lord Mayor's feaste as followeth, viz.:—Sixteene psons to sitt at Mr. Sheriff's table, viz., the third table. Sixe psons to welcome guests. Two to attend the kitchin. Tenn of the comliest young men of the yeomanry to attend the lo: dresser for carrying of meate and lynnen and plate to the Judges. Remember to gyve knowledge to the tenn wayters that there is noe breakfast pvided for them at the feaste (the names of pties attending are given)."—[21st October 1598.]

"At this Court there was sealed a Ire of attorney made to Nicholas Hurdys and Augustine Bullock, Merchantailors, to distrayne such of the Brethren of this Company as putt not the moyety of their cloth to such of this Company as use clothdressing according to the ordynance in that behalf made."—[3rd March 1598.]

"A Precept from the Maior for the Company to pay 62l. 8s. towards a composition with persons interested in the deputation for terme of years from the Company of Tallowchandlers for search of oyle, salte, soape, butter, hopps, and such like."— [5th April 1600.]

"Curtains to be provided for the Queen's Armes in the Hall and for the mappes latelie given to this Companye by Mr. Speede, a loving brother of this house."— 21st October 1600.] See Mem. XXXV.

"Precept by the Maior to provide thirty psons of the most grave, tall, and comelie psonages of the Companie with the M^r and Wardens to attend the Queen from the Towne of Chelsey to her hignes princlie pallace at West^r, well horsed, and apparelled in velvet coates and gould chaynes. Ordered that the chief and principall members of the Company whose bodyes are hable to endure the extremitie of the wether are entreated to supply the same, and in theyr default to proceede lower in the Lyverye to such comlye and psonable men, as are iust fitt for such suite, and the names of such as attended are marked in the Lyverye booke w^th the lre (F)."—[11th November 1600.]

"Wm. Greene, a maker of garments, an earnest suitor for the use 25l. of Sir Thos. White's loan money, deemed not capable of the same according to the true meaning of the devise, agreed that he shall have the use of 12l. 10s. of Sir Thos. Rowe's monys for twoe years."—[15th December 1600.] See Mem. 1., par. 49.

"After much time spent touching the suit w^ch hath long depended in the King's bench betweene Edward Davenant and Nicholas Hurdys (the Beadle), upon the validitie of thordinance for putting of the moyties of cloth to dressing to such brothers of the Company as use the trade of Clothworking, foreasmuch as the said Edw^d Davenant is desirous to have an end of the controversie, and to be at peace with the Company and to scease upon even termes, it is agreed that his submission shalbe accepted and a discontinuance entred of the according accon."—[15th December 1600.]

"This day the funeral of Mr. William Offley (a late wor^ll member of this Company) was solempnesed, and the whole Livery were invited to dyne at the Hall, which was pvyded w^th the some of 20l. given by Mr. Offley to the same purpose. After dynner the Assistants assembled in the parlor to examine an example of Kentish wheate, &c."—[7th January 1600.]

"Jno. Stow's pension increased from 6l. to 10l. upon recommendation of Mr. Robert Dow."—[12th March 1600.] See Mem. XXXIV.

"Precept from the Rt. Hon. the Lo: Maior for the payment 46l. 16s., their proportion of 500l. to sett idle people to worke in Brydewell."—[12th March 1600.]

"A gratuity of 30l. presented to Mr. Sheriff Craven, and the plate lent during his term of office."—[12th March 1600.] See Memo. LXXIV.

"Upon the humble petition of the Waits or Musicians of the City of London, shewing that their service to this Company is extraordinary and more then to any Company in London, and cannot be pformed w^thout sixe in nomber on the Election day, It hath pleased the Company to encrease their fee from 33s. 4d. to forty shillings." —[30th June 1602.]

"Ordered that every brother of this Company w^ch at any tyme hereafter shall not be present in pson in the Comon Hall of this Society on the Election day, when they are chosen either M^r or Wardens of this Company, and cannot upon their oathe shew a lawfull and compulsary excuse without express licence of the M^r and Wardens, shall at th'end of his yere's srvice be absolutely removed from his place of an Assistant of this Company, and such as have not byn Assistants and shall so offend, shall not at any tyme be admitted to the said place, nor receive so much grace and reputation from the Company whoe so little regard the honor and creditt of the same."—[12th July 1602.]

"A letter from Queen Elizabeth in favour of Thos. Lovell for a lease."—[17th January 1602.]

"Precept from the Maior to assess the Company for 234l. towards 2,500l. to be disbursed for receiving the King's Ma^tie at his first repayring from his realme of Scotland, and towards his honourable coronation, &c."—[9th April 1603.] See Appendix D (3).

"Mr. Robert Dowe gave 3l. 12s. to provide the sum of 4s. a year for the Lanthorne-light at the Company's Almshouses near Tower Hill, to be bestowed in cotton candles 5 in the pound yearly for ever, which the Company very lovingly and thankfully accepted. The charitable devises of the said Mr. Dowe extend to the yearly sum of 100l. 2s. 8d., which shall be truly and faithfully pformed unto the world's end."—[20th April 1603.] See Mem. CXVIII.

"Our Master and Wardens, Mr. Noel Sotherton and Mr. Walter Plum^r are intreated once more to confer with the Wardens of the Salters for the dissolving of the composition cone^rnyng porters, for albeit the Company are resolved no long^r to contynue the same composition, as holding yt both an indignytie and disgrace to be tied to an inferior Company, and alsoe a great hindrance to dyvse poore brothers of this Company. Yet because both Companyes are members of this honorable City it is desired that the handling thereof may be done in all loving and friendly mann^r as much as may be possible."—[20th April 1603.] (fn. 23)

"The Quarter day Dinner that of late have been kept in Lent deferred until after Easter, to the intent that my Lord Maior may then, according to ancient custom and the prerogatyve of the Lord Maior, drink to hym that shalbe one of the Sheriffs for the yere ensuing, and forasmuch as it will draw a far greater charge upon him than if it had been kept at the accustomed time, by reason of the late enlarging of the Livery, and entertaining the Lord Maior and Lady Mayress, and other Woor^ll persons. It was agreed that our Master should be allowed 20l. more than ordinary, in the whole 100l.

"Note.—But at the next Courte he contented himself with the former allowance of 80l."—[20th April 1603.]

"Whereas some discontentment hath been lately taken by dyv^rse of the Brothers of this Companie w^ch were the last yere taken into the Liverie of this Societie, by reason that the foure Warden Substitutes of the last yere, w^ch at the last Courte of Assistants were iykewyse taken into the Liverie, had prcedency and first place granted unto them before dyv^rse of the Liverie who had not supplied the place of Warden Substitutes. Whereupon it was agreed that some of them should be warned to offer such reasons and exceptions as they could give against the Company's proceedings, and upon full and deliberate examynacon of all their exceptions, the Company fynd they have farre better reasons to mayntayne their proceedings, than there can be any way alleadged against the same. And albeit they holde it not fitt to render accompt of their proceedings to them who in duty ought to submit themselves to the judgem^t of the Assistants and Gou^rnors of this Companie, and not to call in question the discretion and judge^mt of this Courte, yet to avoid hartburnyng and discontentt they were in very loveing and brotherlie mann^r treated and delt w^th all by the auntient M^rs of this house, and the Companie held it not fitt to make any alteracon or change of that order, which upon good reason they had soe concluded and agreed upon."—[1st June 1603.]

"Precepts from the Maior for the payment of 234l. towards the chardges to be dispended for the King's Ma^ties most honorable Coronation, and such solempnities as are to be pformed by this Cittie touching the same. Also for 78l. for the same purpose."—[18th June 1603.] See Appendix D (3).

"Precept from the Maior requiring the Company to provide 40 persons, their proportion of 500 principal citizens, to attend upon the King on his passage through the City, every one of them to be well horsed, and apparelled in velvet coats with sleeves of the same and "chaynes of gould," and "not only yourselves but every of the said persons to have one comely pson, well appareled in his hose and doublet, to attend on hym on foote," and to be ready to attend the Maior at one day's warning." —[5th July 1603.]

"Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God to visitte the Cytty at this time with the Plague, the which without the great mercy of God is lykely to encrease, the election is agreed to be made at a private banquet of the Assistants and lerned Lyvery after they come from the sermon, agreeable to the following precept from the Lord Mayor, which, in consequence of the infection which pervaded the whole city, and the multitude of poor people whose houses were closed and prevented from attending to their daily labours for the support of their wives and families, it was thought fit that all public feasting and common dinners in the several Halls of the Corporations within the City should, during the time of this visitation of the Almighty be wholly given up, and that one-third part of the charge and expence intended to be spent on the said entertainments shall be bestowed upon the poor miserable and needy persons whose houses it shall please Almighty God so to visit."—[11th July 1603.]

"The publishing the accompts of the late M^r and Wardens, deferred by reason that the funrall of M^r Richard Shepham, a late loving brother, and one of the Assistants of this howse, were this day solempnized, and the whole Lyvery mett here at a Dynner w^ch was pformed w^th 20l. devysed by M^r Shepham for that purpose."—[7th August 1604.]

