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 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITY 
 
 COMPANY OF SKINNERS.
 
 SOME ACCOUNT OF 
 
 THE HISTORY AND ANTIQUITY 
 
 WORSHIPFUL COMPANY 
 
 SKINNERS, LONDON 
 
 BY 
 
 JAMES FOSTEE WADMORE, 
 
 CITIZEN AND SKINNEK, A.R.I. B. A., HON. LOCAL SEC, K.A.S., Scc, kc. 
 
 PUBLISHED IN THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE LONDON AND MIDDLESEX 
 ARCH^OLOGICAL SOCIETY, AND 
 
 PRINTED BY J. B. NICHOLS AND SONS, 25, PARLIAMENT STREET. 
 
 187G.
 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The following pages have grown out of a paper which was 
 read at a Meeting of the London and Middlesex Archasological 
 Society, held at Skinners' Hall on Tuesday, the 28th day of 
 April, 1874. 
 
 The aim of the paper was to supply concisely and graphically 
 a history of the Company, which should contain fresh matters 
 of interest, not hitherto collected or published, as for instance : 
 Some account of the early illuminated Court Books ; Of the 
 rebuilding of the Hall ; Of the Company's Barge ; and. Of the 
 various illustrious Members of the Company who in a period 
 of nearly five hundred and fifty years have filled the office 
 of Lord Mayor in the City of London. To this is added a short 
 account of the connection of the Company with the plantation 
 in the Province of Ulster, set on foot by James L 1609. 
 
 Those who desire to obtain further information of the Worship- 
 ful Company of Skinners will do well to consult Herbert's 
 History of the Twelve great City Companies, published in 8vo., 
 A.D. 1836. 
 
 The author's best thanks are due for the kind aid and assist- 
 ance afforded by John E. Price, Esq., F.S.A.; Major Heales, 
 F.S.A. ; G. E. A. Cokayne, Esq., M.A., F.S.A., Lancaster 
 Herald; Alfred White, Esq., F.S.A. ; John de Havilland, Esq., 
 F.S.A., York Herald; W. H. Overall, Esq., F.S.A., Librarian 
 to the Corporation of London ; E. J. Sage, Esq.; and also G. R. 
 French, Esq. for the loan of the illustrations and descriptions 
 of the Company's plate exhibited at Ironmongers' Hall 1861. 
 
 773151
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 General History of the Skinners' Company- 
 Fraternity of Corpus Christi 
 Fraternity of Our Lady 
 Skinners' Hall 
 Skinners' Barge . 
 City Pageants of Illustrious Members 
 
 LORD MAYORS OF THE CITY OF LONDON 
 
 Sir Thomas Legge 
 Adam of Bury . 
 Sir Henry Barton 
 Sir William Gregory 
 Sir Thomas Oldgrave 
 Sir William Martin 
 Sir Thomas Mirfine 
 Sir John Champneis 
 Sir Andrew Judde 
 Sir Richard Dobbes 
 Sir Wolstan Dixie 
 Sir Stephen Slaney 
 Sir Richard Saltonstall 
 Sir William Cokayne 
 Sir Richard Dean 
 Sir Robert Tichborne 
 Sir Richard Chiverton 
 Sir Anthony Bateman 
 Sir George Waterman 
 Sir Thomas Pilkington 
 Sir Humphi-ey Edwin 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 1 
 
 to 12 
 
 13 
 
 „ 20 
 
 20 
 
 „ 29 
 
 30 
 
 „ 32 
 
 33 
 
 „ 38 
 
 39 
 
 „ 42 
 
 ^, 
 
 . 43 
 
 
 . 44 
 
 
 . 44 
 
 
 . 45 
 
 
 . 45 
 
 
 . 46 
 
 
 . 47 
 
 
 . 47 
 
 
 . 48 
 
 
 . 54 
 
 
 . 56 
 
 
 . 57 
 
 
 . 58 
 
 
 . 59 
 
 
 . 62 
 
 
 62 
 
 
 68 
 
 
 68 
 
 
 68 
 
 
 68 
 
 
 73
 
 Sir George Merrtins 
 Sir Charles Asgill 
 Sir Robert Kite . 
 
 Mr. TJiomas Hunt 
 Mr. Lawrence Atwell 
 Sir James Lancaster 
 Sir Thomas Smith 
 John Meredith . 
 William Stoddart 
 Sir Andrew Judd 
 Sir Wolstan Dixie 
 Manor of Pellipar 
 
 BEQUESTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 . 74 
 . 75 
 . 75 
 
 . 77 
 
 . 77 
 
 . 78 
 
 . 78 
 
 . 78 
 
 . 78 
 48, 53 
 
 . 56 
 
 . 79 
 
 Connection of Skinners with Trel 
 The Market Town of Dungiven 
 Dolmen near Dnngiven , 
 Tomb of Covey na Gall . 
 
 SCHEDULE OF PLATE 
 
 THE MANOR OF PELLIPAR. 
 
 uul 
 
 7 'J 
 .SI 
 82 
 83 
 
 83
 
 ^ 
 
 ~^r.^n^ ^%,%^^ 
 
 b>3) 
 
 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF SKINNERS, 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 BY J. F. WADMORE, A.R.I.B.A. AND HON. LOCAL SEC. K.A.S. 
 
 From the time that God clothed our first parents with coats of 
 skins to the present time, skins, or furs as we now call them, have 
 been used. 
 
 The preparation of skins was in the time of Moses well understood, 
 and must have been extensively practised, as we find them employed 
 in the covering of the Tabernacle in the wilderness,^ which is described 
 as protected with rams' skins, dyed red, and badgers' skins. 
 
 Julius Csesarin his Commentaries describes the Britons as " pellibus 
 vestiti." 2 In Saxon times skins continued to be largely used by the 
 inhabitants of the country generally, but, as regards the origin of the 
 practice of the dealers in skins associating themselves as a guild, we 
 know but little. As the town populations increased Saxon guilds or 
 Fridborges, afterwards called Frankpledges, came gradually into use ; 
 but these appear to have been more or less of a religious character, 
 as we find that originally a guild consisted of thirteen members only, 
 one principal and twelve associates, in imitation of the numbers chosen 
 by Our Saviour, with one sister, however, who was added to represent 
 the Blessed Virgin Mary.-^ 
 
 1 Exod. xxvi. 14. ^ Cfesar, Iv. c. xiv. 
 
 3 Herbert's Livery Companies, i. 3. See also, The Ordinances of some Secular 
 Guilds of London, by Henry Charles Coote,F.S. A., published in the Transactions 
 of tlie London and Middlesex ArchKological Society, vol. iv. part I. 
 
 a
 
 2 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 Guilds increased both in numbers and importance under tlio 
 Normans, and the Skinners are mentioned as a trade-guild as far 
 back as the thirteenth year of Edward II. a.d. 1319. The earlier 
 licences to hold property in mortmain are distinctly recognised and 
 confirmed in charters granted by Edward III. to the Goldsmiths, the 
 Skinners, and the Merchant Taylors, and in like manner in the 
 charters granted by him subsequently in the twenty- seventh, twenty- 
 eighth, and thirty-seventh years of his reign, to the Grocers, the 
 Fishmongers, Drapers, Salters, and Vintners.^ The charter of Edward 
 is addressed to his beloved men of the city of London, called Skinners. 
 That so many charters should have been granted is perhaps to be 
 accounted for by the fact " that Edward,^ following the example of his 
 father, felt the necessity for summoning a commercial Parliament, 
 apparently more numerous than the National Parliament itself, to 
 discuss questions of trade, and to endeavour to settle the differences 
 between capital and labour;" the disputes of which had led to so 
 terrible a result, in the frightful depopulation of the country by the 
 plague -^ known as the Black Death. This, together with the war 
 which broke out between England and Scotland, rendered it necessary 
 that the king should appeal for assistance to his faithful subjects, not 
 only in the city of London, but in forty-two other cities or towns, for 
 the raising of men and horse, for which latter a sum of from 30s. to 
 40s. was allowed.* 
 
 The Skinners were now (a.d. 1339) a powerful Company, jealous of 
 their privileges, which soon brought them into collision with the Fish- 
 mongers, an equally honourable and ancient Company.^ From 1412 
 to 1422 the rage for precedency was carried to the greatest excess, 
 and it is related that in the time of Henry V. two ladies named Grange 
 and Trussel were so outrageous as to have carried the quarrel into the 
 church at St. Dunstan's-in-the-East, whereon their husbands interfered 
 and drew their swords, and in the melee Petwardin, a Fishmonger, 
 was slain and several others wounded; for this they were excom- 
 mimicated imtil submission was made to the Church, and satisfaction 
 given to the widow. Chroniclers state that the contest produced a 
 
 * Herbert, 1. 25. a.d. 1327. 
 
 2 The L\fe and Times of Ed ward III. by W. Longman, p. 4. 
 ^ Ibid. p. '). 
 
 * Edirard III. Longman ; Eymer's Faedera, i. 220. 
 
 * Herbert, p. 306.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. O 
 
 skirmish and a riot, which the magistracy endeavoured to appease, 
 and seized some of the offenders; they were however rescued by 
 Thomas Hansart and John le Brewer, who illused the mayor (Henry 
 Darcie) and wounded some of his officers. Hansart and Brewer were 
 apprehended, tried, and condemned at Guiklhall, and afterwards 
 executed in Cheapside ; which well-timed severity we are informed was 
 so much approved of by the King that he granted the magistrates an 
 indemnification for their conduct. 
 
 Nor were such disturbances at all unusual in those times. Stowe^ 
 tells us that in the first year of the reign of Edward III. the bakers, 
 tavern-keepers, millers, cooks, poulterers, fishmongers, butchers, 
 brewers, cornchandlers, and divers other trades and misteries, together 
 with the loose sort of people called malefactors, were the chief 
 mischief makers in the tumults, who broke open citizens' houses and 
 spoiled their goods, imprisoned their persons, wounding some and 
 slaying others, so that the King more than once called on the mayor 
 and sheriffs to suppress this evil and organize a city watch. These 
 tumults appear, however, to have continued even up to the time of 
 Richard III. 
 
 In the thirty-seventh year of Edward Ill's reign (a.d. 1364) the 
 Skinners, Drapers, and Fishmongers contributed the sum of 40Z. in 
 aid of the war in France. 
 
 In 1395, the Skinners, who had previously been divided into two 
 brotherhoods, one at St. Mary Spital ^ and the other at St, Mary 
 Bethlem,^ were united under Richard II. 
 
 ' Strype's Sto7ve, ii. 255. 
 
 * On the east side of the north end of Bishopsgate Street (Pennant, ii. 165) 
 stood the priory and hospital of St. Mary Spittle, founded in 1197 by Walter 
 Brune, sheriff of London, and Rosia his wife, for canons regular of the order 
 of St. Augustine. It was noted for its pulpit cross, at which a preacher was 
 wont to deliver a sermon, consolidated out of four others which had been 
 preached at St. Paul's Cross on Good Friday and the Monday, Tuesday, and 
 Wednesday in Easter week; and then to give a sermon of his own. At all 
 which sermons the mayor and aldermen were to attend, dressed on each occasion 
 in different coloured robes. This custom continued till the destruction of Church 
 government in the civil wars of the last century. At the Dissolution here were 
 found not fewer than a hundred and fourscore beds, well furnished for the 
 reception of the poor. 
 
 ^ Between Bishopsgate and Moorfields {Ibid. ii. 161) stood the hospital of St. 
 Mary of Bethlehem, founded by Simon Fitz-Mary, sheriff of London in 1247 
 for a prior, canons, brethren, and sisters of a peculiar order, subject to the 
 
 a 2
 
 4 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 In the order for setting a watch on the Vigil of St. Peter and 
 St. Paul, 6 Edward IV., the Skinners rank as sixth amongst the 
 first twelve Companies. ^ 
 
 In the first year of the reign of Richard III. (1483) they stand 
 seventh,^ and at his coronation John Pasmer, Pelliparius, is named as 
 chief butler in the deputation from the twelve Companies who are 
 associated with the Lord Mayor.^ 
 
 visitation of the Bishop of Bethlehem. They were to be dressed in a black 
 habit, and distinguished by a star on their breast. In 1403 most of the houses 
 belonging- to this hospital were alienated, and only the master left, who did not 
 wear the habit of the order. 
 
 ' Herbert, p. 307. 
 
 =' They ranked seventh in the Arti Maggiori of Florence. History of the 
 Republic by Capponi. 
 
 ^ At the coronation of George IV. the late Mr. John Moore, a respected 
 member of the Company, performed the same office, as the elegant rosewater-dish 
 used on the occasion, &c., presented by him to the Company, records. (Stowe, 
 Appendix, cap. iii. p. 16, Guildhall Library, K, fo. 37 r?, 8 Hen. VI. lib. 1. fo. 
 191 rt, and 6). 
 
 Coronatio Domini Richardi Tertii et Dominss Annse Consortis suae. 
 
 This ancient custom is thus alluded to in the Pleas concerning the city of 
 London, held at the Tower, before Will'm of York, Provost of Beverley, Jeremy 
 of Caxton and Henry of Bath, Itinerant Justices. 
 
 To the Right High and Mighty Prince the Duke of Norfolk, Seneschal of 
 England, shown unto your good and gracious Lordship, the Mair and citizeins of 
 "•he citee of London. That whereafter the libertee and commendable customs 
 of the said citie of time that no man's mind to the contrary used, enjoyed, and 
 accustomed. The Mair of the said citee for the time being, by reason of the 
 office of Mairaltie of the said citie, in his own person, oweth of right, and duty, 
 to serve the King, our Sovereign Lord, in the day of his ful noble coronation in 
 such place as it shall please his Highness to take his spices; and the same cup, 
 with the keveringe belonging thereto, and a layer of gold, the same Mair to have, 
 and with him to bear away at the time of his departing, for some fee and reward. 
 Also that divers other citizeins, that by the said Mair and city shall be named, 
 and chosen owen of right, by the same custome, at the same day, to serve in the 
 office of Butlership, in the helping of the Chief Butler of England, to the Lords 
 and Estates, that shal be at the said coronation, as well at the table in the hal, 
 at meat, as after meat in the chamber .... Also the said Mair and citizeins 
 praien that they may sit, on the day of his said coronation, at the table next 
 the cupboard of the lifte syde of the hal, like as of old time it hath been used 
 and accustomed on the coronation at Westminster, and praying that, midatis 
 mutandis, they might be allowed to exercise the same privilege at the coronation 
 of the queen of Henry VII., July 6, 1501. 
 Sir John Shaw, Mair.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 
 
 It was at this time that a dispute arose between the Skinners and 
 the Merchant Taylors ^ respecting their right of precedence in civic pro- 
 cessions. The dispute ran high, blows quickly followed, and, as it was 
 a question which did not admit of such a settlement, " the said Maisfs, 
 Wardeyns, and ffeolashipps of both the said p^'ties the x''^ day of 
 Aprill, the first yeere of the Reign of Kyng Richard the iij'^*^, of their 
 free willes have comp^'mitted and submitted theymselfs to stonde and 
 obey the Rule and Jugement of Rob* Billesdon, Mair, and th' aldremen 
 of the said Citee of London, whereuppon the said Mair and Aldremen 
 takyng uppon theymthe Rule, direccion, and charge of Arbitrement of 
 and in the p^'misses, ffor norisshing of peas between the Maisters, 
 Wardeyns, and ffeolashipps aforesaid, the which ben ij grete & 
 wirshippful membres of the said Citee, have adjugged and awarded 
 the said Maisf and Wardeyns of Skynn''s shall yerely desire and 
 pray the said Maisf and Wardens of Taillo'"s to dyne w* the3'm atte 
 their Com'on Hall on the Vigill of Corpus Christi; also that the said 
 Maisf and Wardeyns of Taillo^'s shall yeerely desire, and pray the 
 said Maist"^ and Wardeyns of 8kynn''s to dyne w* theym on the ffest 
 of the Nativitee of Seint John Bapte, if thei there than kepe an 
 oppen Dyn' at iheir Com'on Hall, and that the Skynn^'s shall goo 
 befoi'e the Maisf, Wardeyns of Taillo''s from the ffest of Easter next 
 comyng tmto the ffest of Easter next ensuyng. And that the said 
 Maisf and Wardeyns shall goo before the Skynn^'s after the Feast of 
 Easter next ensuing, and so on alternately, except in the case of the 
 Lord Mair being chosen from one of the Company, in which case the 
 said Company is to have precedency during the yeere." 
 
 This judgment of Rich. Billesden has with but one exception 
 
 On which occasion the following persons were selected, some of whose names 
 are singularly appropriate to their calling: 
 
 John Tate, Mercer. 
 
 Will™ Sands, Grocer. 
 
 Will'" Sparke, CIoth^ 
 
 John Swann, Cissor {I.e. Taylor). 
 
 John Ostriche, Haberdasher. 
 
 Will"* Mariner, Salter. 
 
 liich'^ Knight, Fishm"". 
 
 John Pasmer, Pellipar {i.e. Skinner). 
 
 Tho'. Breytan, Ironmonger. 
 
 Roger Ford, Vintonner. 
 ' Herbert, p. 319; Jor. 6, fo. 105, or No. 9, fo. 50.
 
 b HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 during the Commonwealth been faithfully observed; and to this day 
 the Skinners and Merchant Taylors exchange friendly greeting one 
 with another, and take precedence as directed under the award. 
 
 The toast used on the meeting of the Companies runs thus : 
 
 " The Master, Wardens, and Court of Assistants drink health, 
 happiness, and prosperity to the Master, Wardens, and Court of 
 Assistants of the Merchant Tailors, Merchant Tailors and Skinners, 
 Skinners and Merchant Tailors, root and branch, and may they con- 
 tinue for ever." 
 
 The martw as at St. Mary at Axe and St. Andrew Undershaft, a 
 neighbourhood which still retains some of its former local traditions, 
 as any one who cares to visit Leadenhall on its market-days may see. 
 
 The charter (16 Richard II.) confirms in perpetuity the Guild of 
 Corpus Christi, by which title the Company of Skinners were then 
 known, and allows them to maintain two chaplains to perform 
 mortuary and other services for brothers and sisters, to appoint a 
 master and four wardens, and empowers them to wear a livery wherein 
 they may make their procession on Corpus Christi.^ The King also 
 of his special grace, and for Ixli. paid into the Hanaper, confirms 
 the former grants of his grandfather's letters patent. 
 
 The chantry of Corpus Christi, annexed to St. Mildred Poultry, 
 was established from funds of an earlier endowment in 1394 for a 
 brotherhood, and then took the name of the Chapel of Corpus Christi 
 and St. Mary.2 When suppressed (1 Edward VI.) its revenue was 
 101. 8s. 8d. of which there was allotted to the Skinners' Company 
 yearly two shillings. It did not adjoin St. Mildred's church, but 
 was situated in Conyhope Lane, now Grocers' Hall Court, and the 
 site together with that of a tenement between it and the street is 
 now occupied by the houses Nos. 34 and 35, Poultry. ^ 
 
 Subsequent'* charters were granted by Henry VI. 1430, Henry VII. 
 1501, Philip and Mary 1558, Elizabeth 1560, and James I. 1606. 
 These charters enter more or less minutely into the trade distinctions 
 
 » See charter of Richard II. This as well as the other charter will be found 
 printed in Herbert's History of the Twelve City Companies, p. 308. 
 
 2 The Virgin Mary was the patroness of the Sisters of the Company.— See 
 lllumitiated Court Book. 
 
 » Some interesting particulars respecting the chapel and brotherhood will be 
 found in Milbnurn's History of the Church of St. Mildred, Poultry, p. 20 et seq. 
 
 * Herbert, p. 308.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 7 
 
 of skins dressed and nndressed, fell ware and raw ware, empowers the 
 Company to exercise due scrutiny over all articles or men of the same 
 mistery, selling or working in London or elsewhere, or in any fairs, 
 markets, or places throughout England ; St. Botolph, Windchester 
 (Winchester), Yves, Stamford, St. Edith, St. Edmonds, and Basing- 
 stoke being the principal towns where the trade appears to have settled. 
 
 Furs were forbididden under penalty of forfeiture to be worn by 
 any but members of liveries, the royal family, prelates, earls, barons, 
 knights, and ladies, and those in the Church who might expend by 
 the year c livres at the least ^ from their benefices. Coney or rabbit 
 skins were also much worn, both by nobles and gentlemen. The 
 richer furs were of foreign importation, and in early times A^ery 
 costly ; mention is frequently made of them in wills as special legacies, 
 but a few examples will suffice. 
 
 Joan, Lady Hungerford, bequeaths to the wife of her son Walter 
 her black mantle furred with minever, a.d. 141 1.^ 
 
 Joan, Princess of Wales (called also the Fair Maid of Kent), in her 
 will dated in 1385 bequeathed, amongst other things, " Meo carissimo 
 Johanni de Holland (her third son by the Earl of Kent) unum cooper- 
 torium de scarlet furr' cum meum purat', 1 couerchief de camaca, 
 sive furrura."^ 
 
 Joan, Lady Bergavenny, 1434, gives her best gown furred with 
 marters (martens) to Walter Kebel ; her second gown of marters, 
 and the remnant (remainder) of her gowns so furred, to her son Sir 
 James Osmond. 
 
 The most interesting is, however, the will of Dean Colet, 1519, by 
 which he bequeathed to Master (Dr.) Morgan " his best gown, with 
 the hood, his best coat of chamlet furred with black boggys, and a 
 vestment." 
 
 Furs were worn both on the gowns and hoods of livery comjjanies. 
 Stowe tells us that the hoods were worn with the roundlets upon the 
 head, the skirts to hang behind the neck. The hoods were in old 
 time made in divers colours according to the gowns, as red and blue, 
 red and purple-murrey, or as it pleased the master and wardens to 
 appoint to their several companies. The gowns were all of one colour, 
 and that, he adds, of the saddest, but the hoods were made of the 
 
 • Statute 11th Edward III. c. 4. This Act was repealed hy 1st James I. 
 c. 25. 
 ■■^ Herhert, p. 305. ^ Nichols's llojjal Wills, p. 7S).
 
 8 
 
 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 same cloth, and the linings remained red, as of old time. The gown 
 is still worn with foins.J By the Inspeximus of Elizabeth, 1560, no 
 skinner or fnrricr was allowed to sell old furs, otherwise than as 
 coming from vestments, that is to say, collars and linings and old 
 hoods with their tipj)ets on. 
 
 Fm"s were packed in tiers, and the nnmber of vents, or bellies as 
 they were called, in each tier is given in the earliest charter (Edward 
 III.); and the same nnmber without any variation is mentioned in 
 those of later date: and other regulations on the same subject were 
 made by the City, as appears by the Liber Cws^MTOarwrn, which was 
 compiled about a.d. 1320.^ 
 
 The numbers were as follows : — 
 
 Furs of Minever ^ . . 
 
 . 8 tiers 
 
 120 vents 
 
 Do. 
 
 do. . . . 
 
 • 7 „ 
 
 100 „ 
 
 Do. 
 
 Besum . . . 
 
 8 „ 
 
 72 beasts 
 
 Do. 
 
 Popel* . . . 
 
 • 7 „ 
 
 60 „ 
 
 Do. 
 
 do 
 
 6 „ 
 
 52 „ 
 
 Do. 
 
 StradlingS . , 
 
 6 „ 
 
 52 „ 
 
 Do. 
 
 Minuta ^ . . 
 
 — 
 
 52 „ 
 
 Do. 
 
 Cuvell . . . 
 
 — 
 
 60 „ 
 
 Hoods of Minever, pure . 
 
 — 
 
 40 vents 
 
 Super 
 
 fine do. . . 
 
 — 
 
 36 „ 
 
 Do. 
 
 do 
 
 4 „ 
 
 20 „ 
 
 Do. 
 
 do 
 
 3 „ 
 
 8 „ 
 
 Furs of bogy" or boggys, or bennet, or lamb, of one ell or 1;|^ in 
 length. 
 
 ' Foins, or foone, fur of the stone marten or fitchet; it is mentioned in the 
 inventory of the wardrobe of King Henry V. taken in 1423, after his decease. — 
 Prompt. Parrulorvm, and Halliwell's Diet, s. v. define it as polecat. 
 
 - Liber Albus, p. 243. 
 
 3 Minever. The furs of the ermine mixed with that of the small weasel. 
 The white stoat is called minefer in Norfolk.- — Halliwell's Glossary, s. r. 
 
 Tairholt (Diet, of Costume) gives the derivation menu vair, the fur of the 
 black squirrel, which is white beneath. Coleridge {Glossarial Index) gives the 
 same derivation. 
 
 * Pople. The back of the squirrel in spring. — Note to Liber Albus, p. 243. 
 
 * Stranlyng. The skin of the squirrel between Michaelmas and winter. — 
 Ibid, note to p. 62.5. 
 
 * Minuta — Minuti varii — Menu vairs — Minever. — HaUiwcU and others. 
 
 ' Bogy. Budge fur, ;. e. lamb-skin with the wool outside. — Halliwell's 
 Glossary, s. v.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 9 
 
 Beaver (by that name) aud various other skins are not mentioned 
 in the earlier charters. All manner of fur which was found contrary 
 to these ordinances was to remain forfeit to the mayor and commonalty 
 of the City, or at the fairs of St. Botolph (Windsor), Winchester, 
 St. Ives, Stamford, St. Edith, and at other fairs in the realm. 
 
 One of the duties of the guild also appears to have been to see that 
 all furs were what they purported to be, and that no old ones were sold 
 as new, under pain of forfeiture ; this will be seen in the ordinances 
 which we have subsequently noted. Those who worked at the skins 
 were called tauyers, and many disputes iised to arise between them 
 and the Skinners. The latter appear to have appointed fairs for 
 furryers, who were formerly associated with Skinners. 
 
 By the sumptuary laws passed in the reign of Heniy TVA the 
 wearing of furs of ermine, lettice, pure minivers, or grey, by wives of 
 esqmres was prohibited, unless they themselves were noble or their 
 husbands warriors or mayors of London. The queen's gentlewomen, 
 attendants upon a princess or duchess, are likewise prohibited from 
 wearing the richer furs. 
 
 At a date between 1338 and 1353 the City ordered that common 
 women should not be aiTayed in clothing furred with budge or wool. 
 (Letter Book F. 208). 2 And soon afterwards it was ordered that 
 women of evil life should not wear hoods that were furred, except 
 with the wool of lambs or the fur of rabbits. (Letter Book 
 G. 267).3 
 
 The Corporation guilds formerly joined in royal pageants and 
 processions. When Henry III. (1236) brought home his wife 
 Eleanor, the citizens of London rode out to meet them clothed in long 
 garments embroidered about with gold and silk and divers colours,* 
 every man having a golden or silver cup in his hand ; again, in the time 
 of Edward I. (1300), when he brought home his wife Margaret from 
 Canterbury, the citizens, to the number of 600, rode out to meet them 
 in one livery of red and white, with the cognizances of their misteries 
 embroidered upon their sleeves. Scarlet gowns aud sanguine hoods 
 were worn by the aldermen, and white gowns and scarlet hoods with 
 divers cognizances by the commonalty, in the time of Henry VI. 1432. 
 
 ' Knight's British Costumes, p. 180. 
 
 * Liber Alhus, p. 510. •' Ibid. 
 
 * Stowe, p. 165.
 
 10 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 In the time of Henry VII. violet appears to have been worn, the hoods 
 were furred and used as a covering to tlie head, as may be seen in 
 early missals of that date. 
 
 In the charters of Henry VII. (1501) the Skinners are confinied 
 as to their former privileges under the title of the Master and Wardens 
 of the Guild or Fraternity of the Body of Christ ; and the festival of 
 Corpus Christi continues to this day to be especially memorable in 
 connection with the tradition of the guild, when they elect their 
 Master and Wardens for the ensuing year. The ceremony has been 
 often described, but I venture to make some few extracts from the 
 graphic account in Knight's London} 
 
 " Issuing from their hall in Dowgate in their new liveries they take 
 their places in the procession and pass along the principal street; 
 most imposing is the appearance they present; scattered at intervals 
 along the line are to be seen the lights of more than a hundred waxen 
 torches, costly garnished. Amongst the different bodies included in 
 the procession are some two hundred clerks or priests, in surplices and 
 copes, chanting ; after these come the sheriffs' servants, then the clerks 
 of the compters, the sheriffs' chaplains, the Mayor's sergeant, the 
 Common Council, the Mayor and Aldermen in their scarlet robes, and, 
 lastly, the members of the Company, male and female, which it is the 
 business of the day to honour. The church of St. Lawrence in the 
 Poultry is their destination, whither they all proceed to the altar of 
 Corpus Christi and make their offerings, staying awhile to hear mass ; 
 from the church they return in the same state to dinner, where the 
 principal and side tables are laid out in all the chief apartments of 
 the building; the officers of the Company occupying one, the sisters 
 another, and the players and minstrels a third. Plate glitters on 
 every side, and choice hangings adorn the hall. 
 
