Part 25

40. _O._ SAMUEL ROGERS 1668 S.R. _R._ IN BROMSGROVE HIS HALFE PENNY. 1/2d.

CLIFTON-ON-TEME.

41. _O._ JOHN JENCKINS 1666 HIS HALF PENY _R._ OF CLIFTON UPON TEAM I.A.I. 1/2d.

DROITWICH.

42. _O._ STEPHEN ALLEN HIS HALFE PENY _R._ APOTH. IN DROYTWICH Arms of Droitwich; quarterly 1st and 4th, checky, 2d and 3d, two barrows 1/2d.

43. _O._ GEORGE OLDBACK & ***SON THEIR HALF PENY _R._ OF DROITWICH 1667 Arms of the Town of Droitwich 1/2d.

DUDLEY.

44. _O._ WILL. BIGGS OF DUDLEY IN Mercers' Arms. _R._ STAFFO*** W.M.B. 1/4d.

45. _O._ JOHN FINCH OF DUDLEY HIS HALFE PENY _R._ IN WORCESTERSHIRE Ironmongers' Arms 1/2d.

(Dudley properly belongs to Worcestershire, though it is surrounded by Staffordshire. Singularly enough, the two tokens above give it to both counties.)

EVESHAM.

46. _O._ THE BURROW OF EVESHAM Arms of Evesham; a prince's coronet between two ostrich feathers, a garb in base, the whole within a border bezantée.

_R._ FOR NECESSARY EXCHANGE B. E. 1/2d.

47. _O._ No inscription Arms of Evesham. _R._ FOR EXCHAINGE B. E. 1/4d.

48. _O._ PHILLIP BALLORD HIS HALFE PENNY _R._ OF EVESHAM 1664 P. B. 1/2d.

49. _O._ RICHARD BENNETT Wheat sheaf. _R._ OF EVESHAM 1666 HIS HALF PENNY 1/2d.

50. _O._ PAUL BENNING HIS HALF PENY _R._ IN EVESHAM A sugar loaf 1/2d.

51. _O._ WILLIAM BROOKE W. A. B. _R._ IN EVESHAM 1656 W. A. B. 1/2d.

52. _O._ PETER CROSS P. M. C. _R._ IN EVESHAM 1649 P. M. C. 1/4d.

There is another described as "PHILLIP CROSS," in all other respects the same; it may be an error of the die-sinker or describer. This is interesting from having the earliest date that is found on these tokens. No. 57 is also of the same early date.

53. _O._ JOSHUA FRANSHAM HIS HALFE PENNY _R._ IN ESHAM 1666 I. S. F. 1/2d.

54. _O._ RIC. GODDARD, IN BRIDG R. M. G. _R._ STREET IN EVESHAM R. M. G. 1/4d.

55. _O._ JOHN LACEY A flower. _R._ OF EVESHAM 1654 I. M. L. 1/4d.

56. _O._ MATHEW MICHELL Grocers' Arms. _R._ OF EVESHAM 1653 M. M. M. 1/4d.

57. _O._ WILLIAM RUDGE W. A. R. _R._ IN EVESHAM 1649 W. A. R. 1/4d.

KIDDERMINSTER.

58. _O._ AT THE RAVEN IN A raven. _R._ KIDEMUNSTER, 1652 R. M. B. 1/4d.

59. _O._ THOMAS BALAMEY IN Weavers' Arms. _R._ KIDDERMINSTER 1667 HIS HALF PENY. 1/2d.

60. _O._ FRANCES CARTER A pair of shears. _R._ IN KITTERMINSTER F. M. C. 1/4d.

61. _O._ EDWARD CHAMBERLIN HIS HALF PENY. _R._ IN KIDDERMINSTER E. A. C. 1/2d.

62. _O._ EDWARD CHAMBERLIN A man making candles. _R._ OF KIDDERMINSTER E. P. C. 1/4d.

63. _O._ WILLIAM MOUNTFORD A tankard. W. M. _R._ IN KIDDERMINSTER 1666 HIS HALF PENY. 1/2d.

64. _O._ LAWRENCE PEARSALL Arms. _R._ IN KIDDERMINSTER HIS HALF PENY. 1/2d.

65. _O._ SIMON PITT 1670 HIS FARTHING _R._ IN KIDDERMINSTER S. E. P. 1/4d.

(This is one of the few FARTHING tokens which has the value expressed on it.)

66. _O._ RICH. RADFORD, HIS HF. PENY Weavers' Arms. _R._ OF KIDDERMINSTER 1666 Merchant Tailors' Arms 1/2d.

