RECORDS OF 
 
 Basfcetmafcers' Company
 
 THE OLD MACE. 
 
 [Frontispiece.
 
 Lon<W 
 
 RECORDS OF 
 
 Basfcetmafcers' Company. 
 
 COMPILED BY 
 
 HENRY HODGKINSON BOBART, 
 
 CLERK TO THE COMPANY. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 DUNN, COLLIN & CO. 
 
 ST. MARY AXE, B.C. 
 
 1911.
 
 " Whereof also . . . there be Baskets made, which seeing the 
 Britains call Bascades, I for my part that I may note so much by 
 the way, doe not understand the Poet Martiall in that Distichon 
 unlesse he meaneth these amoung the Presents and Gifts sent to 
 and fro ; Barbara de pictis veni Bascauda Britannis, Sed me jam 
 mavult dicere Roma suam." 
 
 CAMDEN (1610).
 
 1910-1911. 
 
 PRIME WARDEN: 
 PALMER BRYANT, ESQ. 
 
 JUNIOR WARDEN: 
 REUBEN HENRY FROST, ESQ. 
 
 WILLIAM THOMAS PARMLY MONTGOMERY, ESQ. 
 
 JOHN GEORGE DIBBLE, ESQ. 
 
 JAMES PALMER PIKE, ESQ. 
 
 EDWARD KNOTT, ESQ. 
 
 FREDERICK HENRY PULLEN, ESQ. 
 
 GEORGE HENRY FINCH, ESQ. 
 
 JOHN WHITTLE HARVEY, ESQ. 
 
 WILLIAM PHILIP GOOSEY, ESQ. 
 
 FREDERICK DUNN, ESQ. 
 
 ALFRED DOUBLE, ESQ., J.P. 
 
 HORACE ROBERT SPENCE, ESQ. 
 
 WALTER YOUNG, ESQ., LL.B. 
 
 AUGUSTUS GEORGE GRANTHAM, ESQ. 
 
 RICHARD FEESEY, ESQ. 
 
 ARTHUR BLENKARN, ESQ. 
 
 WILLIAM WILLIAMS BULLWORTHY, ESQ. 
 
 JAMES CHARLES NAPOLEON WHITE, ESQ. 
 
 AUGUSTUS ALFRED FRIGOUT, ESQ. 
 
 REV. J. H. ETCHEL, M.A. 
 
 WALTER GLADDING, ESQ. 
 
 WILLIAM FOSTER GRESHAM, ESQ., F.C.A. 
 
 ROBERT WILLIAM MOFFREY, ESQ., J.P.
 
 TO 
 
 THE WARDENS AND COURT OF ASSISTANTS 
 
 OP THE 
 
 Wlorsbipful Company of Basfcetmafcers 
 
 OF THE CITY OF LONDON, 
 
 THIS VOLUME 
 
 IS RESPECTFULLY AND GRATEFULLY 
 DEDICATED.
 
 And bending osiers into baskets weav'd." 
 
 DRYDEN.
 
 PREFACE 
 
 THE Craft Guilds or Livery Companies, with 
 their ancient records and historical associations, 
 rank among the most interesting institutions of 
 the City of London. Deprived of old-world 
 surroundings, their quaint customs have lost 
 their former significance, and their powers and 
 privileges have, with few exceptions, become 
 obsolete. Yet in spite of altered economic con- 
 ditions the old Guilds survive, for time seems 
 powerless to efface such splendid monuments 
 to the wisdom and industry of our forefathers. 
 
 The annals of most of these ancient Guilds 
 have been written, but the compiler of the follow- 
 ing pages found to his regret that no history of the 
 Basket-makers existed. A search among the civic 
 and parochial archives was therefore instituted 
 and this account compiled, with the object of 
 preserving the old records, and in the hope that 
 the work now submitted may serve as an outline 
 for the worthier efforts of others in the future. 
 The book has been written in the few spare
 
 x PREFACE 
 
 hours of a busy life ; some consideration, there- 
 fore, is asked for literary shortcomings. 
 
 The scanty records prior to the establishment 
 of the Company suggest an earlier organization 
 of the fraternity, though no documentary evi- 
 dence of this has yet been found. There are 
 traces of Basket-makers in the City at an early 
 period, and the more remote the time in which 
 there is evidence of the existence of a craft, the 
 stronger is the presumption that the members 
 of that craft had associated themselves for their 
 mutual protection. 
 
 The Company's quarter or minute books 
 date back to the year 1661, the earlier ones 
 having been destroyed in the Great Fire. The 
 little information before that date has been 
 obtained chiefly from the records of the Corpora- 
 tion of the City of London contained in the 
 Letter Books, Repertories and Journals pre- 
 served at the Guildhall. The records reveal 
 the condition and progress of basket-making 
 for a considerable period, and thus in some 
 measure, these pages become the history of the 
 trade in London. 
 
 Basket-making, a craft requiring few and 
 simple tools, is one of the oldest of the me- 
 chanical arts, and primitive bone awls the 
 archaic implements of the first basket-makers 
 have been found among the remains of the
 
 PREFACE xi 
 
 Mound Builders. It is probable that the art of 
 weaving originated from the interlacing of twigs 
 into wickerwork, but the origin of the earlier craft 
 appears to be lost in the obscurity of prehistoric 
 times. 
 
 The compiler presents his grateful acknow- 
 ledgments to the Library Committee of the 
 Corporation of the City of London for the 
 privilege accorded him of searching among the 
 treasures of the Muniment Room ; and to Dr. 
 Reginald R. Sharpe, Clerk of the Records (whose 
 Calendars of the Corporation Letter Books afford 
 the student of London history an exhaustive store 
 of valuable information). The compiler's thanks 
 are also due to Mr. F. J. Craker, of the Town 
 Clerk's Office, and Mr. H. C. Welch, of the 
 Guildhall Library, for assistance so generously 
 given. 
 
 H. H. B. 
 
 22, BASINGHALL STREET, LONDON. 
 September, 1911.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 INTRODUCTION 1 
 
 EARLY HISTORY OF THE CRAFT 6 
 
 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMPANY 26 
 
 TRANSLATIONS AND ADMISSIONS BY ORDER OF THE COURT 
 
 OF ALDERMEN 49 
 
 APPLICATIONS FOR A CHARTER 53 
 
 ASSESSMENTS 73 
 
 LOCALITY AND MEETING PLACES 78 
 
 THE WARDENS 83 
 
 THE COURT OF ASSISTANTS 90 
 
 THE LIVERY 94 
 
 APPRENTICES 106 
 
 CONTROL OF THE TRADE 112 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM THE COMPANY'S BOOKS 123 
 
 CONNECTION WITH THE IRISH SOCIETY 139 
 
 INTEREST IN THE CRAFT 142 
 
 APPENDIX A. DESCRIPTION OF BASKET-MAKING IN 1747 . 147 
 
 B. LIST OF THE WARDENS . . . 149 
 
 ., C. LIST OF THE CLERKS 154 
 
 D. LIST OF APPRENTICES WHO PRESENTED SILVER 
 
 SPOONS 155 
 
 ., E. ARMS OF THE COMPANY 156 
 
 F. BASKET-MAKER'S TOKEN 158 
 
 GL BATES OF MERCHANDISE (BASKETS) IN 1660 159 
 H. LIST OF OLD TAVERNS AND COFFEE HOUSES 
 
 AT WHICH COURTS WERE HELD .... 160 
 
 I. RICHARD SMITH'S REFERENCE TO THE HALL 161 
 J. EXTRACTS FROM THE HUGUENOT SOCIETY'S 
 
 RETURNS OF ALIENS (BASKET-MAKERS) . 162 
 
 INDEX . . . . , 173
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 THE OLD MACE Frontispiece 
 
 FACSIMILE OF THE ORDER OP COMMON COUNCIL OF 12xu 
 
 OCTOBER, 1463. (From the City Records.) Facing page 7 
 
 FACSIMILE OF THE ACT OF COMMON COUNCIL or 22ND 
 
 OCTOBER, 1538. (From the City Records.") Facing page 18 
 
 MAP OF LONDON, SHOWING LOCALITY OF THE BASKET- 
 MAKERS Facing page 78 
 
 FACE 
 
 OLD ARMS OF THE COMPANY 157 
 
 BASKET-MAKER'S TOKEN 158
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 THE Basket-makers' Company was established * 
 by an order of the Court of Mayor and Aldermen 
 on the 22nd September, 1569. This recognition 
 was referred to in the petition for ordinances, as 
 being "transferred and made free all of one 
 crafte, companie, and ffellowshipp, called the 
 Basket-makers of the Cittie of London." 
 
 Many years prior to the above date, the 
 civic authorities had granted licence to a small 
 number of English Basket- makers to exercise 
 their trade in the City ; but at the time of 
 their constitutional settlement the majority had 
 secured their freedom of the City through the 
 instrumentality of the Butchers' Company, and 
 the reference to being " transferred " relates to 
 the formal transfer of the free Basket-makers 
 from that body.f The number of non-freemen 
 enrolled in 1569 "free of this City of the 
 
 * The word " incorporated " is used in the City Records. On 
 the distinction between incorporation by charter of the Crown 
 and establishment by authority of the City, see Lambert, "Two 
 Thousand Years of Gild Life," 1891, pp. 376-385 ; also Pulling, 
 "The Laws, Customs, Usages, and Regulations of the City and 
 Port of London," 1854, 2nd ed. p. 50. 
 
 f City Records. Repertory 16, fols. 106 and 112b. ; Letter 
 Book V. fol. 49b., vide pp. 28, 29, 49, 50. 
 
 B
 
 2 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 Company of Basket-makers " was eleven.* This 
 number was subsequently increased by the 
 addition of the Basket- makers free of the 
 Butchers' Company ; and although the number 
 transferred is not recorded,f it may be inferred 
 from the account of the incident that, having 
 regard to the times, it was fairly considerable. 
 
 The trade of basket-making in which the 
 ancient Britons excelled was established in the 
 City in early times, but no doubt the compara- 
 tively humble position of the craft accounts for 
 the non-recognition of the Basket-makers before 
 the latter part of the sixteenth century. 
 
 It is thought that the Company existed before 
 1569, but an exhaustive search in the City archives 
 and the churchwardens' books referring to the 
 parishes in which the Basket-makers resided, 
 revealed no trace of the existence of an earlier 
 corporation established by royal or civic authority. 
 The most that can be said on this obscure 
 point, in view of the antiquity J of the trade, is 
 that some form of voluntary association of the 
 fraternity probably existed at a remote period, 
 
 * Repertory 16, fol. 502 ; Letter Book V. fol. 254, vide p. 41. 
 
 t Owing to the loss of the books of both Companies in the Great 
 Fire, the number transferred cannot be ascertained ; nor is it possible 
 to state the date when the Basket-makers first made a practice 
 of obtaining their freedom of the City through the Butchers' 
 Company. 
 
 J In the first century (A.D.), "The chief exports from Britain 
 were copper and tin, lime and chalk, pearls, corn, cattle, hides, 
 cheese, horses, dogs, and slaves ; with one solitary article of manu- 
 facture, baskets." (Dr. Henry, "History of Great Britain," 
 1771).
 
 INTRODUCTION 3 
 
 though unrecognised by the City. The inclusion 
 of the Basket- makers in a list of crafts " of old 
 accustomed" recorded in the Brewers' books in 
 1422 * and the few references in the City Records 
 prior to the recognition of the Basket-makers, 
 give colour to the conjecture. Several of the 
 crafts enumerated by the Brewers f had obtained 
 charters of incorporation before the above-men- 
 tioned date, and it may be assumed that all the 
 others possessed some form of organization at 
 that time by reason of their inclusion in the 
 list.J The Basket-makers, however, do not 
 appear to have maintained continuity of associa- 
 tion down to the date of the establishment of the 
 Company, since in their petition for ordinances 
 and in their subsequent petition for a charter, 
 though mention is made of their " ancient call- 
 ing," there is no reference to an earlier organiza- 
 tion of the craft. 
 
 In their petition to the Court of Aldermen 
 in 1569 praying for a constitutional settlement, 
 the Basket- makers stated that " no provision 
 or punishment had been devised to meet with 
 deceit except in of late, both in slight making 
 of the said wares as well in this City as in the 
 Country." As no ordinances had been previously 
 
 * Vide p. 6. 
 
 f The list was prepared as a guide for letting the Brewers' Hall. 
 
 J This appears to be the opinion of authorities on the City 
 Guilds vide Unwin, " The Gilds and Companies of London," 1908, 
 p. 88. Herbert, "History of the Twelve Great Companies of 
 London," 1847, vol. i. p. 105. Jupp, " Historical Account of the 
 Worshipful Company of Carpenters," 1848, p. 7.
 
 4 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 granted by the Court of Aldermen, the Basket- 
 makers were doubtless referring to an Act of 
 Henry VIII.,* which inter alia gave power to 
 bailiffs or governors of towns "to search, view 
 and reform " the work of alien craftsmen. In 
 their Petition of 1682 for a charter of the Crown, 
 they stated that " they were an ancient society 
 by virtue of certain Rules and Constitutions f 
 granted them by the Lord Mayor and Court 
 of Aldermen ; " and the Attorney- General, in 
 reporting on this petition, said, "I do find 
 that they have been long a society governed by 
 Rules and Constitutions approved by the Lord 
 Mayor and Court of Aldermen from time to 
 time." On receipt of this report, the Basket- 
 makers submitted " Some Reasons " for their in- 
 corporation, in which they stated that " they had 
 been a fellowship nearly 150 years." This agrees 
 approximately with the date of the establishment 
 of the Company. 
 
 In the course of the negotiations which pre- 
 ceded the civic recognition, the Court of Alder- 
 men enquired of the Wardens of the Butchers 
 whether their Company would agree to have all 
 the Basket-makers taken from them for the 
 purpose of being "united and incorporated to 
 the other Basket-makers of this City " about to 
 
 * 15 & 16 Henry VIII. (c. 2). Ratified by a decree of the Star 
 Chamber in 1528. 
 
 t Ordinances were granted by the Court of Aldermen in 1569, 
 1585, and 1610.
 
 INTRODUCTION 5 
 
 be " erected and made a Company and Fellowship 
 of themselves." To this enquiry, the Butchers 
 signified their assent. 
 
 Here it may be interesting to note that Stow, 
 in describing Pudding Lane, tells us it was 
 chiefly inhabited by Basket-makers, Turners, 
 and Butchers. Living in the same locality, it 
 seems obvious that the Basket-makers, before 
 they received the privilege of enfranchisement 
 in their own craft, should have secured the free- 
 dom of the City through the agency of the 
 Butchers' or the Turners' Companies. As pre- 
 viously stated, many were free of the former, 
 and a reference to the Turners' Company, in 
 the City Record of May 3rd, 1569,* suggests 
 the probability that several Basket-makers were 
 free of the latter, for the Turners dealt largely 
 in baskets at that period. In a later record of 
 March 20th, 1622,f mention is made of a freeman 
 of the Turners' Company following the trade 
 of basket-making, and as late as 1747 baskets 
 " figured considerably " in the Turners' shops.J 
 
 Pudding Lane is in the parish of St. Andrew 
 Hubbard, and in Stow's time several of the 
 Churchwardens followed the occupations which 
 the old historian tells us predominated in the 
 locality. 
 
 * Vide p. 30. 
 
 t Vide p. 113. 
 
 I Waller, "General Description of all Trades," vide Appendix A. 
 
 Vide pp. 16, 17, and notes, p. 17.
 
 EARLY HISTORY OF THE CRAFT. 
 
 THE early history of the City Basket- makers 
 is enveloped in obscurity, though some few 
 references to the fraternity may be mentioned 
 before passing on to the account of the establish- 
 ment and subsequent records of the Company. 
 
 The earliest record discovered is the pre- 
 viously mentioned entry in the books of the 
 Brewers' Company * in the year 1422. This is a 
 list of the Crafts of London,f which at that time 
 had long been in existence, the Basket-makers 
 being the seventy-sixth on the list appearing 
 under the following heading : " The titles of 
 divers crafts of old accustomed and still continu- 
 ing in this the 9th year of Henry V., and here 
 set down in case they may in any manner be of 
 advantage to the Hall and Company of Brewers." 
 
 This list seems to have been prepared by 
 the Brewers as a guide for letting their hall, at a 
 period when many of the Companies and Frater- 
 nities did not possess halls of their own. 
 
 There is an early reference to the Basket- 
 
 * Brewers' Company, Court Minutes from 1418 to 1440, fol. 2. 
 
 t A facsimile of this record and translation giving the names of 
 the Crafts, will be found in " The Gilds and Companies of London, " 
 1908 (Unwin).
 
 5 
 
 ti
 
 EARLY HISTORY 7 
 
 makers in an Order of Common Council, 12th 
 October, 3 Edward IV. (A.D. 1463),* of which 
 the following is a transcript : 
 
 Item in isto comuni Consilio concessum est quod le/ 
 basketmakers goldwiredrawers et alii forinsici utentes 
 misteris infra civitatem et tenentes shopas comorentur 
 decetero apud blankcheapletone et in nullo alio loco infra 
 liberatem civitatis dummodo suflficientes mansiones ibidem 
 habere potuerint proviso semper quod siquis forinsicus jam 
 occupaverit domum valoris XLS per annum comoretur apud 
 blankch [apletone] predictum citra festum Pasche proximo 
 futurum si in ista civitate commorari voluerit Et si jam 
 occupaverit domum minoris valoris quam XLS per annum 
 tune comoretur ibidem citra festum Natalis domini proximo 
 futurum, etc.t 
 
 [Translation. Also at that Common Council it was 
 agreed that the basketmakers, gold-wire drawers, and 
 other foreigners J practising crafts within the City and 
 holding shops, should thenceforth reside at Blanche 
 Appleton and at no other place within the liberty of the 
 City, so long as sufficient houses should there be available, 
 provided always, that if any foreigner now occupy a 
 house of the annual value of 40*., he shall take up his 
 abode at Blanche Appleton aforesaid before the feast of 
 Easter next coming if he wishes to reside in this City ; 
 and if he now occupy a house of lesser annual value than 
 40*., then he shall take up his abode there before the 
 feast of the Lord's Nativity next coming, etc.] 
 
 This old manor (in the parish of St. Katherine 
 Coleman, in the Ward of Aldgate) derived its 
 name from the lands of Blanch Appleton, and is 
 
 * A facsimile of this record in the City Books is given opposite. 
 The Order is mentioned by Bohun in "Privilegia Londini," 1723, 
 3rd ed. pp. 160-161. 
 
 t Journal 7, fol. 43 ; cf. Letter Book L., fol. 20. + Vide p. 10.
 
 8 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 shown in the corrupt form of "Blanck Chepelton," 
 in a descriptive map of London drawn by 
 Radulphus Aggas, in the time of Queen Eliza- 
 beth.* In the early part of the nineteenth 
 century, some trace of the locality was to be 
 found in the more corrupt form of " Blind Chapel 
 Court," situated at the north-eastern end of 
 Mark Lane. 
 
 Early mention of the manor is found in a 
 deed, f dated A.D. 1177, as follows : 
 
 Confirmation by Robert de Valoniis of the grant 
 which David de Cornhella, and Robert his brother made 
 to the canons of Holy Trinity, London, of their land of 
 Blanchesapeltuna which is in his soke J of the said city, 
 rendering him therefor 4<d. at Mid Lent, yearly for 
 socage, and for this day they have given him one mark 
 of silver in gersum. 
 
 At an early period, part of the demesne was 
 in the possession of the family of Roos of Hame- 
 lake, and part in the possession of the Bohuns 
 (Earls of Hereford) ; but on the division of the 
 estate of the last Earl in 1421, his portion of the 
 property was allotted to his grandchild, Henry V.|| 
 
 Stow, in his " Survey of London," ^[ writes : 
 
 * Circa 1560. A reproduction is published with Besant's 
 " London in the Time of the Tudors," 1904. 
 
 t Ancient Deeds (A. 7295), preserved in the Public Records 
 Office. 
 
 J A liberty or privilege of jurisdiction within a certain precinct 
 (A. S. sok.) 
 
 A fine extracted from a tenant on the transfer of his holding 
 (A. S. goersum). 
 
 || Parl. Rolls, vol. iv. 136. 
 
 f Stow's "Survey " (Thorns), 1842, p. 57.
 
 EARLY HISTORY 9 
 
 I read in the 13th Edward I. that a lane behind the 
 said Blanch Apelton was granted by the King to be 
 inclosed and shut up. This Blanch Apelton was a manor 
 belonging to Sir Thomas Roos of Hamelake, knight, the 
 7th of Richard II., standing at the north-east corner of 
 Mart Lane, so called of a privilege sometime enjoyned to 
 keep a mart there, long since discontinued, and therefore 
 foregotton, so as nothing remaineth for memory but the 
 name of Mart Lane, and that corruptly termed Marke 
 Lane.* I read that in the third of Edward IV. all 
 basketinakers, wire-drawers and other foreigners were 
 permitted to have shops in this manor of Blanch Apelton 
 and not elsewhere within this city or suburbs thereof. 
 
 References to this long-forgotten manor of 
 old London are rarely met with, but it is re- 
 corded that during the disturbed times of 
 Edward IV., Sir Geoffrey Gates and a body of 
 miscreants plundered the houses of the foreign 
 traders in Blanch Appleton. On May Day, 
 1517,f the London apprentices showed their ill- 
 feeling towards the aliens in the locality by 
 breaking the windows and doors of their houses ; 
 the disturbance being ultimately quelled by the 
 Lord Mayor and Aldermen. Ten pairs of gallows 
 were nevertheless erected, one at Blanch Apple- 
 ton and the others in different parts of the City ; 
 but only the ringleader suffered death, the rest 
 being pardoned by the King on the intercession 
 of the Lord Mayor. 
 
 By ancient custom, only persons free of the 
 
 * John Bagford, the antiquary, expressed the opinion that Mart 
 Lane was a place where the Romans and, not improbably, the 
 ancient Britons, used to barter with other nations. 
 
 f Known as Evil May Day.
 
 10 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 City were allowed to sell any wares by retail, 
 or occupy a shop within the City or the Liberties 
 thereof; a privilege which had been confirmed 
 by several Acts of Parliament. Edward III., 
 by Charter granted in the 15th year of his 
 reign, ordained that if any customs in the City 
 involved hardship, the Mayor and Aldermen 
 with the assent of the Commonalty might 
 remedy the same. This monarch encouraged 
 the settlement of foreign artificers in London, 
 although his action infringed civic rights. In 
 the following reign restrictions against foreigners 
 were again made, though the subsequent action 
 of Henry IV. in limiting the number of appren- 
 tices, no doubt helped to increase the alien immi- 
 gration. 
 
 The Order of Common Council made in the 
 reign of Edward IV., restricting the quarters of 
 the Basket-makers to Blanch Appleton, appears 
 to have been somewhat in the nature of a com- 
 promise, for, while allowing " foreigners " to 
 remain in the City, it located them in a district 
 which had apparently long been set apart for 
 aliens. 
 
 Whether the word " foreigner " in this Order 
 is used in the popular signification of the term, 
 or in the technical sense of non-freemen, is some- 
 what uncertain. In their petition of 1569 for 
 ordinances, the English Basket-makers com- 
 plained of the strangers and aliens born out of 
 the realm, who, for a long time past had exercised 
 the trade of basket-making in the City, and the
 
 EARLY HISTORY 11 
 
 Basket-makers of Blanch Appleton probably 
 included a large number of aliens. Some time 
 later they appear to have imported their wares, 
 for "baskets from Holland" were in the list 
 of goods to which the London apprentices took 
 objection in the riot of 1517. 
 
 The foreign element was largely increased 
 during the Reformation period and many Basket- 
 makers came over from the Netherlands to escape 
 religious persecution. These qualified as denizens 
 and were given quarters in Eastcheap,* several 
 of them being employed by the English Basket- 
 makers. The conditions of the trade were no 
 doubt considerably influenced by this influx of 
 alien craftsmen, and at the time of the estab- 
 lishment of the Company, and for a consider- 
 able period after, the foreign Basket-maker was 
 much in evidence. The preamble to the Com- 
 pany's Ordinance (No. 17) of 1569 states that 
 the freemen were not able to supply the City 
 with sufficient baskets unless they employed 
 " foreigners and aliens " to work for them or 
 had an adequate number of apprentices. This 
 Ordinance permitted the freemen to keep such 
 " foreigners and strangers " in their employ for 
 five years, but no longer. On the expiration 
 of the time it was found still impossible to meet 
 the demand for baskets without employing 
 foreigners, while in the subsequent Ordinances, 
 granted in 1585, the freemen of the Company 
 were allowed to retain indefinitely all the 
 
 * Vide Strype's " Annals of the Reformation," vol. iv. p. 569.
 
 12 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 foreigners and strangers they had then in their 
 employ, but were not to engage any more. By 
 the Ordinances of 1610, freemen of the Company 
 were not permitted to buy any wares from 
 foreigners except such as " from ancient times " 
 they had been accustomed to purchase from 
 them, namely, " covered baskets, flaskets, stake 
 maunds and timber ware." 
 
 The English Basket-makers (who had either 
 obtained licence to remain in the City or had 
 secured the right by taking up their freedom 
 through a Company) lived in the parishes of 
 St. Margaret Pattens and St. Andrew Hubbard 
 about the close of the fifteenth century. This 
 is the earliest trace of their place of abode. On 
 the 22nd October, 1538, they were ordered by 
 the Common Council to leave the City on 
 account of the danger from fire caused by their 
 alleged negligence. This order was not im- 
 mediately enforced, for on the 9th September, 
 1539, the Basket-makers entered into recog- 
 nisance not to imperil the City by fire,* and 
 on the 23rd September of the same year, they 
 presented a petition f to the Court of Alder- 
 men for licence to occupy their houses " as they 
 did before." This petition was taken into con- 
 sideration and it was agreed to suspend the order 
 for six months. There is no record of its being 
 carried out at the expiration of that time, nor 
 any further reference to the Act of Common 
 
 * Vide p. 21. f Vide pp. 21 and 22.
 
 EARLY HISTORY 13 
 
 Council until the 15th June, 1540, and the 25th 
 October, 1541 ; on both these occasions it was 
 ordered to be put immediately into execution. 
 From the latter date there are no further refer- 
 ences to the Basket-makers in the City Records 
 until the 8th January, 1565/6,* when the 
 Chamberlain was directed to call them together 
 and ascertain whether they desired to be estab- 
 lished as a Company. 
 
 During the long period in which they resided 
 in the City, the only charge brought against 
 them was that of indifference to the danger 
 from fire ; but the inflammable nature of their 
 wares and the prevailing conditions of the times 
 should be taken into consideration. Several 
 Basket-makers were appointed Churchwardens 
 of the parishes in which they resided, and the 
 records show that they were men of integrity 
 and useful members of the community. 
 
 Some interesting entries are found in an old 
 Vestry Minute Book of St. Margaret Pattens. 
 The earliest a record of the gift of an altar 
 cloth by a Basket-maker's wife appears in an 
 inventory of additional ornaments "gotten and 
 labored to be hadd for the same Churche use " 
 during the period 1st March, 1479, to 7th March, 
 1486 :- 
 
 It an nodr Awter cloth of byrds eyen werke w* a 
 crosse in the mydds And writt und r neith of the gyft of 
 Bo wen persons wyff baskett maker. 
 
 * Vide p. 27, and note (re date), p. 126.
 
 14 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 In the same book is recorded the receipt of 
 10, the bequest of a Basket-maker in the year 
 1494 : 
 
 IP x* st off money By ye beqwest off Wyllyam 
 Johnson basketmaker upon whos sowle Jhs have mercy 
 Gyvyn ye x yere off ye regne off Kynge harry the vij th 
 That tyme beynge Wardens off ye seyd Seynt Marget 
 paresche John Wright and John Jeffrey. 
 
 Other extracts from the Accounts of the 
 Churchwardens of St. Margaret Pattens are : 
 
 St. John Baptist 23 Hen. VII. to Xmas following, 
 John Jeffrey and John Smyth Churchwardens. 
 
 Itm Receyved of lodowyke * for the rent of a 
 
 tefit fin Seynt Dunstans pisshe for midsom r q r ij s iij tl 
 
 24 Henry VII. (Xmas). Xmas, 1 Henry VIII., John 
 Jeffrey and John Smyth Churchwardens. 
 
 Receyts of rentts in the pareche of Saynt 
 
 Dunstans. 
 Itm Rec rt of lody weke basketmaker for a yerys 
 
 rent at mechelms ..... viij s 
 
 Rental whilst John Moncase and Richard Browne were 
 Churchwardens 7 Henry VIII. 
 
 St. Dunstans parishe. 
 
 Jasper Basketmaker for a tefft w'in the Aley 
 
 yeldeing by yere viij s 
 
 Christmas 1517 to Christmas 1518, John Geffery and 
 Symond Goldesmyth Churchwardens. 
 
 * Ludwig was a basket-maker. 
 t Tenement.
 
 EARLY HISTORY 15 
 
 ;, > 
 
 Itm Receyved of Jasper Baskettmaker for iij 
 qrters ended at Midsomer aforesaide . . iij 9 
 
 Itm paied for a newe key to a Basketmakers 
 
 house in saint Dunstans pisshe . . iij' 1 
 
 In the Churchwardens' Accounts several 
 items relating to the purchase of baskets occur, 
 showing the different purposes for which they 
 were used in the Church, and the price of the 
 wares in the sixteenth century : 
 
 A.D. 1508-1509. 
 Itm payde for a holly brede basket . . ij (l 
 
 A.D. 1511-1512. 
 Itm paied for a Baskett for the Chirche . . i' 1 
 
 A.D. 1523-1524. 
 
 P 1 for a Basket to put in the plate . . vj d 
 
 F 1 for a lok for the same Basket . . . iiij' 1 
 
 A.D. 1563-1564. 
 I* 1 ffor ij lytill Baskets to cary earthe . . iiij d 
 
 A.D. 1567-1568. 
 Paid for a dust Baskyt iij d 
 
 A.D. 1574-1575. 
 More paid for a dust baskett .... iij' 1 
 
 A.D. 1575-1576. 
 Itm payde for a basket ..... iiij (1 
 
 The Vestry Books of St. Andrew Hubbard 
 also contain references to several members of the 
 craft. In the Churchwardens' Accounts for the 
 year 1527, there is an entry of the burial of a 
 Basket-maker's wife, as follows :
 
 16 BASKETMAKEKS' COMPANY 
 
 In $& we charge us reseved at the berynge of 
 Willm Smythes wiffe the baskyt maker . vj s 
 
 The husband did not apparently long survive 
 the death of his consort, for in the same account 
 is recorded the sum received for burying the 
 Basket-maker : 
 
 Rs at the berynge of Wyllm Smythe hem selfe vj s 
 
 In the year 1587, the following particulars 
 of the burial of a Basket-maker are recorded : 
 
 Receyved for the Buringe of Cornelius Adrian- 
 son, ground and knell and the psons dutye viij 8 
 
 The Vestry Books of St. Andrew Hubbard 
 which have been preserved, date from 1454, 
 though in the early entries the occupations of the 
 Churchwardens are not stated. Jasper Arnold is 
 recorded Churchwarden for the two years 1530- 
 31, and 1546-47. He was one of the twelve 
 Basket-makers who, on the 9th September, 1539, 
 entered into recognisance with the Chamberlain 
 not to imperil the City by fire,* and in 1540 
 obtained a writ from Henry VIII. directing the 
 Lord Mayor to allow him to carry on the trade 
 of basket-making in the city.f He was evidently 
 a man of some influence, and, if the order of the 
 Court of Aldermen of 1541 to expel the Basket- 
 makers from the City had been put into execu- 
 tion, he could have claimed the distinction of 
 being the only Basket-maker residing in the City 
 at the time. 
 
 * Vide p. 21. t Vide pp. 23, 24.
 
 EARLY HISTORY 17 
 
 Other Churchwardens of St. Andrew Hubbard 
 of a later date, who followed the occupation of 
 basket-making, were : 
 
 Adryan Adryanson,* 1578-9 and 1589-90. 
 
 Richard Robinson, 1580-82 and 1589-90. 
 
 John Johnson,f 1584-86 and 1594-96. 
 
 John Olyfe,J 1586-88 and 1596-98. 
 
 Robert Wheatlye, 1594-96. 
 
 The names of the first three occur in the 
 list of the eleven Basket-makers enrolled in 
 the City Books on the establishment of the 
 Company. Adryan Adryanson was one of the 
 Wardens of the Company, and John Olyfe was 
 probably the John Olyff translated from the 
 Carpenters' Company on the 12th January, 
 1569/70.11 
 
 Mention is made of a Basket-maker in the 
 Records of the Church of St. Mary-at-Hill. 
 The reference occurs in an Inventory supplied 
 to the Lord Mayor in connection with the Royal 
 Commissioner's enquiries respecting church plate, 
 etc., in 1552-3, as follows : 
 
 (first, to Jesper,1[ the basket maker, vij o a halfe of 
 alliblaster, at ij 9 iiij (l le o, Svm xvij 8 vj d .** 
 
 * This name appears several times as one of the auditors of the 
 churchwardens' accounts. 
 
 t Co-churchwarden William Redmer, Butcher. 
 
 i Co-churchwarden Barnaby Bristow, Turner. 
 
 Vide p. 41. 
 
 || Vide p. 60. 
 
 T Probably identical with Jasper Arnold. Vide pp. 16, 21, 23, 
 24, and Appendix J. 
 
 ** Guildhall Library MS. i^p fol., 110. 
 
 C
 
 18 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 In addition to the Order of Common Council 
 of 1463, the City Records contain several refer- 
 ences to the Basket-makers of a later date, re- 
 lating chiefly to the danger from fire caused by 
 the inflammability of their goods. These Records 
 (distinguished by the regnal year as well as the 
 civil year) are here set forth in chronological 
 
 order : 
 
 GRESHAM, MAIOR. 
 
 TUESDAY 18 JUNE, 30 HENRY VIII. (1538). 
 Itm the byll of the chyrche wardeyns of Saynt Androwe 
 hubbert ageynst the basketmakers was redde. And day 
 ys gyven to theym the next co r te day of saynt Peters day 
 next comyng And to make reporte to thys co r te of a con- 
 venyent place where the sayd basketmakers may dwell.* 
 
 GRESHAM, MAIOR. 
 
 TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER, 30 HENRY VIII. (1538). 
 Itm that the basketmakers shall dwell w'yn the suburbes 
 of london & not w'yn thys Cytie.f 
 
 GRESHAM, MAIOR. 
 COMMON COUNCIL 22 OCTOBER, 30 HENRY VIII. (1538). 
 
 At thys Comon Cownsayll bycawse that mysfortune of 
 ffyer hath chauncyd by the neglygence of the basket 
 makers of london yt ys agreed that none of the basket- 
 makers aforesayd shall dwell w f yn the walles of thys Cytye 
 but yn some other convenyent places owt of thys Cytye 
 on thyssyde the feast of the Natyvytie of Saynt John 
 baptist next comyng. : 
 
 * Rep. 10, fol. 35b. f Rep. 10, fol. 53b. 
 
 J Journal 14, fol. 113. A facsimile of this Act is given op- 
 posite. 
 
 It is evident from the subsequent records that this Act of 
 Common Council was not put into execution at the time. Vide pp. 
 24, 25.
 
 
 
 ft, 
 
 'a
 
 EARLY HISTORY 19 
 
 This Order was doubtless made in consequence 
 of the disastrous fire which took place in the 
 Basket-makers' quarters earlier in the same year. 
 Stow * reports the incident in the following 
 terms : 
 
 In the parish of St. Margaret Pattens on 27th May, 
 1538, amongst the basket makers a great and sudden fire 
 happened in the night season, which within the space of 
 three hours consumed more than a dozen houses and nine 
 persons were burnt to death there. 
 
 Wriothesley in his " Chronicles " thus refers 
 to the calamity : 
 
 Allso the 27th daye of Maye beinge the Monday in the 
 Rogation weeke, was a great fyre in St. Margarett Pattyns 
 parishe amonge the baskett makers, where were burnt and 
 perished in three houres a dossin howses and 9 persons of 
 men, women, and children, cleane burnt to death, which 
 was a pyteous sight, f 
 
 Several of the houses burnt belonged to 
 Balliol College, Oxford. In the College archives 
 certain tenements in this parish are stated to have 
 been given by Robert Beamond, and it is added, 
 that by decree of the Masters and Fellows in 
 the year 1538, " it was granted to Lady Ann 
 Danvers under their common seal that the Office 
 of the Dead be said every year for the good of 
 her soul : and for her benefactions on account 
 of her gift of 30 for the repair of the houses 
 
 * " Survey of London " (Thorns), 1842, p. 79. 
 
 t Wriothesley's Chronicle : Camden Society, N.S., No. 11, p. 81.
 
 20 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 in the parish of St. Margaret Pattens, which had 
 been much injured by fire." * 
 
 FORMAN, MAIOR. 
 
 TUESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER, 31 HENRY VIII. (1539). 
 
 Itm for the matter betwene bayly colledge of Oxonford 
 for theyre bowses burned yn the pysshe of saynt Androwe 
 yn estchepe of london & one of theyre tents Rot>t Curson 
 & Thomas Atkyns gent be appoynted by thys co r te to 
 here ye sayd matter & make report thereof unto thys 
 co r te.f 
 
 Balliol College possessed property in the 
 parish of St. Andrew Hubbard in the time of 
 Edward III. In the College records, the houses 
 are stated to be situated in " Smith 's-lane, alias 
 St. Andrew Hoberds-lane," and in the reign of 
 Henry VIII. they were tenanted chiefly by 
 Basket-makers. Some trouble appears to have 
 arisen between them and the owners in connec- 
 tion with the occupation of the houses re- erected 
 after the fire. Ultimately it will be seen that 
 the College authorities evoked the aid of the 
 Crown to obtain possession of the property. J 
 
 FORMAN, MAIOR. 
 
 THURSDAY 4 th SEPTEMBER, 31 HEXRY VIII. (1539). 
 