 " The materials for the pageant are suspended from the roof, and 
 attract many an admiring glance, while the fragrance of Indian sandal 
 wood is filling the atmosphere, though not altogether to the exclusion 
 of those exhalations which proceed from the kitchen, betokening the 
 more solid pleasure of the epicure. 
 
 " The guests, including the Lady Mayoress, with the Sheriffs' ladies, 
 
 together with Noblemen and the Priors of the great conventual 
 
 establishments of London, St. Mary Overies, St. Mary Spital, St. 
 
 Bartholomew, and Christchurch, are all there. Of the dinner itself 
 
 ' Pictorial Hisiorij of London, v. 114.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. H 
 
 what shall we say that can adequately describe its variety, profusion, 
 and costliness, or the skill with which it has been prepared ? The 
 boar's heads and the mighty barons of beef seem almost to require 
 an apology for their introduction amidst the delicacies which surround 
 them ; above the stately salt, there are brawn, fat swans, conger, 
 and sea-hog, dishes of great birds, with little ones around them, 
 Lechi Lombard, made of pork pounded in a mortar, with eggs 
 and raisins, sugar, dates, salt, pepper, spices, milk of almonds, and 
 red wine, the whole being tied up in a bladder, with many others of 
 a similar composite character; whilst the subtleties so marvellously 
 and cunningly wrought tell in allegory the history of the company, 
 and of the Saviour as its patron, while it reveals to us the true artist, 
 the cook. 
 
 " After dinner, whilst the spiced bread and hippocras goes roimd, 
 the master and wardens who had retired for election re-enter with 
 garlands on their heads, preceded by the beadle, and the minstrels 
 playing; then the garlands are removed, and a show is made of 
 trying whose head amongst the assistants it will best fit; it is found 
 by a remarkable coincidence that the persons previously chosen by 
 the Court of Assistants are those whom the chaplets do fit. 
 
 " With renewed ceremony a loving cup is then brought in, from 
 which the former master and wardens drink health and prosperity to 
 the master and wardens elect, who assume the garlands and are 
 greeted with cheers by the whole fraternity. The pageant is now 
 eagerly looked for, the tables are cleared. The pageant descends 
 from the roof, and the actors, nine in number, approach, and soon the 
 whole audience is engrossed with the representation of the history of 
 Noah's flood." 
 
 The coronation of the master and wardens still continues to take 
 place much in the same way at the present time. After the loving 
 cup has gone round a procession is formed by the junior members of 
 the livery in their gowns, bearing caps and silver-gilt cocks, the 
 gift of Sir William Cockain (see list of plate), accompanied by the 
 clerk, the beadle with the boys of Christ's Hospital nominated by 
 the Company, preceded by a military band ; twice the hall is per- 
 ambulated ere the crowns and caps are deposited, when the ceremony 
 of fitting of the cap takes place, amidst a grand flourish of trumpets. 
 
 There were also other pageants of processions on Corpus Christi ^ 
 ' Stowe, i. 242.
 
 12 HISTOKY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 of a very early date, when stage plays were enacted at Clerk's Well, 
 at Skinner's Well, beside Smithfield ; they date back as early as 
 1391, and lasted sometimes three days, and on one occasion we read 
 of Richard the Second and his Queen,i with many of the nobility, 
 being present. 
 
 It does not, however, appear that there was any miracle-play 
 specially adapted for Corpus Christi day : but rather that the day 
 was selected for the performance of some play based upon Scripture. 
 
 A great play is also mentioned by Stowe to have taken place in 
 1409 at Skinner's Well, which lasted eight days, and was of matter 
 from the creation of the world. The most part of all the great estates 
 of England were there to behold it.^ 
 
 These plays or mysteries, as they were called, were entirely of a 
 sacred character, and similar no doubt to those collected by Mr. J. O. 
 Halliwell-Phillipps, F.S.A., in his work entitled " Ludus Coventriaj," 
 which he says took place on Corpus Christi day, "when a great 
 company of people from far and near assembled to see them acted 
 with mighty state and reverence." The stages were placed high, and 
 generally upon wheels, so that they might be drawn to the principal 
 places for the advantage of the spectators. 
 
 In 1450, temp. Henry VII. a tumult was raised against the mayor 
 at a wrestling, beside Clerk's Well. 
 
 At Coventry, in 1495, the Cardmakers petitioned that the craft of 
 Skinners and Bakers, who had no play of their own, should pay 
 annually 13s. 4fZ. towards the charge of their pageants, which the 
 city ordered accordingly. In 1531 the Skinners paid 5s. annually 
 towards the Weavers' pageant.^ 
 
 EARLY COURT BOOKS. 
 
 The illuminated court books before mentioned are particularly 
 interesting, both as manuscripts of the fifteenth century and as 
 affording us much important information as regards the customs of 
 the ancient guild. 
 
 ' Stowe, i. p. 251. ^ Hid. ii. 117. 
 
 3 Sharpe's Coventry Mysteries, pp. 10, 11. There were guilds of Corpus 
 Christi at Beverley, founded in 1408, mainly for the performance of such 
 pageants. At Hull and Coventry there were also guilds of Corpus Christi. — 
 Toulmin Smith's Enf/lish Guilds, pp. 141, 154, 160, 232.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 13 
 
 The two earliest volumes of records are excellently written upon 
 vellum, and adorned with illuminations : one relates to the Mystery 
 or Craft of the Fraternity of Corpus Christi, being what is now called 
 the Worshipful Company of Skinners ; the other is the lloll of the 
 Fraternity of Our Lady. The precise powers and relative position of 
 these two bodies would perhaps be impossible now to ascertain, but 
 their mutual concurrence appears to have been essential to the enact- 
 ment of the rules and ordinances made from time to time for the good 
 order and governance of either body, all of such rules being specifi- 
 cally stated to be made by the Master and Wardens of Corpus Christi 
 and sixteen of the fraternity of Our Lady. 
 
 The volume relating to the fraternity of Corpus Christi 
 commences with a copy, in extenso, of the charter granted by King 
 Richard II., being a confirmation of that granted in the 39th year of 
 King Edward IIL, a.d. 1365 and 1366. This is succeeded by — 
 
 The othe of newe entres and of all shop holders. 
 Ye shale swere that ve shall be good and trewe liege men unto oure liege lorde 
 the Kyng, and to his heyres kynges; ye shall trewlye by and trewlye sell and 
 trewlye worche after y'= ordinannces of the crafte, and as trew workemanship 
 askyth ; and all manner ordenauuces lefull and lawfull of this crafte, the secretis 
 and councells of the same, ye shall well and trulie kepe and hold ; ye shalbe redy 
 at all manner of Commands that bene made for the worshipe of the Cite and for 
 the Crafte, or ellis to pay youi'e mercementis that ben ordeyned and assigned 
 therfore ; and all the poyntes and ordenaunces longing to the fraunchise of the 
 seid Cite, and for the wele of the seyd Crafte of Skynners, ye shall kepe on your 
 behalue — so god you helpe, and all seyntis. 
 
 Then follow the statutes of the Company for the regulation of the 
 trade, commencing thus : — 
 
 These bene the Articles touching the Crafte of Skynners of london, made by 
 the Good folke of the same Crafte, the whiche bene graunted and confermyd by 
 Adam Burye than mayre of London and the WorshipfuU Aldremen of the seid 
 Cite, In the yere of oure soverayne Lorde Kyng Edwarde the thirde, After the 
 Conqueste xxxix**", (A.D. 1365 & 6) and entred in the book of G., in the Icffe, 
 c. Ixiij ; that is to wytt — 
 
 The Articles being of great length, an abstract of them will suffice 
 for the present purpose : — 
 
 1. First is ordained that none of the craft work both old and new peltry of his 
 own, so as to avoid suspicion of mixing them.' 
 
 ' Intermingling new and old work was forbidden in the City at an early date, 
 as appeai-s by the Liber Custumarum (compiled circa 1320). — Liber Alliis, p. 243
 
 14 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 2. That calabrc ' be used according to its nature, that is to say with one side 
 black, that folk be not deceived. 
 
 3. That calabre skins, or gray calabre, of season and not seasoned, be not mixed 
 together nor with popell. 
 
 4. Any one proved in the Chamber of the Guildhall to have offended against 
 the above rules, to be imprisoned eight days in Newgate and then fined 13«. id. 
 to the Chamber and lis. Sd. to the Craft, for their Alms.^ 
 
 5. Any man or woman aggrieved by such acts, on complaint to the Rulers of 
 the Craft, to have a good fur instead of that forfeitable, whether put in cloth or 
 not. And, if the offender be a stranger without the City, he shall suffer equally 
 if he can be taken within the franchise. 
 
 6. None of the craft to beat fur or skins in the street, under penalty of half a 
 mark, of which half to go to the Chamber and the other half to alms of the craft ; 
 and the offender himself to be imprisoned 4 days.^ 
 
 Nor to bring furs of " wilde worke " out of the City till seen by the Rulers to 
 be " avowable," under pain of forfeiture and fine of 5s. to the Chamber and 20^. 
 to alms of the Ci-aft. 
 
 Nor to sell furrs of "grey worke " * from Flanders or other lands till seen by 
 the Rulers to be true, under like penalties, because the fur of grey brought from 
 Flanders, for the greater gain, is "so stuffed with chalk that unneth^ a man 
 may not well know them." 
 
 7. Any stranger selling ermines, letues,^ or work, in the City, making other 
 than good and true " pakking," the same to be sequestrated till he has redressed 
 the fault in the discretion of the craft, or, if a German, then of four of the craft 
 and four of his nation. 
 
 8. At accustomed times ^ for the fellowship to wait on the Mayor at " poulis," 
 they go from St. Thomas of Acres to the Bishop's grave in poulis and say De 
 Profu7idis, and there stand in a convenient place in the church, or, if none, in par- 
 
 1 Calabre, pelles ex Calabria. — Ducange. 
 
 ^ Furs were forfeited and fines inflicted by the City for mixing old and new 
 work, circa A.D. 137G-99. — (Letter Book H. 39.) Libe?- Alius, p. 521. 
 
 ^ The regulations of the City forbid furs to be scoured in the high streets in 
 the day-time, circa A.D. 1309-16.— (Letter Book D. 108.) Liher Alius. 
 
 * Grey work, the back of the squirrel in winter.— iiJer Albus, p. 243. 
 
 * Unneth, hardly. 
 
 8 Lettice, a kind of grey fur. — Malliivell. 
 
 ■^ On the morrow of the feast of St. Simon and Jnde (if not a Sunday) the 
 new mayor went to St. Thomas de Aeon, and thence with the Aldermen to St. 
 Paul's, where, at a spot in the middle of the nave, between the. two small doors, it 
 was the custom to pray for the soul of Bishop William, who, it is said, procui-ed 
 from King William the Conqueror great liberties for the City of London ; thence 
 to the tomb of the parents of St. Thomas of Canterbury in the churchyard, and 
 back to St. Thomas of Aeons, where the Mayor and Aldermen each offered a 
 penny. — Liber Albus, p. 24. Stow says, Thomas of Aeons was situated on the 
 north side of Cheap Street, at y" Great Conduit. Vol. i. p. 37.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 15 
 
 done church halle,' in order, till the Mayor has passed, under penalty of Sd., 
 half to the Chamber and half to the alms. 
 
 9. On 22nd June, in the 28th year of King Henry VI. (1449), the Master and 
 Wardens, and 16 of the most wise and discreet of the Fellowship of Skinners, 
 unanimously agreed that if any suitable member of the fellowship or of the 
 Brotherhood of Corpus Christi, being duly elected to be Master or "Warden, 
 refuse to serve, he be fined 10 li. without favour or pai-don. 
 
 10. On the same day it was ordained that any Brother of Our Lady's Fellow- 
 ship elected to the aforesaid Office and refusing to serve be fined 51i. 
 
 11. On 2nd June in the 1st year of King Edward IV. (1461), it was enacted 
 by the like authority, that any of the Craft when warned by the Bedell and not 
 attending in the Hall at 7 o'clock, or other hour set, shall pay 8d. to a pound of 
 wax ; the master or wardens double. Failing to be present before the stroke of 
 9, to be fined 8^. without redemption. 
 
 On 6th January in the 3rd year of King Edward IV. (1462-3), it was ordained 
 by like authority, that the Fellowship of the Skinners in the Clothing of the 
 Brotherhood of Corpus Christi be warned by the beadle and attend in their livery 
 with the Master and Wardens at St. Thomas of Acres on Christmas Day, the 
 Wednesday following New Year's Day, the Twelfth Day, and Candlemas Day, to 
 bring the Mayor to St. Paul's, under fine of 12d. to the box of Corpus Christi; 
 and that none pretend (unduly) to be wardens, under penalty of 3s. id. 
 
 12. On 11th January in the 17th year of King Edward IV. (1476-7), it was 
 ordained by like authority, that any freeman of the craft making suit, of evil 
 will, to any other fellowship to change his copy, whether covertly or openly, 
 shall pay c marcs sterling, one half to the Chamberlain of London towards the 
 common coffers of the City, and the other half to the sustentation of the poor 
 men of the Craft. 
 
 13. On 24th Feb. in the 2nd year of King Henry VII. (I486), it was enacted 
 by the Master and Wardens of the Skinners, with the assent of the 16 of the 
 Fellowship of Corpus Christi, that one who has been Master shall have in seven 
 years foiu: apprentices, Wardens three, and others two. 
 
 14. None to take an apprentice till personally approved by the Master, and 
 proved to be free-bom and not lame or disfigured of limbs, whereby the City nor 
 Craft take disworship in time coming ; and also pay a fee of 20s. to the Wardens: ■ 
 under penalty of 26s. 8d. without redemption. The Clerk of the Company of 
 Corpus Christi to engross the Indentures and enter them in the Eegister. 
 
 15. None to take an apprentice unless of " abilitie of connyng" to teach him 
 the Craft, and keep and find him. If default be found by the Master and 
 Wardens they to remove the apprentice to another master. 
 
 16. " The othe of the newe maister and wardeyns the morowe after the day of 
 corporis xpi. 
 
 " Ye shall swere that ye shalbe true liegemen unto oure liege lorde the Kyng, 
 and to his heyres KjTigs ; ye shall be indiiferent Jugis betwene party and party, 
 withoute favoure, love, or affeccion, and withoute malice or any evill will to 
 
 ' Pardon-Church-Haugh, part of St. Paul's churchyard, on the north side, 
 eastward of the Bishop's palace.— Dugdale's St. Paiil's, p. 93.
 
 16 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 any parsone or parsons, All manner ordenaunces and good rules that bene made 
 or shall be made for the wele of this craft of Skynners,ye shall truly execute and 
 kepe ; ye shall not bruke any of the ordenaunces made by J)e coniyn Assente and 
 hole agrement of all the xvi of thys Companye w'oute l^e hoole agrement of 
 alle (or of J?e most part, interlined) \>v same xvi. All these th}Tigs ye shall truly 
 observe and kepe; so helpe you god and all seynts, and by the boke; & kys 
 hyt, &c." 
 
 17. On 14th July, in the 17th year of King Edward IIII. (1477), it -was 
 ordained by like authority that any man's son if apprenticed to himself pay no fee. 
 
 18. On 3rd October, in the same year, it was ordained that none take any 
 man's servant or apprentice to lodge or work In his house without leave of the 
 wardens or master under penalty of 40s. 
 
 19. Whereas at divers times the master and wardens have in certain years 
 bought themselves livery of the finest cloth, to the great cost of the common box 
 of the fellowship, it is now ordained and enacted that they shall not take, in the 
 years of giving of livery, more than other years, viz., 20d. and no more. 
 
 20. On 6th Jan., the 19th year of King Edward IIII. (1478-9), it was 
 ordained that no Skinner shall make complaint of another in the Counter, or 
 Mayor's Court, without leave of the master or wardens ; and in default to pay 
 for each ofEence to the alms 6s. 8d., without remission or favour. 
 
 21. On the 24th Jan., the 6th year of King Henry VII. (1490) it was ordained 
 by William Martyn, Alderman, the master, and the wardens and the 16, that 
 the master and wardens grant no lease of lands, rents, or tenements, for more 
 than a year, without consent of the 16, under penalty, if done by the master or 
 wardens, of 10^. to the alms, without redemption. 
 
 Mem. — 21st May, the 9th year of King Henry VII. (1493), it is ordained by 
 Wm. Martyn, Mayor, and the Aldermen, and recorded in the books of the 
 City in the Guildhall of London, that no stranger or foreigner take upon him- 
 self the occupation of the craft of Skinners under penalty of 6s. Sd., half to the 
 Chamberlain of London and half to the fellowship. 
 
 Also, that none of the fellowship hereafter employ any journeyman, except a 
 freeman ; upon proof and certificate to the Chamberlain of London to forfeit 
 every time 20s., half to Chamberlain, and half to the fellowship; Thomas Gold- 
 herst then being Mayor. 
 
 The names of the Founders and Brethereri and Sisters of the 
 fraternity of Corpus Christi founded by the Worshipful Fellowship 
 of Skynners of the Citie of London, that is to say : 
 
 King Edward the III. King Henry the V. 
 
 Dame Philip his Queen. Dame Kat'yn his Queen. 
 
 Kyng Richard the II. Kyng Henr' the VI. 
 
 Dame Anne his Queen. Ky»g Edward the IIII. 
 
 Prince Edward, father of the said Dame Elizabeth his Q"^. 
 King Richard. Leonell Duke of Clarence. 
 
 King Henry IIII. Henr' Duke of Lancastre. 
 
 Dame Johan his Queen. Thomas Duke of Clarence.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 17 
 
 John Duke of Bedford. Sir John Cambrigge, phesician, 
 
 Humphrey Duke of Gloucess'. Davy Lecke. 
 
 Richard Duke of York. NichoKas Longe, clerk. 
 
 John Duke of Excestre. Frere Water Brig'. 
 
 George Duke of Clarence. Sir John Everdon. 
 
 Richard Duke of Gloucess'. Sir Thomas Solding, clerk. 
 
 Edmund Erie of Rutland. Water Brikkilliswade. 
 
 Richard Erie of Salesbury. Sir James Walker, p'son of Seynt 
 
 John Lord ffaunhope. John's walb^ke. 
 
 Sir John Levirton, clerk. John Neuport. 
 
 Sir Water Edynh'ra, clerk. Sir John Spark, clerk. 
 
 Sir Water Sasseley, clerk. John Bedford, wulman. 
 
 Sir Thomas Pattishull, cl'. Pers of Newcastel. 
 
 Sir Thos. Blunell, clerk. Master Nychol Barslial, prest 
 
 Sir Robert Ellerker, clerk. of corpus xp'i. 
 
 Sir Thomas and others to the number of 502. 
 
 Sir John Brampton, cl'. 
 
 Then follow the names of the Sisters : 
 
 Dominica soror testamenta, including, 
 
 My lady Alys Dulgrene. 
 
 My lady dam Ali' Bryce. 
 
 My ladi da, ysbell Norburght. 
 
 My lady Jone Adderley. 
 
 Marg'et Croke. 
 
 Alys Goldwyn. 
 
 My lady dam Mgt Alley. 
 
 Margarete viscounte' Lesse. 
 and others, in all 111. 
 
 Then follow a list headed with four aldermen and 204 others, 
 which, together with the entrance of new brethren at the feast of 
 Corpus Xpi. a°. do', m.cccc. iiij^-"^. xviij., and in the succeeding years 
 10, make altogether about 720 of the fraternity, which is closed with 
 the name of Harry Wilkyns, clerk of the craft. ^ 
 
 ' H.R.H. Henry Frederick Augustus Duke of Cumberland and Sti-athern, 
 Earl of Dublin, one of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, was 
 admitted to the freedom in 1767, together with the Right Honourable Charles 
 Townsend. The late Lord Strangford, a lineal descendant of Sir Andrew Judd 
 and Lord Clyde, were also members. On the 19th of July, 1673, the Rioht 
 Honourable J^ieutenant Berkley of Berkley, and Lord Mowbrey Hargrave of 
 Prussia, were added to this list of freemen.
 
 18 IIlSTOllY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 Another extract gives the conneetion of the guild with other towns 
 where their influence extended. I select this because it shows that 
 other trades were also admitted to the fellowshij?: — 
 
 These be the names of the brethen and sistren in ye tyme of John 
 Wynter, John Auger, Richard Scarlet, Thomas mace, Wardeyns of 
 ye seid fraternyte of oure lady,^ ye xxv day of Julii ye xxiiij jere 
 of king Harry ye sixte. (1445). 
 
 Marster John boner, doctour. 
 
 John moufort, gentilnia, of reigate. 
 
 Pers carjjenter, of reigate. 
 
 John melelard, of reigate. 
 
 John wodeward, bocher. 
 
 John wrixwoj^e, gentilraan. 
 
 John huntugdon, of seint albons. 
 
 John higdon, dier. 
 
 John thorpe wadisbiry, gentilnia. 
 
 William at ]w wode, of bristowe isojxMcy. 
 
 Willam haselingfeeld, joyner. 
 
 John white, of charlewode. 
 
 John peinter, of Salisbury, skynner. 
 
 John gold, bocher. 
 
 John petite, groser. 
 
 Thos. Winkborne of aldenliam. 
 
 Harry camproun. 
 
 Isabel moiling, silkwijf. 
 
 Richd. pleistowe. 
 
 John aischlee, of godstoone. 
 
 A lawe made bytwene the landlord and the tenaniit. 
 In the tyme of Cateworthe Mayre of London, the xxiij yere of the reign of 
 Kyng Henry the sixt, the olde hooks recordes processes and jugementes serched 
 and sene. It was declared by the same Maire and Aldermen than beyng, that it 
 shall not be liefuU to eny tenaunt for terme of life, or for terme of yeres, within 
 the said Citee at the ende of his terme, or at eny other tyme, to cast downe, take 
 awey, or pull up eny easment to the houses in the gi-ouude of his seid tenure by 
 hym nayled or fastned either with naile of yren, or of tymber as a pentyqe, a 
 staple for a lok, glass latyce, a benche, or other like, nor eny aisement fastned 
 with morter, whether the same morter be of Ij-me or of cley, as a fFurneys, an 
 oven, a chymney, a pavement, and such other, nor any plante, or tree, sett in the 
 prounde, that hath taken roote as vynes, trees, busshes, and suche other. 
 
 ' St. Thomas of Acres, Spital, and Bethlehem.
 
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 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. l^ 
 
 After these articles are entered year by year the names of tlie 
 master and wardens, each year in a separate column, headed with the 
 chalice and host, indicative of the guild of Corpus Christi, and with 
 other lich illuminations in colours. The usual heading ran thus till 
 1548:— 
 
 These been the names of the Brethcrcn and Systcren of the ffraternity of 
 Corpus Xpi of the Crafte of Skynners of London, entered att the ffcast of Corpus 
 Xpi the yeare of our lorde god m'ccccIxxxv. Maister "William Martyn, Alder- 
 man, than being Maister of the seide fEratemite and crafte; Richard Swan, 
 Olyu' Caston, Thomas Busselcon and Roger Swanloft, than being Wardyns. 
 
 After this date it was customary to enter the heading thus : — 
 
 These be the names of the master and the wardens of the ffelawshypp of 
 Corpus Christi of the Skynners of London, entered at the fest of Corpus Xpi in 
 the yere of ower lorde M'cccccxlviij. 
 
 The illumination of the chalice and host, accompanied by the mono- 
 grams IHS and XPS, contained in the initial of each year's entry, 
 appears for the last time in the year 1579, after which date it was 
 superseded by a royal crown — a good emblem of the supersession of 
 the church by the State. 
 
 From the year 1550 the arms of the Company head each page, the 
 helmet being that of an esquire and closed until 1612, after which it 
 was represented as open. 
 
 It is noteworthy that the entries a'-e always stated to be made on 
 the feast of Corpus Christi, even through the whole period of Puritan 
 rule : and the royal crown, surmounted by its lion, and wilh the 
 Prince of Wales' plume boldly illuminated, were never intermitted ; 
 this speaks strongly for the determined religious loyalty of the 
 Company. 
 
 In the latter portion of the book the arms of England and Scotland 
 are introduced, together with the arms of the Russia and Muscovy 
 merchants, as well as those of Ebbing and Eastland, and merchants of 
 the Levant. 
 
 Occasionally we meet with the name of a clerk of the Company, 
 such as Henry Wilkins, Corporis Xpi. 1504, Master John Batten, 
 A.D. 1556, and Thomas Pennant, 1639. In the 19th of Edward IV. 
 we find the following entry relating to the " clerks wagy^ " : — 
 
 Item it is ordeyned in this same yere be the Master and Wardcnnys, and the 
 xvi of Corpus Xp'i, and the xvi of our ladies ffelisschyp, that Thomas Mason 
 
 b2
 
 20 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 that tymc beyng clerk of the said fel3'schypp shall have yearly fro this day for 
 his salary xls. 
 
 The name of Master William Jenyns, Dean of Gloucester, appears 
 as a member of the Guild in 1544. 
 
 The volume relating to the fraternity of Our Lady com- 
 mences with a series of rales for the governance of that body, which 
 throw much light upon its organisation, and, being otherwise ciirious, 
 are given in extenso, as follows : — 
 
 Memorandu that it ys ordeynyd and asseted be the maisterys and wardennys 
 of the crafte of skynneris with the xvj off ye company of Corp'is xpi. And he 
 the wardennys and y" xvi of the IjretherjTi and ffelawship of oure lady. The 
 xxiiij day of April In the yeer of oure lord god M.iiij'=lxxij. And the xii 
 yeer of kyng Edward the iiij"'. That euery brodir of onre lady felyschip beyng 
 skynn' holdyng ony schoppc or chambyr of the same That he schall yeerly 
 take an hoode clothe of the wardennys for the yeer beyng or ellys that yeer that 
 no leuery ys gewy that he schall pay for the incresse of the clothe xx''. And 
 that he schall come with his hoode redy made uppon his schulder on oure lady 
 day Assumpton to seynte Thomas of Acrysse and awayte uppo the wardennys 
 of o'' lady ffelawship so comyng forth unto the churche of seynt John uppon 
 Walbroke. And there to offer at the hyee Masse or ellys to pay for the defaunte 
 to the Box of our Lady iij. s. iiij'^. w*oute ony redempcon. Also it is ordejmyd 
 that iiij p'sonys sk}'nn's of the xvj. of oure lady bretherhode schalbe schosyn to 
 see and understode that the clothe that schalbe bowgth and ordeyned for the 
 levery schalbe yn valure of iii.s. iiij d. the j-arde. 
 
 Also we provide and ordeyue that ev'y broder of the felyschip beyng assigned 
 schall come at ony tyme that he is warned be the Clerk for ony obit of broder or 
 sistir dissessed with his levery hoode that he is warned to come yn uppon the 
 peyne of 1 pounde wax. Also we ordeyne and assent that euery brodir off the 
 same ffelischyp schall come to the dyner as he is Warned. And if he come not 
 he schall pay nev' the lesse. And iff ony brodyr be syke or dissesyd and may 
 not come and so knowyn y' he may send to the skjninys halle to the wardennys 
 for the yeer beynge ffor his dyn', viij.d. so that he come be fore the fyrst corsse 
 be servydyn. That thannc he schall haue for his porcon as schall for oon man 
 be hit hoo suevyr hit be of the seyde bretheryn or systeryn. 
 
 Also eve'ch of the seide ' ffrat'nite thats taken- cloMnge ne shal not^ de foyll 
 ne mysuse her clothinge ne * done it away withjnne two yere in poyne to paye to 
 the almesse of ye seid frat'uite iij s. iiij d. but wel and honestly kepe it and^ were 
 it in worship of all ye same frat'nite, and that every brother at the® rece}"vyngeof 
 the clothinge paye be fore iij s. iiij d. and the ' rcmennte as the Wardeynes & he 
 may accorde. 
 
 ' fraternity. 2 clothing. 
 
 3 defyle nor misuse their clothing. * nor do away with it. 
 
 ^ wear it. * receiving. 
 
 ' rest.
 
 THE COJMPANY OF SKINNERS. 21 
 
 Also yif eny of the same frat'nitc be chosen for to be ' broy'e '■•'of ye maistersof 
 the Craft of Skynners he he shal not take no clojjinge of the^ .... for the tyme 
 that he taketh clothinge of the maisters '' nev' ye lees he shal be take for oon of 
 ye hretherhode yif he do his duetees as a broJ>' doth. 
 
