Part 4

Be it remembred that where there hath been of late a variaunce and controversie moeved & had betwene the Maist’, Wardeyns, and Feolaship of the Skynn’s of the Citee of London on the one p’tie, and the Maist’, Wardeyns, & Feolaship of Taillors of the same Citee on that other p’tie, for the roume & place in their going afore in p’cessions within the same Citee: And for ceasyng and pacifying thereof the said Maist’rs, Wardeyns, and Feolashipps of both the said p’ties, the x^{th} day of Aprill the first yere of the reign of Kyng Richard the iii^{de}, of their free willes have comp’mitted and submitted theymself to stonde and obey the Rule and Jugeme’t of Robt. Billesdon, Mair, and th’ aldremen of the said Citee of London: Whereuppon the said Mair and Aldremen, the day and yeere abovesaid, takyng uppon theym the Rule, direccion, and charge of arbitreme’t of and in the premisses for norishing of peas and love betwene the Maisters, Wardeyns, and Feolashipps aforesaid, the which ben ii grete and wirshipfull membres of the said Citee, by thassent and agreeme’t of the Maist’s and Wardeyns of both the said Feolashipps have adjugged and awarded in the forme that foloweth: First, that the said Maist’ and Wardeyns of Skynn’s shall yerely desire and pray the said Maist’ and Wardeyns of Taillors to dyne with theym atte their Com’on Hall in the vigill of Corp’ X’ti, yf the same Maist’ and Wardeyns of Skynn’s than make an open Dyner; and that the said Maist’ and Wardeyns of Taillors so praied shall yeerely dyne then and there with the said Maist’ and Wardeyns of Skynn’s aforesaid withoute a reasonable excuse had: Also, it is awarded and adjugged that the said Maist’ and Wardeyns of Taillors shall yeerely desire and pray the said Maist’ and Wardeyns of Skynn’s to dyne with theym in the Fest of the Nativitee of Seint John Bapt’e if thei there than kepe an oppen dyner at their Com’on Hall; and that the said Maist’ and Wardeyns of Skynn’s so praied shall yerely dyne than and there with the said Maist’ and Wardeyns of Taillors aforesaid, withoute a reasonable excuse, etc. Moreover, to sette aparte all manner occasions of strif and debate which hereaft’ myght fall betwene the Maist’s, Wardeyns, and Feolashipps aforesaid for the rowme and going in p’cessions as it is above rehersed, it was awarded and jugged by the said Mair and Aldremen, the day and yeere abovesaid, that the said Maist’, Wardeyns, and Feolaship of Skynn’s shall goo in all p’cessions before the said Maist’, Wardeyns, and Feolaship of Taillors from the Fest of Easter next comyng unto the Fest of Easter than next ensuyng; and that the said Maist’, Wardeyns, and Feolaship of Taillors from the same Fest of Easter then next ensuyng shall goo in all p’cessions before the said Maist’, Wardeyns, and Feolaship of Skynn’s for a yeere, fully to be complete; and so evermore the Maist’, Wardeyns, and Feolaship of Skynn’s for to have the pre-emynencie of goyng afore in p’cessions one yeere, and the said Maist’, Wardeyns, and Feolaship of Taillors to have the pre-emynencie of goyng afore in p’cessions another yeere, begynnyng the yeere alwey in the Fest of Easter: Provided alwey that as ofte as hereafter it shall hapne any Aldreman of either of the said Feolashipps to be Mair of this Citee of London, by reason whereof the Feolaship of the same Mair shall, after the old custume of the said Citee, goo afore all other Feolashipps in all places within the said Citee duryng the tyme of the Mairaltie of the Mair so chosen, that the same going afore all the same tyme be not accompted for any yeere of going afore by this awarde or juggeme’t: But that the same of the said ii Feolashipps which had by this ordenaunce the preemynence of going afore in p’cessions from the Fest of Easter next afore begynnyng of the said Mairaltie have like preemynence from thende of the said Mairaltie to the Fest of Easter than next folowyng, in p’forming of his hole yeere, and from thensforth to kepe thordre above appoynted.”

_The Supplementary Award of January 17th, 1521. 12 Hen. VIII._

“Where late the Wardens of the Skynn’s exhibited to the Court a Bill of Compleynt agenst the Mayst’ and Wardens of M’chantayllors recytyng by the same an Ordynaunce made in the Mayralt’ of Mr. Byllesdon for thorderyng of the seyd ii Crafts in goyng in p’cessions, and surmytted also in their seyd Bill that the seyd Ordynaunce was to be understand of oonly in goying in p’cessions, and at noon other gen’all goyings or assembles, which Ordynaunce red, herd, and rypely understand by this Court, was clerely interpretyd and declared that the true meanyng and intent of makyng of the seyd Ordynaunce was understand of not oonly for goyng in p’cessions, but also for rydyng, goyng, or metyng in and at all other assembles: And thereupon the seyd Wardens had in comaunde’t by this Court, that they and their succ’ from hensforth shuld use and exercise the seyd Ordynaunce according to the seyd interpretacc’on and declar’ by this same Court made and determyned.”