67. _O._ EDMUND AND WILLIAM READE Weaver's Arms. _R._ IN KIDDERMINSTER 1666 THEIR HALF PENY 1/2d.

68. _O._ JOHN ROWDEN IN Nag's head. _R._ KIDDERMINSTER 1656 I. A. R 1/4d.

69. _O._ NEVILL SIMMONS, BOOKSELLER IN KIDDERMINSTER. _R._ EDWARD BUTLER, MERCER 1663 THEIR HALF PENY 1/2d.

70. _O._ THO. SADLER, HIS HALF PENY Chandlers' Arms. _R._ IN KIDDERMINSTER 1664 T. A. S. 1/2d.

71. _O._ WALTER THATCHER A shuttle. _R._ IN KIDDERMINSTER HIS HALF PENY 1670 1/2d.

PERSHORE.

72. _O._ HENRY GIBBS HIS HALF PENY _R._ IN PERSHORE 1666 H. G. 1/2d.

73. _O._ GIDEON PALMER Mercers' Arms. _R._ PERSHORE 1667 HIS HALF PENY G. S. P. 1/2d.

74. _O._ EDWARD PERKINS, HIS HALF PENY Apothecaries' Arms. _R._ OF PERSHORE, APOTHECARY 1664 E. P. 1/2d.

SHIPSTON-ON-STOUR.

75. _O._ RICHARD COOPER OF A bee-hive. _R._ SHIPSTON UPON STOWER HIS HALF PENY 1669 1/2d.

76. _O._ HENRY COTTERELL IN 1666 Mercers' Arms. _R._ SHIPSTON UPON STOWER HIS HALF PENY 1/2d.

77. _O._ ROBERT FITZHUGH Apothecaries' Arms. _R._ IN SHIPSON 1664 HIS HALF PENY 1/2d.

78. _O._ EDWARD PITTWAY Ironmongers' Arms. _R._ OF SHIPSTON E. P. 1/4d.

79. _O._ SIMON SIMONS Mercers' Arms. _R._ OF SHIPSON 1669 HIS HALFE PENY S. E. S. 1/2d.

STOURBRIDGE.

80. _O._ A STOWERBRIDG. HALF PENY Ironmongers' Arms. _R._ FOR NECESSARY CHANGE Clothworkers' Arms. 1/2d.

This is a town piece, the arms showing the principal trades carried on. There is a specimen in the collection of the Society of Antiquaries, having the reverse indented, doubtless caused by the previous struck token not having been removed from the die. It was bequeathed with many other Worcestershire Tokens to the Society by Dr. Prattinton.

81. _O._ JONATHAN BUTLER, MERCER Arms of Worcester City; three pears. _R._ IN STOWERBRIDGE 1665 HIS HALF PENY 1/2d.

82. _O._ ANDREW MUCHALL, IRONMONGER, HIS HALF PENY In five lines across the field. _R._ OF STOWERBRIDGE 1669 Ironmongers' Arms. 1/2d.

83. _O._ EZEKELL PARTRIDGE HIS HALF PENY. _R._ IN STOWER BRIDG 1665 E. M. P. 1/2d.

84. _O._ JOHN PRATT OF A bridge of four arches. _R._ STOW BRIDGE 1668 HIS HALF PENY 1/2d.

85. _O._ EDWARD SPARRYE E. I. S. _R._ OF STOURBRIDGE 1656 1/4d.

86. _O._ HUMPHREY SUTTON H. S. S. _R._ OF STOURBRIDGE 1657 1/4d.

SWINFORD (OLD).

87. _O._ JOHN RICHARDSON HIS HALF PENY _R._ OULD SWINFORD 1669 Arms of Worcester; three pears 1/2d.

TENBURY.

88. _O._ EDMOND LANE Arms; a chevron between three arrow-heads. _R._ IN TENBURY HIS HALF PENY 1/2d.

89. _O._ EDMOND LANE Arms as the last. _R._ OF TENBURY E. L. 1/4d.

90. _O._ ANTHONY SEARCH PLAINE DEALING IS BEST 1/2d. _R._ IN TENBURY Mercers' Arms. 1/2d.

OLDBURY.

91. _O._ OLIVER ROUND St. George and the dragon. _R._ IN OLDBURY 1663 HIS HALF PENY 1/2d.

THE CLOTHING TRADE.

This must have been formerly an important trade in our county and city. The city of Worcester, and the towns of Bromsgrove, Kidderminster, Droitwich, and Evesham, were extensively engaged in it; and when many persons dwelling in other parts of the county had begun cloth making, much to the injury of these towns, an act was passed in the 25th year of Henry VIII, prohibiting all persons from making cloth, except such as resided in the above-mentioned places, but all persons were allowed to make cloths for their own wear, or for their children, servants, &c. At the present day only one loom is in existence in Bromsgrove, and in Worcester the trade has ceased for many years, although the Clothiers' Company still exists as a body for the administration of charitable funds.