"The Election dinner published, the Master's allowance encreased from eighty to one hundred pounds upon the condition of his keeping his three quarter dayes, and also his election day, and at quarter days invite the wives of Aldermen of the Company, the old Masters, and the present Master and Warden's wives."—[19th June 1605.]

"Quarter day.—According to auncient and usuall order, fyrst the names of the Livery were called, and then Prayer made and the Ordynaunces and Benefactors redd and remembered. After which, preparacon was made to entertain the Right Hon^ble Sir Leonard Halliday, the Lord Mayor (being a member of this Company), and the Sheriffs, at the dinner: also the Lady Mayoress, the Aldermen's wives, the Masters' and the Wardens' wives for the present yeare. For the dinner the Master p'vided fourteen messe of meate, whereof fyve were served to the High Table, eight to the Livery Table, and one in the Parlor for the Sword Bearer and the Waitinge Women."—[16th December 1605.]

"Whereas the Company have lately bought a greate quantity of slate, to be employed for the repayring and amending the roof of the Companie's Comon Hall, our M^r and Wardens are intreated to cause the same to be well and substantially repayred w^th all convenient speed."—[31st March 1606.]

"At this Court the names of the Assistants and Lyvery were called and (he defaulte marked, then prayer made in reverent manner and the materiall ordynances for the government of the Company, and the benefactor^s and their severall devises were redd and remembered; and so the Company hastened to entertayne the Right Honorable Sir Leonard Halliday, Knight, y^e Lord Mayor (being one of this Company), and also the Sheriffs, being invited to this dynner. There was also invited the Lady Maiores, and other ladies, Aldermen's wives, Maisters' wyves, and Wardens' wyves of the Company; at which tyme the Maister provided a bountifull dynner of sixteene messe of meate, whereof fyve were served to the High Table, nyne to the Lyvery Table, and two to a side table in the hall where the Swordbearer and others sate; and at this dynner my Lord Maior did drinck to the newe elected Sheriffe (viz., Mr. Alderman Walthall), and the Maister allowed Ipocras and Wafers w^th the water barly caried unto him."

"Forasmuch as divers of ye Assistants, by reason of their age and remote dwelling from the Hall, cannot make their appearaunce untill a good part of the day be spent, and also by reason yt Courts of Assistants holdeth so long that they cannot return home to their dynners in any convenient time, doe therefore make default of appearance at many Courts: it is therefore ordered that at every Court there shalbe a convenient dynner provided by one of the Renter Wardens for the said Assistants at the coste of the Company, not exceeding 40s.; if any more be expended the Renter Wardens shall beare the same, saving only that over and above the forty shillings, ye fynes of such Assistants as shalbe absent, shall be collected by one of the Renter Wardens and added to the charges of the said dynner."—[17th May 1606.]

"Be it remembered that this day ye Assistants dyned here at the charges of the Company, and, after dynner, sate and dispatched much business, so as there was more matters ended at this Court then hath ben accustomed at 2 or 3 other Courts." —[2nd July 1606.]

"A Precept from the Maior for the better beautifying of the streets and lanes of this Citty against the passage of the King's moast excellent Ma^ty and the King of Denmark, &c, whereby the Company are required to 'provide yor railes in readiness for y^r Lyvery to stand in against the 30^t of this present month of July, the said railes to be hanged with blew azure cloth and garnished with banners and streamers in the moaste beautiful manner that may be, also to provide six whifflers to every score of y^r Lyvery well apparelled, with white staves in theire hands, to stand with their backs to the comon rayles over against ye Companie's railes, for the better and quieter ordering the streetes through w^ch his Ma^ty shalle passe.' Whereupon, according to the said precept, the railes were sett up, hanged with blew azure cloth garnished with banners, and whifflers appointed, being proper yonge men of the Company, well apparelled, and many of them waring chaynes of gould. The Comon Clarck did certify that the Companie's railes did contayne in length 285 feete.

"A Precept from the Maior requiring the Company to pay 93l. 12s. towards the expence of railing the streets from the Tower to Temple Bar, and making a pageant at the royal passage of the King's Most Excellent Mat^y and the King of Denmark." —[2nd August 1606.]

"Whereas it pleased Almighty God moast mercifully to preserve the King's Ma^ty and the whole state from the late pernitious gunpowder treason. In remembrance whereof by Act of Parliament it is agreed that the fifth day of November shall forever be kept holliday, and so by order the whole lyvery are required to resort to Powles to a sermon. It is therefore thought fitt that, according to the example of other companies, that all the lyvery should dyne at our hall upon the same day, the same to be provided by two of the livery who by rank and course shalbe stewards, and that there shall be allowed out of the stock of the Company towards the same Dynner the some of 3l. 6s. 8d."—[26th September 1607.]

"It is agreed that there shall be provided a handsome little bell to stand upon the table for the Maister to ringe when he hath occasion to call for the beadle who attendeth without the dore, soe as he and others may take notice that the knock with the hammer is onely for silence, and that the beadle is not to come in but when the bell is rung."—[9th January 1607.]

"Rob^t Johnson fined 40s. for using uncivil words against Robert Barnes, one of the Warden Substitutes, and alsoe indecent speech not fitt to be recorded in any booke, against the Master and Wardens. He presently paid the fine, and hath promised to aske the Warden Substitutes and Sixteen men forgiveness at their full assembly, which if he shall unfaynedly performe then the Company will consider whether it be fytt to inflict any further fyne or punishment upon him."—[9th March 1607.]

"Richard Langley, the Comon Clarck, made relation of extraordinary services rendered to the Company, for which he prayed allowance, viz^t.:—

"Writing a book or abstract of thevidences concerning the Revenue of the Company.

"Enlarging the booke of Wills of benefactors to the Company.

"Making a booke of Sir Tho^s. White's material Statutes concerning the Company's Schoole, with a translation of the same into English, and entering the Comp. orders for government of their schoole into the same booke.

"A booke of the Companye's chre., with a translation thereof into English.

"A booke of contributions and loanes for provision of corne, and other loans made by the Company.

"A large booke, being an alphabetical collection of all the Freemen of the Company.

"An abstract of all the Leases of the Company, wherein may presently be knowne the beginning and the end of every lease.

"The whole proceedings and order when the King's Ma^ty the noble Prynce and greate Lords dyned here. (See Mem. XXXII.)

When the Clarck was informed that it had pleased the Company to graunt him one hundreth poundes for his said extraordinary services, and in consideration thereof he was to leave all the books to the Company, and to make a booke w^ch should contayne an Inventory of all the Companye's books and moveables, (fn. 24) and of such fees and duties as belong to the officers of the Company."—[8th August 1608.]

"Foreasmuch as it hath pleased God to afflict and visit the Citty with the Plague, and that the number doth weekly increase, It is therefore thought fitte to forbeare feasting and great assemblies until it shall please God to remove the sickness from us, and it is thought expediente to put of the great Dynner for the whole generallitie which was agreed to be kept this year, but nowe altered by reason that the sickness is soe generally dispersed, and y^e greate danger w^ch may ensue upon soe generali an assembly out of all y^e parts and corners of y^e Cittie, which the Warden Substitutes doe most willingly assent and agree unto."—[7th September 1608.]

"At this Court was openly redd a writing w^ch Richard Langley the Comon Clarck of this Company brought from Mr. Reginald Barker, (fn. 25) late M^r of this Company, and nowe inhabiting at Chatham in Kent, purporting an assignment by hym made to the Company of a lease of one thousand yeares of two ozier hopes, lying in the parish of Westham, in the county of Essex, of the yerely value of 40s., w^ch he freely bestowith towards the better relief of the poore Almsmen and Almswomen which now or hereafter shalbe in the Companye's Almshouses. The which the Company doe accept hoping that hereafter God will move his hart to be more bountifull and liberall for the relief of the poore of this Company."—[7th October 1608.]

"The consideration of certain orders for the government of Dutch and French Taylors that worke within the Cittie contrary to the lawes of this land, and the liberties of the Cittie, deferred."—[5th January 1608.]

"To this assembly resorted Sir Noel de Caron, Ambassador to the State of the Lowe Countries, and fower Elders, viz^t. two of the Dutch church, and two of the French church, and in the presence of two of the Warden Substitutes and fower of the Sixteen men. After a long discourse and many objections, pro et contra, it was in thend concluded and agreed as in and by certen articles of agreement Indented under the hands of the said parties, whereof one parte remayneth with the said Ambassador and thother w^th this Company, and the copy thereof being entered in a faier vellum booke remayning with the Warden Substitutes."—[13th January 1608.]

"This day the M^r, Wardens and Assistaunte, in the presence of the Warden Substitute and 16 men, did view the Company's Throry now in the custody of the Warden Substitute and 16 men, and did cause a perfect note to be taken of all the money and plate then remaining in the same, viz.:—

"Money in several baggs— 330l. silver, 103l. gould.

"Plate—

"Imprimis, fouer elecion cupps with covers, whereof one all guilt and the other three parcell guilt.

"Item, 6 Bassells or lowe bowles with one cover, all guilt, being used for the sixteen men's table at the generall feast.

"Two old Masers with narrowe typps of silver guilt.

"Two Livery Potts of Silver parcell guilt.

