tion upon the court. He had never heard the question raised. Respectability of character was alone enquired into, and religion and politics were wholly left out of consideration. There were no Roman Catholics on the court. There had never been a tacit understanding that Dissenters should be passed over. master nor wardens give security to the company. Neither the He was able to state how many members of the court were connected by relationship, business, or marriage. No members of the court were in partnership with each other. There were two brothers on the court, as well as two others connected by marriage. In answer to a question from a liveryman,-"If that was all the family connexions on the court?"-Mr. Lawford said, "He was anxious to give very full information upon all questions, and be had answered the point." Another liveryman said "he had made out a statement shewing that twenty-four members of the court had either sons, brothers, or other relatives on the livery." Mr. Lawford replied that "the livery being gained by patrimony, this of necessity must be the case. Of In regard to the instances of parties being passed over who, by seniority, were entitled to be on the court,-Mr. Lawford could state there were about thirty-two liverymen who, by seniority, were entitled to be on the court, and passed over. these three were clergyman, eleven bankrupts, or had not paid 20s. in the pound, seven lived at too great a distance from town, and the remaining eleven were passed over without any particular reason being assigned. The liveryman who last spoke said "he was one of the eleven who had been passed over without any particular cause being assigned. For upwards of thirty years he had been on the livery, and he certainly had looked forward to the period of being elected on the court; and he felt much disappointed that he had been passed over." Commissioner (Sir Francis Palgrave,) said the elections were conducted by the ballot, and therefore it was impossible to tell what was the cause of rejection. As to the office of clerk, Mr. Lawford stated that he gave security himself to the extent of 50007., and two sureties to the amount of 25001. each. There was no competition for the office on his election. His predecessor succeeded his father in the year 1797. Sir Francis Palgrave asked whether a composition with creditors would be considered a sufficient cause of removal from the court? Mr. Lawford said he considered it would; but in that case resignation would voluntarily take place. According to the byelaws passed in 1707, an insolvent who had not paid 20s. in the pound could not be eligible to remain on the court: with respect to the exclusion from the court, he wished to state that it extended over a period of from twenty-five to thirty years. The freedom of the company was obtained by patrimony, servitude, redemption, and gift. Every child of a freeman, male and female, was entitled by patrimony to the freedom. There was no instance of any person on the court receiving a pension. Mr. Town Clerk of London asked if Mr. Lawford was aware of an order issued by the Court of Aldermen in 1733, directing the master and wardens of the city companies to return to the corporation the names of such persons as had been admitted into the different companies? Mr. Lawford replied he was not aware of the existence of any such document. In answer to questions as to what period the Drapers' Company ceased to have any control over the trade of drapers? what was its age? and when its former exercise of the right of trade search had ceased? Mr. Lawford said the company's control over the drapers' trade must have ceased gradually. He should suppose that the company possessed control over the trade subsequently to the reign of Queen Anne: the records, however, were principally destroyed. by the fire of London. Mr. Town Clerk said there was an old order of the Court of Aldermen directing a search for unfair drapers' goods at Bartholomew Fair. The control of the drapers was diminished by the powers exercised by the Clothworkers', the Mercers', and the Merchant Tailors' Companies. As to the company's age, Mr. Lawford said it must have existed in the reign of Richard I. Mr. Town Clerk. "It existed then as a brotherhood." Mr. Lawford. "The first Lord Mayor was a draper, and he held that office during his life." Mr. Town Clerk observed there could be no doubt but that the weavers and drapers were amongst the earliest companies on record. Mr. Lawford, in continuation, said, "The freemen of the company became liverymen by order of the court of assistants. Respectability and competency were required, and their being reputed worth 10007., after payments of just debts, Ff was considered a necessary qualification. The parties being pawnbrokers was originally a disqualification. The livery might be lost, but, where the cases had occurred, it was in consequence of application being made to have the livery fine returned. The number of the livery was according to the accommodation the hall would afford for the feasts. This was originally the case; but in 1802 it was resolved to allow persons to take up their livery on condition that they signed a disclaimer foregoing the right to be invited to the dinners. The hall would hold about 160; and that was the reason why the disclaimer not to expect to be called to dinner, on