Memorials: 1400

Declaration as to the Christian name of Drew Barentyn.

1 Henry IV. A.D. 1400. Letter-Book I. fol. i. (Latin.)

"On the 10th day of March, in the first year of King Henry, after the Conquest the Fourth, Drew Barentyn, (fn. 1) citizen and goldsmith of London, came before Thomas Knolles, the Mayor, and the Aldermen, in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the said city, to notify unto them that, whereas he, the same Drew, was enrolled on the 30th day of April in the 38th year (fn. 2) of the reign of King Edward the Third, late King of England, in the Red Paper of purchases of the freedom and of apprenticeships in the City of London, under the name of 'Andrew Barentyn'; and afterwards, on the 26th day of October in the 44th year (fn. 3) of the reign of the same King Edward, was admitted, in the Black Paper of purchases of the freedom and of apprenticeships in the said city, as a freeman of the said city, under the name of 'Andrew Barentyn'; through negligence on part of the writer of the indentures of apprenticeship of the aforesaid Andrew, who thought that 'An'dreas' was the proper Latin word (fn. 4) for 'Drew':—he now entreats the said Mayor and Aldermen, that he, the same Drew, may enjoy for the future, and assert, his freedom aforesaid from the said times of enrolment and admission, in the name of 'Drew 'Barentyn,' citizen and goldsmith of London; and that nothing in the meantime done, or in future to be done, by the same Drew in the name of 'Drew Barentyn', by reason of his freedom aforesaid, or of his enrolment or admission as an apprentice, as being a freeman of the said city, shall in any way be annulled, but shall remain in full strength and force. Which Mayor and Aldermen, considering the prayer of the aforesaid Drew to be proper and reasonable, and also, well knowing that the aforesaid Drew is one and the same person with him who was enrolled and admitted in the papers before mentioned under the name of 'An'drew Barentyn,' and this, through the negligence before stated, and that he is not another or different person; and desiring to do justice and keep good faith with all, as they are bound to do; do grant by these presents that he, the said Drew, may assert and enjoy his freedom aforesaid, together with all things touching his freedom, from the times aforesaid, and so for the future, by the name of 'Drew Barentyn,' etc."

Petition of the Pouchmakers, as to the supervision of Galoches.

2 Henry IV. A.D. 1400. Letter-Book I. fol. vi. (Latin and Norman French.)

(fn. 5) On the 16th day of October, in the 2nd year etc., the reputable men of the trade of Pouchemakers presented unto the Mayor and Aldermen a certain petition, as follows.—

(fn. 6) Unto the honourable Lords, the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London, pray the folks of the trade of Pouchemakers in the said city, that it may please your very gracious Lordships to grant unto them and order, that the making of galoches (fn. 7) of wood in the said city, of which no one has the governance, and which was formerly [by] the Pouchemakers invented and established, shall be under their governance and rule, and entered of record, for the common and necessary profit of all the said city; inasmuch as there is great default in this respect, as well as to false and not durable leather, as to false workmanship, and other secret defaults."

(fn. 8) Which petition having been read before the said Mayor and Aldermen, and with no small pains fully understood and estimated, seeing that by such petition it was manifestly shown that the rule and supervision of galoches, in the same specified, was clearly required for the benefit and advantage of the public, it was granted by the same Mayor and Aldermen, that the Masters of the said trade of Pouchemakers should have the rule and supervision of wooden galoches within the liberty of the City; so long as it should seem expedient to the Mayor and Aldermen of the said city, for the time being, and to the commonalty of the said city it should be useful and necessary.