declared, "the Popes jubele and pardon from Rome, and as mony as wyll
rescyffe ye pardon so to be schryff (shrived) and fast three days in
on weeke and to rescyff the blessed sacrament, the next Sunday affter,
clen remyssyon of alle ther synnes tossyens quossyens (_? toties
quoties_) of all that ever they dyd."
March 25th, 1556. A grand day at Bow Church. "Our Lady Day, the
Annunsyasyon, at Bow Chyrch was hangyd wyth cloth of gold and with
rich hares (arras) and cossens (cushions) for the commyng of my Lord
Cardenal Pole. Ther dyd the Bysshop of Vossetr (Worcester) syng he
(high) masse, mytyred, and ther were dyver bysshopes, as the B. of
Ely, London, and Lynkkolne, and the Yerle of Pembroke, and Ser Edw.
Hastynges, the Master of the Horse, and dyvers odur nobul" (unfinished).
It seems there were those in London who did not approve of the Queen's
proceedings, and even resorted to violent measures, besides Sir
Thomas Wyatt and his followers. 1554-5. "The 17th day of Feybuary, at
about mydnight, ther wer serten lude feylows cam unto Sant Thomas of
Acurs, and over the dore ther was set the ymage of Sant Thomas, and
ther they brake ys neke and the tope of ys crosier, the wych was mad
of fre stone. With grett sham was yt done." On March 14th, the same
year, "Serten velyns dyd breke the neke of the ymage of Sant Thomas of
Cantarbere, and on of ys arms broke."
The next day was issued, "A proclamassyon that wo so ever cold bring
word to the mare who dyd breke ys neke shuld have C. (100) croones of
gold for his labur." He does not state whether the iconoclasts were
discovered. There are numberless entries also, such as the following:
"July 24th, 1553, was a felow set in the pelere [pillory] for speykyng
agaynst the good Quen Mare." September 17th, 1557, "Ther whent out of
Newgatt unto Yylyngton beyond the buttes, towards the cherche, in a
valey, to be borned, four—three men, on woman, for herese duly—two of
them was man and wyfe dwellyng in Sant Dunstan's in the East." November
12th, 1558. "Saturday, ther was a woman sett on the pelere for sayhing
that the Quen was ded and her Grace was not ded."
After the death of Queen Mary, we read: "August 24th. (The Lord) Mare
and the althermen and the (sheriffs) wher at the wrastleyng at Clarke
in Well, and it was the fayre daye of thynges kept in Symthfeld, Sant
Bathellmuw, and the same daye my lorde (mayor) cam hom through Chepe
and agaynst Yrmonger (lane), and agaynst Sant Thomas of Ocurs two gret
(bonfires) of rodes (crosses) and of Mares (images of the Virgin Mary)
and Johns and odur emages ther they wher bornyd with gret wondur."
Also, in the same year: "The tyme afor Bathell muwtyd and after was
alle the rodes (crosses), and Mares and Johns, and many odur of the
cherche gudes both copes, crosses, censers, altar-clothes, rod-clothes,
bokes, baner-bokes and baner-stays, waynskott wyth myche odur gayre
(gear) about London ... (which were all destroyed); and ther was a
felow within the chyrche (St. Botolph, Bishopsgate Street) mad a sermon
at the bornyng of the chyrch goodes."
2. Funerals.—In describing these the author is quite at home, with his
penons and skotchons, and torchys and blake clokes, which he catalogues
minutely. These occupy about half the diary. Be it also observed that
Englishmen then, like Englishmen of the nineteenth century, could not
assemble for any purpose or conclude any regal or civic procession
without a "gret dener."
"May 20th, 1551, was bered my lade (Lady) Hobullthorne, late (Mayoress)
of London, with 2 herolds, 4 penons of armes, and ther was (the)
clerkes of London, and ther had powre (poor) men and women many fryse
gownes, and there was 4 althermen morners, and 2 of them knyghts, and
ther a grett doll (dole) was, and the morrow a grett dener, &c."
