Church goods to be presented to the King’s Commissioners and for ye
paynes they toke abowte it, that is to say to Mr. Curate, iiiˢ iiijᵈ
and to Nicholas Poole, viˢ viiiᵈ.
Allso payde for two communion Bookes, viiˢ iiijᵈ.
Allso payde for the pullpit where the Curat and the Clark did reade
the chapitres at servis tyme, xiiiˢ iiijᵈ.
Without any notice of change of sovereign, the entries go straight on
to the service of the “old faith.”
Allso payd for an ymnall & a processionall, iiijˢ.
... for iij Great Antiphoners ij Grayles and a Masse Book, xlixˢ.
Also payde for an owlde Legente, a Massebook, and a processionall, and
an owlde Antyphoner, xiiˢ.
Allso payd to John Bray for the new trimming of an Antiphoner, ijˢ.
Allso payde for a Supplicacion to the Queen’s Majesty for the Church
goods.
Allso payde for a copie of the Instructions geven by the commissioners
to Mr. Smallwood and others for the Churchgoods, viᵈ.
William Pampion and John Bray (from 1 Mary to 1 and 2 Phil. & Mary),
early in their first year pay
to a painter for washing owte of the Skripture from of the hie Altar
table, xiiᵈ.
Item payde to Wyer for new byndynge of a mansel and a processyonall,
xiiᵈ.
The next churchwardens
Payd for making of a Serplis of the cloth that hung before the Rode
loft wrytten with the Commandements, ijˢ.
Richard Hodges and Robert Davys were churchwardens from 4 and 5 Phil.
and Mary to 2nd Eliz.
In their second year they
Payde for a Bybill & a paraphrase, xviˢ.
Item for a Communion Booke bounde in Parchmine, viˢ.
Item paid for a book of the names of all such persons as were buried
within the Parish from Mydsommer day in Anno domini 1558 until
Mydsommer day in the year 1559 delyvered to the vysytors, ijˢ.
Item for a chaine and two stapulles for the paraphrase. xᵈ.
John Skonner and John Hunter 2ⁿᵈ Eliz. to 4ᵗʰ Eliz.
First yere, Item a quire of paper, iiijᵈ.
... for a Psalter for the Quyre, xviiiᵈ.
... for Byndyng of a Communion Booke, xiiᵈ.
... for a Quyre of paper and for setting the same into the Register
booke, viᵈ.
Item for a new Calendar set for the order of our servys in the church,
iiijᵈ.
... For a paper with the 10 commaundements, xviᵈ.
2ⁿᵈ year Item, for making a bill to the Commissioners of concealed
lands, viiiᵈ.
Item for a Communion Book, iiijˢ.
William Worley and William Stanton, 4 to 6 Eliz.
payde for 4 qr bookes of psalmes in meeter for the quyer, iiiiˢ viiiᵈ.
Item to Nicholas Poole for the pryckinge of two bookes withe _Te Deum
Laudamus_ for the quyre, xᵈ.
Item payd for 2 bookes of meeter psalmes of the gretest volume for the
quyer bought by Poole, iiˢ viiiᵈ.
... for a quire of paper for the making of a certificate of strangers,
iiijᵈ.
... for a book of the Queens Matⁱᵉˢ injunctions, viᵈ.
... a quier of paper for a book for clerk’s wages, iiijᵈ.
... for 4 qʳ songe bookes for the service of God in the same churche,
vˢ.
... for 4 qʳ bookes of service for the cessing of warres, xviᵈ.
... for 4 qʳ books of prayer to God for the cessing of the plague,
viiiᵈ.
... To a booke bynder for newe byndynge and mendinge of sondrie places
of the Bible iijˢ.
For a quier of papier for the clerke to make weekely certificates unto
the Court of all Burials and cristenings, iiijᵈ.
... to Christopher Robinson for a copy of Edmond Wilgres Will signed
under the hand of Mr. Argall, iiiˢ iiijᵈ.
William Spencer and John Fisher, 1564 to 1566.
payd for two quyer of paper, viiiᵈ.
... one pynte of ynke, viiiᵈ.
... for two paddelocks for the Register cheaste, xviᵈ.
Item, payd for a quyre of paper for the Register Book, iiiiᵈ.