 Also yer bene accorded that ye same ffrat'nite shall fynde v tapers of ^ Wexe 
 on the beem® in the Chapel in the church of seint John' up Walbrok above seid 
 in Worship of the V Woundes that his blessed body suifred on ye cros for the re- 
 demption of al man kynde to^ brenne ev'y solempne daye at divine s'vice, And 
 also eu'ech brother or sistre that dyen shullen have at her^ entierments six 
 new torches,& two tapers of Wexe, ecch taper of xx lb brennjTige at her '" dirigees 
 and at masses of Requiem as longe as this fratemite lasteth. And also yif there 
 be eny Wif of eny broj^'e that dye after Jiat the brothere her husbond hath " be in 
 ye forseid bretherhede by vii yere fuUi she shal have the light hool as thoo she 
 were a sust'r of the same co'pany yif she wil axe it. 
 
 Also yif eny of ye same ffrat'nite dye eve'ch of the same frat'nite there shoUen 
 be at her '^entiemient the which shal be done ye sononday next folowinge and 
 ye body dede shal have foure masses & eve'ch ofPre aftere his devocion & ye 
 body to be borne to the place there he shal be buried, And ther dwelle til the 
 Corps be assoyled, And who so faile of hem shal paye for ev'ech defaulte 
 that he fayleth iiij d. But if he may excuse hy be excusacions afterward 
 writen. And more over yif eny of ye seide frat'nite dye out of Town as in 
 pilg'mage or sodeyne deth, jjat god forbede, and have no frendship to make 
 there entierment the Wardaynes for \)e yere shollen do it uppon ye fi'at'nite cost, 
 fery' more if eny of the seide ffrat'nite dye eny sodeyn deth as be theves or 
 watere, that god forbede, with inne vij niyle aboute ye Cite of london above 
 seid, all the bretheren of the same frat'nite there sholl be hym to bringe to the 
 Citee aboven seid i>ii ther mowe be ony waye have leve.'^ 
 
 ' brotherhood. 
 
 2 The letter y, as in this instance, is occasionally written in this document 
 instead of the semi- Saxon J>. ^ word erased. 
 
 * nevertheless. * wax. 
 
 ^ candle-beam, or rood-loft. '' upon. 
 
 8 burn. ^ interment. 
 
 "* Dirige. " been in. 
 
 '2 interment. 
 
 '" Stowe, p. 259, mentions the following circumstance in connection with this 
 rule: Thomas Percey, anno 1561, late Skinner to Queen Mary, was attended to 
 his burial in St. Mary Aldermary Church with twenty black gOAvns and coats, 
 twenty clerks singing, twelve mantle frieze gowns worn by as many poor men; 
 rails set up in the church where the corpse was to rest, hanged with black and 
 arms. Three dozen of escutcheons of arms, and the floor strewed with rushes. 
 Tor the chief mourners, Mr. Crowley preached. There were j^resent all the 
 cloathing of the ^Vlystery of Skinners, afterwards a great dole of mone}', and then 
 all went home to dinner. The Company of Skinners to their hall to dine 
 together. At this funeral all the mourners offered, so did the said Company. 
 In Walbroke Church there is a monument to the memory of Daniel Brown, who 
 was Skinner to all kings and queens of the realm from the year 1660 to 1098.
 
 22 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 Also yif eny of the same frat'nite trespas to other to him Jjat the ts'pas is shal 
 be made shewinge of his harmes and greefes to the Warderns and the Wisest 
 of ye same frat'nite and ther shollen so redresse it and he accorden and the 
 trespasnur make to ye partie agreved resonable amendis and pay over that to the 
 ffrat'nites almesse ii lb. wex in her g'ce. And in even' manere is ordeyncd 
 of hem vat bene, hauen bene, and shollen bene misdoinge or misspekynge to eny 
 of her bretheren of ye forseide frat'nite, and wil not obeye hym to amendent be 
 aware of the same frat'nite he shall be putt out of J>e same frat'nite til he have 
 made amendys for J>e trespas done to 3'e said frat'nite. 
 
 Also alle the bretheren of i>e same frat'nite have bene by v'rtue of y* charter 
 to the craft of Skynners be our worthie excellent and noble kynge Ric'd the 
 second above seid ys g'unted to assemblen togider certeyn tymes in \>e yere yif it 
 be for profite of the same frat'nite as oft hem liest liketh and shollen be thereof 
 warned. And yif eny be absent yei shollen pay for ev'y defaute iiij d. but if he 
 may excuse him be siknesse or lettinge of eny Eyal ' of ye rewme or of his 
 maister or out of contre or eny other resonable cause. 
 
 Also yif eny of ye same frat'nite falle in poverte by eny myschief or siknesse 
 or by eny or way and hath bene vij yere dwellinge in J>e forseid frat'nite and 
 paide and p'formed alle >e poyntes and dnetees aft' his power to |>e forseid 
 frat'nite ^ longinge withjnne the forseide t}Tne than he shal have of J»e almesse 
 of the frat'nite be deliverannce of )>e Wardeynes ^ }>erof xiiij d. eve'y weke and 
 an hode of lyvere of the same frat'nite every yere duringe his poverte. 
 
 Also yif eny of the same frat'nite be * enp'soned falsly be envie, or be fals 
 
 At Norwich was the guild of the Peltvors (under the patronage, not of Corpus 
 Christi, but of Holy Trinitj'). founded in 1376, the rules of which were generally 
 similar. — Ibid. p. 28. 
 
 Similar entries are also found in Machyn's Diary, who was himself a member 
 of the Merchant Taylors' Company : — 
 
 P. 233. 1.560. The xxx day of Aprell was bered in sant Gregore chyrche in 
 Powlles chjTche-yerd master Pame skynner, and gayff armes, and ther was the 
 masturs of compene of the Skynners in ther (livery,) he had a sermon. 
 
 P. 255. 1561. The sam day was bered in Comyll mastores Hunt wedow, 
 and the chylderyn of the hopetall and the masters wher at her berehyng with 
 ther gren stayffes, and the xxx chylderyn syngyng the Pater-noster in Englys , 
 and a xl pore women in go^vnes; and after the clarkes syngyng, and after the 
 corse, and then momars, and after the craftes of the worshephnll compene of the 
 Skynners; and ther dyd pryche the byshope of Dnrram master Pylkyngtun; and 
 after to the Skynners halle to dener. 
 
 P. 176. 1558. The xij day of October was bered m Althermare parrycheRaff 
 Prestun, skj-nner, &c. . . . and the masters of the cloythyng of the Skynners 
 was ther; and after they whent to the Skynners' hall to dener. 
 
 P. 224. 1560. The xxx day of Januarj- was bered in sant Margettes-moyses 
 master Bnsse skynner, on of the masturs of the ho.spetall, and ther was all the 
 masturs of the hospetall with gren stayffes in ther handes, and all the masters of 
 ys compene. 
 
 ' royal person. - belonging. 
 
 ^ thereof. * imprisoned.
 
 TIIK COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 23 
 
 hatrcdc take, wherfor he may not maintene him silt" to lyve ami dwelled in ye 
 mancre aforcseid be vij yere in the same frat'nite and paide and p'formcd alle 
 yc poyntis and duetees aft' his power withjnne ye forseid tyme yan he shal have 
 xiiij d. ev'y weke duringe his meschief be delyu'ance of the wardeynes. 
 
 Also for as moch as all ye same frat'nite shol not be letted ev'ich tyme bat 
 eny nede is in ye forseid frat'nite ne assemblen all hoole be togidere,' but if it 
 were for the grettere nede howe so eve' ye wardeyns for be yere done forth 
 with xij other associed to he alle the hole frat'nite shullen holden hem agreed 
 berwith, as wel for clothinge as for alle other thinges of charge longing to the 
 same companye. And which of be xij warned to come to eny nede and come 
 not, but he may excuse hy be resonable excusations shal paye at eny tyme that 
 he failleth iij s. iiij d. 
 
 Also for as miche as the goodys of be same frat'nite have bene betyme passed 
 be defaute of hem bat han bene kepers ^ ji'of to gi'cte ^ aventersynge of alle the 
 companye almes myskeped and m3'srewled, ordeyned is and assented that whan 
 ye wardeyns for the yere passed shullen chese the wardeyns for >e yere sewinge 
 J^ei shol be bovnden for be same men that bei chesen in such a co'dition that if 
 it so be falle as god forbede bat the goodes of the seide frat'nite be hindred, 
 harmed, or ''liteled, in her tyme that ben chosen for the yere new it shal be 
 re'd* of hem that chesen such wardeynes, as wel as of hem bat be faute is 
 founden jnne, so that the goodes of be same fi'at'nite shollen no more be litteled 
 as it hath bene. 
 
 Also ye wardeynes of be same frat'nite shollen ev'y yere ^ yelden her reke- 
 kcnynge (sic) to an xx of the best of alle the same frat'nite of all receitcs and 
 expenses made in be use of the copanye also, and of ' enqeete of clobing for ye ' 
 yere passed be Wadenesday in ye Estre weke next suynge, the feest ev'y yere of 
 Corpus X' at J?" feryest, wibout eny more puttinge ove' jn bem ev'ech of ye 
 wardeyns b* bene for the tyme to paye to y'^ cOpany almesse vj s. viij d. 
 
 Also bei bene accorded that ev'y yere on our lady day the Assupcion all the 
 brethered shullen assemble ^ hool to gider in be chirch of scint John up Wal- 
 broke above seide, ther to here an hie masse in l)C worship of \>e p'cious 
 sacramet of the ^ autre v'r^'y god is owne body ev'eth to offre after his devo- 
 cion'is. And which of al this forseid bretherhede faile shal paie to be copanye 
 almesse iiij d., but if he may excuse him be excusations a fore rehersed. 
 
 Also assented is and accorded bat the same fraternite shullen every yere 
 holden a feest or a diner to '" gidere if it be likinge unto hem be which shal be 
 made the day of the feest of the Assupcion of our lady above seid, bif it be day 
 of flessh and bif it be not ye sononday next followinge. And which of be same 
 frat'nite, and he be of power bat absent him, but if it be '- be v'rey trewe excu- 
 sation shal paye as moche as yough he were yere. 
 
 ' all the whole, together. * thereof. 
 
 ■' adventuring — risk. •• lessened. 
 
 ^ ? required ; word scarcely legible. " produce or yield. 
 
 ■^ enquiry. •* altogether. 
 
 a altar. '" together. 
 
 " to cousidei-e. '- by.
 
 24 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 Also all the bretheren and sustre of this forseid frat'nite that were in the 
 frat'nitees of seint ma:y spitell, and of bethleem, whoos vij j-eres of je gi-etter 
 quarterages l^at is forte wittc xvj d. be yere bene wered out and passed shoUcn 
 stonde forth stille in this forseid frateniite as hei did in that other. And so alle 
 oJ>er ' of ye same wiJ>jnneyoos seuen yeris stondintre forth stille after i>e quantite 
 of her yeres for disturbance of payment of quart'ages. 
 
 Also for as moehel as ye wardeines of this forseid brethered J)at shollen here 
 the t'vaille for alle ye company shold falle be alle reson and exp'ience due worship 
 as falleth be bretheredes to be so' t)erfor ordeynd is and assented h' what manere 
 brother of l^e same bretherede yt)at ^ mishave him in eny manere J>inge, in worde 
 or in dede, that sholde tn'e vilenye or repreef to eny of the same wardeynes be 
 ye tyme that thei dwelle in her office that may be ^ preued be foure good men 
 and trewe, the trespasour shal make amendis at ev'y tA'me that he t'spaseth 
 iiij lb. wexe. And also hif ye wardeynes for i>e tyme because that thei shold 
 *norssh love most amonge the bretherede, mishave he or misbere he as is abofi 
 seide \>^ may also be p'ved be four trewe men l^ei sholl renne in j^e double 
 peyne. 
 
 Also for as mich as he that hath be be * litel tyme knower of a companye 
 sholde not be reson governe a companye as he hat hath knowen a copanye of 
 longe time, and fauty of gov'no'ce be waye of unkouynge maye gretly distrouble 
 a companye' ordeyned is and assented t>at what maner man shal here ye office of 
 wardejTiship in this same copanye, the tweyn at leest shollen be such as haven 
 dwelled in \>e same brethered vij yere at \>e leest. And Jje other tweyn that 
 have dwelled in J^e same companye four yere at t>e leste, no* J^inge doynge in 
 her office, as in ' byinge and ^ prisinge of clothinge newe men into the same 
 companye receivynge almesse to eny pore brother or sustre, g'untinge light to 
 eny brother, sustre, or brotheris wif, grauntinge or over sight of dynere and 
 alle oj^er charges ov' seynge upon peyne eche of l^e wardeynes to paye at ev'y time 
 that thei faile in this iij s. iiij d. to the almesse of the same companye. 
 
 And for case of J^e same wardeyns also and in drawinge forth of men }>at 
 bene ripe and have borne none office in \>e same Companye' ordeyned is and 
 assented that who so bereth ^e charge of Maistership shall not occupie that office 
 be v yere after that he hath borne charge thereof. 
 
 Also the xxxiij day of Fev'yere the yere of \>c regne of kingc Henr' ye fourte 
 ye thred, orde)Tied is assented and fulli ^g'unted to be holden kept first be ye 
 maister of the craft William Framchingh'm than shyriff of london, and be his 
 waydeyns, that is to witte, Thos. Rolf, John Telljiige, John Hows' and Richard 
 Ffrekell, and afterwardes be ye wardeyns for ye same yere of ye "> yemen com- 
 panye J?at is to witte, Richard Redinge, Thos. Ledrede, William Sotton, and John 
 morpath, and " fery'more be all ye wisest of >e same companye that Jje companye is 
 
 1 other ^ misl)ehave in any manner or thing. 
 
 3 proved. * promote. 
 
 * been by. ^ nothmg. 
 
 ' buying and. * pricing. 
 
 9 granted. '" yomen? 
 
 " furthermore.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 25 
 
 ordejned to be rewled by. That for as mjche as ther bene mony of J)e same Com- 
 panye )>at paien to eA'el' her quarteraiges and for cloth, and other maner duetes 
 that be longeth to the companye, that ^ei l^at paien wel and trewly bene gretly 
 vilanyed and agreved, and ye almesse may unnethis be mayntened and fery, more 
 J>e companye stonte in poynt to be undo, yat God f orbede, for evil wille and hevy- 
 nesse that thei J>at done wel and trewly her duetees beren to ye company be 
 cause of ^e evel name yat the evel parers make i>e companye to have and to 
 here. And also every yere Jpe waixleynes as all ye copanye knowen wel haven 
 mony sore t'vailles aboute the Tovne fro i>e begynnynge of J^e yere to \>e endinge, 
 that it is ^ vileinye to alle J^e copanye yat so litel Mnge is so longe to paye not 
 withstondinge every yere ye Wardeynes gret t'vaile and her losse of her good, 
 ordeyned is and assented be the maister above seid and the wardejms and be all 
 ye wisest of the companye that there shal no brother nor sustcre of ]f>e same com- 
 pany here no newe clol^inge of the companye lyve,"* no newe yere nor be take to 
 comune amonge his bretheren as a brother shold be into J^e tjiue J^at he have 
 ful paide and made a ful ende of alle maner dettys and duetees Jj* he oweth to 
 the companye and to J^e wardeynes of \>e yere laste before passed as touchinge 
 for eny ^ maner J?inge i>t * longej^ to the brotherhede uppon peyne of ye newe 
 wardeynes ever her after that if Jjei deliver eny such old detto, eny newe clo}>inge 
 more or lasse til he haue paide the Wardeynes last before he J?at he oweth to 
 hem, as for clothinge and to ye copany al }>at he oweth of dettys to ye companye 
 thei J^at deliver hem eny * J^inge of newe shal paye both to the Wardeynes last 
 before hem and eke to all ye copanye all i>at ]>ei owen olde. 
 
 Also ye xxiij daye of ffev'yere ye xiij yere of he reiyne of kinge Henrye ]>e vi"* 
 ordeyned and assented is, and fuUi g'unted to be holden and kept flfirst be the 
 assent and ye a'vice of ye sextene, and in J>e tyme of Thos. Coly, Ric. Burdon, 
 John Grene, and John Poule, l>t tyme Wardeynes of J>e frat'nite for the yere 
 shal hold a^ diryge att Seint Joh'is in Walbroke \)e sat'day afore J>e daye of her 
 dyner, and whan J^e dirige is done, to have t'o'' drinkinge at Jjc halle for alle ye 
 saules of alle ]>g bretheren and >e sustren to fore past paying to ev'y prest and 
 to ev'y clerk of t>e said Seint John is Chu'ch iiij d. and on ye morowe eft' at ye 
 masse of requiem, and so go to mete and to the which ordinauce ye seid maisters 
 wy the afore seide han fully awarded that what Wardeyns that this dirige 
 and ye masse unholden and unserved shall paie to "pe same frat'nite to the 
 helpinge of her almesse v li. of money wyout eny redempcion. 
 
 The rules are followed by a list of " names of the old bretheren 
 holden at Seint Mary-Spitel and at Bethleem the which continues 
 forth a yess '' brethren in the newe." 
 
 The next list is headed: " These bene the bretheren and the susteren 
 that entered inne after pe makyng of ]>e black paupers." Then follow 
 
 ' pay too evilly, make default in payment. 
 
 ^ villany. ^ manner of thing. 
 
 * belongeth. * thing. 
 
 * du'ge. ' thenceforth';'
 
 26 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 various entries, of which the following are selected as being those of 
 most general interest : — 
 
 There is delivered be the hondes of J>e seid Richard Bridford, John Gilniyn, 
 Andrew Sutton, and Eichard Maldon, unto Richard Honj-ngton, Tho^ Shcerd, 
 William Wikwane, and Grbon prest >e x day of Juyl in the yere of king henry 
 ye v'" ^e viij yere a dosen sponys of silver \>e which weien xiiij nnc' and a qt'on 
 p'ce t>e unc' ij s. vj d. without the makinge The whiche margerie Redinge hath 
 yeu'e unto }>e bretheren and the sustren of J^e same companye in that entent forto 
 s've at the sustres table at her dinere in mpide of hir. J^e some xxxv s. vij d. 
 
 Also be it remembred that at ye accounte of ye seid Wardeines at her 
 deliv'ance up of the boxe they laft thcr Inne in money liiij 1. viij s. viij d. 
 
 Next is an interesting inventory of the goods of the fraternity 
 made on the 18th July in the 20th year of King Henry VI. (1441). 
 
 These bene the goodes the whiche remayne to the bretheren of the seid frat'nite 
 in the tyme of the seid wardeyns at her acounte. Wih money Juells and oma- 
 mentj. 
 
 First in money in the box iiij'"'li. xiij s. v d. 
 
 Also a Chales with a caas therto weyinge xv unc. & an half and a q'rto'n. 
 
 Also a maser p'ce xl s. of ye gift of Thomas firanksse whose name is writen in 
 the bordure of ye bone of the same cup. 
 
 Also a nother maser p'c. x s. 
 
 Also ij masbokes A chesible of cloth of gold with crovnes of Estrich fethcres. 
 with avbe. sto^e. amyte. ffanon. & girdell. 
 
 Also a nother Chesible of 3alowe jaresenet. with avbe. amyte. stole, fanon. and 
 girdell. with a fruntel of ye same. 
 
 Also a chesible of rede saten with the apparaille. 
 
 Also a Chesible of white silk with the apparaill. 
 
 Also a pleyn towale with a fruntell for an auter of Rede and blewe tarteryn for 
 an avtere. 
 
 Also an avter cloth of blak tarteryn betcn with Estrich fetheres, and lynes. 
 
 Also an avtercloth of grene tarteryn beten with palys. 
 
 Item a fruntel for an awter of white with Roses. 
 
 Also a bordcloth drapred holdinge vj jerdes. A bordcloth of drapre holding 
 iij 3erdes. A Touale drapred coteynynge xiij 3erdcs (and an half —struck out.) 
 
 Also ij bordeclothes pleyn conteyninge xxx yerdes. 
 
 Also the seid waixleynes han ordeyned and do make this regestr' boke in p'ccll 
 of her entres, the valewre to xxx s. 
 
 Almost every year records some donation such as those in the 
 following examples : — 
 
 Remembrance that Agnes the wiff of John Raj-e Skynner hath yiven to god and 
 in the worship of his blessed nioder in whos name this Bretherhcde is founded 
 to the use of the seidc frat'nite of ys seide yere xl. s. And William Brembyll 
 ]iynncr undcre the seid forme vjs viij d.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 27 
 
 Also the seide Wardeyns ban yeve in parcell of tlier encrcce in this seide yere 
 vj newe torches weying vj'"< and viij lb. Of the which ther was of olde wex Iviij 
 lb. p'ce the lb. iiij. d. And so byleveth in clere of newe wex at viij d. the lb. 
 
 iijli. vjs. 
 
 Also Alys fEranke hath yeven to ye seid fratemite in this yere a towel 
 contej'nyng v yerdes qrt' of diapre werk. 
 
 Also the seide Wardeynes have yeven up at their Acounte in the seide yere 
 abouen ye some receyved at her incomyng of clei'e money as it appereth in ye 
 rolle of her accounte iiij li. viij. d. 
 
 On the 22nd July, the 3 1st year of King Henry VI. (1452), regu- 
 lations to the following effect were "' avised and ordeined"for the 
 fraternity of our Lady by the advice of Richard Aley, Alderman and 
 Master of Corpus Christi, and the wardens of the same, with the xvi 
 chosen of the fraternity of our Lady. 
 
 That no person being brother of the fraternity that happeneth to fall 
 to poverty shall be received into the alms of the fraternity without the 
 counsel of the like authorities for the time being. 
 
 That the priests of the fraternity shall have the livery that the 
 wai'dens shall ordain for a gown cloth, paying only 4cd. a-year to the 
 wardens. 
 
 That the four wardens of the brotherhood of our Lady shall yearly 
 give up their accounts on the 12th July before the master and wai'dens 
 and fellowship of the said craft under pain of £10 to the increase of 
 the box of the brotherhood. 
 
 The four wardens sball not present or take in any brother or sister 
 " by way of pardon, but if it be pe wifs of J^e seid wardeins J)'' for ]?e 
 tyme shul be, oonly." 
 
 That if any bequest or other gift be given to the worship of our 
 Lady and helping of the brotherhood, the wardens shall bring them 
 in, whole, beside their account of receipts and payments. 
 
 At the end of the succeeding year follows this entry, showing that 
 the rule took effect: — 
 
 These ben the hole bequests in J>e said wardens time to \>e vse of i>e said 
 brethered. 
 
 Alsou Pangboui'ne late oon of \>e Almes women of i>e said brethered hath goven 
 in worship of our lady & augmentyng of J>e said ffrat'nite in mony xxs. 
 
 Item, j dussen Sponys of Silver weyng xiij unc' & j qrt' of troy weight. 
 
 Item, j bordcloth of diap' conteynyng vj yerdis. 
 
 Item, j towcll of diap' cont' x yerdis & iij ([rt'. 
 
 Item, halfe a dussein of conntrefete vessell. 
 
 Item, j bason & an ewer of laton.
 
 28 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 The extensive lists of names of members of the fraternity snow that 
 it was by no means confined to Londoners, nor to persons in the trade 
 of Skinners ; thus, for example, in 1445, we find several resident at 
 Reigate, and others at St. Alban's, Wednesbury, Bristowe, Haseling- 
 field, Charlwood, Salisbury, Aldenham, and Godstone ; and among 
 the descriptions are doctor, gentleman, butcher, dyer, joiner, grocer, 
 and silkwife. 
 
 Opposite to the list dated the 11th Edward IV. (1471) is noted 
 the enrolment of the queen, thus — 
 
 Our moost goode and graciouse Quene Elisabeth, Soster viito this onrc ftratcr- 
 nite, Of oure blissed lady, And moder of mercy, sanct maiy virgyn the nioder 
 of God. 
 
 And in 1475 are the following : — 
 
 The Qween IMargarete sutyme wyff and spowse to kyng Harry the sexthc. 
 
 My lady Vawys, dam kat'ine. 
 
 Maistresse Elyanore Hawte with the Qween. 
 
 Maistyr John Holcot. 
 
 Alys Holcot his wyff w* ]?^ quee. 
 
 Sir Jamys Walkere p'st of seyt Johns in walbroke. 
 
 and several described as gentleman, draper, flecher, tailor, and brewer, 
 besides skinners. 
 
 These examples will suffice to show the reputation of the fraternity 
 to be such that the highest persons in the realm were enrolled in the 
 list of members. 
 
 The entries are continued year by year with the greatest regularity, 
 enlivened with illuminated capitals, and occasionally with a large 
 miniature of some member of very special distinction. 
 
 The last record of the enrolment of new sisters occurs in the year 
 1542, when five were elected. 
 
 On the 20tli July in the third year of King Edward VI (1549) the 
 names are entered as the brethren of our Lady's Assumption in the 
 time of certain wardens of the fraternity, but in the fifth year they 
 are called " the brethcrcn of the yeomanry of the Skinners." 
 
 In 1561 occurs the following entry : — 
 
 Be it remembered that Mr. Thomas Persie (late master 1553), hathe of his 
 lyberalite geven unto the use of the Copany of Skinners of London a tabcllw' a 
 fErame at ye upp, onde of the hall and a fayre carpet to ye same w* his armes, also 
 a tabell cloth an towell of damaske worke to the same. 
 
 Two of tlie pages or skins of this volume, which are in size about
 
 1^ mrp i\fr feme. :;c'.'.s ss^ 
 
 Hnniinfltum from % Bnnh^ iif tljf '6\mr^ <Jmfm^S.DM22
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 29 
 
 sixteen inches by eleven, contain drawings of a more elaborate 
 character. In one we have the assumption of the Virgin, who 
 appears in an attitude of adoration, with hands folded in prayer, 
 looking as it were to heaven, while the three Persons of the blessed 
 Trinity are about to place a crown upon her head. On either side 
 are angels with expanded wings, one on the right hand holds an 
 ermine cap or crown, aiid the other the monogram IMR.; the Virgin 
 is encompassed with a nimbus as well as the Trinity. She is robed 
 in a jDurple mantle, powdered with stars and lined with ermine, and 
 wears underneath a pink dress, deeply flounced with the same material. 
 Below a figure is represented as kneeling, and a label issuing from her 
 mouth is inscribed with the words " Soi dei genitas ou," and the 
 following laudatory dedication : 
 
 lasrcntsit Xp'uG sup' rrlos ft prfparanit sue rastisstme matri tmmortalt'fatts 
 lorum ft tior rst ilia prrrlara ffstiuitas omn' sanrtor" ffstiuttatil)' inromparaiilis 
 tn qua gloriosa rt ftlii tntranttb' rflfstis nivie oviinib' atr fUjrrum pfvurutt 
 tfialamum ijiio pia sut lUfmonim imnifinor nftiuaqiiam fiistat. C IHialtata fS 
 sanrta lift grnftrii suprr roros angclorum ati rrlfstia rfgna. 
 
 Sfus qui birgmalrra aulam in qua fjabttares fltgt rt tiigiiatus fstia qursumus 
 lit sua UDS tirffustouf munitos ibiuntios factat suf iutfrfsse ffstibitatt qui 
 nunr ft rrgna rum tJro patrf in unttatf spiritus sanrtt lifus p' omnia srtula 
 gffulo'. amrn. 
 
 The Guild roll on the opposite page shows it to have been executed 
 in the sixth year of Henry VIE. a.d. 1491. 
 
 On the other, Lady Elizabeth Grey, the wife of Edward IV. is 
 represented standing in a commanding attitude, with the ball and 
 sceptre in her hands, and a regal crown upon her head; the expression 
 is sweet and placid, and her hair, which is of a light flaxen colour, falls 
 gracefully over her shoulders ; she is robed in purple with a golden 
 border; the robe is lined with ermine, as well as the bodice and skirt, 
 which are of a crimson colour. The background is tastefidly filled 
 with roses and pinks, gracefully wreathed together, and the whole 
 encompassed with an illuminated border, with the dedication already 
 referred to: 
 
 ©urf moost goottr anti grariousf Ournt Blisabrtfj. Sosttr bnto tj&is ourc 
 fratfrnitc. ©f ourt bltssrti laDs antt moiir of mtrrs Santt i*Tars birgjjn tftf 
 molrr of (Soti; 
 
 The date given on the opposite page is that of the 11th of 
 Edward IV. A.n. 1471.
 