"One old Standing Cupp and Cover all guilt, one neste of bowles, with a cover, all guilt, and one litle Pott with a Cover all guilt, pawned and forfeyted many years past by one John Crane, Marchauntailo^r.

"Three salts parcel guilt, whereof two have covers and the third none.

"Three dozen and fower spoones, whereof 22 are white, with lyons heads guilt, and two of them guilt spoones of severall fashions, one of them engraven with a writing, and one a faier spoone parcell guilt, with a writing engraven on it, and twelve of them silver spoones with Hercules on thend guilt, and three of them white with Apostles heads.

"Fower garlands of blewe Damaske, with fower St. John's heads of silver a peece upon every of them." [10th February 1608.]

"The Precept for the plantation in Ireland, with motives and reasons to induce the Citty of London to undertake the same."—[5th July 1609.]

"A letter from The Lord Treasurer (Salisbury) in favour of Jn^o Whalley. A Letter from 7 Judges in favour of John Whalley (for Reversion of Clark)."—[14th August 1609].

"The Drapers Company deny the Merchant Taylors right of search."—[20th August 1609.] See Mem. XIX., p. 113.

"A Precept from the Lord Mayor requiring the Company to contribute their proportion of 2,000l. for the fynishing the Granieries begunn to be erected at Bridewell, being 187l. 4s."—[9th December 1609.]

"A Letter from the Lord Chancellor (Ellesmere) in behalf of Richard Baldock for the Office of Clark to the Company, in the event of Richard Langley being p'ferred to a greater employment. After the reading of the Letter the M^r made answer that when the place shall be void the Company wilbe myndfull of his Lo^pp ho. lre.

" A Petition of John Whalley to supply the office of Comon Clark in the absence of Richard Langley the present Clark his late M^r, and that the Company would grant him the reversion of the said office; and the said Richard Langley did humbly desire the Company to have consideration to the said suite. "Brother" Langley was informed that the M^r and Wardens and the rest of the Assistants were willing that he should have the profits of his office so long as he should like the name of the Merchantailo^rs Clark, and doe them such service as should be reasonably required of him, and engaged to study his convenience when he should be with the Lord Mayor on the business for the Citty, but declined to appoint "my brother" Whalley, or any other to be Deputy, &c."—[15th January 1609.]

" Richard Langley, late comon Clark of this Company, but now Deputy Towne Clark, excused from the offices of M^r or Warden of the Company, but called to be an Assistant of this Company."—[18th March 1610.]

" Mr. Richard Wright was elected for M^r or Governor, Geo. Lyddiatt, Frances Evington, Thomas Boothby, and John Gore for Wardens, and the said M^r and Wardens being all absent (wc^h never heretofore hath beyn seene), to the greate greefe and discontent of the grave fathers and governors of this Mystery, there garlands were therefore delivered to the Lord Mayor, being the principall guest according to antient order. The Assistants assembled in their Counsell Chamber, and there considering how greate a blemish it was to this Society to have both M^r and Wardens absent on the Election-day, caused the books to be searched for orders for punishing of such defaults, sett fynes upon the heads of such as have either this yeare or the last byn absent at the Election-day, it was ordered that John Wooller, Upper Warden, who was absent the last yeare, should pay a fyne of 40s. Mr. Rich^d Wright, now chosen M^r and being absent on the Election-day, shall paye 4l., the 2 Upper Wardens 3l. a-peece, and the 2 Renter Wardens 40s. a-peece, unless they can upon their oathes shew some lawfull cause for their absence."—[15th July 1611.]

" Two brace of fatt bucks being brought to the Hall in a coach and p'sented from his highness (Henry Prince of Wales) by Mr. Alexander, one of his highness gentlemen ushers, whereupon Mr. Thomas Row did deliver to the said Mr. Alexander, to bestow upon the keeper or where he should think fitt the some of fowre pounds, and to the keeper's men that came with him 20s., and to the coachman 5s., amounting in the whole to 5l. 5s., the which the auditors did forbeare to allow. Now upon consideration it is ordered, that for asmuch as it is fitt that the messenger from so greate a Prince should receive a good reward, to demonstate the Companies thankfulnes and to encourage other Maisters hereafter to be bountifull, 4l. shalbe allowed to Mr. Rowe, and whensoever the Prince shall send any more bucks or doaes, the house (over and above such gratuity as the M^r shall allowe out of his owne purse) shall allow 20s. for every buck or doae to be sent from his highness, and Mr. Thomas Rowe did willingly give the 25s. out of his owne purse for a good example of them that shall succeede."—[12th August 1611.] See Mem. xxxii., p. 160.

" Mr. Rob^t Brooke paid 24l., the interest of 300l. for one whole year, with promise to pay the principall at thend of six months or give the Company security to their content, but for asmuch as the Company are informed that he hath certain fustians which he would sell for money, It is ordered that Mr. Hamor and Mr. Langley shalbe intreated to deale with him for the said fustians at such price as they shall think fitt for the Company to allow him to thend that they may recover in their debt, which is doubted to be somewhat desperate."—[28th August 1611.]

"Ordered that 300l. which was received for corne shalbe putt forth for six monthes at 9l. per cento.

" Whereas it was ordered at the last Corte of Assistants that six hundreth pounds should be lent unto the Company of Merchant Adventurers for six months at eight pounds per cento, and for asmuchas they have refused the same, It is at this meeting agreed that the said 600l. shalbe lent unto Sir Baptiste Hicks, Knight, and Edward Bates, for six months, at nyne pounds pro conto, and that our M^r shall pay the same, taking their bonds."—[9th September 1611.]

"Memorandum, the Convivium Dynner was kept at the Aungell at Islington, upon Monday 9th September, 1611, where Dyned the Right Woor^ll Mr. Richard Wright, M^r, Mr. Geo. Lyddiatt, Francis Evington, and John Gore, three of his Wardens, with other Right Woor^ll p'sons, Assistants and Counsellors of this Mystery, whose names hereafter ensue, viz.—

Sir Leonard Halliday, Knight, Ald^n.

Mr. Jeoffrey Elves, Alderman.

Mr. Robert Dow.

Mr. Thomas Juxon.

Mr. Humphrey Streete.

Thomas Henshaw.

Randolph Woolley.

Raph Hamer, and

Thomas Johnson.

[9th September 1611.]

"A Letter of Attorney. To all xpian people, &c. Whereas the said M^r and Wardens are lawfully seised of and in one messuage or tenem^t with th'app^rtennce situate and being neere unto Dowgate, late in the tenure of Richard Wright, Merchauntailo^r, and whereas the said M^r and Wardens, and all those whose estate wee have of and in the said messuage tyme wherof the memory of man is not to the contrary, have had for them and ourselves and for our and their tennants and occupiers of the said messuage a foote way and passage to pass and repass from the King's highway called Thames Street, which passage was stopped up by the late tenant of the freehold of the soile, and doth yet remaine stopped up. We therefore the said M^r and Wardens doe by these pnts constitute Rich^d Baldock and others in our names to require Sir Tho^a Mustian and his wief now tenants of the freehold of the ground of the said way that they suffer us the said M^r and Wardens to unstopp the foresaid way, whereby wee and our tenats may have and enioy, &c. &c."—[27th November 1611.]

"John Horsley, the Apprentice of Richard Evans, dec^d. being the third day of January 1611, admitted into the freedom of this Company, did out of his poore ability give unto this house a gilt Spoone, waying one ounce and an half or thereabouts, as a token of his love and thankfulness for his said freedome. Ordered to be put into the Throry."—[2nd March 1611.]

"The sum of 40s. agreed to be allowed for a dynner for the Assistants in 1606, increased to 53s. 4d. on account of the increased price of provisions, and a recent call of thirteen of the Livery to be Assistants, and if there be more expended, the rentor Warden to beare the same."—[2nd March 1611.]

"At this Co^rte the Company were given to understand by o^r M^r and the rest of the Comittees appointed to deale with Sr Wolstone Dixie for certain houses in Basinghawe how they had contracted for the said purchase which was at this Corte ratified and allowed in forme following, viz.:—That S^r Wolston Dixy shall have eighteene hundreth and fforty pounds for the said howse, whereof nyne hundreth and fforty poundes to be paid at thensealing, and the other nyne hundreth pounds at six monthes, and the purchase to made in the name of Mr. William Parker, a brother of this Company."—[25th May 1612.]

"Whereas informacon was given at this Co^rte by the Comon Clerke of this Society, that it was Mr. Recorder's advise and counsell to have the booke of Ordinance first p'sented to the Right Hon. The Lo. Chancellor of Eng^d and that his Lo^pp should alsoe psented with some remembrance from the Comp. for the better furtherance and fynishinge of that busyness. It is therefore ordered and agreed that the Comon Clerke shall attende Mr. Recorder, intreating him to move His Lo^pp in their suite. And alsoe to psent His Lo^pp with tenne double sufferants in gould; and further ordered that what other monies shalbe disbursed by the consent of the M^r and Wardens to any Judge or Counsellor for the said business shall be paide by our M^r."—[24th January 1612.] See p. 199.

"A letter from the Lady Elizabeth addressed to Sir Jno Swynarton, Lord Mayor, and the M^r and Wardens and Assistants of the Merchantailors Company, requesting the reversions of the Cook's place to the Company in behalf of John Ward.