 Itm yt ys agreed that ye basket makers shalbe here upon 
 tuysday next comyng to pvyde some other convenyent 
 
 * Paravicini, "Early History of Balliol College," 1891, p. 267. 
 f Rep. 10, fol. 118b. J Vide, p. 23.
 
 EARLY HISTORY 21 
 
 places owt of thys Cytie accordyng to an Act of comon 
 cownsayll * made thereof t* Gressham Jornal fo. 113.t 
 
 FORMAN, MAIOR. 
 TUESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER, 31 HEXRY VIII. (1539). 
 
 Itm the basketmakers Edward Haseley yn estchepe Roger 
 Norrys at bredstrete Thomas Dent yn bredstrete Willya. 
 Ellys yn oldefysshestrete Cuthbert Remys yn brodstrete 
 Gylbert Godfrey at byllyngsgate Jasp Arnold,^ John 
 Mathew, John Rogers, Cornelyus Johnson, Segar Deryk- 
 son, || Arnold Gyles || at Saynt Androwes yn estchepe 
 the cben cownsayll made the xxij day of October the 
 xxx yere of kyng henry the eight t e gressham fo. 113 IT 
 They & e\*y of theym by theyre selfF knowledge to owe 
 unto george medley Chamblayn of the Cytye of london 
 x* s l to be payed by way of Recogny 8 The condicon hereof 
 ys suche if they & ev"y of theym avoyde all stuffe belongyng 
 to theyre mystery of basketmakers aforesayd out of theyr 
 howses afore the feast of Saynt Michael the archangell 
 next comyng And also in the meane tyme kepe sauffely 
 surely theyre fyre so that by meanes thereof any hurte 
 come not unto any of the Inhatants of thys Cytie that 
 than etc or ells etc.** 
 
 FORMAN, MAIOR. 
 TUESDAY, 23iiD SEPTEMBER, 31 HENRY VIII. (1539). 
 
 Itm a peticon of the basket makers Inglysshemen to have 
 lycens to occupye as they dyd afore answered unto 
 
 * 22nd Oct., 1538, vide p. 18. 
 t Rep. 10, fol. 119b. 
 
 J Dutch alien (Denizen) Churchwarden of St. Andrew Hubbard, 
 vide pp. 16, 17, 21, 23, 24, and Appendix J. 
 
 Probably identical with John Matthew, referred to on p. 23. 
 
 || Dutch aliens (Denizens). 
 
 T Vide p. 18. 
 
 ** Rep. 10, fol. 120b ; Letter Book P. fol. 198b.
 
 22 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 theym that they shall labo r unto ye comon cownsayll that 
 they may sell theyre wares w l yn thys Cytie and make the 
 same w'yn thys Cytie whyche shalbe on sonday next 
 corny ng.* 
 
 FORMAN, MAIOR. 
 
 COMMON COUNCIL 28 SEPTEMBER, 31 HENRY VIII. 
 (15S9). 
 
 Itm the petycon of the Basketmakers Inglyshemen for 
 selling of their Basketts & Weate Roddes in theire houses 
 w l in this Cytie and for Whyte roddes to be layed in 
 owtward places w'oute the Cytie w f out dunger & pyll of 
 ffyer was redde w ch matt ys remytted by this cben 
 counseill to the Mayere & Aldren of london to be deter- 
 myned by theim after their sad dyscrecons And the same 
 ordre so by theim to be taken to remaine in full strength 
 and vertue.f 
 
 FORMAN, MAIOR. 
 (?) SEPTEMBER, 31 HENRY VIII. (1539). 
 
 At thys co r te yt ys agreed that the basketmakers shall 
 have respyte for pvydyng of theyre howses & removyng of 
 theyre stuffe aswell for fyer for the space of one half yere 
 nowe next comyng & they may sell theyre wares yn theyre 
 howses yn case the comon Ssayll woll agree unto the 
 same.t 
 
 FORMAN, MAIOR. 
 TUESDAY 28 OCTOBER, 31 HEXRY VIII. (1539). 
 
 H the matter conSnyng the basketmakers shalbe harde 
 the next co r te day. 
 
 * Rep. 10, fol. 135b. 
 
 f Letter Book P. fol. 196b ; Journal 14, fol. 158. 
 
 J Rep. 10, fol. 137. 
 
 Rep. 10, fol. 145b.
 
 EARLY HISTORY 23 
 
 HOLLES, MAIOR. 
 TUESDAY 6 APRIL, 31 HENRY VIII. (1540). 
 
 Itm the M r & scolers of the Coledge of balyall of Oxford 
 demaunded of John Mathew of london basketmaker the 
 rent due by hym upon Thursday next & the sayd Mathew 
 w l hys cownsayll to be here upon tuysday next comyng.* 
 
 HOLLYS, MAIOR. 
 TUESDAY SRD JUNE, 32 HENRY VIII. (1540). 
 
 It. the Kyngs most gracyous cmyssyon for the matter 
 of the M r of bayly colledge of oxonford & hys felowes & 
 John Mathewe was redde & agreed that y e same shalbe 
 fynally defimined by thys co r te.f 
 
 HOLLYS, MAIOR. 
 TUESDAY 15 JUNE, 32 HENRY VIII. (1540). 
 
 Itm the kyngs comyssyon for the matter conSnyng the 
 matter of ballyold coledge yn oxenford & John Mathewe 
 basketmaker was redde & all ye ci resistances of the same 
 well pceyved by thys co r te & agreed that the sayd maister 
 & felowes shall entre imedyately ynto theyre owne 
 howse newly buylded by them at theyr great costs & 
 charges & pesibly & quyetly enjoy ye same w l out Inter- 
 rupcon of the sayd Mathewe. And that the la we made 
 for the basketmakers shalbe put yn due and effectuall 
 execucon according to ye act of coen fisayl te e gressham 
 sen 1 fo. 113. J 
 
 HOLLES, MAIOR. 
 THURSDAY 8 JULY, 32 HENRY VIII. (1540). 
 
 Itm the wyfe of Jasper Arnolde, basketmaker delytfyd 
 unto my lorde mayer our sov'aigne lord the kyngs writt 
 
 * Rep. 10, fol. 171. t Rep. 10, fol. 159. 
 
 t Rep. 10, fol. 164.
 
 24 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 directed unto hys lordship & to my masters the aldermen 
 shreves of thys Cytie raytyng in the same theffecte of 
 the statute made A xv of o r seyd sov'aigne lords most 
 gracyous raygne conSnyng Strangers Artyfycers inhityng 
 thys Cytye & what joneymen & other stints they may 
 kepe. And fynally comaundyng my seyd lorde mayer 
 hys worshipful brethern aforeseyd peaceably to pmytt the 
 seyd Jasp to use and exercyse hys seyd Crafte within the 
 seyd Cytie.* 
 
 Described in the Patent Roll as a " basket- 
 maker from parts of Brabant under the obedience 
 of the Emperor," Jasper Arnold f came to Eng- 
 land and was made a free denizen on the 12th 
 December, 1534.J He obtained licence from the 
 Crown to exercise his craft and, from an assess- 
 ment made on the 30th April, 1549, he appears 
 to have employed eight journeymen. 
 
 ROCHE, MAIOR. 
 TUESDAY, 25-ra OCTOBER, 33 HENIIY VIII. (1541). 
 
 Itm for the matter conSnyng the basketmakers of this 
 Cytie yt is agreyd that my lorde mayer shall cause the 
 Acte of coen counsayll thereof made to be putt in due 
 & spedye execucon in e^y poynt. || 
 
 The Act of Common Council referred to in 
 the above record was made on the 22nd October, 
 1538,*[[ and from the tenor of the order of the 
 
 * Rep. 10, fol. 166b. 
 t Vide pp. 16, 17, 21, and Appendix J. 
 t Patent Rolls, 26 Henry VIII., Public Records Office. 
 Lay Subsidies, 3 Edward VI., vide Appendix J. (p. 162). 
 || Rep. 10, fol. 226b. 
 
 1" Vide p. 18. Also referred to in the Records of 4th September., 
 Io3, and 15th June, 1540, pp. 21, 23.
 
 EARLY HISTORY 25 
 
 25th October, 1541, it was no doubt enforced on 
 that occasion. There are no further references 
 to the Basket-makers in the City Records for 
 a quarter of a century. The subsequent entry 
 under date 8th January, 1565/6, refers to the 
 Basket-makers of the City, and, no record having 
 been found of their reinstatement, the order 
 apparently became a dead-letter after the lapse 
 of some few years.
 
 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 
 COMPANY. 
 
 THE only records in the Company's possession 
 referring to the constitutional settlement of the 
 Guild are the petition of the Basket-makers of 
 1569 for "rules and orders" and a transcript of 
 the ordinances granted by the Court of Alder- 
 men ; these are found in an old parchment book * 
 preserved from the Great Fire. The few earlier 
 references to matters leading up to the establish- 
 ment of the Company have been obtained from 
 the City Records. 
 
 In their petition for Ordinances, the Basket- 
 makers referred to their previous " suit," in 
 which they had prayed that not only those of 
 their number who were free of other Companies, 
 but also those following the trade of basket- 
 making who were not free of the City, might 
 be united and made a Company to be called 
 " the Basket-makers of the City of London." 
 The proceedings commenced in January, 1565/6, 
 when the Chamberlain was desired by the civic 
 authorities to confer with the Basket-makers 
 with a view to their being enfranchised in their 
 
 * Vide p. 123.
 
 THE ESTABLISHMENT or THE COMPANY 27 
 
 own craft. A few months later they were 
 requested to decide whether they would be 
 established as " a Company of themselves " or 
 united to some other Company. 
 
 CHAMPION, MAIOR. 
 
 8 JANUARY, 8 ELIZABETH (156JJ). 
 
 Item yt was ordered that the Chamberlyn shall somon 
 and confer w th the Basketmakers of this Cytie now be- 
 yenge fremen of the same Cytie and lerne and understande 
 of theim whether they will become freemen of the same 
 Cytie or not and what they will geve for the fredome 
 thereof and make reporte unto this Court for their 
 answers and mynds therein w th convenyent spede.* 
 
 The question put to the Basket-makers who 
 were free of the City, "whether they will 
 become freemen of the City," appears somewhat 
 obscure in the above record. The explanation 
 is, that the free Basket-makers alluded to were 
 members of existing Companies f and were to be 
 asked whether they wished to become free of a 
 new Company of their own. In the following 
 extract it will be noted that the English Basket- 
 makers, who were not free of the City, were also 
 consulted on the question of the establishment 
 of the Company. 
 
 CHAMPION, MAIOR. 
 
 THURSDAY 13 JUNE, 8 ELIXABETH (1566). 
 
 Item M r Avenon and M 1 Chamberlyn Aldermen and the 
 Chamberlyn were this day assigned by the Court here to 
 
 * Rep. 15, fol. 513b. t Chiefly of the Butchers' Company.
 
 28 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 travayle w th the englishe * Basketmakers of this Citie not 
 being fre of the Citie and lerne whether they will desire 
 rather to be a company e of theym selfes or els be united 
 to some other Companye And what Companie that is And 
 to make report thereof here w th convenyent spede.f 
 
 At this period a few English Basket-makers 
 were exercising their trade in the City, although 
 not free thereof ; this privilege is mentioned in 
 the record of the 23rd September, 1539, J on 
 which occasion they petitioned the Court of 
 Aldermen for "licence to occupy as they did 
 before." It cannot be ascertained when the civic 
 authorities first made the above concession to 
 the English Basket-makers. Probably this old 
 privilege gave rise to the claim that the Company 
 had previously existed by prescription or ancient 
 right. 
 
 CHAMPION, MAIOR. 
 
 THURSDAY 19 SEPTEMBER, 8 ELIZABETH (1566). 
 
 Item the wardens of the Bochers have the next court 
 daye to make pleye & certen report whether theyr hole 
 company wyll assent and agree to have all suche Basket- 
 makers as are now free of their sayd company to be taken 
 by this court from theym and to be unyted and incor- 
 poi-ated to the other basketmakers of this cytye beinge 
 erected and made by autoryte of this co r te a company and 
 felowshipp of themselfs or not.|| 
 
 * At this period several alien Basket-makers were established 
 in the City. 
 
 t Rep. 16, fol. 60b. 
 t Vide p. 21. 
 Vide pp. 96, 101. 
 || Rep. 16, fol. 106.
 
 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMPANY 29 
 
 CHAMPION, MAIOR. 
 
 THURSDAY 26 SEPTEMBER, 8 ELIZABETH (1566). 
 Item the wardens of the company of the bochers of this 
 Cytye dyd this day make their reporte here to the court 
 accordinge to the order of the same court here taken 
 19 instat Sept that both they and their sayd hole com- 
 pany are well contentyd and pleased to de^pte w* all the 
 baskettmakers beinge ffree of there sayd company so that 
 they the sayd basketmakers be hereafter erected unyted 
 and made a p r vate and distinct company of them selfs by 
 the name of basketmakers, or els the sayd Wardeyns 
 desyryd that they the sayd basketmakers may be holye 
 restoryd and unyted ageyne to them the sayd company 
 of the bochers in case they shall eyther not be made a 
 company of theym selfs or ells shall fortune shortly to be 
 dyssolvyd agayne and not to remayne a company of them 
 selfs w ch was gimted to the seid wardens or cause to be 
 redelyvered.* 
 
 DRAPER, MAIOR. 
 
 TUESDAY 17 DECEMBER, 9 ELIZABETH (1566). 
 
 Item it was this day ordered by the Court here that the 
 Towne clerk w th the advise of som of the lerned Councell 
 of the Cytie shall devise and draw a boke agaynst the 
 next courte here to be h olden after Xristmas next for the 
 corporacbn and unytyng of the fremen of this Cytye and 
 other Englishmen also Basketmakers into a felowshipe 
 or companye of this Cytie by my Lord Mayer and Court 
 of Aldermen in such sort as dyfs other of the same Cytie 
 ar alredy incorporated.! 
 
 DRAPER, MAIOR. 
 
 THURSDAY 13 MARCH, 9 ELIZABETH (156f). 
 Att this cort M r Aide? Ducket was assigned to joine 
 w l M r Aid Avenon and the Chamberleyn for the 
 
 * Rep. 16, fol. 112b ; Letter Book V. fol. 49b. Vide pp. 49, 50. 
 f Rep. 16, fol. 149b ; Letter Book V. fol. 68b.
 
 30 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 incorporatinge of the englishe basketmakers of this citie 
 and the towne clerke appointed to attend upon them as 
 he conveniently maye.* 
 
 ROWE, MAIOR. 
 TUESDAY SRD MAY, II ELIZABETH (1569). 
 
 The matter betwene the Tournors and Basketmakers 
 is referred to the hearing and examynacon of M r Alder- 
 man Avenon and M r Aldran Barneham & M r Chamberleyn 
 and they to make report.f 
 
 Waller, in his " General Description of all 
 Trades," written in 1747,J tells us that the Basket- 
 makers' wares were largely sold in the Turners' 
 shops and that the Turners were the principal 
 dealers in baskets after the makers. This practice 
 being no doubt of old standing, it is possible 
 that the " matter " referred to in the above 
 extract related to some objection raised by the 
 Turners in connection with the establishment 
 of the Company. No further reference to the 
 subject has been found in the City Records. 
 
 ROWE, MAIOR. 
 TUESDAY 26 JULY, II ELIZABETH (1569). 
 
 Itrh this daye it is thought mete and convenient by this 
 courte that the basketmakers of this Citie shalbe incor- 
 porated and made a companye and have Staine ordnnces 
 devised by this house for there govtoment and it is agreed 
 that a certain nomber that nowe use makinge of basketts 
 shalbe made free and paye suche fynes as M r Chambleyn 
 
 * Rep. 16, fol. 176. t Rep. 16, fol. 471b. 
 
 J Vide Appendix A.
 
 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMPANY 31 
 
 shall take order w th them for and M r Chainbleyn shall 
 travell w th them betwene this and the nexte courte and 
 then to make reporte to this courte what he hath don 
 therein.* 
 
 ROWE, MAIOR. 
 THURSDAY 28 JULY, II ELIZABETH (1569). 
 
 This daye S r Willifi Chester knight M r Alderman 
 Nicholas and M r Chamtdeyn are appointed to conferre 
 upon good ordnnces tovvchinge the baskettmakers that 
 are nowe to be incorporated.! 
 
 ROWE, MAIOR. 
 THURSDAY IST SEPTEMBER, II ELIZABETH (1569). 
 
 At this courte the boke devysed for the incorporacbn 
 of the Basketmakers of this Cytie was redd & repulsed & 
 misleked as it is nowe penned and redeli^ed to my L 
 Mayors owne hands. J 
 
 ROWE, MAIOR. 
 
 22 SEFIEMBER, II ELIZABETH (1569). 
 
 This daye it is agreed that the booke of the incorpo- 
 racon of the basketmakers in sorte as nowe it is shall 
 passe under suche ordnnces & condicons as are therein 
 conteyned and agreed the same to be entreed as followeth : 
 
 To the right honorable Sir Thomas Rowe Knight, 
 Lord Maior of the Cittie of London And to the right 
 wor 11 bretheren thaldren of the same. 
 
 Most humblie beseechen yo r good Lord pl> yo r dayli 
 Orators A. B. C. D. &c. Basketmakers of the Cittie of 
 London the Queenes Ma tiea naturall lovinge and obedient 
 
 * Rep. 16, fol. 492b; Letter Book V. fol. 246. 
 t Rep. Iti, fol. 493. 
 J Rep. 16, fol. 495b.
 
 32 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 Subiecte borne within this her highenes Realme of 
 England. That where aswell yo r said Orators as diverse 
 other Strangers and Aliens borne out of this Realme have 
 not onelie within this honorable Cittie, but also in diverse 
 other places of this Realme of longe tyme used thoccu- 
 pacbn and Crafte of Basketmakinge. And forasmuche as 
 before this tyme noe lawe ne good orders have been had 
 or devised for good wares or stuffe to be had and made in 
 the same crafte and occupacbn ne yet any provision or 
 poinshm 1 have been devised to meete with deceipte excepte 
 in of late both in sleighte makinge of the said wares aswell 
 in this Cittie as in the Countrie. And in evill and un- 
 seasonable stuffe wherewithall the same wares have been 
 made the utter ruine and decay of good workmanshipp in 
 the same Craft hath thereby ensewed and is daylie more 
 and more like to ensew and followe unless speedie remedie 
 therefore mighte be had and provided. Yo r said poore 
 beeseechers therefore much Lamentinge the same and 
 willinge asmuch as in them lyeth the redresse thereof not 
 knoweing of themselves how to do the same without the 
 ayde and helpe of yo r good Lo p and Maistershippes have 
 latelie been most humble Suito 8 to this hono ble Courte for 
 thamendment of those evills and mischiefs In avoydyng 
 whereof it hath pleased the same upon the humble suite 
 of yo r said Orators to grante not onelie that divers of yo r 
 said Orators usinge the said Crafte and Occupacon within 
 this Cittie being alreadie ffree of other Companyes of the 
 same but also diverse others of them being not free of the 
 said Cittie using notwithstanding the same crafte and 
 occupacion of Baskettmaking within the said Cittie and 
 Liberties thereof should be transferred and made free all 
 of one Crafte Companie and ffellowshipp called the Basket- 
 makers of the Cittie of London to the ende that by some 
 good rules and orders to be had and devised by this 
 hono ble Courte to be observed and kept amonge them in 
 the same Crafte and Companie better wares and stuffe 
 hereafter might be had and made for the service of the 
 Queens highnes Subjects within this hono ble Cittie, and so
 
 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMPANY :33 
 
 consequentlie by the good example thereof in other places 
 of the Realme. May it therefore please yo r said Lo p and 
 Masterships for the amendment of those enormities and 
 for the better service of the Comon Weale in that behalfe 
 and for the more better good rule and goverment here- 
 after to be had in the same crafte and occupacbn to 
 grannte and establish these Articles underwritten in the 
 same Companie to be firmlie observed and kepte for ever 
 upon the paines in the same Articles comprized And 
 yo r said Beseechers according to their most bounden Duties 
 shall daylie pray to Almightie God for the Long Con- 
 tinuance of yo r said Lo p and Mastershipps in honor and 
 worshipp. 
 
 Anno 1569. 
 
 (1) FIRSTE that men enfrannchesed in the said crafte 
 and occupacon of Basketmakers of the Cittie of London 
 for the tyme beinge Maye lawfullie hereafter once in everie 
 two years Betweene the feaste of St James and St Barthue 
 the Appostles, assemble themselves togeather in a place 
 to them necessarie and convenient within the said Cittie, 
 and there to chuse and electe of themselves two hable 
 menn free of the said crafte for the space of two whole 
 yeares then next followinge. And the same twoe Wardens, 
 soe chosen, within eighte days then next following there 
 said eleccon, shalle be sworen in the Courte to be holden 
 in the utter * Chamber of the Guildhall, before the Lorde 
 Maior and Aldren of the same Cittie, for the tyme being, 
 trewlie to doo and execute such things as shall appertaine 
 and belonge unto their office, according to the good rules 
 and ordermce to them to be allowed and approved by the 
 same Courte like as the usage and custome is within the 
 said Cittie, that the Wardens of other Companies doe 
 upon pain of v 1 , thone halfe thereof to be applied to thuse 
 of the Chamber of the said Cittie, And that other halfe 
 to the Comon boxe of the poore within the house of 
 
 * i.e. outer. 
 
 1)
 
 34 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 Christchurche And that if the same Wardens, being thus 
 elected and sworen, or either of them, happen to die 
 within the same two yeares that they should stande 
 Wardens, that then the good men enfranchised in the 
 saide crafte may choose one or two others of the same 
 crafte to supplie and serve in the steade and place of him 
 or them so deceased, for the residue of the said two yeares. 
 
 (2) ITEM that within one moneth next after the chosinge 
 of the new Wardens, at thend of everie two yeares in forme 
 aforesaid, the oulde Wardens which occupied and stoode 
 in thoffice the two yeres then next preceedinge, shall make 
 and yielde upp their accompte unto the Wardens then 
 chosen, and to three or fower other personas of the said 
 crafte such as the said new Wardens shall appointe, and 
 shall trulie answer, paye, and deliver unto the said new 
 Wardens to the use of the same Companie all that which 
 shalbe founde to remayne in their handes by that Accompte 
 uppon paine of v 1 , thone halfe thereof to be paied to the 
 Chamber of the said Cittie And that other halfe to the 
 Comon boxe of the said Crafte. And if the said Accompte 
 be behinde, and not given upp and payment not made as 
 is aforesaide, longer than one moneth, then the oulde 
 Wardens soe faylinge of giving upp of their accompte, 
 and making of payment accordinglie, without they have 
 a reasonable excuse, shall pay for everie moneth, soe longe 
 as their said accompte is not given upp after the chosing 
 of the said new Wardens, and after the end of the first 
 moneth, xl s , to be devided & ymployed in forme aforesaid. 
 
 (3) ALSOE that all persones enfranchesed in the said 
 crafte and occupacon for the tyme being, at all tymes 
 hereafter shall make good, stronge, and perfecte wares, 
 belonging to the said crafte, well and workemanlike, 
 wroughte with good and seasonable stuffe, without de- 
 ceipte, uppon paine of forfeiture of the same wares to 
 thuse of the Coialtie of the said Cittie. 
 
 (4) ITEM that noe persone of the said crafte enfran- 
 chesed within the said Cittie, shall at any tyme hereafter, 
 buy any wares belonging to the same crafte in the Countrie
 
 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMPANY 35 
 
 alreadie made, nor any stuffe unwroughte, to make such 
 ware withall, but such as shalle be good and lawfull wares 
 strong and well wroughte, and good and seasonable stuffe, 
 cutt and gathered in due season, uppon paine of forfeiture 
 of the same to be imployed, thone halfe to the chamber 
 of London, and thother halfe, to the com on boxe of the 
 same crafte. 
 
 (5) ITEM that none enfranchesed in the said crafte shall 
 hereafter buy any white roddes, to be occupied and made 
 into wares belonging to the same crafte, excepte they be 
 well seasoned, uppon pain of forfeiture of the same roddes, 
 or the value thereof, thone halfe thereof to the use of the 
 Chamber of London, and thother halfe to the Comon 
 boxe of that fellowship. 
 
 (6) ITEM that noe persone, free of the said Companie, 
 at any tyme hereafter, shall buye any roddes to be spente 
 or made into wares belonging to the same crafte Except 
 the same roddes be of good and lawfull bonde That is to 
 saye, everie boundell of those roddes to have bonde of one 
 yarde and one inch of compasse, to be well and faste 
 bounde at leastwaies one foote from the greater ende of 
 the saide roddes, uppon paine of forfeiture of all that 
 stuffe to the uses aforesaid. 
 
 (7) ITEM that the Wardens of the said crafte and occu- 
 pacon for the tyme being, having an Officer of my Lord 
 Maiors with them, shall have full power at all tymes here- 
 after, to enter into the houses, warehouses, and shopps of 
 all and singular persones whatsoever as well enfranchesed 
 in the said crafte of Basketmakers as not enfranchesed, 
 which at any tyme hereafter shall make or put to sale, 
 within the said Cittie, suburbes, or liftties thereof, any 
 manner of wares belonging to the said crafte And to 
 serche, viewe, and oversee all manner of basketts, fflasketts, 
 Scrynes, Mawndes, and all other wares and stuffe, belong- 
 ing to the said crafte of Basketmakers, aswell suche as 
 shalle be broughte by forraine Basketmakers into the said 
 Cittie or suburbes of the same for to be soulde, as such 
 as shalbe made or put to sale by ffreemen of the same
 
 36 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 crafte or by any other forraine or ffreeman of the same 
 Cittie, within the said Cittie or suburbes thereof And all 
 such wares and stuffe as they shall finde unlawfull, not 
 well workmanlike, and stronglie made, and wroughte with 
 good and seasonable stuffe, then they to forfeite the same 
 And to bringe it to the Chamber of this Cittie at all 
 tymes hereafter when the case shall require, as forfeite 
 to the use of the Coialtie of the said Cittie. 
 
 (8) ALSOE that the Wardens of the said crafte for the 
 tyme being, and the Coialtie of the same crafte, may have 
 thuse and ordeine one or two meete persones of their said 
 crafte to be their clark and Beadell for their Coen officers, 
 to make summons in the name of there Wardens for the 
 tyme beinge, and to execute other their lawfull precepts 
 and commandments, as the case shall require. The same 
 Clarke or Bedell to have such sallarie and wages as the 
 said Wardens and Comynaltie for the tyme beinge shall 
 accorde and agree amonge themselves, to be given and 
 allowed unto the said Clarke or Bedell, quarterlie everie 
 yeare. And that it shalle be lawfull for the said Wardens 
 for the tyme beinge, to levie, collect, and receive of the 
 ffreemen enfranchesed in the said Companie, a certaine 
 competent sum of money by the Comynaltie of the same 
 companie agreed uppon, by the name of quarteridge, 
 towards the charges of the same Companie, like as in 
 other Companies of this Cittie is used So that the same 
 quarteridge exceede not viij d a quarter for aney one 
 persone. 
 
 (9) ALSOE that as often as any persone of the said 
 crafte, hereafter shalbe deulie sumoned by the Clarke or 
 Beadle of the said Crafte to appere before the Wardens 
 of the said Crafte for the tyme being, at a certaine hower 
 assigned, and appeareth not at the same hower appointed, 
 or nere uppon, according to his summons That the said 
 persone soe summoned, making defaulte, shall (unless hee 
 have some reasonable excuse) paye to the Coen boxe of 
 the said crafte iiij d And if hee be the second tyme warned, 
 and come not within one whole hower next after the said
 
 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMPANY 37 
 
 second warnings (without a reasonable excuse) then to 
 pay viij' 1 to the said coen boxe, at the will and discrecon 
 of the said Wardens for the tyme beinge. 
 
 (10) ALSOE that if any persone of the said crafte and 
 fellowshipp being an housholder, at any tyme hereafter, 
 rebuke, chide or brawle with any other persone being an 
 housholder of the same crafte, that then the same persone 
 so offendinge, shall pay to the Chamber of the Guildhall 
 and to the Cofflon boxe of the said Crafte equallie to be 
 devided, vj s viij d And if any servaunte or apfmtice of the 
 same crafte offend or trespasse in such wise unto any 
 housholder of the same crafte, that then the same servante 
 or apptotice shalbe poinshed by the order and discrecon of 
 the Wardens of the said Companie for the tyme beinge. 
 
 (11) ALSO if it fortune that any persone enfranchesed 
 of the said crafte which shall happen to forfeite any some 
 or somes of money, or any other things in theise orders 
 or any of them comprised And then the same persone 
 will not obey to pay the same money wthin. three tymes 
 askinge, if hee be of power That then the same persone 
 for a pain in that behalfe shall paie the doble of the same 
 money And if then he will not submitt himselfe to paye 
 that, and be reasonablie ordered by his said Wardens 
 Then the Wardens and Coialtie of the said crafte shall 
 complayne to the Lord Maior, or the chanVblin for the 
 tyme being And the persone so offending to be punnished 
 after the discrecon of ; the Lord Mayor and Courte of 
 Aldren or Chamberlaine. 
 
 (12) ALSOE that everie persone enfranchesed of the said 
 crafte or occupacbn within a yere after he taketh unto him 
 any apprentice, shall fteente the same apprentice unto the 
 Wardens of the said crafte for the tyme being And shall 
 then pay unto the comon boxe of the same crafte for 
 everie such apfmtice xij d And that none of the said 
 crafte shall at any time hereafter, take any apfmtice for 
 noe shorter or lesser terme then that the same apfmtice 
 coming out of his yeres shalbe fullie xxiiij yeres of age at 
 thende of his said term And also that at thende of the
 
 38 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 terme of ap|mticehood of everie such apffaitice, the same 
 apjtotice if hee hath trulie served his terme shalbe made 
 free by his said M r at the charge of his said M r And that 
 everie such apjmtice, or hee be admitted into the fran- 
 cheses of the said Cittie, shalbe presented againe unto the 
 said Wardens of the said crafte for the tyme being And 
 there afore them shalbe sworen uppon the holie Evange- 
 lists of God to be contributorie to all manner of charges 
 that shall belonge to the coialtie of the said crafte of 
 Basketmakers to his power. And that hee shall not put 
 himselfe in service to occupie the said Crafte with any 
 persone or to teache thoccupacon, but onlie to such as 
 shalbe enfranchesed in the Crafte above named, without 
 the Wardens of the said Crafte for the tyme being give 
 him leve, as longe as they will give him reasonable wages 
 and put him on worke in the same Crafte, uppon paine 
 of ymprisonement by the appointment of the Wardens 
 and such further fyne as by the discrecon of the Lorde 
 Maior, shalbe thought meate to be imployed as is afoesaide. 
 
 (13) ALSOE that noe persone enfranchesed of the said 
 crafte of Basketmakers, shall take uppon him in any wise 
 hereafter, to hier or take the house or shop of any other 
 persone enfranchesed of the same crafte, over his heade 
 by any manner of meanes privilie or appertlie, uppon 
 payne of v 1 , to be paied thone halfe to the use of the 
 Chamber of the Cittie of London and the ohher halfe to 
 the Comon boxe of the same crafte. 
 
 (14) ALSOE that noe Apftatice which is, or hereafter 
 shall happen to be bounde to any persone free of the said 
 Crafte of Basketmakers, in any wise hereafter, be assigned, 
 comitted, or suffered to serve any parte of the terme of 
 his apjtaticehoode with any persone, but onelie with such 
 as have been enfranchesed of the said crafte of Basket- 
 makers, soe always the same Wardens doe appoint him 
 within one moneth after, a good sufficient Master to serve 
 out the residue of his terme within that Companie, or else 
 hee to be at libertie. 
 
 (15) ITEM that no persone enfranchesed in the said
 
 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMPANY 39 
 
 crafte shall have or keepe at any tyme hereafter, above 
 the nomber of fouer apftatics, uppon paine to forfeite and 
 paye for everie Apftotice that hee or they shall have or 
 keepe contrarie to this order xx s , to be imployed as before 
 is said, thone halfe to the Chamber of London, and 
 thother halfe to the Comon boxe of the said Companie 
 And yet neverthelesse, the persone so offending shall loase 
 and forgoe his said Apftatice, which said Apfmtice, shalbe 
 sett over by the Wardens for the tyme beinge to some 
 other apte persone of that Companie, to serve out his 
 apjmticehoode And that noe persone enfranchesed in the 
 said Crafte shall have and keepe any Apjtatice, unlesse the 
 same Maister be hable sufficientlie to teache and instructe 
 the same Apfmtice in that arte and crafte, or doe cause 
 the same Apftotice to be sufficientlie taught and instructed 
 by such other enfranchesed in the same crafte, as shalbe 
 experte and cunninge in the same crafte, uppon the like 
 paine to be ymployed (as is aforesaid). 
 
 (16) ALSOE that if any persone free of the said Crafte 
 or any forrein using the same Crafte, doe at any time 
 hereafter, beare, send, or carrie any wares belonginge to 
 the same Crafte, on hawking to sell, by the Streetes or 
 Lanes within this Cittie or Suburbes of the same Then 
 the person soe doing, at everie tyme, and as often as he 
 shalbe found in such defaulte, shall forfeite the ware soe 
 taken And yf he be enfranchesed of the Cittie, to pay 
 v j s viij d for a ffyne, the one halfe thereof shalbe to the 
 Cominaltie of this Cittie and that other halfe to the 
 Comon boxe of the same Crafte. 
 
 (17) ITEM forasmuche as at this pteent tyme, the good- 
 men of the same Crafte that be now enfranchized, are not 
 able ne of themselves yet can serve this honorable Cittie 
 with wares belonging to the same Crafte, unles they may 
 have fforreins and Alyens to worke with them for a tyme, 
 untill a convenient nomber of their own Apfmtices, here- 
 after to be bounde according to the Custome of the Cittie, 
 shall and may be broughte up, taughte and enstructed 
 sufficientlie to serve in the same Crafte And for that it
 
 40 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 shalbe expedient, that such fforreins and straungers as 
 have wroughte with persons of the same Companie before 
 they were enfranchised, should be sett on worke and pro- 
 vided for It is by the Lord Maior and Thaldermen now 
 being, dispensed that everie person now enfranchised in 
 the same Crafte, att all times heereafter, during the space 
 of ffive yeeres now next ensewing, and noe longer, shall 
 and may have and keepe such fforren Apfhitices as they 
 now have, and such other fforreins or Aliens, or Jorney- 
 men, Cunning and expert in the said Crafte as they will, 
 at their own free will and pleasure, for the said space of 
 ffive yeeres. yf such person or psons cannot have ffree men 
 of the said Companie to serve him or them. 
 
 (18) ALSOE that no person enfranchized in the said 
 Crafte, take upon him to sett aworke or receive into his 
 service, any man enfraunchized of any other Crafte, or 
 any fforrein or Alyen, to worke in the same Crafte of 
 Baskettmakers, within this Cittie, suburbes, or Liberties 
 thereof, without the same ffreeman, ffbrreign, or Alyen, 
 be firste examined, approoved, and understood by the 
 Wardens of the said Crafte of Baskettmakers for the time 
 being, for a conning workeman, upon paine of xx s , to be 
 devided in forme aforesaid And that noe person of the 
 said Companie, shall hereafter sett any fforreign or Alyen 
 on worke in the said Crafte, so long as he or they may 
 have any ffreeman of the said Crafte to worke with him 
 or them for a reasonable wages and entertainment, upon 
 the like paine of xx s , to be devided as aforesaid. 
 
 (19) ITEM that such fforreigns, Alyens, and strangers, 
 baskettmakers now inhabiting within the Cittie of London 
 Liberties and suburbes thereof, and all and everie other 
 fforreins, Aliens, and strangers, Baskettmakers, which at 
 any time hereafter may or shalbe upon some cause or con- 
 sideracon, tollerated and suffred by the Lord Maior and 
 Aldermen of the said Cittie for the tyme being, to occupie 
 the same Crafte or occupacbn of Baskettmaking, within 
 the said Cittie, Liberties and suburbes thereof, shalbe 
 allwaies under the search and goverment of the said
 
 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMPANY 41 
 
 Wardens of the said Crafte and occupacbn for the tyme 
 being And shall paye quarteridge unto the said Companie, 
 as the ffreemen of the same crafte and occupacbn doe. 
 (20) ALSOE that if at aney time within the terme that 
 any Wardens of the said Crafte for the time being, shall 
 stand and occupie that roome, it can be dulie proved that 
 the same Wardens doe not endeavour themselves, as much 
 as in them is, according to their oathes and dutie, to make 
 due search yf any unlawfull wares and unseasonable stuffe 
 be had, made, or putt to sale within this Cittie And also 
 doe not observe to their power, the rules and Ordinnces 
 in this Booke specified, and do not cause these Ordinnces 
 to be read ffowre times of the yeere, in some convenient 
 place to the Cominaltie of the said Companie. That then 
 the said Wardens to make a ffine for their Lasches and 
 negligence in that behalfe, ffive markes, the one halfe 
 thereof to be to the use of the Chamber aforesaid, and the 
 other halfe to the Comon box of the said Crafte Finis. 
 Itm it is agreed that these men whose names hereafter 
 followe shalbe made free of this Citie of the companye of 
 basketmakers and they to pay ev'ie one as foloweth viz : 
 Thomas Robinson iij 11 vj s viij d whereof to paye in hand 
 xxxiij 8 iiij (l and the rest at [ ].* Angell Gyles 
 
 iij 11 vj s viij' 1 whereof in hand xx s and the rest v 8 a quarter, 
 Christofer Johnson iij li vj s viij d whereof in hande vj s viij' 1 
 the rest by v s a quarter, Nicholas Prickleve iij 11 vj s viij 11 
 in hande xxvj 8 viij d the rest by vj 8 viij d a quarter, John 
 Johnson iij 1 ' vj s viij d in hand vj s viij' 1 the rest by vj 8 viij d 
 a quarter, Laurence Adams v 11 in hand x s the rest by v s a 
 quarter, Cornelius Adrian iij 11 vj 8 viij' 1 in hand vj 8 viij' 1 and 
 the rest by yj s viij' 1 a quarter, Andrew Banberye x u Adrian 
 Adrian x 11 Richarde Robinson v" and John Johnson v 11 
 whereof in hand 1 s & 1 s at Barfhewe tyde next.f 
 
 * Blank in the original. 
 
 t (Rep. 16, fols. 498b-502 ; Letter Book V. fols. 252-254.) These 
 ordinances are transcribed (with the exception of the last item refer- 
 ring to payments) from a MS. in the Company's possession, vide pp. 
 123, 124.
 