 30 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 Tlie extracts nml notes above given are those of the most interest 
 and importance, and servo to illustrate the value and curious contents 
 of the early records belonging to the Company, which would well 
 merit a far more extended notice. 
 
 SKINNERS' HALL. 
 
 Herbert, quoting from Stowe,^ says there is an old record that the 
 original hall of the Company " consisted of iiij small tenements in the 
 parish of St. John's upon Walbrocke, and ij tenements in St. Martyn's 
 Orgar, and that they had licence of King Henry III. for the same; " 
 the rent per annum is mentioned as xii. vi. viii. ; this was afterwards 
 alienated, although by what means is uncertain, and in the 19th of 
 Edward II. was the property of Ralph de Cobham, who, having made 
 Edward the Third his heir, put it in that monarch's power to restore 
 to the Company their ancient hall, at the same time that he granted 
 them a charter, and allowed his illustrious name to be added to the 
 guild. (1327). 
 
 Of the original building known as Copped Hall nothing now remains 
 save some of the old walls, which were sufficiently substantial to resist 
 the Fire in 1G66. I have not been able to find a plan of the first 
 building, but the four small buildings were no doubt facing Dowgate 
 Hill. The frontage to the street is 50 feet. There was a court or 
 quadrangle somewhat similar to the present, and the entrance direct 
 into the hall. The present building appears to have been erected as 
 soon as the funds of the Company enabled them to rebuild after the 
 Fire. 
 
 At this time the Company held their courts at other places, as we 
 find the Salters kindly lending their hall. Courts also appear to have 
 been held at the Bull Inn in Bishopsgate, and also in the church of 
 St. Helen's. 
 
 Soon after the fire the rubbish and old lead were sold, and a Com- 
 mittee appointed (Oct. 15, 1668) for the purpose of carrying out the 
 rebuilding of the Hall. Sir George Waterman, lent.. Master, with 
 Sir Thomas Pilkington and others, were on the Committee. In Nov. 
 1668, it was ordered that the front houses at Skinners' Hall should be 
 rebuilt, " with what speed they conveniently may, and the Warden 
 
 ' Stowe, i. 201.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 31 
 
 (iibbs, Mr. Rodgcrs, ]\Ir, 8initli, and others be a Committee to find 
 and bye what timber, deals, lyme, ironwork, at the best and fittest 
 season, and in what quantities, they shall think fit." 
 
 In February the Renter was empowered to make the gateway of 
 stone or timber as he thought fit, the quadrangle to be 40 ft. square. 
 Shortly afterwards we find the Renter reports a want of money ; to meet 
 this diflficulty the Master and Wai'dens advanced 1000/. at 6 per cent., 
 and every member was pledged to use his influence to raise alike sum 
 for the use of the Company. Other means were also resorted to for 
 raising funds, viz., by summoning 20 or more yeomen and bachelors 
 to take upon them the livery or clothing of the Company, the fee of 
 which was loL, and in case of refusal fining the unfortunate 
 member 20/. 
 
 We next hear of the Hall being plastered. At a Court held June 
 28th, 1670, a screen is ordered for the hall, and the windows of the 
 Court-room to be wainscoted with what speed they may be. On 
 Oct. 6, 1671, Renter Gibbs and others were ordered to view the Hall to 
 see if it may be fitted up by Lord Mayor's day.^ It must have been 
 completed in 1672, as it was let to Sir George Waterman during his 
 year of office as mayor from the 1st of November 1672 to the 1st of 
 November 1673, at a rental of 160/. per annum. The description of 
 the procession 2 starting from the Hall at 7 o'clock in the morning is 
 to be found in Herbert's History of the Twelve Companies.-^ 
 
 In 1678 the Court ordered a parlour to be erected with a room over 
 it behind the Hall and an attic. Two of these now form Committee 
 Rooms. The carving over the chimney-piece in the Court and Cedar 
 Withdrawing Room is carefully executed in the best style of Grinling 
 Gibbons. In 1691 the New East India Com])any held the first meet- 
 ings here. Macaulay in his Hist, of England* speaks of it : 
 
 The Skinners built their stately Hall, and the meetings were held in a parlour, 
 renowned for the fragrance which exhaled from a magnificent wainscot of 
 cedar. ******* 
 
 During the summer of IfiiJl the controversy which raged between the Leaden- 
 
 ' In this year the Court authorised the Wardens' disposal of certain surplus 
 land in the rear of the Hall at 3d. per foot, which we find was afterwards sold 
 to Mr. Fairbrother. 
 
 - Towards which the Company subscribed £200. 
 
 3 P. 321. 
 
 ' Macaulay, vol. iv. cap. xviii. p. 144, &c.
 
 32 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 hull Street Companj and the Dowgate Company kept the City in constant 
 agitation, and the Parliament no sooner met than both parties presented petitions 
 to the House of Commons. * * * * * . 
 
 The tracts which the rival bodies put forth were innumerable if the drama of 
 that age is to be trusted. The feud between the India House and Skinners' Hall 
 was for some time as serious an impediment to the course of true love in London 
 as the feud between the Capulets and ^Montagues had been at Verona. 
 
 The play wliicli Macaiilay alludes to is given in a note : 
 
 Hast thou been bred up like a virtuous and sober maiden, and wouldest thou 
 take the part of a profane wretch who sold his stock out of the Old East India 
 Companj ? 
 
 It was in consequence of these meetings that the New Company on 
 its amalgamation with the Old presented the Skinners' Company with 
 a carved mahogany court table and silver candlesticks. 
 
 Two small statuettes in the draAving-room are worthy of attention, 
 being representations of Edward III.^ and Sir AndreAV Judd. 
 
 On the staircase is a full-length portrait of Sir Thomas Pil- 
 kington. 
 
 In the cotirt-room is a portrait of Sir Joseph Causton, knight, 
 and one of T. G. Kensit, Esq. (the present worthy clerk) by Richmond, 
 R.A., and a small portrait which is said to be that of Sir Andrew 
 Judd. Also a view of Tonbridge School, painted by T. S. Wells, 
 Esq., Master, 1836. 
 
 The fa9ade of the Hall next the street is somewhat like that of 
 old Covent Garden Theatre in the time of Garrick. It was erected 
 under the superintendence of the Company's surveyor, Douswell, 
 A.D. 1777. Some alterations to the Hall were made by Mr. Jupp, 
 afterwards surveyor to the Company, but the present roof was from 
 a design of Mr. George Moore, architect, and has been recently 
 redecorated under the superintendence of the Company's present 
 surveyor, Mr. Edward Henry Burnell. 
 
 In concluding my remarks on the Company's Hall I would fain 
 adopt the words of Stowe, who, after describing the history of the 
 Company, adds, " Thus much to stop the tongue of unthankful men, 
 such as used to ask, Why have ye not noted this, or that ? and give 
 
 ' There is a striking resemblance between this statuette and an engraving in 
 the Hist, of British Costumes published by Knight, which is taken from an 
 initial letter in the Grant of the Duchy of Acquitaine. — Liirary of Entertaining 
 Knoivlcdge by Iviiight, p. 137.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 33 
 
 no thanks for what is done ; but I feel my inadequacy to the task I 
 have undertaken and crave your indulgence for my omissions." 
 
 The arms which had been previously used were confirmed, and the 
 "crest and bestes " (i.e. supporters) of the Company, granted by 
 Thomas Hawlcy, Clarencieux King-of-Arms, on the 1st October, 
 4 Edward VI. entered and approved at the Visitation in 1634, 
 John Benet, Master. The shield is — Ermine, on a chief gules three 
 ducal coronets or, capped of the field and tasselled gold. The crest 
 is a lizard' statant ppr. gorged with a wreath, leaved vert, purffled 
 or. The supporters are — Dexter, a lizard ppr. sinister, a martin 
 sable, each gorged with a wreath, leaved vert. In the old court-books 
 the motto is, *'In Christo Fratres," and it is not until the year 1GS7 
 that we find the present motto of the Company adopted, viz. 
 '' To God only be all Glory." 
 
 THE BARGE.2 
 
 [Note. — All extracts from Stowc are from Strype's edition, printed 1720.] 
 The Skinners, in common with others of the City Guilds, had theii 
 state barge in which they were wont to take part in City pageants, 
 accompanying my Lord Mayor on the occasion of his proceeding by 
 water to Westminster on the festival of St. Simon and St. Jude (old 
 style), when he took the customary oaths in the Court of Exchequer, 
 before the Lord Chancellor. They likewise escorted him back to 
 Guildhall with banners, streamers, trumpets, kettledrums, andhaut-boys. 
 Although the custom of the Lord Mayor's taking the oath of 
 allegiance at Westminster dates back as early as the year 1250, it 
 appears that up to the year 1453 the procession was on horseback.^ 
 In the year last mentioned* Sir John Norman was elected Mayor, 
 and he caused a barge to be built at his own costs and charges in 
 which he proceeded in state to Westminster, and the Companies 
 had several barges well decked and manned to pass along with him. 
 This made the Lord Mayor very popular, especially so with the 
 
 ' I am reminded by G. E. Cokayne, Esq. Lancaster Herald, that the lizard 
 is almost the same as the leopard, and is generally so depicted, but that it is 
 brown and with a short tail. Edmonson says it is " a short-tailed cat of Norway," 
 and this is what it probably is. In some documents the word is " lazarde." 
 
 * Stowe, vol. i. p. 169. 3 Knight's London, p. 7. 
 
 " Fairholt, City Pageants, tells us that a barge was hired fifteen years 
 previously, A.D. 1435.
 
 34 UISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 watermen, and they celebrated the event in a song, which was com- 
 posed and sung to a lively air, commencing with these words : 
 Row thy boat Norman, row to thy leman. 
 
 In 1482 the convenience of this arrangement was further improved by 
 Sir John Shaw, or Shaa, who proceeded to and from Westminster by water. 
 
 On royal and state occasions also the City Companies attended the 
 Lord Mayor. When Henry VII. willed the coronation of his Queen 
 Elizabeth she was brought from Greenwich by barges all freshly 
 furnished with banners and silk streamers. 
 
 When Plenry VHI. avowed his marriage with Anne Boleyn she 
 was brought by all the craft of London from Greenwich to the 
 Tower, trumpets, shawms, and other instruments all the way making 
 play and great melody ; also when Queen Henrietta arrived in London 
 June 16th, 1625, the King and Queen in the royal barge, with many 
 other barges of honour, and thousands of boats, passed through 
 London Bridge. Again, in 1662, to quote the words of Evelyn : ^ 
 
 I was spectator of the most magnificent triumph that ever floated on the 
 Thames, considering the innumerable boats and vessels, dress'd and adorn'd with 
 all imaginable pomp, but above all the thrones, arches, pageants, and other 
 stately representations, stately barges of the Lord Mayor and Companies, with 
 various inventions, musiq, and peales of ordnance, both from ye vessells and ye 
 shore, going to meet and conduct the new queene from Hampton Court to 
 Whitehall, at her first time of coming to towne. In my opinion, it far exceeded 
 all ye Venetian Bucentoras, &c., on ths occasion when they go to espouse the 
 Adriatic. His Ma"'' and the Queene came in an antique shaped vessell, covered 
 with a stall or canopy of cloth of gold, made in form of a cupola, supported with 
 high Corinthian pillars, WTcathed with flowers, festoons, and garlands ; I was in 
 our new built vessell sailing amongst them. 
 
 A picture representing the pageant is now in Her Majesty's collection. 
 
 In June 1728 the Company's barge was reported out of repair, 
 and a committee was appointed to obtain tenders for the construction 
 of a new barge, or if possible the repair of the old one. At this time 
 the Company for economical reasons ordered the repairs to the extent 
 of 25Z. Mr. Richard Bernard, the builder, undertaking to keep her 
 afloat for ten years more. The specification of Bernard appears to 
 have been entered in extenso in the Court Books. As it affords some 
 curious information concerning the construction and cost of a barge at 
 that time, I venture to insert it.^ 
 
 ' Memoirs, vol. i. p. 352. See also Aqua Triumphalis, engraved by John 
 Tatham, folio, 1662. '-« Court Books, August 14th, 1728.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 35 
 
 Mr. Richard Bernard's Estimate for building a new Barge. 
 
 For building a new barge, tbe length to be 73 £Eoot and three inches. 
 The width of the fordpart of the house is 10 foot 10 wide. 
 The depth of the fordpart of the house is three foot. 
 
 The length of the house from bulkhead to bulkhead, thirty and four foot, and 
 four inches or thereabouts. 
 
 The width of the barge in the middle of the house is eleven feet and 6 inches. 
 The width of the barge in the after bulkhead is 10 ft. 5 inches. 
 The depth at the after part of the house is four feet six inches. 
 The hull of the aforesaid barge to be built with inch board and three-quarter 
 inch board, and the timbers to be three inches in thickness, to be cut out of Eng- 
 lish oak. The said hull of the barge comes to £100. 
 
 The house to be thirty-four feet in length with lockers, and seats and wain- 
 scotting, with hinges and locks. 
 
 Thirty-six looking glass plates to be diamond cut for the sashes. 
 The fore bulkhead, ten foot and a half and six foot four inches high, or there- 
 abouts, with fHouted pilousted pilasters with carved captols. 
 
 The bulkhead shall be eleven foot wide and five foot ten inches high ; four 
 carved elbows for the seats in the State Rooms. 
 
 Two fflouted columns to support the beam, four carved brackets at the corners 
 of the house, pail boards to be carved. 
 
 The shield to be nine inches thick with the Company's coat of arms to taifrail 
 of the said barge. 
 
 The ceiling of the barge to be good seasoned yellow deals. 
 The rails of the house four inches broad and one inch J thick. 
 Six handsome wainsscotte fformcs. 
 
 A plank with iron work sufficient for the sashes, to be silk, blew or red. 
 The said work comes to £110. 
 
 To guild the carved quarter, pairds, large shield in the starn, the carved 
 bracketts in the ffront, and back part of the house, the pillasters, between the 
 sashes, the flouted pillasters with their capitols and bases, the King's arms 
 in the Master's seat, and other figures as is proper, and the inside of the house 
 varnished with white spirit varnish, and all other ornaments painted and guildcd 
 
 at £36 1.5 
 
 For eighteen new ashen oars for the barge . . . 9 
 
 For a hitcher, staff, and hook 2 
 
 For one hundred yards of vittory for the covering of the 
 barge, at I2d. per yard, complatly sowed together 
 after the best manner ..... 
 
 The hull of the said barge . . . . 
 The building of the house compleatly finished 
 
 c2 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 oO 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 100 
 
 
 
 
 
 110 
 
 
 
 
 
 £260 
 
 17 
 

 
 36 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 Ten years having jiasscd since the last-mentioned repairs, the Court 
 decided upon building a new barge, and, having heard that Mr. Hall 
 had recently constructed barges for other of the City Companies, they 
 appointed a time to meet Mr. Hall and s'iew the Fishmongers' barge. 
 The result was that they contracted with ]\Ir. Hall to build them 
 one of the same dimensions, but with certain alterations as to the 
 gilded images, for the sum of 439Z. ; and INIr. Thomas Nash, then 
 Master, vras desired to provide glass and other furniture similar to the 
 Fishmongers'. On the following May, 1739, the barge was prepared 
 for the reception of the Members of the Court and their ladies. 
 
 On the election of Sh- George Mertins as Mayor in 1724, eight poor 
 men with quarter-staffs were ordered to attend the procession ; twenty 
 rich bachelors to walk before the Company in velvet coats, gold chains, 
 and white staffs ; the Company to provide gloves, and 2s. Qd. to be 
 allowed for their dinner. 
 
 When Sir Charles Asgillwas elected Lord Mayor in 1757,* a Master 
 of Defence with eight men were substituted for the eight men with 
 quarter-staffs, and fifty with javelins, a gentleman usher, thirty pen- 
 sioners with gold chains ; thirty whifflers with a star had 3s. each and Is. 
 for dinner, and eight sweepers with brooms had the same. 
 
 Again, on the election of Sir R. Kite, Skinner, to the office of Mayor 
 in 1776,^ the Company's barge was ordered out, repainted and gilded, 
 the Company mustering in force. A new silk gown was ordered for 
 the bai'ge-master, new scarf for his mate, jackets and caps for the 
 men, fifty-eight gowns and caps for pensioners, thirty gold chains for 
 the gentlemen, cockades and ribbons without stint, and none of the 
 livery were admitted without a gown. The most singular entry is for 
 John W^ade, master of defence, who was to provide eight men with 
 eight bells, with scarves and cockades, to form part of the procession. 
 
 The barge was used by the sheriff in 1775, and appears to have met 
 with some damage at a regatta in 1776 ;2 it was repaired at an ex- 
 pense of £21 16s. Qd. in 1777. 
 
 In 1783 the Lord Mayor was informed that the Company's barge 
 was again out of repair, and they desired to be excused from taking 
 part in the procession to Westminster. It was afterwards repaired by 
 Searle, in 1785; and with few exceptions the Skinners continued to 
 
 Court Books. 
 - For a silver cup of 20 guineas, given hy the Duke of Cnmberland. Ann. 
 Register.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 37 
 
 accompany tlie Lord Mayoi- on his way to and from Westminster, 
 until it was finally disused. In the year 1786 there is an entry to 
 the eifect that no French wines or hock be drank on board the barge. 
 In 1827 it was put into thorough repair by Messrs. Rawlinson and 
 Lyon, at a cost of £665. 
 
 On the occasion of the opening of New London Bridge by His 
 Majesty King William IV. and Queen Adelaide, August 1st, 1831, 
 Sir John Key, Bart., Mayor, and the whole of the Corporation and City 
 Companies were present in their gorgeous state barges, while craft of 
 all descriptions gaily dressed with flags covered the river. A channel 
 was kept open for the royal procession, by means of vessels and barges 
 moored alongside, extending in two lines from Somerset House to 
 London Bridge, the arrangement of which had been confided to 
 Admiral Sir Byam Martin. 
 
 On the occasion of Her Majesty honouring the City with her 
 presence, at the opening of the New Coal Exchange, October 23, 1849, 
 the Skinners and other Companies in their barges attended Her 
 Majesty in her progress to the Custom House, and also again accom- 
 panied her back to Whitehall. 
 
 The barge was repaired again in 1855 by Mr. Cristal, when the 
 Company spent £257 14s. upon it. 
 
 In consequence of the Lord Mayor and other Companies putting 
 down their barges, the Company imwillingly gave up theirs. It was 
 sold in 1858 to Mr. Searle for £75, and the old hull may still be seen 
 floating on the river at the side of the Christ Church meadows at Oxford. 
 
 The Company usually set apart one day in the year for an excursion 
 to llichmond, when every member of the Court had the privilege of 
 taking with him on the barge two ladies, or one lady and one gentle- 
 man. The start was from Dyers' Hall Wharf, and in later times from 
 Waterloo Bridge, where the Company embarked about 11 a.m., and 
 with eighteen rowers proceeded with the tide as far as Putney; here 
 the barge stopped at Mr. Michael Turner's, and other members of the 
 Company joined them ; afterwards re-embarking, a light luncheon of 
 fruit and ices was served, and the band enlivened the rest of the voyage 
 with a choice selection of instrumental music. Arriving at Richmond 
 they proceeded to the Star and Garter Hotel, where an elegant enter- 
 tainment was provided. At 8 p.m. or soon after, those who preferred 
 it returned by water, and pleasant was it for the visitors and younger 
 members of the Company to dance on the deck by moonlight, while
 
 38 
 
 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 the barge glided gently on, and the sound of the band was wafted over 
 the still waters of the Thames, or sitting with their seniors in the 
 saloon to hear glees and madrigals. As the barge grounded at Putney 
 the rippling tide beat on her clincher-built sides, and flowing onwards 
 swept away with the commingled cadence of the well-known glee — 
 
 " Sleep, gentle lady, the flowers are closing. 
 The very winds and waves reposing ; 
 Sleep while we sing good night, 
 Good night ! good night ! 
 Good night ! " 
 
 One other custom deserves notice. When the 
 Lord Mayor had landed at Westminster, the 
 barges of the Skinners and Merchant Taylors 
 were brought alongside each other, when ample 
 store of cakes and wine were produced. The 
 wine was drunk from wooden bowls, and the 
 Master and Wardens of the Skinners drank to 
 the health of the Master and Wardens of the 
 Merchant Taylors, root and branch, and might 
 they continue for ever. This loving toast was 
 responded to by the Merchant Taylors in good 
 fellowship and in remembrance of the decree of 
 Sir Richard Billesden as before-mentioned. 
 
 One of the best drawings of a City barge (the 
 Stationers) is given in Shipping and Craft, pub- 
 lished A.D. 1829, by E. W. Cook, Esq., E.A. 
 The men's caps were of red velvet, trimmed round 
 the head with ermine, and expanding to a sc[uare 
 at the top in a somewhat similar manner to the 
 University form ; in front of each was a silver leopard, the crest of the 
 Company ; they had also blue striped cotton shirts and trowsers ; the 
 barge-master's coat was scarlet, of true waterman's cut, with ample 
 pleated skirt, ermine collar and cuffs, and the shield of the Company, 
 in silver blazoned, on the left arm. Red smalls and stockings. 
 Eighteen men were employed as rowers ; one at the bow seated on a 
 leopard had a boat-hook, and two at the helm, completed the crew. 
 
 The Skinners' and Goldsmiths' Companies conjointly rented a barge- 
 house at Chelsea of the Archbishop of Canterbury, afterwards of the 
 Apothecaries' Company.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 39 
 
 CITY PAGEANTS. 
 
 Stowe mentions the names of twenty-one lord mayors as being 
 members of the Company. The earliest is Sir Thomas Leggy, 
 1348, 1355. The last Sir Richard Chiverton, 1658: besides these 1 
 have traced numerous others who will be referred to hereafter in a list 
 of such members of our Company as have filled this important office.' 
 Of the city pageants six are mentioned by Herbert as described and 
 printed. 
 
 The First, that of Sir Wolstan Dixie, is to be found in Stowe, acted 
 Oct. 29, 1585; a copy in black letter, 4to. imprinted by Joseph Aide, 
 liy George Peele, M.A., Oxon., is in the Bodleian Library. 
 
 The Second is the Triumph of Love and Antiquity, by Thomas 
 Middleton, imprinted by Nicholas Oatres, 1619 ; it was acted before 
 Sir William Cokayne, Oct. 29, 1619, wherein he is thus addressed by 
 Orpheus — 
 
 Behold yon bird of state, the vigilant cock, 
 
 The morning herald and the plowman's clock, 
 
 At whoes shrill crow the very lion trembles ; 
 
 The hardest prey of all that here assembles ; 
 
 How fitly do's it match your name and power, 
 
 First by that name ; now is this glorious hour. 
 
 At your first voyce, to shake the bold'st offence 
 
 And sturdiest sin, that 'ere had residence 
 
 In sane man, yet with an equal eie 
 
 Watching grave justice, with fair clemency, 
 
 It being the property he chiefly shows, 
 
 To give wing warning still before he crows ; 
 
 To crow before he strikes, with his clapt wing; 
 
 To stir himself up first, which needful thing 
 
 Is every man's first duty by his crow : 
 
 A gentle call, or warning, which should show 
 
 From every Magistrate, ere he extend 
 
 The stroke of justice, he should apprehend; 
 
 If that prevail not, then the spur — the Snwrd. 
 
 The Third. — London's Triumph, by J. B., 4to. ; no copy either in 
 the British Museum or City Library. The pageant took place when 
 Sir Robert Titchborne was Mayor 1656. 
 
 The Fourth. — Londinum Triumphans, by J. Tathan, a well-known 
 dramatist, celebrated 29th Oct. 1657, in honour of the truly deserving 
 
 ' Three of these served the office of Lord Mayor twice, and one, viz. I'il- 
 kington, three times.
 
 40 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 liicliard Cliiverton, Lord Mayor of London, done at the cost and 
 charges of the "Worshipful Company of Skinners. A copy was sold 
 at Mr. West's sale, but present possessor is unknown. There is no 
 copy either in the British Museum or Guildhall Library. 
 
 The Fifth. — London's Resurrection to Joy and Trinmph expressed 
 in sundry shows, shapes, scenes, speeches, and songs, in parts 
 celebrious to the much merited magistrate Sir George Waterman, 
 knt. Lord Mayor of the City of London, at the peculiar and proper 
 expense of the Worsliipful Company of Skinners. Written by 
 Thomas Jordan, London : printed for Henry Brown at the Gun, in 
 St. Paul's Churchyard, 1671. Extracts are given by Herbert and 
 Strype:^a copy is in the Guildhall Library. The following extract 
 may not prove uninteresting. 
 
 The Skinners met at the Hall at seven o'clock and formed in j)ro- 
 ccssion. The address to Sir George Waterman commences thus : 
 
 In the first Age, when Innocence began 
 
 To spread her splendour on the Soul of Man, 
 
 Union filled all the universe with free 
 
 Felicious and seraphie Harmony; 
 
 All parts of the Creation did consent, 
 
 And the world was one well-tuned Instrument ; 
 
 Dog, Bear, Wolf, Lamb, together did agree, 
 
 Nature itself knew no antipathy ; 
 
 But, when the peace was broke by Man's Transgression, 
 
 Revenge with rage and envy took possession ; 
 
 Discord rioted, and in conclusion 
 
 Old Amnesty was turned into confusion. 
 
 The Sixth. — London's Great Triumph, restored and performed on 
 Tuesday the 29th, 1689, for the entertainment of the Right Honourable 
 Sir Thomas Pilkington, knt. Lord Mayor of the City of London; 
 containing a description of the several pageants and speeches, together 
 with a song for the entertainment of their Majesties, who with their 
 Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Denmark, the whole 
 Court, and both Houses of Parliament, honoured his Lordship this 
 year with their presence. All set forth at the proper costs and charges 
 of the Right Worshipful Company of Skinners by Matthew Tautman, 
 
 Londinum Urbs Sinclita Regum. London, printed for Langley 
 Curtis at Sir Edniundsbury (Godfrey's head, near Fleet Street Bridge, 
 1689. 
 
 ' Vol. ii. 325,
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 41 
 
 The Seventli, not mentioned by Strype in his edition of Stow or 
 Herbert in his Ilistorj of the Tivelve Great Companies, is as follows: — 
 
 Sir Anthony Bateman, Master of the Skinners' Company, and Lord Mayor of 
 the city of London 1665. 
 
 A pageant was enacted called " London's Triumph," at the cost and charges 
 of the Worshijjful Company of Skinners. 
 
 The procession started from Skinners' Hall at 8 o'clock A.M. 
 
 First. Master and Wardens in their gowns faced with foyne. 
 
 Secondly. The Livery in gowns faced with budge. 
 
 Thirdly. Forty foyne Bachelors in gowns and satin hoods. 
 
 Fourthly. Fifty Bachelors in gowns and satin hoods. 
 
 Fifthly. Fifty budge Bachelors in gowns and satin hoods. 
 
 Sixthly. Other gentlemen carrying banners and colours of the Company ; 
 1 1 of them in plush. 
 
 Seventhly. Sergeant Trumpeter and 35 Trumpeters; 16 of His Majesty's 
 Servants, and 4 of the Duke of Albemarle's. 
 
 The Drum-Major and 4 more of His Majesty's Drums. 
 
 7 other Drums. 
 
 A Fife. 
 
 2 more Fifes. 
 
 All except His Majesty's Sergeants habited in buif-colored doublets, black 
 hose, and scarfs about their waists. 
 
 2 City Marshall?. 
 
 The Foot Marshall. 
 
 70 Pensioners in red gowns, red sleeves, and red caps, each with a javelin in 
 one hand and a target in the other, whereon is painted the coat of arms of their 
 benefactors. 
 
 All with the Company's colors in their hats. 
 
 The pageant is made in the manner of a wood or wilderness, being 14 feet 
 long and 8 feet broad. The front thereof is arched over with a wild arbour, 
 whereon sits a figure representing Fanuus. His head is clothed with wool 
 intermixed with ermine, the upper part of his body habited like a forester in 
 green, and his nether part like a woodman in russet ; in one hand he holds a 
 javelin, and in the other a bugle-horn ; his attendants are three satyrs, playing 
 on rude instruments. Upon 4 pedestals sit 4 girls, nymphs of the forest called 
 Dryads, and habited accordingly. On the stage are placed several boys habited 
 as bears, monkeys, and several other beasts relating to the Company's trades. 
 Upon the approach of the Mayor the faun thus addresses him : — 
 
 Ere scarce the force of government was kno^vn, 
 Or superstitious ceremony sho^vn ; 
 Ere Rome received from Romulus her law. 
 Which did the Sabincs to subjection draw, 
 Or that the gods into request became. 
 And altars on her Holy Mount did flame, 
 1 led the way to those mysterious rites. 
 By the pale tapers of instructive lights ;
 
 42 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 For Nature (then), as Heathen reason lent, 
 
 To worship what we call Omnipotent, 
 
 Where now the one, as oft strives to deface, 
 
 With oaths and blasphemy the seat of Grace, 
 
 Worser than Heathen slaves, past sense of shame, 
 
 From Christian into Atheist change their name ; 
 
 We were devout in what we did not know ; 
 
 They know, and yet they will not devotion show ; 
 
 In woods and groves at first we sacrificed. 
 
