Folios 232 - 240: March 1486-7

Calendar of Letter-Books of the City of London: L, Edward IV-Henry VII. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1912.

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'Folios 232 - 240: March 1486-7', in Calendar of Letter-Books of the City of London: L, Edward IV-Henry VII, (London, 1912) pp. 242-247. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/london-letter-books/voll/pp242-247 [accessed 18 March 2024]

In this section

Folio 232.

Wednesday, 14 March, 2 Henry VII. [A.D. 1486-7], ordinance by the Common Council that a former ordinance forbidding attendance at Fairs (fn. 1) be suspended until Michaelmas next.

Custodia pueror' Joh'is Thomas merceri.

27 March, 2 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487], came Nicholas Barly, skinner, John Gordon, "armurer," Richard Tolle, and tailor, before the Mayor and ...... Aldermen, and entered into bond in the sum of £130 for payment into the Chamber by the said Nicholas of a like sum to the use of Alice and John, children of John Thomas, late mercer, when they come of age or marry.

Folio 232 b-34.

Ordinacio Fullonum.

27 March, 2 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487], came the Wardens and other good men of the Art or occupation of Fullers before the Mayor and Aldermen, complaining of the low estate into which the Craft had fallen owing to the lax system of apprenticeship, the excessive influx of foreigners, and the want of proper supervision of work, and prayed that certain articles for the better regulation of the Craft might be approved, to the following effect.—

First, that no time-expired apprentice nor other person of the Craft set up shop or "wirkynghous" within the City or liberty before being "enhabled" by the Wardens and four other honest householders of the Fellowship "councellyng" and assistant to them; and that the person so "enhabled" pay 20d. to the use of the Fellowship.

That every apprentice be of "good disposicion and of free and true stocke and kynrede born," and be approved by the Wardens.

That no one having more than four apprentices take another apprentice until the terms of all the apprentices, above the number of four, be fully expired, under penalty of £10; but those having only four apprentices may take another a year before the expiration of the term of one of the four to fill his place.

That no "foreyn" be set on work in the Craft after Michaelmas next.

That the Wardens have a right of search.

That one half of all penalties be to the use of the Commonalty and the other to the use of the Craft.

Their prayer granted.

Folio 234.

Custodia pueror' Johannis Grene.

2 April, 2 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487], came Edward Grene, John Milles, Thomas Fyssher, mercers, and William Grene, tailor, before the Mayor and Aldermen, and entered into bond in the sum of £80 for payment into the Chamber by the said Edward of a like sum to the use of John, Margaret, Edward; and Elizabeth, children of John Grene, late "lynnendraper," when they come of age or marry.

Royal Proclamation.

Folio 234 b.

For forged and feyned tales.

"FORASMOCHE as many of the Kyng oure Sov'aign lordes Subgiettes been disposed daily to here fayned contrived and forgied Tydynges and tales and the same Tidynges and Tales nether dredyng god nor his highnes uttre and tell agayn as though they were true to the grete hurt of divers of his Subgiettes and to his grevous displeasure Therefore in eschewyng of suche untrue and forgied tydynges and tales the Kyng oure saide sov'aign lord straitly chargeth and commaundeth that no maner persone what so ever he be utter nor telle any suche tydynges or tales but he brynge forth the same persone the which was auctor and teller of the said tidynges or Tales uppon payne to be sette on the pillorie there to stande as long as it shalbe thought convenient unto the Maire baillef or other officer of any Citee burgh or towne where it shall hapne any suche persone to be taken and accused for any suche tellyng or reaportyng of any suche tidynges or tales Ferthermore the same our sov'aign lord straitly chargeth and commaundeth that all Maires Bailiffes and other officers diligently serche and enquire of all suche persones Tellers of suche tydynges and tales not bryngyng forth thauctor of the same and theim sette on the pillorie as it is abovesaid. (fn. 2) [No date.]

Folio 235.

Custodia Joh'is Suthworth filii Randulphi Suthworth.

29 May, 2 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487], came John Symson or Sympson, John Berell, grocers, Hugh Cawode, mercer, and Richard Kyng, grocer, and entered into bond in the sum of £60 for payment into the Chamber by the said John Symson of a like sum to the use of John, son of Randolph Suthworth, late grocer, when he comes of age.

Folio 235 b-236 b.

20 July, 2 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487], petition by the Wardens and good men of the "Art or occupation" of Barbours of the City that certain articles (fn. 3) for the regulation of their "Crafte or Science" may be approved.