 42 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 Sixteen years after the foregoing ordinances 
 were granted to the Company, some trouble 
 appears to have arisen respecting the employ- 
 ment of non-freemen. The matter having been 
 brought before the notice of the Court of Alder- 
 men and the complaint investigated, further rules 
 were made on the 18th January, 1585. The 
 extracts from the City Records leading up to 
 the grant and the second set of Ordinances 
 allowed, are here set forth : 
 
 DIXIE, MAIOR. 
 
 TUESDAY 14 DECEMBER, 28 ELIZABETH (1585). 
 
 Itm yt ys orderyd that M 1 Buckell and M r Byllingesley 
 Aldren shall aswell hear and examine the cause com- 
 playned uppon to ys Co r te by dyvers of the Companye 
 of Baskettmakers agaynste Chfofer Johnson,* Basket- 
 maker for settinge two forreyns on worke, as allso to take 
 order agaynst settinge forreyns on worke heareafter by 
 any of that Companye And to make reporte unto this 
 Co r te of theyre doeing thearein w th all convenient speede.t 
 
 Martis Decimo Octavo die Januarii 1585 Annogj Vicesimo 
 octavo Dm mi Eliz : Regina &c. 
 
 DIXIE MAIOR, Recorder, Hayward, Osborne, Pulli- 
 son, Starkye, Bond, Martin, Calthorpe, AVoodcock, Buckell, 
 Slaine, Billingsley. 
 
 THIS day M r Buckell and M r Billingsley Aldren, to 
 whorne the examinacon of the cawse touching the Baskett- 
 makers of this Cittie was heretofore referred by this 
 Courte did make their reporte in writing to the same 
 
 * One of the eleven Basket-makers enrolled in 1569, vide p. 41. 
 t Rep. 21, fol. 248b.
 
 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMPANY 43 
 
 Courte of their opinions therein the Tenor whereof here- 
 after enseweth in their words viz : 
 
 Decimo Octavo die Januarii 1585. 
 
 FIRST That it may be lawfull for us to keepe in 
 worke all those fforreins and strangers that we now have, 
 and from henceforth noe mor to be received into worke 
 into this Cittie, w th any enfranchised in the said Crafte, 
 whose names hereafter ensue. 
 
 fforrein Basketmakers their names.* 
 
 ffather Mude Thomas Newbery 
 
 Goodman Hubberd ffraunces Cockman 
 
 George Parker Gryffyn Tracey 
 
 John Saunds Noye Luther 
 
 Henry Arnold Symon Huggyns 
 
 Willm Richardson Jerome Lidgingham 
 
 Richard Miles Charles Wheatley 
 
 John Reyrson Willm Hearne 
 
 Robert Tanner ffraunces Dodman 
 
 Cornelius Nicholas Simon Carter 
 
 Garrett Johnson Thomas Gladen 
 
 Robert Wylde George Cole 
 
 John Brounckhurst Thomas Wilson 
 
 Peter ffreyre Hary Owyn 
 John Eastcrigg 
 
 THE SECOND that yf any of those fforreins or 
 strangers which we now have, shall at any tyme hereafter 
 goe into the Countrey to worke in the said Crafte, as long 
 as they may have worke heere, shall loose their priveledge 
 and be noe more sett on worke within the Cittie in the 
 said Crafte And whosoever enfranchized in the said Crafte 
 presuminge to sett any such fforreins or Strangers on 
 worke shall have the penaltie of the Lawe. 
 ITEM that noe man enfranchized as aforesaid, shall 
 
 * This list includes English " foreigners " as well as aliens.
 
 44 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 hereafter go about to entice or inveagle any other mans 
 servant from him, by giving or offering any money, called 
 drinking money, or by lending any money, giving or 
 offring greater wages than usuall wages. And that noe 
 man enfranchized as aforesaid, shall receive into his 
 service any Jorneyman without the consent of the 
 Wardens of the said Companie, and ffower of the assis- 
 tants be thereunto had upon paine. 
 
 ITEM that it may be lawfull for those that have biene 
 Wardens of the Companie of the said Crafte to keepe 
 ffive Apjfatices a piece. 
 
 ITEM that noe man enfranchized in the said Companie, 
 being a Jorneyman, as long as he shall worke Jorney- 
 worke, shall take or keepe any Apjmtice without the 
 Wardens consente and ffowre of the Assistants. 
 
 Cuthbert Buckell, Ald r . 
 
 Henry Billinglie, Ald r . 
 
 WHICH Report was verie well liked and allowed of by 
 the same Court and thereupon ordered that the same 
 shalbe entred into the Reportorie and observed in all 
 points.* 
 
 Sebright. 
 
 The following entries appear in the City 
 Records some few years after the grant of the 
 preceding Ordinances, namely : 
 
 MARTYN, MAIOR. 
 
 THURSDAY 17 OCTOBER, 36 ELIZABETH (1594). 
 
 Item yt is ordred that M r Chamfolyn and M r Towneclerke 
 shall have consideracon of the petycon exhibited to this 
 co r te by the Company of the Baskettmakers And to make 
 reporte to this Co r te of their opinyons therein.f 
 
 * Transcribed (with the exception of the names of the foreign 
 Basket-makers) from a MS. in the Company's possession, vide pp. 
 123, 124 (Rep. 21, fol. 254 ; Letter Book K. fol. 78). 
 
 t Rep. 23, fol. 303.
 
 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMPANY 45 
 
 RIDER, MAIOR. 
 
 THURSDAY 11 DECEMBER, 43 ELIZABETH (1600). 
 
 Item yt is ordred that M r Lowe M r Watts & M r Hamp- 
 son Aldren or anye two of them shall heare & examyn 
 the cause in Contraversye between the M r and Wardens 
 of the Companye of Baskettmakers and some of the yonge 
 men of that Companye And to ende the same or make 
 reporte to this Co r te of theire opinions therein.* 
 
 No further allusion to the "petition" of 
 1594, mentioned above, has been found. The 
 following record of 1610 possibly had refer- 
 ence to the " cause in contra versye " between 
 the " Wardens and the young men," in the year 
 1600, since it deals with a complaint of the 
 journeymen that the masters did not find them 
 work and that they purchased baskets of foreign 
 manufacture : 
 
 CAMBELL, MAIOR. 
 
 THURSDAY 1 FEBRUARY, 7 JAMES I. (1611). 
 
 This day the causes contayned in the peticbn preferred 
 to this Courte by the Journeymen being ffreemen of the 
 Company of Basketmakers of this Cyttie against the M rs 
 of the said Company for not setting them on worke and 
 buying theire wares of fforrayne Basketmakers are referred 
 to the hearing and examynation of M r Bolles and M r 
 ffarrington Aldermen And they to end the same or make 
 reporte to this Courte in writing under theire hands of 
 theire opynions touching the same.f 
 
 The petition was considered and the third 
 
 * Rep. 25, fol. 181b. t Rep. 29, fol. 169.
 
 46 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 and final Ordinances granted by the Court of 
 Aldermen : 
 
 Martis Vicesimo Septtfio die Martii 1610 Annocg Regni 
 Regis Jacobi Angliae c. Octavo et Scosie Quadragesimo 
 Tertio. 
 
 CAMBELL MAIOR, Garrard, Bennett, Watts, Rowe, 
 Craven, Pemberton, Swinarton, Romeny, Hayes, Elwes, 
 Stile, Bolles, ff'arington et Harvey et Cockaine Vicecom 
 ITEM this day M r Bolles and M r ffarington Aldermen 
 presented unto this Courte a Reporte in writing under 
 their hands the teno r whereof followeth in their wordes 
 viz : 
 
 To the right hono ble S r Thomas Campbell Knight 
 Lord Maior of the Cittie of London and his right wor 11 
 Bretheren the Aldreii of the same. 
 
 WHEREAS at a Courte holden the ffirst day of 
 ffebruarie last past, the cawses conteined in the petiton 
 preferred to this Courte by the jorneymen being ffremen 
 of the Companie of Baskettmakers of this Cittie, against 
 the masters of the said Companie for not setting them on 
 worke, and for buying their wares on forrein Baskett- 
 makers, were referred to the hearing and examinacon of 
 us whose names are subscribed, and we to end the same or 
 certifie this Courte in writing under o r hands, of o r opinions 
 therein as by the same reference may appeare. 
 WEE therefore, having (in performance thereof) called 
 before us Robert Brackin and Robert Mounte now 
 Wardens of the said Companie, Clement Holmes, Adrian 
 Adrianson, William Addersburrie, William Wheatelie, 
 Thomas Oliffe and John Clarke now Assistants, and here- 
 tofore Wardens of the said Companie And likewise John 
 Johnson, John Carder, and John West, and about Twentie 
 more being jorneymen and ffreemen of the said companie, 
 and deliberatelie heard the parties of both sides, have for 
 a quiett and peaceable end between them, and by the 
 mutuall and free Consent of all parties resolved and
 
 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMPANY 47 
 
 thought fitting (so it stand with the pleasure and good 
 liking of this Court) that these Orders following by us 
 conceived, may by this Courte be confirmed and estab- 
 lished that is to say, 
 
 IMPRIMIS that no ffreeman of this Cittie using the 
 trade of Baskettmaking or Baskettselling, shall at any 
 time hereafter, buy any manner of made wares of any 
 fforreiner, usinge the same trade, but such sortes of made 
 wares as of ancient tymes, have beene accustomed to be 
 bought of Forreiners, viz : Covered Basketts, fflasketts, 
 stake mawnds, and tymber ware, upon paine to forfeit, for 
 everie tyme wherein any such ffreeman shall offend to the 
 contrarie, Twenty Shillings, to the use of the poore of the 
 said Companie of Baskettmakers. 
 
 ITEM that if any person or psons beinge fFree of the 
 said Companie of Baskettmakers, and dwelling without 
 this Cittie or the Liberties thereof, shall at any time here- 
 after bring any made wares belonging to the trade of 
 Baskettmaking, to this Cittie or Liberties thereof to be 
 sold That then it shall, and may be lawfull to, and for 
 the Wardens of the said Companie for the time being, at 
 their discrecons to buy such made wares, or to appoint 
 such other person or persons to buy the same as they shall 
 thinke good ; w c h wares so bought, shalbe by them dis- 
 tributed indifferentlie amongst the rest of the ffreemen 
 of the said Companie, according to their particular 
 necessities. 
 
 WHICH Orders aswell the said Wardens and Assistants 
 as the said Jorneymen doe most humblie desire yo r Lo pp 
 and Worp 8 may (for the better government of the said 
 Companie and the relife of the porer sorte being jorney- 
 men and wanting worke) be by this Courte confirmed and 
 established w c h we leave to the grave Consideration of yo r 
 Lo pp and wor ps . 
 
 George Bolles. 
 
 Richard Farrington. 
 
 The which Reporte beeinge heere openlie read was well
 
 48 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 liked and allowed of and thereupon ordered that the same 
 shalbe entred into the Reportorie and observed in all 
 points accordinglie.* 
 
 Sebright. 
 
 * Transcribed from a MS. in the Company's possession, vide 
 pp. 123, 124 (Rep. 29, fol. 199).
 
 TRANSLATIONS AND ADMISSIONS 
 BY ORDER OF THE COURT OF 
 ALDERMEN 
 
 THE following extracts from the City Records 
 refer to the " translation " of Basket-makers free of 
 other Companies, and the admission of persons 
 to the freedom of the Basket-makers' Company 
 by authority of the Court of Aldermen. 
 
 The translation of those Basket-makers who 
 were free of the Butchers' Company at the time 
 of the recognition of the former, came before the 
 Court of Aldermen on the 19th September, 
 1566,* the Butchers assenting to the transfer on 
 the 26th of the same month. f The matter was 
 again brought forward and finally settled after 
 the establishment of the Basket-makers' Com- 
 pany : 
 
 AVENON, MAIOR. 
 
 THURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER, II ELIZABETH (1569). 
 
 At this courte it was ordered that the wardens of the 
 bochers shalbe warned to be here the nexte courte daie 
 for there assents to be geven for the transferringe of 
 div*s of there company usinge the basketmakers occupacon 
 to the felowship and companye of the basketmakers of 
 this Citie latelie established and made by this courte.J 
 
 * Vide p. 28. t Vide p. 29. 
 
 J Rep. 16, fol. 514. 
 
 E
 
 50 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 AVENON, MAIOR. 
 
 THURSDAY 17 NOVEMBER, 12 ELIZABETH (1569). 
 
 Itm the Wardens of the weavers did this daye agree & 
 assent that Robert Sale and Richard Poll beinge free of 
 there company & usinge the arte & occupacon of Basket- 
 makinge shalbe transferred & sett over from them to the 
 felowshipp of the Basketmakers latelye erected.* 
 
 AVENON, MAIOR. 
 
 THURSDAY 12 JANUARY, 12 ELIZABETH (15y). 
 
 At this courte John Owtinge m r of the company of the 
 Carpenters declared unto the same courte in the name of 
 his hole companye aforesaid that they all were well pleased 
 contented and assentinge that John Olyfff beinge free of 
 theire saide companye and using tharte and occupacon of 
 basketmakinge shall be translated from theim and made 
 ffree of the ffelowship of the Basketmakers And it was 
 thereupon ordred and agreed by the said Courte that the 
 Chamberleyn of this Citie and his Successors Chamt>layns 
 for the tyme beinge shall truely and indifferentlie for the 
 reasonable benefitt of the Citie use his and there good 
 discrecons for the taxacon & assessm 4 of the fyne bothe 
 of the saide Olyf and of all others of other occupacon s 
 hereafter to be translated to the saide felowship of 
 Basketmakers. J 
 
 AVENON, MAIOR. 
 
 TUESDAY 15TH NOVEMBER, 12 ELIZABETH (1570). 
 
 Itm the wardens of the bochers here beinge pnte did 
 assent & agree that all those psons of there companye that 
 use the arte and occupacon of makinge of basketts 
 
 * Rep. 16, fol. 517b. f Vide p. 17. 
 
 J Rep. 16, fol. 523b ; Letter Book V. fol. 272b.
 
 TRANSLATIONS AND ADMISSIONS 51 
 
 there apftatices & not there occupacon shalbe taken trans- 
 feree! and sett o$ from them to the felowship of the 
 basketmakers of this Citie latelie newelie erected by this 
 courte.* 
 
 LOWE, MAJOR. 
 TUESDAY 23uo JULY, 3 JAMES I. (1605). 
 
 Item the cause complained of to this Court by the 
 Companye of Basketmakers is referred to the examinacbn 
 of S r Robert Lee and S r John Watts knights, and they to 
 end the same or make report thereof to this Court. 
 Item whereas W m Saunders was bound Apprentice to 
 John Powell Basketmaker for seaven yeares and inrolled, 
 and served him not above sixe yeares, and afterwards 
 indirectlye procured his freedome by patrimonye in the 
 Companye of Tumors. It is ordered adiudged and 
 decreed by this Court That the sayd William Saunders 
 shalbee disfranchised from the sayd Companie of Tumors, 
 and afterwards to be translated to the sayd Companie of 
 Basketmakers by the consent and agreement of the M r 
 and Wardens of bothe the sayd Companies, f 
 
 HOARE, MAYOR. 
 TUESDAY 3 JUNE, II AXNK (1712). 
 
 This day M r Water Bailiffe presented unto this Court 
 William Freeman to be made Free of this City as the 
 First of Two granted unto him the Twentieth of 
 November last to Reimburse him his Charges for pro- 
 viding Coats and Caps for the Citys Watermen on Lord 
 Mayors Day last, It is Ordered That the said William 
 Freeman shall be admitted into the Freedom of this City 
 by Redemption in the Company of Basketmakers paying 
 to M r Chamberlain for the City's use the sum of Forty 
 six shillings and eight pence.J 
 
 * Rep. 16, fol. 516b. t Rep. 27, fols. 56, 66b. 
 
 % Rep. 116, fol. 214.
 
 52 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 The only reference in the Company's books 
 to the preceding admission, is the following : 
 
 July 1th, 1712. 
 
 s. d. 
 William ffreeman was made ffree & paid by 
 
 purchase or Redempcbn . . . .100 
 
 Other extracts from the Company's books 
 recording a " translation " and admissions by 
 order of the Court of Aldermen are here given : 
 
 21th April, 1672. 
 
 Ordered that the Wardens may translate Joshuah Green 
 to the Ventners not taking lesse then ffive pounds and 
 what more they cane. 
 
 October, 1724. 
 
 *. d. 
 
 William Shephard was this day made free of 
 this Company by Redemption by virtue of 
 an Order of the Court of Aldermen dated 
 13th of this instant October and paid . .100 
 
 Wth October, 1726. 
 
 Simon Pollard was this day made free by 
 Redemption by Order of the Court of Alder- 
 men dated 4th of October instant and paid .100 
 
 Sth July, 1728. 
 
 William Eyre was this day made free by Re- 
 demption by Order of the Court of Aldermen 
 dated 7th of May last and paid . . .100
 
 APPLICATIONS FOR A CHARTER. 
 
 AFTER the Restoration, the Basket-makers took 
 steps to obtain a charter from the Crown. The 
 earliest record is found in the wardens' accounts, 
 dated the 6th May, 1664, as follows : 
 
 s. d. 
 Paid the Clarke for drawing the heads of a 
 
 Charter and his attendance about it . . 00 1 00 
 
 Spent at a meeting about it . . . . 00 06 00 
 
 There are no further references to the above 
 entries and it is therefore evident that the matter 
 was not proceeded with at the time, possibly 
 owing to the Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire 
 in the following year. 
 
 The Company's books record at length an 
 application made in 1682, the full text of the 
 petition being given. This attempt to obtain a 
 charter in the reign of Charles II. received 
 the support of the Cane-chair Makers and was 
 energetically proceeded with for a time, though 
 eventually abandoned. The absence of any 
 reference to this application in the City Records, 
 shows that the Basket-makers did not seek 
 the permission of the civic authorities before
 
 54 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 presenting their petition to the Crown. Charles 
 II.'s inattention to business may possibly have 
 been another reason why the Court of Alder- 
 men was in ignorance of the matter. 
 
 This solicitation for a charter is recorded in 
 the Company's books as follows : 
 
 December 4>th, 1682. 
 
 We whose names are subscribed of London Basket- 
 makers Considering the disadvantages we lye under in the 
 manadging of our Trade by reason of our want of a Charter, 
 Doe hereby unanimously agree to use our utmost en- 
 deavours for the gaining of the same. And doe hereby 
 desire and appoint the two present Wardens Mr Adrian 
 Peirson and Mr Jacob Chandler to call any others to 
 their assistance, and to prosecute the same as speedily as 
 they can And what they doe therein we doe hereby ratify 
 and allow off. And we doe further promise That in case 
 we be desired to subscribe any other Instrument for the 
 prosecuting the same, that we will doe it accordingly. 
 Witness our hands the day and yeare above written. 
 
 Adrian Peirson ) -iy j William ffeilder 
 
 Jacob Chandler / John Johnson 
 
 Edmond Peirson John Hancock e 
 
 Thomas Hall Isaac Knight 
 
 Matthew Keene Samuel Gander 
 
 Anthony Watts Read Soane 
 
 Richard Reding Robert Aid ridge 
 
 James Dickenson John Baldocke 
 
 Samuel Puller Thomas Board 
 
 Jacob Alcott James Herring 
 
 John ffranklin Thomas Walker 
 
 Thomas Thirtickle William Rime 
 
 John Seyford Edward Harper
 
 APPLICATIONS FOR A CHARTER 55 
 
 January I2th* 1682. 
 
 It is this day agreed by and betweene the Society 
 of Basketmakers and Kainers That they will joyntly act 
 together in the obtaining of a Charter. And to that end 
 there is to be three or foure of each Society who shall 
 act for the rest in the doeing of it. And whereas the 
 Kainers have offered the sum of Seaventy pounds towards 
 the same business It is accepted off And agreed That Mr 
 ffranklin Mr Thirtickle Mr. Berrey and Mr Puller shall 
 in the behalfe of the rest of the Kainers give Bond for 
 the payment of the said sum by such parcells and sums 
 and at such times as shall be demanded. The which any 
 two, three, or all of them may see the same expended 
 And it is further agreed That whatsoever, sum or sums 
 shall be demanded upon the same Bond, soe much money 
 is alsoe to be joyned therewith by the Basketmakers for 
 the joynt bearing the charge of the said buisnesse. 
 
 John ffranklin 
 Thomas Thirtickle 
 John Berrey 
 John Seamour 
 
 In pursuance of which Agreement the said John 
 ffranklin, Thomas Thirtickle, John Berrey and Isaac 
 Puller Entered into an obligacon bearing date the two 
 and twentieth day of January 1682, for the true payment 
 of Three score pounds, on such dayes and times, and by 
 such severall parcells, as the said Wardens Adrian Pearson 
 and Jacob Chandler should demand and require the 
 same. 
 
 At a Court, January %%nd, 1682. 
 
 Whereas severall objections have been made about the 
 carrying on the buisness of obtaining a Charter And one 
 amongst the rest made by the Kainers, namely that it 
 
 * January 1st to March 25th was at this period subsequent to 
 31st December of the same year, vide note, p. 126.
 
 56 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 will be unsafe for them to pay their money to the present 
 Wardens unless they be assured of the care, paines, and 
 ability of such Wardens as shall succeed them in manadg- 
 ing the same buisness. And this Court being satisfied 
 with the industry of the present Wardens Mr Parson and 
 Mr Chandler. It is therefore hereby agreed, That in case 
 the said buisness of obtaining a Charter shall not be fully 
 perfected by the time they should goe out of their places 
 the next Sommer, Then we Order That they the said 
 present Wardens shall be continued in their said place for 
 one or two years longer, That the said buisness may be 
 by them perfectly finished, And it is further Ordered 
 That the present Wardens have power hereby, to call in 
 forthwith all such money as is now out at interest due to 
 this Company, for the carrying on the buisness aforesaid 
 with all speed. 
 
 Witness our hands the day and yeare abovesaid. 
 
 Edmond Pearson Samuel Puller 
 
 Matthew Keene John Alcott 
 
 Anthony Watts John ffranklin 
 
 William ffeilder Thomas Thirtickell 
 
 Thomas Hall John Berrv 
 
 / 
 
 James Dickenson George Crane. 
 
 And the Petition following was agreed upon, and 
 accordingly presented to his Ma ty in these words. 
 
 To THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MA TIE . 
 
 The humble Petition of the Society of Basketmakers 
 of the City of London. 
 
 SHEWETH : 
 
 That yo r Petico r s are an antient Society by vertue of 
 certeine Rules and Constitutions unto them granted by 
 the Lord Maior and Court of Aldermen of the said City, 
 And by vertue thereof yo r Petico rs are impowered to search 
 for insufficient and ill made Goods that are exposed to 
 sale within the said City and Liberties thereof, by persons 
 of yo r Pet re calling And such Goods soe found, to seize
 
 APPLICATIONS FOR A CHARTER 57 
 
 and dispose off according to Law. Which yo r Petico 1 " 8 
 frequently doe to the great benefitt of the Citizens of the 
 said City, and other your Ma ties Subjects, And to the 
 great charge and trouble of yo r Petitioners. 
 
 That there are certeine persons at a distance from, 
 and some adjacent to the said City, out of the Liberties 
 thereof, who doe follow yo r Peti rs calling, that never serve 
 their Apprenticeships to the same as the Statute of 
 5 Eliz : * requires. Your Petitioners calling being an 
 antient calling long before the Statute was made. And 
 the said persons are very unskillfull in the due making 
 the Goods belonging to your Pet rs trade And doe use 
 very ill Comodities in the making of the same. And doe 
 sell the said Goods soe ill made, to certeine persons in 
 the said City secretly, and to other persons in the Countrey 
 publiquely, who have occasion to use the said Goods but 
 are unskillfull of the true value and goodnesse of the 
 same Whereby yo r Mat ies Subjects are very much abused 
 and deceived, and yo r Pet rs trade is thereby undermined 
 and destroyed, who are not permitted to make such ill 
 Goods, and therefore cannot afford their Comodities soe 
 cheape And yo r Pet rs Apprentices discouraged to serve in 
 their calling. 
 
 That nevertheless yo r Pet rs as their duty binds them, 
 doe take great care to serve your Ma ty with good, fitt and 
 usefull Cannon Basketts for yo r Ma ties Stores, and when 
 yo r Mat tle occasions in time of War doth require, doe 
 presse, fitt and able Men out of themselves, to attend yo r 
 Ma lies Service whilest the said unskillfull & ignorant 
 persons doe stay at home, and abuse your Ma ties Subjects 
 as aforesaid, and doe alsoe gaine your Pet 18 trade & lively- 
 hood from them In regard yo r Pet rs authority, extendeth 
 noe further than the said City and Liberties thereof. 
 
 That yo r Pet rs living within and neare the said City 
 of London, doe sitt at great Rents, their Goods requiring 
 much roome for disposing of the same, and are alsoe lyable 
 
 * 5 Eliz. cap. 4.
 
 58 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 to other great Charges in bearing offices within the said 
 City, and in their Companyes with other ffreemen thereof, 
 which the said Straingers are not obnoxious to. 
 
 That yo r Pet rs calling is of great advantage to the 
 Publique by improveing such Lands in planting the Como- 
 dities yo r Pet rs use in their trade, that would not other- 
 wise afford any profitt to the Proprietors. 
 
 That for the private lucre of some of the said Pro- 
 prietors, they doe cutt the Rodds that grow upon the 
 said Grounds too soone, & out of season, which are bought 
 up and used by the said unskillfull persons who abuse 
 your Ma ties Subjects with the same, And this they doe 
 for want of power to be graunted to some fitt and able 
 persons, to inspect & prevent the same by seizure of the 
 Goods soe untimely cutt, or otherwise as to yo r Ma tie in 
 yo r great wisdome shall seeme meete and expedient. 
 
 In consideracon whereof & that Abuses in yo r Pet rs 
 trade may be regulated, and the publique secured from 
 the deceipts and frauds putt upon them by the said 
 ignorant and unskillfull persons that follow your Pet rs 
 trade unlawfully, & all others, and yo r Pet rs enabled to 
 live by their calling, & beare the Charge of ffreemen 
 of the said City as they ought to doe, and be in a 
 Condicon to releive the poore Brethren of their profession 
 as the Cause may require 
 
 Yo r Pet 18 in most humble manner pray That yo r 
 Ma tie will be most graciously pleased to graunt to 
 yo r Pet rs & their Successors yo r Ma ties most gracious 
 Letters Pattents of Incorporation to extend to the 
 City & Liberties thereof, & for the suppressing the 
 said unskillfull persons, & avoiding the Cutting 
 the said Goods out of Season, to such convenient 
 distance in Circumference from the said City as is 
 usuall in like cases And as to yo r Ma tlc in your great 
 wisdome shall seeme meet and convenient. 
 And as in all duty bound yo r Pet rs shall ever pray &c. 
 Upon the Backside of which said petition were the 
 following words Endorsed, viz :
 
 APPLICATIONS FOR A CHARTER 59 
 
 Windsor Aprlll 30th, 1683. 
 
 The Pet 1 " 8 affirming that they have hitherto and 
 anciently acted as a Society, by certeine Rules & Consti- 
 tucons appointed by the Lord Major & Court of Aldermen 
 of London His Ma tie is graciously pleased to referre this 
 their Petition to Mr Atturney Gen 11 to examine how far 
 those Rules and Constitutions doe extend, & whether they 
 be not sufficient for the well ordering that Society. And 
 if he finds they are not soe, then to report his Opinion to 
 his Ma tie whether he thinks it fitt they should be incor- 
 porated into a Company by Letters Pattents as they 
 desire, & with what further Rules and Limitations ; where- 
 upon his Ma tie will declare his further pleasure. 
 
 L. Jenkins. 
 
 The Answer of Mr. Attorney Gen 11 was made upon 
 the Backside of the said Petition & was in these words 
 following, viz : 
 
 I have considered of this Petition, And doe find That 
 they have beene long a Society governed by Rules 
 Constitutions approved by the Lord Major & Court of 
 Aldermen from time to time as application hath been made 
 to the Court of Aldermen, But they being noe Corpora- 
 tion, the Executing of those Rules is more difficult than 
 it would be in case they were a Corporation, And in case 
 his Ma tie be pleased to incorporate them in the usuall 
 forme for the better regulating of the Company, I conceive 
 it necessary It should be provided for That his Ma tie and 
 his Successors may at any time by signification of their 
 pleasure under their Privy Seale or Privy Signett, resume 
 & determine the Corporation, & with Provision that they 
 shall not be brought upon the Livery of the City. 
 
 R. Sawyer, 25 May 1683. 
 
 The Attorney-General's reply was followed 
 on the Company's part by the submission of 
 some " Reasons " showing the advantages which
 
 60 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 would result from incorporation, together with a 
 draft of the proposed powers under a charter : 
 
 Some Reasons humble offered that it is for his Ma tles 
 service to incorporate the fellowship of Basketmakers 
 London upon his Ma ties reference and M r Attorney 
 Generall's Report thereunto. 
 
 1. M r Attorney Gen 11 Reports That the {fellowship 
 cannot soe well put in operacon their By laws for regula- 
 tion of the said profession as if they were incorporated 
 And such Regulation is necessary to be had for the 
 publique good. 
 
 2. To avoid any prejudice that may hereafter be done 
 by the said Corporation to his Ma ties Prerogative or to 
 the publique, in Mr Attorney's Report there is provision 
 made that a clause be inserted in the Patent That it shall 
 be in his Ma t!eB power under his Privy Seale, or Privy 
 Signett, to determine the said Patent at his will and 
 pleasure. Soe that if the affections of the Members of 
 the said Corporation should not lead them to their duty, 
 their owne interest will for preservation of their Charter. 
 And it would be for his Ma ties service that all the 
 Corporacons in England stood upon the same tearmes. 
 
 3. There is provision in the said Report made, that 
 the said Corporacon shall have noe Livery, because such 
 meane Tradesmen have been generally taken notice of to 
 be disaffected to the Government Soe that they cannot 
 prejudice his Ma ties interest upon Elections if they were 
 willing soe to doe. But since their Charter will be at his 
 Ma ties pleasure, their interest if they have a Livery, will 
 engage them to vote for his Ma ties Service for feare of 
 looseing their Charter. 
 
 4. They are very usefull to his Ma tie in time of warr, 
 in making Cannon Basketts, And they would be bound 
 by the said Charter at such times, to find out fitt and 
 able men to serve his Ma ty in his traine of Artillery. 
 And although they are but a meane Calling, yet they are
 
 APPLICATIONS FOR A CHARTER 61 
 
 numerous very usefull Members in the publique & 
 are very well able to support the charge of the said 
 Corporation. 
 
 5. The Basketmakers have been a ffellowship neare 
 150 yeares constituted by the Lord Maior & Court of 
 Aldermen of London, and have hitherto regulated the 
 said trade of Basketmaking to the great satisfaction of 
 the Magistrates there. But the Abuses that are comitted 
 in the said Calling are done in the Countrey neare and at 
 a great distance from London, where they are under noe 
 regulacon. And the Comodities soe ill made, are craftyly 
 and deceiptfully obtruded upon the King's Leidge people 
 who are ignorant of the true value and goodness of the 
 same, to the great damage of the publique & prejudice of 
 the said trade. And now since Judgment is given and 
 entered against the Charter of London, the said ffellow- 
 ship of Basketmakers is fallen together with it. Soe that 
 at present there is noe regulacon any where had in the 
 said trade. 
 
 A Draught of the Power to be granted in a Charter 
 to this Society. 
 
 That the said Corporation of Basketmakers may be 
 capable to purchase or sell Lands, Goods, or Chattels, and 
 to plead and be impleaded by the name of the Master, 
 Wardens and Assistants of the Art & Mistery of Basket- 
 makers of the City of London and Liberties thereof. 
 That there shall be Three of the said ffellowship in 
 manner and forme hereafter mentioned, who shall be & 
 be called the Master & Wardens of the said ffellowship of 
 Basketmakers of London And that it shall & may be 
 lawfull to & for the said Members of the said ffellowship 
 of Basketmakers, within some convenient time to choose 
 and elect out of themselves three able sufficient 
 psons (useing the Art, trade or mystery of Basketmaking, 
 Skaine working, Kaine working Splinter working) to be 
 Master & Wardens of the said ffellowship, for the space
 
 62 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 of two whole yeares then next following, and from thence- 
 forth untill a new Election be made And that the same 
 Three persons soe chosen to be Master & Wardens, shall 
 within convenient time after their said Election, be 
 sworne before the Master and Wardens of the said ffellow- 
 ship for the yeare preceding, for the true execucon of 
 such things as shall apperteine unto their office, according 
 to the good Rules and Ordinances to them to be allowed 
 and appointed According to the forme of the Oath in 
 that Case limited & provided, And that it may be lawfull 
 to and for the said Master and Wardens soe sworne as 
 aforesaid, to call unto their Assistance a convenient 
 number of the members of the said ffellowship, who shall 
 be and be called the Assistants of the said ffellowship. 
 That the old Master, Wardens and Assistants of the 
 said ffellowship may lawfully hereafter, betweene the 
 twenty fourth day of June and the Twenty ninth day of 
 September every yeare then next following, assemble 
 themselves together in some convenient place by them 
 provided within the said City, and there to choose and 
 elect out of themselves Three able men that use the 
 said Art, trade or mystery of Basketmaking, Sckaine 
 working, Caine working, and Splinter working, to be 
 Master and Wardens of the said ffellowship for one whole 
 yeare then next following, and soe forth untill three others 
 shall be elected and sworne unto the said Office, and the 
 same Master and Wardens soe chosen, within Twenty dayes 
 then next following, shall be sworne truely to doe and 
 execute such things as shall apperteine or belong to 
 their respective Offices, according to the good Rules and 
 Ordinances to them to be allowed & appointed. And if 
 the same Master and Wardens thus elected and sworne, 
 shall happen to dye or misbehave themselves within the 
 same one yeare that they should stand That then the 
 Members of the said ffellowship (viz :) the Master or 
 Wardens surviving, or remaining, and the Assistants of 
 the said ffellowship, may choose soe many more persons 
 of the same Arts Misteries or Occupacons, to supply and
 
 APPLICATIONS FOR A CHARTER -63 
 
 serve instead and place of him and them soe dyeing, or 
 being removed, for the residue of the said yeare, to be 
 sworne in forme aforesaid. 
 
 That one of the said (fellowship be called Master of 
 the said (fellowship, And two others be called Wardens, 
 And Sixteen others be called Assistants. 
 That the Upper Warden shall succeed the former 
 Master in his Office of Master And the Under Warden 
 shall succeed the Upper Warden in his place, and then 
 there shall be a new Choice of an Under Warden to 
 succeed the said Warden in his Office or place of Under 
 Warden And soe successively yearly every yeare. 
 That they may have a Hall, and power to meet and 
 make Lawes for the due and orderly Government of the 
 said Society or (Fellowship, and to inflict penalties upon 
 Offenders according to Law. 
 
 That Adrian Pearson be the h'rst Master of the s tl Cor- 
 poracon or (fellowship, and that Jacob Chandler and 
 James Dickenson be the first Wardens of the said (fellow- 
 ship And that Matthew Keene, Anthony Watts, Thomas 
 Hall, Richard Redding, Paul Allestry, John Slyford, 
 William ffeilder, Joseph Williams, Samuell Puller, John 
 Alcott, Edward Harper, John (Franklin, Thomas Thir- 
 tickell, John Berrey and George Crane, be the first 
 Assistants of the said Company or (Fellowship. 
 That the Company or (Fellowship have the Search and 
 Oversight of all Members free of their Society, and full 
 power to provide due and legall Remedies against de- 
 ceipts and frauds, in the said Mistery or trade of Basket- 
 making, Sckaine working, Kaine working and Splinter 
 working. 
 
 That the said Company or (Fellowship may choose and 
 elect one meet person fitt and able, to be their Clerke 
 And other fitt person or more to be their Beadle or 
 Beadles as their Comon Officers, to make Somoiis in the 
 name of the Master and Wardens for the time being 
 And to execute other the lawfull Precepts & Comand- 
 ments of the said (Fellowship And the said Clerke, Beadle
 
 64 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 and Beadles, to have such Salary as the said Company 
 shall think fitt. 
 
 That the said Clerke and Beadle or Beadles, be sworne 
 in manner and forme aforesaid, for the true execucon of 
 such things as shall apperteine or belong to their respec- 
 tive Offices, according to the good Lawes & Rules to 
 them prescribed and appointed. 
 
 That the Company have power and authority comanding 
 all his Ma ties officers and others, to be aiding & assisting 
 unto them in putting the said Good Lawes & Ordinances 
 in execucon against such as unduely exercize the said 
 Arts and mysteries. 
 
 That other usuall powers & Clauses be alsoe inserted 
 according to the Customes & Usages of other Corporacons 
 and Societies of the City of London. 
 