"Which lre being redd required noe answere in regard the place is not voide, and her grace taken her leave of England before the Co^rte of Assistants."—[5th May 1613.]

"The election of Master and Wardens being fynished and the guests departed, thassistants assembled themselves agayne in their Councell Chamber, and then only Mr. Boothby being present, tooke his corporall oathe for the faithfull and due execu tion of his place, and in regard Mr. Symon Clynt chosen M^r, Mr. Martyn Leather and John Robinson, chosen two of the Wardens, were all absent by reason they have all three given over their dwellings in the cittie and retired themselves into the country. It was therefore ordered that sev'all lres should be sent unto them, which lres were readie written and signed at this Court by the M^r and Wardens and divers of the Assistants then present, for their present appearance to take their oathes and charges, and that the Beadle of the Livery should be sent unto Mr. Symon Clynt, M^r and Martin Leather, one of the Wardens, with all convenyent speede, and the Beadle of the Batchelor's Company should be sent to John Robinson, one other of the Wardens, and that they should take with them sev'all bonds, viz.:—one for Mr. Symon Clynt to be bound in two hundreth pounds for the payment of one hundred pounds at five months for his fyne if he should refuse the service, and other two for Martyn Leather and John Robinson, with either of them a good suritie in one hundreth pounds for the payment of ffifty pounds a peece at the like tyme; and it was further ordered that the Comon Clarke should give Mr. Cartwright two double sovainges, and to entreate him to move the right honourable the Lorde Chancellor that it would please his Lo. to grant severall pursevants for the said pties that if they should refuse to submit themselves to their several service or paye their ffynes, the said pursevants migh by authoritie compell them to make their appearance in London."—[7th July 1613.]

"At this Court came Will^m Wright, a brother of this Society, who was three several times somond to appeare for many peremtory speeches w^ch he had used to our M^r and Wardens in their pnts . . . . . and being spoken unto by Sir Will^m Craven did not spare in the pnts of this Co^rte to tell him alsoe of ptiallitie, all which deserving greater punishment than could be inflicted upon him, It was ordered that Mr. Warden Gore and Mr. Greenwell should go to my Lorde Maio^r to informe his Lo^pp what has passed at this Courte concerning the said Wright, and that it was the Companeyes desire that he should be comitted as well for his due deserts as for example for others. Whereupon my Lorde giving good allowance to that w^ch the Company had done, caused him pntly to be comitted to prison.—[28th August 1613.]

"Whereas John Robinson, Merchantailo^r, was by order of a Court of Aldmⁿ held at the Guildhall, on Thursdaye the 21st day of October, committed to Newgate for his willfull refusing to take upon him the office of Warden of the Wor^ll Company of Merchantailo^rs or to pay such fine as the said Company should impose upon him, after w^ch comittm^t he made his humble suite to the right Ho. Sir John Swynarton, Knight, then Lord Maior, for his release, whereupon his Lo^pp sent for him to his howse, and there our M^r, Mr. John Vernon, and other of the Assistants being present, the said John Robinson made his submission, and was content to refer himself to the Company. Then his Lo^pp moved him to enter into a recognizance of one hundreth pounds, w^ch he was content to doe.

"(The said John Robinson made his personal appearance at this Court and agreed to submit himself unto the Company for his fyne, "hopinge they would deal lovingly and kindly with him," when after a lengthened negociation he agreed to pay 50l. to be excused from all offices and liabilities; for the payment of this amount, he ultimately obtained 2 years time.)"—[3rd November 1613.] (fn. 26)

"Whereas there hath beene noe generall dynner kept at this Hall by space of this seaven years, w^ch heretofore hath byn usually kept every third yeare, It is therefore now ordered and agreed that a greate dynner for (the) generallitye of this Company shalbe kept at the Hall this yeare about the usuall time the same hath heretofore byn kept."—[12th June 1616.]

"The gift of seven paintings and his own portrait by Mr John Vernon, as given at page 469 in Herbert Hist of 12 Comp^s."—[25th July 1616.]

"The Master and Wardens and five others appointed to ride and attend the Aldermen for the meeting of the Russian Ambassador at Tower Hill.

"Whereas the Company have byn at great charges in building the parson's house in S^t. Martyn's Out^ch, and allowed him a yearly pencion of ffive poundes towards his better mayntenance, and he hath lett parte of the said howse with lycence of this Company, and hath not shewed himselfe thankfull to requite their kindness towards him as he ought to have done, It is therefore ordered that his said pencion of ffive pounds shall be stayed in our Master's hands during the Company's pleasure. (The pension restored, see page 474.)"—[3rd November 1617.]

"This Court falling into consideration howe kindly the M^r and Wardens of the Skinners doe use our M^r and Wardens, as well for their places in their Church as at their Hall, it is therefore thought fitt that whereas they have bin hetherto placed in the body of the Church that now there maye be care taken to place them in the Chancel, w^ch this yere was pformed to their good content."—[13th July 1618.]

"Our M^r intimating to this Court that all of the twelve Companyes of London have given gratifications unto Mr. Recorder of London, this yere reader at ye Temple, and to Mr. Comon Serieant, this yere also reader at Grayes' Inn, towards their great charge in performing their places, and this Company has as yet done nothinge consideration thereoff at this assembly being therefore had and thought fitt that our Company should not forgett Mr. Recorder being of their Council have ordered and agreed that Mr. Recorder shall have twelve peeces given him, being 13l. 4s., and Mr. Comon Serieant five peeces, being 6l. 7s. out of the stock of this house."—[11th August 1619.]

"Precept from the Maior requiring that the Livery of the Company upon dayes solempnitie (at w^ch are present many noble and worthy spectators, as well strangers and natives born,) doe in decent and grave manner weare their gowns faced with furs, every man according to his degree, and not to have their gowns faced with several stuffs in such disorderly manner as of late hath been used, &c., and that rates of several sorts of furs for facing of Livery gowns may be the better known you shall receive herewith a note of the same.

"Prices of Furrs.

"Ffaces of budge, several prizes according to goodness, from 25s. to 3l.

"Some fower nobles, 20s.; 5 nobles, 35s.; 37s.; 40s.; and some 50s.

"Ffaces of fayne powtes, some 45s.; 50s; some 3l.

"Ffaces of martens, of which the chief companeys doe were, some 10l.; some 9l.: 8l. 10s.; 8l.; 7l. 10s.; and 7l.

"Martens powtes, some 5l.; 4l. 10s; some 5l. 10s., according to y^e goodness, of all these kinds, and according to their several prices they have been sold tyme out of minde.

"The contents whereof this Company have and doe purpose to performe."— [16th December 1619.]

"Whereas divers several somes of money are given by good benefactors to this Company towards a yearly Convivium dinner w^ch hath been duly kept according to the will of the deceased, and some other somes given by the will of the dead only to the Maister and Wardens for their paynes, (fn. 26) have also hitherto by consent of the Maister and Wardens then being, beene spent with the former somes at the said convivium dinner, whereby the charge out of the stock of the house was soe much the less. But nowe the M^r and Wardens, hereafter not willing to breake the will of the dead, but to receive their due, desire to be left at liberty whether they will doe as their p^rdecessors have done or noe, w^ch this Court doth not deny, but order and agree that a convivium dinner shalbe yearly kept according to the will of the dead, for to continue mutual love and society in this Company, but to be more frugal in expenses than heretofore, and therefore have ordered and agreed that the money spent at the said dinner shall not exceed the some of 16l. at the most."—[18th July 1620.]

"Whereas the Company have lately bestowed cost upon their Almshouses at Tower Hill, and a writing formerly sett over the gate is so much decayed that the same cannot be understood. The Company, therefore, having caused a new stone to be sett up have ordered that these words shalbe sett up in the same:—"These Almshouses were built at the proper cost and charges of the Woor^ll Company of Merchanttailors in Anno 1592, for the dwellinge of fowerteene poore widdowes mainetained by the said Company."—[16th June 1624.] See Mem. cxviii.

"Ordered that 5 nobles be given to the parson of St. Buttolph's without Aldgate for his suffering y^c Church wall to be broken to sett up Mr. Dowes' picture there."— [25th October 1622.]

"Precept from the Maior. Whereas there is a vayne and riotous custome of late taken upp of meeting of countrymen of several shires and counties of this realme at halls and tavernes w^thin this Citty, w^ch meetings doe occasion much vaine expence of money, and many tymes by men that can hardly spare the same, for prevencion of w^ch said meetings, These are to require you that you forbeare hereafter, especially in these tymes of God's visitation w^th the contagious sickness of the Plague, to p'mitt and suffer yo^re Companie's Hall to be lett out or used for any such meetings, &c."— [15th June 1625.]

"There was at this Court granted unto John Underwood, merchanttailor, the some of 100l. of Mr. Cutting's money for ffive years.

"And be it remembered that there were divers suto^rs for the said some of 100l., whereof some were adjudged not capable, only fower were found to be truly capable according to the will of the donor. And to avoid all suspition of partiality there were fower papers made only with figures to the number of fower, w^ch they first drew, w^ch did appoint every man his place to drawe for the lotte; then other fower papers were made ready whereof one had this word written in it, 100l., and the other three were blanke. And it pleased God that John Underwood, who drew in the first place, did light uppon the said 100l., and by the blessing of Almighty God he enioyed the benefit of the said devise."—[10th May 1626.]