 And then we temples to erect devised ; 
 
 As we grew up in knowledge, we the more 
 
 Our unknown God did honor and adore ; 
 
 These sort of men your temples do despise. 
 
 And to the beasts do only sacrifice ; 
 
 That such who thus your government displease 
 
 Deserve the name of satyrs more than these. 
 
 Licentious liberty, obdurate hearts, 
 
 And men from virtue more than beast departs; 
 
 For they forsake not their's, and, as we do, 
 
 Order our beasts, let them be ordered too. 
 
 Wild beasts are tamed by reason, and wild men may 
 
 Be brought in time to be as tame as they ; 
 
 'Tis wisdom in the magisti'ate that must 
 
 Crumble all such prejudices into dust. 
 
 Let such as in your Church no service love 
 
 Confined be in a forest, wood, or grove ; 
 
 Let them be company for beasts, not men. 
 
 Till they return unto the truth again; 
 
 By this their punishment you will appear 
 
 Unto the world more virtuous than severe.' 
 
 As he proceeded other speeches were addressed to him — 
 
 1. By Albion ; 
 
 2. By a Turk ; 
 
 3. By Minerva ; 
 
 i. By a Turk again at Guildhall; 
 which ended, his Lordship entered his house, all depart in order (as the con- 
 veniency of night will admit), and the several persons appointed to attend the 
 service of the day take especial care to lodge the silk hoods and triumphs in 
 some secure place, until they can remove them to Skinners' Hall ; in regard they 
 are of some weight, for the bm'den of the day (adds the historian) was great 
 upon the undertakers. — Printed by Roger le Strange, 1663." 
 
 ' It is worthy of remark that Monk, Duke of Albemarle, was entertained by 
 the Skinners when he supported the claims of Charles XL, on which occasion the 
 royal arms were replaced, first in the Company's Hall, and afterwards in the 
 City, where they had been banished during the time of tlic Commonwealth.
 
 TUE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 
 
 43 
 
 MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY WHO ALSO SERVED 
 THE OFFICE OF MAYOR IN THE CITY OF 
 LONDON. 
 
 The following list, containing a few brief notices of the historical 
 incidents relating to some of the ancient worthies of the Company who 
 have served the oflfico of Lord Mayor of the City of London, may not 
 be uninteresting. 
 
 I am indebted for the blazon of the coats of arms to John de 
 Havilland, Esq. F.S.A. York Herald. 
 
 Thomas Legge, or Leggy, Mayor a.d. 1347, 
 1355, M.P, 20 Edward III. 
 
 Arms : Vert, a buck's head or, on a chief 
 argent three crosses flory azure.i 
 
 He bequeathed 100/. for cleaning fosseS: 
 on condition that masses were offered for his 
 soul in the Chapel of St. Mary, Guildhall.- 
 He also gave 300/. to Edw. III. to assist 
 in the expedition against France during his 
 Mayoralty. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Beauchamp, 
 Earl of Warwick. Their son John Legg was a farmer of the public 
 revenue, and serjeant-at-arms to King Richard II. He took part in 
 the insurrection of Wat Tyler, and was beheaded, together with Simon 
 Sudbury, Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Hales, Prior of the 
 Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, and others, on Tower Hill, on the 
 14th June, 1381. His father, the mayor, who, Stowe says, was the 
 sufferer on this occasion, had however been dead many years before.^ 
 Their immediate ancestors are said to have descended from a patrician 
 family in the city of Bavonna, in Italy, who settled in England 
 about the time of King Henry II. 
 
 ' In Harl. MSS. 1049 and 1349 the arms are Aznrc, a buck's head cabossed 
 or, on a chief argent three crosses moline of the first (thus in Harl. MSS. 1049, 
 fo. 39). Heylyn's Help, 1773, gives the same blazon. Harl. MSS. 1349, fol. 61>, 
 blazons the coat in the same way, except that the field is stated to be vert. 
 
 - Sargeant's Lord Mayors of London, MS. Guildhall. 
 Corporation Records. Letter Books, G. £ol. 163 ; H. fols. 21 and 133.
 
 44 
 
 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 Adam of Bury, teuip. Edw. III., twice 
 Mayor, 1364, 1373. 
 
 Arms: Quarterly, ermine and azure, in 
 second and third quarters an eagle or falcon 
 rising or.^ 
 
 Letter extant in City Records from Johanna 
 announcing the birth of a son, Edward Prince 
 of Gascoyne and of Wales, 1365. 
 
 He was buried in old St. Paul's, and made 
 a provision in his will, a.d. 1373, that out of his estate three chap- 
 lains should say mass in a certain chapel, at that time new built, near 
 the north door, behind the cross, for the health of his soul and all 
 faithful souls deceased ; this property was assigned by his executors 
 to the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's. 
 
 Sir Henry Barton, Knt., Lord Mayor of 
 London a.d. 1417, 1429, temp. Henry V. 
 and VI. 
 
 Arms : Erm. on a saltire sable an annulet 
 or, voided of the field. 
 
 To Sir Henry Barton, Citizen and Skinner, 
 the City of London is indebted for having first 
 introduced a system of lighting. He ordained 
 that lanthorns should be hung out in the 
 City between Hallowmas E'en and Candlemas ; besides these every 
 constable in London had his cresset or lauthorn; the charge for 
 which was in lights ij s. iiij d. : each cresset had two men, one to bear 
 or hold it, and another to carry a bag vrith lights to serve it. There 
 were about 2,000 men so employed ; every one beside his wages had 
 his breakfast and was furnished with a straw hat, on which a number 
 was conspicuously displayed ; 500 cressets were furnished by the 
 City companies, and the remaining 200 by the Chamber of London.' 
 By his will ^ the testator gave to William Newenham, master 
 of the guild or fraternity of the precious body of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and to John Beale and others, wardens of the said fraternity, 
 and to the brethren and sisters of the same guild or fraternity, and 
 to the men of the said mystery, and to Mr. Wm. Kirkeby, rector of 
 the church of St. John upon Walbrook, London, and to their suc- 
 
 See llarl. MSS. 1049 and 134!). 
 Stowc, ii. 256, 
 
 ^ Herbert.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SRINNEKS. 
 
 45 
 
 cessors, master, wardens, rector, and their sxiccessors for ever, all 
 his tenement, with the mansions, houses, shops, cellars, and their 
 appurtenances, in Watling Street, in the parish of Aldermarie Chirche, 
 of London ; all his tenement, with the appurtenances, in the parish of 
 Allhallows in Bread Street, London, on the north part of the street 
 called Watling Street, to grant and let to poor and needy persons who 
 heretofore held houses and maintained families, and had by divine 
 visitation and adverse fortune come to extreme want, receiving nothing 
 from them for the habitations aforesaid." 
 
 Also, he gave and devised to the master, wardens, brethren, and 
 sisters aforesaid, and to the rectors of the said church and their suc- 
 cessors, all the tenement with appurtenances, and the great garden 
 with the repairs to the said tenement, situate and being over against 
 the hospital of the Blessed Mary without Bishopsgate, in the suburbs 
 of London, to hold the same to them and their successors for ever, 
 upon condition of their completing all his ordinances above-mentioned ; 
 and if they should make default then he gave the same to the mayor 
 and chamberlain and their successors as aforesaid. 
 
 He is said to have been "buried in the charnell house by Pauls, on 
 the north side of the churchyard, now pulled downe and dwelling 
 houses erected in the place thereof." ' 
 
 Sir William Gregory, son of Roger 
 Gregory of Mildenhall, Suffolk, Mayor a.d. 
 1451, temp. Heniy VI. He was buried in 
 the church of St. Ann by Aldersgate. 
 
 Arms : Per pale arg. and az. two lions 
 ramp, endorsed counterchanged. 
 
 Sir Thomas Oldgrave, or Oulegreve, 
 son of William Oldgrave of Knottysford, in 
 Cheshire, Mayor 1467, temp. Edward IV.; 
 taken prisoner by the Earl of Warwick and 
 brought to London. 
 
 Arms : Az. a fess engr. erm. between three 
 owls or. 
 
 During his mayoralty Dame Margaret, 
 sister unto the King, rode through the city on 
 
 ' llavl. MSS. HMD, fo. li.'.
 
 46 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 her way to the sea-side to pass into Flanders, there to be raamed to 
 Charles Duke of Burgundy. After whose departure " Sir Thos. Cooke, 
 late Mair (a.d 1462), which before was peached of treason by a 
 servant of Lord Wenlock's called Hawkins, at the request of the said 
 Lady Margaret upon suretie suffered to go at large, was arrested 
 and sent unto the Tower, and his goods seized by the Lord Rivers, 
 then Treasurer of England ; and his wife put out of the house, and 
 committed to the charge of the Mair, in whose place she lay for a 
 season. 
 
 "Sir Thos. was brought into Guildhall and there arreined of the said 
 treason, and after that committed to the Countoure in Bread Street, 
 and from thence to the King's Bench in Southwarke. In which time 
 and season he lost much good, for both his places in the countrie and 
 also in London were under y^ guiding of the said Lord Elvers' 
 servants, and of Sir John Fog, the under-treasurer; the which spoyled 
 and distroyed much things ; and over that much of his jeweles and 
 plate, with greate substance of y^ merchandise, as cloth of silk and 
 clothes of arras, were discovered by such persons as he had betaken y*^ 
 said goods to kepe, and came to the treasurer's hands, which to the 
 said Sir Thomas was a great enemy, and finally, after many persecu- 
 tions and losses, was compelled as for fine to pay unto the King 
 8,000Z.; and after he had thus agreed, and was at large, for the 
 King's interest, he was then in new trouble against the Queene, which 
 demanded as her right for every 1,000/. paid unto the King by way 
 of fine 100 markes, to which he was fain to agi'ee, besides many good 
 gifts that he gave to his council." ^ 
 
 Sir William Martin, son of Walter Martin 
 of Hertford, Mayor 1492, temp. Henry VII. 
 
 Arms: Or, two bars gules, in the dexter 
 chief an escutcheon erni.^ 
 
 In this year Henry VII. compromised his 
 claim to the throne of France for 18C),250Z. 
 besides 25,000 crowns yearly. 
 
 Sir William married a Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Meggs, and resided in the parish of St. 
 
 ' Fabyan's Chronicle. 
 
 = The arms fciven in Harl. IklSS. 10-19 and 1349, as well as by Heylyn, are Or, 
 two bars irnles, on the i;ppcr bar .an escutcheon ermine.
 
 TnE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 
 
 47 
 
 Matthew Friday Street. He was buried in the church of St. Christ- 
 opher by the Stocks. 
 
 Thomas Mirfine, Master 1515, son of 
 George Mirfine of Ely, Cambridgeshire, Mayor 
 A.D. 1518, temp, Henry VIII., Alderman of 
 Bishopsgate Ward. 
 
 Anns : Or, on a chevron sable a mullet 
 argent, a crescent for difference. 
 
 He married Alice, daughter of Oliver Squire, 
 esquire, of Southby, county Hants, who was 
 afterwards twice married; first to John Bng- 
 andine, Esquire, of Hants, and afterwards to Sir Edward North, of 
 Kirtling or Catledge, county Cambridge. Thomas Mirfine was 
 great-grandfather of Oliver Cromwell and John Hampden ; his only 
 daughter and heir was married to Sir Andrew Judde.' " Ho was buried 
 in the north chancel of old St. Paul's together with Henry Barton, 
 both of whom had fair tombs therein, with their tombs in alabaster, 
 strongly coped with iron ; all which, with the chapel, were pulled down 
 in 1549 (3 Edward VI.) by the Duke of Somerset's appointment, 
 and made use of for his building at Somerset House, in the Strand; 
 the bones which lay in the vault underneath, amounting to more than 
 a thousand cart-loads, being conveyed into Finnesbury Fields, and 
 there laid on a moorish place, with so much soil to cover them as did 
 raise the ground for three windmills to stand on, which have since 
 been built there.'" 
 
 Sir John Champneis, son to Robert 
 Champneis of CheAV, in Somersetshire, Mayor 
 A.D. 1534, temp. Henry VIII. Four times 
 Master, a.d. 1527, 1528, 1530, and 1532. 
 
 Arms: Per pale argent and sable, within 
 a bordure engrailed counterchanged a lion 
 rampant gules.-^ 
 
 • See Harl. MSS. 1349. 
 
 2 See Baker's North, i. 526. Dugdale's St. Paul's Cathedral, Ellis, p. 92. 
 
 ' In Harl. MS. 1049 and 1349 the arms of Champneys or Champnics are thus 
 blazoned : Per pale argent and sable, a lion rampant gules within a bordure 
 engrailed counterchanged.
 
 48 
 
 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 Sir Andrew Judde, Mayor a.d. 1550, 
 temp. Edward VI. Four times Master, a.d. 
 1538, 1544, 1551, 1555. 
 
 Arms : Gules, a fesse ragule between 
 three boar's heads coiiped close argent.' 
 
 Sir Andrew Judde, knight, the founder of 
 Tonbridge School, was born at Tonbridge, 
 but the date of his birth is not known. He 
 was the youngest son of John Judde, Esq., 
 and the nephew twice removed of Archbishop Chichcle. An estate 
 between Tonbridge and Tonbridge Wells belonged to his family, who 
 us early as a.d. 1434 were reckoned one of the leading families of the 
 county of Kent. From this property, which was situated on Quarry 
 Hill and was called " Bard en," the family removed to Ashford, near 
 which also they had a seat, memorials of many of them being still in 
 existence in the parish church of that place.^ 
 
 Sir Andrew, when young, went to London, and was apprenticed to 
 the Company of Skinners, a body at that time having considerable 
 eminence in the meti'opolis as the chief, and probably the only, 
 traders in skins and furs. It was by means of this trade that Sir 
 Andrew amassed a large fortune, a considerable portion of which he 
 so liberally expended on the foundation of Tonbridge school, and 
 other trusts in connection with the Skinners' Company. 
 
 Sir Andrew is styled in old documents a " skinner and merchant of 
 Muscovy," the latter being a title which in those days implied that 
 he was a man of importance in the city of London. 
 
 Sir Andrew Judde himself took part in an expedition of the Mer- 
 chants' Company, which used to transport tlieir goods to the North of 
 Russia in their own ships ; and then, making use of boats shaped 
 from the hollowed trunks of trees, towed them up the River Dwina to 
 Vologda. From Vologda this merchandise was carried across 
 country by a seven days' journey to Yaroslav, and thence transported 
 
 ' Thus given in Harl. MSS. lO-iO, 1.3i9. Quarterly, 1 and 4, Gules, a fess ragule 
 between three boar's heads couped close argent; 2 and 3, Azure, three lions 
 rampant argent. The same ant4iority says that " he was buried at St. Ellens in 
 Bishopsgate Streete; he dwelled in the same howse that was Sir William Hollis, 
 over agaynst Sir John Spencers ; his only daughter Alice was married to Thomas 
 Smyth, and was mother to Sir John, Sir Thomas, and Sir Richard Smyth now 
 living." 
 
 •2 History of Tonbridge School, by S. Rivington.
 
 To face i>a(je 49.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 49 
 
 down the Volga to Astrakhan, on the shores of the Caspian Sea, In 
 this way, so early as the reign of Edward VI., English goods found 
 their way into Persia and the remote regions of the East. 
 
 Sir Andrew Judde also visited the African coast and part of 
 Guinea, and had brought home, at Edward VI.'s request, some gold 
 dust for the use of the Royal Mint ; in fact, as the tablet to his 
 memory says, " To Russia and Muscova, to Spayne and Gynny 
 (Guinea), traveld He by land and sea." 
 
 In 1544 Sir Andrew Judde filled the office of Sherifi" of London, 
 and in 1550-1551 was Lord Mayor, during which time we have 
 ample testimony, from " Proctour's History of Sir Thomas Wyatt's 
 RebelUon," that Sir Andrew distinguished himself greatly by his 
 loyalty. " Wyatt," says he, " and a fewe with him, went as farre as the 
 drawebridge of Southwark, on the further side whereof he sawe the 
 Lorde Admirall, the Lorde Maiour, Sir Andrew Judde, and one or 
 two other, in consultation, for ordering of the bridge, where unto he 
 gave diligent care a good tyme." These personal exertions in oppos- 
 ing Wyatt's rebellion helped him to gain the favour of Philip of 
 Spain and of Queen Mary ; and during his mayoralty, which he kept 
 in a house near St. Helen's church, Bishopsgate, he displayed great 
 magnificence and hospitality. Sir Andrew was Lord Deputy and 
 Mayor of the Staple of Calais, then in the hands of the English ; 
 and in 1555, on September 4 in that year, he received Philip of Spain, 
 who was on his way with a Royal retinue, including the Earls of 
 Arundel, Pembroke, and Huntingdon, to visit the Emperor Charles V. 
 at Brussels. 
 
 On tliis occasion Sir Andrew presented His Majesty with a purse 
 containing a thousand marks in gold ; a magnificent gift from a 
 private gentleman of that time. Philip was said to have been so 
 gratified with this reception that he distributed a thousand crowns to 
 the soldiers at Calais. 
 
 Sir Andrew Judde died on September 4, 1558, and was buried on 
 the l4th, in St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, where a small tablet to 
 his memory may be seen, affixed to the wall. On it is a figure ol 
 himself, kneeling, with a quaint inscription beneath. 
 
 The accompanying illust)-ation is taken from a picture in the court- 
 room at Skinners' Hall, and is traditionally supposed to be a portrait 
 of Sir Andrew Judde.
 
 50 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 Sir Andrew Judde. 
 
 Taken from his mural tablet in St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgaie. 
 
 " To Kussia and Muscova, 
 To Spavne and Gynny withoute fable 
 Traveld He hj land and sea. 
 Botli Mayre of London and staple, 
 The commonwealth e He norished 
 So worthelie in all his Dales, 
 That ech state fywell him loved. 
 To his perpetvale prayes. 
 Three wyves He had, one was Mary, 
 Fowre sons, one mayde, had he by her; 
 By Dame Mary had one Dowghtier. 
 > Thus, in the month of September, 
 
 A thousand five. hundred and fiftey 
 And eight, died this worthie staplar, 
 Worshipynge his posterytye." 
 
 Machyn (in his Diary, p. 174) mentions his funeral as having been 
 conducted with great pomp and ceremony : " The xiv**^ day of 
 September was buried Sir Andrew Jud, skinner, merchant of Mus- 
 covy, and late Mayor of London, with a pennon of armes and a x 
 dozen of penselles, skocyons, and a herse of wax of v prynse pals, 
 garnished with angelles, and poormen in new gownes, and Master 
 Clarenshus (Clarencieux) King of Armes, and Master Somersett, 
 harold, and the morrow masse and a sermon." ^ 
 
 His wives were : — 
 
 1. Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Doon, Lord Mayor of London 
 in 1519. By her he had four sons and one daughter. She died 
 in 1550, and was buried in the church of St. Helen's on the 19th 
 November in that year. 
 
 2. Annys. 
 
 3. Mary, heiress of Sir Thomas Mirfen, Lord Mayor of London in 
 1518, by whom he had one daughter, Alice; from her the family of 
 the late Viscount Strangford is descended. This Alice Judde married 
 Thomas Smythe, customer, i.e., farmer of the public revenues, in the 
 reigns of Queens Mary and Elizabeth, and father of Sir Thomas 
 Smythe. 
 
 The Free Grammar School of Tonbridge, the native place of Sir 
 Andrew Judde, was founded and endowed by him under letters 
 ' Londina Illustrata.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 51 
 
 patent of perpetuity, dated May 16th, 1553, the seventh year of 
 Edward VI. He erected the school-house at the north end of the 
 town, the original huilding being upwards of 100 feet in length ; its 
 front constructed in a plain, neat, and uniform style, with the sand- 
 stone of the vicinity. For the endowment of both his foundations he 
 bought estates in the name of himself and Henry Fisher, who was 
 afterwards his executor, and confided the management of those estates 
 as well as of his school and almshouses to the Skinners' Company, of 
 which he was a member. 
 
 After the decease of Sir Andrew Judde and Henry Fisher, to whom 
 the property now described was originally conveyed, Andrew Fisher, 
 the son of the latter, endeavoured to impeach the conveyances, and 
 the whole affair was brought before the Parliament for examination. 
 In the Journals of the House of Commons, 15th of Elizabeth, 1572, 
 Monday, 30th June, appears an entry certifying to the House that 
 the Right Hon. Sir Walter Mildmay, Chancellor, &c. and others, to 
 whom had been committed the examination of a deed in the name of 
 Henry Fisher, supposed to have been forged, "had found great 
 untruth and impudence in the said Andrew Fisher ; and that for very 
 vehement presumptions they thought very evil of the deed ; never- 
 theless, upon Fisher's submission, they had been contented to with- 
 draw out of the Bill all words that touched liim in infamy ; and so the 
 Bill penned passed this House with an assent on both sides, as well to 
 help Tunbridge school as others that had bought land of the said 
 Andrew's father bona fide." 
 
 At this time the Skinners' Company expended the sum of 4,000/. 
 in prosecuting this and other suits ; for Fisher again endeavoured to 
 deprive both the school and Corporation of the property, under 
 pretence that the latter was not rightly named in the Act of 
 Foundation, which being again brought before the House of Commons 
 upon the Company's petition, with Fisher's consent, another Act was 
 passed, in 1588-89, the 31st of Elizabeth, confirming the former for 
 the better assuring of the lands and tenements belonging to the free 
 school of Tunbridge.^ 
 
 The property thus given to the Skinners' Company to hold in trust 
 for the school comprised some houses in Gracechurch Street valued 
 at SOL per annum, and about three acres of what was then pasture- 
 
 ' Hasted's History of Kent, xi. 346, notes x y. 
 d1
 
 52 HISTOKY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 land, in the parish of St. Pancras. This was called the " Sandhills," 
 and was bought by the founder for 346/. 6s. 8d. It is now covered 
 with streets deriving their names from villages around Tonbridge, as 
 Bidborough, Hadlow, Speldhurst, &c. 
 
 But Sir Andrew thought fit to execute a will as well as his previous 
 charter. In this will, dated Sept. 2, 1558, he repeated his gift to 
 the school, and added a further gift on different conditions. This 
 consisted of a house in Old Swan Alley, one in St. Helen's, several in 
 St. Mary Axe, and an annual rent-charge of ten pounds out of a 
 messuage in Gracechurch Street. 
 
 The Wai'dens and Fellows of All Souls College, Oxford, are 
 elected to act as moderators to the Governors from time to time. 
 The stipend of the master is fixed at 201. the usher at 8/. per annum. 
 The master may elect or lodge not more than twelve, the usher not 
 more than six scholars, and it is a singular fact that when Dr. Thomas 
 Knox was examined before the Commissioners of Education in 1818 
 that the number of day scholars was only ten, and that of the boarders 
 32. There are now at present in the school about 230, less than one- 
 half of whom are day-boys, and the rest are boarders either in the 
 school-house under Dr. Welldon,^ the present head master, or in the 
 houses of the assistant-masters. 
 
 The exhibitions under the will of the founder are 16 in number, of 
 lOOZ. each, four of which are given away every year; six of Sir 
 Thomas Smith of 17/. per annum ; four under the will of Sir James 
 Lancaster; one under Mr. Edward Lewis's will of 15/.; and another 
 by Mr. Henry Fisher, confined to Brazenose, Oxford, of 20/. per 
 annum. 
 
 Sir Thomas White gave one of his fellowships at St. John's College, 
 Oxford, for the benefit of scholars from this school. 
 
 Sir Andrew Judd also founded the almshouses in St. Helen's for 
 six poor persons, freemen of the Company. 
 
 Sir Thomas Smythe, grandson of Sir Andrew Judde, was a great 
 benefactor to the school. By his will, dated April 18, 1619, he be- 
 queathed to the Skinners' Company houses in Old Change and in Lime 
 Street, London, to dispose of their revenues according to his will. By 
 
 ' SiBce the above was vrritten the Rev. Canon Welhlon, D.C.L. has resigned 
 his position as Head Master of the School, and the Rev. Theo. B. Howe, M.A. late 
 Fellow of St. John's, Cambridge, third in First Classical Tripos, 31st "Wrangler, 
 and Chancellor's Medallist, has been elected Head Master by the Governors.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 53 
 
 this means he was able to direct that the head master's salary should 
 be increased by ten pounds, and the usher's by five pounds. He also 
 founded six exhibitions of ten pounds per annum to last seven years, 
 now increased to seventeen pounds each by accumulated amounts un- 
 applied in former years through want of applicants, in aid of " the 
 maintenance of six poor scholars at the universities who shall be most 
 towardly and capable of learning, and who shall have been brought up 
 and taught in the said school by the space of three years." During 
 their university education these exhibitioners were to study divinity, and 
 afterwards to enter the " sacred ministry." When ordained as clergy- 
 men they were required before and after their sermons to give thanks 
 to God for His mercy toward them in the contribution of their bene- 
 factor for their maintenance, for the reason that it should excite others 
 to do good and charitable works. 
 
 Heap Masters of the School from the Foundation to the 
 present time. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1558 to 1578. Rev. John Proctor, M.A. 
 1578 „ 1588. Rev. John Stockwood, M.A. 
 1588 „ . Rev. William Hatch, M.A. 
 
 „ 1640. Rev. Michael Jenkins, M.A. 
 1640 „ 1647. Rev. Thomas Home, D.D. 
 1647 „ 1657. Rev. Nicholas Grey, D.D. 
 1657 „ 1661. Rev. John Goad, B.D. 
 1661 „ 1680. Rev. Christopher Wase, B.D. 
 1680 „ 1714. Rev. Thomas Roots, M.A. 
 1714 „ 1743. Rev. Richard Spencer, M.A.' 
 1743 „ 1761. Rev. James Cawthorn, M.A. 
 1761 „ 1770. Rev. Johnson Towers, M.A. 
 1770 „ 1778. Rev. Vicesimus Knox, LL.B. 
 1778 „ 1812. Rev. Vicesimus Knox, D.D. 
 1812 „ 1843. Rev. Thomas Knox, D.D. 
 1843 „ 1875. Rev. James Ind Welldon, D.C.L.2 
 1875 Rev. Theo. B. Rowe, M.A. 
 
 ' P. 21. 
 
 ^ By the Court Books, A.D. 1672, it would appear that the Skinners when 
 applied to appointed one of the ushers at Tonbridge to the head-mastership of 
 Kingston, Southampton.
 
 54 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 Sir Richard Dobbes, 5 Edward VI., son of 
 Eobert Dobbes of Bailby, Yorkshire ; Sheriff 
 1543; Alderman of Tower Ward; Mayor 
 1551. Master, a.d. 1542, 1543, 1548, 1550, 
 1554. Buried at St. Margaret Moyses, Bread 
 Street. 
 
 Arms : Per pale argent and sable, a chevron 
 engrailed between three unicorn's heads erased 
 and counterclianged.i 
 There is a portrait of Sir Richard Dobbs, knt. in the court-room 
 of Christ's Hospital, tetatis suas 65. He is habited in his robes of 
 office, and wears a venerable beard, a small black hat, and has a 
 plaited frill round his neck ; he holds a book in his right hand with 
 the forefinger in the leaves, and under the picture are the following 
 lines: 
 
 " Christ's Hospital erected was a passinge deed of pittee, 
 "What time Sir Richard Dobbs was Mair of this most fam's Citee; 
 Who carefull was in Government and furthered moche the same; 
 Also a benefactor good and joyed to see its frame. 
 
 Whoes portraiture heare his frends have sett to putt cache wight in minde 
 To imitate his virtuous deeds as God hath us assigned." 
 
 Londinirun Redivivum. 
 