 Notwithstanding the above, the efforts of 
 the Basket-makers to obtain a charter from 
 Charles II. were futile, though it is evident from 
 the entries in the Company's books that it was 
 some little time before the attempt was finally 
 abandoned : 
 
 The which proceedings aforesaid not taking the 
 expected effect, It was resolved on to make use of John 
 Calvert Esq r for the accomplishing of the same, who 
 agreed upon termes for the same, and accepted on the 
 Obligacon of Adrian Pearson, Jacob Chandler, John 
 Berry, James Dickenson, William ffeilder and Samuell 
 Puller, dated the Eleaventh day of January Anno Dni 
 1683, for payment of One hundred Guynneys as by the 
 Condicon thereof appeareth which followeth in these 
 words : 
 
 WHEREAS the above bound Adrian Pearson & Jacob 
 Chandler the present Wardens of the Society or ffellow- 
 ship of Basketmakers by authority & direccon of the said 
 Society, Together with the assistance of the above bound
 
 APPLICATIONS FOR A CHARTER 65 
 
 John Berrey, James Dickenson, William ffeilder and 
 Samuell Puller on the behalfe of themselves and others 
 of their profession, did Peticon to his Ma ty to be incor- 
 porated by his Ma ties most gracious Letters Patents, which 
 being by his Ma ty referred to M r Attorney Gen u was upon 
 his Report thereupon at present rejected And whereas 
 the above named John Calvert hath promised to use his 
 utmost endeavours to prevaile with his Ma ty to passe a 
 Warrant under his Ma ties Royall hand and Signature 
 Manuall directed to M r Attorney gen 11 for drawing a 
 Patent to incorporate the said ffellowship of Basket- 
 makers under the great Seale, as in like Cases are accus- 
 tomed Now the Condicon of this Obligacon is such That 
 if the said John Calvert his Agents or Assignes doe, and 
 shall within the space of ffoure moneths next ensueing 
 the date above written, obtaine gett or procure the said 
 Warrant to be signed and sealed by his Ma ty for incor- 
 porating the said ffellowship of Basketmakers as aforesaid 
 Then the said Adrian Pearson, Jacob Chandler, John 
 Berrey, James Dickenson, William ffeilder and Samuell 
 Puller, or any of them, their or any of their Executors 
 Adm rs or Assignes, shall and doe well and truely pay or 
 cause to be paid unto the said John Calvert his certeine 
 Attorney Ex rs Adm rs or Assignes, the full and entire sum 
 of One hundred Guinneys of Gold current English Coine 
 of the value of one & twenty shillings and six pence each 
 Guynney, within one Calendar moneth next after his Ma ty 
 shall be pleased to signe and scale the said Warrant, and 
 the same be delivered to the said Wardens or one of 
 them, or left at one of their dwelling houses for them or 
 one of them That then this Obligacon to be void Or 
 else it to stand & remaine in full force and vertue. 
 
 This arrangement with Mr. Calvert was 
 agreed to by order of a subsequent court, and 
 thus recorded :
 
 66 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 At a Court held December 31*#, 1683. 
 
 It is agreed by us of the Society of Basketmakers 
 whose names are hereunder written That the now present 
 Wardens, Adrian Pearson & Jacob Chandler are hereby 
 impowered & enabled to conclude with M r John Calvert, 
 and give him his demand which is One hundred Guynneys, 
 and to give Bond for the same with two or more other 
 persons bound with them, that they shall think meet of 
 the same Society. Provided the said M r John Calvert doe 
 procure his Ma ties Signe Manuall or Royall Signett to a 
 Warrant for Letters Patent of incorporation of the said 
 Society or ffellowship of Basketmakers, according to the 
 Condicon of the said Bond. Alsoe we consent and agree 
 That the said Wardens doe take up One hundred pounds 
 current money of England upon Interest, in the behalfe 
 of the said Society or ffellowship of Basketmakers towards 
 the payment of the said sum to the above said John 
 Calvert And further on the same day it was agreed That 
 the two Wardens, Adrian Pearson & Jacob Chandler, 
 James Dickenson, William ffeilder, Samuell Puller, and 
 John Berrey be bound for the said money as aforesaid. 
 
 Matthew Keene William ffeilder 
 
 Thomas Hall Samuel Puller 
 
 John ffranklin Thomas Thirtickell 
 
 Anthony Watts John Berrey 
 
 James Dickenson George Crane. 
 
 On July 7th, 1684, there is a record of pay- 
 ment to the clerk for entering the foregoing 
 particulars in the Quarter book, namely : 
 
 Paid him for entering the proceedings about 
 a Charter & for attending upon the Com- 
 pany's business . . . . . 00 15 00 
 
 At a meeting of the court, held December
 
 APPLICATIONS FOR A CHARTER 67 
 
 the 4th, 1684, the following resolution was 
 passed : 
 
 This Court doth order and agree that M r Calvert 
 be desired to continue his Solicitations for the gaining 
 a Charter for the Company, And that he shall upon 
 accomplishing the same be allowed One hundred Guyn- 
 neys. Ordered that M r Johnson shall assist, & look after 
 that buisnesse, and to have satisfaction for his paines soe 
 soone as a Charter is obtained." 
 
 Further entries in the books show that re- 
 newed efforts were made a few months later : 
 
 6th April, 1685. 
 
 Ordered That the Wardens, Mr Reading, Mr 
 ffranklin, Mr Puller, Mr ffeilder, Mr Alcott, Mr Allett, 
 Mr Evans and o r Clerke or any three of them shall be a 
 Comittee for the sueing for a new Charter. 
 
 29th May, 1685. 
 
 Ordered that our Clerke be desired to lay out such 
 money as is requisite for the carrying on the buisnesse of 
 obteining a new Charter, And that in the t first place pay 
 unto M r Johnson 2 Guinneys for his Encouragement & 
 That the Clerke be allowed a Consideracon for his laying 
 out his money. 
 
 This is followed by an entry of the payment 
 to Mr. Johnson : 
 
 June 3rd, 1685. 
 
 Paid then to M r Johnson according to the 
 
 preceding Order . . . . . 02 03 00 
 
 In the Wardens' Accounts from 15th July, 
 1681, to 15th July, 1683, there are several items
 
 68 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 referring to this application for a charter, 
 namely : 
 
 Received of the Carriers towards the charges 
 
 of a Charter 30 00 00 
 
 Spent ffebruary ij and at four other meet- 
 ings about a Charter . . . . 02 19 06 
 Spent March vvv th & vvvj th goeing to White- 
 hall with the petition and waiteing on the 
 
 Secretary 00 14 06 
 
 Given the Secretaries man . . . 00 05 00 
 Spent foure dayes waiteing at Whitehall & 
 
 on y e Secretary . . . . . 00 17 00 
 
 Gave the Secretaries man . . . . 00 02 06 
 
 Spent waiteing on ye Secretary . . . 00 06 00 
 Spent May vv th waiteing on the Secretary 
 
 at Windsor 05 04 06 
 
 Gave the Secretary and Captaine Cooke . 03 01 06 
 Gave the Doore Keeper . . . . 00 02 06 
 Spent waiteing on the Secretary ten dayes . 01 18 06 
 Spent goeing to the Temple with the Re- 
 ference 00 12 00 
 
 Gave M r Mathew Johnson . . . . 01 00 00 
 
 Paid M r Johnson the Attorney . . . 02 10 00 
 
 Gave S r George Jefferies 5 giniys . . 05 07 .06 
 
 Spent waiteing on the Attorney Generall . 02 06 00 
 
 Gave M r Cole a ginney . . . . 01 01 06 
 
 Spent with him 00 08 06 
 
 Gave the Attorney Generall ten ginneys . 10 15 00 
 
 Gave his Clarke one ginney . . . 01 01 06 
 
 Gave the Doorekeeper . . . . 00 02 06 
 
 Spent waiteing on the Attorney Generall . 02 05 00 
 
 Spent at receiveing the Gainers mony . . 00 07 06 
 
 Paid M r Johnson 02 10 00 
 
 Gave him by consent . . . . . 01 00 00 
 Paid M r Johnson his chargs goeing to 
 
 Windsor 00 14 00 
 
 ffor hire of a horse for M r Berreys charges . 00 06 00
 
 APPLICATIONS FOR A CHARTER 69 
 
 Spent at Windsor & Hampto(n) Court five 
 
 dayes ... . . . . . 07 18 00 
 
 Paid for transcribeing the petition the Re- 
 ference & the Attorney Generalls Report 00 12 06 
 
 Spent at Whitehall waiting on the Secretary 
 
 for the Lord Keepers Report . . . 04 00 06 
 
 Paid M r Johnson . . ... . 02 00 00 
 
 Spent waiteing on the Secretary severall 
 
 tymes . 01 12 00 
 
 Spent August vij th goeing to Hampton Court 
 and waiteing severall tymes 
 
 To M r Johnson his expences 
 
 To M r Chandler for by him laid out . 
 
 In the Wardens' Accounts for the period 
 28th July, 1683, to 28th July, 1685, the ensuing 
 items occur: 
 
 Paid M r Johnson for transcribing the papers 
 
 about a Charter severall times . . 02 00 00 
 
 Spent in attending the Secretary of State at 
 
 severall times . . . ". . . 03 12 00 
 
 Spent with the Company and about the 
 
 Charter 02 08 00 
 
 Given the Door Keeper at Whitehall . . 00 05 00 
 
 The extract from the City Records of March 
 18th, 1690/91 given below, refers to the fact that 
 the Basket-makers and Cane-chair Makers had 
 again petitioned the Crown for incorporation ; 
 although there are no records of this in the 
 Company's books. 
 
 PILKINGTON, MAYOR. 
 TUESDAY 18 MARCH, 2 W. & MARY (16f$). 
 
 Whereas a Petition hath bin presented to his Majesty 
 from the Baskett-makers and Caners to be incorporated,
 
 70 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 which by order of Councell was referred to M r Attorney 
 Generall communicated to this Court, and a copy of the 
 said Petition with their reasons for their Incorporation 
 being here read, The examination thereof is by this 
 Court referred to S r Robert Geffery, S r John ffleet and 
 S r Edw d Clarke or any two of them (taking M r Borrett 
 the Cities Sollicitor to theire Assistance) and they to 
 prepare reasons against the said Baskett-makers and 
 Caners being incorporated if they think the same will be 
 any waies injurious to this City and present the same to 
 this Court or otherwise present to this Court theire 
 opinions therein.* 
 
 Here the matter appears to have been left ; 
 but some years later the question of obtaining 
 a charter was again brought forward, evidently 
 with the concurrence and support of the Cane- 
 chair Makers, for in the Company's Quarter 
 book under date October the 4th, 1697, the 
 following is recorded : 
 
 Agreed and resolved this day that the Company of 
 Basket-makers doe with all convenient expedition proceed 
 and Indeavour for the obteining a Charter to their said 
 Company And that M r Warden Berry, M r Puller and 
 M r Kelson on the behalfe of the Gainers and M r Warden 
 Dobbs, M r Pollett and M r Goldsmith on the behalfe of the 
 Basketmakers be forthwith Imployed and exercised in the 
 negotiateing attending and indeavouring for the obteining 
 of y e aforesaid Intended Charter. Towards the Charges 
 whereof severall persons have subscribed to a paper re- 
 maining in the hands of M r Warden Berry. 
 
 Although no other allusion to this attempt 
 appears in the Company's books, the subsequent 
 extracts from the City Records show that a 
 
 * Rep. 95, fol. 114.
 
 APPLICATIONS FOR A CHARTER 71 
 
 petition had lately been addressed to the 
 Crown : 
 
 EDWIN, MAYOR. 
 TUESDAY 25 OCTOBER, 10 WILLIAM III. (1698). 
 
 Whereas the Society of Baskettmakers and Caners have 
 Petitioned his Ma tie that they may be united and Con- 
 solidated and made one Corporacbn and the same is 
 referred to the Attorney Generall for his Approbacbn 
 It is referred to S r Thomas Cooke S r James Houblon 
 gr \ym Hedges S r Owen Buckingham S r Tho Rawlinson 
 and S r Rob 1 Beddingfield or any three of them to con- 
 sider of the same and prepare reasons & Argum ts against 
 their Incorporacbn and to waite on M r Attorney with y 6 
 same and M r Borrett the Cities Sollicitor to Attend them 
 and Clement Herne to warne them.* 
 
 CHILD, MAYOR. 
 
 TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER, 10 WILLIAM III. (1698). 
 
 Upon reading the Peticon of the Wardens and Assis- 
 tants of the Baskettmakers acknowledging their error in 
 Petitioning to be incorporated without first acquainting 
 this Court and praying that they may have the leave of 
 the same for their Incorporacbn and the Caine-chaire 
 makers desireing to be heard against the said peticon It 
 is Ordered that both parties be heard this day Three- 
 weekes at which time they are to attend prepared, f 
 
 CHILD, MAYOR. 
 
 TUESDAY 13 DECEMBER, 10 WILLIAM III. (1698). 
 
 Upon reading the Peticon of y e Baskettmakers and 
 hearing of Councill on theire parte as well as on the 
 Joyners who prayed to be heard against the said Peticon 
 
 * Rep. 102, fol. 428. t Rep. 103, fol. 33.
 
 72 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 It is Ordered that all parties shall be heard the Second 
 Court after the next terme.* 
 
 No record of the appearance of the parties 
 before the Court of Aldermen has been dis- 
 covered, nor further reference to this matter 
 found in the City Records. 
 
 In the Wardens' Accounts, dated July the 
 7th, 1701, the following is recorded : 
 
 To Mr. Webb in fall for writings and attend- s. d. 
 ance in the Charter business . . . 6 10 
 
 This is the last entry in the Company's books 
 relating to the efforts of the Basket-makers to 
 obtain a charter. 
 
 * Rep. 103, fol. 62.
 
 ASSESSMENTS. 
 
 IN the Report of the Committee of Privileges 
 in connection with the grant of the Livery,* it 
 was stated " that the Company have from time to 
 time constituted, borne, and paid their full and 
 due proportion and share of the contributions 
 and duties as paid by the other Companies of 
 this City." 
 
 The first Precept to include the Basket- 
 makers, dated the 20th April, 1586, was an 
 order on the Companies to supply men for the 
 protection of the City, the requisition being thus 
 recorded in the archives : 
 
 For three score hable harquebusshiers w th good & 
 servisable Calivers murrions swordes & daggars.f 
 
 The last four Companies mentioned in the 
 list, together with the quota of men to be pro- 
 vided, are thus set forth : 
 
 Butchers, half a man. 
 
 Turners \ 
 
 Basket-makers > half a man. 
 Glasiers 
 
 From the curious reference to " half a man " 
 it is clear that these four Companies were under 
 
 * Vide p. 101. t Journal 22, fol. 24.
 
 74 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 an obligation to find one man between them, 
 and it would be interesting to know how they 
 settled the matter inter se. 
 
 In the reign of Elizabeth the Companies 
 were required to keep a store of ammunition, as 
 shown by the following Precept issued on the 
 4th July, 1586, for the supply of gunpowder : 
 
 For Ten lasts of good and servic Gunpowder from 
 
 the Companies,* 
 
 The proportion required from the last three 
 Companies is thus recorded : 
 
 Turners \ 
 
 Basket-makers | 192 Ibs. 
 Glasiers 
 
 As a precautionary measure against famine 
 and inevitable extortion in times of scarcity, 
 corn was stored in City granaries, but it is not 
 known when the custom was established. The 
 first reference to a compulsory loan for this 
 purpose is found in an Act of Common Council, 
 made the 25th September, 1521. 
 
 In 1587 all the City Companies were jointly 
 required to provide 10,000 quarters of wheat, the 
 Basket-makers being assessed at eight quarters. 
 Allen states that in "this year a general 
 scarcity of corn happened in England ; and the 
 scarcity increasing, the dearth became so ex- 
 cessive that wheat was sold in this city the 
 
 * Journal 22, fol. 37b.
 
 ASSESSMENTS 75 
 
 spring following at three pounds four shillings 
 the quarter." * 
 
 An assessment was made for furnishing 6000 
 quarters of corn for the provision of the City 
 in December, 1590. On this occasion the Basket- 
 makers were not called upon to find the four 
 quarters entered against them, for the order 
 concludes with these words : 
 
 Theise six poore companyes we have thought 
 necessary not to charge with any pvision viz. 
 
 q ters 
 
 Bowyers . ... 3 
 
 ffletchers . . . , . 3 
 Wolmen .... 3 
 Minstrells .... 3 
 Baskettmakers . . .4 
 Glasiers . . 4 
 
 20 q* 18 
 
 The following assessments for corn are in 
 the order of date : 
 
 Precept for payment by the several Companies for the 
 provision of 3000 quarters of Corn. November, 1596. 
 2^ quarters Basketmakers at 35*. the quarter 4< Is. 6d. 
 
 Precept for 5000 quarters of corn. December, 1596. 
 Basketmakers 1 quarter Rye, 1 quarter wheat 3 18s. Od. 
 One-third part ^1 6*. Od. 
 
 Precepts 1602 and 1608 for 10,000 quarters, Basket- 
 makers 8 quarters. 
 
 Precept for Meal to be distributed among the Wards 
 (Cheap 1 qr. 4 bus.) February, 1661, Basketmakers 
 1 bus. 
 
 * " The History and Antiquities of London," by Thomas Allen, 
 1827, vol. i., pp. 299, 300.
 
 76 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 The Common Council made an order on the 
 14th February, 1603/4, for " Assessments on 
 the several Companies for raising 400 for the 
 full performance and finishing of the Pageants, 
 Shows, &c., from the Tower to Temple Bar 
 against the passage of the King and Queen's 
 most excellent Majesties through the City." 
 The Basket-makers were assessed the small 
 proportion of 5s. 4>d. 
 
 A curious precept is recorded on the 21st 
 January, 1632, as follows : 
 
 Leveled on the Companies towards the fine imposed 
 on the City for not attaching the murderers of John 
 Lam be (Basket-makers, 16*.). 
 
 John Lamb (known as " Dr." Lamb) was a 
 favourite of King Charles I. At that time the 
 citizens of London were groaning under an 
 attempted extortion of a large sum of money 
 under the pretence of a loan. Lamb, who was 
 supposed to have advised these arbitrary pro- 
 ceedings, was beaten to death in the City by 
 a mob on the 18th June, 1628. The King 
 being much incensed, the Lord Mayor and 
 Aldermen were ordered by the Privy Council 
 to bring the perpetrators to justice, but ap- 
 parently this order was disregarded, although 
 the City was threatened with the confiscation 
 of its charter. The matter dragged on until 
 1632, when the King fined the City six thou- 
 sand pounds, which was afterwards reduced to 
 fifteen hundred marks.
 
 ASSESSMENTS 77 
 
 Owing to the high price of coal in the year 
 1665 caused by an old-world combine of coal 
 dealers, much hardship was caused to the poor ; 
 fifty-six of the City Companies were therefore 
 ordered to purchase and lay up a certain stock of 
 coal between Midsummer and Michaelmas, and 
 to sell the same to the poor in the winter months 
 at a price to be settled by the Lord Mayor and 
 Court of Aldermen. Among the Companies 
 ordered to take part in this benevolent scheme, 
 the Basket-makers were included, the amount 
 of coal they were to stock being fixed at six 
 chaldrons.
 
 LOCALITY AND MEETING PLACES. 
 
 No records have been preserved showing where 
 the Basket-makers resided before the middle 
 of the fifteenth century. The earliest trace of 
 the " foreigners " of 1463 is in the old manor 
 of Blanch Appleton previously described. 
 English and alien Basket-makers of a later date 
 (as shown by the accompanying map) appear to 
 have practised their craft in proximity to the 
 chief buyers of their wares ; the Fishmongers, 
 Butchers, and Bakers. 
 
 Basket Alley in Cripplegate, and Pannier 
 Alley in Newgate Street, no doubt derived their 
 names from trade signs and not from the occu- 
 pation of the inhabitants. The pannier was an 
 emblem frequently met with when almost every 
 house had its signboard, and a similar use of the 
 basket is evidenced by the sobriquet "atte 
 Basket," first mentioned in the City Records 
 in 1351.* 
 
 In an edition of Stow's " Survey," published 
 in 1720,f there appeared a list of the City Com- 
 panies, giving the situation of their respective 
 
 * " Roger Rook called atte Baskette, " Husting Roll, 79 (37) ; 
 see also Calendar to Letter Book G, edited by Dr. Sharpe, pp. 53, 
 172, 310. 
 
 t Stow's " Survey " (Strype), 1720, book iii. p. 247-248.
 
 PQ 
 
 ffl 
 
 jH 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 O 
 
 o
 
 LOCALITY AND MEETING PLACES 79 
 
 Halls.* The Basket-makers' Company was in- 
 cluded in this list and their Hall stated to be 
 in Broad Street. There is, however, no trace of 
 this Hall at the present time, nor is there any 
 other record of its existence. Stow refers to 
 this list as having been " drawn up many years 
 ago by Mr. Richard Smith," f who was appointed 
 Secondary of the Poultry Compter in 1644.J 
 Thus it would appear that the Hall cannot have 
 been in the Company's possession at the time of 
 the Great Fire, and the reference to it must 
 have been at an earlier stage of the Company's 
 existence. This is borne out by the entry in the 
 Company's books, written on the 10th January, 
 1666/7, stating that the Basket-makers had for 
 many years before the Fire held their meetings at 
 the Guildhall. This solitary reference to a Basket- 
 makers' Hall leads to the supposition that its 
 inclusion in the list was an error on the part of 
 the Secondary. 
 
 In an account of the Worshipful Company 
 of Parish Clerks by James Christie, || mention is 
 made of the fact that the use of their Hall was 
 granted to the Basket-makers' Company in 1613. 
 This was the old Hall ^f in Broad Lane, in the 
 ward of Vintry. 
 
 * Vide Appendix I. 
 t Died in 1675. 
 t Rep. 57, 234b. 
 Vide p. 125. 
 
 || Christie, " Some Account of Parish Clerks," 1893. 
 1 The Second Hall of the Parish Clerks' Company ; their first 
 Hall was situated in what is now Clark's Place.
 
 80 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 A little later the Company held its Courts at 
 the Guildhall and continued to meet there until 
 the year of the Great Fire. From that time 
 till 1826 the Courts were held at various 
 taverns and coffee-houses,* and occasionally at 
 the Guildhall. 
 
 The last meeting which took place in a 
 tavern was held at The Two Brewers, London 
 Wall, on the 23rd November, 1826. It was then 
 resolved by the Court that future quarterly 
 meetings should be held at the Guildhall, and 
 from that date until the 27th October, 1873, the 
 Court met there. From thence to the present 
 time the Company has held its Courts at the 
 Parish Clerks' Hallf in Silver Street, by per- 
 mission of the Worshipful Company of Parish 
 Clerks. 
 
 In " A General Description of All Trades," J 
 dated 1747, and bearing the imprint of T. 
 Waller, it is stated that the Company " meet to 
 do their business where and when their Warden 
 appoints, commonly once a Quarter when they 
 have a Feast." The Basket-makers occasionally 
 met together for breakfast as well as dinner ; 
 but the following extracts from the Wardens' 
 accounts prove that they did not err on the side 
 of extravagance : 
 
 August 24th 1671. 
 Spent at Breakfast then . . . .000506 
 
 * Vide Appendix H. 
 
 f (The Third HaU) Built in the year 1669. 
 
 I Vide Appendix A.
 
 LOCALITY AND MEETING PLACES 81 
 
 April 25th 1672. 
 Spent then at Breakfast & Dinner . . 01 10 08 
 
 April 6th 1696. 
 Meat & Herbs for this daies Dinner . . 01 14 
 
 July 6th 1696. 
 To the Dinner at the Herculas Fillers . . 01 01 04 
 
 January 12th 1718. 
 
 Paid this day for Dinner at the Salutation 
 
 Tavern 2. 11. 3. 
 
 Several old dinner-bills have been preserved, 
 of which the following are examples : 
 
 October y e 9th 1765. 
 To the Worshipfull Companey of Baskett Makers. 
 
 To three fowls one goos . . . . 0. 10. 0. 
 
 To pickold porke 0. 1. 8. 
 
 To gravey oysters & Appel sace . . . 0. 1. 4. 
 
 To greens . . . . . . . 0. 0. 6. 
 
 To Bread Butter &c 0. 2. 0. 
 
 To Beer 0. 2. 2^. 
 
 To Wine 0. 10. 0. 
 
 To Lemnon and Shugar . . . . 0. 0. 3. 
 
 For Tobacco 0. 0. 4. 
 
 1. 8. 3 
 
 Dressing Dinner 0. 2. 0. 
 
 Serv ts 0. 1. 6. 
 
 1. 11. 9
 
 82 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 1774 Y e Worshipfull Companey of Basketmakers llth 
 July att y e White Hart, Kingsland Road. 
 
 To Eating . . . ' . . . . 1. 7. 0. 
 
 Beer and tobacco . . . . . 0. 3. 10. 
 
 Wine . . ... . . . 0. 12. 0. 
 
 Bread &c 0. 3. 0. 
 
 Punch & Brand &c 0. 11. 4. 
 
 Porterage . . ....... . . 0. 0. 9. 
 
 Servents . 0. 2. 0. 
 
 Tartes. . . . . . ... 0. 3. 0. 
 
 3. 2. 11.
 
 THE WARDENS. 
 
 Two Wardens, originally styled Upper War- 
 den and Under Warden * were appointed 
 biennially between the Feasts of St. James and 
 St. Bartholomew. By the ordinances granted 
 to the Company in 1569, the newly elected 
 Wardens were required to attend at the Outer 
 Chamber of the Guildhall, and, in the presence 
 of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, 
 swear faithfully to perform the duties of their 
 office. 
 
 The oath was in the following terms : 
 
 You and each of you will well and truly 
 do and execute all and every such things as shall appertain 
 and belong to your office of Warden of the Worshipful 
 Company of Basket Makers of the City of London. So 
 help you God. 
 
 The ancient custom whereby the wardens of 
 each company made an oath in form similar 
 to the above, dates back to the reign of 
 Edward III., when the Court of Aldermen 
 passed an ordinance that all the companies 
 should be " well and truly " governed and 
 
 * Occasionally referred to in the Company's Books as " Renter 
 Warden."
 
 84 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 that the wardens elected and sworn should have 
 authority from the Lord Mayor to perform their 
 duties. 
 
 One of the earliest of the Company's books 
 records the swearing-in of the Wardens on 
 the 28th July, 1685, namely :- 
 
 The said two Elected Wardens were on the 28th of 
 the said moneth presented to the Lord Mayor's Court 
 and were sworne for the due execucon of their said 
 place. 
 
 In the Accounts, dated the 12th July, 1686, 
 the following items are found : 
 
 Paid for swearing the Wardens . . 00. 04. 00. 
 Paid for a copy of the Warden's Oath . 00. 02. 00. 
 
 During the three hundred and forty years 
 of the Company's existence, there is only one 
 instance of a Warden being removed from office. 
 Subjoined are extracts from the City Records 
 referring to the matter : 
 
 JEFFERY, MAIOR. 
 TUESDAY 20 APRIL, 2 JAMES II. (1686). 
 
 Upon Complaint now made unto this Court by the 
 company of Basketmakers ag* Rich d Reading who in July 
 las was admitted upper Warden of the said company for 
 two years then following, that he greatly neglects the 
 duty of that place, and disposes what monies he can get 
 of the companies into his hands, for his owne private use, 
 and not to the use and benefitt of the company And 
 therefore they now praied that he might by this Court be 
 Suspended from further acting in the said place, It is 
 thought fitt and ordered by this Court that unless the 
 said Richard Reading (upon notice to be given him of
 
 THE WARDENS 85 
 
 this order) shall appear before this Court on this day 
 senight & give to this Court good Satisfaction as to the 
 matter of the said Complaint This Court will then 
 order his Suspension according to the sd companies 
 desire.* 
 
 GEFFERY MAIOR. 
 
 TUESDAY 27 APRIL, 2 JAMES II. (1686). 
 
 Whereas upon complaint made at the last court by 
 the company of Basketmakers ag l Rich d Reding one of 
 their Wardens for declining the Service of his place and 
 disposing the companies money to his private use. It 
 was agreed that unless he appeared here this day to 
 answer the said complaint, this court would Suspend him 
 from the said place, And whereas the said Richard 
 Reading (having had timely notice of the said order by a 
 copy thereof left at his house) did notwithstanding fail 
 now to appear before this Court to vindicate himselfe 
 from the matter of the said complaint This court doth 
 therefore Suspend him from the said place untill this day 
 Senight And doth resolve (if he shall not then apper 
 befort this court and justifie himselfe herein) absolutely to 
 dismisse and discharge him and order the choice of 
 another in his roome, And it is ordered that a Copy 
 hereof be left at the said Mr. Reading's house in the 
 meantime, t 
 
 GEFFERY, MAIOR, 
 TUESDAY 4 MAY, 2 JAMES II. (1686). 
 
 Whereas upon complaint formerly made to this Court 
 by the company of Basketmakers ag* Richard Reading 
 one of their Wardens for wholly declining the Service of 
 his place and converting the Companies money by him 
 received to his owne private use, he hath had severall dayes 
 prefixed him to appear before this Court and vindicate 
 
 * Rep. 91, fol. 76. ^ t Rep. 91, fol. 80b.
 
 86 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 himselfe in the said matter, notwithstanding which he 
 hath still failed to make his appearance before this court 
 or justifie himselfe in reference to the said charge, This 
 court therefore according to the Resolucbn here taken at 
 the last court doth absolutely dismisse & discharge him 
 from the said place and order that another fitting person 
 be chosen into the said place in his stead according to the 
 Rules and usages of the said company.* 
 
 A few days later the Company chose a new 
 Warden, the election being thus recorded in the 
 Company's books : 
 
 MAY lira 1686. 
 
 Richard Reading being dismissed by the Court of 
 Aldi'en from his place of Upper Warden by reason of his 
 neglecting the Companye's buisnesse and converting their 
 money to his owne private use Mr ffielder and Mr 
 Dickenson were put in nomination for one of them to 
 hold the said place of Upper Warden for the remainder of 
 the 2 yeares and by plurality of hands, Mr ffielder was 
 chosen. 
 
 In the Wardens' Accounts for quarter day, 
 12th July, 1686, this item occurs : 
 
 Paid Charges in getting Mr Reading discharged from 
 his Wardenship . . . .02. 05. 06. 
 
 On the 20th August, 1695, the Court of 
 Assistants passed a resolution that the Upper 
 Wardens should within seven days after 
 election : 
 
 Signe seale execute and deliver to Three of the 
 Eldest Assistants on y e behalfe of the said Company one 
 Bond or obligacon of a reasonable penalty with Two good 
 and sufficient persons or suretys &c. 
 
 * Rep. 91, fol. 83.
 
 THE WARDENS 87 
 
 The Wardens provided they had an officer 
 of the Lord Mayor with them had full power 
 to enter the houses and shops of Basket- 
 makers to "search, view and oversee" all 
 baskets and materials for their manufacture. 
 It was the duty of the Wardens to see that the 
 ordinances were observed, and also that they 
 were read four times a year in the presence of 
 the commonalty of the Company. 
 
 Objection to assuming office on election was 
 met with a fine, as may be seen from the 
 examples here given : 
 
 JANUARY 22ND, 1671. 
 
 It is this day agreed and ordered that Mr Paul 
 Allestry upon payment of ffoure pounds shall be discharged 
 and excused for ever hereafter from being chosen or 
 bearing the place or office of Warden of this Company 
 Which said summe was paid And he accordingly dis- 
 charged. 
 
 MAY HTH, 1686. 
 
 Mr Slyford being this day chosen Under Warden did 
 desire to be excused from the same, and for ever from all 
 manner of Offices, and submitted to a ffine of ffive pounds, 
 which he accordingly paid And the said Mr Slyford is by 
 this Court discharged from ever being selected Warden or 
 other Office in the said Company. 
 
 JULY Y E 24i-H 1707. 
 
 This day Mr John Oily appearing in this Court and 
 desiring to be excused from the service of Warden for the 
 Two ensuing yeares for which he was lately chosen under 
 Warden and also to be exempted from the service of
 
 88 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 upper Warden when soever he should be chosen alledging 
 that his multiplicity of buisnes would prevent him from 
 his due performance of the said office and desireing to pay 
 such ffine for the same as this Court should think fitt not 
 exceeding ffive Pounds This Court by the majority agreed 
 to ffoure Guineas for the same & the same was accordingly 
 received of the said Mr John Oily. 
 
 QUARTER DAY APRIL 13-TH 1719. 
 
 This day at y e Request of Mr. W m Board the fteent 
 Under Warden of this Company for to ffine for his Office 
 of Upper Warden for his Two yeares commenceing from 
 Midsomer next And Mr Board agreeing to such ffine for 
 y e same as the Company should think fit, the same was 
 put to the vote and it was by the majority agree$ that 
 his ffine shalbe ffour Pounds. 
 
 An instance of a refusal to assume office and 
 the penalty for so doing is recorded at a meeting 
 of the court held the llth October, 1732 :- 
 
 Memd. At this Court the Clerk acquainted the 
 Company that Mr. Bott being served w th a Warrant from 
 the L d Mayor for his contempt in not appearing to his 
 Lordships Sumonds & for refusing to serve as Under 
 Warden to this Company The s d Mr Bott had Submitted 
 to pay his ffine of Under Warden & had pd the same 
 accordingly together with his arrears of quarteridge 
 some small part of the Charges as by the Upper Wardens 
 acco ts appears, Upon w ch the s d Mr Bott was excused from 
 serving the s d office : And it being put to the Question 
 whether the proceedings of the Upper Warden in this 
 behalf were approved of by the Company or not, It was 
 resolved in the affirmative. 
 
 In the Wardens' Accounts dated the 9th 
 July, 1733, the following appears :
 
 THE WARDENS 89 
 
 Mr. Bott for his ffine not serving Upper 
 
 Warden . . . 9 . . 5. 0. 0. 
 
 The last occasion on which the Wardens 
 were sworn on taking office is recorded in the 
 Company's books as follows : 
 
 29rH JULY 1819. 
 
 The Upper and Under Warden with the Clerk attended 
 at the Upper Court of the Lord Mayor of the City of 
 London and were sworn to the due execution of their 
 Office in the following form : 
 
 Richard Allum and Thomas Okey, you and each of you 
 swear that you will well and truly do and execute all and 
 every such things as shall appertain and belong to your 
 Office of Wardens of the Basket Makers' Company of the 
 City of London. 
 
 So help you God. 
 
 A complete list of the Wardens from the 
 year 1661, as well as a few names of earlier date, 
 are given in the Appendix.
 
 THE COURT OF ASSISTANTS. 
 
 ON reference to the Ordinances of 1569 it 
 will be noted that no mention of Assistants is 
 made therein, though they are no doubt implied 
 in the provision that " the old Wardens shall 
 yield up their account to the new Wardens 
 and three or four other persons * of the said 
 craft." The only two occasions on which Assist- 
 ants are mentioned occur in the Ordinances 
 granted later in 1585, as follows : 
 
 (a) " No man enfranchised, as aforesaid, shall 
 receive into his service any journeyman without 
 the consent of the Wardens of the said Company, 
 and four of the Assistants." 
 
 (b) " No man enfranchised in the said Com- 
 pany, being a journeyman, as long as he shall 
 work journey-work, shall take or keep any 
 Apprentice without the Wardens' consent and 
 four of the Assistants." 
 
 * The first suggestion of the office of " Assistant " in connection 
 with the City companies occurs in the records of the Grocers for the 
 year 1379, as follows : "At y e furst congregaycon of y e wardeyns 
 there shall be chosin six of y e companie to be helpyng and counsel- 
 lynge of y 6 same wardeyns for the yeere followinge." They do not 
 appear to have been described as "Assistants" before the com- 
 mencement of the 16th century. Vide Herbert, "History of the 
 Twelve Great Livery Companies, 1837," vol. i. pp. 53, 54.
 
 THE COURT OF ASSISTANTS 91 
 
 Although the Ordinances are silent regarding 
 the manner of the appointment of Assistants, and 
 their powers and duties are not stated therein, it 
 was an early practice for wardens of companies 
 to appoint persons enfranchised in the craft to 
 assist them a custom which can be traced back 
 to the early Saxon Gilds. In the absence there- 
 fore of special provisions in the Basket-makers' 
 regulations, the inference is that the customary 
 powers of wardens in such matters were allowed. 
 This seems to be borne out by the Wardens' 
 Oath provided in the first Ordinance, namely: 
 " that they shall execute such things belonging 
 to their office according to the custom of the 
 City, and as the Wardens of other Companies 
 do." 
 
 An early trace of the office of Assistant is 
 found in the Petition of the 27th March, 1610, 
 submitted to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen. 
 From this document we find that the first re- 
 corded Assistants were six in number.* From 
 the above date to the 14th October, 1723, the 
 number varied from six to sixty-eight, when they 
 were ordered to be reduced to thirty, as shown 
 by the Quarter book : 
 
 Agreed and Ordered That no more Assistants be 
 chosen until the p r sent Assistants which now are 68 be 
 reduced to 30 persons unless upon some perticular occa- 
 tions of some extraordinary Person or Persons such as the 
 majority of the Company shall think fitt. 
 
 * Clement Holmea, Adrian Adrianson, William Addersburie, 
 William Weatlie, Thomas Oliffe and John Clarke.
 
 92 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 The Quarter book records the fact that on 
 the 28th September, 1776, " Ten others were 
 put in nomination as proper persons to be on the 
 Court of Assistants and were all unanimously 
 chosen." 
 
 At the present time the number of Assistants 
 is limited to twenty-five. 
 
 The earliest recorded fine payable by an 
 Assistant on election to the Court was Ss. 4e?., 
 the following being the first entry of such pay- 
 ment : 
 
 JANUARY 12, 1662. 
 
 This day William Perrey was admitted 
 
 an Assistant and paid . . . . 00 03 04 
 
 The fine remained unaltered for seven years, 
 after which it was very considerably increased, 
 as shown by the extract from the Quarter book 
 given below : 
 
 JULY 5 1669. 
 
 This day upon debate It was resolved agreed on so 
 it is Ordered that for the future every person that shall 
 be admitted an Assistant to y e Wardens of this Company 
 shall pay for a ffyne the some of fforty shillings sterling 
 before his admission. 
 
 In the year 1819 the fine was advanced to 
 2 145. 6d., and on successive occasions has been 
 further increased. 
 
 The Court of Assistants was an active body 
 established to assist the Wardens in seeing that 
 the ordinances were observed ; it was commis- 
 sioned to search for defective wares, and its
 
 THE COURT OF ASSISTANTS 93 
 
 duties in the past, when the Company had 
 powers of control over the trade, were no doubt 
 onerous. The following extract from the books 
 shows that the office was at one time irksome 
 and not always appreciated : 
 
 JULY 13-TH 1674. 
 
