Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 9.djvu/85

12 s. ix. JULY 23, 1921.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 63 Lord Mayor in medieval times was attended with a degree of dignity and worship far above what it is at the present day. The Chief Magistrate was not allowed to walk abroad alone but was preceded by two men in livery with his name on their coats, and citizens had to uncover as he passed [Rev. Angelo Raine, lecture quoted above.] An old couplet has it:

My Lord is a Lord for a year and a day But his Lady is Lady for ever and aye,

and cases are on record where the wife of the mayor was styled "Lady" until her death. In a comedy entitled 'The Northern Heiress; or, The Humours of York,' written by Mary Davys, a writer of some little note in her day, which was produced both in London and York in 1716, three of the characters, Lady Swish, Lady Cordivant and Lady Greasy, owe their titles to the fact that their respective husbands had been Lord Mayors of the city [Davies, 'Walks through York,' p. 281]. It is possible the same rule applied to Lord Mayors who died during their term of office, and that the title "Sir" was still applied to them as a mark of respect after their decease. Sir John Petty evidently had a large business and was much patronized by the monasteries, for in his will he left 13s. 4d. to Furness Abbey in Lancashire, "besechyng thame of clere absolucion be cause I have wroght mych wark there." He must have also executed considerable work for the Minster and for St. Mary's Abbey at York, to each of which he bequeathed "x schafe (i.e., sheets) Renyshe glase" with an additional "vj tabyls (rectangular sheets) of Normandy white glase" to the Dean and Chapter. He was admitted a member of the exclusive Guild of Corpus Christi, to which all candidates had to be introduced by a priest, in 1472, as shown by the following entry in the register of the guild, "Joh. Pety et uxor ejus. Per dom. Ric. Coke" [Reg. Guild of Corpus Christi, Surtees Soc., vol. 57, p. 96]. He made a fine will describing himself as "John Petty than beyng Maior of the citye of York," and desiring "to be buryd in Sanct Michell church called Belfray, at ye ende of the he alter in the where (quire) afore Sanct Michell" and that there should be "spendyd aboutt my corse xxli wax in xxti candels and x scolers to bere them," and also that a trentall of masses should be said for the repose of his soul. He mentions a number of rich garments, including "a violet gowne furd wt blak fur," "a tawny gowne furred w* fox, and a murrey gown furred w* grey," a " violett gowne furryd w* shankes," a ' chamlett jackett," a " jaket of welwit," a " gowne w* foxfur," and a " scarlett gowne w* ye fur and lyn- ynge longynge therto," and a " sarsynett tippitt," as well as " buskyns and a pare (of) duble sooll shoos." In view of such a lengthy list of clothes it is perhaps not surprising that Sir John owed his tailor money, and in the inventory of John Carter, Citizen and Tailor of York, taken <.n Sept. 14, 1485, we find under the heading " Small debts which are owing to deceased, " one of 4s. due " From John Pety, glasyer" [Sur- tees Soc., vol. 45, p. 303]. He also possessed quite an armoury, including " a salet w* harnes for ye slevys, a f aid of male, a gorget and a hawberd," "a breisi, plait, sieves of male, w* a battilaxe and a salett." In his house he had many objects of art and value, including "a Primer lomned w fc gold," " a standyng cup w* a cover gilt, wt a egill of it," " and a lityll covered cope borderd at fot w* sylver and gilt." He evidently kept a respectable establishment, as amongst his household servants he mentions " my steward " and " Jenett my madyng," both of whom received gifts ; the former receiv- ing, in addition, " his wages as long as he servys whuche is xls." He also remembered his " two servandes famulare " and " Rauffe Batty my scribe," who presumably kept the books and wrote his business letters. To his brother Robert he left his business and trade appliances as well as a quantity of armour and wearing apparel. To his " doghter Annes a pare corall beides y* was hir moders. To Mr. Richard, my wiff son, a ryall " and a silver cup. " To my commoder Judson, a gold ryng and a ryall." The word commoder, according to the * N.E.D.% which gives four examples, one earlier and three later than the above and all north country, was the name applied to the re- lationship between one godparent and an- other or the actual parents, e.g., 1523, Test. Ebor., Surtees Soc., v. 171 : "To my Com- moder Smyth my musterdevilys gowne.'* Amongst his friends he mentions " The vicar of Onsyngore " (Hunsingore, near Wetherby, Yorks), " Mr. Barra, prebendary of Osbaldwik " (near York), and " Sir John Faceby, Kynsman, called Sir William Crak," and Sir William Spenser. " To my breder (aldermen) yt berys me to ye churche evere ichon of thame xijd. To the mase-berer