Part 19
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._
At the end of the accounts are “abatements” of many kinds, apparently from overcharging. John Shakespeare’s work has never an “abatement” against it, so he evidently either charged fair prices, or had special Court favour.
In a tilting account of Lord Compton’s--Exchequer Q.R. 435 (16)--we find for one quarter in 1622:
To John Shakespeare for 7 Bittes with caste & guilt bosses for coursers at xx_s._, vii_li._
For 12 Watering Bitts for Coursers at ii_s._ vi_d._, xxx_s._
More to the said John Shakespeare for 8 cavasson irons at v_s._, xl_s._