 {forasmuch as Richard ffuller and James Alwinckle appeare 
 not to doe service, and to execute their places of Assis- 
 tants It is ordered That they shall be discharged from 
 their said places And they are hereby accordingly 
 discharged. 
 
 AUGUST 20rH 1688. 
 
 Rec a of Mr Richard Rose the sum of ffive pounds seaven 
 shillings and sixpence in full for his being excused and 
 discharged from all offices of this Company (Quarteridge 
 excepted). 
 
 Refusal to assume office after election appears 
 to have been a serious matter : 
 
 QUARTER DAY, JANUARY Y E 28TH, 1694. 
 
 Expended in sumoning Mr. Poulten before 
 y e Lord Mayor for refuseing comeing on 
 the Assistants &c. . . 00 07 05
 
 THE LIVERY. 
 
 THE wearing of liveries was restricted by 
 statute * in the reign of Richard II., and only 
 allowed by the king's licence. For some con- 
 siderable period this distinction was prohibited 
 by Acts of Parliament, but these enactments did 
 not refer to the liveries of the Companies, though 
 several attempts were made to include them, 
 with the object of curtailing their growing in- 
 fluence in City politics. 
 
 It will be remembered in connection with 
 the Company's petition for a charter after the 
 Restoration, that the Attorney- General advised 
 the Crown not to bring the Basket-makers upon 
 the Livery of the City. This objection was 
 doubtless urged on account of the part the City 
 had lately played in the Civil War. 
 
 The first record of efforts made by the Basket- 
 makers to obtain a grant, occurs in the year 
 1775. This important matter was from time 
 to time under their consideration ; but there 
 seem to have been financial difficulties in the 
 early stages of the proceedings, for it was not 
 until 1825 fifty years after the matter was first 
 
 * 13 Rich. II.
 
 THE LIVERV 95 
 
 brought forward that a Livery was obtained ; a 
 testimony to the perseverance shown by those 
 interested in the welfare of the Company. 
 
 The first steps taken are thus recorded in 
 the Company's books : 
 
 At a meeting of the Wardens and Court of Assis- 
 tants held at the House of Mr. Oliver the sign of the 
 Bell in Basinghall Street the 3rd day of March 1775. It 
 is Unanimously Agreed, having advised with Mr. Holder 
 relative to obtaining the Livery for the Company, and 
 the said Mr. Holder having Informed the Court that the 
 expence thereof will not Exceed forty Pounds We who 
 are Present agree to subscribe for the above Purpose the 
 Particular Sum against our names Respectively : 
 
 s. cl 
 
 John Havall . . . . 5. 5. 0. 
 
 Richard Allurn . . . 5. 5. 0. 
 
 Samuel Pryer Sen. . . . 5. 5. 0. 
 
 William White . . . . 5. 5. 0. 
 
 Benjamin Phillips . . . 3. 3. 0. 
 
 Robert Kemshead . . . 0. 0. 0. 
 
 Richard Hollingsworth . 5. 5. 0. 
 
 At a Court of Assistants held on the 13th 
 September, 1780, it was resolved : 
 
 That the money arising from Quarterage and from 
 every other income of the Company of Basket Makers, 
 London, be put in the hands of Trustees in order to raise 
 a sum of money to enable the said Company to become a 
 Livery Company, and that the Wardens for the time 
 being, be the Trustees for the purpose before mentioned. 
 
 In that year the income of the Company 
 was very small, and the prospect of obtaining 
 a Livery appeared somewhat remote. 
 
 No further attempt was made until 1810,
 
 96 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 when the matter was again brought forward, 
 for at a meeting of the Court, held on the 6th 
 of December of that year, this entry occurs in 
 the minutes : 
 
 It being understood that this company can be made 
 a Livery Company at the expense of 60 or thereabouts 
 the several persons above named agreed to contribute and 
 pay an equal proportion of the expense of obtaining 
 same. 
 
 The following was recorded at a meeting of 
 the Court held on the 12th August, 1811 : 
 
 Many Members of the Company being desirous of 
 obtaining a Livery, and a Petition to the Court of 
 Aldermen for that purpose being read the same was 
 approved of and signed by the Freemen present. 
 
 The petition presented to the Court of Alder- 
 men, and referred to a Committee of that body 
 on the 28th January, 1812, was as follows : 
 
 To 
 
 The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor and 
 Court of Aldermen of the City of London. 
 
 The humble petition of the Wardens and 
 Court of Assistants of the Company of 
 Basket Makers of the City of London. 
 Sheweth : 
 
 That the Company of Basket Makers of London 
 have been from time immemorial and are a Company by 
 proscription and have been frequently recognised as such 
 by your Honourable Court and your Honourable Court 
 in the year 1482 * in the second year of the reign of King 
 Edward the Fourth Sir thomas Cooke being then Mayor 
 
 * An error for 1463, the reference being to the Order of 
 Common Council made the 12th October [3 Edward IV.], vide 
 p. 7.
 
 THE LIVERY 97 
 
 Also in the year 1537 * in the 30th year of the reign of 
 King Henry the 8th Sir thomas Gresham being then 
 Mayor and likewise in the year 1569 in the 10th f year 
 of the reign of Queen Elizabeth in the Mayoralty of 
 [Wolstane] Dixie J as well as in the year 1610 in the 
 reign of King James the 1st and the Mayoralty of Sir 
 Thomas Campbell made and ordered several Rules and 
 Bye- laws which they judged would be for the benefit and 
 good government of the said Company of Basket Makers 
 and for the support of the Rights and Interests of the 
 said Company and the regulation of the goods and wares 
 manufactured by the Craft thereof. 
 
 That the said Company of Basket Makers have from 
 time to time contributed borne and paid their full and 
 due proportion and share of the contributions and duties 
 from time to time paid by the other Companies of the 
 City of London. 
 
 That the said Company of Basket Makers labours 
 under great disadvantage in not being invested with a 
 Livery in several respects and not being held in the 
 esteem of a Livery Company is greatly injured as it is 
 presumed in the increase of its numbers and thereby the 
 public in many instances deprived of the benefit and 
 advantage of the said Company as many Merchants 
 warehousemen and tradesmen not makers of but dealers 
 in and exporters of baskets of different denominations (as 
 the said Company have great reason to believe) in case 
 the said Company was a Livery Company would become 
 Members thereof and thereby be subject to the Laws 
 search and examination of and who at present not being 
 Members of the said Company it hath no control over 
 nor the power which the said Company of Basket Makers 
 would in that case have within the liberties of the City 
 of London and its vicinity. 
 
 * This date should be 1538, vide p. 18. 
 t This should be the " llth year." 
 
 The name mentioned is an error. Sir Thomas Rowe was 
 mayor in that year, vide p. 31. 
 
 H
 
 98 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 That divers Members of the said Company are of con- 
 siderable substance and are able and willing to bear the 
 expense attending a Livery and to contribute and assist 
 on all public occasions to the honour dignity and service 
 of this City. 
 
 That your Petitioners humbly apprehend that if a 
 Livery was granted to the said Company it would be of 
 great benefit and advantage thereto and an encourage- 
 ment to a valuable and extensive branch of Trade as by 
 means thereof the persons using and exercising the art or 
 mystery of Basket Makers would be more ready to take 
 their freedom of the said Company and many Merchants 
 warehousemen and other traders exporters of baskets 
 (altho' not makers thereof) would become Members of 
 the said Company the same being on a respectable 
 footing equal with the rest of their fellow citizens who 
 are entitled to the benefits and privileges which can 
 be enjoyed by the Liverymen of the City of London 
 only. 
 
 That your Petitioners in their said trade of Basket 
 Makers are very instrumental in increasing the annual 
 landed Income and Revenues of the City of London 
 inasmuch as they are the purchasers and workers of the 
 rods and osiers growing upon various parts of the lands 
 and estates of the said City and which lands unless as at 
 present so profitable and beneficially applied to the 
 growth and production of osiers rods and willows would 
 be almost totally unproductive to the revenue thereof 
 And your Petitioners beg leave to suggest to your 
 Honourable Court that by granting them a Livery and 
 thereby placing them in a state of respectability equal 
 with the rest of their fellow citizens a constant and ready 
 market would be found for the produce of the lands of 
 the City of London and an annual increasing Income be 
 made to the Revenues thereof. 
 
 Your Petitioners therefore most humbly Pray this 
 Honourable Court to invest the said Company of Basket
 
 THE LIVERY 99 
 
 Makers with a Livery under such restrictions and regu- 
 lations as to this Honourable Court shall seem meet. 
 
 And your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever 
 pray, etc. 
 
 The extracts given below are from the 
 minutes of subsequent meetings of the Court : 
 
 6'i'H FEBRUARY 1812. 
 
 Mr. Allum reported that he had together with the 
 Clerk attended the Court of Aldermen when Sir Charles 
 Price presented the Petition which was referred to a 
 Committee of the Court of Aldermen. 
 
 Resolved that this Court and such of the Company 
 as can make it convenient do meet at the Baptist Head 
 Coffee House, Aldermanbury on such day and hour as 
 shall be appointed to proceed from thence to the Com- 
 mittee of the Court of Aldermen appointed to take the 
 petition of this Company for a Livery into consideration. 
 
 10TH FEBRUARY 1812. 
 
 The Court proceeded to attend the Court of Alder- 
 men on the subject of the Petition but nothing definite 
 was done. 
 
 No further progress was made until the 25th 
 March, 1825, when the following brief reference 
 relating to the matter is found : 
 
 The subject of obtaining a Livery was discussed. 
 
 On the 29th March, 1825 thirteen years after 
 the presentation of the Petition a Livery limited 
 to thirty was granted by the Court of Aldermen, 
 and on the 12th April following it was resolved 
 at a meeting of the Court :
 
 100 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 That the Clerk attend the Comptroller's Office 
 Guildhall London and obtain the Certificate and other 
 Documents necessary for authenticating the Right of the 
 Company to a Livery. 
 
 On 1st July in the same year the Clerk 
 reported : 
 
 That the Certificate of a Livery having been granted 
 to this Company by the Court of Aldermen, was ready 
 and that the Fee thereon exclusive of his account in 
 respect thereof was 50. 
 
 At the next meeting of the Court held on 
 the 6th July, 1825, the Chairman reported " That 
 he had procured the Certificate from the Town 
 Clerk's Office, Guildhall, that a Livery had been 
 granted to the Company by the Court of Alder- 
 men," when it was resolved 
 
 That the Certificate be entered on the Minutes of 
 the Court as follows : 
 
 Tuesday the 29th day of March 1825 
 and in the Sixth year of the Reign 
 Garratt, Mayor of George the fourth of the United 
 Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 
 King &c. 
 
 The Committee of Privileges did this day deliver unto 
 this Court a Report in writing under their hands recom- 
 mending a Livery to be granted to the Worshipful 
 Company of Basketmakers which was read in these 
 words : 
 
 To the Right Worshipful the Lord 
 Mayor and Court of Aldermen. 
 
 In Obedience to an Order of this Honourable Court 
 of the Twenty eighth day of January 1812 We whose 
 Names are hereunto subscribed being appointed (amongst
 
 THE LIVERY 101 
 
 others) to examine the Allegations of the Petition of the 
 Wardens and Court of Assistants of the Company of 
 Basketmakers of the City of London relating to their 
 being made a Livery Company of this City and to report 
 our Opinions thereon to this Court do humbly certify 
 that we have accordingly met and examined into the 
 Allegations of their said Petition and do find that the 
 said Company of Basketmakers have been from time 
 immemorial and are a Company by prescription and have 
 been frequently recognized as such and have from time to 
 time contributed borne and paid their full and due pro- 
 portion and share of the contributions and duties as paid 
 by the other Companies of this City. 
 
 That the Members of the said Company are admitted 
 to the freedom of this City by the Chamberlain and bind 
 Apprentices according to the Custom of London who on 
 the expiration of their terms are duly admitted to the 
 freedom by virtue of their Service and the Children of the 
 Members of the said Company are also admitted to the 
 freedom by Patrimony and this Court have been pleased 
 from time to time to allow and order persons to be 
 admitted into the freedom of this City in the said 
 Company of Basketmakers by Redemption. 
 
 And we also find That the said Company labours 
 under great disadvantages in not being invested with a 
 livery in several respects and in not being held in the 
 esteem of a Livery Company is greatly injured as it is 
 presumed in the increase of its Members. 
 
 That divers Members of the said Company are of 
 considerable substance and are able and willing to bear 
 the Expense attending a Livery and to contribute and 
 assist on all public occasions to the Honour and Dignity 
 and Service of the City And we find that if a Livery was 
 granted to the said Company it would be of great Benefit 
 and advantage thereto and an Encouragement to a most 
 valuable and extensive Branch of the British Trade as by 
 means thereof the persons using or exercising the Art or 
 Mystery of Basketmaker would be more ready to take
 
 102 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 their Freedom of the said Company and many Merchants 
 Warehousemen and other Traders not makers of but 
 dealers in and exporters of that Commodity would become 
 members of the said Company the same being on a 
 respectable footing equal with the rest of their fellow 
 Citizens who are entitled to the Benefits and Privileges 
 which by the custom of this City can be enjoyed by the 
 Liverymen only and after duly considering thereof it does 
 appear to us that the complying with the Prayer of their 
 Petition will be beneficial to the said Company by en- 
 couraging and promoting the increase of their Members 
 and contribute to the dignity and Service of this City by 
 enabling them to attend and assist on all Public occasions. 
 AVe are therefore of Opinion that they should be created 
 and made a Livery Company of this City and that the 
 said Livery should be granted unto them under the 
 qualifications and conditions following (that is to say) 
 that their Livery Fine be set at the Sum of Twenty 
 Pounds Sterling and the Sum of Thirteen Shillings and 
 Four pence to the Clerk and Six shillings and eight pence 
 to the Beadle that the number on their Livery should not 
 at any time exceed Thirty that they admit no person to 
 their Livery without such person first produce the Copy 
 of his freedom of the City of London. That they be 
 subject to the several Orders of this Court respecting 
 Livery Companies. That no member of their Company 
 who is of the Clothing of any other Company of the City 
 should be called on the Livery of their Company before 
 he be translated from such other Company openly in this 
 Court according to the ancient Custom of this City. That 
 they do not compel any person to take upon him the 
 Clothing or Livery without his free consent. That they 
 be enjoined to a constant attendance upon the Lord 
 Mayor for the time being upon all public Solemnities and 
 that the Master & Wardens of the said Company of Basket- 
 makers for the time being do return annually on or before 
 the Twenty fifth day of December to the Town Clerk's 
 Office a List of their Livery with their places of abode All
 
 THE LIVERY 103 
 
 which we submit to the Judgment of this Honourable 
 Court dated this 29th day of March 1825. 
 
 R. C. Glyn. 
 
 Ja 8 ' Shaw. 
 
 Matt 8 ' P. Lucas. 
 
 Which Report was well liked and approved and con- 
 firmed by this Court and Ordered to be entered in the 
 Repertory and in all things performed And it is further 
 Ordered that the Attornies of the outer Court do take 
 care that Precepts be for the future sent to the said Com- 
 pany of Basketmakers upon all occasions as to the other 
 Livery Companies of this City. 
 
 Woodthorpe. 
 
 The earliest record of voting is found in " A 
 List of the Liverymen who polled for the Lord 
 Mayor in 1831," as follows : 
 
 BASKET MAKERS. 
 
 Harris John, 39 Clements Lane. 
 Mullard William, 27 London Wall. 
 Okey Thomas, White-rose-court, Spitalfields. 
 Tucker George, Belmont-row, Bethnal Green. 
 Walden Samuel, Whitefriars. 
 
 In 1877 the number allowed on the Livery 
 had been attained, and freemen seeking election 
 had to wait until vacancies occurred. Twenty- 
 four years later the question of obtaining an 
 increase having been considered, a meeting of 
 the Court of the Company was held on the 16th 
 October, 1901, when it was resolved "That ap- 
 plication be made to the Court of Aldermen 
 for an increase of the Livery," and the following 
 Petition was submitted :
 
 104 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 To 
 
 The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor and 
 Court of Aldermen of the City of London. 
 
 The humble petition of the Wardens and 
 Court of Assistants of the Worshipful 
 Company of Basket Makers in the City of 
 London. 
 Sheweth : 
 
 That on the Twenty Ninth day of March One 
 Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Five your Honour- 
 able Court was pleased to order that the Company of 
 Basket Makers be created and made a Livery Company, 
 the number to be admitted not to exceed Thirty. 
 
 Your Petitioners beg leave to represent to your 
 Honourable Court that the number of persons now on 
 the Livery of the Company have reached the permitted 
 number of Thirty, and that there are several highly 
 respected persons desirous of becoming Freemen of the 
 said Company and of being admitted to the Livery 
 thereof, but by reason of the aforesaid order of your 
 Honourable Court limiting the number of Liverymen to 
 Thirty, your Petitioners are unable to admit them to 
 that privilege. 
 
 Your Petitioners submit that an increase in the 
 number of their Livery will conduce to the benefit of the 
 said Company, and be an advantage to the Citizens of 
 London and to the public generally. 
 
 Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that your 
 Honourable Court will be pleased to take the premises 
 into consideration, and grant an increase of not exceeding 
 One Hundred to the number of the Livery of the said 
 Company, under such regulation and orders for the 
 honour and dignity of this Company as your Honourable 
 Court shall think fit. 
 
 This Petition was received by the Court of 
 Aldermen, and on the recommendation of the 
 Committee of Privileges as set forth in the
 
 THE LIVERY 105 
 
 following Report, the Livery was increased to 
 eighty :- 
 
 A Court of Mayor and Aldermen holden in the Inner 
 Chamber of the Guildhall of the City of London, the 
 10th day of December 1901, and in the 1st year of the 
 reign of Edward the Seventh, of the United Kingdom of 
 Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions 
 beyond the Seas, King Sec. 
 
 Dimsdale, Mayor. 
 
 The General Purposes Committee did this day deliver 
 unto this Court a Report in writing under their hands 
 on the Reference of the 12th November last on the 
 Petition of the Wardens and Court of Assistants of the 
 Company of Basket Makers, for an addition to their 
 Livery, and recommending that the number of the Livery 
 be increased from 30 to 80 upon condition that they do 
 not exceed that number and that the Order of this Court 
 of the 29th March 1825 in relation to the admission of 
 persons to the Livery and of the payment of the fine in 
 full upon such admission be strictly adhered to which 
 was read. 
 
 Which Report was well liked and approved by this 
 Court and It is Ordered accordingly. 
 
 Monckton.
 
 APPRENTICES. 
 
 The usual provisions for the binding of Appren- 
 tices were made in the Ordinances of 1569. 
 Freemen were permitted to have four but not 
 more, under a penalty of 20*. In the Ordin- 
 ances of 1585 an exception was made to this 
 rule in favour of any past Warden of the Com- 
 pany, who was allowed to keep five, while the 
 same Ordinances provided that no journeyman 
 basket-maker should keep an apprentice, without 
 the consent of the Wardens and four Assistants. 
 
 The earliest records of the Company reveal 
 an old custom whereby the Apprentices on 
 obtaining their freedom presented the Company 
 with a silver spoon.* In many cases these 
 spoons were stamped with the initials of the 
 donors. 
 
 The first entry, dated the 8th September, 
 1661, is as follows : 
 
 This day William Scott late apjfotice of 
 Robert Harding was upon his testimony 
 made free and paid his enableing money . 00 03 04 
 
 And gave a silver spoone marked with the 
 letters . . . . . . . 
 
 * A list is given in the Appendix D. The spoons received prior 
 to September 2nd, 1666, were destroyed in the Great Fire (vide 
 p. 126). Those received after that date were sold (vide p. 132).
 
 APPRENTICES 107 
 
 In 1669 this obligation was extended to 
 persons who were made free otherwise than by 
 servitude ; for on July the 5th of that year the 
 Court ordered : 
 
 That every person which shall be made free shall 
 pay duties to y e Company 10 s 4' 1 and shall give a Silver 
 Spoon or 10 s in lieu thereof. 
 
 The custom was in force until July the 3rd, 
 1671, when the Court resolved : 
 
 That for the future every person that shall be 
 admitted a freeman of this Company shall pay twenty 
 shillings in money and noe spoone. 
 
 An early entry in the Roll of Apprentices 
 reveals the uncommon Christian name of " Alder- 
 man " : 
 
 APIIIL THE lOi'H, 1655. 
 
 Alderman Hobbs sonne of Willni Hobbs of Twitten- 
 ham in the Countie of Midd. Painter doth put himselfe 
 apftatice to Anthony Watts Citizen and Basketmaker of 
 London for 8 yeeres fro the ffeast of the Purification of 
 the blessed Lady St Mary the Virgin last. 
 
 His admission to the freedom is recorded in 
 the Company's books as follows : 
 
 APRIL HTH 1670. 
 
 Alderman Hobbs apprentice of Anthony 
 Watts was upon his test.* made free and 
 paid for a Spoone x s and viij 8 & iiij (1 . . 00 18 04 
 
 On the 12th November, 1694, there is a record 
 of a girl f being bound : 
 
 * Testimony. 
 
 t Women were admitted to the Freedom of the Company.
 
 108 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 Of ye Clerke for y e binding of a Girl to Mr. 
 
 Berry . . . . , . . 00 05 00 
 
 There is one record of an illegal indenture 
 and a fine in consequence : 
 
 JULY 29TH 1698. 
 
 This day Hugh Roberts the apprentice of the 
 said Robert Lye a ffreeman of this Com- 
 pany was made free & paid . . . 01 00 00 
 
 The said Robert Lye upon Consideracon 
 inquiery into the legallity of the binding 
 to him of the said Hugh Roberts the 
 Apprentice & finding him to be bound 
 privately by a scrivener or some other 
 person not with the knowledge of the Com- 
 pany and contrary to the custome & rules 
 of the same was for the same offence fined 
 & paid 01 00 00 
 
 The following (of which there are many 
 similar entries) is recorded in the Company's 
 books on 8th April, 1717 : 
 
 To the Chamberlin for Thirty Six Bindings} s. d. 
 for the Orphans as by the receipt in y e > 4 10 
 Booke* J 
 
 Indentures with " free sisters " are recorded 
 as late as the end of the eighteenth century, 
 when the practice of admitting women to the 
 freedom had almost ceased.f The following is 
 found under date the 5th July, 1742 : 
 
 * A binding fee of 2s. 6d. due to the Chamberlain was appro- 
 priated by Act of Parliament for the relief of orphans. 
 
 t The last occasion was on 31st May 1832 when a Widow was 
 ' ' admitted and sworn a Freewoman by Redemption."
 
 APPRENTICES 109 
 
 At this Court Richard Wheatley living opposite 
 Ventners"* Hall in Thames Street who was bound Appren- 
 tice to Sarah Evans Widow of Benjamin Evans Citizen 
 and Basket Maker of London was this day made free of 
 this Company and paid Twenty Shillings. 
 
 A few examples of the early entries in the 
 Company's books recording admissions to the 
 freedom, or " turnovers " of Apprentices are 
 given below : 
 
 JANUARY 20'ra 1667. 
 
 This day Robert White late the apprentice of 
 Jane Deacon widow and afterwards turned 
 over to William Slyford was upon his test, 
 made free and paid 00 03 04 
 
 JULY SRD 1671. 
 
 This day John Love son of John Love of 
 Cambridge in the County of Cambridge 
 Basketmaker who was by Indenture dated 
 the thirteenth day of Aprill 1664 bound 
 unto William Scott was upon his testimony 
 made free and paid in respect of noe spoone 01 00 00 
 
 JULY 3RD 1671. 
 
 This day William Ault son of George Ault of \ 
 Gildersloy in the County of Derby husband- 
 man who was bound the seaventh of May I * 
 1664 unto Richard Cobham was upon his / SDOOne 
 Mrs testimony made free and in respect of 
 the smallnesse of his spoone paid 
 
 JANUARY 18th 1675. 
 
 This day John White late Appntice of Peter 
 Valine was turned over to Samuell Puller of 
 the same trade for that his Master is gone 
 beyond Sea and left him to goe at large ij 8 vj d
 
 110 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 JANUARY 11 TH 1685. 
 
 Thomas Leech Appntice of James Dickenson 
 and afterwards turned over to Isaac Stone 
 was upon his test, made free and paid . 01 00 00 
 
 JULY 12i<H 1686. 
 
 John Emerton Appntice of John ffranklin was 
 
 upon his test, made free and paid . . 01 00 00 
 
 MAY HTH 1687. 
 
 Timothy ffarmer Appntice of Richard fflaggett 
 
 upon the test, of Rich d Spackman Armorer . 01 00 00 
 
 JUNE 21s T 1687. 
 
 John Norris Appntice of John Barrett Citizen 
 and Vintner was this day turned over to 
 John Olley Citizen and Basketmaker of the 
 same trade for the residue of the terme & 
 paid 00 02 06 
 
 JUNE 29ra 1688. 
 
 George Brookes Appntice of William Rymes 
 deed, was upon the test, of Richard Morris 
 (in fforestreet) Citizen and Bricklayer made 
 free and paid 01 00 00 
 
 JULY 15ra 1689. 
 
 William Harrison Apprentice of Thomas Hall 
 deed, was upon the test, of Widow Hall his 
 Mistris made free and paid . . . 01 00 00
 
 APPRENTICES 111 
 
 JULY 14TH 1690. 
 
 William Constable Appntice of Alderman* 
 Hobbs was upon the test, of Thomas Hodg- 
 kins, Blacksmith made free and paid . . 01 00 00 
 
 SEPTEMBER 24 1690. 
 
 William Tomlinson Appntice of Adrian Pear- 
 son deced. was upon the test, of John Geast 
 Citizen and Haberdasher made free and paid 01 00 00 
 
 * Vide p. 107.
 
 CONTROL OF THE TRADE. 
 
 THE Company made full and continuous use of 
 the powers granted by their Ordinances until the 
 middle of the eighteenth century, and confisca- 
 tion of defective wares and summonses for not 
 conforming to the rules and regulations, were of 
 frequent occurrence. 
 
 There is an early reference in the City Books 
 to foreign-made baskets an order by the Court 
 of Mayor and Aldermen, forbidding a Basket- 
 maker to purchase certain kinds of imported 
 wares. It is stated therein that some defects 
 were found in the Company's Ordinance granted 
 a few months previously,* and it was directed 
 that the same should be remedied ; but there 
 is no trace of any steps having been taken to 
 amend the regulation in question. The order 
 is as follows : 
 
 CAMPBELL, MAIOR. 
 
 FRIDAY 22 JUNE, 8 JAMES I. (1610). 
 
 Itm this day the Company of Basketmakers made Com- 
 plaint unto this Court against one Jerome Benton for the 
 breach of an order heretofore established by the Lord 
 
 * 27th March, 1610.
 
 CONTROL OF THE TRADE 113 
 
 Maior and this Court wherin it was concluded and agreed 
 that no freeman of that Company should at any time 
 hereafter buy of a foreyner any covered Basketts fflasketts 
 Stake maunde and Tymber ware upon payne to forfeite 
 for every tyme so offending the some of twenty shillings, 
 and refuseth to pay the penaltie soe by the said court 
 inflicted upon him : Whereupon this Court taking beter 
 consideracbn of the said Order and finding some defects 
 therein have ordered that the same shalbe redressed and 
 amended and in the meane tyme the said Benton was by 
 this Court forbiden to buy any more wares of foryners 
 according to the tenor of the said order.* 
 
 It is evident that Jerome Benton (or Banton), 
 a freeman of the Turners' Company, long re- 
 sented the action of the Basket-makers, to whom 
 he was no doubt a perpetual source of annoy- 
 ance, and in the old days " going on search " was 
 apparently a duty not unattended with some 
 personal risk : 
 
 PROBY, MAIOR. 
 
 THURSDAY, 20 MARCH, 20 JAMES I. (16ff). 
 
 Item upon complaint made unto this Courte by the 
 Wardens and Assistants of the Company of Basket maks. 
 of London, against Jeremye Banton, Cittizen and Turn 1 
 of London, by trade a baskettmaker, for that he muche 
 abused the wardens for the tyme being with unseemly and 
 disordered speeches, haveing entred into his shope and 
 warehouse, by his owne free leave to vewe and see his 
 wares, whether theye were made of good and seasonable 
 stuffe, according to the orders of this Courte heretofore 
 made and confirmed, for the good Goverm* of that Com- 
 pany, for that the said Banton, did then violently without 
 cause, beate Richard Bingham upper warden of the said 
 
 * Rep. 29, fol. 246b.
 
 114 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 company and fetched blood of him. The said Banton 
 was convented before this Courte, And forasmuche as hee 
 confessed and acknowledged his said fault with an ex- 
 pression of hartie sorrowe, and humblie upon his knee 
 submitted himselfe, to the Wardens of that Company, 
 desiring theire favoures and willingly deposited in Courte 
 a fyne of ffortie shillinges, for his Offence & paid to the 
 Sheriffs iij s iiij tl for blood sheed, This Courte with the 
 good like and consent of the Wardens was pleased to 
 remitt this his offence and receave him into favoure, And 
 xx s of the said fyne of xl s was by this Court delivYl unto 
 the said Bingham in recompence of his hurt and the other 
 xx 8 was deliv'ed unto the other Warden to bee disposed 
 of by the Company att theire discretion, And by consent 
 of parties it is ordered, that noe suite shall hereafter be 
 psequited on either side for & touching this cause.* 
 
 The following extracts from the Company's 
 books illustrate the right of search and power to 
 confiscate bad materials, or baskets inefficiently 
 made : 
 
 1661. 
 
 Paid an officer for seizeing 10,000 of twigg at 
 
 Bull Wharfe . . .. . . . 00 05 00 
 
 1662. 
 Spent in a search that day f . . . . 00 18 02 
 
 1663. 
 Received in severall searches this yeare . . 00 16 05 
 
 1667. 
 Spent in having A Spilton Basketmaker before 
 
 the Chamberlain . 00 02 06 
 
 Rep. 37, fol. 130. 
 
 t Between the years 1661 and 1700, there are many entries of 
 payments made on " Search Day " an occasional day set apart for 
 searching Basket-makers' shops.
 
 CONTROL OF THE TRADE 115 
 
 1667. 
 
 Laid out for wharfage and seizing foure dozen 
 
 and two baskets , . . . . 00 07 00 
 
 Laid out and spent at seizeing the skreene 
 
 basketts . . , t . . . . 00 06 00 
 
 1667. 
 
 Paid for warneing Mr. Harrington and William 
 
 Rymes before the Lord Major . . . 00 04 00 
 
 Paid Mr. Hall by him laid out for prosecuting 
 
 the hucksters . 00 10 00 
 
 1667. 
 
 Paid in the businesse of the skreene basketts 
 
 touching hawking . . . . . 00 10 00 
 
 1670. 
 
 Laid out about six dozen of Prickell and three 
 
 dozen of Crosse Basketts at Queenehith . 00 06 00 
 
 Unseasonable materials and badly made 
 baskets, when confiscated, were deposited at the 
 Guildhall, and a jury impanelled to examine the 
 wares, which, if found defective, were destroyed, 
 an instance from the City Records is here 
 given : 
 
 SHELDON, MAYOR. 
 TUESDAY 6 JUNE, 28 CHAS. II. (1676). 
 
 Whereas the Wardens of the Company of Basket-makers 
 have lately in pursuance of their Charter * and the Ordi- 
 nances of the said Company seized in the Hands of severall 
 Persons of their Art a certain quantity of Wares by them 
 Discovered to be Defective and not well made which are 
 
 * The word "Charter" is evidently used here in a popular 
 sense.
 
 116 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 now remaining in the Hands of Mr Man Keeper of the 
 Guild hall Now at the Humble desire of the Wardens 
 and Assistants of the said Company that the said Wares 
 may be destroyed according to their Ordinances and the 
 Customes of this City in that behalf It is thought fit and 
 Ordered by this Court That a Jury be Impannelled to 
 Enquire thereof And if they shall finde the same to be 
 defective That then they be destroyed accordingly.* 
 
 The decision of the jury does not appear to 
 have been recorded on the above occasion, but 
 in the following year an entry in the Company's 
 books records a similar case resulting in the 
 burning of the wares : 
 
 25xH JULY 1677. 
 
 Paid for a triall about badd and defective 
 ware and to obteine an order of the Court 
 of Aldermen for burneing of the same . vij 11 xv s vj d 
 
 Paid to witnesses for carrying the ware into 
 Smithfeild and other charges when the same 
 was burnt and consumed .... lvj s 
 
 The Company's books contain numerous 
 entries showing the extent of the authority 
 exercised by the Court of Assistants over the 
 freemen, and the opposition to " foreigners." 
 
 Subjoined are a few examples : 
 
 OCTOBER HTH 1669. 
 
 It is this day ordered that for the future all persons 
 free of this Company and who use the trade of Basket- 
 making that imploy Journeymen shall see to the payment 
 of their Journeymens quarteridge as well free as forraine. 
 
 * Rep. 81, fol. 207b.
 
 CONTROL OF THE TRADE 117 
 
 AUGUST 24<TH 1671. 
 Spent at Bartholemew faire * Search . . 06 15 00 
 
 JANUARY 20 1672. 
 
 This day Richard ffuller was fined at vij 8 for not appearing 
 
 in Eleaven Quarter dayes. 
 John ffarrington fined at vij s for not appearing in Eleaven 
 
 Quarters. 
 William Robinson fined xix s , viij d for not appearing 
 
 Thirty Quarters. 
 John Dickenson fined ix s viij d for not appearing ffifeteene 
 
 Quarters. 
 John Shepheard fined vj s iiij d for not appearing ten 
 
 Quarters. 
 
 APRIL 14-ra 1673. 
 
 This day Edward Harper was fined for setting 
 
 a Journeyman of Mr Harding on work . 00 06 00 
 
 MAY 27TH 1673. 
 
 Given an Officer to Warne Harrison before the 
 
 Lord Major 00 02 00 
 
 OCTOBER 6ra 1673. 
 
 This day John ffarington was fined for imploying a 
 Journeyman without leave of the Wardens. 
 
 APRIL 6i'H 1674. 
 
 This day was John Deale fined vj viij for every Journey- 
 man he keeps without the leave of the Wardens. 
 
 JUNE 7 1677. 
 Spent about getting an order to destroy ware v s x d 
 
 * At Bartholomew Fair a search for defective baskets was 
 regularly made, and fines levied. The fair was held in West 
 Smithfield on St. Bartholomew's Day (August 24th) from 1133 to 
 1855.
 
 118 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 OCTOBER ITxn 1681. 
 
 Paid Thomas Hayes * for looking after ffbr- 
 
 reigners . . - 00 02 06 
 
 NOVEMBER 12-ra 1690. 
 
 This day Thomas Street being formerly fined the sum of 
 ffive and twenty shillings for buying Rodds of unlawfull 
 band, and for which he had given a Note under his hand 
 this Court thought fitt to take onely 15 s which he willingly 
 paid. 
 
 JANUARY 19rn 1690/1. 
 
 This day the Court of Assistants took under Con- 
 sideration the Case of Mr Warden Allett who had 
 formerly been fined the sum of 50 s for buying Rodds of 
 unlawful band. And it being put to the vote whether 
 any part of the same fine should be returned to him or 
 not. It was voted in the Negative and accordingly the 
 same fine is Ordered to be brought in to the poors' box 
 the same to be disposed of as the Court shall from time to 
 time think fit. 
 
 Paid into the Chamber of London the 
 Cities proportion for Rodds seized at 3 Cranes 
 Sep. 18th 1690 . . . . . . 01 00 00 
 
 APRIL 6TH 1691. 
 
 It is ordered by this Court that William Loward shall 
 be fined & is hereby fined vj s : viij d for inticeing away a 
 Journeyman from Adrian Pearson.f 
 
 APRIL HTH 1692. 
 
 This day Warden Evans, Mr ffielder and Mr Pollett 
 were severally fined 6 s 8 C| a piece for employing Journey- 
 men without leave pursuant to the Orders. 
 
 * The beadle. 
 
 f Upper Warden 1673-75, and 1681-85.
 
 CONTROL OF THE TRADE 119 
 
 APRIL 22xD 1700. 
 
 To Mr. Garder for Arresting Mr. Purnel 
 Mr. Spinage & Mr. Parson . . . . 00 17 06 
 
 OCTOBER HTH 1703. 
 
 Mr. Benjamin Evans & Mr. James Hering were fined 
 l# s 4 d each for gathering money upon y e search last 
 Bartholomew Day without y e company & consent of y e 
 ftent Wardens. 
 
 JULY lOrn 1704. 
 
 The Wardens being Informed That Samuel Young & 
 Robert Gray following y e Trade of Basket-makers being 
 not Quallifyed for the same This Court hath ordered & 
 desired y e Wardens to use such methods therein as they 
 shall think fitt and to Indempnify them therein & the 
 cost thereof. 
 
 OCTOBER 12 1724. 
 
 To my Lord Mayors Attorney To the Officers for 
 sumonss & at severall meetings on the occation of 
 sumoning members before his Lords pp . . 2. 5. 7 
 
 APRIL ITH 1742. 
 
 Paid at Guildhall for Summonss from the 
 
 Court of Conscience * . . . 8 s 4 (I 
 
 After the middle of the 18th century the 
 Company's powers of trade supervision gradually 
 declined, though some efforts seem to have been 
 made to revive them. By resolution of the Court 
 held the 24th September, 1777, it was ordered : 
 
 That the Rules and Orders contained in the Book 
 of Orders for the Company and Craft of Basket Makers, 
 
 * First established by Act of Common Council in 1518, also 
 styled " The Court of Requests," vide p. 121.
 
 120 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 London, made Anno Domini 1569 be put in full force as 
 far as it is possible against such persons as are free of this 
 Company or who work in the same Crafte and will not 
 conform to the orders therein contained. 
 