the part of freemen admitted to the livery, was required. A The master presided at all meetings of the court, both for business and conviviality. The clerk of the company was the treasurer, and the renter-warden had no business with the accounts. poor-roll had been established, which was always kept full, sixty poor freemen being upon it, to whom 101. was given a year. The master and wardens gave quarterly sums of money to about fifty or sixty other poor persons; this was called the company's bounty. In cases where members of the court fell into decay, they received, upon application, pensions during the court's pleasure. One person, recently deceased, received 2001. per annum; but he had been a person in high repute, and the city, when he fell into decay, gave him back his sheriffs' fine. Mr. Town Clerk agreed in the propriety of the latter case. Mr. Lawford said the highest pension now paid to decayed members of the court was 1501. The pension was never granted until full inquiry had been made. The court would certainly annul the pension if the party afterwards become wealthy. The attendance-fee given to members of the court was two guineas each. The charter and bye-laws were not accessible to the livery at large; and no application had been made in his time for the purpose of looking into the accounts of the company; he was, however, authorized to state that at the company's hall the commissioners might examine all the company's accounts. Sir F. Palgrave said that Mr. Drinkwater had undertaken the financial department, and would make an appointment with the company for the inspection of the accounts. 1 Nicholas Wotton, M.P. 1414, 1419, 1421.10 John Gidney, or Godney, M.P. 1414." John Brockle, or Brockley, M.P. 1421.12 St. Swithin's lane, St. Swithin's lane; Threadneedle-street parish. Amongst the lord mayors of this company before 1714, eight have been the heads of noble families; seven have held the mayoralty for successive years, (including Fitz-Alwin, as above); forty-three have been knights or baronets; fifteen have represented the city in parliament, (some of them for several sessions); and seven have been founders of churches and public buildings, or otherwise of distinguished celebrity.-N.B. Those mayors to whose names M.P. is affixed, represented the city in parliament. 2 The liberties of the city were seized, and the above mayor changed, because he looked not to the assize of bread. 3 Mayor from 1253 to 1258. He served sheriff with John Tolason in 1249. He founded St. Laurence Pultney College, then Candlewick street. 5 His family continued 200 or 300 years afterwards in Suffolk. St. Alphage, near Cripplegate. St. Swithin's, London Stone. St. Martin Ongar's, Cannon, or Candlewick street. St. Christopher's, church, Threadneedle-street 6 Of whom the Andrews of Chevelton, in Northamptonshire, are descended. 7 Stow in one place terms him "Skinner." He was, in consequence of alleged malversations and quarrels with the fishmongers, committed to gaol, and had his effects confiscated. 8 Founder of the church of St. Swithin, London stone. 9 Son of John Cromar, of Aldenham, Herts., and ancestor of Sir James Cromar, of Tunstall, Kent. 10 Son of Thomas Wotton, of London, gent. Of him the lords Wotton are descended. "Son of William Gidney, of St. Ives, in Cambridgeshire. He was the first master under Henry the VI.'s patent. He did penance for marrying a widow professed. See Strype's Stow, under head St. Christopher, Bread-street ward. 12 Son to William Brockale, of Newport Pagnel, Bucks. 1 Son of Thomas Clopton, of Clopton, in Cambridgeshire. 2 Son of William Eyre, of Brandon, Suffolk, and founder of Leadenhall. 3 Son of William Norman, of Banbury, Oxfordshire. 4 Son of Robert Scott, of Dorney, Bucks. From him descended (says Strype,) Sir Anthony Cooke, of Gidea hall, Essex. Son to Geffrey Joceline, of Sawbridgeworth, in Hertfordshire, knight of the Bath, and also in the field. From him descended the Jocelines, of Jocelin hall, Essex. The city walls were repaired in his mayoralty. 7 Son to John Drope, of St. Edes, in Huntingdonshire. Son to Edward James, of London, upholder; made knight in the field by Edward IV. • Son to John Harriot, of Seegrave, Leicestershire. Buried. St. Mary Woolnoth, Lombard street. The same. Allhallows, Honey lane. Austin Friars. St. Swithin's, London Stone. St. Michael's, Cornhill St. Dunstan's, east. St. Swithin's, London Stone. St. Bartholomew's, Royal Exchange. St. Christopher le Stocks. Church of Walthamstow. St. Nicholas Acon, Lombard street. Church of the Crutched Friars; afterwards St. Edmund, Lombard street. Whittington College Church. St. Michael's, Cornbill. St. John Evangelist, Friday street. 10 He died in his mayoralty, as did also Sir Thomas Hill, whom he preceded, leaving the year to be served out by John Ward. 11 Son to William White, of Tickhill, in the county of York. 12 Son of John Capell, of Stoke Neyland, Suffolk. Knighted by Henry VII. He first caused a cage to be set up in every ward for the punishment of vagabonds. 13 Son of Thomas Achilly, of Stanwardine, Shropshire. 14 Son to Thomas Bruges, of Dymmocke, in Gloucestershire. 15 Son to John Milborne, of Long Melford, Suffolk. 16 Son to John Bailey, of Thacksted, Essex. 17 Son to Robt. Rudstone, of Hatton, Yorkshire. 18 Son to John Askew, or Ascough, of Edmonton, Middlesex. |