Item, payd for 2 psalme books for the Quyer, iiiiˢ.
It. payd to Mr. Archdeacon’s man for writing a book of Articles, xijᵈ.
For two psalme bookes for the quyer, iiijˢ.
For a quire of paper for certificates, iiijᵈ.
For writing a book for the Collectors, xᵈ.
For two Books of Prayers, ijᵈ.
Richard Gybbes and Roger Boseley, 1566 to 1568, 2nd year.
Item paid for a Book of Queen’s Injuncions, iiijᵈ.
... for a Book of Homilies, iiiiˢ.
... for twoo books of prayers set out by the Byshoppe of Canterbury to
be redd Sondaies Wedensdaies & fridaies, viᵈ.
... for a Certyficate made of all the strangers within the parische,
viᵈ.
... for one book of Homelyes and another book called a protestation,
xiiᵈ.
John Jennens and Richard Garradd, 1568-1570.
Item payde for byndyng and new covering of the Bybell, viˢ viiiᵈ.
... for the writing of a book to the Queen’s maiesties Commissioners
for armer, xijᵈ.
... for writing of a booke to Mr. Latimer of articles, xijᵈ.
George Bryghte and Nicholas Corne, 1570-1572.
Item payd for a new booke of the Queen’s Majesties injuncions, iiijᵈ.
... for a plott of the church drawn out in parchment, xxᵈ.
... payd to the Registre for entering our booke of presentments when
we delivered up the same, iiijᵈ.
Thomas Clerke and Andrew Holborne, 1572-1574.
Item for a new Regyster book for to wryte in the names of every
buryall crystening and marryge that is in the Parisshe, vˢ.
... for 3 new books of common prayers set owt by the Bishop, viᵈ.
... for writyng a copy of the Artycles, iiijᵈ.
John Wheler and Edward Taylor, 1574-1576.
Item payd for a coppy of the Artycles gyven by the vysytors to the
sworn men to inquyr of, ijˢ.
Item payd for a new Byble of the largest volume, xxviiiˢ.
The accompt of Davy Rogeres and John Ryall, 1576-1577, during which
year John Ryall died, and the following year the account is of John
Fyssher and Davy Rogers, 1577-1578.
1st year Item payd for tow iron chauynes for the tow paraphrases of
Erasmus.
Item paid for making writinge & drawing out of the lease of St. Anns
Chappell to laye wood in for the poore, vˢ viiiᵈ.
These continue in office for a second term.
The Accompt of John Fisher and Davy Rogers, 1578-1580, has no literary
expenses worth noting.
The Accompte of Thomas Wharton and John Lovadge, 1580-1582, 2nd yere.
Item payd for a Book of Abridgments of Statutes to remain in the
church, ixˢ.
John Bradshawe and William Conham, 1582-1584, the usual paper, ink,
parchments, and nothing else.
Richard Ferris and George Lee, 1584-1586, the same.
Morris Pickeringe and John Prieste, 1586-1588.
Item payde for a Communyone Booke, vijˢ.
Item payde for an Hower glasse, iiijᵈ.
Item payde for three Psalter bookes, vˢ.
Item payde for a lace for a register for the communion booke, viᵈ.
Item payd to Robert Jones for wrytynge of certayne duties ordered by
the consentes of the parish and for wrytynge the names of the pore
people of Mr. Cornellis his almes howses, xiiᵈ.
Item payd for three bokes of prayers for the Queenes Matie, viᵈ.
Item payd for a Book of Injuncions, iiijᵈ.
Item payd to Mr. Price for two bookes of prayers for the Queenes
Mayesties daye, viᵈ.
Item paid for a backe and cheste for a writting table.
Item payd to the joyner for makeing a Table wherein are sett the
names of all such that payde in every ward towards the statute of
Westminster, and for wrytyng of the same table, ijˢ viijᵈ.
Thomas Cooper and Richard Ireland, 1588-1589-90.
1st year Item payd for the wrytynge of a copye of Mr. Warnham’s Will,
viᵈ.
Item payd for two prayer books, when the Spanisshe Fleete was upon the
narrow Seas, iijᵈ.
Item payd for mendinge the Table of the Tenn Commaundements that
hangeth over the Communion Table, ijˢ.