 The following extract from the Company's 
 books show that further attempts to control the 
 trade were made some years later : 
 
 At a Court of Assistants of the Company of Basket 
 Makers held at the Crown, Stationers Court, Ludgate 
 Street, 30th April 1810, for the purpose of taking into 
 consideration the circumstance of many Persons not free 
 of this Company exercising the Trade of Basket Makers : 
 
 Resolved unanimously that the following advertizement 
 be inserted three times in the Day Times and Morning 
 Advertiser public papers viz : 
 
 Whereas at a Court of Assistants of the Basket Makers' 
 Company held the 30th day of April 1810 it has been 
 represented to this Court that a number of Persons now 
 carry on the Trade of Basket Makers within the City of 
 London and Suburbs and two miles thereof to the great 
 detriment and injury of Persons duly apprenticed to the 
 said Craft. This is therefore to give Notice that any 
 Person or Persons who may be found offending therein 
 will be prosecuted according to Law without further 
 Notice. And all Persons desirous of being admitted to 
 the Freedom of the said Company are hereby informed 
 that they may apply for that purpose to Mr. Lilley, 
 Solicitor, Peckham, Clerk to the said Company. 
 
 As late as the year 1828, yet another attempt 
 seems to have been made to revive the old 
 powers of the Company, for at a Court of 
 Assistants held at the Guildhall on February 
 the 8th of that year, it was resolved:
 
 CONTROL OF THE TRADE 121 
 
 That the Wardens be requested to cause such steps to 
 be taken to compel all Foreigners, Strangers, Aliens and 
 others who carry on the business of Basket Makers within 
 this City with the permission of the Lord Mayor and 
 Court of Aldermen or otherwise to pay quarterage to this 
 Company agreeable to the Rules of the same. 
 
 At a Court held at the same place on the 
 8th May, 1828, the Chairman reported: 
 
 That he had applied to the Lord Mayor for a Summons 
 against Bartlett a Basket Maker for not taking up his 
 Freedom or paying Quarterage, who had referred him to 
 the Chamberlain's Office where he had also applied and 
 that it was there considered that the amount due from 
 Bartlett was recoverable in the Court of Requests. 
 Resolved that the Wardens be requested to summon 
 Mr. George and Joseph Bartlett to the Court of Requests 
 before the next Meeting. 
 
 At the next meeting of the Court held on 
 the 10th July, 1828, the Chairman stated : 
 
 That he had applied to the Court of Requests for a 
 summons against the Defaulters in payment of the 
 Quarterage and that the Clerk advised him not to pro- 
 ceed there. Resolved that the Wardens be respectfully 
 solicited to wait upon the Chamberlain with the Clerk to 
 solicit his assistance in obtaining the Quarterage due for 
 non-performance. 
 
 An extract from the minutes of the next 
 Court held the 14th August, 1828, marks the 
 final stage in the effort to control the trade. The 
 Chairman reported on that occasion that the 
 Wardens had attended the Chamberlain and had 
 been informed that the Court of Requests was 
 the proper place in which to recover quarterage ;
 
 122 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 but the matter was not proceeded with, pro- 
 bably because it was recognised that further 
 action would be futile. 
 
 In the Second Report of the Commissioners 
 appointed to enquire into the state of the Muni- 
 cipal Corporations in England and Wales in 
 1837, it was stated that " The last instance of 
 the Company exercising their control over the 
 trade was in 1789 or 1799, when a poor French- 
 man who sold baskets was ejected from the City." 
 The Company's books contain no reference to 
 this incident, and it would be interesting to know 
 from what source the Commissioners obtained 
 the information.
 
 EXTRACTS FROM THE COMPANY'S 
 BOOKS. 
 
 THE books saved from the Great Fire are ; 
 
 (1) A Transcript of the Ordinances, etc., 
 written in 1618. 
 
 (2) A Roll of Apprentices, commencing 1st 
 June, 1639. 
 
 (3) A Quarter Book, commencing 8th Sep- 
 tember, 1661. 
 
 The Transcript, the oldest book preserved, is 
 a small volume 6j" x 10^", bound in parchment, 
 and contains seventy-one vellum leaves beauti- 
 fully engrossed. The quaintly worded petition 
 of the Basket-makers, and the Ordinances pre- 
 viously set forth at length,* were copied from 
 this book. The title page is as follows : 
 
 1618. BOLLES MAIOH. 
 
 This transcript was written in the yeare of our Lorde 
 Jesus Christ 1618 and in the xvj th yeare of the Raigne 
 of our Soveraigne L d James Kinge of England & is in 
 the tyme of the Wardenshipp of Robert Mounte and 
 Richard Cobham, then Wardens. 
 
 Thomas Leeche, Clericus Scripsit. 
 
 * Vide p. 31, et seq.
 
 124 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 The first page contains the oath * of the free- 
 men of the craft, and the following transcripts 
 appear on succeeding pages in the order given : 
 
 (1) An Acte concerninge Strangers Artificers for 
 takinge of Apprentices Journeymen and covenaunt ser- 
 vante Made Anno 14 & 15 Henrici Octavi. 
 
 (2) An Acte concerninge Artificers and Straungers 
 Anno vicesimo primo Henrici Octavi. 
 
 (3) The decree made in Sterr Chamber for Artificers 
 Straungers by the Kinge moste Honorable Counsaile the 
 xx th day of ffebruarie in the xx th yeare of the raigne of 
 our Soveraigne Lord Kinge Henrie the viij th . 
 
 (4) An Act concerning exacions levied on Prentises 
 Anno xxij Henrici Octavi. 
 
 (5) An Acte concerning Straungers. 
 
 (6) The Booke of Orders for the Companie of Basket- 
 makers London Ano 1569 (followed by the further Orders 
 granted in 1585 & 1610). 
 
 (7) Memorandum (a copy of the Orders of Common 
 Council 12th October 3 Edward IV. (1463) and 22nd Oct. 
 30 Henry VIII. (1538)). 
 
 The copy of the Order of Common Council, 
 of 1463, concludes with these words : " Vera 
 copia teste, W. Marks," and that of 1538 with 
 the words: "Vera Copia, Wat: Markes." In 
 the latter several words have been erased. 
 
 The following is a copy of the first entry in 
 the Roll of Apprentices : 
 
 PllIMO DIE JUXII 1639. 
 
 John Hawkins sonne of John Hawkins of Blackwall in 
 the County of Midd. Shippwright doth put himself 
 
 * Fttfep.137.
 
 EXTRACTS FROM THE COMPANY'S BOOKS 125 
 
 apprntice to Henry Adrianson Cittizen and Baskett- 
 maker of London for vij yeares Commencing from the 
 ffeast day of The Nativitie of S. John Baptist next 
 ensuing. 
 
 This book contains a list of the apprentices 
 from the above date to October, 1824, but there 
 is unfortunately a gap from 30th September, 
 1657, to 14th August, 1673, some twenty-eight 
 pages having been left blank, and from 13th 
 June, 1799, to 9th May, 1811, no indentures are 
 recorded. 
 
 The Quarter Book beginning on the 8th Sep- 
 tember, 1661, contains entries of the elections of 
 wardens and assistants, the admissions to the 
 freedom, the bindings of apprentices, the war- 
 dens' accounts, and occasional orders of the 
 Court. The books and records from that date 
 to the present time have been preserved. 
 
 The following note, written by the Clerk in 
 1666 on the fly-leaf of the first Roll of Freemen, 
 refers to the loss of the books and other effects 
 in the Great Fire : 
 
 The quarter books for the Company of Basket 
 Makers London which had continued for above three 
 score years were amongst other books and writings con- 
 sumed by the dreadful and lamentable fire which began 
 on the second of September 1666 and lasted four days 
 whereby most of the late flourishing City of London 
 within the Walls and most parts westward without the 
 walls were destroied and laid wast, amongst which the 
 stately furniture of Guildhall was consumed, in one room 
 of which building the Company of Basketmakers had for 
 many years before the said fire kept their publique meet- 
 ings and holden their Courts, and their Chest with
 
 126 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 Carpets, Cushions, Silver spoons, bookes, writings and 
 other things standing in the same room at the time of 
 the said fire was burnt, to the loss and detremount of the 
 said Brotherhood, and with great pains and scrutiny the 
 names of the members therof hereafter written were re- 
 duced to the order and method following by me.* 
 
 January 10th 1666.f Chris. Pym Clerk. 
 
 It is to the credit of Christopher Pym, that 
 he made such worthy efforts on behalf of the 
 Company during a trying period in the history 
 of the City. 
 
 In view of the preceding statement made by 
 the Clerk of 1666, the two following entries in 
 the Wardens' Accounts, dated the 5th May, 
 1667, appear a little perplexing: 
 
 Paid the Clarke for searching the old book 
 for 60 years and writing the new quarter 
 booke . . . . . . . 00 10 00 
 
 Paid for carrying and preserving the Com- 
 pany's bookes at the tyme of the fire . 00 02 00 
 
 The Roll of Apprentices and the Quarter 
 Book commencing 1st June, 1639, and 8th Sep- 
 tember, 1661, respectively, were in use at the 
 time of the Great Fire, and these, together with 
 the Transcript of the Ordinances, were evidently 
 
 * A complete list of the Freemen followed. 
 
 t Previous to September, 1752, the legal year commenced on 
 the 25th March, whilst the historical year began on the 1st of 
 January, hence the apparent disagreement in the dates. A date 
 between 1st January and 25th March usually written thus : Jan. 
 10th 1666/7.
 
 EXTRACTS FROM THE COMPANY'S BOOKS 127 
 
 not at the Guildhall when the conflagration took 
 place. 
 
 In the same Accounts is an entry referring 
 to a mortgage : 
 
 Paid Mr. Heath for a copy of the Mortgage, 
 the original and other leases being burnt by 
 the fire and for his attendance . . . 01 00 00 
 
 The subjoined entries in the books seem to 
 point to the fact that the Company possessed 
 some property in the seventeenth century : 
 
 JULY 31sT 1671. 
 Spent with Heath at .receiveing the rent . 00 00 10 
 
 OCTOBER DTK 1671. 
 Received for rent . . . . . . 02 15 00 
 
 NOVEMBER 22ND 1671. 
 
 Lewis his rent 00 07 06 
 
 JANUARY 22xn 1671. 
 
 Of Mr Smith for rent due at Xpmas . . 02 15 00 
 Of Mr Heath in parte for the houses in East 
 
 Smithfeild 05 00 00 
 
 JANUARY 26'i'H 1671. 
 Mr Smith's Taxes and Lewis rent . . . 00 09 06 
 
 OCTOBER 7ra 1672. 
 Of Mr Heath in full for the purchase . . 40 00 00 
 
 JULY 29rn, 1673. 
 
 Paid the Clarke for goeing to Eastsmithfeild 
 and when the agreeni 1 was made with Mr 
 Heath and perusing the writings . . 00 10 00 
 
 There are a few entries in the Wardens' 
 Accounts of money lent and interest received 
 for the same ; these are recorded as follows :
 
 128 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 JANUARY lOra 1661. 
 
 Received of Mr Ayleffe the interest of ffifety 
 pounds for six moneths due the 26th of 
 December last 01 10 00 
 
 JULY TTH 1662. 
 
 Received then of Mr Ayleffe which was owe- 
 ing to this Company upon mortgage I 1 and 
 6 moneths interest for the same due the 
 xxvj th of June last in all . . . . 51 10 00 
 
 BARTHOLOMEW DAY 1662. 
 Paid September 19th to a Scrivener for draw- 
 ing writeings upon putting out mony be- 
 longing to the Company . . . . 00 04 00 
 
 NOVEMBER 2ND 1662. 
 
 Spent at a meeting to put out parte of the 
 
 Company's money 00 01 02 
 
 NOVEMBER 16xn 1662. 
 Lent then to [ ] * the some of I 1 at vi 1 p 
 
 Cent 50 00 00 
 
 APRIL 27xH 1663. 
 Lent April xxviij 01 1663 to Phillip Allatt 
 
 upon bond , . . 05 00 00 
 
 JULY 6ra 1663. 
 Received of Mr Warening 6 moneths interest 
 
 for I 1 01 10 00 
 
 MAY 6xH 1664. 
 Lent to John Selwood bye order . . . 05 00 00 
 
 JUNE 1664. 
 
 Received May the iij (l of Phillip Allatt the 
 some of ffive pounds and twelve moneths 
 interest for the same . . . . . 05 06 00 
 
 * Blank in the original.
 
 EXTRACTS FROM THE COMPANY'S BOOKS 129 
 
 JULY 5xH 1665. 
 Of Mr Walwin the interest of I 1 for two yeares 
 
 due the xxvij th of May last . . . 06 00 00 
 
 JULY 9 1666. 
 Received of John Selvvood the interest of v 1 
 
 for 12 moneths due the vi th of May last . 00 06 00 
 
 JULY 15-TH 1667. 
 Of John Selwood the interest of v 1 for 12 
 
 moneths due the 6th of May last . . 00 06 00 
 
 OCTOBER 5tH 1668. 
 
 Received of Mr Selwood in pte of his debt . 00 10 00 
 OCTOBER 12-m 1668. 
 
 Mr Walwin the interest of 50 l for 12 moneths 
 
 due in May last 68 .' . . . . 030000 
 
 JULY 1681. 
 
 Lent Mr Eaylby at interest . . .. 56 00 00 
 JANUARY 1682. 
 
 Received of Mr Ealby that was oweing by 
 him fifety pounds and two years interest 
 for the same due the xiiij January 1682 . 56 00 00 
 
 In the first Quarter Book preserved, an 
 interesting entry occurs, dated the 7th October, 
 1663. This is an inventory of the various 
 effects handed over by the retiring Wardens, 
 namely : 
 
 Received of Mr Richard Earl and Mr Nicholas 
 Perrey by Mr William Kitchen and Mr Ralph Allestry 
 now Wardens. Three bookes of orders, One booke of 
 Remembrance, One quarter booke, Two bookes of receipts 
 and payments, One banner, Three leaden weights, One 
 pewter standish, One obligacon from Robinson to the 
 Company, One Dieper table Cloth ten Cushions, two 
 
 K
 
 130 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 Carpetts, One table of orders, one houre glasse, one 
 hammer, One little leatherne box with three lockes and 
 keyes, In ready money Sixteene pounds, one shilling and 
 foure pence. Seaventeene silver spoons, and a box for 
 the poore given by Mr. Oliffe. 
 
 The following entries record the transfer of 
 money, etc., to the new Wardens on the occasion 
 of the old Wardens retiring from office : 
 
 Memorandum that Mr Mathew Keene Warden of 
 the company of Basketmakers of London did on the 
 first day of May 1672 then deliver unto Mr Antyony 
 Wats basketmaker the sum of fivfty seaven pounds 
 seaventene shillings and eieght pence with one silver 
 spoone and a small trunke which I acknowledge to have 
 received the day above sayed in trust and for the use of 
 the company of basketmakers with a bond from Mr 
 Heath scrivfner in East Smithfield of forty pounds to be 
 payed the 27th day of September next Insuinge which 
 some fivfty and seaven pounds seaventene shillings and 
 eiaget pence with the bond of forty pounds the trunke 
 and one silver spoone I doe heare promise to pay and 
 deliver unto Mr Warden Johnson and to Mr Robert 
 Harding when it shall be demanded by them for the use 
 of the company whereunto I have set my hand the day 
 and yeare above writin. 
 
 The marke of Anthony ^^ Watts. 
 Abrah. Johnson, witnes. 
 
 Samuel Keene 7 . . 
 o i. j. TT J- f wittnes. 
 Kobert Harding 3 
 
 OCTOBER vij th 1672. 
 
 This day Mr Watts is discharged of the trust above 
 mentioned ffor that he hath delivered the mony trunke 
 and things above mentioned unto Mr Keene & Mr 
 Johnson Wardens of the Company of Basketmakers. 
 Witnes 
 
 Chris. Pym, Clerke.
 
 EXTRACTS FROM THE COMPANY'S BOOKS 131 
 
 45 19 08 
 
 SEPTEMBER 12ra 1673. 
 
 Received of Mathew Keene and Abraham " 
 Johnson late Wardens by Adrian Peirson 
 and Clement Peirson now Wardens in 
 money 
 
 & two bonds for 50 l lent to David Hillar & John Plum- 
 ridge in all 95 1 : 19 9 : 08 d being the exceeds of their 
 Accompt Which Accompt was allowed off the day and 
 yeare abovesaid by we whose names are subscribed, 
 (not signed). 
 
 Extracts from the Company's books referring 
 to the attempts to obtain a charter, the grant 
 of the livery, the control of the trade, and 
 other special matters, have been set forth else- 
 where in these pages ; beyond these, the books 
 contain few entries other than bindings of 
 apprentices, admissions to the freedom, elections 
 of the wardens and assistants, and the wardens' 
 accounts. A few items gathered chiefly from 
 the latter source are here given : 
 
 OCTOBER 24 1661. 
 Paid for a dinner then . . . . 01 15 06 
 
 JANUARY 24ra: 1661. 
 
 Spent March 4th when a precept came about 
 
 Come 00 02 06 
 
 Paid for meal which was served into Cheap 
 
 Ward according to a p r cept * . 00 14 00 
 
 JULY TTH 1662. 
 
 Spent August xvi th at a meeting touching a 
 
 precept 00 01 08 
 
 * Vide p. 75.
 
 132 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 JULY 3RD 1671. 
 
 Received for one and twenty silver spoones 
 
 that were sold 07 09 00 
 
 AUGUST 24TH 1671. 
 Spent at Breakfast then . . . . 00 05 06 
 
 JULY 7TH 1672. 
 Paid for Printing the Act of Q Elizabeth . 00 06 00 
 
 AUGUST 26ra 1672. 
 
 Paid for a Truncke and two Cedar Balls . 01 12 06 
 
 ffor carrying the Truncke to Guildhall . . 00 01 00 
 
 Paid for the Coate of Armes . . . 01 05 00 
 Paid for the Table of Orders and fframe and 
 
 Articles of Q Eliz : 00 16 00 
 
 27TH JULY 1675. 
 Paid for an Hower Glasse .... ij s vj a 
 
 7ra JUNE 1677. 
 
 Spent attending the Court of Aldren . . ij s ij d 
 Spent on Lord Majors day xi. 
 
 MAY STH 1683. 
 
 Paid for drawing severall Orders to be allowed] - 
 by the Court of Aldren . . . ./ 
 
 JANUARY 19 1684. 
 Paid for a Gowne 00 01 00 
 
 OCTOBER 12-ra 1685. 
 
 Paid the Clarke his Salary this Quarter . . 00 05 00 
 
 Paid him for goeing in search . . . 00 02 06 
 
 Paid him for writing over the Quarter Booke 00 05 00 
 
 Paid him for drawing and entering the last"! nn 1n nn 
 
 Wardens Accompts J l 
 
 Paid him for a coppy of the names of o r . 
 
 Members, and their Quarteridge
 
 EXTRACTS FROM THE COMPANY'S BOOKS 133 
 
 JULY 12-TH 1686. 
 
 This day James Herring was admitted of thel , } 
 
 Assistants and paid . . . . ./ 
 
 Paid for swearing the Wardens . '. . . 00 04 
 
 Paid for mending the Trunke . . . 00 01 6 
 
 Paid for a copy of the Wardens Oath . . 00 02 
 
 APRILL 28-TH 1690. 
 Paid the Hall rent * 00 04 00 
 
 OCTOBER 13TH 1690. 
 Expent this day at ye White Lyon & Mr 
 
 Halls at Queens Hith . . . . 00 17 06 
 
 APRIL 15TH 1695 
 Expended in paying the Reckonning at the 
 
 White Lyon . . . . . . 00 09 00 
 
 APRIL 9-TH 1704. 
 George Bolt by reason of his purchase of his j 
 
 ffreedom of the Citty of London was at his > 1. 0. 0. 
 request made free of this Company and paid J 
 
 JULY 12-TH 1708. 
 
 Expent at a meeting of the Company to give 
 an accompt of y e abode of the members of 
 y e Company persuant to the Lord Mayor's 
 Precept . 0. 8. 0. 
 
 JANUARY 14-ra 1711. 
 
 To the Clerk for swearing y e Wardens, 5 s ffor 
 Bartholomew day 5 s ffor y e Wardens Oaths 
 5 s ffor an Ingraved Plate for y e Box 5 s ffor 
 y e Wardens accompts & Quarter Book 1.*, 
 in all. . . . . . . . 2. 0. 0. 
 
 JULY 27xH 1713. 
 
 Ordered that Jeremiah Howells Quarteridge be for- 
 given him to this day upon the accompt of his service to 
 her Majesty in her Army. 
 
 * i.e. The Guildhall.
 
 134 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 AUGUST 28-TH 1718. 
 
 It is this day Ordered and agreed That a Coate be 
 provided and made for Thomas Hayes the Beadle of this 
 Company, fitt and convenient for him at the charge of 
 the Publick Stock of this Company And at the discrecon 
 of the Wardens of the same Company as to the ffashion 
 and Charge thereof. 
 
 OCTOBER 12 1719. 
 
 Paid for a Staff & Silver head for y e Company si . s. d. 
 use J 1. 16. 0. 
 
 APRIL HTH 1720. 
 
 Of severall persons for Quartridge since lastl 7 i 4 
 Quarter Day . . . . . J 
 
 JANUARY STH 1721. 
 
 Paid for 500 Printed Oaths and 2,000 sum- j j 15 
 monses and paper . . . . . J 
 
 JANUARY 19 1730. 
 
 This Day Mr Wm Slade junr was made free of this 
 Company by Patrimony. He paid the usual ffees & 1 s to 
 the Poors Box. 
 
 JULY 14TH 1735. 
 
 Of Mr Gallington for S r W m Ogborns * quar- 
 
 teridge (rece a by him of S r W ms Executor) . 0. 16. 0. 
 
 MAY 15ra 1736. 
 
 At this Court Thos. Hamnett of Water Lane in 
 Blackfryars Cheesmonger was made free by Redemption 
 & paid l lb - 
 
 APRIL 20ra 1742. 
 
 Paid for the Beadles Gown . . . 2. 18. 0. 
 
 Paid for the Silver Baskett . . . 2. 0. 0. 
 
 Paid for the Beadles Hatt . . . . 0. 6. 0. 
 
 * Prime Warden of the Company 1713-15 ; was knighted some 
 few years later and elected Sheriff of the City of London in 1726. 
 He was also a member of the Carpenters' Company, and served the 
 office of Master of that Guild.
 
 EXTRACTS FROM THE COMPANY'S BOOKS 135 
 
 FEBRUARY 27xn 1745. 
 
 At this Court Mrs. Ann Shergold widow of 
 Mr Mark Shergold late of the Parish of 
 St. Botolph Billingsgate was made free of 
 this Company paid . . . .100 
 
 The Company's accounts record monetary 
 assistance given to the poor, and payments for 
 the purpose of burials. Subjoined are a few 
 extracts gathered at random : 
 
 APRIL 27ra 1663. 
 
 Given old Trusse 00 02 06 
 
 Given goody Douglasse . . . . 00 00 04 
 
 JULY 6xH 1663. 
 
 Given old Trusse then 00 03 00 
 
 JULY 21sT 1673. 
 
 Given to old Wilmot 00 05 00 
 
 OCTOBER 6TH 1673. 
 Given James Garrett and John Willmore . ix s 
 
 JANUARY 19 1673. 
 Given John Rymes by the Companies order . x s 
 
 APRIL 6TH 1674. 
 
 Given Widow Rymer by order . . . v 8 
 Given to Widow Garrett then . . . v s 
 
 JULY 17ra 1677. 
 Given to bury William Cooper . . . iiij 8 
 
 JULY 28ra 1679. 
 Given John Wilmore at severall times these 
 
 two yeares . . . . . . 00 16 00 
 
 Given Widow Garrett . . . . 00 08 00 
 
 JULY 30-TH 1681. 
 Paid to John Wilmore and to other poore 
 
 persons for these Two yeares . . . 03 02 00
 
 136 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 OCTOBER 17 1681. 
 Given to severall poore people .'^ . . 00 07 06 
 
 JULY 16xH 1683. 
 Given the poore . ' . . . . . 00 05 00 
 
 OCTOBER I^TH 1685. 
 Given the Poor out of the Stocke . . .000700 
 
 SEPTEMBER SRD 1689. 
 Given to severall poor people at severall 
 
 times . . . . . . . 00 07 00 
 
 OCTOBER 14TH 1689. 
 Given a poor man 00 02 00 
 
 APRIL 28TH 1690. 
 Given Moses Bayley a poor man . . . 00 05 00 
 
 OCTOBER 13ra 1690. 
 Given Mr. Harper's Children . . . . 00 05 00 
 
 FEBRUARY SND 1691. 
 
 Paid for a Coffin for Cornelius Adrian . . 00 05 00 
 Given John Long in his Sicknesse and towards 
 
 the burying of him by order . . 00 16 00 
 
 JULY IOTH 1693. 
 Given Mr. Harper's son that is blind . . 00 05 00 
 
 JULY 29ra 1693. 
 Paid towards the burying of John Geary . 00 10 00 
 
 OCTOBER 16TH 1693. 
 Given old Rymes . . . . 00 03 06 
 
 APRIL 15-m 1695. 
 Expended at the buriall of old Rymes . . 00 06 06 
 
 JULY 7-ra 1718. 
 Paid since last Quarter in y e Companys business 
 
 & for Mr. Brainers ffunerall . 3 4. 10
 
 EXTRACTS FROM THE COMPANY'S BOOKS 137 
 
 JULY HTH 1720. 
 
 Ordered That Twenty shillings be paid and given to 
 Mr. Hayes the Beadle for particular business done to 
 this day & in regard to his age. 
 
 OCTOBER lOra 1720. 
 
 Ordered That Twenty shillings be given to Thomas 
 Hayes the Beadle to buy him necessaryes. 
 
 JULY lOrn 1721. 
 
 Ordered That Thomas Hayes have Twenty shillings 
 given him on Accompt of his Age and Poverty. 
 
 The Oath taken by the Freemen of the 
 Company as recorded in the Transcript of Acts, 
 Orders, and Regulations, written in 1618 by 
 Thomas Leeche, the Clerk of that time, is here 
 set forth : 
 
 The Oath of every Freeman of this Craft. 
 Ye shall swear to bee true and faithfull to our 
 Soveraigne Lord the Kinge of England now being and to 
 his heires and Successors Kinges and Queenes of England 
 after him, To the Companie and Craft of Basketmakers 
 wherein you are informed either by apprenticehoode or 
 otherwise. The secrets of y e same Crafte yee shall well 
 and faithfullie keepe, and not teache them to any man 
 but to such as be free of the same Science. Also ye shalbe 
 obedient unto almanner of Sumons whensoever yee shalbe 
 warned by the Officer or Beadle. And to paye all manner 
 of Duties as it becometh a Brother and a Freeman to 
 doe. If yee knowe any evill or hurte to y e same Crafte 
 or that shoulde be hurtfull to y e Wardens to showe it, 
 and let it to your power, So help you God. 
 
 At a Meeting of the Court held at The Two 
 Brewers, London Wall, on the 27th September 
 1825, it was resolved :
 
 138 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 That in the Oath in future to be taken by every 
 person on his admission to the Freedom of this Company 
 the words : 
 
 Also ye shall be obedient to all manner of Summonses 
 whensoever ye shall be warned by the Officer or 
 Beadle 
 be left out. 
 
 It was customary, until about the end of the 
 eighteenth century, for the Clerk to be sworn on 
 taking office. The form of the Oath was as 
 follows : 
 
 You swear that you will well and truly do and 
 execute all such things as shall appertain and belong to 
 your Office of Clerk to the Worshipful Company of 
 Basket Makers of this City of London according to 
 the Laws and Customs thereof. So help you God.
 
 CONNECTION WITH THE IRISH 
 SOCIETY. 
 
 IN the year 1609, James I. issued a state 
 paper proclaiming the advantage to be obtained 
 by the colonisation of certain escheated lands in 
 the province of Ulster, in the north of Ireland. 
 The public, nevertheless, did not take much 
 interest in the scheme, and the King applied to 
 the Corporation of the City of London to develop 
 the colony. The Corporation obtained the neces- 
 sary funds by a precept calling on the respective 
 Companies to obtain their quota from the 
 members the usual method prevailing at that 
 time. Licence to hold lands in mortmain was 
 granted to the City Companies in 1615, and 
 three years later the Irish Society (originally a 
 Committee of the Corporation of the City of 
 London) created manors and conveyed them to 
 the City Companies. An assessment of 40,000 
 having been made upon them towards the 
 development of the colony in Ulster, certain 
 lands and possessions were divided into twelve 
 portions and settled by lot amongst the great 
 Companies. The minor Companies were 
 joined to those of the great Companies who 
 had not advanced one-twelfth of the whole sum,
 
 140 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 the Basket-makers' Company being entitled by 
 this procedure to a small sub-share in the 
 Fishmongers' manor in Ulster. The respective 
 interests in proportion to the assessments were 
 as follows : 
 
 Fishmongers' Company . . . 2260 
 
 Leathersellers' Company . . 950 
 
 Plasterers' Company . . 40 
 
 Glaziers' Company ... 32 
 
 Basket-makers' Company . . 32 
 
 Musicians' Company :' 20 
 
 3,334 
 
 The total, it will be seen, is one-twelfth of 
 the whole amount contributed. 
 
 It is not known how the Fishmongers' Com- 
 pany came to acquire the small share allotted 
 to the Basket-makers' Company, though it has 
 been suggested that the latter did not claim 
 possession when the division took place in 1618. 
 
 On the 16th July, 1832, a Bill was filed in 
 Chancery by the Skinners' Company against the 
 Irish Society, the Associated Companies and 
 the Corporation of London, with the object of 
 obtaining a declaration that the Irish Society 
 were Trustees for the Companies in respect of 
 rents and profits of ferries, fisheries and town- 
 lands in Ulster ; these being the surplus pro- 
 perties which had not been divided among the 
 Companies. The decision of the Court of 
 Chancery (afterwards upheld by the House of
 
 CONNECTION WITH THE IRISH SOCIETY 141 
 
 Lords) was that the powers granted to the Irish 
 Society and the trusts reposed in them, were 
 of a public nature independent of the private 
 benefit of the City Companies. 
 
 The Basket-makers' Company was not a 
 party to these legal proceedings, since it had 
 repudiated any claim to this surplus under the 
 hands and seals of the Wardens and Members 
 of the Court of Assistants. 
 
 It may be interesting to record the fact that 
 basket-making was included in the seventeen 
 different trades which the Irish Society recom- 
 mended should be introduced into Ulster.
 
 INTEREST IN THE CRAFT. 
 
 THE Company endeavours to further the 
 interests of the trade so far as its resources 
 permit, chiefly by providing funds for the prizes 
 awarded by the City and Guilds of London 
 Institute in the basket-making section. 
 
 The following extracts from the Institute's 
 Programme (Department of Technology) for the 
 Session 1910-11 are given to show the scope of 
 the basket-making syllabus : 
 
 BASKET-WORK. 
 
 The Examination will be Written and Practical, 
 and will be so arranged as to test the Candidate's skill 
 in Basket-work in its various forms and applications, as 
 well as his knowledge of the various materials commonly 
 employed. 
 
 The examination will include (1) Practical work ; 
 (2) Written answers to questions ; (3) Specimen work 
 done by the Candidate during the session preceding the 
 examination. 
 
 In order to obtain a Certificate in either grade, Can- 
 didates will be required to pass in each of the parts 1, 2, 
 and 3. 
 
 ORDINARY GRADE. 
 
 1. The Written Examination will include questions 
 on the following subjects : 
 
 (1) Osiers : different kinds and sizes, their qualities 
 and uses.
 
 INTEREST IN THE CRAFT 143 
 
 The cultivation of osiers. Cutting, sorting, peeling, 
 and buffing. Preparation for use. Staining, varnishing. 
 
 (2) Cane, whole and pithed : different kinds and 
 sizes ; qualities and uses. Preparation for use. Staining, 
 varnishing. 
 
 (3) Tools and appliances : their uses. 
 
 (4) Round or oval slath. Upsetting, slewing, rand- 
 ing, fitching, pairing. Wales three, four, five, or six 
 stroke. Borders plain three, four, five, or six stroke. 
 Footing. End, or cross handles. Hasps and nooses. 
 Ties and bands. Stakes, scalloms, bye-stakes, leagues, 
 liners. 
 
 (5) The construction of ordinary round and oval 
 baskets in osier and cane pith. 
 
 2. Practical Examination. Each Candidate will be 
 required, in the presence of the Superintendent, to make 
 some specimen of round or oval work in osier or cane 
 pith, as may be specified at the time of the examination. 
 
 Candidates will be required to bring with them the 
 usual tools and appliances. 
 
 3. Specimen Work. Each Candidate will be required, 
 in the nine months preceding the examination, to make 
 and complete in all particulars, one specimen of round, 
 and one specimen of oval work. 
 
 The design, construction, and execution of the speci- 
 men work will be considered, also any originality of 
 workmanship that is useful or practical. 
 
 HONOURS GRADE. 
 
 1. The Written Examination will include questions on 
 the following subjects : 
 
 (1) Process of making Skeins cleaving, shaving, up- 
 righting. Material other than osier used in fancy work. 
 Staining, varnishing. 
 
 (2) Construction of upright round linen, or similar 
 basket ; bird-cage, round or square ; chicken crate ; bottle 
 and carboy casing.
 
 144 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 (3) Square basket: preparing bottom, staking and 
 upsetting, for any given size, both with and without 
 corner sticks. The corner border. 
 
 (4) Borders : plain, plaited or braided, rope or cable 
 scallop, tracking. 
 
 (5) The construction of a fitched garden chair, fancy 
 chair, lounge chair, afternoon tea stand with two tiers, 
 afternoon tea table with two or three trays. 
 
 (6) The construction of picnic, luncheon and tea 
 baskets. Partition baskets, covered and open ; quart and 
 pint wine baskets; champagne baskets, sample baskets, 
 acid baskets, baskets for glasses, etc. 
 
 (7) Pony chaise bodies ; motor car bodies. 
 
 (8) Dress baskets ; travelling hampers ; pigeon baskets. 
 
 (9) Letter and waste paper baskets. 
 
 2. Practical Examination. Each Candidate will be 
 required, in the presence of the Superintendent, to make 
 any ordinary specimen of Basket-work that may be speci- 
 fied at the time of the examination. 
 
 3. Specimen Work. Each Candidate will be required, 
 in the nine months preceding the examination, to make 
 and complete in all particulars a specimen of advanced 
 basket-work, in the construction of which other materials 
 in addition to osiers may be used, e.g. hazel, straw plait, 
 plaited rush, cane, plain or enamelled, etc. The exercise 
 should be so selected as to show the Candidate's ability 
 in design and construction, and the application of osier 
 weaving to purposes beyond the ordinary forms of basket- 
 work travelling trunks, chairs, tables, stands and the like. 
 
 Originality of design or workmanship will be especially 
 considered. 
 
 At the East London Trades, Arts and In- 
 dustries Exhibition, held at the People's Palace 
 in 1896, the Basket-making Section of the 
 Exhibition was under the auspices of the Com 
 pany, and thus divided :
 
 INTEREST IN THE CRAFT 145 
 
 I. Exhibits of Manufacturing and Trading 
 
 Firms. 
 II. Work of Individual Craftsmen. 
 
 III. Work of Individual Students and 
 Apprentices. 
 
 In order to encourage the craft of English 
 Basket-making, and as an inducement to in- 
 dividual Basket-makers (whether workmen or 
 apprentices) to compete, the Court of the 
 Company decided to give Diplomas of Merit 
 to the Exhibitors of the best specimens in 
 Section I., and offered money prizes in Sections 
 II. and III. For that purpose they adopted 
 the following classification in each division : 
 Class I. Whole Rod Work. Class II. Skein 
 Work. Class III. Fancy Work (including 
 Straw, Rush, Esparto, String, Cane, etc.). 
 
 The factors determining the bestowal of the 
 prizes were : For each 1st Prize, " originality of 
 design and excellence of workmanship ; " for each 
 2nd Prize, " excellence of workmanship ; " and for 
 each 3rd Prize, " careful and good workmanship." 
 Numerous entries were received, thus show- 
 ing the considerable interest evoked by the 
 competition. 
 
 In past years the Company has shown occa- 
 sional interest in the subject of osier-planting in 
 England and in the encouragement of village 
 classes in Basket-work ; lack of funds has, how- 
 ever, prevented that intimate connection with 
 the trade which it is so desirable to maintain. 
 
 From 1846 to 1873 the Company was in 
 
 L
 
 146 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 danger of extinction, but the energy of a small 
 number of active members of the Court was 
 instrumental in reviving it from a semi-moribund 
 condition. The Rev. P. H. Ditchfield wrote 
 concerning this effort : " This is greatly to the 
 credit of the few energetic members that have 
 rescued and restored to active life this ancient 
 corporation." 
 
 In referring to this matter, it should be 
 placed on record that the Company is greatly 
 indebted to the White family, whose connection 
 with the Guild dates back to the early part of 
 the eighteenth century. The last member of 
 this old family of Basket-makers who took an 
 active interest in the Company's welfare was 
 Mr. James George White, J.P., C.C., Deputy 
 Alderman of Walbrook. He served the Office 
 of Prime Warden in 1882-83, and for several 
 years filled the position of Honorary Clerk. 
 His decease occurred in 1906, and a Tablet to 
 his memory has been placed in St. Swithin's 
 Church by his many friends. 
 
 Though never wealthy, the Worshipful 
 Company of Basket-makers is an old institution 
 with worthy traditions and a long record of 
 earnest endeavour to benefit an ancient British 
 industry. During the last thirty-five years the 
 position of the Company has steadily improved, 
 while its growing influence and increasing mem- 
 bership give encouragement to the hope that 
 renewed efforts in the interest of the trade will 
 be made.
 
 147 
 
 APPENDIX A. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF BASKET-MAKING IN 1747. 
 
 FROM "A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ALL TRADES,' 1 
 PRINTED BY T. WALLER. 
 
 THOUGH this seems to be an inferior hidden Sort of a 
 Handicraft Business, there is a good deal of Variety in 
 it ; and is not without its Niceties, too, as evidently 
 appears by the considerable Figure their Wares make in 
 the Turners' Shops, (and the many Uses they are applied 
 to) who are the principal Dealers in them, after the 
 Makers. Most, if not all, Baskets are made of Willow 
 Twigs, Osiers, or Rods, either green with the Peel on, or 
 Stript, which make them appear white ; they are also 
 split, shaved, and dyed for the finer Works. The working 
 them green is the more considerable Branch, especially for 
 the Gardeners' Use ; for many Masters in this way not 
 only follow the Trade of Basket-making, and employ many 
 Hands, but rent several Waters for the sake of the Osier 
 Plantations, which often produce not only sufficient for 
 themselves, but a great many to spare. 
 