"March 22nd, 1552, was bered Master John Heth dwellyng in
Fanchyrche-strett, and ther went affor him C (100) chyldern of
Grayfreers, boys and gyrlles, 2 and 2 together, and he gayff them
shurts and smokes and gyrdulls and moketors; and after thay hadde
wy(ne) and fygs and good alle, and ther wor a grett dener; and ther
whor the Cumpane of Painters and the clerkes, and ys cumpony had xxs.
to make mere (merry) with alle at the taverne."
"October 9th, 1554, was bered Master George Medley, merser and late
Chamberlayn of the Cete of London, with 2 whyt branchys and 12 pore
men, with 12 stayffes, torchyes, and 12 gownes, and dyvers men and
women in blake gownes; and ye comes afore ys body, and the compene of
clarkes and of the mersors; and when alle was don they went hom to
drynke; and the morrow after the masse of requiem and ther dyd pryche
doctur Smyth, and after hom to dener."
In the same year was buried "Richard Townley in Sant Austyn parryche
syd Poweles, with 10 torchys and 4 gret (tapers) and 2 whyt branchys
with a herold of armes, with a standerd, a penon of armes, cote, elmet,
target, sword, the crest, a hawke, and 6 dosen of scochyons and piests
and dyrkes."
"September 10th, 1555, was bered my Lade Lyonys, the Mares (Mayoress)
of London, with a goodly herse mad in Sant Benet Sherog perryche, with
2 branchys and 24 gownes of blake for pore men and 3 of emages and 6
dosen penselds and 6 dosen of schochyons, and the althermen folohyng
the corrse and after the Compane of Grosers, and the morow, the masse,
and master H—— did pryche and after a grett dener."
At the burial of Master Robin, of Mark Lane, in Barking church, the
street and church being hung with black cloth, and the Lord Mayor and
Alderman. After an account of the heraldic and other paraphernalia, he
concludes, "and affter they whent to dener for thys was affor none."
The following describes the funeral of Sir John Gresham, uncle to Sir
Thomas Gresham, the builder of the Royal Exchange, who was apprenticed
to him. He served the office of Sheriff in 1537, and that of Lord Mayor
in 1547.
"Oct. 30th, 1556, was bered Ser John Gressem knyght and merser and
merchand of the stapul of callys and merchand venterer, and late mare
and altherman of London, with a standerd and a penon of armes—armur
of damast and 4 pennons of armes—a elmet, a targett, and a sword,
mantylles, and—and a goodly herse of wax and 10 dosen of pensils and
12 dosen of scochyons, and he gayff C blake gownes unto pore men and
powre women of fyne blake cloth, 3 dosen of grett stayffe torchys,
and a dosen of long torchys and he gayff a C.d. (150) of fyne blake—2
unto the mare and the old mare, and to ser Rowland Hylles, and to
ser Andrew Jude, and to boyth the chamberlayns, and to the Master of
Blakwell, and to Master the common huntt and ys men, and to the porters
that longs the stapul, and to alle ys farmers and ys tenantts, and alle
the chyrche hangyd and the strett with blake and armes grett store, and
morow three goodly masses song, on of the Senete (Trinity) and a nodur
of owre lade (Lady), and the third of requiem and a goodly sermon.
Master Harpfield dyd pryche, and after as grett a dener as has bene
sene for a fysse day (a day of fasting) for alle that came to dener,
for ther laket (lacked) nothyng dere."
3. Pageants, Processions, and Feasts.—The following are samples of a
great number of similar entries:—
1551. "The 2d daye of Nov. cam to London from Hamton Courtte and
landyd at Benerd Castyll, the old Qwyne of Schottes" (this would be
Mary, daughter of Claude de Lorraine, Duke of Guise, who married King
James V. of Scotland in 1515, was mother of Mary Queen of Scots, and
died in 1560), "and cam rydyng to the bysshope pallas at Powlles, with
many lordes, the Duke of Suffolke, &c.... and then the Qwyne and alle
her owne lades and her gentyll women was to the nombre of C (100),
and ther was sent her mony grett gyftes by the Mayre and Aldermen as
beyffes, mottuns, velles, swines, bred, wylld ffule, wynes, bere,
spysys, and alle thinges, and qwaylles, sturgeon, wod and colles, and
samons by dyvers men," and very useful "gyfftes" too, although the
"qwaylles," if by that whales are meant, would be rather cumbrous
presents to take away with her, but possibly they were quails.