THE MORTUARY CLOTH OF THE CLOTHIERS' COMPANY.

The assumption of Miss Strickland that the mortuary cloth in the possession of the Clothiers' Company at Worcester was the pall used at the funeral of Queen Catherine, the first wife of King Henry VIII, who was buried in Peterborough Cathedral, has been, upon examination, refuted. At a recent meeting of the Archæological Institute at Cambridge, the Rev. C. H. Hartshorne read a paper on the funeral of Catherine of Arragon, and produced a document from the Rolls' Court which had never been consulted before, and which gave a full account of the Queen's funeral. The rev. gentleman afterwards alluded to the life of Catherine of Arragon, by Miss Strickland, who says that the pall used on this occasion is now in the possession of the Clothworkers' Company at Worcester. Mr. Hartshorne then produced this pall, which he had been allowed to bring with him. It was spread out and examined, and it clearly appeared that it could not be that used at the Queen's funeral. It consisted of three or four old capes [copes?] put together, and it was utterly impossible to recognise it from the description given in the document produced from the Rolls' Court.

WEATHER RHYMES AND SAYINGS.

If the moon on a Saturday be new or full There always was rain and there always will.

* * * * *

If it rain on Good Friday or Easter day, It's a good year of grass but a sorry year of hay.

* * * * *

If Easter be early, Or if it be late; It's sure to _make_ The old cow _quake_.

* * * * *

The weather's always ill When the wind's not still.

* * * * *

When the wind is in the East It's neither good for man nor beast.

* * * * *

A storm of hail Brings frost in its tail.

* * * * *

A May wet Was never kind yet.

* * * * *

As the day lengthens The cold strengthens.

* * * * *

A rainbow at night Is the shepherd's delight.

* * * * *

When the reds are out at night It's the shepherd's delight, But when out in the morning It's all the day storming.

* * * * *

At New Year's tide A cock's stride: By Twelfth-tide Another beside.

* * * * *

When Bredon hill puts on his hat, Ye men of the vale, beware of that.

(This alludes to the rain-cloud settling on the hill.)

* * * * *

A peck of March dust is worth a king's ransom.

* * * * *

When the new moon "lies on her back," as the saying is--that is with its concavity upwards, it is expected to be a dry time, "the rain being kept from running out," but, _vice versa_, it will be wet.

It is said that if the little beetle, the _Carabus_, should be trodden upon, rain will fall. This little glittering insect runs about only in fine weather.

SHIP MONEY.

The first writ for the levying of ship money was issued by King Charles I, addressed to the Lord Mayor and citizens of London. It is dated October 20th, in the 10th year of the reign of King Charles I [1634], and after reciting that "certain thieves, pirates, and robbers, of the sea, as well Turks, enemies of the Christian name, as others, being gathered together, taking by force and spoiling the ships and goods and merchandises not only of our subjects, but also of the subjects of our friends in the sea, which hath been accustomed anciently to be defended by the English nation, and the same at their pleasure have carried away, delivering the men in the same into miserable captivity." The writ commands the citizens of London to provide seven ships of war, varying in size from 900 to 300 tons, with 1,460 men, with ordnance, gunpowder, spears, and weapons, and other necessary arms for war; and directs that their ships shall be at Portsmouth on the 1st of March then next. In the year 1636, King Charles I, by the advice of his Privy Council, sent writs to the different counties for the raising of money to provide ships. This was called ship money; but although it was levied for the nominal purpose of providing ships, the counties, instead of providing any, paid the amount into the Royal Exchequer, and this was really a mere device to raise money without the authority of Parliament.

The county and city of Worcester were assessed as follows:

Tunnes. Men. Charge. "Worcestershire, one ship 350 140 £3,500 Corporate Towns-- City of Worcester £233 Burrough of Evesham 74 Burrough of Bewdley 62 Burrough of Droitwich 62 Town or Burrough of Kidderminster 27"

On the 10th of November, 1639, King Charles I, by the advice of his Privy Council, caused other writs for ship money to be issued to the several counties of England; and by one of these writs the county of Worcester was assessed thus:

Ship. Men. Tons. "Worcester 1 112 280"

But at this time thirty-five of the English counties and seven of the Welch counties were in arrears for their earlier ship money, as appears from a table of the arrears, in which there is the following entry as to Worcestershire:

Arrears. Arrears. Arrears. An. 1636. An. 1637. An. 1638. "Worcester £096 0 0 £1070 0 0 £710 0 0"

Ship money was declared to be illegal by the statute 16th Charles I, chap. 14, which was passed in the year 1640.