"Precept from the Lord Maior exhorting to consider the greate wante and misery of a number of poore people in and about this Citty, and to suspend their feasting for the year, and bestow the money so saved among the poore distressed people of the Company."—[13th June 1626.]

"Whereas Mr. John Harrison, merchanttailor, deceased, did by his last will and testament give and bequeath unto this Company divers lands and tenements for the maintenance of a School and a Schoolmaster and Usher to teach Scholars in the said School, situate in Much Crosby, in the County of Lancaster, and for the perpetual maintenance of other charitable uses in his will mentioned, limitted, and expressed. And for that the Company are willing to manifest unto posterity their care in the pformance of the trust reposed in them, as alsoe if they should be required to give an accompt of the employ^t thereof, hath therefore intreated Mr. Bedell, the Upper Warden (and others), to take care from tyme to tyme that the Will of the said Testator be pformed by this Society according to the trusts reposed, whereby there may not be any neglect imputed unto them."—[11th Dec. 1626.] See Mem. cxxvii.

"This Court taking conseration of y^e greate trouble aud many inconveniences that the Taintor's cottages and shedds in Little Moorfields, now inhabited by divers poore and indigent psons, doth dailie bring uppon the Companie, hath therefore thought fitt and soe resolved and ordered y^t the Companies Lease and Interest of and in their houses Taintor's Gardens, Cottages and Shedds there, shalbe sould to the most profitt of this house."—[14th February 1626.]

"Precept from the Maior requiring this Company to levy and provide 451l. 10s. being their proportion of 4,300l. (pageant money), according to the Company's proportion of 10,000 quarters of corne."—[10th November 1629.]

"Twenty shillings annually allowed to the Wardens of the Clothworkers' Company, to be given to such as they shall employ to discover and give information of the abuses comitted by divers working Clothworkers, in neglecting the due observation of the Saboth Daie, and in taking and keeping more apprentices than they ought to doe. And where before the Company did allow 30s. towards a friendly meeting or dinner upon the Searches with the Wardens of this Company and the Wardens of the Clothworkers and others accompanying them in those searches fower tymes in the year, Ordered that from henceforth there be 40s. allowed towards the charge of every such Search Dynner."—[20th June 1630.]

"10l. lovingly and freely bestowed upon Edw^d. Littleton, Esq., Recorder of London, and of the Companies Councell, in token of their love to him, the like sume having formerly bene bestowed by this Company uppon his predcessor, Sir Heneage Finch, Knt., dec^d.

"The place of M^r Tackle Porter being vacant, by the covenante of an Indenture made between this Company and the Company of Salters, none were capable thereof but such as had before served as a servant in the Tackle-house, this Court proceed to the election. The person chosen was required to enter into bond, with two sureties for 50l., and to pay to the widdowe of the late M^r. Porter 13l. 6s. 8d., and to the daughter 6l. 13s. 4d., as in like cases is usuall. [See entry, 20th April 1603, ante, and note.]

"This Court being informed that most of their tenants were very backward in paying their rent, whereby the Renter Wardens were put to much trouble in collecting the same, chiefly because the Tenants presume the Company will not take the forfeiture of their leases, Ordered, that the rent reserved upon all leases passed under the seal of this house, shall be payable in the Comon Hall of this Societie, w^th clause of re-entry for non payment thereof. And that there shallbe Letters of Attorney p^rpared, to be sealed with the comon seale of this Society, authorising the Renter Wardens to receive and likewise to distraine, &c."—[20th August 1632.]

"Assistance from the Company applied for towards the repairs of S^t. Helen's Church. The Company at their great and generall feast doe usually resorte thither to hear a sermon. 20l. granted."—[10th December 1632.] See Mem. cxiv., p. 337.

"A Precept by the Maior for raising 105l., the Company's proportion of 1,100l. imposed as a fine uppon this Cittie by a judgment in the King's Bench to be paid to his Ma^tie by the Maior, Coialty, and Citizens of this Cittie, for not attaching of the Murtherers of John Lamb deceased, to be rated and levyed by poll, and not otherwise. Whereupon it is ordered that the said 105l. be levyed upon the several brethen of this Companie by the poll, according to their several ranks and degrees in manner following:—

"And our Maister and Wardens are desired to meet together and give order for the collecting the same, and to pay the said 105l. into the Chamber of London."— [20th January 1632. (fn. 27) ]

"Sir W. Craven's pension of 4l. per annum granted to Rich^d. Briggs, clothworker, upon the recommendation the Right Hon^ble Thomas, Earle of Arundell and Surrie, Earl Marshall of England."—[10th April 1633.] See Mem. LXXIV. (entry of May 1643, post.)

"This Court, taking into their consideration, that Michael Grigg, Esquire, late Master of this Company, hath liberally and bountifully performed and discharged his said place in an extraordinary manner, to the great wor^pp of this Society, whereof this Court doth take especial notice, and in testimony of their thankfullness doth order that our Maister shall send unto Mrs. Grigg, his wife, the sume of ffiftie pounds, as a remembrance from this Courte.

"Ordered, that the two Upper Wardens shall take charge of the Compies corne and sale of their meale in the market, and at their going out of their places to give an account, and deliver over to the succeeding Upper Wardens the charge of the corne remayning in their custody, and henceforth the two Upper Wardens are appointed to take care and charge of the Companie's corne accordingly."—[20th August 1633.]

"Ordered, that plate of the value of 100 marks, at the discretion of the Wardens, be pnted to Will^m Lord Archbis^p of Canterbury, as an acknowledgement of this Compi^e's love and respecte unto him."—[20th October 1633.]

"Ordered, that a bason and ewer of silver, of the value of an hundred nobles or thereabouts, be pnted the Lord Bishop of London, who was sometime a scholor in the Companie's School, as a token of their love and thankfulness for his good respect toward this Company, with their earnest desire for the continuance of his Lo^ppe favour towards them in all their lawfull occasions."—[8th February 1633.]

"Two persons, whome the Company doe imploy as ushers to goe before and attend them at great solemnities, petitioned this Court for increase of their yearly salary of 6s. 8d. a peece in regard of their attendance at funeralls not formerly used. Ordered, that 13s. 4d. be allowed them for attendance upon the Company at all times whensoever required."—[30th April 1634.]

"Whereas the two Renter Wardens of this Company for the time being have alwaies used and soe ought, uppon the Eve or Vigil of S^t. Bartholomew, at their owne charges, to provide and make a dinner for the M^r, Wardens, and Assistants, and then, according to antient custom, after dinner the new and old Wardens, being attended w^th the Comp^ie's officers doe repye into the Bartholomew ffair to search for yards used by such brethren of this Company as sell woollen cloth there. Now this Court, upon speciall reasons them moving, doth think fitt and order, That, for the better encouragement of the two Renter Wardens successively in their places, shallbe from henceforth hereafter allowed unto the Renter Wardens for the time being uppon their accompts 40s. a-peice towards their charges in making the said yearly dinner at y^e time aforesaid."—[20th August 1634.] See Mem. xix.

"40l. for a dinner to the Livery, on the daie of Sir Rob^t Ducies' Funeral, was paid to our Maister, for performance thereof o^re M^r appointed Robert Churchman, Beadle of the Livery, to be Steward, whoe, by the accompt of the dinner, hath expended y^e forty pounds and 56s. 11d. more, and did husband the same w^th as much care and p'vidence as he could respecting the dearness of the tymes; the Courte allowed the 56s. 11d., and, for his paynes, soe much more as would make upp the sume of foure pounds."—[8th October 1634.]

"Ordered, that Sir John Bancks, Knt, Attorney-General and Rob^t Mason, Recorder of this Citty, be retayned to be of the Companie's Councell, and to have paid to them the several sumes of 4l. p ann. quarterly, for their standing fee."—[14th January 1634.]

"Precept by the Maior. In regard of the scarcity and extreame dearness of victualls at the present tyme, and for preventing of many inconveniences w^ch may happen as well thereby as otherwise if the feastings at halls and in Comp^ies within this Citty shall continue, and to the intent that the poore within this Citty may be in some sort better relieved by the saving of expences of those feastes than otherwise they would, These are therefore, with the advise of my brethren the Aldren of this Citty, to will and require you that you take speedie course that there be noe q^rter dinner, stewards' dinner, election dinner, or any other dinner or feasting made within your Comon Hall or elsewhere for yo^r said Company, whereunto the generallity or the Livery shall come or repaire, until you shall have order from me to the contrary, but that for your quarter daie, election daie, and other daies and times of meeting for yo^re said Company, you cause yo^re dinner, if you have any at all, to be made very moderate and spareing, and that onely for yo^re Assistants of yo^re said Company and noe other; and that you take such charitable care and provision that yo^re poore of yo^re Company may be the better relieved and comforted by all or some good p^t of the charge as by forbearing the said feaste, dinner, or expenses, shall be saved. And hereof, &c.

"Whereupon it is ordered, That the election shall be kept private in the King's Chamber, without any sermon or other great ceremony, uppon Tuesday, 14 July.