"September 30th, 1552, the Mayre and the alderman and the new shreyffes
took berges at III Cranes in the Vyntre, and so to Westmynstre Hall,
and ther they tote hoyth (oath) in the excheker, and then they cam to
dener. Ther was as grett a dener as youe have sene, for ther wher mony
gentyll men and women."
In 1553 the new Lord Mayor went to Westminster, attended by "the
craftes of London in ther best liveray, with trumpets blohyng and
whets (waits) playing, ... all the craftes barges with stremers and
banars, and so to the cheker, and so homwards." They landed at "Banard
Castyll," and arranged a procession in "Powlle's Chyrche yerde." ...
"Furst wher 2 tall men bayreng 2 great stremors of the Marchand
Tayllers' armes; then cam on (with a) drume and a flutt playing, and
a nodur with a gret f——, and alle they in blue sylke; and then cam 2
gret wodyn (woodmen) with 2 gret clubes, alle in grene and with skwybes
(squibs) bornyng, with gret berds and syd here (great beards and side
hair), and 2 targetts upon their bakes ... and then cam XVI. trumpetrs
blohyng ... and then a duyllyll (devil); and after cam the bachelors
alle in a leveray and skarlett hods; and then cam Sant John Baptyst,
gorgyusly, with goody speches ... and then my Lord Mayre and 2 good
henchmen, and then alle the althermen and shreyffes, and so to dener,
and after dener to Powlle's, and alle them that bere tergetts dyd
(bear) after stayff torchys with all the trumpets and wettes (waits)
blowhyng, thrugh Powlles, round abow the quiers and the body of the
chyrche blowhyng, and so home to my Lord Mere's howsse."
"July 2nd, 1555, was the Merchand Tayllers' fest, and ther dyned my
Lord Mayre and dyvers of the counselle and juges, and the shreyffes,
and mony althermen and gentyllmen, and they had agaynst ther dener 58
bokes (bucks) and two stages (stags)." A somewhat plentiful banquet,
after which followed the appointment of the warden and other officers
for the ensuing year. "Alle five borne in London, and tayller sounes
alle."
"1556. The furst daye of September was Sant Gylles Day, and ther was a
goodly procession abowt the parryche (St. Giles', Cripplegate), with
the whettes (waits), and the canape borne and the sacrament, and ther
was a goodly masse songe as bene herd (as has been heard), and Master
Thomas Grenelln, wax-chandler, mad a grett dener for Master Garter and
my lade (lady), and Master Machylle the shereyff and ys wyff, and boyth
the chamberlayns, and mony worshepefull men and women at dener, and
the whettes playing and dyvers odur mynstrelles, for ther was a grett
dener."
"10th June, 1560. Feast of the compane of Skyners and ther mony
worshepefull men wher at dener, for ther was a worshepefull dener."
After which is narrated the election of the master and other officers
of the company for the coming year, "and Master Clareshur mad a grett
bankett for the master and hys compene, furst spysed bred, cheres
(cherries), straberes, pepyns, and marmalade and suckett comfets, and
portingalles (Portugal oranges), and dyvers odur dyssays, (dishes),
epocres, rennys (Rhenish wine), claret wyne, and bere, and alle grett
plente and alle was welcome." Not quite so substantial a repast as that
of the Merchant Taylors with their 58 bucks and 2 stags.