 This part of the Work requires not much else 
 besides Strength and Application, a Journeyman in which 
 can earn from 10 to 20 s a Week. The White Work does 
 not require so much Strength, but more Invention and 
 Nicety, at which many Women are employed in making 
 the smaller Wares. 
 
 They have 5 or 10 with an Apprentice and their 
 Hours of working are from six to nine. 
 
 About 100 will set a Master up in a pretty Manner ; 
 but some of them employ more.
 
 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 They are a Company by prescription only ; but were 
 considerable enough in the Year 1463 in the Reign of 
 King Edward IV., to have a certain Place allotted them 
 for their keeping Shops, then called the Manor of Blanch- 
 Appleton, situated at the North-East End of Mark-lane, 
 in Fenchurch Street. 
 
 They have neither Livery * nor Hall ; but meet to do 
 their Business where and when their Warden appoints, 
 commonly once a Quarter, when they have a Feast. 
 
 There is no Record in the College of any Arms 
 granted to them. 
 
 * The Livery was granted seventy-eight years later.
 
 149 
 
 APPENDIX B. 
 
 LIST OF THE WARDENS. 
 
 * Clement Holmes 
 
 * Adrian Adrianson 
 
 * William Addersburie 
 
 * William Weatlie 
 
 * Thomas Oliffe 
 
 * John Clarke 
 
 Under Warden. 
 Robert Mounte 
 Richard Cobham 
 
 Upper Warden. 
 1610 Robert Brackin . 
 1618 Robert Mounte . 
 1623 Richard Bingham 
 
 With the exception of the above, the names of the 
 Wardens prior to 1661 are not known, the records having 
 been lost. 
 
 1661-63 Richard Earl . 
 1663-65 William Kitchen . 
 1665-67 Edmund Peirson . 
 
 Nicholas Perry 
 Ralph Allestry 
 Matthew Keene 
 
 1667-69 Anthony Watts 
 1669-71 Robert Harding . 
 1671-73 Matthew Keene 
 
 Adrian Peirson 
 Thomas Hall 
 Abraham Johnson 
 
 1673-75 Adrian Peirson 
 
 Clement Peirson 
 
 1675-77 Thomas Hall . 
 1677-79 Robert Harding . 
 1679-81 Anthony Watts 
 1681-85 Adrian Peirson 
 
 Richard Reading 
 James Ward 
 James Dickenson 
 Jacob Chandler 
 
 1685-86 Richard Reading . 
 1686-87 William Fielder 
 
 William Fielder 
 Phillip Allett 
 
 * Years of office unobtainable, 
 further Ordinances they are referred 
 Wardens. 
 
 In the Petition of 1610 for 
 to as having been heretofore
 
 150 
 
 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 
 Upper Warden. 
 
 Under Warden. 
 
 1687-89 
 
 James Dickenson 
 
 Samuel Puller 
 
 1689-91 
 
 Phillip Allett . 
 
 John Alcott 
 
 1691-93 
 
 John Alcott . 
 
 Benjamin Evans 
 
 1693-95 
 
 Benjamin Evans 
 
 John Berrey 
 
 1695-97 
 
 John Johnson . 
 
 Thomas Board 
 
 1697-99 
 
 John Berrey . 
 
 John Dobbs 
 
 1699-01 
 
 John Dobbs 
 
 William Pollett 
 
 1701-03 
 
 James Herring 
 
 Isaac Puller 
 
 1703-05 
 
 William Pollett 
 
 Stephen Goldsmith 
 
 1705-07 
 
 Stephen Goldsmith . 
 
 William Costen 
 
 1707-09 
 
 William Costen 
 
 John Cole 
 
 1709-11 
 
 John Cole 
 
 William Hancock 
 
 1711-13 
 
 William Hancock . 
 
 William Ogborn 
 
 1713-15 
 
 William Ogborn * . 
 
 Capt. John Kelson 
 
 1715-17 
 
 Capt. John Kelson . 
 
 Francis Watts 
 
 1717-19 
 
 Francis Watts . 
 
 William Board 
 
 1719-21 
 
 John Gallington 
 
 Thomas Bolter 
 
 1721-23 
 
 Benjamin Johnson . 
 
 Fulkes Wenham 
 
 1723-25 
 
 Fulkes Wenham 
 
 Benjamin Payne 
 
 1725-27 
 
 Thomas Bolter 
 
 James Bull 
 
 1727-29 
 
 Benjamin Payne 
 
 Benjamin Bechenoe 
 
 1729-31 
 
 James Bull 
 
 Benjamin Bechenoe 
 
 1731-33 
 
 Benjamin Bechenoe . 
 
 William Deal 
 
 1733-35 
 
 William Deal . 
 
 /Jethro Osborne 
 I Richard Cutter 
 
 1735-37 
 
 Richard Cutter 
 
 Peter Buck 
 
 1737-39 
 
 Peter Buck 
 
 Henry Wilson 
 
 1739-41 
 
 Henry Wilson . 
 
 /Timothy Berry 
 ^John Fuller 
 
 1741-43 
 
 Henry Wilson . 
 
 Peter Deane 
 
 1743-45 
 
 William Slade . 
 
 William Howson 
 
 1745-47 
 
 William Howson 
 
 Nathaniel Jeynes 
 
 1747-49 
 
 Nathaniel Jeynes 
 
 Benjamin Bechenoe 
 
 1749-51 
 
 Benjamin Bechenoe . 
 
 William Boulter 
 
 1751-53 
 
 William Boulter 
 
 William Handleby 
 
 * Elected Sheriff and knighted in 1726, vide p. 134, and note.
 
 APPENDIX B 
 
 151 
 
 
 Upper Warden. 
 
 Under Warden. 
 
 1753-55 
 
 William Handleby . 
 
 John Clark 
 
 1755-57 
 
 John Clark 
 
 Henry Willson, Junr. 
 
 1757-59 
 
 Henry Wilson, Junr. 
 
 Robert Samuel 
 
 1759-61 
 
 Robert Samuel 
 
 William Spinnage 
 
 1761-63 
 
 William Spinnage . 
 
 Edward White 
 
 1763-65 
 
 Edward White 
 
 John Radford 
 
 1765-67 
 
 John Radford . 
 
 Benjamin Hamnett 
 
 1767-69 
 
 Benjamin Hamnett . 
 
 Robert Kemshead 
 
 1769-71 
 
 Robert Kemshead . 
 
 John Haveil 
 
 1771-73 
 
 John Haveil 
 
 William Conyers 
 
 1773-75 
 
 Richard Rollings- 
 
 Richard Allum 
 
 
 worth 
 
 
 1775-77 
 
 Henry Wilson . 
 
 John Spinnage 
 
 1777-79 
 
 Richard Hollings- 
 
 Benjamin Philips 
 
 
 worth 
 
 
 1779-81 
 
 Benjamin Hamnett . 
 
 Benjamin Philips 
 
 1781-83 
 
 Benjamin Hamnett . 
 
 Thomas Allum 
 
 1783-85 
 
 Willm. White, Senr. 
 
 Thomas Allum 
 
 1785-1807 
 
 Thomas Allum 
 
 Robert Burch 
 
 1807-09 
 
 Benjamin Philips 
 
 William Hipper 
 
 1809-19 
 
 Edward White * . 
 
 Richard Allum 
 
 1819-24 
 
 Richard Allum 
 
 Thomas Okey 
 
 1824-26 
 
 Thomas Okey . 
 
 Henry Richard Millett 
 
 1826-29 
 
 George Tucker 
 
 John Harris 
 
 1829-31 
 
 William Mallard 
 
 Samuel Walden 
 
 1831-33 
 
 Thomas Okey . 
 
 Edward White, Junr. 
 
 1833-41 
 
 Samuel Walden 
 
 Henry Richard Millett 
 
 1841-46 
 
 John Harris 
 
 Edward White 
 
 
 Prime Warden. 
 
 Junior Warden. 
 
 1846-81 
 
 Edward White f 
 
 Edward White, Junr. 
 
 1881-82 
 
 Edward White, Junr. 
 
 James George White 
 
 1882-83 
 
 James George White 
 
 William Thomas 
 
 
 
 Parmly Montgomery 
 
 * Son of Edward White, Upper Warden, 1763-65. 
 t Son of Edward White, Upper Warden, 1809-19.
 
 152 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 Prime Warden. Junior Warden. 
 
 1883-84 Wm. Thos. Parmly Thomas John Robins 
 
 Montgomery 
 
 1884-85 Thomas John Robins Alexander Millar 
 
 1885-86 Alexander Millar . William Philip Nettle- 
 ship 
 
 1886-87 William Philip Net- Richard Stevens Sly, 
 
 tleship. . . J.P. 
 
 1887-88 Richard Stevens Sly, Edward James Anning, 
 
 J.P. . . . C.C. 
 
 1888-89 Edward James An- John George Dibble 
 
 ning, C.C. 
 
 1889-90 John George Dibble Charles Kendall 
 
 1890-91 Charles Kendall . Edward Adams Perrin 
 
 1891-92 Edwd. Adams Perrin John Whale 
 
 1892-93 John Whale . . William Parson Tap- 
 per 
 
 1893-94 William Parson Tap- James Palmer Pike 
 
 per 
 
 1894-95 James Palmer Pike . Ambrose Andrew Tap- 
 per 
 
 1895-96 Ambrose Andrew William Herbert Har- 
 
 Tapper . . rison 
 
 1896-97 William Herbert Thomas John Robins 
 
 Harrison 
 
 1897-98 Thomas John Robins Richard Stevens Sly, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 1898-99 Richard Stevens Sly, Edward Knott 
 
 J.P. 
 
 1899-1900 Edward Knott . . James George Unite 
 
 1900-01 James George Unite Henry Edwin Sam- 
 brook 
 
 1901-02 Henry Edwin Sam- Richard Thomas Sam- 
 brook . . . brook 
 1902-03 Richard Thomas George Henry Finch 
 
 Sambrook 
 
 1903-04 George Henry Finch John Whittle Harvey 
 
 1904-05 John Whittle Harvey William Philip Goosey
 
 APPENDIX B 153 
 
 Prime Warden. Junior Warden. 
 
 1905-06 William Philip Frederick Dunn 
 
 Goosey 
 
 1906-07 Frederick Dunn . Frederick Henry Pullen 
 
 1907-08 Frederick Henry Alfred Double, C.C., 
 
 Pullen. . . J.P. 
 
 1908-09 Alfred Double, C.C., Horace Robert Spence 
 
 J.P. 
 
 1909-10 Horace Robert Palmer Bryant 
 
 Spence 
 
 1910-11 Palmer Bryant Reuben Henry Frost
 
 154 
 
 APPENDIX C. 
 
 
 LIST OF 
 
 THE CLERKS. 
 
 IfilS 
 
 
 i novnpQ T.PPf*nP 
 
 JLOJ.O 
 
 1666 
 
 
 JL 11 HI 11 do A Jt*Cl..H t- 
 
 Christopher Pym 
 
 
 DATE OP APPOINTMENT. 
 
 1684 
 
 14th April 
 
 James Oliver 
 
 1694 
 
 17th Sept. 
 
 Needier Webb 
 
 1730 
 
 13th July 
 
 William Benson 
 
 1737 
 
 9th Jan. 
 
 Joshua Cox 
 
 1746 
 
 14th July 
 
 William Boulter 
 
 
 
 r PJ"mmfl Allnm * 
 
 1767 
 
 13th July 
 
 JL lAVJUJdo XA-llllllI 
 
 Richard Allum 
 
 1808 
 
 15th Sept. 
 
 Samuel Isaac Lilly 
 
 1829 
 
 7th Jan. 
 
 Thomas Theobalds f 
 
 1829 
 
 12th Feb. 
 
 Frederick Temple J 
 
 1838 
 
 19th Feb. 
 
 William Walker 
 
 1873 
 
 24th Oct. 
 
 Edward White 
 
 1878 
 
 30th Oct. 
 
 Edward White, Jr. 
 
 1883 
 
 14th Nov. 
 
 James George White, C.C., J.P. || 
 
 1906 
 
 6th June 
 
 Edwin Whitley Smith 
 
 1907 
 
 13th Feb. 
 
 Henry Hodgkinson Bobart 
 
 * Mentioned as clerk in 1761, but his appointment is not 
 recorded. 
 
 t Of the Chamberlain's Office, Guildhall. 
 \ Keeper of the Guildhall. 
 Of the Chamberlain's Office, Guildhall. 
 || Deputy of the Ward of Walbrook.
 
 L55 
 
 APPENDIX D. 
 
 LIST OF APPRENTICES WHO PRESENTED 
 SILVER SPOONS TO THE COMPANY. 
 
 Date. 
 
 Name. 
 
 Mark. 
 
 1661 
 
 William Scott 
 
 w.s. 
 
 
 
 Philemon Cobham 
 
 P.O. 
 
 
 
 Thomas Hayes 
 
 T.H. 
 
 >j 
 
 Isaac Mackerson 
 
 I.M. 
 
 > 
 
 John Day 
 
 I.D. 
 
 j> 
 
 William Penry 
 
 W.P. 
 
 1662 
 
 John Long 
 
 J.L. 
 
 >j 
 
 Thomas Walter 
 
 T.W. 
 
 j> 
 
 John Wills 
 
 I.W. 
 
 j> 
 
 John Bannister 
 
 I.B. 
 
 >5 
 
 Stephen Heather 
 
 (no mark) 
 
 1663 
 
 James Boteler 
 
 iB. 
 
 > 
 
 Nathaniel Ward 
 
 (no mark) 
 
 J 5 
 
 John Haynes 
 
 LH. 
 
 > 
 
 Richard Jones 
 
 (no mark) 
 
 )> 
 
 Joseph Williams 
 
 > 
 
 1664 
 
 George Ball 
 
 G.B. 
 
 99 
 
 Richard West 
 
 R.W. 
 
 J9 
 
 Richard fflagott 
 
 R.F. 
 
 99 
 
 Adrian Hobbs 
 
 A.H. 
 
 9> 
 
 Daniel Wood 
 
 (no mark) 
 
 1665 
 
 Thomas Greene 
 
 T.G. 
 
 99 
 
 John Rymer 
 
 I.R. 
 
 1667 
 
 John Sheppeard 
 
 I.S. 
 
 99 
 
 Samuel Puller 
 
 (no mark) 
 
 9 9 
 
 Abraham Wilson 
 
 A.W. 
 
 9 9 
 
 Robert White 
 
 R.W. 
 
 1668 
 
 Robert Aldridge 
 
 (no mark) 
 
 >> 
 
 Rowland ffry 
 
 > 
 
 > 
 
 John Harris 
 
 
 
 
 
 John Tythe 
 
 > 
 
 > 
 
 Andrew Harding 
 
 > 
 
 
 
 Joseph ffellows 
 
 > 
 
 }5 
 
 James Herring 
 
 
 
 1669 
 
 John Birkham 
 
 i 
 
 1670 
 
 Thomas Gregory 
 Abraham Arnold 
 
 T.G. 
 A.A. 
 
 ' 
 
 Thomas Benwell 
 
 T.B.
 
 1.56 
 
 APPENDIX E. 
 
 ARMS OF THE COMPANY. 
 
 No record of a grant to the Basket-makers has been 
 found in the College of Arms, and it is not known when 
 those adopted by the Company were first assumed. In 
 " A Complete Body of Heraldry " compiled by Joseph 
 Edmondson F.S.A. in 1780 they are thus described : 
 
 " Arms. Az : three cross baskets in pale ar. between 
 a prime and an iron on the dexter, and a cutting-knife 
 and an outsticker on the sinister of the second." 
 
 " (N.B. The prime and cutting-knife are in chief, and 
 the iron and outsticker in base ; they are the tools made 
 use of in the business.)" 
 
 " Crest. On a wreath a cradle, therein a child, rocked 
 at the head by a girl and at the feet by a boy, both 
 vested, all proper." 
 
 " Motto. Let us love one another." 
 
 Edmondson adds : " This account of the Basket Makers 
 Arms &c. I received from the Clerk of the Company 
 with a print of the same, which is the ornament to 
 their summonses, &c." 
 
 The Arms of the Company are to be seen in the 
 Guildhall Council Chamber, on one of the stained glass 
 screens which divide the Chamber from the corridor ; 
 they are also painted in their proper colours on the 
 walls of the lobby leading from the Great Hall to the 
 Council Chamber.
 
 APPENDIX E. 
 
 157 
 
 OLD ARMS OF THE BASKET MAKERS' COMPANY. 
 
 P, 
 
 A. Reproduced from the form of Oath printed in 1721. 
 
 B. Reproduced from the Book of Ordinances printed in 1827. 
 
 C. Reproduced from "Maitland's History of London" (1772), 
 
 vol. i., p. 1242. 
 
 D. Reproduced from " Seal's Map of Middlesex," circa 1750.
 
 158 
 
 APPENDIX F. 
 
 BASKET MAKER'S TOKEN. 
 
 FACSIMILE OF GRAVES WEAVER'S TOKEN 
 
 (1648-1671). 
 
 (From the Beaufoy Collection in the Guildhall Museum.) 
 
 GRAVES WEAVER AT YE WICKER CRADLE (in the field). 
 
 Rev . IN PETTICOATE LANE. (In the field) G.W. (Weaver was 
 
 a Basket Maker, the cradle being the crest of the Basket 
 
 Makers 1 Company.) * 
 
 * J. H. Burn's Descriptive Catalogue of London Traders' 
 Tokens, 1855.
 
 159 
 
 APPENDIX G. 
 
 RATES OF MERCHANDISE OR SUBSIDY OF 
 TONNAGE. 
 
 ACT OF TONNAGE & POUNDAGE 12 CHAS. II. 
 
 Rates inward. 
 
 Basket rods, the bundle vj s viij d 
 
 Baskets, weat hand baskets 
 
 or sports the dozen iij 8 iv <l
 
 160 
 
 APPENDIX H. 
 
 LIST OF TAVERNS AND COFFEE HOUSES 
 WHERE THE BASKET MAKERS HELD 
 THEIR COURTS FROM 1667 TO 1826. 
 
 The Guildhall Coffee House. 
 
 The King's Head, Ivy Lane. 
 
 The Woolpack, Hart Street. 
 
 North's Coffee House, King Street. 
 
 The Plough Tavern, Blackwall. 
 
 The White Hart Inn, Kingsland Road. 
 
 The Temple Coffee House, Temple Bar. 
 
 The Fryar, Playhouse Yard. 
 
 The Horns, Thames Street. 
 
 The Bell, Basinghall Street. 
 
 The Blue Ball, Playhouse Yard, Black Friars. 
 
 The Rose and Ball, Sennets 1 Hill, Doctors' Commons. 
 
 The White Lyon in Thames Street. 
 
 The Green Dragon, St. Andrew's Hill. 
 
 The Old Parr's Head, Little Knightrider Street. 
 
 The Glaziers' Arms, Water Lane, Blackfriars. 
 
 The Crown Coffee House, Stationers' Court, Ludgate 
 
 Street. 
 The Two Brewers, London Wall.
 
 161 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 STOWS SURVEY (STRYPE) 1720. 
 
 " HERE shall follow a Scheme of the Companies, drawn 
 up many years ago by Mr. Richard Smith, some time 
 Secondary of the Compter, whereby, under one view, may 
 be seen their order, and the particular Streets or Lanes 
 where the respective Halls stand, or stood : With a note 
 of such Societies as had no Hall, or no Livery, or both. 
 
 The Companies or Societies of the Freemen of the 
 City of London ; their order with the Places where 
 their several Halls are situate; Together with the 
 latter Companies, that Have no halls, or no 
 Liveries." 
 
 Order of the Companies. 
 
 Hall, where situate. 
 
 54 Basket-makers no livery.* 
 
 Broad Street. 
 
 * The Company at the present time ranks 52nd in order of 
 precedence. The Livery was granted in 1825. 
 
 M
 
 162 
 
 APPENDIX J. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM THE HUGUENOT SOCIETY'S 
 RETURNS OF ALIENS. 
 
 Lay Subsidy. November, 32 Henry VIII. [1540]. 
 
 ESTSMYTHFELDE. 
 
 Rumbell, Basketmaker iirj* 1 
 
 THE PARYSHE OF SAYNT MARY HILL. 
 
 Vxor Goddeffreye (Goodwife Godfrey) 
 
 basketmaker, in goodes . . . . . x h . . . x s 
 
 Lay Subsidy. 30 April, 3 Edward VI. [1549]. 
 SEYNT AXDREWES PARISSHE, 
 
 Jasper Alnold (Arnold) xl u . iiij" 
 
 Garret Mathew 
 
 John Johnson 
 
 Corneles Gouertson 
 
 Nycholas Nyse 
 
 Barow Johnson 
 
 Mathew Farley 
 
 Henry Farley and Arnold Garetson 
 
 seruantes with Jesper Arnold . . 
 Corneles Johnson, basketmaker .... viiij" . viiij 
 Anthony Williamson, basketmaker . . . viij 
 
 v 8 iiii d
 
 APPENDIX J 163 
 
 Dutch Church, Registers of Members (commencing 
 
 circa 1550). 
 Andries Jansen 
 Antonis Willekens 
 Burcher Janson 
 Cornelis Goyertsoen 
 
 Dierick Gheeraerdtsoen BASKET MAKERS ' 
 Jan Muelener 
 Pieter Cornelissoen 
 Segher Diericksoen.* / 
 
 State Papers, Domestic, Elizabeth. 22 June 1561. 
 
 (Nomina eorum qui se adiecerunt Ecclesiae Germanicse 
 quae est Londini). 
 
 Bucherus Janson, sportarius, inseruit cuipiam Anglo. 
 
 Joannes Zebedej, sportularius, inuenis, inseruiens 
 Anglo cuipium. 
 
 Joannes Willhems, sportularius, inseruiens Anglo, sine 
 liberis. 
 
 Jacobus Hendricksoon, sportularius, inseruiens Anglo 
 cuipiam. 
 
 Laurentius Christiaen, sportularius. 
 
 Lansdowne MS. 
 
 Account of Strangers in the several parts of London and 
 Westminster. At Easter 1567. 
 
 AT FRESH WHARF. 
 
 Clays van Brogen, within (the house of) Adrian 
 Adrenson,f basketmaker, 1 yere. Dowch, not denizein. 
 
 AT THE STONE-HOWSE IN PHILPOT LANE. 
 
 James Bay lye, and Mary his wif. 2 yeres. In Richard 
 Grainger, basketmaker, his howse. Dowch, not denizein. 
 
 * One of the twelve Basket Makers who entered into recog- 
 nisance not to imperil the City by fire in 1539, vide p. 21. 
 t One of the Wardens of the Company, vide p. 149.
 
 164 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 TOWER WARDE. 
 Thomas Bisshopp, basket maker. Dutchman. No 
 
 denisen. 
 
 Lausdowne MS. 
 
 The Answer and Certificate of the Lord Mayor, Sir 
 Thomas Rowe, re number of Strangers, #c., 1568. 
 
 THE PARISHE OF ST. MARYE HILL. 
 John Myller, borne in Clevelande, basketmaker, deny- 
 son ; of the Dowche churche. 
 
 THE PARISHE OF S. GEORGE AND S. MARGETTES, IN 
 
 PUDDINGLANE. 
 
 James Adrian, denyson, basketmaker, borne in Hol- 
 land, of the Englishe churche. 
 
 THE PARISHE OF S T ANDROWES IN ESTCHEPE. 
 
 John Lyon, denyson, baskettmaker, borne in Honygo, 
 and Katheryne his wif ; of the Englishe churche. 
 
 Arnolde Giles, denysen, baskettmaker, borne in Bra- 
 bant, Jacamy his wif, and William Waggyner and Cornells 
 Wart, his servantes ; all of the Dowche churche. 
 
 Angell Mathewe, denyzen, basketmaker, borne at 
 Leavin, and Catheryne his wif ; of the Englishe churche ; 
 and Cornelis Peterson and Derick Lynse, his servantes; 
 of the Dowche churche. 
 
 Mathew Faylande, denyzen, basketmaker, born at 
 Cullen, and Margarett his wif, and Gyles Beche and 
 Mathewe Castell his seruantes ; of the Dowche churche. 
 
 Lambard Garratt, denizen, basketmaker, borne in 
 Luke ; of the Englishe churche. 
 
 Peter Foxe, baskettmaker, borne in Freselond, and 
 Marten Slepyn, servantes to Androwe Banberye,* Inglish- 
 man ; of the Dowche churche. 
 
 John Beche, basketmaker, borne in Luke, and John 
 Thomas, servantes to Adrian Adreanson ; * of the Dowche 
 churche. 
 
 Vide notes, p. 168.
 
 APPENDIX J 165 
 
 John Spicer, [basketmaker],* borne in Gaunte ; 
 Tymothe Lees, borne in Holland, of the Dowche churche ; 
 and Mathewe Spratt, borne in Valencine; all three 
 basketmakers, seruantes to f Richard Robinson, English- 
 man ; the same Mathewe Spratt goethe to the Frenche 
 churche. 
 
 John Adilson, borne at Granau, John Cornelis, borne 
 in Hollande, and Garrett Backhowse, borne in Facum- 
 borowe ; basketmakers, seruantes, to John Johnson ; of 
 the Dowche churche. 
 
 THE PARISH OF S T KATHERYNE CHRISTCHURCHE. 
 
 Peter Cornelius, denizen, basketmaker, borne in 
 Hollande, and his ij children ; of the Englishe churche ; 
 and Garrett Deroy, denyson, basketmaker, of the Dowche 
 churche ; tenante to Richard Rowe. 
 
 SAINTE MARTYNS PARISHE. 
 
 Ellys Foster, Ducheman, a basket maker ; paiethe rent 
 to William Cowerley, dyer. 
 
 SAINTE JAMES PARISHE. 
 
 Anthonny Devolo, a Duchman, a basketmaker ; he is 
 a denizen, and hathe a wif, and ij children ; he paieth his 
 rent to Robert Waryn, mynstrell, for the behofe of John 
 Jones, merchauntailor, and goeth to the parishe churche. 
 
 THE WARDE OF PORTSOKIN. 
 
 Staffeld van Felmont, [denizen],^ a baskatmaker, and 
 Mary his wif, borne in Andwarp, goethe to the Dutche 
 churche, and paithe rent to Brand, the goldsmithe. 
 
 IN THE MYNNERIES. 
 
 James Harrison, a basketmaker, borne in Holland, 
 tenant to John Hide ; he is of the parishe churche. 
 
 * Struck out. 
 
 f " John Johnson " struck out ; see next entry. 
 
 J Struck out.
 
 166 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 State Papers, Domestic^ Elizabeth. 
 Return of Strangers in London, May 1571. 
 
 ALL HALLOWS STALNINGE. 
 
 John Symsin, basket maker, xxx yeres in London, and 
 iij yeres in this ward, borne in Gyllike. Douch. 
 
 Mathew Barnard, baskett maker, borne in Holland, 
 hathe bene in this warde xv yeares. Douch. 
 
 SAINTE BOTHOLPHES. 
 
 Matice de Prue, basketmaker, * * * * *, cam into 
 Englande iiij yeares nowe past. Burgonion. 
 
 ALGATE WARDE. 
 
 Peter Cornelys, a basketmaker, and freedenizein, 
 borne in Southlande, and hath byn here these xxx tie 
 yeares Dowche. 
 
 SAINTE ANDROWE HUBBARDES PARISH. 
 
 John Lyon, dennyzein, and basketmaker, and Kathery ne 
 his wyfe, Dowche borne, have byn in England and in this 
 warde xxviij yeares : and Henry Hewcart his seruaunte, of 
 the same nacion. Douche. 
 
 Arnold Giles denysein, and basketmaker, and Jannekyn 
 his wyfe, have byn in Englande and in this warde twentie 
 yeares, and hath to servaunt Cornelius Foster, all of the 
 Dowche nacion. Douche. 
 
 Haunce Pefrom, basketmaker, servant to one Thomas 
 Robinson,* of the Douche nacion, hath byn in England 
 and in this warde three yeares. Douche. 
 
 Angell Mathewe, widowe, denysein, and basketmaker, 
 and hath byn in England and in this warde xx tie yeares ; 
 and hath a servaunt, of the Douche nacion bothe, called 
 Direck Lynsey. Douche. 
 
 Mathewe Fayllan, denyzein, and basketmaker, and 
 Margarett his wyfe, of the Douche nacion, and hath byn 
 
 * One of the eleven Basket Makers enfranchised in 1569, vide 
 p. 41.
 
 APPENDIX J 167 
 
 in England xx tle yeares, and in this parishe xvj yeares, 
 and William Waganer his servaunt, of the same nacion. 
 
 Douche. 
 
 Lambert Garret, dennyzein, and basketmaker, of the 
 Douch nacion, hath byn in England xxx tie yeares, and in 
 this warde xx tie yeares; within whome soiourneth one 
 Baltizar a taillour, and Douche borne. Douch. 
 
 Mathew Desolarvam, basketmaker, Italian, hath byn 
 in England and in this warde vj yeares, and is servaunte 
 to one Awdrian Awdrianson. Italian. 
 
 VINTREY WARDE. 
 
 Anthonye Vanderwalls, Duchman, a basketmaker, free 
 denizen: he haith an Englishe woman to his wif, and 
 haith three children, and haith byne here thes xv yeres. 
 
 Duch. 
 TOWER WARDE. 
 
 John Mud,* Duchman, a denizen, and a basketmaker, 
 and haith byn here xlvj ty yeres. Duch. 
 
 Andrewe Johnson, basketmaker, denizen of Luke Land, 
 and haith byne here xl tie yeres. Duch. 
 
 State Papers, Domestic, Elizabeth. 
 
 Report of the Search of all the Strangers within London 
 and Southwark, and the Liberties thereof, November \0th, 
 1571. 
 
 ALHALLOWES STAYNYNGES. 
 
 Barnarde Mattys, basketmaker, Douchman, borne in 
 Deluke, came into this realme about Ix yeres past. 
 
 SAINT ANDROWES PARYSHE IN ESCHEAPE. 
 
 John Lyon, householder, basketmaker, and dennyzein, 
 born at Hennego, and Katheryne his wyfe, born in 
 
 * Evidently an old man who had exercised his craft in the City 
 before the Company was established, and who was no doubt one 
 of the Foreign Basket Makers mentioned in the Orders of 1585, and 
 described as " Father Mude," vide p. 43.
 
 168 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 Clevelande, hath dwelt here xxx tie yeares, and come to 
 there parishe churche. 
 
 Peter Fox, baskettmaker, borne in Freselande, and 
 Marten Sleper, basketmaker, borne in Favken, borrowght, 
 bothe servaunts to Androwe Banberye,* basketmaker, and 
 haue remayned with hym vj yeares, and go to the Douche 
 churche. 
 
 Mathew Dyslar, basketmaker, borne in Valencia, 
 servant to Adreanson,f and hath remayned here v yeares, 
 and resorteth to the Douche churche. 
 
 Arnolde Geyles, househoulder, basketmaker, and 
 dennyzein, born in Wessell, in the country of Home, and 
 Jacamyn his wyfe, haue byn here xxx tie yeres; and 
 Cornelys Foster, his servaunte, borne in Brabant, and hath 
 byn here viij yeares : and are of this parishe churche. 
 
 Mathew Deproyne, born at Hennego, and John Fever, 
 basketmakers, servauntes to Richarde Robynson,J haue 
 byn here iiij yeares, and resortes to the Frenche churche. 
 Haunce Pyffron, his servaunte also, and basketmaker, born 
 in Gaunt, hath byn here v yeares and is of the Douche 
 churche. 
 
 John Vandelles, baskettmaker, borne in Brabant, hath 
 byn in Englande v yeares, and cam to work his occu- 
 pacion, and is servaunte with John Johnson, baskett- 
 maker. 
 
 Widowe Mathew, basketmaker, borne in Falkenborowe, 
 and hath dwelt in Englande xx tie yeares; and Derick 
 Lawrance, her servaunte, hath byn her vj weekes, and is 
 of this parishe. 
 
 Lambert Garrett, basketmaker, borne at Hennego, in 
 
 * One of the eleven English Basket Makers enfranchised in 
 1569, vide p. 41. 
 
 t Probably one of the Wardens of the Company, circa 1600, 
 and Churchwarden of St. Andrew Hubbard, vide p. 17. 
 
 % One of the eleven English Basket Makers enfranchised in 1569, 
 vide p. 41. 
 
 Probably one of the eleven English Basket Makers en- 
 franchised in 1569, vide p. 41.
 
 APPENDIX J 169 
 
 Flaunders, hath dwelt here xvj yeares, and goeth to his 
 parishe churche. 
 
 Widowe Faylande, baskettmaker, borne in Brabant, 
 and hath dwelt in Englande xx tle yeares, and resorteth to 
 her parishe churche. 
 
 SAINTE SAUIORS PARISHE. 
 
 Eldricke Arnold, of Colyn of thage of xxvj 1 ! yeres, in 
 England xxv yeres, was brought, being a suckinge child, 
 by his father into England, by occupacion a basketmaker. 
 
 SAINCT JAMES PARISHE. 
 
 Anthonye Vandevallye, borne in Brabant, a basket- 
 maker, and haith byne here xvj yeres. 
 
 SAINTE BOTTOLPHES PARISHE. 
 
 Xp'ofer Wolman, and Marye his wif, both borne in 
 Antwerpe, they haue byne in England v yeres, came 
 hither for his lyvinge, a basketmaker. 
 
 Cecil MSS. 
 
 Return by the Aldermen in response to the Lord Mayors 
 precept re number of Strangers, 1582-3. 
 
 THE WARDE OF LAXGBORNE. 
 
 Denisen. Thomas Bishopp, basketmaker, of the 
 Englishe Churche. 
 
 THE WARDE OF TOWER. 
 
 John Pipheron, basketmaker, and his wief, of the 
 Dutche Churche. 
 
 THE WARDE OF QUEXEHITHE. 
 
 Denisen. Robert Simpson, a basketmaker, of the 
 Englishe Churche. 
 
 THE WARDE OF BRIDGE WITHOUT. 
 Eldrick Arnold, basketmaker, of the Englishe Churche. 
 Denizen. Marten Slipen, basketmaker, and Jane his 
 wief, of the Dutche Churche.
 
 170 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 THE WARDE OF BELINGSGATE. 
 
 Peter Foxe, basketmaker, and his wief, of the Englishe 
 Churche. 
 
 Garett Johnson,* basketmaker, of Thenglishe Churche. 
 
 John Arnold, seruaunte to Richard Robinson,* basket- 
 maker, of the Dutche Churche. 
 
 John Rease, servaunte with Johnson,f a basketmaker, 
 of the Englishe Churche. 
 
 Cornelis Foster, basketmaker, of the Englishe Church. 
 
 John Vearson [or Pearson], Duchman, Basketmaker. 
 
 Cornelius Nicolas,! Duchman, Basketmaker. 
 
 Jonat Johnson, Duchman, Basketmaker. 
 
 TOWER WARDE. 
 John Peffold, Duche, Basketmaker. 
 
 NORTON FOLDGATE. 
 
 William Wagoner, baskettmaker, borne in Gaunte 
 and Annes his wife, haue bene in England xvj yeares, and 
 are of the Dutche churche. He hath two children, borne 
 in England, no denison. 
 
 ST. JOHNS STRETE. 
 
 Moye Levtter, baskettmaker, borne in Paris, hath 
 dwelte in England xxxiiij yeares, and is of the Englishe 
 churche, no denison. 
 
 WHITECHAPPELL ALIAS ST. MARY MATFELLOX. 
 
 Frauncis Cokmans, baskettmaker, and Jane his wife, 
 borne in Brabant, he hath bene here v yeare ; he is of the 
 
 * One of the " foreigners '' mentioned in the Orders of 1585, 
 vide p. 43. 
 
 t Probably one of the English Basket Makers enfranchised in 
 1569, vide p. 41. 
 
 J One of the " foreigners " mentioned in the Orders of 1585, 
 vide p. 43. 
 
 One of the ' ' foreigners " mentioned in the Orders of 1585, 
 vide p. 43.
 
 APPENDIX J 171 
 
 Dutche churche, and she of the Frenche churche, no 
 denison. 
 
 Cecil MSS. 1582-3. 
 
 The annswer{s} of the Masters and Wardens of all the 
 seuerall Companies within the Citie of London (which haue 
 licensed anye straungers for anie considerations to vse anye 
 trade or occupacion within the same by the space of sixe 
 yeres last past) to the seuerall preceptes to them directed 
 from the righte honorable the Lord Maior of the same Citie. 
 
 THE COMPANIE OF BASKETMAKERS. 
 
 The Wardens of the said Com panic haue nether 
 licensed nor admitted any the persons herevnder named to 
 vse their trade of making baskettes, nevertheles the same 
 persons, being straungers, do some of them kepe servauntes 
 vnder them, and paye nothing for vsing of their trade 
 excepte thacustomed quarteredge; the names of which 
 persons together with their servauntes here ensue, viz : 
 
 Frauncis Cotman, a journeyman. 
 
 Marten Sleping, denizen, and his servaunte John. 
 
 State Papers, Domestic, James I. 
 
 Return (18 September, 1618), by the Constables of the 
 Liberty of the Clink, of the Strangers resident within their 
 district. 
 
 Peter Fox, basketmaker, borne in Sneak, in West 
 Freezland, vnder Prince Morris, and is of the Dutch 
 Church, and hath byn 50 yeares in England, aged 78 
 yeares. The mark of Peter X Fox. 
 
 Christofer Haymnges, basketmaker, borne at Appling- 
 dam, in Freezland, vnder Prince Morris, and is of the 
 Dutch Church, aged 21, and worketh neare Maide Lane 
 vnder Henry Adrianson of Eastcheap, in London. X 
 
 Peter Maule, basketmaker, borne at Arcklus in 
 Gelderland, vnder Prince Morris, and is of the Dutch 
 Church, and aged 42, and hath byn in England 22 yeares. 
 [Signed :] Peter Moll.
 