 I cannot do better than sum up the deeds of this worthy man by 
 quoting from Bishop Ridley's letter^ shortly before his martyrdom to 
 his friend Sir George Barnes: 
 
 " O Dobbs, Dobbs, Alderman and Knight, thou in thy yeare did win my heart 
 for evermore for thine honorable act, that most blessed work of God, of the 
 erection and setting up of Christ's Holy Hospitals and truly religious houses, 
 which by thee and through thee were begun, for thou, lilce a man of God, when 
 the matter was moved for Christ's poore silly members to be holpen from extreme 
 misery, and hunger, and famine; thy hearte I saye was mooved with pity, and, as 
 Christ's high honorable officer in that cause, thou calledst together thy bretheren 
 the Aldermen of the City, before whom thou breakest the matter for the poore ; 
 thou didst plead their cause, yea and not only with thine owne person didst set 
 forth Christ's cause, but to further the matter thou broughtest me into the 
 
 ' According to Harl. MSS. 1049 and 1349, and also in Heylyn: Per pale 
 argent and sable, a chevron engrailed between three unicorn's heads erased, each 
 charged with three guttees, all countercharged. " Buried at St. Margaret 
 Moyses in Friday Streete, where he dwelled in the howse that was lately Roger 
 Clarks, sometime Sheriff and Alderman of London." 
 
 ^ Stowe, p. 176.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 55 
 
 Council Chamber of the City, before the Aldermen alone, whom thou hadst 
 assembled there to hear me, and to speak what I could say as an advocate by 
 office and duty in the poore man's cause. The Lord wrought with thee and gave 
 thee the consent of thy brethren, whereby the matter was brought to the Common 
 Council, and so to the whole body of the City; by whom with an uniform consent 
 it was committed to be drawn, ordered, and devised by a certain number of the 
 most witty Citizens and politick, endued also with godliness and with ready 
 hearts to set forward such a noble act, as could be chosen in all the whole City ; 
 and thy like true and faithful Minister, both to the City and their master Christ, 
 so ordered, devised, and brought the matter forth, that thousands of poore silly 
 members of Christ, that else for extreme hunger, and misery, should have famished 
 and perished, that be relieved, holpen, and brought up, and shall have cause to 
 bless the Aldermen of that time, the Common Council, and the whole body of 
 the City, but especially thee, O Dobbs, and those chosen men by whom this 
 honorable work was begun and wrought." ' 
 
 We are indebted to Henry Machyn, Merchant Taylor, for the fol- 
 lowing description in his Diary" of his funeral, which appears to have 
 been celebrated with all civic honours, a.d. 1555. 
 
 The xviij day of May at after-non was bered ser Recherd Dobes latt mayrc of 
 
 London and altherman; ther wher at ys berehyng mony worshefull men ; 
 
 my lord mare and the swordbeyrer in blake, and the recorder cheyff morner, and 
 
 master Eggyllfield and master (?>?«?i/i!) and master [ovjersear, and a Ix 
 
 mornars, and ij haroldes of amies, and the althermen and the shreyffes, and 
 master Chestur bare ys cott armur, [with] helmett and targatt, sword, a standard, 
 and peuone, and iiij baneres [of] images, and a xxx pore men in rosett gownes 
 
 holdyng torches, and iiij gylt chandyllstykes with iiij grett tapurs [with] 
 
 amies on them ; and all the cherche and the stret hangyd with blake, and the 
 qwyre, and armes, and ij grett whyt branchys; and alle the masturs of the lios- 
 petalle boyth althermen and the commenas with ther gren stayffes in ther handes; 
 and the chyeff of the hospetalle, and prestes and clarkes; and after dirige to the 
 place to drynke; and the morow masse of requiem ij masses, on of the Trenete 
 in pryke soiige, and a-nodur of our Lade; and after a sermon, and after to dener: 
 and ther wher x dosen of skochyons.' 
 
 [The day was the funeral of lady Dol)bes, late the] wyfE of ser Kecherd 
 
 Dobes knyght and skynner late mayre, with a harold of amies, and she had a 
 pennon of armes and iiij dosen and d' skochyons; [she was buried] in the 
 parryche of sant ilargat Moyses in Fryday stret; [she] gayff xx good blake 
 gownes to XX powre women ; she gayffe xl blake gownes to men and women; 
 [master] Reclierdsun mad the sermon, and the clarkes syngyng, [and] a dolle of 
 money of xx nobulles, and a grett dener after, and the compene of the Skynners 
 in ther leverey. 
 
 ■^' Stowe, i. 176. Rev. W. Trollope, Christ's Hospital, p. 312. 
 ^ Machyn's Diary, p. 106. 
 ^ Heraldic ensigns of the lowest order.
 
 56 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 Sir WoLSTAJj Dixie was the youngest son 
 of Thos. Dixie of Catworth, Huntingdonshire, 
 Mayor a.d. 1585, temp. 27 Eliz. Master, 
 A.D. 1573, 1576, 1580, 1588, 1592. 
 
 Arms : Azure, a lion rampant or, a chief 
 of the last. 
 
 During his mayoralty there appears to 
 have been a great muster of the citizens both 
 by reason of domestic insurrection and to 
 resist the then contemplated Spanish Invasion; large contributions 
 were raised by the citizens, towards which fund Sir Wolstan Dixie 
 gave 1,000/. for which the Queen paid 10 per cent. About this 
 time she found it better to borrow from her own subjects than 
 negotiate with foreign merchants. We find that in the year 1588 
 the members of the twelve Livery Companies raised a sum amounting 
 to no less than 51,000/. Shortly after which, the Queen being at 
 Greenwich, the City Militia was mustered before her, for six or eight 
 days lying intrenched about Blackheath, to the number of between 
 4,000 or 5,000 men; amongst these we find the Skinners furnished 
 174 men, fully equipped, and contributed a sum of 1 63/. 5s. He 
 maiTied, firstly, his master's daughter, Walkenden, secondly, Agnes, 
 daughter of Sir Christopher Draper. Agnes was the founder of a 
 Greek and Hebrew lectureship at Emanuel College. He died without 
 issue at the age of 69, and was buried in St. Michael's Bassishaw in 
 1593. " He dwelled in the howse," says the MS., " where Sir 
 Leonard Halyday now dwelleth," and like Sir Andrew Judd amassed 
 a large fortune as a Eussia merchant. 
 
 There is an excellent portrait of him in the court-room of Christ's 
 Hospital as president in 1592, of which foundation he was a liberal 
 benefactor, as appears on a shield in the corner. The knight is 
 habited in his Lord Mayor's dress ; his features show considerable 
 firmness of character as he leans on a table holding a richly em- 
 broidered glove in his right hand ; he wears a venerable beard, and 
 hat of the period.^ 
 
 Besides assisting liberally in the building of Peterhouse, Cambridge, 
 he left in trust to the Skinners' Company a sum of 700/. towards 
 founding a grammar-school at Market Bosworth, Leicestershire. The 
 
 ' Stowe, i. 37.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 0< 
 
 Skinners, however, appear to have been averse to accepting the trust, 
 no doubt on account of the annoyance and loss they had sustained in 
 resisting the claims of Andrew Fisher to the property devised by him 
 for a similar purpose in the foundation of Tonbridge School,^ in the 
 prosecution of which trust some 4,000^. are stated to have been 
 swallowed up. 
 
 A complaint was therefore entered in the Court of Chancery by 
 Wolstan Dixie, a nephew of the testator, and an order was obtained, 
 A.D. 1 600,2 that the bequest and the trust accompanying it should be 
 transferred to him; and statutes were by his direction drawn up for 
 the government of the school. 
 
 To Christ's Hospital he gave yearly for ever 4:21. 
 
 To Emanuel College, Cambridge, the maintenance of two Fellows 
 and two Scholars, 600^ 
 
 To the building of the College 50/. 
 
 To be lent unto poor merchants 500Z. thrifty young men free of the 
 Company. 
 
 For marriage portions to poor maids lOOZ. 
 
 To poor strangers, Dutch and French, 50Z. 
 
 Sir Stephen Slaney, or Slany, son of 
 John Slaney of Mitton, in Staffordshire, a.d. 
 1595, 37 Eliz. Master, a.d. 1585, 1591, 1598. 
 
 Arms : Gules, a bend between three mart- 
 lets or. 
 
 Aldennan of Portsoken Ward and President 
 of Christ's Hospital. 
 
 He married Margaret, the daughter of 
 Jasper Pheasant, and had five sons and six 
 daughters. 
 
 There appears to have been a great scarcity of corn during his 
 mayoralty, and orders were issued by the Privy Council for remedying 
 the dearth, when one Delaney printed and published a ballad or 
 dialogue ridiculing these orders and endeavouring to stir up disaffec- 
 tion to the existing government, for which offence Sir Stephen Slaney 
 committed him to the Compter.'^ 
 
 ' Riviugton's Toniridge, p. 46. 
 * Lond. and Mid. Trans, ii. 25-36. 
 
 ^ Stowe, i. 4-12.
 
 58 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 Sir Stephen Slaney was buried at St. Stephen's, Walbrook, 
 1608.1 
 
 Sir Richard Saltonstall, Master, a.d. 
 1589, 1593, 1595, 1599, returned as Member 
 for the City 28 Elizabeth, Mayor 1597. 
 
 Arms : Or, a bend between two eagles dis- 
 played sable. 
 
 He was the second son of Sir Gilbert Sal- 
 tonstall, of Halifax, Yorkshire, and resided at 
 Okendon, in the county of Essex. He married 
 Susan, the only daughter of Thomas Poyntz, 
 of North Okendon, co. Essex, by whom he had two sons. Sir Richard 
 and Sir Samuel Saltonstall.^ His granddaughter Anne married John 
 Hurly, Skinner and ^Merchant Adventurer. His great-granddaughter, 
 an heiress, born 5 April, 1711, married the Honourable George 
 Montague, afterwards 2nd Earl of Halifax, K.B. from whom descended 
 Francis North, first Earl of Guildford. Sir R. Saitonstall appears to 
 have purchased the manor and advowson of Chipping Warden, in the 
 county of Northampton, some time prior to 1619, of Edward Griffin, 
 esq.^ His arms were on a panel at No. 76, High Street, Aldgate, 
 where he resided, and are given by Mr. J. G. Smithers in vol. i. of 
 the London and Middlesex Society's Transactions, p. 375. 
 
 The Parliamentary Commissioners in 1655 certified the parsonage 
 as having a representative worth of 881. per annum, in the patronage 
 of Richard Saltonstall, esq. ; at this time Richard Stanwick was 
 incumbent. The manor house, standing on the east side of the 
 church, was erected by the Saltonstalls in the seventeenth century. 
 Saltonstall was also a Merchant Adventurer. 
 
 In a letter written by him to Loi'd Burghley he says that he had 
 used all diligence as became him, and called the Merchant Adventurers 
 together, and that they had agreed to furnish the 3,320^. S."?. required 
 by Lord Burghley, of which 2,000Z. was for a month's pay of the army 
 in Picardy.* 
 
 ' In Harl. MS. 1319 he is said to have died on the 28 December, 1608, and 
 to have been buried at St. Swithyn's by Loudon Stone on the 31 January 
 following. 
 
 - Baker's JVorthanijrton, i. 526. 
 
 - Ibid. p. 528. * Domestic State Papers, pp. 361, 374.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 
 
 59 
 
 Sir William Cokayne, ]\Iayor 1619, Al- 
 derman of Castle Baynard Ward, and first 
 Governor of the Irish Society. Master, a.d- 
 1625, 1640. 
 
 Arms : Argent, three cocks gnles, armed and 
 legged sable. 
 
 Sir William Cokayne was second son of 
 William Cokayne of Baddesley Ensor, co. 
 Warwick, Citizen and Skinner of London, 
 (by Elizabeth, daughter of Roger Medcalfe, of Wensleydale, co. York, 
 and of Alspade and Meriden, co. Warwick, also Citizen and Skinner 
 of London.) and grandson of Roger Cokayne, of Sturson, in the parish 
 of Ashbourne, co. Derby, which Roger was younger son of William, 
 second son of Sir John Cokayne, knt. of Ashbourne, by Isabel, 
 daughter of Sir Hugh Shirley, knt. He was born 1560, admitted 
 free of the Company of Skinners by patrimony 28 March, 1590, 
 was a Merchant of London, Alderman and Lord Mayor as afore- 
 said, and was knighted at his own residence, Cokayne House, in 
 Broad Street, London (afterwards the site of the Old South Sea 
 House and now of the City of London Club), on 8 June, 1616, 
 after having entertained the King and the Prince of Wales at a 
 banquet. Purchased the manor and estate of Rushton, co. North- 
 ampton, of Elmesthorpe, Swepston, and Nethercote, co. Leicester, of 
 Coombe Nevill, in Kingston, co. Surrey, &c. He married 22 June, 
 1596, at St. Leonard's, Eastcheap, Mary, youngest daughter of 
 Richard Morris, sometime master of the Ironmongers' Company, by 
 Maud, daughter of John Daborne, of Guildford, Surrey, sometime 
 mayor of that town. Sir William died 20 October, 1626, aged 66, 
 at Coombe Nevill, and was buried in great state in St. Paul's 
 Cathedral, where a handsome monument was erected to him, engraved 
 in Dugdale's History of St. Paul's.^ His widow remarried, 6 July, 1630, 
 
 ' Dugdale has fortunately rescued his monument from oblivion; it stood in the 
 south-west part of the choir of old St. Paul's. He and his wife are represented 
 as recumbent figures, lying on a sarcophagus, with four daughters kneeling in 
 front of it, while at the head of Sir William two other daughters are represented 
 kneeling, and at his feet his son Charles, besides two babies in swaddling 
 clothes under the one side, and two children (who died in his lifetime) kneeling 
 under the other. The inscription was as follows : — 
 
 Gulielmus Cokainus Eques auratus, civis et senator Londinensis, septemq. 
 abhinc annis urbis prrefectus: antiqua Cokainorum Derbiensium familia oriundus:
 
 60 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 at St. Peter le Poor, Henry Carey, Lord Hunsdon, first Earl of Dover. 
 She died 24 December, IGiS, and was buried with her first husband. 
 Of Sir William's children, besides several who died young, Charles 
 Cokayne, only surviving son and heir, was created 11 Aug. 1642 
 Viscount and Baron Cullen in the peerage of Ireland, with a special 
 remainder, failing the heirs male of his body (which happened 11 Aug. 
 1810) to the younger sons of his sister Martha, Dowager Countess of 
 Holderness, by her then husband Montague Bertie, Lord Willoughby 
 d'Eresby (afterwards second Earl of Lindsey), in right of which the 
 present Earl of Lindsey is entitled to the Viscountcy of Cullen. 
 
 1. Mary, married 22 April, 1620, at St. Peter's aforesaid, Charles 
 Howard, Lord Howard of Effingham, second Earl of Nottingham, 
 and died s.p. 6 February, 1650-1. 
 
 2. Ann, married Sir Hatton Fermor, of Easton Neston, co. North- 
 ampton, knt. by whom she was ancestress of the Lords Lempster and 
 Earls of Pomfret. She died 17 May, 1668. 
 
 3. Martha, married firstly, John Ramsay, Earl of Holdernesse in 
 Scotland, and secondly Mountague Bertie, Lord Willoughby d'Eresby, 
 afterwards (1642) Earl of Lindsey and K.G. By him she was ancestress 
 of the Dukes of Ancaster and of the present Earls of Lindsey, Lords 
 Willoughby d'Eresby, Dukes of Leeds, &c. She died July 1641. 
 
 qui bono publico vixit, et damno publico decessit; et gaudio publico Regem 
 Jacobum ad decorem hujus Domus Dei senescentis jam et coiTugataj restitu- 
 endum, solenniter hue venientem, Consulatu suo magnifice excepit: idcirco in 
 Temple publico, ad £eternam rei memoriam hie situs est. At vero et Famse 
 celebritas, qute vigit in ore hominum, et gloria bcatitudinis, quam migrando 
 adeptus est, et splendor sobolis quam uumerosam genuit, atq. nobilem reliquit, 
 junctim efficiunt omnia, ne dicatur hie situs est. 
 
 Una cum illo tot homines mortui, quot in illo defuncts sunt virtutes; simulq. 
 et acies ingenii et popularis eloquii suada, et morum gravitas, et probitas vita;, 
 et candor mentis, et animi constantia, et prudentia singularis, et veri Senatoris 
 insignia hie sepulta sunt. 
 
 Jam tuum est, Lector, fcelicitatis ad culmen anhelare per ista vestigia laudis, 
 et venerandi imitatione exempli curare, ne unquam virtutis sic semina intereant, 
 ut dicatur hie sepulta sunt. 
 
 Obiit XX Octob. An. Dom. 1626. 
 Et JEtatis suaj LXVI. 
 
 Detached Corinthian columns in Ante (with a low semi-arch between them 
 carrying the inscription) support a pediment; on the entablature appear sculptui'ed 
 the family arms, viz.: 1, Cokayne; 2, Herthull ; .3, Deyville; 4, Savage; 5, 
 Rossington ; 6, Edensor; and 7, " Arg. three stags sable." 
 
 Standing on scrolls on the pediment are four statues, and in the centre the
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 61 
 
 4. Elizabeth, married Thomas Fanshawe, first Viscount Fanshawe 
 in the peerage of Ireland, and was ancestress of the succeeding 
 viscounts. She died February 1667-8. 
 
 5. Abigail, married John Carey, Viscount Rochford, Earl of Dover, 
 son of Henry, first Earl of Dover above-named, by his first wife. She 
 died February 1637-8. 
 
 6. Jane, married the Hon. James Sheffield, younger son of Edmund, 
 Earl of Mulgrave, K.G. She died September 1683. 
 
 In 1620 we find Sir Thomas Smith, Sir Thomas Lowe, and Sir 
 William Cokayne,^ appointed by an order of Council on a commission 
 for settling all difference between the Spanish and Turkey merchants, 
 who were required to take up certain loans and to furnish their quota 
 to the expedition against the pirates in the narrow seas, and to 
 "prepare good and serviceable ships, furnished with able men and 
 wholesome provisions in proportion to the tonnage employed by the 
 King's ships," for which they were to be reimbursed by levies of one 
 per cent, on all imports and exports.^ 
 
 This, however, was not the only way in which he lent his services for 
 the use of the State. When the East India and Muscovy Companies ^ 
 were imable to meet their liabilities, Sir William Cokayne, in conjunction 
 with Sir Baptist Hicks and Peter Vanlore, advanced them a sum of no 
 less than 30,000/., for the reimbursement of which an order of Council 
 was passed for repayment from the first moneys that came in lipon the 
 credit of the Palatine, the Council to enter into bonds with the said 
 knights for security.^ In conjunction with Sir John Catcher and Abra- 
 ham Cartwright Sir WiUiam Cokayne was fortunate enough to "obtain 
 a grant from the Crown of a monopoly to transport and dispose of all 
 tin in the counties of Devon and Cornwall for a period of seven years. 
 
 shield and crest; on either side are two recesses with Corinthian pilasters and 
 half-circular pediments. 
 
 Besides the great coat of seven quarterings mentioned above, the arms of 
 Lady Cokayne (viz., " Vert, a stag or," being the coat of Morris) appear twice 
 on the tomb impaled with Cokayne ; and there are shields over each of the six 
 daughters and over the one son, i.e. the seven surviving children. The shield 
 over the latter had the arms of Cokayne impaling O'Brien (Earls of Thomond), 
 while those over the two daughters (above) contained (1) Howard, Earl of 
 Nottingham, impaling Cokayne; (2) Ramsay, Earl of Holdernesse, impaling 
 Cokayne. Three of the four shields over the four daughters below contained 
 a blank space impaling CokajTie, while the fourth contained Fermor impaling 
 Cokayne. 
 
 ' Domestic State Papers, 1620, p. 298. => Ibid. 1G21, p. 308. 
 
 » Ibid. 10. * Domestic State Paper's, 1620-
 
 62 
 
 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 He ^yas also one of the first members of the Irish Society appointed 
 by the City for colonizing Londonderry.^ 
 
 We find him also occupying the position of President of St. 
 Thomas's Hospital,^ as well as a benefactor and a governor of Christ's 
 Hospital. There is in the court-room of this last-mentioned excellent 
 charity a good portrait of him with a venerable beard, his eyes and 
 mouth expressive of decision and finnness of purpose. 
 (For description of pageant see page 39.) 
 
 Sir Richard Dean, Mayor 1628. He was 
 son of George Dean of Dunmow in Essex. 
 Alderman of Candlewick. Master 1609. 
 
 Arms : Argent, on a chevron sable, between 
 three Cornish choughs proper, as many cross- 
 crosslets or.^ 
 
 Robert Titchborne, or Tichborn, son of 
 John Titchborne of Cowden, in Kent, Mayor, 
 A.D. 1657. Master, a.d. 1650. 
 
 Arms : Vair, a on chief or a crescent. 
 Sir Robert Tichborn appears to have been 
 a descendant of a branch of the Tichborns 
 of Hants, who were created barons * temp. 
 Henry II. His father lived in an old manor- 
 house called Creppenden, about five miles 
 from Edenbridge ; some portion of it still remains and is now a 
 farmhouse. In one of the rooms there is a fine carved oak chimney- 
 piece with this inscription carved on it in bold relief: — 
 When we are dead 
 And laid in grave 
 And all our bones are rotten, 
 By this shall we 
 Remembered be 
 Or else we were forgotten. 
 R. and D. T. 1607. 
 Richard and Dorothy Tichborn. 
 
 ' Court Books. - Domestic State Papers, p. 546. 
 
 ' In Hejlyn's Help to English History, 1773, the arms are given as Argent, on 
 a chevron gules between three Cornish choughs proper, as many crosses patee or. 
 BeiTj-'s County Peerage of Hants; Stowe, ii. 146.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 63 
 
 The family successfully carried on one of the iron-foundries which 
 at that time were confined chiefly to Kent and Sussex ; and from the 
 foundry here established the Parliamentary forces were assisted with 
 a supply of ordnance,^ 
 
 Living at a time when the struggle between Charles I. and the 
 nation was becoming every day more bitter, the arbitrary acts of the 
 King would recall to his mind those of Elizabeth, and the death of 
 his kinsman ^ Chidiock Tichborn, who for his part in the Babington 
 conspiracy was executed on Tower Hill. Added to this, accounts 
 would reach him publicly if not privately from his relative Sir Henry 
 Tichborn (who was at the siege of Drogheda) of the circumstances 
 of mismanagement and cruelty which added to that unfortunate 
 rebellion. Occupying as he did an honourable position amongst his 
 fellow citizens, he would also be alarmed at the threatening attitude 
 of the King, who by placing troops in the Tower ^ endeavoured to 
 overawe the Londoners. Swayed by these and such like considerations 
 we must not be surprised to find that he threw in his lot with the 
 Parliamentary forces at that time struggling for the mastery; and, 
 taking the rank and title of Colonel, was appointed Lieutenant of the 
 Tower, on the retirement of Sir Isaac Pennington, by General Fairfax 
 then Chief Constable, as well for services rendered in the Kentish 
 rising as for his influence in the City. While occupying this post, 
 A.D. 1648,^ Thomas Adams, John Langham, and James Brue, Alder- 
 men of London, were committed to his custody. Finding that they 
 were likely to be carried before the Lords Justices, they addressed a 
 petition both to their honoured friend Colonel Tichborn and also to 
 the lords assembled in Parliament, protesting against the illegality of 
 the proceeding, and the fine of 500/. which had been imposed upon 
 them, alleging weighty reasons and concluding thus : 
 
 Your Petitioners, being Free Commoners of England, according to the known 
 laws of the land (de jure) claim their birthright, which is to be tried by God 
 and their country, in his Majesties Court of Justice, by the sworn judges of the 
 law, and a jury of their equals, of their own neighbourhood, where the pretended 
 fact was done, the courts of justice being open. 
 
 ' A specimen may be seen on the lawn in front of the Rev. J. Hervey's house, 
 Cowden, with the name of Tichborn on it. 
 
 ^ Bailey's Toner of London, ii. 507. ' Ibid. p. 97. 
 
 ' Stowe, ii. 300.
 
 64 HISTORY AND ANJIQUITIES OF 
 
 While holding this post, hope was entertained of restoring tran- 
 quillity, and negotiations were entered into between Cromwell and the 
 King (who was then a prisoner in the Isle of "Wight). Amongst 
 other conditions it was required that the government of the Tower of 
 London should be confided to the city for ten years. In the following 
 year Fairfax resigned, and Cromwell appointed Sir John Berkshot to 
 succeed him. General insurrection appears now to have broken out 
 in various parts of the country, amongst others at Tonbridge and 
 Redhill.i The Council of State being apprised thereof, a party of 
 horse were sent to the place of rendezvous, when some prisoners were 
 taken, and the rest dispersed. 
 
 In these and other matters Tichborne had no doubt rendered 
 valuable service to his party, and we find his name subsequently 
 appearing amongst the leading members of the House of Commons, 
 who were appointed a High Court of Justice, for the trying and 
 judging of Charles Stuart, King of England, Die Sabbati, January 6, 
 1648. 
 
 The Court met in the Painted Chamber at Westminster on the 
 following day, and on the 12th of Januaiy Tichborne, Col. Blackstone, 
 and Fry, all members of the Court, were appointed to make prepara- 
 tions for the trial of the Bang : " That it should be performed in a 
 solemn manner, and that they take care for other necessary provision 
 and accommodation in and about the trial, and appoint and command 
 such workmen in and to their assistance as they think fit." 2 On 
 another occasion his name appears on a Committee for considering 
 the circumstances and order of the trial, together with Sir Hardress 
 Waller, Col. Whalley, Mr. Scott, Col. Harrison, and others. Twice 
 only was he absent, although the Court sat twelve times in the 
 Painted Chamber and five times at Whitehall ; on the last occasion 
 his name appears as one of those who signed the fatal warrant of 
 Jan. 27th. 
 
 In 1650 he and Sir Richard Chiverton (both Skinners) were elected 
 to serve the office of sheriff, and it is in this year that his name appears 
 in the Court Books as Master of the Company. He was aftei-wards, 
 on the feast of St. Michael, 1656, elected Mayor, Sir Anthony Bate- 
 man, a Skinner, being one of his sheriffs. 
 
 ' iLe&th's JIisto}'i/ of the Civil War. 
 
 - Copy of Journal of High Court of Justice for Trial of King Charles I., by 
 Keilson, LL.D., 1683.
 
 TFIE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 65 
 
 The year 1660 brought changes and troubles to Tichborne. The 
 apprentices of the City ^ assembled by thousands and clamoured for a 
 free Parliament ; people everywhere refused to pay taxes. General 
 Monk was advancing towards London, and he had no sooner declared 
 himself in favour of a free Parliament than the prospect of a restora- 
 tion was hailed with delight. At a Court ^ held at Skinners' Hall the 
 29th day of March, it was resolved that the Council of State should 
 be invited, and a Committee was chosen to dispose all matters and 
 things thereunto belonging, and to appoint a day for the feast with 
 his Excellency, to which purpose the Master and Wardens, our Lord 
 Tichborne, Sir R. Chiverton, Alderman Bonar, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Bur- 
 dett, Mr. Bateman, Mr. Bowles, Mr. Joliffe, Mr. Dawson, Mr. Alsopp, 
 Mr. Albin, Mr. Corbill, and Mr. Lewis the younger, were appointed ; 
 to these, six other names were afterwards added ; amongst these latter 
 we find that of Sir William Cokayne. The entertainment took place 
 on the 4th of April, when a panegyric was spoken in honour of his 
 Excellency, who was called the Deliverer.^ 
 
 On the 7th of May following a precept from the Lord Mayor and 
 Common Council was read at the Court requiring the Company to 
 advance and pay into the Chamber 504Z. to help make up a sum of 
 12,000/. for the King's most Excellent Majesty as a present; 10,000/. 
 for him and 2,000/ for the two Dukes ; wherewith the Company, 
 though willing enough for the work, were displeased with the word 
 " require," considering it in the nature of a demand, whereunto it was 
 answered that it was an error of the Clerk of Common Council, and 
 not the intent of the Court, and that it should be amended, and 
 " desired " be inserted, whereupon the money was advanced. 
 
 On the 21st a further precept was received, requiring the Company 
 to be in readiness with twenty-four of the most comely and graceful 
 persons of the Company, every one of them to be well horsed, and well 
 arrayed with velvet plush or satin, and chains of gold ; to be waited 
 upon by a footman in advance, to attend on the King's Majesty, if he 
 shall happen upon his happy return from beyond the sea to pass 
 througb the City of London, thereby to manifest the Company's 
 affection and duty to his Highness, and to have all rails, banners, and 
 ornaments ready. 
 
 ' M.acaul.iy, i. 145. ^ Court Books. 
 