4. Amusements.—Although the fires of Smithfield during the reign of
Mary overcanopied the City with a cloud of gloom, and notwithstanding
the people had a constant source of delectation in witnessing the
hangings and quarterings, and ear-lopping on pillories, the whippings
at cart-tails, and the penance-doing at Paul's Cross, of rogues and
heretics, they found time to amuse themselves in other ways, sometimes
perhaps in sports of a rough and barbarous character, at others of a
simpler and unobjectionable nature, of which the favourite was dancing
round the maypole, but always accompanied by loud and boisterous shouts
of merriment. Machyn frequently refers to these pastimes. The following
are specimens:—
"May 26th, 1552. Cam into Fa(nchurch) parryche a goodly maypole as
you h(ave seen), pentyd whyt and gren, and ther the men and women
dyd wher abowt ther neke baldrykes of whyt and gren: the gyant, the
mores danse, and the —— had a castylle in the myd with pensels and a
—— plasys of sylke and gilded, and the sam (day the) Lord Mayre by
conselle causyd yt to be (taken) done and broken."
"December 9th, 1554. At afternon was a bere baytin on the Banksyde, and
ther the grett blynd bere broke losse, and on runnyng away he chakt
(caught) a servyng manne by the calff of the legge and bit a grett
pease away, and after by the hokyl (ancle) bone, that within 3 days
after he ded (died)."
"1557. May 30th was a goly (jolly) May-game in Fanchyrch Street, with
drumes and gunes and pykes, and nine wordes (worthies) dyd ryd; and
they had speches evere man, and the morris dansse, and the saudon
(soldan or sultan) and a elevant (elephant) with a castyll and the
sauden and young morens (Moors) with targettes and darttes, and the
lord and lade of the Maye."
The sextons' merry-making was of a more sober kind as befitted their
craft, thus: "1554. June 25th, anodur masse kept at the Gray freers for
the saxtons of London and after pressessyon, with the whetes plahyng
and clarkes syngyng thrug Chepesyd unto Soper Lane and again thrug
Powlles-chyrchyard, by master denes (house) and thrug Warwick Lane
unto Gray freers, and so to dener unto the Kukes' (Cooks') hall."
5. Punishment.—"November 4th, 1554. Master Harpfield preched at Powlles
Crosse, when ther wher fyve did penans with shetts (sheets) abowt them
and tapurs and rods in ther handes, and the prycher dyd stryke them
with a rod, and ther did they stand tyll the sermon was well done. On
of these was a priest some tyme chanon at Eyssyng Spyttyll; three of
them were relegyous men (monks or friars), and the fifth a temporall
man that had two wyeffes."
"1559. The 20th August was Sonday: ther was a sarmon at Powlles Crosse;
ys name was ——, and ther was a menester dyd penans for the marchyng of
a setenn cupolle that was mared (married) afor tym."
"1551, May 2nd. The same day was hangd at Tyburne IX fellows. The same
year on the 12th September there was hanged IX women and II men."
"1562, June 27th. Whent to Tyburne; V men and VI women for to hange for
theft."
These were "the good old times" that poets rave about.
"1554. The XVII day of Septembre a proclamasyon that alle vacabonds
and loitherus boyth Englysmen and alle maner of strangers that have no
master should avoid the cete (City) and subarbes apon gret pain." An
edict which appears to have been speedily put in force, as we read a
day or two after:—
"Two men wher wyped about London after a carts hors for loythring, and
as wagabones." Also, "A lad was wypd at the post in Chepe for ronnyng
abowt masterless as a vagobond."
"August 19th, 1552. Ther was a mon in the (pillory) in Chepe for
spykyng agaynst the Mayre and his br(ethren)."
"1559. Desembre 18th, did a woman ryd upone (a horse) with a paper on
her bed for boderie with a basen ryngyng."
1558-9, February 18th and 20th. "A man stood in the pelere with a coler
of smelts aboutt his neke for buying them as taken for the Qhwen" (by
pre-emption) "and sold them at his vantage amonge the fyswyffes."