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APPENDIX II.

_Bidding Prayer used at Tonbridge School at the Annual Commemoration Service on Skinners’ Day at the end of the Summer Term._

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_This prayer follows the anthem, the congregation all standing._

INASMUCH as, by the Providence of Almighty God, from whom all good things do come, on this day our School is gathered together here, now as of old, to thank Him for all His blessings, it is right that we should remind ourselves once more of all that we owe to those who have gone before us.

And first you are to remember your Founder, Sir Andrew Judd, Knight.

He was born at Tonbridge on the estate of his ancestors called “Barden,” situated by the river side below Quarry Hill. He was apprenticed in London into the Company of Skinners, and became himself a Skinner and a Merchant of Muscovy. He went with the ships of the Merchants’ Company, which rounded the North Cape to the coast of Russia. He crossed the country in sledges a seven days’ journey to the River Volga, and so to Astrakan on the Caspian Sea. He also went to the West Coast of Africa, to Guinea, at the request of King Edward VI, and brought thence gold dust to be coined into guineas, and many natural curiosities. In the year 1544 he was Sheriff of London, and in the year 1550–1 he was Lord Mayor, in which office he bore himself with loyalty and with valour. On six several occasions he was Master of the Skinners’ Company—in the years 1533, 1538, 1542, 1547, 1551, and 1555. In 1554 he was called upon to make stand for Queen Mary against the rebellion of Sir Thomas Wyatt. He was, moreover, Mayor of the Staple of Calais, and held many public offices of trust, under both Edward and Mary, so that he is rightly accounted one of “the Worthies of England.” He died in 1558, and is buried in the Church of St. Helen’s, in Bishopsgate, in London, where stands a monument to his memory in marble.

Five years or more before he died he founded, not by will, but at his own expense during his lifetime, besides his almshouses near to St. Helen’s Church, “a stately Free School” at Tonbridge. This he diligently fostered, and framed for it Statutes under which it was governed for 327 years: Statutes full of kindly wisdom. Further, he endowed it with certain houses in Gracechurch Street, and with the estate of the Sandhills in the parish of St. Pancras, and afterwards by will in 1558 with other gifts, whence the School is to this day supported and increased. For all these good deeds, and because this School hath for its Founder so manly and so worthy a gentleman, you shall thank God.

And, secondly, you are to remember the grandson of your Founder, the son of his daughter Alice, Sir Thomas Smythe, a great benefactor to the School and to the poor of Tonbridge. He was born about 1558, and dwelt near Southborough. He was for fifteen years Governor of the East India Company, and took part in establishing the Colony of Virginia. He founded four Exhibitions from this School to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. He died in 1625, and was buried at Sutton-at-Hone, in Kent.

Furthermore, you are to remember Henry Fisher, the faithful servant of Sir Andrew Judd, who founded a Scholarship at Brasenose College, Oxford; Sir Thomas White, founder of St. John’s College, Oxford, who, “_propter eximium amorem in Andream Judd_,” gave to Tonbridge School a Fellowship, now a close Scholarship, at his College, also _Robert Holmdon_, the founder of the Leathersellers’ Exhibitions, _Thomas Lampard_, _Lady Mary Boswell_, _Mr. Worrall_, _Mr. Strong_, all of them Benefactors of the School, and many others whose names are not recorded.

Nor shall you forget all those who, as Governors, or as Masters, or as Boys, or in whatever station in this School, during more than 350 years have striven with faithful hearts to serve it; their noble deeds and character are ours by inheritance.

Finally, let us pray, that, when our time shall come to fall asleep, we, too, after their example may have faithfully served our generation by the will of God: To whom be all honour and glory, world without end. _Amen._

_Let us Pray._

[_The two following prayers were written in Latin for the use of Tonbridge School very shortly after its foundation in 1553_, A.D.]