"This Court is pleased, out of the love and affection they beare to the Colledge of S^t. John Baptiste, in Oxon, to order that there be a bason and ewer of the value of 33l. 6s. 8d. or thereabouts bought, and the Company's armes stampt uppon the same and presented to the President of that Colleadge, as of the Companie's guift to the same Colleadge."—[1st July 1635.]

"Our M^r intimating that divers persons whoe promised him bucks uppon the granting of leases to them, refused to performe their promisee, whereby he could not performe those respects to the ould Maistors as hath been at this tyme usuall, Ordered, that the sealing of those leases shall be respited until the grauntees shall satisfie o^r M^r for the buck promised."—[14th July 1635.]

"Several persons having been chosen on the Livery and clothing of the Company, were made acquainted with that favour to them who lovingly accepted thereof, and they were further informed that every of them that had not supplied the place of Warden Substitute, or fined for the same, was to pay five and twenty pounds a-peice for their admittance, and 5l. towards a stock of corne; and those who had executed the said place, or fined for the same, only 33s. 4d. for their admittance, and 5l. towards a stock of corne."—[11th July 1637.] [This corn money was (as I understand) a loan, and returned on the death of the member to his executor.—C.M.C.]

"It is thought, felt, and ordered that our M^r shall take care to provide against the newe year tide four hoggesheads of French wine, viz., two hoggesheads to be sent to the most reverend ffather in God the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his grace, and the other twoe hoggesheads to the right hono^ble and right Reverend ffather in God the Lord Bishopp of London, Lord high Threr of England, as of the Companie's guift unto them. (Annual.)"—[5th December 1637.]

"Ordered, that our M^r shall pay the sume of eight hundred pounds out of the Hall Stocke into the Chamber of London with all convenient speed, being the Company's proportion of 12,000l., the charges of passing the new Charters, &c., under the greate Seale of England, to be paid by the Citty and Companies. Precept by the Maior dated 20 October 1638.

"Precept from the Lord Maior for this Company to give attendance on the passage of the King and Queen and Queen's mother through this Citty from Aldgate to Temple Barr (on Wednesday next), requiring the 'rayles and standings to be made in readyness at the Company's station between Aldgate and Temple Barr, and every of the Livery of the Company except such as be of the trayne band to repayre unto, their standing in comely and decent apparrell, and in Livery gownes and hoods, by tenn of the clocke in the forenoone, and stay till their Ma^es bee past, and take especial care to have the banners, streamers, and blew cloth at the standings, and such as are of the trayne band to attend their Captayne in their armes and bee discharged of their attendance with the Livery. Dated 27th October 1638.'"—[14th November 1638.]

"A letter from the Lord Maior touching the restraint of feasting and distributing what should be saved thereby to the poore, whereupon it is ordered that there be no more feasting until there be further order given, and as touching the money that shall be saved, this Court will take further course for distributing the same to the poore members of this Society as occasion shall serve.

"The Company taking notice that divers of the principall and other Companeys of this Cittie have barges for the passinge of their Livery to and from Westm^r on the Lord Maior's day and other their necessary occasions, and for that there is a great want of a bardge (fn. 28) for the Companyes decent and convenient passage by water, It is therefore thought fitt and soe ordered that a bardge bee forthwith p'vided for the Companyes use."—[9th April 1639.]

"Whereas this Company hath for many yeares past allowed to the Company of Clothworkers the sum of 8l. yearly towards the chardge of a dinner when this Company ioyneth with them in their search, which sume of eight pounds this Comp^ie was informed the Company of Clothworkers doo complyne to bee too small an allowance considering the number of Wardens of this Company and their attendance, which are necessarily to be at that service. And also for that the price of victualls is greater than it hath bin formerly, therefore this Court being willinge to preserve all faire respects towards the said Company of Clothworkers doth thinke fitt and soe order that ffourty shillings per annum shall bee duringe the pleasure of this Court added to the eight pounds formerly allowed them to bee paid by ffifty shillings a quarter."—[17th March 1639.] See Mem. XIX.

"Precept from the Maior requiring the Companie to provide 40 barrells of powder, and so much match, and such quantity of bulletts as shall be answerable to that proportion of powder to the use of this Cittie.

"Letters from the King, Lords, and Maior, respecting the loan of 200,000l. to maintain the Northern Army, Ordered, that our M^r shall take care for providing 5,000l. that the same may be in readiness to be paid into the exchequer accordingly, for the better supply whereof our M^r is desired to call in all such money as is owing to the Companie by bond or otherwise."—[9th October 1640.]

"Precept from the Maior requiring the Company to provide 34 psons of the most grave, tall, and comely of your Companie, every of them to be well horsed, and apparelled in their best array and furneture of velvett plush or satin, and chains of gould, and yourselves and every of the said psons to have a footman, with two Staffe Torches, to wait and attende upon him on foote, in Cornhill, by nine o'clock in the morning, to attend me and my brethren the Aldermen, to wait and attend upon his most excellent Ma^tie from S^t. Leonard, Shoreditch, unto the Guildhall, London, on his happy return from his kingdom of Scotland (with other arrangements for the same purpose)."—[7th November 1641.]

"Ordered, that 200l. for the relief of distress in Londonderry and parts adjacent be given."—[8th January 1641.]

"Upon consideration of the greate ruyne and decay of the Inne called the Georgewithout-Aldersgate, and tenements thereunto adjoyning, It is agreed and resolved that the Company forthwith newe build the same. And it is agreed that the Committee formerly appointed shall meete at the said Inne on Friday by eight of the clock in the morning, and conclude and agree with workmen for the building thereof.

"To a Precept by the Maior requiring to be informed of the quantity of arms, &c., &c., the Company hath in readiness for the defence and safety of this City, the following reply is given:—

[9th March 1641.]

"A precept by the Maior, and an Ordinance of Parliament, for the borrowing of 100,000l. of the City and Livery Companies, of which this Company's proportion was 10,000l., according to the proportion of corne laid upon them."—[10th June 1642.]

"In reply to a precept from the Maior requiring the Company to provide 1,000 quarters of corne, being their proportion of 10,000 quarters, the Company state that they have 705 quarters and one bushel of corne, 'which is as much as our graynaries can conveniently containe.' This 27th February 1642."—[20th January 1642.]

"Ordered that whatsoever person shall hereafter become suitor for any alms or pencon from the Company, shall procure any Nobleman's or greate Person's lres or recommendation for their admittance to such pencons to the preiudice and forestalling of the Company in their free election of the fittest objects of their charity, shall from that tyme after be held uncapable to be a suitor for, or to enioy any place or pencon from this Com^pie.

"Petition of the Company against the Assesment of 30l. per weeke towards the Tenne Thousand pounds per weeke imposed upon this Cittie by a late ordinance of Parlyament, shewing that they were already indebted and engaged by Comon Seal upon the propositions of the Parlyam^t and other publique uses and services Seventeen thousand pounds and upwards.

"A noate of the Armes (fn. 29) delivered out of the Armoury for the defence of this Cittie the 15th day of May 1643:—

[10th May 1643.]

"Several Parishioners of S^t. Martin Outwich, acquainted this Court that Tho. Pierce, D.D., late Parson of the Parish Church, was deceased, and recommended Lyonel Goodwick, Master of Arts, to be chosen for Parson of the said Church, who upon their recommendation and request was by this Court freely chosen accordingly." —[10th November 1643.]

Note.—This name does not appear in the List of Rectors of S^t. Martin Outwich, given in Wilkinson's remains of S^t. M. O.

"Colonel Langham, (fn. 30) upon notice of his having been elected Master of the Company, excuses himself from sickness and his greater office in the State. Also a letter from the Parliament stating that the question "whether he should be dispensed from his employment and attend the service of this Company had been determined negatively and recommending that no fine be levyed upon him for his absence." (The entry in the Commons' Journal is "15th July 1643," (fn. 31) vol. iii., p. 167.)—[11th July 1645. (fn. 32) ]

"Ordered, that 150l., assessed by Parliament on this Society for 10 months for the maintenance of the forces under Sir Tho^s. Fairfax, and the like sum for six months for the fortifications about this Citty, paid by our M^r, be allowed in his accompt."— [15th July 1645.]

"At an adjourned meeting of the whole Company respecting raising 5,000l. to be borrowed of this Company, it was agreed that the money should be raised with as much speed as convenient. That the Comon Seal should be given to such persons as shall furnish the same. That so much of the Company's plate ('being most of the guift of benefactors') as can conveniently be spared should be sold towards furnishing thereof, and That authority should be given to the Master and Wardens to sell so much of the Companie's goods and lands to make good the said money in in case it should not be repaid to the Company."—[20th August 1645.]

"Divers brothers of this Company, exercising the trade of clothworkers, complain that the Company of Clothworkers still proceed in their searches, attempting oftentimes to search the clothworkers of this Company although they have been resisted; further intimating that it may prove prejudicial to this Company if the usual searching of their members were omitted. Ordered, that the Wardens of this Company do take with them the Warden Substitutes and some of the handycraft clothworkers of this Company and search the clothworkers, members of this Society, from time to time."—[31st October 1645.]