Item payd for makinge of the Indentures between Baron Southerton and
the Churchwardens, xijᵈ.
William Towe and Cuthbert Lyne, 1590-1591.
Item payd to Thomas Collins for drawing certen articles of agreements
for the benefit of the Churche & after for ingrossing them into the
Register Booke, iiijˢ.
The Accompt of Marmaduke Servaunt and Thomas Cole, 1592-1594. This
being plague time there was little literature.
William Goddard and George Waites, 1594-1596.
Item geven to Mr. Fletcher a precher who preched the 4 of August being
Sonday in the afternoon by consent of such of the vestry as were
present at that sermon, vˢ.
2ⁿᵈ yere Item geven to Jhon Crewonne alias Foke a pore scoller borne
in this parish after a sermon by him made in this church by consent of
such of the vestry as were present at that sermon, xxˢ.
Roger Darly and Samuel Haselwood, 1596-1598.
Item for a prayer-book, jᵈ.
2ⁿᵈ yere. Item for a Communion Booke & a Psalter book, bothe embossed,
viiiˢ iiijᵈ.
Item for a praier book, ijᵈ.
Henry Weatherfield and William Man, 1598-1600.
It. gyven to Mr. Ailworthe for preaching on Easter day, xˢ.
Item payd for a service book, iijˢ.
Robert Gouldinge and William Stanlake 1602-1604.
There was plague again. Only at the end there is an entry,
Item payed 24ᵗʰ March, for four books, xxiᵈ.
the very date of Elizabeth’s death and James’s accession.
William Carter and John Butcher, 1604-1606, head their title-page
with the motto “Tempora mutantur et nos mutantur in illis.” After 5th
November 1605 they paid
Item for three prayer bookes, xiiᵈ.
Item to Thomas Collins Scrivener for drawing and ingrossyng an
abstract to be delivered for the justices, xˢ.
Item for the search of three wills, iijˢ.
Item for an Almanack, jᵈ.
They seem to have had their almanacks regularly after this.
John Fabyan and Thomas Tickeridge, 1606-1608, were not literary.
Thomas Bond and Christopher Bennet, 1608-1610, paid
Item for an Almanack & paper, iiiᵈ.
To Mr. Burte the preacher for three sermons, xxˢ.
For four bookes of Common Prayer, xixˢ.
Thomas Walker and John Mulys, 1610-1612.
6th week. Item paid for a Spunge Ink & paper, xiᵈ ob.
5th August 1611. Item payd for a paper booke of two quyers redie
bownde for the Sexton to register the names of all them that are to be
buried under everie pewe, and for other paper to be spent about other
businesses and for boathier furthe & backe, iiˢ xᵈ.
Payd for twoe hundred leaves of parchment & for the ruling and binding
of the same at iijᵈ the leafe to Registre the Christenings buryings &
weddynges therein, lˢ.
Item for three prayer bookes for the Churche, xiiᵈ.
Item paid unto the preacher for a sermon made the Vᵗʰ of August, viˢ
viiiᵈ.
This would probably relate to the Gowry conspiracy, keenly remembered
by James.
Item for a sermon made the xviiᵗʰ of August, viˢ viiiᵈ.
Item paid to the preacher for a sermon made more, viˢ viiiᵈ.
Item payd to John Roade for wrytynge the names of all such persons as
were presented for not receiving of the holy Communion at Eeaster last
past 1611, iiijᵈ.
The chapter naturally closes here, completing the changes through the
four reigns, with the new edition of the Bible, published 1610-11;
since then comparative permanence of creed and custom has prevailed.
Each point seems trifling in itself, but helps to piece together the
fragments of the past into one connected whole.
_“Athenæum,” 12th June 1897._
XXI
OLD WORKINGS AT TINTERN ABBEY
Among the heterogeneous papers of the Court of Requests are preserved a
few which remain of general importance.