ÆTERNE Deus, a quo solo omne bonum consilium, omnis bona cogitatio procedit, gratias tibi maximas agimus, quod viris optimis, et Andreae Judd, militi, Scholam hanc pie instituendi, magnoque sumptu suo exstruendi et dotandi, et quod Thomae Smythe, militi, eam nec minore sumptu suo augendi et in perpetuum faciendi consilium inspirasti; Teque suppliciter oramus, ut eam a calamitate omni tuearis; et Ecclesiae regnoque tuo utilem semper facias; et ut nos cum omni diligentiâ eo contendamus quo pii illi nos pervenire voluerunt, ut bene pieque eruditi Ecclesiae tuae et Reipublicae tandem utiles evadamus, per Iesum Christum, Dominum nostrum. _Amen._

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CLEMENTISSIME Pater coelestis, qui coelum et terras et quae in iis sunt omnia summâ sapientiâ condidisti, eâdemque providentiâ tuâ perpetuo regis et conservas,—concede, quaesumus, quemadmodum optimi illi, Andreas Judd, et Thomas Smythe, milites, spectatæ societatis Pellipariorum fide et providentiâ freti, eorum curae hanc Scholam commiserunt,—ut et ipsi, fidei suae his defunctis debitae semper memores, Scholam hanc diligenter curent et tueantur; tandemque, post huius vitae cursum honeste confectum, aetemum fidelissimae illius procurationis suae proemium in coelis consequantur, per Iesum Christum, Dominum nostrum. _Amen._

[_Then follow (in Latin) the Prayer of St. Chrysostom and the Blessing._]

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APPENDIX III.

RECENT MEMORIAL STONES CONNECTED WITH THE COMPANY.

1.

_The Tonbridge School Chapel of 1859, now the Museum._

“Hunc lapidem Ἀκρογωνιαῖον ædis hujus ad majorem Dei gloriam, et in usum Scholæ Tonbridgiensis, condendæ posuit Robertus, Episcopus Riponensis, a. d. x. Cal. Jun. A.D. MDCCCLIX. Patroni, vicini, magistri, alumni pecuniam Contulert.

J. I. Welldon, D.C.L., archididascalo; Wadmore et Baker, architectis; E. Punnett, Fabro.

Nisi Dominus domum ædificaverit in vanum laboraverunt qui ædificant eam.”

2.

_The Tonbridge School Buildings of 1863._

“Hanc Scholam ab Andrea Judd, milite, Fundatam et munifice dotatam, A.D. MDLIII, Curatores ejus honorata Pellipariorum Societas De integro exstruxerunt et ædibus cum amplioribus tum magis Hodiernis discipulorum usibus accommodatis ornaverunt. Lapidem auspicalem posuit vii^{mo.} idus Maias A.D. MDCCCLXIII Georgius Legg, Armiger, hujus Societatis præfectus annuus.

=Custodibus= G. Trist F. Howell S. Wix F. Turner

=Ludimagistris= J. I. Welldon E. I. Welldon

E. H. Burnell, Architecto. G. Punnett, Redemtore.

T. G. Kensit, Notario.

Timor Domini principium Sapientiæ

Prov. i, v. 7.”

3.

_The Tonbridge School Science Buildings of 1886–7._

“Ad Dei Gloriam Et in Augmentationem Veteris Scholæ Ab Andrea Judd, Equite, Conditæ Has Ædes Quibus Pristinæ Literarum Disciplinæ Nova Artium et Scientiarum Studia concilientur Honorata Pellipariorum Societas Ponendas curaverunt. Anno Domini MDCCCLXXXVII^{mo} Ludovico Boyd Sebastian, I.C.B., A.M., Præfecto Annuo.

=Custodibus= G. B. Kent. C. Dorman. W. Masterman, I.C.P. G. A. Trist.

=Infomatore= T. B. Rowe, M.A.

=Architecto= E. H. Burnell.

=Notario= E. H. Draper.

Audite disciplinam et estote sapientes et nolite abjicere eam.”

4.

_The Tonbridge School Buildings of 1894._

“Ad Dei Gloriam Et in piam fundatoris Andreæ Judd Equitis Memoriam Has Ædes ad ampliores alumnorum Tonbridgiensium usus Exædificandas et ornandas curaverunt Honorata Pellipariorum Societas Anno Domini MDCCCXCIV^{to} Ludovico Boyd Sebastian, I.C.B., A.M., iterum præfecto annuo.

=Custodibus= R. C. Bunbury A. L. Tweedie A. B. Kent J. Colman

=Informatore= Josepho Wood, S.T.P.

=Architecto= W. Campbell Jones

=Notario= E. H. Draper

Nisi Dominus æedificaverit Domum in vanum laboraverunt qui ædificant eam, Ps. CXXVII. i.”

5

_The Tonbridge School Chapel, 1900–2._

“Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam et in usum veteris Scholæ Tonbridgiensis Ab Andrea Judd milite conditæ Hanc Ædem Domino Nostro Jesu Christo dedicatam Ædificandam curavit Honorata Pellipariorum Societas.

