Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 9.djvu/83

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most famous of the Petty family of glass-painters of York and evidently a son of Matthew Petty (died 1478). Free of the city 1470. Married (i.) Isabel; (ii.). His second wife was evidently a widow, as in his will he mentions "Mr. Richard my wiff son," to whom he bequeathed 'a ryall [a gold coin value 10s. first issued by Edw. IV. in 1465], and a lityll covered cope borderd at fot w$t$ silver and gilt." Daughter Annes by his first wife, who, as shown in the life of Robert Preston (q.v. ante, 12 S. viii. 486), was probably a daughter of William Winter, founder. Petty had evidently a son named John, who predeceased him, for in the Fabric Roll of 1472 "John Pety de Ebor" is described as supplying thirty "wyspes" [a sheet of crown glass; vide note, 12 S. viii. 324] of glass, whilst in the same roll "Joh. Pety jun." is mentioned. As the latter received a full man's wage of 6d. per day he was evidently of age, and if this supposition is correct, Sir John must have been forty years of age or more when he took up his freedom in 1470, or he could not have had a son aged 21 or more in 1472, and this would make him about eighty years of age at his death in 1508. Like most of the York glass-painters Sir John evidently lived in Stonegate, but at the top end near the Minster instead of, as seems to have been more generally the case, at the lower end of the street. This street lies in two parishes, the bottom end being in the parish of St. Helen, where twelve York glass-painters are recorded as being buried [viz., Robert Wakefield in 1414; Thomas Benefield in 1422; Thomas Rose, 1433; John Chamber (the elder), 1437; John Chamber (the younger), 1451; Richard Chamber, 1451; John Witton, 1451; Thomas Shirley, 1458; Matthew Petty, 1478; William Inglish, 1480; Thomas Shirwin, 1481; Robert Preston, 1503]. The top end of the street is in the parish of St. Michael-le-Belfrey, where three "glasyers" found sepulture [viz., John de Preston in 1337; Sir John Petty in 1508; William Thompson in 1539], whilst in the near-by church of St. Wilfrid, pulled down under the Act of 1 Ed. VI. (1547) for removing superfluous churches in York and the parish united with that of St. Michael-le-Belfrey in 28 Eliz. (1586), one only [viz., William Bownas in 1431] was laid to rest.

Sir John Petty evidently took a prominent part in the affairs of the city and held many public offices. He was Chamberlain in 1488, Sheriff in 1494-5, and elected Alderman Nov. 29, 1504, vice Thomas Foulneby, deceased. Besides his glass-painting business he evidently kept an inn.

The medieval inn corresponded to the modern smaller hotels, and there members of the merchant class put up, whilst persons of quality and the nobility were accommodated in the guest-houses of the monasteries. The inns had little in common with the beer-house the forerunner of the present-day "pub," which was generally kept by an 