A complaint was made on 25th June, 2 James I, by “the Governors,
Assistants, and Society of the City of London, of and for the Mineral
and Battery Works,” which gives interesting details as to the advance
of science, and the progress of manufactures at that time. It is
stated that the late Queen Elizabeth had been told by William Humphrey,
Saymaster of the Mint in the Tower, that by great efforts he had induced
one Christopher Shutz, now deceased, an Almaine, born at St. Annen
Burgh, under the obedience of the Elector of Saxony, a workmaster of
great conning, knowledge and experience, as well in the finding of the
Calamine Stone, called in Latin _Lapis Calaminaris_, and in the proper
use thereof, and in the mollifying and manuring of Iron and Steele and
drawing and forging the same into Wyer and plates for the making of
armour, and for divers other necessary and profitable uses, to come
over with him to this country.
The Queen, through her good hope in the possible success of this
enterprise under Shutz, granted letters patent at Westminster, dated
17th September, 7 Eliz., giving full power to the said William Humphrey
and Christopher Shutz, their deputies, servants, and workmen,
to search, dig, mine for the Calamine Stone and all kinds of Battery
wares, to make cast-worke and wyer of Lattin, Iron, Steel, and
Battery, to manure and work into all manner of plate and wyer,
to their own profit for ever. And they were allowed to build any
houses suitable for their work, at their own cost and charges, on
her royal property or the property of any of her subjects, without
any let or hindrance, with various other powers, privileges, and
immunities for raising sufficient stock, for building of watercourses,
for provision of wood and coal, paying wages and buying tools, and
other things necessary. William Humphrey and Christopher Shutz gave
concessions of shares to others, and these were, by another royal
patent, incorporated into a company by the name of “the Governors,
Assistants, and Society of the Mineral and Battery Works.” It seemed to
have succeeded. The Right Hon. William, the late Earl of Worcester,
owned lands in Tintern and Chapelhill, co. Monmouth, with divers houses
built thereon, and in 29 Eliz., in consideration of a large sum of
money paid as a fine, he leased them to the Society for twenty-one
years by a legal deed, which might be renewed. This included all the
edifices in the parish of Chapelhill, in the lordship of Tintern, co.
Monmouth, that were erected, or would be erected for their works; also
as much as they required of the stream called Angewe Brook, with the
waters, watercourses, banks, dams, walls, fences, and enclosures for
its necessary course to the houses and buildings. The land extended
from the Tryenbridge to the meadow then in the tenure of John Edwyn
_alias_ Barbor and Margaret his wife, and so much of the old ditch
or watercourse which was digged to convey water out of the brook to
the mill that sometime stood within the walls or precincts of Tintern
Abbey, and all the banks and enclosures of this old ditch from the
beginning of the old issue out of Angewe Brook to where the Barbor’s
hedge crossed the ditch, and the new ditch made lately to bring the
water back to Angewe Brook, as far as it led to Tryenbridge, with free
ingress and egress, liberty to dig, to convey away, and to make water
passages for their use. The only rights reserved to the Earl were the
woods and mines on the estate; all other rights were transferred to the
Company, it paying £4 a year as rent, and rendering certain services to
the lord.
* * * * *
They reminded King James that he had renewed the patent on 22nd January
last past, and signified his royal pleasure that he would grant a
new and more effective patent, and no one should interfere with the
Company. They set to work 600 poor people on the spot, and helped
20,000 others of the people. Notwithstanding this, one John Phillipps
and Gwenllian his wife, late wife of Thomas Welsh _alias_ Irish,
deceased, of Chapelhill,
being riotous and outrageous and evil disposed persons, and intending
the let and hindrance of the wire works at Tintern, the utter undoing
of the poor people therein working, and the disturbance of the Company
in its quiet proceedings, having gotten into their hands the deeds of
the lease made by the Earl and other deeds belonging to the Company,
have made forcible entry by outrageous means, as by throwing of
scalding water, and with spits and other desperate weapons have forced
out and kept out the Company’s workmen out of their working places,
and houses built upon the ground for them
by the plaintiffs’ predecessors, to their great loss. These defendants
also
stop the watercourses which issue from these works and work-houses,
so that the wheels of the other houses are so drowned in water they
cannot turn. This is to the great impoverishment of the poor workmen
and the many thousands who live by working the wire to divers uses,
which is first made by these workmen. If these defendants are allowed
to continue their oppressions, it will become a general harm to
the whole dominion, for many depend on wire to make woolcards and
many other things of great necessity, which cannot elsewhere be so
plentifully had, except from foreign parts.
