Volume 1

The history of the twelve great livery companies of London; principally compiled from their grants & records. With an historical essay and accounts of each company, including notices and illustrations of metropolitan trade and commerce, as originally concentrated in those societies, with attested copies and translations of the companies' charters / [William Herbert].

  • William Herbert
Date:
1836-1837 [v. 1, 1837]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of the twelve great livery companies of London; principally compiled from their grants & records. With an historical essay and accounts of each company, including notices and illustrations of metropolitan trade and commerce, as originally concentrated in those societies, with attested copies and translations of the companies' charters / [William Herbert]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    72/532 (page 48)
    Similar examples of puiiishmeDt to those of the merchant tailors, for frauds met with on these occasions, are frequent in the books of the grocers’,(i) and most of the companies who possess these old records, and some of them are very amusing. The books of the Brewers’ Company, 1421, contain a long and curious story of the perverseness of one William Payne, at the sign of the Swan, by St. Anthony’s Hospital, Threadneedle street, which originated in his refusal to contribute a barrel of aUy to be sent to the king (Henry V.), whilst he was in France. For this affair he was fined 3s. 4d.j for a swa?i for the master’s breakfast; and refusing to pay, was imprisoned: afterwards contemptuously resolving not to wear the com¬ pany’s livery,” he was brought before the mayor, and even¬ tually conformed; but, it is added, was very long before he could be humbled and brought to good behaviour.” Another story, in which a swan was also the fine, occurs soon after, in the same books. It details the ill treatment of Simon Potkin, of the Acj/, at Aldgate, who had paid 20c?. to a friend to procure a certificate of the oppressive acts,” as they are styled, of the famous Sir Richard Whittington, then lord mayor, and who appears to have been particularly severe with the retailers of ale; this Potkin, on being fined by the chamberlain for bad measure, excused himself by saying that ^^he had given money to the masters [of the Brewers,] that he might sell at his own will.” For this slander he is stated to have got into great trouble with his company, and to have been only finally pardoned, on paying 3s. 4c?., for a swan^ to be eaten by the masters; but, out of which, it is added, ‘^he was allowed his own share.” Other of the company’s Points regarded their domestic con- and custom, there were special grants and charters made to the city, touching the particular things then in question.’’ Strype’s Stow, 1720, ii., p. 211. (') The two following entries are specimens. ‘^1456: A Fyne of John Ayshfelde.” That John Ayshfelde hath put him to rewle for olFens don in makynge of untrewe powder gynger, cynamon, and saunders, for which olFens doon, the wardeyns and the feliship associed be fully accorded that he shalle maak a fyne of vi* viij'? ; and in case so be y^* he be fownde in suche another tres- passe, that then he to be rewled by the avyse of the wardeynes and the felischipe associed; what they wil do ther in hye and lowe.” And (same date) Fyne,” wherein ^^John Freyach” didput him to rewle for olFens doon in rydynge into countre with wares unsolde; for which olFens doon y® wardeynes and the felischipe associed” fully concluded that he should pay a fine of 3s. 4cl.