Their prayer granted.

Folio 236 b.

Eleccio Vicecomitum.

Friday the Feast of St. Matthew [21 Sept.], 3 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487], in the presence of Henry Colet, Knt., Mayor, the Prior of Christ church, Thomas Fitzwilliam the Recorder, John Broun, Robert Billesdone, John Warde, William Horne, Richard Chawry, John Mathewe, Robert Tate, William White, Ralph Astry, William Remyngton, John Fenkell, John Tate, John Swanne, William Capell, John Percyvale, Hugh Cloptone, and William Isaac, Aldermen, and very many Commoners summoned to the Guildhall for the election of Sheriffs—John Fenkell, Knt., draper, was elected one of the Sheriffs of the City of London and Middlesex by the Mayor, and William Remyngton, fishmonger, was elected the other Sheriff by the Commonalty.

The same day William Purches, mercer, was elected Chamberlain of the City for the year ensuing; Simon Harrys, grocer, and John Tutsam, draper, were elected Wardens of London Bridge; Richard Chawrye, John Mathewe, Aldermen, William Sparke, Robert Fabian, William Haryot, drapers, and Thomas Bullesdone, skinner, Commoners, were elected Auditors of the accounts of the Chamber and Wardens of the City Bridge in arrear.

Afterwards, viz., on the eve of St. Michael [29 Sept.], the said Sheriffs were sworn at the Guildhall, and on the morrow of the said Feast were presented, admitted, &c., before the Barons of the Exchequer.

A proclamacion for goyng to faires.

Another proclamation reminding citizens that the ordinance of 1 Feb. last forbidding their attending country fairs and markets had been suspended until Michaelmas. (fn. 4)

Folio 237.

Custodia Margarete filie Thome "Blakeham."

29 Sept., 3 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487], came Johanna "Blakham," widow, Robert Duplage, James Grene, and Richard Joskyn, tailors, and entered into bond in the sum of £100 for payment into the Chamber by the said Johanna of a like sum when Margaret, daughter of Thomas Blakham, late fishmonger, comes of age or marries.

Folio 237 b.

Eleccio Maioris.

Saturday the Feast of St. Edward [13 Oct.], 3 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487], in the presence of Henry Colet, Knt., Mayor, the Prior of Christ church, Thomas Fitzwilliam the Recorder, John Broun, Knt., Edmund Shaa, Knt., Robert Billesdone, Knt., Hugh Brice, Knt., John Warde, William Horne, Richard Chaury, John Mathewe, William White, John Swan, Ralph Astry, John Tate, John Percyvale, Hugh Cloptone, Ralph Tynley, William Isaac, John Fenkell, Knt., and William Remyngton, Aldermen, and an immense Commonalty summoned to the Guildhall for the election of a Mayor for the year ensuing—William Horne, Knt., was elected.

Afterwards, viz., on the Feast of SS Simon and Jude [28 Oct.], he was sworn at the Guildhall, and on the morrow was presented, admitted, &c., before the Barons of the Exchequer.

Custodia pueror' Joh'is Mustell merceri.

19 Oct., 3 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487], came John Heron, mercer, Thomas Creme, draper, and Richard Adyff, tailor, and entered into bond in the sum of £206 for payment into the Chamber by the said John Heron of a like sum to the use of Alice, Johanna, and Elizabeth, daughters of John Mustell, late mercer, when they come of age or marry. (fn. 5)

Folio 238.

Exon'acio Joh'is Belle Scissoris.

25 Oct., 3 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487], John Belle, tailor, discharged by the Mayor and Aldermen from serving on juries, &c., owing to deafness.

Custodia Margarete filie Mathei Woodeward.

14 Dec., 3 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487], came John Peke, Thomas Exmewe, goldsmiths, John Cornyssh, saddler, and John Briteyn, salter, and entered into bond in the sum of £25 for payment into the Chamber by the said John Peke of a like sum to the use of Margaret, daughter of Matthew "Wodward," late goldsmith, when she comes of age or marries.

Folio 238 b.

14 Dec., 3 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487], ordinance by William Horne, Knt., Mayor, and the Aldermen, that Wardens of the Misteries should thenceforth make no ordinances in their Misteries unless the same be approved by the Mayor and Aldermen for the time being, &c., and thereupon Wardens of divers Misteries brought in their books of ordinances that had not been approved by the Court of Aldermen, and those ordinances were cancelled, and the leaves of the books on which they were recorded were cut out (abscisa), &c. (fn. 6)

Custodia Hugon' Fenne filii Joh'is Fenne.

