Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 7.djvu/444

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. vn. NOV. o, 1020.

-default 205., and three days 'imprison- ment."

Leicester and Coventry Aldermen wore -refusing to wear the scarlet gown, which was of the colour of the Whore of Babylon, otherwise "the Papistry." Threatened by Gardiner the Councils in these towns im- posed fines of 51. and 205. on those who were obstinate. To avoid the objectionable gown and fine some refused office, and further resolutions were necessary. At Stratford councillors refused to take office. The mar- tyrdoms had the. effect of stiffening some and intimidating others. On Oct. 11, 1555, five days before the burning of Latimer and Ridley at Oxford, a resolution was carried that "all and every person that hereafter shall fortune to be elected in any office and do refuse and forsake the office appointed unto him shall forfeit 2Z." At Michaelmas, 1557, a Book of Orders was drawn up under the stewardship of Master Roger Edgeworth, who was also Steward at Warwick (as his predecessor Peter Gyll was Steward both at Stratford and Banbury) a Roman Catholic, full of vindictive penalties. Aldermen were to be fined 205. and Burgesses 10s. for absence on Election Day. Refusal to serve as Bailiff or High Alderman was to be visited with the forfeiture of 151. and 12Z. respec- tively. Those who declined to be a Constable or a Taster were to be fined 51. and 405. Non-attendance at an ordinary "hall " would involve a payment of 65. 8c?. and failure to wear a gown or join in pro- cession a fine of I2d. For disclosing the words or deeds of the Chamber the punish- ment would be for the first offence a fine of 51., for the second a fine of 10L, and for the third expulsion for ever. Relations among members were at breaking-point. Alder- men and Burgesses were not to revile one another, within or without, the Chamber, they were to be "brotherlike " in Council and to "depart in brotherly love" under pain for every default of 65. 8c?. And to say, do or write anything prejudicial or derogatory to the Charter meant payment of 20Z., if not 100 marks (this figure was at lepst proposed), i.e., 66. 139. 4c? ! A serious brawl in the town, which began among strangers at market or the Fair, spread to members of the Chamber. Master John Walsingham of Exhall and others, including two kinsmen of Principal Burgess Robert Perrott, were attacked by one Morris, man- servant to Mistress Clare. Porrott took the side of hia kinsmen and resisted with opprobrious words th.3 Constable in the

performance of his duty, who happened to be the Town Clerk, Richard Symons. Thomas Dickson alias Waterman, son of the Alder- man of the same name, was involved in this or another quarrel, wherein he drew blood on the Chamberlain, Lewes ap Williams. These cases were reported and dealt with on Friday Oct. 1, 1557, and the same day the following resolution was passed :

" That no single-man dwelling in Stratford after Sunday now next coming do wear about him within the Borough or liberties of Stratford any bill, sword, woodknife, or dagger or any other such like weapon, under the pain of forfeiture of the same, and their bodies to prison, there to remain at the Baily's pleasure."

At the next Court Leet, on Apr. 23, 1558, the cases of assault were still more numerous. Griffin ap Roberts, a Welshman and butcher, was fined for a fray on the serving-man of Francis Harbage, the Bailiff, and "oppro- brious words " to the Constables. Henry Rogers, butcher, and Robert Ensdale were fined for a quarrel ; also Robert Rogers and the Bailiff of Preston-upon-Stour. Badger, the tailor, was fined for a fray upon Fisher, the corviser, John Lord, butcher, for a fray upon William Richardson's servant, and, more interesting, Morris, Master Combe's man, for a fray upon Master Clopton's man. Yet more interesting, Master Rafe Cawdrey the Alderman, late Bailiff, was fined for making a fray upon Alexander Webbe of Bearley, brother of Widow Arden of Wilme- cote and brother-in-law of John Shakespeare.

In the autumn of 1558, shortly before Queon Mary's death, John Shakespeare was ap- pointed a Constable. To him at this very critical moment fell the difficult and even dangerous task of depriving single men of seep the peace. He must have been a man of some courage and physique. The oath of the Constables runs thus in the Liber Oustumarum of Northampton :
 * heir weapons and otherwise helping to

^j" Ye shall well and truly serve the King within


 * he precinct of the quarter of this Town.

~.n time of watch ye shall give due commandement and charge in the King's behalf to the watchmen such as shall be summoned by the Serjeant to appear before you ; and that they keep and make due watch and true from the time of your charge- giving until the sun be upon the morrow ; and >hat they keep their own quarter, and come into none other till they be required of any other watch or but any horn blow, any fray made or outcry, peril of fire or children and all such other ; also that they behave them in goodly, wise in keeping of their watch, stilly going without noise or loud speech ; also if any strange man or woman lappen to come to this Town by night time, that then they honestly do examine such man or