 ' The address was printed, nut the copy at Skinners' Hall cannot now be 
 lounil. 
 
 e
 
 66 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 Sir R. Tichborne was at this time beyond the sea, where he had no 
 doubt fled, possibly to sue for pardon, relying on the clemency of the 
 King and his proclamation of amnesty.^ His siiccess may be inferred 
 from a proclamation signed by Charles, dated Breda, Oct. 9th, wherein 
 Owen Roe, Augustus Garland, and R. Titchborne, are described as 
 " having been guilty of the most detestable and bloody treason, in 
 sitting upon and giving judgment upon the life of our royal father, 
 and have fled and obscured themselves." They were required to sur- 
 render themselves to the Speaker within fourteen days, under pain of 
 being exempt from pardon and indemnity, both with respect to their 
 lives and estates. Relying, no doubt, on the favour of his friend 
 General Monk, he and the others surrendered, and were committed to 
 the care of Sir John Robinson, his Majesty's Lieutenant of the Tower. 
 A Special Commission of thirty-eight members was appointed to 
 take charge of the trial of the Regicides, which commenced its sittings 
 at Hicks's Hall, Oct. 6th, amongst whom we find General Monk, now 
 Duke of Albemarle, and others, who unblushingly consented to try 
 their comrades for fidelity to the cause which they themselves had 
 betrayed. Twenty-nine persons were remanded for trial at the Sessions 
 House in the Old Bailey. The trial commenced Oct. 10th and lasted 
 eight days. Tichborne pleaded not guilty to the manner and form of 
 the indictment, and when called upon for his defence alleged his 
 early age, and ignorance when he sat with the Commission upon the 
 King; that he had not acted with malice, and, had he known what he 
 then knew, he would as soon have gone into a fiery oven as the Com- 
 mission, concluding with these words : " My Lords, I came in on the 
 proclamation, and now 1 am here. I have in truth given your Lord- 
 ships a clear and fifll account. Whatever the law shall pronounce 
 because I am ignorant, I hope there will be room found for that 
 mercy and grace that was I think intended by the proclamation, and I 
 hope by the Parliament of England." To which the Council replied : 
 " We shall give no evidence against the prisoner ; he said he did it 
 ignorantly, and I hope and do believe he is penitent, and as far as 
 Parhament thinks fit to show mercy I shall be very glad." 
 
 All the prisoners were convicted, and the Lord Chief Baron pro- 
 nounced sentence accordingly. Of the twenty nine tried, ten only 
 suffered the extreme penalty of the law, and Tichborne's name does 
 
 > State Trials, v. 1002 to 1230.
 
 Tu/ace /jii'je (i7 
 
 £'rcui/>i^c//sc,Jjfij^,S yi„j,a x>r^X Us-y Tlien/, V)a,l-^ <t.(u^u 
 J\oSerco TitcKborn Macore
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 67 
 
 not appear amongst them. Although he was fortunate enough to escape 
 from paying the extreme penalty of the law, his property was neverthe- 
 less sequestered, as the following extract from the State Papers shows: — 
 
 "In June 1660 a warrant issued commanding Sir R. Mauleverer 
 to search for the plate and jewels of Alderman Tichborne, said to be 
 immured in his late dwelling-house, Noble Street, London, and to take 
 a catalogue thereof." ^ 
 
 " A petition was also presented by Catherine, wife of Paul Feryn, 
 groom of the robes, for the lease of Old Court Manor, part of the 
 manor of East Greenwich, forfeited by his attainder, together with 
 the parsonage, ballast wharf, &c., at a rent of 61. 13s. Ad., in lieu of a 
 debt of 2,000^. due to her father's husband for perfumes supplied to 
 the late King and Queen." ^ 
 
 In an order of Common Council,^ Sept, 27th, 1660, the Lord 
 Mayor is ordered forthwith to repair unto the Ward of Farringdon for 
 nomination in place of Master Alderman Titchborne, who is disabled 
 by a proviso in the late Act of Oblivion, whereby all those who signed 
 on the 5th of December, 1648, and did give sentence of death upon 
 any person in the late illegal High Court of Justice, or signed the 
 warrant of any person therein condemned, are made incapable of 
 bearing office. 
 
 In 1661 a grant of his stock and other moneys in the East India 
 Company was made to Sir Henry Littleton, Bart.^ 
 
 In a subsequent grant to the Duke of York of all arrears of rent 
 arising out of the estates of all persons attainted of high treason for 
 the horrid murder of the late King, those of Carew and Robert 
 Titchborne are excepted, having as we have seen been elsewhere 
 appropriated. 
 
 Our portrait of Sir Robert is copied from an interesting print in the 
 possession of the Corporation of London. It has been stated that he 
 was the last Lord Mayor who rode on horseback to Westminster, but 
 this is inaccurate ; Sir William Heathcote, knight and baronet, pro- 
 ceeded in this way when elected to the Mayoralty in the year 1710. 
 
 Sti-ype (p. 121) mentions an old timber building, existing in 1716, 
 at the upper end of Fitches Court, Aldersgate, as being the house 
 wherein he lived ; the house escaped in the Fire of London when all 
 others around were consumed. 
 
 ' Domestic State Papers, Charles II. ^ Ibid. p. 344. 
 
 3 Guildhall Report, 67, fol. 136. ' Ibid. Docquet Book, p. 101. 
 
 e 2
 
 HISTOEY AND ANTIQUITIES OP 
 
 Sir Richard Chiverton, son of Henry 
 Chiverton of Trehouse in Cornwall, Mayor 
 A.D. 1658. 
 
 Knighted by Cromwell lfi53 and by 
 Charles II. 1663. 
 
 Arms : Argent, on a mount vert a tower 
 triple-towered sable. 
 
 Sir Anthony Bateman, Mayor ad. 1664, 
 son of Robert Bateman, Chamberlain of 
 London a.d. 1633, and one of the represen- 
 tatives in Parliament for the City ; 
 
 Arms : Or, three crescents, each sur- 
 mounted with a star gules. 
 
 He was appointed one of the commissioners 
 for convening a free Parliament for the city 
 on the entry of General Monk. 
 (For description of pageant see page 40.) 
 
 Sir George Waterman, son of John Water- 
 man, Mayor a.d. 1674, a vintner at the King's 
 Arms, Southwark ; he lived at the Helmet in 
 Thames Street. M.P. for Westminster. His 
 daughter married Judge Jeffries. 
 
 Arms : Paly of six argent and gules, three 
 crescents countercharged. 
 
 (For description of pageant see page 40.) 
 
 Sir Thomas Pilkington, son of Sir Thomas 
 Pilkington, son of John Pilkington of Okeham, 
 was descended from a good Northamptonshire 
 family. He was thrice Master of the Company, 
 in 1677, 1681, and 1682, and three times Lord 
 Mayor of London, viz., in 1689, 1690, 1691.1 
 
 The accompanying photograph has been 
 taken from the portrait of Sir Thomas which 
 hangs on the staircase. 
 
 Arms : Argent, a cross patonce, voided 
 gules. 
 
 ' Stowe, p. 151. ^
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 69 
 
 He was elected as Member of Parliament for the City of London 
 1680, and again in 1689. He appears to have lived in times of great 
 political excitement, and to have been violently opposed to the Court 
 party in the latter part of the reign of Charles II., when, as Macaulay 
 tells us,' 
 
 The Habeas Corpus Act was suspended, and the Presbyterians of Scotland 
 were suffering under a tyranny such as England in the worst times kad never 
 known ; when the whole nation under the Whigs were ripe for insurrection, and 
 the unscrupulous and hot-headed chiefs of the party formed and discussed schemes 
 of resistance, and were heard, if not with approbation, yet with the show of 
 acquiescence by better men than themselves. 
 
 It was at such a time ( 1 671) that Pilkington was elected sheriff. Not 
 long after we find him on the occasion of the King's return from New- 
 market, and that of his brother the Duke of York from Scotland, 
 expressing his opinion somewhat too freely, for which he was accused 
 and prosecuted by the Duke of York for scandalum inagnatum, because 
 at a meeting of the Court of Aldermen Sir Henry Tulse and Sir 
 William Hooker swore to his having used the words, "He hath burnt 
 the city and is now come to cut the people's throats;" ^ for this he was 
 prosecuted, and the case tried at Hertford. Mr. Pilkington made 
 very little defence, and the jury after a short interval found for the 
 plaintiff, damages 100,OOOZ.; a sentence, as Macaulay observes, "tanta- 
 mount to perpetual imprisonment," although the execution of it was 
 for some cause or other deferred. The severity of the sentence how- 
 ever does not appear to have damped his ardour for the Protestant 
 cause, and we next hear of him taking a prominent part in the election 
 for sheriff A. D. 1683. 
 
 From time immemorial the Lord Mayor had exercised the privilege 
 of nominating one sheriff, by drinking to him at the Bridge House 
 feast, the Livery electing the other. ^ This custom the Lord Mayor 
 determined, as it had fallen somewhat into disuse, to revive and to 
 exercise, and was backed by the power and influence of the Court party. 
 
 At this time there appear to have been two parties, of whom Sir 
 John Moore, the Mayor, sided with the Court, while the others were 
 continually meeting at coffee-houses and raving about the state of 
 affairs, using the cries of "Popery," " French," and " arbitrary power " 
 frequently. 
 
 ' Macaulay, i. 2r.7. « Cobbett's State Trials, ix. 194. 
 
 3 Stowc, i. 35:5.
 
 70 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 The difficulty was, however, to find some one to stand for sheriff who 
 would not fine off; the opposite party denounced all who were inclined 
 to do so, and " hanging," " knocking out of brains," " hell and damna- 
 tion" (if they might presume so far), was to be the fate of those who 
 might stand. While this was going on, my Lord Mayor according to 
 custom sent the cup to Mr. North, afterwards Sir Dudley North, who 
 was not at the Bridge House feast. The opposite party desired the 
 election of Papillon and Dubois. On the day of the election the dis- 
 pute ran so high that curses and threats were used at the Common 
 Hall, and as the Court of Aldermen could not agree the Lord Mayor 
 desired to adjourn; this was disputed, but after much clamour an 
 adjournment was made, and Sir John Moore left the chair. Pilkington 
 and Shute with the liverymen of their party thought fit not to obey 
 the adjournment, and held on the Common Hall, and afterwards pro- 
 ceeded to election by setting up a poll, and elected Papillon and 
 Dubois. The illegality of the act is obvious, and warrants were imme- 
 diately issued by the King ia Council to take up the two sheriffs 
 and their accomplices, to be prosecuted at law, using force if necessary ; 
 they were accordingly sent to the Tower, but afterwards (on Habeas 
 Corpus) bailed, prosecuted, convicted, and fined. ^ 
 
 At an adjourned meeting the opposition party, supposing they had 
 obtained their end, failed to appear in sufficient numbers, and Sir 
 Ralph Box's election was carried, but Box was frightened and paid 
 off; finally, North and Rice entered upon office. 
 
 For this, together with the alleged liberty of unlicensed printing 
 on the part of the City, the charter of the City of London was declared 
 forfeited. 
 
 Of this, says Stowe, 
 
 Many did make but a matter of sport, and songs were merrily sung at enter- 
 tainments in the City on this occasion to the tune of Packington Pound : 
 Ye freemen, and masters, and prentices mourn 
 For now you are left with your charter forlorn, 
 Since London was London, I dare boldly say, 
 For your riots you never so dearly did pay. 
 In "Westminster Hall 
 Your Dagon did fall 
 That caused you to rise and mutiny all. 
 
 ' Principals 2,000Z., bail 1,000^.; Pilkington, because in prison, 500^.; other 
 1,000 and 500 marks.
 
 THE COMl'ANY (^F SKINNERS. 71 
 
 The cause was twice tried before the Lord Chancellor on a writ of 
 quo warranto, first by Mr. Finch, the King's Solicitor for the Crown, 
 and Sir George Troby, the Recorder for the City ; and, again, by Sir 
 Robert Simpes, the King's Attorney-general, and Mr. Pollexfen for the 
 City. 
 
 Evelyn tells us ' that he was present on the occasion when the Lord 
 Mayor, Sheriff, and Aldermen, presented a humble petition to his 
 Majesty on the quo warranto against the charter, which they delivered 
 to his Majesty in the Presence Chamber, after which the King returned 
 into the Council Chamber, when the Mayor and his brethren were 
 called in — 
 
 And my Lord Keeper made a speech to them exaggerating the disorderly and 
 riotous behaviour in the late election and polling for Papilioii and Du Bois after 
 the Common Hall had been finally dissolved, with other misdemeanours and libels 
 on the Government, &c., and that but for the submission, and under such as the 
 King should require their obedience to, he would certainly enter judgment against 
 them, which hitherto he had suspended. 
 
 The things required were as follows: that they should neither elect Maior, 
 Sheriff, Aldermen, Recorder, Common Serjeant, Town Cleai'k, Coroner, or 
 Steward of Southwark without his Majesty's approbation, and that if they pre- 
 sented any his Majesty did not like they should proceed in wonted manner to a 
 second choiss; if that was disapproved his Majesty to nominate them, and if 
 within five days they thought good to assent to them all former miscarriages 
 should be forgotten. - 
 
 In the last years of James II., when he was in apprehension of the 
 Prince of Orange invading England, he appointed Lord Jefferies, at 
 that time Lord Chancellor (who himself had been instrumental in pro- 
 caring judgment against the City) to carry back the charter to 
 Guildhall in great formality, hoping thereby, adds Stowe,^ "to sweeten 
 the City," who were weary of his government. After the accession of 
 William and Mary the City presented a petition to their Majesties 
 praying for the passing an Act for the restoration of the City charter. 
 This made Pilkington the most popular man of the day. 
 
 On the occasion of his accepting the civic chair in 1689 "* both King 
 William and Queen Mary honoured him with their presence, together 
 with the Prince and Princess of Denmark, all the principal officers of 
 the Court and both Houses of Parliament, the Bishop of London and 
 
 ' Evelyn's Diary, June 18, 1683. '^ Vol. i. 553. 
 
 •' Stowc, p. 78. 
 " llerl)ert, p. 320.
 
 72 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 prelates of the Church, the Lords Commissioners of the Privy Seal, 
 the Lord Chief Justices of both Benches, the Lord Baron, and all the 
 other Judges, the four Dutch and all foreign Ambassadors, Envoyes, 
 and Attaches. 
 
 A copy of the pageant which was enacted on that occasion is in the 
 Guildhall Library, all set forth at the proper costs and charges of the 
 Right Worshipful Company of Skinners, by Mathew Trautman.' 
 
 The following lines are selected as a specimen of the time; 
 Mercy in a robe of crimson and silver mantle addresses his Lordship 
 in these words : 
 
 Since first Augusta was mine ancient name, 
 
 London has more than once been in a flame, 
 
 Our fierce elections, our domestic wars, 
 
 Our hot contentions, and our civil jars, 
 
 In a few years have prejudiced us more 
 
 Then all the Jesuits' powder did before ; 
 
 But, thanks my Lord, the cloud is now dispersed, 
 
 And we are of our former rights possessed. 
 
 The Sun, with you, resumes its course this year, 
 
 And shines again within our hemisphere ; 
 
 All we enjoy we must acknowledge due 
 
 To England's Great Preserver, and to you : 
 
 You did assert our privileges. He 
 
 Timely redeemed from pointed Tyranny ! 
 
 You for our freedom sacrificed your own. 
 
 What more could Pompey for his Rome have done ? 
 
 In some degree to make you recompense 
 
 Behold, Peace, Concord, Mercy, Innocence : 
 
 These are the best supporters of a state, 
 
 My handmaids here, on you assigned to wait. 
 
 The following is one of the songs used on another occasion, in 1 69 1 : — 
 
 Come boys drink an health to the chiefs of the City, 
 The loyal Lord Mayor and the Legal Committee. 
 The Imperial City, this year that with you 
 Hath restored us our lives and our liberties too. 
 
 With justice and peace may it ever be floating, 
 May the heads that support it agree in their voting, 
 May a strong tide of imion still flow in your hall. 
 And no sea of faction ere beat down your wall. 
 
 Tanbm-n, p. 306.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 73 
 
 A health to the dons of the Company's table, 
 Ci'own every bumper with ermine anil sable, 
 If ermine's the emblem of honour, then you, 
 As well as their lordships, are dignified too. 
 
 From heats and contentions for ever be fi'ee, 
 Let City and Court make one harmony. 
 May never more discord among you be found, 
 But one loyal bumper for ever go round. 
 
 Sir Humphrey Edwin, or Euwyn, son of 
 William Edwin, Sheriflf 1688, elected Mayor 
 and Alderman of Tower Ward 22 October, 
 1689, Barber Surgeon, afterwards Skinner. 
 
 Arms: Argent, a cross flory engrailed, 
 between four Cornish choughs sable. 
 
 He was descended from the Edwyns of 
 Hereford and Glamorgan; Lord Mayor temp. 
 William III. a.d. 1697-S. His son and heir, 
 by his wife Elizabeth Sambrooke, Samuel Edwin, of Llanfihangel, in 
 the county of Glamorgan, married Lady Catherine Montague, third 
 daughter of the Earl of Manchester. Died 14 December, 1707. 
 Edith, daughter of Sir Humphrey, married William Coney of Walpole, 
 Norfolk, who died in 1742 at the ripe age of 82; their son Edwin 
 became High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1734, died in 1755, aged 68; his 
 son Robert, Colonel of the Norfolk Militia, married Anne Bright ; 
 their daughter Elizabeth married Walter Swaine, esq., of Levering- 
 ton ; Louisa, daughter and coheiress of the latter, became united to 
 Charles Whiting, esq., of Romford, whose fourth daughter married 
 E. J, Sage, esq., at present a resident in Stoke Newington, and to 
 whom I am indebted for the foregoing particulars. 
 
 As soon as the country had settled back upon its old foundations 
 the persecution of the Dissenters was resumed with more rigour than 
 ever, and it was enacted ' that no person should be elected to any 
 office in the corporation of a town unless he shotdd have within one 
 year before his election received the sacrament in the form prescribed 
 by the Church. Those who invented this precaution flattered them- 
 selves that no real Dissenter would be able to pass such an ordeal. It 
 was followed up in 1673 by the Test Act, which imposed the same 
 
 ' Wyon'.s History of Queen Anne, p. 1.33.
 
 74 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 obligation. The Act of Toleration with which William commenced 
 his reign did nothing more than clear away some harsh statutes which 
 rendered Dissenters liable to a heavy fine for visiting a conventicle, 
 but it did not remove the obstacles which stood in their Avay to office. 
 In 1697 the choice of the City fell upon Sir Humphrey Edwin to be 
 Lord Mayor. He took the sacrament in the form prescribed by the 
 Corporation Act. He was in consequence installed in his office, and 
 he then openly proclaimed himself a Dissenter by resorting to a con- 
 venticle in full civic state, with the swoi'd and mace borne before him. 
 
 At a Court of Aldermen, held on the 9th of November,^ attention 
 was drawn to the fact that Sir Humphrey Edwin, the then Lord Mayor, 
 had on the two previous afternoons of the Lord's day gone to a 
 private meeting-house, and a resolution was passed at the court, that 
 a restraint be put to the proceeding, and that the like practice be not 
 permitted for the time to come. 
 
 Attention having been drawn to the subject by this flagrant case it 
 soon became a matter of notoriety that Edwin was by no means the 
 only Dissenter who had obtained office by submitting to a single act 
 of conformity with the Established Church. The various corporations 
 of the City swarmed with occasional conformists. There were 
 Dissenters holding lucrative places in the magistracy, the customs, 
 the excise, the army and navy, and even the royal household. This 
 led to the passing of the Act for preventing occasional conformity. 
 
 Sir Humphrey Edwin appears to have not only gained the approval 
 of his fellow citizens, but well and fully to have realised and met the 
 difficulties of the times in which he lived, and the duties to which he 
 had been called. 
 
 He acted zealously and energetically in carrying out an order of their 
 Lords Excellencies in Council which had been forwarded to the Lord 
 Mayor and Court of Aldermen,^ wherein they were instructed to search 
 for and seize certain desperate and dangerous persons who had come 
 into the kingdom from foreign parts, and who had been concerned in 
 the late horrid conspiracy of Sir George Barclay, Sir John Fenwick, 
 and others, to assassinate his Majesty's sacred person, for which 
 purpose thirty-six warrants were issued. 
 
 The search was ordered to commence November 11, at four o'clock. 
 
 ' Rep. 102. 
 
 -• Court of Aldermen, liep. 102, Nov. 11, 1691.
 
 THE COMPANY OP SKINNERS. 'jO 
 
 " Great (says Macaulay ^ ) was the dismay amongst the Jacobites ; 
 those who had betted deep on the constancy of Louis took to flight; 
 
 one unfortunate zealot of divine right drowned himself 
 
 but the rage and mortification were confined to a very small minority. 
 Never since the Restoration had there been such times of public 
 gladness in every part of the kingdom ; peace was proclaimed, and 
 the general sentiment was manifested by banquets, pageants, loyal 
 healths, beating of drums, and blowing of trumpets, and breaking up 
 of hogsheads." 
 
 The 4th of November, which was the anniversary of the King's 
 birthday, and the 5th that of his landing at Torbay, were celebrated 
 with bonfires and crackers all over the country. After some days of 
 anxious expectation his Majesty landed at Margate on the 14th of 
 November. A meeting of the Court of Aldermen ^ was summoned 
 for the following day, at which it was arranged that the Lord Mayor, 
 wearing his rich collar and jewels uncovered, the Aldermen and 
 Sheriffs, should ride and meet his Majesty at the Sessions House, 
 Saint Margaret's Hill, Southwark, on the morning of the 16th. The 
 route was through " Queen Street, Budge Roe, and Cannon Street." 
 On arriving at the Sessions House Sir Humphrey Edwin presented to 
 his Majesty the City sword, which his Majesty graciously returned 
 to Sir Humphrey, who bore it before him in the procession. His 
 Majesty's coach was attended in his journey through the City by all 
 the City officers in new liveries, the Duke of Gloucester, and Prince 
 George. The right and left-hand side of Cheapside was lined with 
 the Livery Companies with their standards; the Skinners^ to the 
 number of 200 being stationed at the east end of Golden Lane ; at 
 the east of Saint Paul's churchyard stood the boys of Christ's 
 Hospital ; round the Cathedral, down Ludgate Hill and Fleet Street, 
 were drawn up three regiments of Londoners ; from Temple Bar to 
 Whitehall Gate the trainbands of Middlesex and the foot-guards were 
 under arms ; tapestry, ribands, and flags decorated the route, and the 
 windows were filled with a delighted and enthusiastic multitude. "With 
 such indications of joy and affection was he greeted from the beginning 
 to the end of his journey, that William wrote that evening to his 
 friend Heinsius, " I never saw such a multitude of well-di-essed people." 
 
 At a Council held a few hours after his public entry, the 2nd of 
 
 ' Vol. iv. p. 803. 
 
 2 Ibid. ' Ibid. p. 806.
 
 76 
 
 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 December was appointed as a day of thanksgiving for the peace,^ and 
 the Chapter of Saint Paul's resolved that the choir of the Cathedral, 
 which had slowly risen to supply the place of the former one, should be 
 opened. William announced his intention of being present, but when 
 it was represented to him that three hundred thousand people would 
 assemble to see him pass he abandoned his intention and went to his 
 private chapel in Whitehall, where Bishop Burnet preached. In the City 
 the Lord Mayor, Sir Humphrey Edwin, and all the City magistrates, 
 attended service in the Cathedral, and an eloquent sermon was 
 delivered by Bishop Compton,^ who took his text from Psalm cxxii. 
 " I was glad when they said unto me. Let us go into the house of the 
 Lord." 
 
 Sir George Merttins, knt. 1724, son of — 
 Merttins of Cornhill, goldsmith and jeweller, 
 and descendant of a family of that name in 
 Frankfort, Germany. 
 
 Arms : Azure, two bars or, in chief a 
 Catherine wheel, between as many bugle-horns 
 argent. 
 
 Sir George was Alderman of Bridge Ward, 
 knighted 11 April, 1713, Lord Mayor 1724, 
 treasurer of Christ's Hospital and afterwards president; died in 1727, 
 shortly after his elevation to the latter office; was buried in the south 
 cloister of Christ's Church, Newgate Street, 11 November, 1727, with 
 his wife Philadelphia, whose death had preceded him by aboiit five 
 years, and by whom he had issue. She was the daughter of John 
 Mitford, of Stratford-le-Bow, Middle&ex, third son of Robert Mitford^ 
 esq., of Mitford Castle, Northumberland. 
 
 Sir George's only brother, Henry Merttins, was of Valence, in the 
 parish of Dagenham, Essex, and of the city of London, jeweller. He 
 was buried at Dagenham in 1725, aged 66.^ 
 
 ' Signed at Ryswick, 10 Sept. 1697. 
 
 - Henry Compton, Bishop of London, was the second son of Spencer Compton, 
 second Earl of Northampton. He witnessed the laying of the first stone of the 
 Cathedral, as well as its completion. He died in Februarj', 1713, in the eighty- 
 first year of his age.— Elmes's History of Sir Christoj)her Wren. 
 
 ^ Extracted from his ^IS. collections by the kind pemiission of E. J. Sage, esq., 
 compiled from the registers of Dagenham, Barking Manor Court Rolls, Harrison 
 MSS., &c., &c.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS, 
 
 77 
 
 Sir Charles Asgill, Bart., Mayor 1757. 
 Alderman of Candlewick Ward. 
 
 Arms : Per fesse argent and vert, a pale 
 countercharged, in eadi piece of the first a 
 lion's head erased gules. ^ 
 
 Sir Robert Kite, knt.. Mayor 1766. 
 Master 1756. Grandfather of Alexander Ball. 
 
 Arms : Azure, a chevron between three 
 kites' heads erased or. See p. 36. 
 
 It would not be right if in concluding our 
 account of the illustrious members of the 
 Company who have filled the office of Mayor 
 we omitted some account of others who by their benefactions and 
 charities have given encouragement to the industrious, aid to the 
 student, or assistance to the poor. 
 
 In 1557 Mr. Thomas Hunt left lands which then produced 60/. per 
 annum, to lend freely to such young men and occupiers, free of the 
 Company, as had served at least eight years' appren'^iceship, and two 
 years as journeymen for wages, one sum of 20/. for three years at an 
 interest of 2-g/. per cent., and when the profit of the land to be bought 
 by the residue of the estate should amount to 400/. it should be lent 
 to twenty young men, and the residue to relieve five poor decayed 
 freemen of the Company. By the prudent management of the Com- 
 pany the funds have been considerably increased, and afford aid and 
 assistance to twenty -six poor freemen, or their widows, besides contri- 
 buting capital to aid young men commencing business. 
 
 In 1588 Mr, Lawrence Atwell left land and tenements to form a 
 stock from time to time to be employed in some good sort whereby 
 
 ' It docs not appear that these were the arms borne by Sir Charles Asgill. 
 They were granted to the family in the year 1821. He resided at Richmond, 
 Surrey, in a good house by the river-side. This villa is mentioned in Lysons as 
 having become the property of Whitshed Keene, esq. and that it is described in 
 the lease as being on the site of the ancient palace. There is a print of it in the 
 Vitrurhis Britanniciis, vol. iv. p. 74.
 
 78 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 poor people, especially such as were free of the Company, might be set 
 on work. The funds of this estate have largely increased, and loans 
 free of interest are lent for a period of two years to persons com- 
 mencing business. 
 
 In 1618 Sir James Lancaster left certain lands in the county of 
 Lincoln to the Company in trust for the town of Basingstoke, and 
 towards the maintenance of four poor scholars. By an order of the 
 Court of Chancery, 1713, this trust was relegated to the Corporation 
 of Basingstoke, who remit to the Company the amount bequeathed 
 for the payment of poor scholars, of which two, value 16Z. per annum 
 each, are appointed to Oxford, and two to Cambridge. 
 
 In 1619 Sir Thomas Smith, besides the portion of his property 
 which relates to Tonbridge School, bequeathed to the Company certain 
 property, to pay yearly to the five parishes of Bidborough, Tonbridge, 
 Speldhurst, Otley, and Sutton-at-Hone, Kent, 5^. 10s. each, to be paid 
 to the churchwardens for the poorest and honestest resident house- 
 holders thereof ; also a sum of 20s. worth of cloth to form a winter 
 garment ; and as the revenue increased the charity was to be extended 
 to Darenth, Wilmington, Otford, and Shorne. Application has been 
 made to the Charity Commissioners for a new scheme for this portion 
 of the trust. Under this will six Exhibitions are given away to poor 
 scholars at the University, each of the annual value of 17/. per 
 annum. 
 
 In 1630 John Meredith bequeathed certain properties to pay yearly 
 to aged freemen and freemen's widows ; also 5/. to two unbeneficed 
 clergymen of the Church of England ; of these latter recipients four 
 are now appointed who receive 20/. a year each. 
 