In tender consideration of their difficulties, seeing they cannot sue
at common law because they have not the lease granted them by the Earl,
and do not remember the exact dates, and also for the present necessity
of the continuance and daily keeping up of the wire works and poor
people at work, and as the action of the defendants is an intolerable
offence not only to the plaintiffs, but to the commonwealth, and work
may not be stayed or hindered a week without great loss all round; they
therefore pray a privy seal to be sent to John Phillipps and Gwenllian
his wife to appear immediately, and also an injunction to them to stop
all their proceedings until they have answered this complaint.
Unfortunately the rest of the suit is not to hand, and we have no
“answer,” “replication,” or “depositions” to supply further details,
but they may be found yet. Meanwhile Dr. Owen might turn his researches
to a practical use and excavate the site--perhaps even find the
Company’s books, with the name of Bacon as a shareholder, a little
further up the Wye, where the Anjou Brook enters it.
“_Athenæum,” 24th June 1911._
XXII
“MR. SHAKSPEARE ABOUT MY LORDE’S IMPRESO”
Mr. Stevenson’s discovery among the lately calendared Belvoir MSS. of
an apparent reference to the poet stirred the Shakespearean world.
It encouraged us in the hope that somehow, somewhere, we might some
day discover more important facts; but nevertheless it puzzled us. It
did not quite seem to fit into the known facts of the poet’s career.
There is an indefiniteness, too, about the wording of this entry which
makes it different from the ordinary records of the Steward’s book
of payments. It is not “for,” but “_about_ an Impreso.” There is no
suggestion of the material on or in which the device was worked, nor
whether the idea, complete in some material, or only the design of it,
was referred to.
The impresa was a private and personal device, as distinguished from
the family coat of arms, and was especially used in tournaments and
masques when there was some attempt at concealing one’s identity. A
coat of arms told a man’s name as clearly as written or spoken words;
an impresa, especially when used for the first time, would be known
only to the intimate personal friends of the wearer.
The Belvoir impresa of 1613 was about to be used for the first time.
Roger, Earl of Rutland, who, in company with the Earl of Southampton,
in 1599 “went not to the Court, but only to see plays every day,”
had died, and had been succeeded by his brother Francis, who was now
preparing for a Court tournament.
There is nothing surprising in the poet’s being employed by the Earl
of Rutland, nor in his being able to design a device, nor even in his
using his hands in fashioning it. His association with Burbage seems to
strengthen the fact. The players of the day knew about preparations for
festivities, and all the Burbages seem to have been handy men. We know
that the poet was interested in heraldry through the Sonnets and the
plays, as well as through his method of securing arms for himself.
The Steward’s account in which the reference to Shakespeare occurs runs
as follows:
Aug., 1612, to Aug., 1613.
Account of Thomas Screven.
Payments in 1612-13.
5 Feb. Paied to Edward Morris, embroderer, in parte for my Lord’s
masking suyte, xl_li._ 12 Feb. More to him, xx_li._--lx_li._ ...
29 Martii. Paied to Mrs. Gascard, a French woman in Black Friers, for
the plume for my Lords caske, fetheres, &c. ... xxiiij_li._ ...
14 May. Paid for a forest seale of my Lords arms of 4 coats & creast
& forest mantlings, the silver 4 oz., xx_s._ Making & graving it,
vi_li._ x_s._ In all, vii_li._ 10_s._
21 May. Paied to Morris the embroderer in full for the masking suite,
xxiii_li_. ...
14 Dec. Paied to Fisher, bytmaker, for a paire of guilt styrrops,
xxiiij_s._ A guilte snaffle, xii_s._ A silvered snaffle, x_s._ A paire
of silvered stirrops, xx_s._ Bought in July last for the King and
Prince, iii_li._ vi_s._ ...