For this information we are indebted to John Rushworth, Esq., Secretary to the Lord General Fairfax, in whose collection it will be found (vol. ii, pp. 257, 335, 975, 978.)

FINES FOR NOT TAKING THE ORDER OF KNIGHTHOOD.

Mr. Rushworth, Secretary to the Lord General Fairfax, in his Historical Collections, vol. ii, p. 71, under the date of July 6, 1630, says that "the King having sent writs to several sheriffs of the several counties for the summoning of all that had forty pound land or rent by the year to appear at the day of the Coronation and prepare themselves to receive the Order of Knighthood," did award a Commission to certain Lords and others of his Privy Council to treat and compound with all those who had made default. This was founded on the Statute De Militibus, a statute stated by the Record Commissioners to be of uncertain date, but which is usually printed as of the first year of the reign of King Edward II. By the statute 16th of Charles I, chap. 20, compulsory Knighthood is abolished. The following is a list of Worcester gentlemen fined by King Charles I for not taking the order of Knighthood; it is extracted from the "Book of Compositions for not taking the Order of Knighthood at the Coronation of King Charles I. 1630-1632. Auditor of the Receipt[11]."

[11] This Manuscript was recently discovered by Mr. Black in the Rolls House Record Office.

"Wigorn. p. 196.

Sir William Sandy, Knight, Collector.

£. s. d. Walter Blunt, of Sillington, Esquire 15 0 0 John Barnabie, of Bockleton, Esquire 12 10 0 Mathias Maysey, of Hakenhurt, Esquire 11 13 4 John Nash, of Markeley, Gent. 10 0 0 John Winford, of Astley, Esquire 12 10 0 Hunfrey Packington, of Chadsley Corbet, Esquire 31 5 0 Humfrey Parrott, of Bellhall, Gent. 12 10 0 Roger Lowe, of Bromsgrove, Gent. 10 0 0 Robt. Gower, of King's Norton, Esquire 12 10 0 John Crabbe, of Bromsgrove, Gent. 10 0 0 Walter Brace, of Bromsgrove, Gent. 10 0 0 William Chambers, of Northfield, Gent. 10 0 0 Ffoulke, Bourne, of Elmbridge, Gent. 12 0 0 Thomas Ffawnes, of Bromsgrove, Gent. 10 0 0 John Bourne, of Ombersley, Gent. 12 10 0 John Horniold, of Hanley Castle, Esquire 27 10 0 Thomas Moore, of Suckley, Gent. 12 0 0 Edward Dingley, of Sherifelench, Esq. 10 0 0 Roger Dowleswell, of Rushley, Gent. 10 0 0 William Wheeler, of Wicke iuxta Parshore, Gent. 10 0 0 Edward Turvey, of Walcott, Gent. 15 0 0 Armell Greene, of Vpton Snodsburie 10 0 0 Francys Haselwood, of Wick iuxta Parshore, Esq. 12 10 0 John Bridges, of Estington, Esquire 25 0 0 Thomas Copley, of Norton iuxta Bredon, Esquire 12 10 0 John Clent, of Wicke Epi, Gent. 10 0 0 Henry Bromley, of Vpton sup. Sabrina, Esquire 10 0 0 Thomas Nashe, of Claines, Gent. 10 0 0 Thomas Hornihold, of Breedon, Esquire 12 10 0 Thomas Saunders, of Moore, Gent. 10 0 0 Thomas Coxe, of Crowle, Esquire 17 10 0 John Jones, of Crowle, Gent. 10 0 0 Giles, Blount, of Wicke Epi 11 5 0 Philip Bearcroft, of Hanburie, Gent. 12 10 0 John Russell, of Malverne Pva, Esquire 12 0 0 George Lench, of Inkeberrow, Esquire 11 13 4 Samuel Atwood, of Wooverley, Esquire 10 0 0 Raphaell Hunt, of Hanbury, Gent. 12 10 0 Thomas Hunt, of Inkeberrow, Gent. 10 0 0 Robt. Wyld, of the Commanders, Gent. 10 0 0 John Holberrow, of Wooverley, Gent. 10 0 0 Nicholas Langstone, and Will. Langstone, his sonne and heire 15 0 0

541_li._ 16_s._ 8_d._ vnde solut. 200 25o Oct., 1630. 200 27o Oct., 1630. 141 16 8 4to Martij, 1630.[12]

[12] As the year then began on the 25th of March, the 4th of March, 1630, is the latest date.