"November 29th, 1560. Ther was a man ryd for bryngyng messele (measly)
porke to selle." A very wholesome punishment, which might be revived
with advantage amongst some of our sausage dealers. It would appear
that the French notion of John Bull selling his wife in Smithfield
is not altogether without foundation, as we read: "The XXIII day of
Novembre, 1553, dyd ryd in a cort cheken parsun of sant Necolas Cold
Abby round abowt London, for he sold ys wyff to a bowcher."
"1561. June 25th. Two pelores in Chepsyd, wher wer sett seven men for
kungaryng (conjuring)." It is fortunate for Messrs. Maskelyne and Cook
that they live in the nineteenth and not in the sixteenth century.
"1555. XXIX April, a man bawd was putte in the pelore for bryngyng
men's prentes (tradesmen's apprentices) harlots, the wyche they gayff
hym and them serten of their masters' goodes and wasted." And richly
did the rascal deserve the punishment; it is to be hoped he was well
pelted with rotten eggs.
Ring-dropping appears not to be a modern dodge of roguery, but of
the venerable age of three centuries at least, for we find that in
1553, April 17th, "a man was put in the pelere for fasshele (falsely)
deseyvyng of the Qhwens subgettes, sellyng of ryngs for golde and was
nodur seylver nor golde but cowper, the wyche he has deseyved money;
thys was done in Chepe." Also on July 3rd in the same year, "A man was
wypyd abowtt the post of reformacyon (a very good name) be the standard
in Chepsyd for sellyng of false ryngs."
The year 1557 was a glorious one for householders, for on September 5th
in that year "was a proclamasyon mad that the bochers of London shold
selle beyffe and moton and velle, the best for a penny fordyng the
pound, and nekes and legges at iii fordynges the pound, and the lambe
the quorter viiid., and yff they wyll not thay loysse ther fredom for
ever and ever."
The fire brigade of 1557 was on a very moderate scale as compared with
that of the present year of grace, and the members had charitable and
religious duties imposed on them which the brigade of modern times
would scarcely consider as coming within the sphere of their duty.
We read: "Jan. 7th, 1556-7, in Chosdwener Street Word a bellman was
appointed to go round the ward and ring his bell at the strett ends in
case of fire, and to helpe the powre (poor) and pray for the ded."
Index.
Abbey of St. Mary of Graces, 208;
abbots of, 216
Aldgate, 22;
churches, 181;
attacked, 192;
barons in, 190
Aldersgate Street, 118;
Aldersgate, 24;
churches, etc., 123
Amusements, 285
Anne of Bohemia, 55
Annesley, Samuel, 112
Artillery company, 93
Audley, Sir Thomas, 193
Bailly, Harry, 169
Bakers punished, 48
Bancroft, Francis, 108
Basset, Fulco, 262
Baynard's Castle, 232
Bishop, a brave old London, 262
Bishopgate, 26;
in charge of Hanseatic merchants, 27
Bishopsgate Street, 76
Boadicea, 3
Braybrooke, Robert de, Bishop of London, 249
Brember, Sir Nicholas, 236
Bridgegate, 31
British village, the, 2
Burning heretics, 276
Butchers' price of meat fixed, 290
Canterbury pilgrims, 170
Canute attacks London, 13
Charter, the Conqueror's, 220
Chaucer and the Tabard, 165
Churches, 35, 38, 43, 80, 81, 86, 87, 126, 127, 146, 181, 188, 195
Conduits, 37
Convent of St. Clare, 197
Cooks, 136
Cooper, Sir Astley, 145
Coronation, Queen Eleanor, 44
Cottage hospitals, 195
Cripplegate, 28