 172 BASKETMAKERS' COMPANY 
 
 Peter Wamus, basketmaker, borne at Anwarpe, vnder 
 Duke Albertus, and is of the Dutch Church, and worketh 
 vnder M r - Wheatley,* dwelling in Eastcheap. [Signed :] 
 Pieter Weemas. 
 
 Leife Highway, basketmaker, borne neare Gaunt, 
 vnder the Arch Duke, of 3 yeares being in the Liberty, 
 and vseth the Dutch Church, and dwelleth in Rose Alley, 
 M r - Edw. Hatton being his Landlord. The mark of Leif 
 X Highway. 
 
 Peter Walloone, basketmaker, aged 20 yeares, borne 
 in Dort, in Holland, vnder Prince Morric, of the Dutch 
 Church, and worketh in Mosses Alley, vnder W m - Paxston, 
 of Breadstreet, in London. The mark of Peter X Wal- 
 loone. 
 
 Garatt Haragoodes, a basketmaker, comminge from 
 Gisborne, vnder the Kinge of Spaine, and frequenteth 
 the Duch Church, and hath dwelt here 7 yeares. 
 [Signed :] Gheeraert Heerregodts. 
 
 * Probably identical with " William Wheatlie," Prime Warden, 
 circa 1600, vide p. 149.
 
 INDEX 
 
 ACT of Common Council, 12th 
 October, 1463, restricting the 
 Basket-makers' quarters to the 
 old manor of Blanch Appleton, 
 7 and note, 10, 96 and note, 148 ; 
 22nd October, 1538, expeUing 
 the Basket-makers from the 
 City, 12, 18, 23, 24, 97, 124 
 
 Act of Tonnage and Poundage, 
 12 Chas. II (baskets and basket 
 rods), 159 
 
 Acts of Henry VIII, 4, 24, 124 ; 
 of Queen Elizabeth, 57, 132 
 
 Adams, Lawrence (Basket - 
 maker, 1569), 41 
 
 Adrian, Adrian (Basket-maker, 
 1569), 41 
 
 Adrian, Cornelius (Basket-maker, 
 1569), 41 
 
 Adrianson, Adrian (Basket - 
 maker, 1578), 17 
 
 Adrianson, Cornelius, record of 
 burial of, 16 
 
 Aggas, Radulphus, map of Lon- 
 don, 8 
 
 Aldgate Ward, 7, 166 
 
 Alien Basket-makers. See Bas- 
 ket-makers; also "Foreigners" 
 and Aliens 
 
 All Hallows Staining, 166, 167 
 
 Altar cloth, gift to St. Margaret 
 Pattens Church, 13 
 
 Ancient Britons expert Basket- 
 makers, 2 
 
 " Ancient Calling," Basket- 
 making an, 3, 57 
 
 Anne, 51 
 
 Apprentices, fees payable by, 
 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111 ; 
 earliest entry of binding, 124 ; 
 earliest admittance to the free- 
 dom, 106 ; illegal indenture, 
 108 ; masters' fee on presen- 
 tation, 37 ; to give a silver 
 spoon, 106; not a sufficient 
 number of, 11, 39 ; presented 
 to the Wardens, 37, 38 ; sworn 
 upon the Holy Evangelists, 38 ; 
 discouraged by reason of large 
 number of persons following 
 the trade who had not served 
 an apprenticeship, 57 ; Free- 
 men allowed four, 39 ; Past 
 Wardens allowed five, 44, 106 ; 
 roll of, 123, 124, 125, 126; 
 turnovers, 109, 110 ; riot of 
 London apprentices (in 1517), 
 9, 11 
 
 Arms of the Company, 132, 148, 
 156, 157 
 
 Arnold, Jasper (Basket - maker 
 1530), 16, 17, 21, 23, 24, 162 
 
 Assessments on the Company. 
 See Precepts 
 
 Assistants, first mentioned, 44, 
 90; number of, 46, 91, 92; 
 sixty-eight on the Court, 91 ; 
 powers and duties not stated,
 
 174 
 
 INDEX 
 
 91 ; fines payable, 92, 133 ; fined 
 for not assuming office, 93 ; 
 ten elected at one time, 92 ; 
 names of, in 1610, 46 ; number 
 restricted to thirty, 91 ; duties, 
 93 
 atte Basket, 78 and note 
 
 BAGFORD, JOHN, the antiquary, 
 9 note 
 
 Bakers' Company, 78 
 
 Balliol College, Oxford, Basket- 
 makers' houses belonging to, 
 19, 20, 23 
 
 Banberye, Andrew(Basket-maker, 
 1569), 41, 164, 168 
 
 Banner, the, 129 
 
 Baptist Head Coffee House, Alder- 
 manbury, 99 
 
 Bartholomew Fair, 117 and note 
 
 Bartholomew's Day, St., 41, 119 
 
 Basket, Holy Bread, 15 ; the 
 silver, 134 
 
 Basket Alley, 78 
 
 Basket-maker disfranchised from 
 the Turners' Company and 
 "translated" to the Basket- 
 makers' Company, 51 
 
 Basket-makers, antiquity of the, 
 2 ; English, 1, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 
 27, 28, 29, 30, 43 note-, men- 
 tioned in the .Records of the 
 Brewers' Company in 1422, 
 3, 6 ; obtain licence to remain 
 in the City, 1, 12, 21, 22, 28 ; to 
 dwell in the suburbs, 18, 21 ; 
 a convenient place of abode to 
 be found for them, 18, 20 ; not to 
 imperil the City by fire, 21, 22 ; 
 serve in time of war, 57, 60 ; 
 called together to establish a 
 Company, 13, 27, 28; to be 
 "incorporated," 30, 31 ; "not to 
 be brought on the livery," 59, 
 94 ; complain of high rents in 
 
 the City, 57 ; records of burials 
 of, 135, 136 ; " foreigners " and 
 aliens, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 32, 
 35, 36, 39, 40, 42, 43, 45, 46, 
 47, 78, 113, 116, 118, 121, 162 
 et seq. ; churchwardens of St. 
 Andrew Hubbard, 5, 16, 17 ; 
 rent of houses, 1463-1518, 7, 
 14, 15 ; locality of, 12, 21, 78 ; 
 fire in their quarters, 18, 19, 
 20 ; freemen of the Butchers' 
 Company (prior to 1569), 1, 2, 
 4, 5, 28, 29, 49, 50; freemen 
 of the Weavers' Company, 50 ; 
 freemen of the Carpenters' 
 Company, ibid. ; freemen of the 
 Turners' Company, 5, 51, 113 ; 
 petition to remain in the City, 
 21, 22 ; petition for ordinances, 
 31, 32, 33 ; petition for a char- 
 ter, 56 et seq. ; petition for a 
 livery, 96 et seq. ; petition for 
 increase of livery, 104 ; " suit " 
 to be made free, 26, 32 ; livery 
 granted, 99 ; increase of livery 
 granted, 105 ; Huguenot and 
 Dutch, 162 et seq; see also 
 Foreigners 
 
 Basket-makers' Company, stated 
 to have existed from ' ' time 
 immemorial," 96, 101 ; estab- 
 lished, 26 et seq. ; to keep a 
 store of ammunition, corn, and 
 coal, 74, 75, 77 ; names of first 
 freemen, 41 ; connection with 
 the Irish Society, 139, 140, 
 141 ; " pay their full proportion 
 of contributions to the City," 
 73, 97, 101; order of pre- 
 cedence, 161 note ; revival, 
 146 
 
 Basket-making, an ancient British 
 industry, 2 ; an " Ancient Call- 
 ing," 3, 57 ; an " extensive branch 
 of British trade," 101; de-
 
 INDEX 
 
 175 
 
 scribed in 1747, 30, 147 ; trade | 
 to be introduced into Ulster, 
 141 ; City and Guilds of London 
 Institute's syllabus, 142 et seq. ; 
 Exhibition in 1896, 144 
 
 Baskets, price in sixteenth cen- 
 tury, 15 ; "covered," 12,47, 113 ; 
 "cannon," 57, 60; "prickell," 
 115; "skreene,"t&itf. ; "crosse," 
 ibid. ; used in the churches, 15 ; 
 sold in the Turners' shops, 5, 
 30, 147 ; foreign-made, bought 
 in " ancient " times, 12, 47 ; 
 defective wares seized by the 
 Wardens, 115 ; forfeited, 36, 
 115, 117 and note ; confiscated 
 and burnt at Smithtield, 116 ; 
 confiscated wares deposited at 
 Guildhall, 36, 115; church 
 plate kept in, 15 ; exported in 
 the time of the Romans, 2 note ; 
 imported from Holland (1517), 
 11 ; duty on (1660), 159 
 
 Beadle, the, 36, 63, 64, 118 note, 
 134, 137 ; cost of hat and gown, 
 134 
 
 Beamond, Robert, tenements in 
 St. Margaret Pattens parish 
 given to Balliol College, Ox- 
 ford, by, 19 
 
 Beddingfield, Sir Robert, 71 
 
 Bell, the, Basinghall Street, 95, 
 160 
 
 Benton, Jerome (Turner-Basket- 
 maker), forbidden to buy wares 
 from foreigners, 113 ; fined for 
 assaulting the tipper Warden, 
 113, 114 
 
 Bequest of a Basket-maker to 
 St. Margaret Pattens Church, 
 14 
 
 Billingsgate, 21, 135, 170 
 
 Bingham, Richard (Upper War- 
 den, 1623), 113, 114, 149 
 
 Blanch Appleton (Blanchesapel- 
 
 tuna, Blankcheapeltone), 7, 8, 
 
 9, 10, 11, 78, 148 
 Blind Chapel Court, 8 
 Bohuns (Earls of Hereford), 8 
 "Book for incorporating the 
 
 Basket-makers," 29, 31, 41, 
 
 124 
 
 " Book of Remembrance," 129 
 "Book of Orders," 124 
 "Book, the Old," 126 
 Books of the Company, Old, 26, 
 
 123, 126, 129 ; kept at Guild- 
 hall, 126 ; destroyed in the 
 
 Great Fire, ibid. 
 Borrett, Mr., the City's solicitor 
 
 (1690), 70, 71 
 Bowenpersons the Basket-maker, 
 
 (1486), 13 
 
 Bowyers 1 Company, 75 
 Box, the, 133 
 Brabant, Basket-makers from, 24, 
 
 164, 168, 169, 170 
 Bread Street, 21, 172 
 Breakfasts, 80, 81, 132 
 Brewers' Company, 3, 6 
 Bridge Without, Ward of, 169 
 Broad Lane, 79 
 Broad Street, 79, 161 
 "Brotherhood, the," Company 
 
 described as, 126 
 Buckingham, Sir Owen, 71 
 Bull Wharf, 114 
 Burials, 15, 16, 135, 136 
 Butchers' Company, 1, 2, 4, 5, 
 
 27 note, 28, 29, 49, 50, 73, 78 
 
 CAMPBELL, Sir Thomas, 46, 97 
 
 Cane-chair makers, 53, 55, 68, 
 69, 70, 71; join the Basket- 
 makers' Company in attempt 
 to obtain a charter, ibid. 
 
 Cane-working, 61, 62, 63 
 
 Cannon baskets, 57, 60 
 
 Capital required by Master Bas- 
 ket-makers in 1747, 147
 
 176 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Carpenters' Company, 50, 134 
 
 note 
 
 Carpets, 126, 130 ; kept at Guild- 
 hall, 126 
 Cedar Balls, 132 
 
 Charles I, 76 
 
 Charles II, 53, 54, 64, 115 
 
 Charter, earliest recorded at- 
 tempt to obtain, 53 ; Cane-chair 
 makers join the Basket-makers 
 in attempt to obtain, 53, 55, 
 68, 69, 70, 71 ; one hundred 
 guineas to be paid for assist- 
 ance in obtaining, 64, 65, 66, 
 67 ; petition to Charles II, 56 
 et seq. ; draft of proposed, 61 ; 
 Attorney-General's report on 
 application for, 59 ; " some 
 reasons for applying for," 60, 
 61 ; committee formed for suing 
 for new, 67 : expenses of ap- 
 plication for, 68, 69 ; refer- 
 ence to a petition to William 
 III for, 69, 71 
 
 Cheap Ward, Basket-makers to 
 provide corn for, 75, 131 
 
 Chest, the, kept at Guildhall, 125 
 
 Chester, Sir William, 31 
 
 Christ Church, 34 
 
 Church plate, Royal Commis- 
 sioners' enquiries in 1552/3 re- 
 specting, 17 
 
 City, custom as to retailing and 
 practising crafts, 9, 10 ; threat- 
 ened with confiscation of its 
 charter, 76 ; fined 1500 marks, 
 ibid. 
 
 City and Guilds of London In- 
 stitute, 142 
 
 City Companies to be " well and 
 truly " governed, 83 
 
 City granaries, 74 
 
 Clark, Sir Edward, 70 
 
 Clerk, the, 36, 63, 64 ; oath of, 
 138; "lays out money," for 
 
 purpose of obtaining a charter 
 
 (1685), 67 ; his salary in 1685, 
 
 132 
 
 Clerks, list of, 154 
 Clink, Liberty of the, 171 
 Coal, in 1665, high price of, 77 ; 
 
 to be kept in stock for the 
 
 poor, ibid. 
 
 Coat provided for the beadle, 134 
 Coat of Arms paid for, 132 
 Coffee-houses and taverns, Courts 
 
 held at, 80, 95, 137, 160 
 Coffin purchased for deceased 
 
 Basket-maker, 136 
 Common Council, acts and orders 
 
 of, 7, 10, 12, 18, 21, 23, 24, 76, 
 
 96 note, 119 note, 124 
 Commonalty of the Company, 
 
 ordinances to be read to the, 
 
 41,87 
 Confiscation of baskets, 112, 115, 
 
 116, 117; of rodds, 118; of 
 
 " 10,000 of twig," 114 
 " Controversy between the War- 
 dens and young men of the 
 
 Company," 45 
 Cook, Captain, 68 
 Cook, Sir Thomas (1463), 96; 
 
 (1698), 71 
 
 Corn to be provided by the Com- 
 pany, 74 
 Cornhella, David and Robert de, 
 
 8 
 Counsel to advise on matter of 
 
 incorporation, 29 
 Court of Conscience (Requests), 
 
 119 and note, 121 
 Covered baskets, 12, 47, 113 
 Crafts of London (in 1422), 6 and 
 
 note 
 
 Crest, the Company's, 156, 158 
 " Crosse " baskets, 115 
 Crown Coffee House, Stationers' 
 
 Court, 120, 160 
 Cushions, the, 126, 129
 
 INDEX 
 
 177 
 
 DANGER from fire, 12, 13, 16, 18, 
 21,22 
 
 Danvers, Lady Ann, her gift of 
 30 for repair of houses de- 
 stroyed by fire, 19 
 
 Decline of the Company's trade 
 supervision, 119 et seq. 
 
 Decree of Star Chamber, 4 note, 
 124 
 
 Dinners, 80, 81, 82, 131 
 
 Ditchfield, Rev. P. H. quoted, 
 146 
 
 " Drinking-money," 44 
 
 Dutch Basket-makers, 162 et seq. 
 
 Dutch Church, list of Basket- 
 makers belonging to, circa 1550, 
 163 
 
 EAST London Trades, Arts, and 
 
 Industries Exhibition, 1896, 
 
 144 
 East Smithfield, 127, 162; the 
 
 Company's houses in, 127 
 Eastcheap, 11, 20, 21, 164, 167, 
 
 171, 172 
 Edward I, 9 
 Edward III, 10, 20, 83 
 Edward IV, 7, 9, 10, 96 and 
 
 note, 148 
 
 Edward VI, 24 note, 162 
 Edward VII, 105 
 Elizabeth, 8, 27,28, 29,30,31,42, 
 
 44, 45, 49, 50, 57, 74, 97, 132, 
 
 163, 166, 167 
 "Enabling money," 106 
 English Basket-makers. See 
 
 Basket-makers 
 " Evil " May Day, 9 note 
 Examinations in basket-work, 
 
 142 et seq. 
 
 FEASTS of St. James and St. 
 Bartholomew, Wardens elected 
 between the, 33, 83 
 
 Fees, payable to the City on 
 foundation of the Company, 41 ; 
 on admission to the freedom, 
 51, 52, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 
 111, 133, 134, 135. See also 
 Fines 
 
 Female members, 108 and note, 
 109, 135 
 
 Fenchurch Street, 148 
 
 Fines, moiety given to Christ 
 Church, 33, 34 ; moiety given 
 to Chamber of London, 33, 34, 
 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 ; moiety 
 given to the Company, 34, 35, 
 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 ; given to the 
 poor, 47 ; on election to the 
 Court, 92, 133 ; for non-attend- 
 ance on quarter days, 117 ; for 
 employing journeymen without 
 the Warden's sanction, 117, 
 118 ; for buying rods of unlaw- 
 ful band, 118; levied on the 
 Companies for not producing 
 the murderers of John Lamb, 
 76 
 
 Fire, in parish of St. Margaret 
 Pattens (1538), 19, 20 ; in parish 
 St. Andrew Hubbard (1539), 20 
 
 Fire, the Great, 2 note, 26, 53, 
 79, 80, 123, 125, 126, 127 ; brief 
 account of, 125, 126 
 
 Fishmongers' Company, 78, 140 
 
 Flaskets, 12, 35, 47, 113 
 
 Fleet, Sir John, 70 
 
 Fletchers' Company, 75 
 
 Foreign baskets sold in the City 
 in ancient times, 11, 47 
 
 " Foreigners " and aliens (Bas- 
 ket-makers), to reside at Blanch 
 Appleton, 7, 9, 10 ; established 
 in the City for a considerable 
 period, 10, 32 ; to be employed, 
 
 39, 40, 43 ; to pay quarterage, 
 
 40, 41 ; to be under govern- 
 ment of the Wardens, ibid. ; 
 
 N
 
 178 
 
 INDEX 
 
 import their wares, 11 ; allowed 
 to sell certain kinds of bas- 
 kets, 12, 47 ; bad workmanship 
 of, 32,57; ordinances relating to, 
 35, 36, 39, 40, 41, 43, 47 ; in- 
 crease of, during the Reforma- 
 tion period, 11 ; given quarters 
 in the City, ibid. ; allowed in 
 the City in 1585, 43; sell their 
 wares secretly to persons in the 
 City,57- See also Basket-makers 
 Fore Street, 110 
 Free denizens, 11, 24, 164, 165, 
 
 166, 167, 168, 169 
 Freeman,William, admitted to the 
 freedom in the Basket-makers' 
 Company to " reimburse him 
 his charges for providing Coats 
 and Caps for the City's Water- 
 men on Lord Mayor's day " 
 (1712), 51 
 
 Freemen, names of the first, 41 ; 
 obliged to employ " foreigners " 
 and aliens, 39 ; not to revile 
 one another, 37 ; earliest re- 
 corded fee payable by, 106 ; 
 their oath, 124, 137 ; to make 
 good wares, 34, 113; to give a 
 silver spoon to the Company, 
 107 ; not to have more than 
 four apprentices, 39, 106 ; not 
 to take another's house or shop 
 by offering higher rent, 38 ; not 
 allowed to hawk their wares, 
 39; may employ "foreigners," 
 39, 40, 43 ; not to entice away 
 another's servant, 44 
 Freemen of London, may sell 
 
 by retail, 9, 10 
 Freewoman by redemption, last 
 
 admittance of, 108 note 
 Freewomen, 108, 109, 135 
 French Basket-maker stated to 
 have been "ejected from the 
 City, in 1789 or 1799, ' 122 
 
 Fresh Wharf, 163 
 
 Friar, the, Playhouse Yard, 160 
 
 GATES, Sir Geoffrey, 9 
 
 Geffery, Sir Robert, 70 
 
 George IV, 100 
 
 Gift, of an altar cloth to St. Mar- 
 garet Pattens Church, 13 ; of 
 30 by Lady Ann Danvers for 
 repair of houses burnt in St. 
 Margaret Pattens parish, 19, 20 
 
 Gifts to the sick and poor, 135, 
 136 
 
 Girl " bound " an apprentice to a 
 Basket-maker, 107, 108 
 
 Glaziers' Arms, the, Water Lane, 
 Blackfriars, 160 
 
 Glaziers' Company, 73, 74, 75, 
 140 
 
 Gold-wire drawers, 7, 9 
 
 Gown purchased, 132, 134 
 
 Green Dragon, the, St. Andrew's 
 Hill, 160 
 
 Grocers' Company, 90 note 
 
 Guildhall, meetings held at, 79, 
 80, 125 ; books and plate, etc., 
 kept at, 125, 126, 132 ; rent of 
 room at, 133 ; confiscated bas- 
 kets deposited at, 115, 116 ; 
 partly destroyed in the Great 
 Fire, 125 ; Inner Chamber of, 
 105 ; Outer Chamber of, 33, 83 
 
 Guildhall Coffee House, the, 160 
 
 Gunpowder to be supplied by the 
 Company, 74 
 
 Gyles Angell (Basket-maker, 
 1569), 41 
 
 HALL,ref erence to Basket-makers', 
 
 79, 161 
 
 Hammer, the, 130 
 Hampton Court, 69 
 Hawking baskets forbidden, 39 
 Heath, Mr., the scrivener, 127, 
 
 130
 
 INDEX 
 
 179 
 
 Hedges, Sir William, 71 
 
 Henry IV, 10 
 
 Henry V, 6, 8 
 
 Henry VII, 14 
 
 Henry VIII, 4, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 
 
 22, 23, 24 and note, 97, 162 
 Hercules' Pillars, the, 81 
 Hobbs, "Alderman," 107, 111 
 Holy bread basket, 15 
 Holy Trinity, priory of, 8 
 Horns, the, Thames Street, 160 
 Horse, hire of, 68 
 Houblon, Sir James, 71 
 Hour Glass, the, 130, 132 
 House property possessed by the 
 
 Company, 127 
 Houses, rent of (in 1463), 7 ; (in 
 
 (1507/8), 14 ; (in 1515/18), 14, 
 
 15 ; (in 1671), 127 
 Hucksters prosecuted, 115 
 Huguenot Society's retm-ns of 
 
 aliens (Basket-makers), 162 et 
 
 seq. 
 
 "INCORPORATION" of the Com- 
 pany, 30, 31 
 
 Indenture, an illegal, 108 
 Initials of apprentices stamped on 
 
 silver spoons, 106, 155 
 Interest on loans, 128, 129 
 Inventory of money and goods 
 belonging to the Company in 
 1663 and 1672, 129, 130 
 Irish Society, the, 139, 140, 141 
 
 JAMES I, 45, 46, 51, 97, 112, 113, 
 123, 139, 171 
 
 James II, 84, 85 
 
 Jasper the Basket-maker (1507), 
 14, 15, 17 
 
 Jefferies, Sir George, 68 
 
 Johnson, Christopher (Basket- 
 maker, 1569), 41, 42 
 
 Johnson, John (Basket-maker, 
 1569), 41 
 
 Johnson, William (Basket-maker, 
 1494), 14 
 
 Joiners' Company object to 
 Basket-makers being incorpo- 
 rated, 71 
 
 Journeymen Basket-makers pe- 
 tition the Court of Aldermen, 
 45 
 
 Jury impanelled to decide 
 whether defective baskets shall 
 be destroyed, 116 
 
 KEY for Basket-maker's house in 
 
 1518, cost of, 15 
 King's Head, the, Ivy Lane, 160 
 
 Lamb, "Dr.," murdered in the 
 City, 76 
 
 Langbourn Ward, 169 
 
 Leaden weights, the, 129 
 
 Leases, the, 127 
 
 Leather box, the, 130 
 
 Leathersellers' Company, 140 
 
 Lee, Sir Robert, 51 
 
 Leeche, Thomas (clerk, 1618), 
 123, 154 
 
 Licence granted to Basket-makers 
 prior to 1569, to reside in the 
 City, 1, 12, 21, 28 
 
 Lilly, Samuel Isaac (clerk, 1808), 
 120, 154 
 
 Liveries, wearing of, restricted, 94 
 
 Livery, the, Basket-makers not to 
 be " called " on, 59 ; first steps 
 to obtain, 94, 95 ; granted in 
 1825, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103 ; in- 
 creased in 1901, 105 ; election 
 fine, 102 ; no person to be 
 "called" without his free 
 consent, ibid. ; to attend the 
 Lord Mayor on all "public 
 solemnities," ibid. ; earliest re- 
 cord of polling, 103 
 
 Loans by the Company, 56, 127, 
 128, 129
 
 180 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Lodowyke, the Basket - maker 
 (1507), 14 
 
 Lord Keeper, the, 69 
 
 Lord Mayors mentioned, 18, 20, 
 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 
 31, 42, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 51, 
 69, 71, 84, 85, 96, 97 and note, 
 100, 105, 112, 113, 115, 123, 
 164 
 
 MACE, the, 134 
 Maid Lane, 171 
 
 Man, Mr., keeper of the Guild- 
 hall (1676), 116 
 Map of London, Radulphus Ag- 
 
 gas', 8 
 
 Mark Lane, 8, 9 and note, 148 
 Mathew, John (Basket-maker, 
 
 1539), 21, 23 
 Maunds (hampers), 12, 35, 47, 
 
 113 
 Meal to be distributed among the 
 
 Wards (Cheap), 75, 131 
 Medley, George (Chamberlain of 
 
 the City of London, 1539), 21 
 Men to be found for protection of 
 
 the City, 73 
 
 Merchant Basket-makers, 97, 102 
 Minories, the, 165 
 Money lent at interest, 56, 127, 
 
 128, 129 
 Mortgages and leases burnt in 
 
 the Great Fire, 127 
 Moses Alley, 172 
 Motto, the Company's, 156 
 Murder of " Dr." John Lamb, 
 
 76 
 Musicians' Company, 75, 140 
 
 NETHERLANDS, the, Basket-makers 
 
 from, 11 
 North's Coffee House, King 
 
 Street, 160 
 Norton Folgate, 170 
 
 OATH, of the Wardens, 83, 89 ; 
 of the Freemen, 137 ; of the 
 Clerk, 138 
 
 Objections to serving office, 85, 
 87, 88, 93 
 
 Ogborne, Sir Win., a Freeman of 
 the Company, 134 and note 
 
 Okey, Thomas, 89, 103, 151 
 
 Old Books, the, 26, 123, 126, 129 
 
 Old dinner bills, 81, 82 
 
 Old Fish Street, 21 
 
 Old Parr's Head, Little Knight- 
 rider Street, 160 
 
 Oliff , John (Basket-maker, 1570), 
 17,50 
 
 Order of Common Council, 12th 
 October, 1463, restricting the 
 Basket-makers' quarters to the 
 old manor of Blanch Appleton, 
 7 and note, 10, 96 and note, 148. 
 See also Act of Common Coun- 
 cil 
 
 " Orders, Book of," 124 
 
 Ordinances of the Company, not 
 approved as first drafted, 31 ; 
 to be read four times a year to 
 the Freemen, 41, 87 ; transcript 
 of (1569), 31 et seq. ; (1585), 
 43, 44 ; (1610), 47 
 
 Orphans, relief of, 108 and note 
 
 Osier planting, 58, 98, 143, 147 
 
 Outing, John, Master of the 
 Carpenters' Company (1569), 
 50 
 
 PAGEANT, assessment for cost of, 
 76 
 
 Pannier Alley, 78 
 
 Parish Clerks' Company, 79, 80 ; 
 their Hall lent to the Basket- 
 makers, 79 and note, 80 
 
 Petition, for licence to remain 
 in the City, 21, 28; for ordi- 
 nances, 31, 32, 33 ; for a charter 
 in 1682, 56, 57, 58 ; for a charter
 
 INDEX 
 
 181 
 
 in 1691, 69; for a charter in 
 1698, 71 ; for permission to 
 apply for a charter, ibid. ; of 
 the journeymen Basket-makers, 
 45; for the livery, 96 et seq. ; 
 for increase of livery, 104 
 
 Petticoat Lane, 158 
 
 Pewter Standish, the, 129 
 
 Philpot Lane, 163 
 
 Plague in 1665, 53 
 
 Plasterers' Company, 140 
 
 Plough Tavern, the, Blackwall, 
 160 
 
 Poll, Richard (Basket-maker, 
 1569), "translated" from the 
 Weavers' Company, 50 
 
 Poor box, the, 118, 134 
 
 Poor Companies not obliged to 
 supply corn in 1590, 75 
 
 Portsoken Ward, 165 
 
 Poultry Compter, the, 79, 161 
 
 Powers of search, 4, 41, 56, 63, 
 87, 113, 114, 117 and note, 119 
 
 Precepts, Lord Mayors, 73, 74, 
 75, 76, 77, 131, 133 
 
 Price, Sir Charles, 99 
 
 4 Prickell ' ' (Pricket) baskets, 
 115 
 
 Prickleve, Nicholas (Basket- 
 maker, 1569), 41 
 
 Printed Oaths, paid for, 134 
 
 Prizes awarded for Basket making, 
 142, 145 
 
 Progress of James I through the 
 City, 76 
 
 Pudding Lane, 5, 164 
 
 Pym, Christopher (clerk, 1666), 
 126, 130 
 
 QUARTER books, the Company's, 
 kept at Guildhall, 125 
 
 Quarterage, 36, 41, 132, 133, 134 ; 
 " forgiven by reason of service 
 in Queen Anne's Army," 133 
 
 Queenhithe Ward, 169 
 
 RAWLINSON, Sir Thomas, 71 
 
 Reading, Richard (Upper Warden, 
 1685-86), 54, 84, 85, 86, 149 
 
 Reformation, the, 11 
 
 Rent of room at Guildhall, 133 
 
 Renter Warden, the, 83 note 
 
 Rents, the Company's, 127 
 
 Returnsof aliens (Basket-makers), 
 162 et seq. 
 
 Richard II, 9, 94 
 
 Robinson, Richard (Basket-ma- 
 ker, 1569), 17, 41 
 
 Robinson, Thomas (Basket-ma- 
 ker, 1569), 41 
 
 Rods, to be well seasoned, 35 ; 
 to be of " good and lawful 
 band," ibid. ; "cut too soon 
 and out of season," 58 ; of 
 " unlawful band," 118 ; con- 
 fiscated, ibid. ; duty on, in 1660, 
 159 
 
 Roll of apprentices, earliest, 123, 
 124, 125 
 
 Roos, Sir Thomas, 9 
 
 Rose Alley, 172 
 
 Rose and Ball, the, Bennet's Hill, 
 160 
 
 Rowe, Sir Thomas, 31, 164 
 
 SALE, Robert (Basket - maker, 
 1569), "translated" from the 
 Weavers' Company, 50 
 
 " Salutation Tavern, the," 81 
 
 St. Andrew Hubbard, Basket- 
 makers churchwardens of, 16, 
 17, 18; Basket-makers in the 
 parish of, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 
 21, 162, 164, 165, 166, 167 ; old 
 vestry books of, 15, 16 
 
 St. Andrew Hubbard's Lane, 20 
 
 St. Bartholomew's Day, 117 note, 
 119 
 
 St. Bartholomew's Fair, 117 and 
 note 
 
 St. Botolph, parish of, 135, 166, 169
 
 182 
 
 INDEX 
 
 St. Dunstan-in-the-East, parish 
 
 of, 14, 15 
 
 St. James, parish of, 165, 169 
 St. James and St. Bartholomew, 
 Wardens appointed between 
 the Feasts of, 33, 83 
 St. John's Street, 170 
 St. Katherine Cree, parish of, 
 
 165 
 St. Katherine Coleman, parish 
 
 of, 7 
 
 St. Margaret Pattens, old vestry 
 books, 13, 14 ; ornaments for 
 the church, 13 ; gift of an altar 
 cloth by Basket-maker's wife, 
 ibid. ; bequest of a Basket- 
 maker, 14 
 
 St. Martin's, parish of, 165 
 St. Mary-at-Hill, reference to a 
 Basket-maker in Church re- 
 cords, 17 ; the parish of, 164 
 St. Mary Matfellon, 170 
 St. Saviour's, parish of, 169 
 Saunders, William (Basket-ma- 
 ker), disfranchised from the 
 Turners' Company in 1605, 51 
 Scarcity of corn in 1587, 74 
 Search, Wardens' powers of, 35, 
 
 41, 56, 87, 113, 114, 115, 116 
 Search day, 114 and note, 117 
 
 and note, 119 
 
 Secretary of State, Basket- 
 makers attend on the, 69 
 Signboards, 78 
 Silver basket, the, 134 
 Silver head and staff, 134 
 Silver spoons, given by the Ap- 
 prentices, 106, 107, 109, 155 ; 
 given by the Freemen, 107 ; 
 kept at the Guildhall, 126; 
 destroyed in the Great Fire, 
 
 106 note, 126 ; inventory of, 
 130 ; presentation discontinued, 
 
 107 ; sold, 106 note, 132 
 Silver Street, 80 
 
 " Skaine working," 61, 62, 63 
 Skinners' Company, 140 
 " Skreene " baskets, 115 
 Smith, Richard, secondary of the 
 
 Poultry Compter (1644), 79, 
 
 161 
 Smith, William (Basket-maker), 
 
 and his wife, record of burial 
 
 (of 1527), 16 
 
 Smithfield, baskets burnt at, 116 
 Smith's Lane, alias St. Andrew 
 
 Hubbard's Lane, 20 
 " Splinter-working," 61, 62, 63 
 "Sports," 159 
 
 Staff and silver head, the, 134 
 " Stake maunds," 12, 47, 113 
 Star Chamber, decree of, 4 note, 
 
 124 
 Stone house in Philpot Lane, the, 
 
 163 
 Stow, John (Survey of London), 
 
 quoted, 5, 8, 19, 78, 79, 161 
 " Summonses," 2000 printed, 134 
 
 TABLE-CLOTH, the, 129 
 
 "Table of Orders," the, 130, 132 
 
 Taverns and coffee houses, Courts 
 
 of the Company held at, 80, 95, 
 
 137 ; list of old, 160 
 Temple Bar, 76 
 Temple Coffee House, the, Temple 
 
 Bar, 160 
 
 Thames Street, 109 
 Three Cranes Wharf, 118 
 " Timber ware," 12, 47, 113 
 Token, Basket-maker's, 158 
 Tools of the Basket-makers, 156 
 Tower of London, the, 76 
 Tower Ward, 164, 167, 169, 170 
 Trade, Company's authority over 
 
 the, 112 et seq. 
 Transcript of Acts of Henry VIII. 
 
 and the Ordinances of the 
 
 Company, written in 1618, 123, 
 
 124
 
 INDEX 
 
 183 
 
 " Translations " from other Com- 
 panies, 49, 50, 51, 52 
 
 Trunk, the, 130, 132, 133 
 
 Turners' Company, 5, 30, 51, 73, 
 74, 113 
 
 Turners' shops, baskets sold in, 
 5, 30, 147 
 
 Turnovers, 109, 110 
 
 " Twig, 10,000 of," seized at Bull 
 Wharf, 114 
 
 Two Brewers, the, London Wall, 
 80, 137, 160 
 
 ULSTER,, colonisation of lands in 
 province of, 139 ; Basket- 
 makers' Company repudiates 
 claim to share of surplus estate 
 in, 141 
 
 VALONIIS, Robert de, 8 
 
 Vestry books, extracts from St. 
 
 Margaret Pattens, 13, 14, 15; 
 
 from St. Andrew Hubbard, 15, 
 
 16, 17 ; from St. Mary-at-Hill, 17 
 Vintners' Company, 52 ; their 
 
 Hall, Thames Street, 109 
 Vintry Ward, 79, 167 
 
 WAGES of journeymen Basket- 
 makers in 1747, 147 
 
 War, Basket-makers serve in time 
 of, 57, 60, 133 
 
 Warden removed from office, 84, 
 85,86 
 
 Wardens, appointment of, 33, 
 83 ; appointed between the 
 Feasts of St. James and St. 
 Bartholomew, ibid. ; sworn be- 
 fore the Lord Mayor, ibid. ; 
 serve for two years, ibid. ; 
 fined for not assuming office, 
 87, 88, 89 ; to keep accounts, 
 34 ; to give security, 86 ; 
 object to assuming office, 87, 
 88 ; allowed five apprentices, 
 
 44, 106 ; may enter houses and 
 shops of Basket-makers to view 
 their wares, 35, 56, 87, 113; their 
 authority over " Foreigners," 
 35, 36, 40, 41; abused by a 
 Turner - Basket - maker, 113, 
 114 ; Oath of the, 33, 83, 89 ; 
 of Companies to have full 
 power to perform their duties, 
 84 ; state, in 1582, they have 
 not licensed strangers to use 
 their trade, 171 ; list of, 149 
 et seq. 
 
 "Water Bailiff, Mr. ,"51 
 
 Water Lane, Blackfriars, 134 
 
 Watermen, City, provided with 
 coats and caps, 51 
 
 Watts, Sir John, 51 
 
 Weavers' Company, 50 
 
 Weaver's Graves, token, 158 
 
 Wheat, price in 1587, 74, 75 
 
 Wheatly, Robert (Basket-maker, 
 1594), 17 
 
 White, James George, J.P., 
 deputy, 146, 154 
 
 White Hart, the, Kingsland Road, 
 82, 160 
 
 White Lion, the, Thames Street, 
 160 
 
 Whitechapel, 170 
 
 Whitehall, 68, 69 
 
 Widow admitted to the freedom, 
 135 
 
 Widows, gifts to, 135 
 
 William and Mary, 69 
 
 William III, 71 
 
 Windsor, 59, 68, 69 
 
 Wire drawers, 7, 9 
 
 Women employed in basket- 
 making, 147 
 
 Wool men's Company, 75 
 
 Woolpack, the, Hart Street, 160 
 
 Wriothesley (Chronicles), quoted, 
 19 
 
 Ji
 
 PRINTED BY 
 
 WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, 
 LONDON AND BECCLES.
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 Santa Barbara 
 
 THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE 
 STAMPED BELOW. 
 
 Series 9482
 
 ...IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIUI 
 
 A 000 709 672 o