 In 1611 William Stoddart left 2,000 marks for the relief of the poor 
 of the Company, and maintaining and educating the sons of poor free- 
 men at Christ's Hospital. The bequest was paid to the treasurer of 
 Christ's Hospital for the time being, and the Company nominate ten 
 children for education. 
 
 Almshouses. 
 
 In addition to the school at Tonbridge, Sir Andrew Judd made a 
 provision under his will for founding and endowing an almshouse in 
 St. Helen's Close, in the City of London, for six poor freemen of the 
 Company. The almshouses were rebuilt by the Company in 1729, 
 J. Phillips being Master.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 79 
 
 Dame Alice Smith also left a bequest to these almhouses, a.d. 1592. 
 Each freeman, besides lodging, receives a pension of 20/. per annum, 
 with coals. 
 
 In 1663, Mr. Lewis Newbury, after leaving 1001. to be lent to 
 poor freemen and 50Z. to the Company, directed that so miich of 
 his estate as should be got in should be laid out in the purchase 
 of a piece of ground and building of so many small houses for six 
 poor women, to be appointed by the Company. The almshouses, 
 sufficient for the accommodation of twelve poor widows, with chapel, 
 and rooms for the minister, were afterwards erected at Mile End, 
 A.D. 1688, Benjamin Alexander, Master. Each pensioner receives 20Z. 
 per annum with coals. 
 
 Bishop Beccles now acts as Chaplain to the Company and the alms- 
 houses. 
 
 The Company^ have recently given two Exhibitions of 60/. \)cv 
 annum to liverymen and freemen of the Company. 
 
 One of 50/. to the Middle Class School Corporation. 
 
 One of 30/. to the London School Board. 
 
 One of 50/. to the City of London School. 
 
 One of 40/. to the National School of Music. 
 
 MANOR OF PELLIPAR, AND CONNECTION OF THE 
 SKINNERS WITH IRELAND. 
 
 Nor should we omit to mention the connection of the Skinners' 
 Company with the Society of Governors and Assistants of London 
 for the planting of Ulster, better known perhaps as the Irish Society, 
 to whom James the First, after the suppression of the Irish rebellion, 
 A.D. 1609, gave his licence to hold lands in mortmain. This grant 
 we afterwards find Charles the First endeavoured to repeal, a.d. 1630, 
 whereupon a petition was presented by the Lord Mayor and the 
 Companies of the City of London not only to his Majesty but also 
 to the House of Commons. After some proceedings had been taken 
 in the Star Chamber, an arrangement was effected between the Society 
 and his Majesty, and the twelve chief Companies met and contributed 
 
 ' February 8th 1798, the Company voted \,000l. per annum towards the ex- 
 pense of carrying on the war.
 
 80 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 ■10,000/., in equal proportions of 3,333/. 6s. 8<^. each. In their con- 
 tribution the Skinners were assisted by three other Companies, viz., 
 the Stationers, Bakers, and Girdlcrs. The total amount ultimately 
 expended in Ireland was, however, much larger, for we find it stated 
 in the petition which was presented to the Commons by the Society, 
 that not less a sum than 130,000/. had been expended, irrespective 
 of many thousands laid out by the tenants. 
 
 It appears that the persons selected by the City and the twelve 
 chief City Companies to view the intended plantation consisted of 
 Mr. John Board, goldsmith, Hugh Hammersley, haberdasher, Robert 
 Tresswell, painter stainer,^ and John Rowley, draper. Three hundred 
 pounds were allotted for their expenses of viewing the land, to which 
 another one hundred pounds was afterwards added. Their report was 
 referred to a committee of the City and twelve Companies to consider. 
 It was agreed that there should be expended by the City on the 
 plantation a sum of 20,000/. according to the assessment set upon 
 every Company to the corn-rate; whereof 15,000/. was to be expended 
 on the plantation. And provided for the building of three hundred 
 houses in Derry and two hundred in Coleraine, and for the walls and 
 fortifications thereof, with four thousand acres next adjacent, exclusive 
 of waste and bog added thereto. That the keeping of Cutmore Castle 
 should belong to the City, together with wood, timber, trees, and 
 fisheries in the Ban and Lough Foyle. That for the ordering and 
 conducting of the plantation a Company should be established by 
 charter (1613), which should consist of one governor and twenty-four 
 assistants, and further that the governor and five of the assistants 
 should be aldermen of the City of London. The first governor 
 elected under the charter was Alderman Sir William Cokayne, 
 Citizen and Skinner. 
 
 The new city (says Macaulay) ^ soon arose, which on account of 
 its connection with the City of London was called London-derry ; the 
 buildings covered the slope of the hill which overlooked the Foyle. 
 On the highest ground stood the cathedral, and near it the bishop's 
 palace. 
 
 The dwellings were encompassed by a wall, of which the whole 
 cii'cumfereuce was little less than a mile ; on the bastions were placed 
 culverins and sakers presented by the wealthy guilds of London and 
 
 ' Not a member of one of the twelve City Companies. 
 ' Vol. iii. p. 12.
 
 TIIK COMPANY OF SKINNERS. ' 81 
 
 the colony. On some of these guns, which have done memorable 
 service to the great cause, the devices of the Fishmongers', Vintners', 
 and Merchant Taylors' Company are still discernible; that which is 
 said to have been presented by the Skinners is supposed to have been 
 shipped as ballast to America ; at all events the cannon cannot be 
 identified Of the celebrated siege which it afterwards sustained the 
 reader cannot do better than refer to Macaulay. 
 
 There is something quaint and singular in the way in which these 
 lands were made over to the twelve companies. After a careful 
 survey they were divided into what was considered twelve equal pro- 
 portions, as in the case of the twelve tribes, and lots were drawn by 
 all the Compaiiies, which decided the right of proprietorship. 
 
 The portion allotted to the Skinners is known as the Manor of 
 Pellipar, the nearest point of which is about foi;r miles west of 
 Londonderry. It consists of the parishes of Upper and Lower Cumber, 
 Banacher, Dungiven, Ballynascreen, containing about 44,450 acres; of 
 this about 20,756 are at present under cultivation, and the rest con- 
 sists of mountain, moor, and bog. Benbradagh, which stands close to 
 Dungiven, rises to a height of 1,517 feet, and the White Mountain to 
 1,773 feet, above the sea. 
 
 The market town of Dungiven is about fourteen miles from Derry, 
 and is situated on the River Roe. The original castle was pulled 
 down 1803, and rebuilt by Robert Ogilby, esq. who died before its 
 completion. The town consists of one long and one cross street of 
 about 112 houses, together with church and market-house, Presby- 
 terian meeting-house, and Roman Catholic chapel, &c. Pellipar 
 House, a handsome residence, is at present occupied by Mr. James 
 Ogilby, Strangemore by Mr. King, and others by the Company's agent, 
 Mr. James Clarke, Canon Ross, &c. 
 
 Close to the town of Dungiven is an interesting Dolmen or Pillar 
 Stone. The object of erecting these stones, called also Maenhir, or 
 Gallaum, has been the subject of much discussion ; there are many 
 such in the North of Ireland, although none that I am aware of 
 approaching in size or importance those of Brittany. 
 
 The mound is raised about five feet above the level of the hill, 
 truncated at the top, and about fifteen feet in diameter ; the stone is 
 five feet high by an average width of two feet nine inches, and in 
 thickness about one foot, with pointed and round end, much like a 
 large celt-stone standing with its edge upward. 
 
 /
 
 82 
 
 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 A DOLMEN OR PILLAR-STONE, ERECTED CLOSE TO THE TOWX OF 
 DUXGIVEN. 
 
 I was struck with the pointed shadow which it cast on the cii'cular 
 eartlien ring surrounding the mound, and, on consulting a compass, 
 found it stood with the thin sides due north and south ; the thought 
 struck me, that if at any time it was iised as a gnomon there would 
 be a pointer for the shadow to fall on at noon ; and on further 
 examining the mound I discovered on the south side, not many points 
 removed from its position, a smaller stone which, I have no doubt, 
 served as a pointer, as there were no other stones visible or around 
 the mound. 
 
 I mentioned this circumstance to Mr. Hunt, the County Surveyor 
 of Tyrone, who infomied me, now his attention had been drawn to it, 
 that he recollected that many of these stones stood north and south. 
 If so, here is clearly another use for these singular stones other than 
 those of burial. 
 
 To the south of the stone, within three hundred feet or more, 
 lies the Roman Catholic Chapel of St. Columba, on the banks of 
 the River Roe. 
 
 It is possible that St. Columba may have preached Christianity 
 here, and that the rite of baptism was administered on the river,
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 83 
 
 where a church was afterwards erected : of this church the ruined 
 chancel still remains, together with a chancel arch and nave.^ 
 
 The annexed illustration represents the tomh or monument in the 
 chancel of Covey Na Gall. There is an arch nine feet high, and 
 beneath a recumbent figure, and sculptures in niches, said to repre- 
 sent his sons. Covey na Gall, or, as he is called in Erse, Cuneigh 
 na Gall, or the Stranger, was of the tribe of O'Chans, whose territories 
 had been confiscated ; he died 1385. 
 
 The county is said to have been originally called Glen Given, or 
 Glen of Skins, and from its stronghold it took the name of Dun 
 Given, from Dun a fort, and Given a skin. 
 
 SCHEDULE OF ORNAMENTAL PLATE EXHIBITED AT 
 SKINNERS' HALL, 1874. 
 
 The following account of the plate in the possession of the Skinners' 
 Company is taken from the Catalogue of Antiquities and Works of 
 Art exhibited at Ironmongers' Hall in 1861.^ I am permitted by the 
 editor, Mr. George Russell French, to reproduce the description, and 
 to his kindness I am likewise indebted for the loan of the accom- 
 panying illustrations. 
 
 A RosEVTATER DisH, silver gilt, diameter 19^ inches, weight 76 oz. 
 In the raised centre is the coat of arms of the Company with their 
 supporters, crest, and motto, surrounded by the inscription, which is 
 repeated on the rim, "The Guift of Mr. Francis Cowell (Covell) 
 Skynner, deceased the 7th of Septr. 1625." Plate-mark the small 
 black letter t for 1566, with the initials R. V. on a shield with a heart 
 below. 
 
 The Breton Loving Cup,"' silver gilt, standing on a baluster stem, 
 
 ' The ruins present features in most respects similar to the church of Killea 
 in Kintyre, Scotland, drawn and described by Captain T. P. AVhite, R.E., 
 F.R.S. 
 
 - Vol. ii. pp. 585, 590. 
 
 ' The loving cup was in Saxon called Imsep, and the ceremony is one of great 
 antiquity. It consisted in two or more persons tlrinking fi-om the same goblet. 
 He who first drinks before doing so cries out Waes hel, and he who receives the 
 cup before drinking responds Drink hel. (Dictcc du Mobilier, vol. ii. p. 115).
 
 84 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 12^ inches high, weight 29 oz. The bowl is ornamented with the 
 arms and crest of the Company, and round the rim is inscribed, 
 " Ex dono et in testimonium grati animi Georgij Breton olim Clerici 
 inclitae Societatis Pellipariorum, London ; " and on a corresponding 
 oral, "qui obijt vicesimo nono die Februaij, 1689." Plate-mark the 
 court-hand N, standing for 1650, with the lion passant and leopard's 
 head, and the initials W. M. on a shield with a Moor's head. 
 
 The Powell Cup, similar in shape to Breton's cup. It is a 
 " loving cup " of silver gilt, and weighs 26 oz. It is inscribed, " The 
 gift of Mr. Edward Powell, Citizen and Skinner of London, 1654," 
 with the arms of the Company on oae side, and on the other a coat. 
 Quarterly, 1 and 4, party per fess or and argent, a lion rampant ; 
 Gules, 2 and 3, six ^iheons 3, 2, and 1. Crest: On a helmet an estoile. 
 The plate-mark, the Lombardic letter V, answers to the date 1616, 
 with the lion passant and leopard's head, and the initial F. 
 
 A Silver Gilt Loving Cup, similar to Breton's cup, inscribed, 
 " Ex dono Gulielmi Ridges, Armigeri, 13 Octo, 1670." On one side 
 is a shield of arms having " three demi-lions ermine." On the other 
 side is a crest, a demi-lion ermine, holding in his dexter paw a battle- 
 axe. The plate-mark is the Lombardic letter V, for the year 1616, 
 with the initials R. F. on a heart-shaped shield. 
 
 Viollet le Due gives the following illustration, taken £i-om an old work of the 
 twelfth century, entitled li Romans de Brut : 
 
 " Costume est, sire en son pais (des Saxons) 
 
 Quant ami boivent entre ami, 
 
 Que cil dist 7ves hel qui doit boire 
 
 Et cil drinkel qui doit i-ecoivi'e ; 
 
 Dont boit cil tote la moitie 
 
 Et por joie et por amistie ; 
 
 Au hanap rescoivre et baillier 
 
 Est costume d'entre baisier. 
 
 Li rois si com il li aprist, 
 
 Dist trinkel et si sosrist ; 
 
 Provent but et puis li bailla. 
 
 Et en baillant le roi baisa." 
 
 also in Roman de Pai-ise la duchesse, a unique MS. in the Bibliotheque imperiale: 
 " Li roi demande I'aive ou palais principer 
 Quant il orent lave s'asistrent au diner 
 A la plu maitre table sert Hugues de vin clere, 
 A I'enap qui fu d'or conques ne fu blamez."
 
 To face page 85.
 
 THE GIFT OF MABY DAUGHTER OF KICHARD ROBINSOK, 
 and wife to Thomas Smith and John Peacock, Skinners.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 85 
 
 The Five Cokayne Loving Cups, silver gilt, in the form of cocks, 
 of which the heads must be removed for the pm-pose of drinking. The 
 cocks are placed on the backs of turtles; each cup is 16-| inches high, 
 and weighs 72 oz. These birds were bequeathed to the Company by 
 the will of Mr. William Cockayne, dated 24th October, 41 Elizabeth 
 (1598). On the receipt of the cocks the Company covenanted with 
 Mr. Cockayne's executors that "they and their successors would there- 
 after use the said five Guift Cups to be borne upon their Election-day 
 of Master and Wardens every year before the Wardens of the said 
 Mystery for the Election of Master and Wardens, according to the 
 true meaning of the will of the said Wm. Cockayne deceased;" which 
 has been the invariable custom ever since. These cups are designed 
 in the spirit of the time of the sixteenth century, having the punning 
 allusion to the donor's name, as also in the instance of the " Peacock 
 Cup " described below. Much of the plate of this period was made in 
 the shape of animals and birds. In the fine collection of Lord Londes- 
 borough, among other designs, are to be seen cocks and peacocks. 
 The plate-mai'k is the small black letter j^, for the year 1565, with 
 a lion passant guardant and leopard's head, with the letter G on a 
 shield. 
 
 The Peacock Cup. A silver peahen with two peachicks ; one other 
 is lost. It forms a "loving cup " on the head being removed ; it is 16 j 
 inches high, and weighs 62 oz. 10 dwts. On the foot of the cup is a 
 coat of arms, In a lozenge, a chevron ermine between three esquires' 
 helmets. The ground of the foot is embossed with figures of reptiles, 
 turtles, snails, and tree-roots. On the base is inscribed, " The gifte 
 of Mary, y^ davghter of Richard Robinson, and wife to Thomas Smith 
 and James Peacock, Skinn*", 1642." There is no plate-mark. 
 
 The Bateman Cup, silver gilt, on baluster stem 12^ inches high, 
 weight 27 oz., inscribed "The gifte of y* Wrp'll Robert Bateman, 
 Brother of this Company, and late Chamberlaine of y^ Hon'ble Citty 
 of London. Who deceased y^ 11^** Decern. 1644." On one side of 
 the cup are the arms and crest of the Company, and on the opposite 
 side is the coat of arms of the donor, viz. " Or, three starres, issuant 
 from as many cressants gules," which coat, Gwillim says, was borne 
 by " Robert Bateman, Esquier, Chamberlain of London, who left a 
 hopefull and flourishing issue, viz. Richard Bateman, William Bate- 
 man, Anthony Bateman, now Sheriff of London 1658, and Thomas
 
 86 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 Bateman, all Merchants and Members of that noble City." Of these 
 sons Anthony was Lord Mayor in 1664, and was knighted; and 
 Thomas was created a baronet in 1644, but died without issue. The 
 plate-mark is the court-hand letter B, for the year 1639, with the lion 
 passant and leopard's head, and on a heart-shaped shield is a mullet 
 between five bezants, and on the upper part the initials D. W. On 
 the cup is the Bateman crest, viz. a star issuant fi*om a crescent. 
 
 A Silver Salt, of octagonal form, height 9 inches, width at base 
 10^ inches, weight 66 oz. 10 dwts. The foot is ornamented with the 
 arms of the Company and a shield bearing, " On a cross five eagles 
 displayed." On the top is inscribed, " The Gifte of Ben. Albin, Esq. 
 late Cittizen and Skinner, of London, dec'' Anno dom. 1676." The 
 plate-mark is obliterated. There is a shield with the initials W. P. 
 and an estoile. On the rim of the salt are four projections or horns, 
 which seem to have been for the purpose of supporting a covering, 
 most probably a napkin, as it was considered desirable to keep the 
 cover clear of the salt itself ; " loke that your salte seller lydde touch 
 not the salte," saith " the Boke of Kervinge." 
 
 A Pair of Silver Gilt Loving Cups, each of which is 12 inches 
 high, 6 inches diameter ; each weighs 37 oz. and is ornamented with 
 repousse work, on baluster stem, having on a shield of arms " three 
 bowls, issuant from each a boar's head erect." On the rim is inscribed, 
 " The gifte of Edward BoUe, Esq"", one of the Company of Skinners, 
 I685." The plate-mark, the small black letter f, stands for 1680, 
 with the lion passant and leopard's head, and the letters J. B. on a 
 shield bezantee. This worthy citizen was, no doubt, of the ancient 
 family of Bolle, extinct baronets, of Scampton, whose principal seat 
 was at Bolle Hall, in Swineshead, co. Lincoln. Sir George Bolle, 
 knt., was Lord Mayor of London in 1617, and by his wife Jane, 
 daughter and coheir of Sir John Hart, knt.. Lord Mayor in 1590, 
 had a son John, who was created a baronet in 1628. The title became 
 extinct in the fourth generation in 1714. 
 
 They had for arms, " Azure, three bowls or, out of each a boar's 
 head erect argent." It appears that an ancestor of the family was 
 Alan de Swineshead, lord of the manor of Bolle Hall, hence the 
 canting nature of the arms. It was at the abbey of Cistercian monks 
 at Swineshead that King John was taken ill.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 87 
 
 ^^Messenc/er. My lord, your valiant kinsman, Falconbridge, 
 Desires your Majesty to leave the field 
 And send him word by me which way you go. 
 K. John. Tell him, towards Swinestead, to the Abbey there." 
 
 Shakespeare's King John, Act v., Scene 3. 
 
 Shakespeare gives the popular version of his death taking place 
 there : 
 
 " The King, I fear, is poisoned by a monk." — Scene 6. 
 
 The true name of the place where King John was taken ill was not 
 Swinestead, which is in a different part of Lincolnshire, but Swines- 
 head, which is in the direct route from Lynn Regis to Sleaford, where 
 the King rested, and to Newark, where he died. Not a vestige 
 remains of the abbey, which was founded in 1134 by Robert de 
 Gresley ; a mansion was built from its ruins by one of the Lackton 
 family, according to Dugdale. 
 
 A Silver Leopard, collared, representing the crest of the Company 
 and forming a snuff-box, of which the head is contrived to contain one 
 kind of snuff and the body to hold another. Around the collar is in- 
 scribed, "The guift of Roger Kemp, M^aster, 1680." Weight 3-1 oz. 
 
 A large Silver Flagon and Cover 12^- inches high, 6 inches 
 diameter, weight 32 oz. The purchase of the Cover has a winged 
 demi-female, terminating in foliage. It is inscribed, " The guift of 
 William Russell, Esq., free of the Worshipfull Company of Skinners, 
 Ap"- 16, 1679." The date-mark is the small text g for 1684. It 
 has the arms and motto of the Company. 
 
 A Silver Salver, 14-|- inches in diameter, weight 45 oz. standing 
 on a foot 3^ inches high, ornamented with the arms, supporters, and 
 motto of the Company, inscribed, " The gift of Mr. Lewis Newberry, 
 Skinner, An° Dom' 1684." Date-mark, small text g for 1684. 
 
 A Silver Tankard, 7-^ inches high, b^ inches diameter, weight 
 49 oz., inscribed, " The gift of Sir Richard Chiverton, Kn* and Alder- 
 man, a Member of this Company, 1686," with the arms, crest, 
 supporters, and motto of the Company The date-mark is the small 
 text letter Jj for the vcar 1685.
 
 88 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 A Silver Bowl or Monteith, diameter 13 inches, deptli 6;^^ inches, 
 weight 72 oz. 6 dwts., inscribed, " The gift of Sir Richard Chiverton, 
 Kn' and Alderman, a Member of this Company, 1G86," with the arms 
 and motto of the Company. The donor was Lord Mayor of London 
 in 1658, and bore for arms, Argent, a tower tripple-towered sable, on 
 a mount proper. 
 
 Sir Richard Chiverton, who was knighted by Oliver Cromwell, was 
 the second son of Richard Chiverton of Trehensye, co. Cornwall, 
 
 and his wife Isabel, daughter of Polewhele of Polewhele, in 
 
 tbe same county. 
 
 At the entrance of a small cross aisle on the south side of Quethiock 
 Church, Cornwall, belonging to the manor of Trehunsey, are placed 
 against the wall the brasses of Chiverton, his wife, and eleven children ; 
 also the arms of Chiverton impaling Polewhele. Richard Chiverton 
 died 28 July, 1617, and Isabel his wife died 25 May, 1631. The 
 date-mark is the same as on the tankard, viz., the small text b for 
 1685, with the lion passant and leopard's head, and the initials 
 G. G. on a shield. 
 
 A Silver Snuffer Stand with Snuffers, inscribed, " The gift of 
 S"" Will Russell, K', deceased." The snuffers have the arms of the 
 Company, and on the box is inscribed as above; they fit into the 
 stand somewhat in the fonu of a candle. The plate-mark is the 
 court-hand W, with Britannia and lion's head erased. 1705. 
 
 Two Silver Candlesticks in form of an Italian Doric column with 
 extended base, 12^ inches high, exclusive of arms, ornamented with 
 the arms of the Company, and weighing 25 oz. It has been 
 mounted with scroll branches forming a candelabrum for three lights. 
 The gift of Sir William Russel, knt. 1705. 
 
 Two other Silver Candlesticks, 15 inches in height, somewhat 
 similar to the other two, mounted with scroll branches, to form a 
 centre, 35 oz. 1752. 
 
 Four small Baluster Candlesticks of silver, with inscription 
 " Ex dono Societat. Angl, ad Indos Orientalis Negotiant." They 
 were presented about the year 1690. 
 
 A Silver Gilt Tankard, diameter 5 inches, height 6|, weight 
 31 oz. 10 dwts., elaborately ornamented in repousse work, having the 
 arms of the Company engraved in front, the supporter on the dexter 
 side being a leopard, and on the sinister a leopard or wolf collared.
 
 TO face page SS. 
 
 SNUFFEK STAND. 
 
 THE CUI''T OF WM. HUSSKL, KXT.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 89 
 
 It is inscribed, " The gift of James Langdon Reynolds, Citizen and 
 Skinner, Corpus Christi, 1646." The plate-mark, a small black letter t, 
 would give the year 1646 for the date of the tankard ; it has the lion 
 passant and leopard's head, and on an oval shield between a crown 
 and a leopard's head are the initials I. R. 
 
 A handsome Silver-gilt Rosewater Dish, 17-|- inches in diameter, 
 elaborately wrought in repoussee with a scroll and flowers, with inner- 
 raised surface similarly wrought. The arms of the Company and donor 
 are engraved on the border ; the centre carries the following inscription : 
 This piece of Plate 
 is presented to the 
 Worshipful Company of Skinners, 
 
 by Thomas Moore, Esq"'". 
 
 To commemorate the Coronation of 
 
 His Majesty George the Fourth, 
 
 on Thursday the 19th day of July, 1821, 
 
 at which ceremony he had the honor of representing 
 
 that Company 
 
 as one of the twelve 
 
 Citizens of London, 
 
 to the 
 
 Chief Butler of England.' 
 
 Weight 40 oz.; letter f), 1685. 
 
 A Silver Centre-piece elaborately wrought, with extended branches 
 
 for either fruit or flowers, stands 24 inches in height, on a raised plateau 
 
 15 inches in diameter, with supporters holding shields engraved with 
 
 the arms of the Company and donor; weight 158 oz., date 1829; on 
 
 the base is engraved the following inscription: 
 
 1862. 
 
 Presented to the 
 
 Worshipful Company of Skinners 
 
 by Thomas Kensit, Esq. 
 
 Clerk of the Company, 
 
 in testimony of his esteem and friendship 
 
 for the members of the 
 
 Court of Assistants. 
 
 Geo. Legg, Master, 
 
 Geo. Trust, ^, 
 
 Fredk. Howell, ,^^ , 
 o 1 -m- , »* ardens. 
 
 Saml. Wix, I 
 
 Fredk. Turner, | 
 ' Vide note 2, page 4.
 
 90 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF 
 
 A handsome Rosewater Dish in fine silver (electro deposit), 18 
 inches in diameter, partly gilt, in the cinque-cento style, with ewer to 
 match, 14 inches in height, elaborately wrought with Neptune, tritons, 
 and sea monsters ; weight 68 oz., 1848. The original, from which 
 the above is a facsimile, is in the possession of the Coi-poration of 
 Norwich. 
 
 A large Rosewater Dish in fine silver (electro deposit), partly 
 gilt, 18 inches in diameter, elaborately wrought in the Raphaelesque 
 style round the border with figures and devices emblematic of the 
 arts and sciences, in the centre with enrichments representing the 
 four seasons ; weight 42 oz., M, 1849. The original by Briot, a 
 predecessor of Cellini, is at the Hotel Cluni at Paris. 
 
 A Silver Snuff-box in forai of an oval vase, surmounted with the 
 Company's crest, with supporters on either side holding shields en- 
 graved with the Company's arms and motto or ribband, the whole 
 mounted on an ebony stand ; weight 27 oz. ff 1863. 
 
 Around the lid there is the following inscription : 
 
 Presented to the Worshipful Company of Skinners by Geo. Legg, Esq. 
 in testimony of the kindness of the Wardens, Court of Assistants, and Clerk 
 during his Mastership, June 1863. 
 
 Silver Cigar-stand, with supporters of Company, arms and motto : 
 
 Presented to the Worshipful Company of Skinners, 
 George Trist, Master, 1863. 
 
 A Jewelled Badge in cinque-cento style, of somewhat oval form, 
 richly set with rubies and diamonds ; at the base a circular shield 
 surrounded by diamonds, with the date of the Company's charter in 
 enamel. The greater part of the badge is occupied by the arms and 
 supporters in their proper heraldic colours, surmounted by the crest. 
 
 On the back is- engraved the following inscription : 
 
 1874. 
 Charles Barry, 
 
 ^Master, 
 Joseph Caiaston, 
 Thomas Hobson, 
 Richard Knight Causton, 
 William K. L. Langridge, 
 Wardens.
 
 THE COMPANY OF SKINNERS. 91 
 
 Barge-master's Badge : shield of the Company in repoussee, laiuel- 
 leaved border 10 by 7 inches; weight 18 oz.; date 1719. 
 
 The Silver Heads to the Beadle's Staves, H^ inches high, 
 weight 74 oz., the stem and bowl richly embossed, and having on the 
 top the arms, supporters, and crest of the Company. 
 
 With regard to the plate 1 find the somewhat singular entry in the 
 Court Books: " Josiah Colebroke by his will, 1775, bequeathed to the 
 Company two octagon silver candlesticks with silver nozzles, belonging 
 to his late father, on condition that they would also accept and hang two 
 pictures, of his brother and sister, which the Company refused to do." 
 
 Some curious and ancient pieces of plate appear to have been dis- 
 posed of by the Master and Wardens in 1827 by an order of the 
 Court ; they are mentioned as follows : 
 
 Two silver tankards, marked R. M. 
 One salt stand, the gift of R. Meredith. 
 Two ditto ditto John Frewin. 
 One ditto ditto Robert Dickinson. 
 One ditto ditto Nathl. Wright. 
 Foar taper candlesticks. 
 
 Also 7 soup ladles. 
 
 12 gravy spoons. 
 
 14 sauce ladles. 
 6 sugar-tongs. 
 
 At the same time new plate was purchased.
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below.
 
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