Hunc lapidem posuit Præfectus Annuus Jeremias Colman, A.M., I.P. A.D. Kal. Jun. XI Anno Domini MDCCCC.

=Custodibus=. C. Herberto Dorman. Carolo H. F. Christie. Johanne Poland. W. Wilding Jones.

=Archididascalo=. Carolo C. Tancock, S.T.P.

=Notario= E. Herberto Draper.

=Architecto= W. Campbell Jones.

In Christo Fratres.”

6.

_Sir Andrew Judd’s Commercial School, Tonbridge, 1895–6._

“Sir Andrew Judd’s Commercial School. This Stone was laid by Lewis Boyd Sebastian, Esqr., B.C.L., M.A., Master of the Worshipful Company of Skinners, Governors of the School, On Saturday, April 27th, 1895.

=Wardens= Robert Clement Bunbury Alexander Leslie Tweedie Arthur Barton Kent Jeremiah Colman

=Clerk= E. Herbert Draper

=Architect=. W. Campbell Jones, A.R.I.B.A.

=Builders= Thos. Turner, Limited.”

7.

_The Middle School for Boys, Tunbridge Wells, 1886–7._

“1886. Skinners Company’s Middle School for Boys. This Stone was laid on the xxvii day of October, MDCCCLXXXVI, by Lewis Boyd Sebastian, B.C.L., M.A., Master.

=Wardens= George Barton Kent Charles Dorman William Masterman, D.C.L. George Arthur Trist.

To Commemorate the Foundation of the School by the Worshipful Company of Skinners, London, Governors.

Edw. Herbert Draper, Clerk. Edw. Henry Burnell, Architect. William Oakley, Builder.”

8.

_The Middle School for Girls, Stamford Hill, 1889–90._

“This Foundation Stone of the Skinners’ Company’s School for Girls was laid by Charles Dorman, Master, June 6, 1889.

=Wardens= W. Masterman, D.C.L. W. C. B. Stamp G. A. Trist H. L. T. Hansard

=Clerk= E. H. Draper

=Architect= E. H. Burnell

=Builders= Holloway Bros.”

9.

_The Almshouses at Palmer’s Green, 1894–5._

“The Skinners’ Almshouses. This stone was laid on the nineteenth day of July, Anno Domini, 1894, by Lewis Boyd Sebastian, B.C.L., M.A., Master.

=Wardens= Robert Clement Bunbury Alex. Leslie Tweedie Arthur Barton Kent Jeremiah Colman

=Arch^t= W. Campbell Jones,

=Clerk= E. Herbert Draper

=Builders= J. Godfrey and Son”

10.

_The Northampton Polytechnic Institute, Clerkenwell, 1894–6._

“Northampton Institute. This Stone was laid by Charles Dorman, Esq., Chairman of The Governing Body, July 9^{th}, 1894.

Ed^d W. Mountford, Arch^t.”

[N.B.—Mr. Charles Dorman was Master of the Skinners’ Company, 1888–9, and did much to promote the creation of the Institute.]

11.

_The Clerkenwell Free Library, 1890._

“This Stone was laid by William Masterman, Esq., D.C.L., Master of the Worshipful Company of Skinners, on March 8th, 1890.

Commissioners Elected 1888.

=Chairman= Rev. J. H. Rose, M.A.,

=Vice-Chairman= W^m Robson,

Rev. W. Dawson, M.A. J. Johnson. A. J. Dixie. J. Kelly. H. W. Fincham. C. Morris. T. Wildbore.

Elected 1890.

W. Davies. J. D. Spires.

=Librarian= Jas. B. Brown

=Architects=. Karslake and Mortimer.

=Builders=. M‘Cormick and Sons.”

[N.B.—This Library was built on a site provided by the Company on their Clarke’s Close Estate at Clerkenwell.]

12.

_Leather Industries’ Buildings, University of Leeds, 1898–9._

“This Stone was laid by Arthur Barton Kent, Master of the Worshipful Company of Skinners, on the 13 of June, 1898.”

13.

_Leather Industries’ Buildings, University of Leeds, 1898–9._

“This Building, erected at the cost of the Worshipful Company of Skinners, of the City of London, was opened by Jeremiah Colman, Esq., Master of the Company, on the 27th of November, 1899, for advanced instruction and research in the science and practice of Leather Manufacture.”

● Transcriber’s note:

○ Missing or obscured punctuation was silently corrected. One unpaired double quotation mark could not be corrected with confidence.

○ Typographical errors were silently corrected.

○ Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation were made consistent only when a predominant form was found in this book.