21 Martii. Paied to Knight that drewe the armes with helmet, crest,
and mantlinges in 4 eschocheons upon 2 banners for 2 trumpettes,
and making them up, being 20 coates, viii_li._ Ryban, xvi_d._ ...
viii_li._ i_s._ iiii_d._
31 Martii. To Mr. Shakspeare _in gold_, about my Lord’s impreso,
xliv_s._; To Richard Burbage for paynting & making yt, _in gold_,
xliv_s._ ... iiii_li._ viii_s._
The name of Shakespeare does not occur again, but, curiously enough,
another entry shows Richard Burbage at similar work, at a time very
near the close of the poet’s life:
25 Martii, 1616. Given to Richard Burbidge for my Lorde’s shelde, and
for the embleance, iiii_li_. xviii_s._
It seemed quite clear that the above entry referred to the poet, and
yet many students have an uneasy sense of dissatisfaction, and I have
been tempted to mention two alternative theories. The money that was
paid him “about my Lord’s impreso” might have been paid him to convey
to some one else; or the entry might refer to another “Mr. Shakspeare”
altogether. There was one in London at the time. A John Shakspeare
married Mary Gooderidge in St. Clement Danes on 3rd February 1604-5. He
was a fashionable bit-maker, was in the royal service, and might well
be called “Mr.” by the Belvoir Steward. He was probably master of the
Loriners’ Company, though we cannot be sure of this, as the early books
of the guild are lost. But we know that in St. Clement Danes he was
buried: “John Shackespeare, the King’s Bitmaker, 27 Jan., 1633”; and
that the King was indebted to him at his death to the extent of £1,692
11_s._ (See my “Shakespeare’s Family,” p. 147.)
Many entries of payments to him are recorded in the Wardrobe Accounts
of Charles as Prince and King, for wares concerning horses, carriages,
tournaments, and tiltings--so many that I can only here give limited
selections.
In the account of Sir John Villiers, Master of the Wardrobe to Prince
Charles---Exchequer Q.R. 434 (4), 1617--there appear:
To John Shakespeare for 18 Bitts, with guilte Bosses at xx_s._ a
piece, xviii_li._
More for 18 cavasson irons at x_s._ a piece, ix_li._
To John Shakespeare for a strong removing vice for the sadler’s
office, 1_s._
To John Shakespeare for trymming of bittes, for esses, cheynes, bolts,
rivets, curbes, and new mouthing, and for all manner of reparacions,
as under the hand of the Clarke of His Highness’ stable appeareth,
lv_li._ ii_s._
In the second account of the same nobleman--Exchequer Q.R. 434 (9),
1617--there occur:
To John Shakespeare for 10 dozen of hunting snaffles at xl_s._ the
dozen, xx_li._
To John Shakespeare for 30 Bitts with caste [_i.e._, chased] and
guilte bosses at xxxvi_s._ a piece, liv_li._
To John Shakespeare for two guilte bitts with guilt bosses for his
highness’ use at v_li._ a piece, x_li._
To John Shakespeare for 20 Bitts with guilte and graven Bosses for
Caroch Horses at xxx_s._ a piece, xxx_li._
In the third account of Viscount Purbeck, Master of the Wardrobe to
Prince Charles--Exchequer Q.R. 434 (14), 1618-19--
To John Shakespeare for 4 Bitts, with caste and guilte Bosses at
xx_s._ a piece, iiij_li._
More for viii. wattering Bittes at xii_s._ vi_d._, v_li._
To John Shakespeare for 18 Bittes with caste & guilte bosses at
xxx_s._ a bitt, xxvii_li._
More to him for Caroche Bittes with engraven & gilt bosses at xxx_s._
a bit, xxii_li._ x_s._
To John Shakespeare for two guilt & silvered Bitts engraven and guilte
all over at v_li._ a piece, x_li._
The fourth account of Viscount Purbeck still points to the rich work
done--Exchequer Q.R. 435 (6), 1620--
To John Shakespeare for xiiii bittes guilt, silvered, and chast at
v_li._ x_s._ a piece, iiiˣˣ xvii_li._
To one payre of bosses richly ornamented, 1_s._
In the account of Lord Compton--Exchequer Q.R. 435, 14, 1622--there are
varieties:
Expenses of the Royal Green Velvet Carroache....
To John Shakespeare for v Byttes with guilte bosses at xv_s._ a Bytt,
iii_li._ xv_s._ ...
For the Blue Velvett coach sent beyond seas....
To John Shakespeare for sixe coach byttes, with guilt bosses charged
with the armes of England at xxiii_s._ vi_d._ a piece comes to
vii_li._ vi_s._