9 Jan., 3 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487-8], came Richard Welles, Hugh Broun, mercers, William Broun and John Pasmer, skinners, and entered into bond in the sum of £379 9s.d. for payment into the Chamber by the said Richard of a like sum to the use of Hugh, son of John Fenne, late stockfishmonger, when he comes of age. (fn. 7)

Folio 239.

Custodia pueror' Ric'i Rawson Aldermanni.

18 Jan., 3 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487-8], came Henry Brian, Thomas Quadryng, mercers, Thomas Eyre, John Payntour, grocers, and entered into bond in the sum of £400 for payment into the Chamber by the said Henry of a like sum to the use of Elizabeth and Alice, daughters of Richard Rawson, late mercer and Alderman, when they come of age or marry. (fn. 8)

Folio 239 b.

Custodia pueror' Joh'is Gardiner.

19 Jan., 3 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487-8], came William Sybson, junior, draper, Thomas Eyre, grocer, Peter Watson, draper, and John Crane, "upholster," and entered into bond in the sum of £100 for payment into the Chamber by the said William of a like sum to the use of Thomas, Philippa, Margaret, Beatrix, and Anne, children of John Gardyner, when they come of age or marry.

Folio 240.

Custodia Margarete filie Will'i Benet.

22 Jan., 3 Henry VII. [A.D. 1487-8], came Richard Herlywes, grocer, William Jeffrey, haberdasher, William Campton, grocer, and Robert Hille, grocer, and entered into bond in the sum of 100 marks for payment into the Chamber by the said Richard of a like sum to the use of Margaret, daughter of William Benet, late grocer. (fn. 9)

Folio 240 b.

Custodia pueror' Joh'is Heynes drap'.

The same day came Robert Creket, John Snoryng, William Coppynger, and Philip Payne, fishmongers, and entered into bond in the sum of £225 17s. 2d. for payment into the Chamber by the said Robert of a like sum to the use of John and Walter, sons of John Heynes, draper, when they come of age.

Footnotes

  • 1. Supra, p. 240.
  • 2. This proclamation was probably issued in April, 1487, when rumours were afloat that the Earl of Warwick, son of the late Duke of Clarence, had escaped from the Tower; whereas in reality he re mained in safe custody whilst being impersonated by Lambert Simnel, a bright lad of obscure origin, who succeeded in getting his title to the Crown acknowledged by the Irish.
  • 3. The articles have been set out (from the Letter-Book) in Sidney Young s 'Annals of the Barber Surgeons,' pp. 63- 5.
  • 4. Vide supra, pp. 240, 242. Mar ginal note "annulled by auctorite of Parliament."
  • 5. Margin. In Nov., 1498, and March, 1500, Thomas Shripley (?), who married the above Alice, and Nicholas Aleyn, who married the above Elizabeth, came and acknowledged satisfaction for their wives' patrimony, as well as for money accruing by the decease of the above Johanna their sister.
  • 6. It would be interesting to know whether the books of any of the Livery Companies bear witness to mutilation having taken place about this time It is recorded that in 1490 the Saddlers prayed the Court of Aldermen to approve of a new set of ordinances to take the place of those which had been cancelled for want of authorization Vide infra, fo. 280. There are other instances in the Letter-Book of new ordi nances taking the place of ordi nances which had hitherto regulated various Fraternities without the Court's authority, but the latter are not specifically recorded as having been cancelled.
  • 7. Margin. 28 June, 8 Henry VII. [A.D. 1493], it is recorded that the above Hugh had died under age, and that satisfaction for the above money had been acknowledged by John Fenne his brother, and Edmund Bamme, who married Margaret his sister.
  • 8. Margin. 11 July, 14 Henry VII. [A.D. 1499], came John Fox, mercer, who married the above Elizabeth, and Godfrey Darrald, merchant of the staple of Calais, who married the above Alice, and acknowledged satisfaction for their wives' patrimony.
  • 9. A marginal note records that the above recognizance was annulled by order of the Court, and that the said Richard was enjoined to give the sum of 10 marks to William Milbourne, the Chamberlain, for the repair of the Guildhall Milbourne was elected Chamberlain in Sept., 1492 (infra, fo. 294 b), ob. 12 July, 1506.
  • 10. A marginal note, under date Dec., 9 Henry VII. [A.D. 1493], mentions the above orphans as having died.