"Upon the Petition and Complaint of the Servant Tackle porters against the Master Tackle porters for want of tackle, &c., Ordered that the Wardens of this Company confer with the Wardens of the Salters' Company concerning the said Complaint."—[3rd June 1646.]

"Twenty-four persons admitted to the Clothing of this Society. Whereupon the said several persons accordingly paid the fines for their admittance, likewise 5l. a-peice towards a Stock of Corne. And then our Master, according to ancient usage, did put upon their shoulders their several hoods, and the said parties with their hoods upon their shoulders, and kneeling down uppon their knees, did receive and take the usual oath uppon admittance into the Livery, and were taken by the hands and wellcomed by our Master and Wardens and all the Assistants here present. (fn. 33) "— [8th July 1646.]

" Upon the petition of Paul Horne, Merchant tailor, by trade a carpenter, hath been molested by the Company of Carpenters and not allowed to follow his vocation quietly unless he become a member of that Company, praying to be translated to the said Company. Ordered that he be so translated, 'And he is to give our Master two Sugar loaves.' "—[15th July 1646.]

"Petition of the Weaver's Company to the Court of Ald^n. requiring that all persons free of other Companies, and using the trade of Weavers, should be 'subject to the orders and ordinances of the Company of Weavers touching the trade only,'" &c., &c.

" Several companies summoned before the Court to show cause against the same who required time to return their answers to the Court.

"Ordered that the Wardens of this Company shall attend the Court of Aldermen, 'and give answer that the Company are not willing to part with their Members, neither are their Members willing to be translated from them.'"—[14th October 1646.]

"Precept by the Maior. Foreasmuch as there is an order of Parliament for the entertainment of the Ambassador (now coming from the Emperor of Russia) in such manner as is usual to persons of like quality, These are therefore to require you to appoint Six fitt psons of yo^r Company, with Velvet Cassocks and gold chains, well mounted on horseback, to be ready on thursdaie next by One of the Clock in the afternoone on Tower wharfe, London, from thence according to the manner in this case usual to attend upon the said Ambassador to his place of residence, and hereof fail not, &c."—[25th November 1646.]

"The State is debito^r unto the Company of Merchaunttailors for money lent with interest at 8l. per cent. per annum (24,731l. 8s. 2d.—[1647.]

"The Master and Wardens empowed to sell 200 Quarters of Corn, and are entreated to View the Corne in the Grannaries and consider whether it be not fitt to dispose of a greater quantity."—[1647.]

"A Precept from the Lord Maior for selling of meale to the poor by the halfe-peck, peck, halfe-bushell, and not above, at 6s. the bushell, and not above."— [17th November 1647].

"The place of one of the Ushers that goe before the Companie with White Staves being void by the death of Thomas Yorke, Merchaunttailor, and likewise the penson of 4l. per ann. of Mr. Harrison's guift, w^ch he held, this Court proceeded to the Election of another to supply both places, &c. The successor was to enjoy the same 'Soe long as he performed the place of an Usher, frequented the Church, behaved himself well, and became no comon beggar' (a condition added to the appointment of all pensioners)."—[12th January 1647.]

"Precept from the Lord Maior requiring to be informed what quantity of the Company's proportion of Corne they have in hand, with a reply that they have 'in our Granaries at the Bridge-house and at Bridewell Seaven hundred Quarters and upwards of wheate well-conditioned.'"—[February 1647.]

"A Report of the Committee concerning certain orders for the Tacklehouse Porters referred to them at the last Court of Assistants was this day presented and read."—[8th March 1647].

"This day a report of the Committee, who lately travelled to Coventry, Much Crosby, Woolverhampton, and Rushbrook, by vertue of an Order of the last Court, was read."—[3rd May 1648.]

"Whereas this Court was informed by the Clerke of this Company that the writings and evidences of the Companies late proportion of land in Ireland, w^ch in Anno 1638 were by order of the Starr Chamber delivered to the King's Councell, are in the hands of Sir Thomas Ffotherby, Kn^t., Dame Dorathy Whitfield, widdow, and Sir Herbert Whitfield, Knt., Executors to Sargeant Whitfield, and upon a receipt and covenant under the hands and seale of our said Clerk may be redelivered. This Court doth order that the Clerke of this Company doe endeavour accordingly to procure all the said writings and evidences belonging to this Company, and is hereby authorised to make a receipt and enter into such covenant as they shall require touching the same accordingly, and pay such ffees as are demanded therefore."—[28th August 1648.]

"It is Ordered and desired That Aldman Avory, Mr. Pell, Mr. Nash, The Wardens, Mr. Pocock, Mr. Stone, Mr. Jerrard, and Mr. Churchman, or any ffoure of them doe meet together at such times as they shall think fitt and consider of some way to discharge the great and growing debts of the debts of the Company, either by petition to the Parliam^t to pay the great sums of money owing by the State, or by any other course or remedy w^ch they consider best to be pursued for the good of the Company, and to report of Assistants their opinions therein."— [7th March 1648.]

"Ordered That the late assessem^t for the Army under the comand of the Lord General Ffairfax, and for Ireland pticularly, upon the Companies' houses and lands in London, shall be allowed to every tenant according to the rent w^ch the Company receives of them."—[12th March 1648.]

"Several leases granted, one of a tenement in Lombard Street at a yearly rent of 5l. and a fine of 250l., 'and to give our Master a buck against his election' (a frequent condition on granting the leases). Another to a fruiterer, with a condition "to give a sive of cherries against o^r Master's election day." A third whereon the rent and 'a hoggshead of clarett wine is reserved.' "—[15th June 1649.]

"Whereas this Company holdeth certain lands, tenem^ts and rents of and belonging to the Deane and Chapter of Pauls and Westminster, w^ch by Act of Parliament are seized into the hands of the State and putt to sale. This Court entering into consideration thereof and debate thereof, and considering that some of the said lands were given by benefactors, members of this Company, for the maintenance of pious and charitable uses, w^ch the Company are willing and desirous to continue and p'forme, w^ch they cannot doe if the said lands should be sould and taken away from them doth thinke fitt, and resolve to purchase the same, ffor w^ch purpose it is ordered, That the ffoure Wardens, Mr. Stone, Mr. Jerrard and Mr. Churchman, or any three of them, doe manadge the said business in behalf of the Company to the best advantage they can, both in respect of the purchase thereof and the way of doubling money, for that purpose, and that the purchase be made in the name of John Stone, M'chaunttailo^r.

"This day (being quarter-day for the Batchelors' Company), in the presence of the Master and Wardens and of Mr. Roger Gardiner last Master, there was sealed with the comon seal of this Society an instrum^t or receipt for the 100l. of Mr. Yeend's legacy, to be lent to Linen or Woollen Drapers from five years to five years for ever." (The instrument set out at length.)—[20th August 1649.]

"Whereas our Master intimated to this Court that the debts owing by this Company are very great and daily increasing, by reason of the great charge and continual paym^ts of interest money, much thereof being after the rate of 7 per cent., whereas it is conceived that the Company may have what money they please at 6 p^r cent. and under. This Court doth therefore desire the worthy members of this Company who have supplied the Companies occasions that they will be pleased to tender the declyning state of the Company, so much as to receive no more than after 6 pr cent. for all such money as they have lent. And it is likewise ordered, That no interest money from the time it shall grow next due to be paid to any but after the rate of 6 p^r Cent p^r Ann, nor no more taken up at interest above that rate.

"Survey and Valuation of a Farm at Maidstone belonging to the Company, ordered to be exposed to sale for 4,000l. for and towards the paym^t of the Companies debts.

"Two Granary Keepers elected at Salaries of 15l. per Ann each."—[17th October 1649.]

"Three Stewards appointed for Lord Maior's Dinner, whereby the Company might save 6l. 13s. 4d. allowed towards the charge of such Steward's dinners."—[29th October 1649.]

"Notice of debate on the alteration in the ancient course of Election of the Lord Maior, Sheriffs and other Officers by the Livery.

"A Banner of the Armes of the State to be provided.

"Ordered that the Committee Taillory be continued with an allowance for their repast at their meetings monthly."—[20th October 1650.]

"Precept for the Livery to appear before the Lord Maior to subscribe the Engagemt appointed by the Parliament.

"Precept for providing the State's Armes.

"Petition to the Maior and Aldren for preservation of the rights of the Livery in Elections, &c."—[8th December 1650.]

"Whereas the Carpenter, Bricklayer, Mason, Plumber and Plasterer, ffive workmen belonging to this Company, doe and have usually attended the Company att their going in viewing the Company's lands, It is now ordered, for prevention of unnecessary charges of so many workmen att such views that onely two of the said workmen, such as shall be thought fitt to be hereafter summoned to attend the Committee at their going in their usual and ordinary veiwes."—[20th February 1650.]

"Fifty-three new Liverymen ordered to be admitted, they paying the usual ffine for their admittances and corne money in that bebalfe ordered."—[25th June 1651.]