Cromwell family, 84-5
Crosses and images burnt, 277
Crosby, Sir John, 99
Crown Field, 36
Curfew, 36, 125
D'Albret, Sir Perducas, 241
Diarist, an old London, 269
Ditch, London, 20
Dowgate, 26
Drowning, execution by, 229
Dunmow flitch, 224
Edward III. in peril, 208-9, 236
Eleanor Cross, the, 38, 71
Excise Office, 159
Executions, 37;
_re_ Wyatt's rebellion, 274
Falcasius and the justice, 250
Fauconbridge, 23
Fires, incendiary, 138;
bellman at, 290
Fitzwalter, Baron, of Baynard's Castle, 219;
service and privileges, 225-6
Foreign merchants, 27, 61-64
Funerals, 278
Gates, 5, 22
Glass, 149
Gloucester, Duke of, 241-4
Gresham, Sir Thomas, 104;
Sir John, funeral, 280
Grossers' Company, 238
Helwood, Peter, 128
Henry III., 46
Henry VI., 56
Henry VIII., 57-60
Hoadley, Benjamin, 148
Holbein, Hans, 189
Holdsworth, Richard, 147
Hostelries, 136-8
Howard, Lord Edward, 65
Houses, historic, 99, 102-4, 106, 131-6, 143-6;
religious, and chapels, 87, 110-11, 113-15, 130, 153
Howell, James, 150
Hurricane, A.D. 1091, 35
Iconoclasm, 276
Inns, 96
Inscription, curious, 10
James I. enters London, 139
Jews, usury, massacre, etc., 49, 50;
synagogue, 115
Joscelyne, Ralph, _re_ walls, 17
Katherine of Valois, 55
Knighten Guild, 185
Knollys, Hansard, 114
Knowles, Sir Robert, 241
Leathersellers' Company, 93;
charters, 94;
halls, 95
Lollards, 259
London, pillaged, 4;
fortified, A.D. 1643, 19;
Roman remains, 77
Longbeard, W. Fitzosbert, 42
Lord Mayor's Day, 66
Louis XIV., anecdote, 91
Lud, King, 25
Ludgate, 25
Lydgate, 39
Machyn, Henry, 269;
diary, extracts from, 274
Marching watch, 56-60
Margaret of Anjou, pageant, 55
Matilda the Fair, 222-3
Matilda, Queen, 179
May Day, the Evil, 62
Mayors and aldermen, 122
Merchants' lecture, 156
Miracle plays, 257
Moorgate, 30
Nevil, Sir Thomas, 192
Newgate, 28;
John Offrem's escape, 29
Norman, Prior, 183, 186
Norman, Sir John, 67
Old Bishopsgate, 116
Old Broad Street, 142;
public buildings in, 161
Old Jewry, 48
Pageants, 55, 68, 281
Pamphlets, 73
Papey, the, 87
Paulet, Sir William, 144
Pawnbrokers, 195
Pestilence, 191
Pickaxe Street, 118
Pillory, 276-7
Pinder, Sir Paul, 101
Pinmakers, 152
Plantagenet, Edmund, 200
Post Office, 99
Praed, 97
'Prentices, 39
Printers and publishers, 140
Priory and Hospital of Bethlehem, 88
Priory and Hospital of the Holy Trinity, 178
Punishment, 287
Radcot Bridge, affair of, 246
Richard II., 237
Riots, goldsmiths' and tailors', 51
Roman Catholicism—Queen Mary—275
Roman remains, 77
Royal Society, the, 105
Seals, St. Helen's, 83;
St. Mary of Graces, 217
Scott, John, D.D., 148
Sildham, 54
St. Augustine's, 153
St. Bartholomew, fracas at, 265
St. Clare, 199
St. Mary Spital, 86
St. Paul's, 256
Tabard, the, 166
Temple Bar, 32
Thames, Valley of the, 1
Tombs, St. Botolph, 81;
St. Helen, 84
Tournament in Cheapside, 52
Traitors' quarters exposed, 122
Tresilian, Sir Robert, 245
Trinity Hall, 129
Tyler, Wat, slain, 240-1
Villeins, 212
Walls of London, 3-18
Walworth, Lord Mayor, 241
Wardhoke, 164
Wesley, John, 130
Wesleys, the, 112
Wife, sale of a, 289
William builds the Tower, 14
Workhouse founded, 107
Wyclif, 254
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_
Minor punctuation and printer errors repaired.
Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully
as possible, including obsolete and variant spellings and other
inconsistencies.