"After the business of the Court, And then the Company resorted into the Hall, where according to ancient custome the names of the Livery were called, and notice taken of such as were absent; then in a reverent manner praise was made by one Mr. Abbott, and afterwards the Ordinances of the house were openly read and also a great part of the booke of Benefactors; then preparation was made for dinner, whereunto were invited the Aldren of this Comp^ie. and their wives, the whole Assistants and Livery, the old Masters' wives, the pres^t Wardens' wives, the preacher Schoolm^r and Warden Substitutes, and Almsmen of the Livery, as in ancient time hath been accustomed."—[1st June 1652.]

"A Committee appointed for the Tailory of this Company to meete in the Long Gallery as often as occasion shall be, and to act in as large and ample manner touching the regulation of the said trade of Tailory as the former committee were by an order or orders of this Court authorized to doo untill Midsomer next and no longer."— [20th August 1653.]

"Precept to the 12 Companies to prepare their several standings in Cheapside when the Lord Protector and his Council were invited by the Corporation to dine at Grocers' Hall, 'and such provision made for their entertainment as may be honourable and best expresse the good affeccion of this Citty to his Highnesse.'

"The place of Carver to this Company, to waite as Carver on the Master on quarter daies and other publique meetings of this Society, being void by the death of William Phillips, John Wilton, Merchanttailo^r was appointed in his place."—[16th November 1653.]

"Granary-keeper dismissed and the Assistant appointed in his place, Ordered that in future there be only one granary-keeper.

"Claims for repayment of 9,000l. and 2,843l. 4s. 10d. lent to the Commonwealth in the year 1642."—[15th March 1653]

"Upon the humble petition of John Ogelby, a poet, free of this Company, who having with much study and expence translated Virgill into English meeter, together with annotations uppon the same, and likewise Eysop's Fables, both which hee preted to this Company this day very fairly bound. This Court, in requital of his guift, and for his encouragem^t, being a Member of this Company, doth give and bestow uppon him the sume of xiij^l. vj^s. viij^d. (13l. 6s. 8d.)."—[20th July 1654.]

"Whereas Patience Ward, a M^rchant in S^t Laurence, Pountney Lane, hath often tymes byne sumoned to this Court to be admitted into the Livery and Clothing of this Society, and hath some tymes appeared accordingly, and desired tyme to consider thereof, but on his last appearance refused either to accept of the Livery or fyne for the same, Whereupon it was ordered that the said Patience Ward should be sumoned to appear before the next Court of Aldren or to sue him upon the Ordinance of this House, to compell him thereunto at such tyme as our M^r should think fitt. But our Master, out of especial favour unto him, and upon information that he had better consideed, did cause him to be sumoned to this Court, who appeared accordingly, and humbly desired that this Court would be pleased to spare him until the next call, and then he would serve them either in purse or p'son or both. Whereupon, and after serious debate thereof, and because he should see that the Comp^ie desired as well his comp^ie as his money, It was ordered that he should pntly pay 50l. to the use of this Society, and if he shall please to accept of the Livery at any time within a yeare now next ensuing, Then he shall have what shall be over and above the usual fyne now paid by every member admitted into the Livery repaid him, and he ranked in the Livery as if he now accepted of the same, or else he shall be for the said 50l. discharged from being admitted into the Clothing and Livery of this Society." (fn. 34) —[3rd June 1663.]

"Upon complaint that cloth had been removed from the Tainters in Moorfields by the Clothworkers upon their search day, contrary to an order of the Court of Alder- men lately made betweene o^r Comp^ie and the Comp^ie of Clothworkers, Ordered that those psons whoe tooke the said Cloth away from the Tainters bee sumond before the Court of Aldmen, and o^r Master and Wardens, &c., are desired to attend the Court of Aldmen and to defend the Comp^ies priveledge in the Clothworke's search as often as occasion shall require.

"[Mem.—That the book containing the Minutes of Court for 9 years has been lost for many years."—[23rd September 1664.]

"Ordered, that John Milner the Clerk doe await on the M^r of the Com^pie of Clothworkers and demand the cloth that some of their officers haven taken away from of the Tainters, contrary to an order of the Court of Aldermen."—[19th October 1664.]

"Two thousand pounds ordered to be raised upon the credit of the common seale of this Society in aid of a loan to the king."—[5th November 1664.]

"Precept from the Lord Mayor for subscriptions towards building a Frigate in lieu of one which bore the name of London, to which an 'unhappy accident had befallen.' All the Assistants and Livery ordered to be summoned to a ready and liberall subscription for and towards the building of the said ship.

"17l. 10s. 9d. paid for erecting the stage and seats in the Hall when the scholars of the Comp^s School acted the play called Love's Pilgrimage."—[6th April 1665.]

"Precept from the Lord Mayor requiring the Company to provide 750 chaldron of coals for the benefit of the poor in dear seasons."—[20th July 1665.]

"The several Companyes required to raise 10,000l. towards building the ship 'Loyal London' for the use of His Ma^tie, of which the M. T. Co^y were required to furnish 1,000l."—[20th June 1666.]

"Whereas by an order of Court the 28th June 1659, it was (for the reasons therein expressed) Ordered that our Master's place at the Election dinner should be in the midle of the high table; now upon consideration thereof, and that it is the custom of the Comp^ie of Skinners, w^ch our Comp^ie is not in any waies obliged to observe. This Court doth therefore order, That our Master's place for the future shall be at the upper end of the high table by the cupboard of plate, as hath been heretofore used and accustomed, and that the M. and Wardens of the Skinners be placed next to the Alderⁿ of o^r Comp^ie."—[13th July 1666.]

"The Committee recommend that the Chapel belonging to the School be forthwith wainscotted with deale, and painted as high as the Library doore, and that Sir Thomas White's picture be forthwith drawne from head to foote by our Master (fn. 35) owne hand, to be set up and remaine in the said Chappel as before the late dreadfull fire, and that three seates be forthwith made in the said School on each side about six foote deepe on each side, and that the workmen doe attend the next Court of Assistants whereby the Court may agree with them for the finishing the said School before the Eleventh day of June next (fn. 36) for the reception of the Companie and President and Senior ffellowes of St. John Baptist Colleadge then.

"Whereupon it is thought fit and so Ordered, that the same report be confirmed and observed."—[7th May 1674.]

"This Court, taking into consideration the badnesse of trading and dearness of provision, and the great number of the Livery and Clothing of this Society, doth think fitt and so order, That for the future there be ffower Stewards for keeping dinners at the Hall on the king's birth day and restouration day, the Lord Maior's day, this 5th of November, and what other days shall be appointed by publique authority, and that for the future there shall be three Stewards on the 11th of June yearly at the School, any order heretofore made to the contrary notwithstanding."— [May 1677.]

APPENDIX A (8).

Names (fn. 37) of the company of "marchaunt taylours" in 1537.

1. John Skutt.

2. Thomas White.

3. Robert Dawbeney.

4. John Nynes.

5. Robert Mellishe.

6. William Wilford.

7. Geffrey Vaughan.

8. Paule Withipoll.

9. John Benet.

10. James Mighell.

11. Richard Holt.

12. Henry Beauford.

13. Richard Bukland.

14. John Jenkyns.

15. John Wilford (see Mem. LIV.)

16. William Kirby.

17. John Malt.

18. Robert Dacres.

19. Henry Suckley.

20. John Jerard.

21. John God.

22. Wm. Wilford, the yonger.

23. William Barnes.

24. Richard Travers.

25. Henry Polsted.

26. Robert Wilford.

27. William Huetson.

28. Nicholas Cousyn.

29. Richard Wadynton.

30. Stephyn Kirton.

31. Henry Brayne.

32. Thomas Broke.

33. Richard Southewerke.

34. Thomas Hairdford.

35. John Ffarthyng.

36. Richard Buttill.

37. John Remes.

38. John Marchaunt.

39. John Ffissher.

40. John Sampier.

41. Patrike Powse.

42. John Cachemayd.

43. Nycholas Marten.

44. Thomas Campion.

45. Cristofer Lordyng.

46. Nicholas Wilford.

47. Rauff Ffoxley.

48. Thomas Emerye.

49. John Shaa.

50. William Barlowe.

51. Thomas Offley.

52. John Smythe.

53. John Bothe.

54. William Churcheman.

55. Richard Pawlyn.

56. Emanuell Lucar.

57. John Canon.

58. Henry Spede (see Mem. XXXV.)

59. Robert Herd.

60. Christofer Nicholson.

61. Stephyn Vaughan.

62. William Harper (see p. 402).

63. John Jakes.

64. George Bruges.

65. Walter Yong.

66. William Wilde.

67. Rauff Daueunt.

68. Robert Waren.

69. John Miller.

70. Henry Douncest.

71. William Grene.

72. Thomas Ridley.

73. Henry Cooke.

74. John Bland.

75. Roger Nues.

76. Rauff Coo.

77. James Danyell.

78. Richard Hopper.

79. William Wolberd.

80. Richard Tong.

81. Richard Maye.

82. Thomas White, jun. (see Mem. CXXII.)

83. Nicholas Wolberd.

84. Thomas Howe.

85. William Rigeley.

86. Eustas Ripley.

87. Richard Turnour.

88. William Bodie.

89. John Withers.

90. John Ffulwode.

91. William James.

92. Rogier Basyng.

93. Robert Goodwyn.

94. Henry Wyncot.

95. John Chamber.

96. Robert Kirk.

97. Bobert Pymond.