1618, 12th November. Isaack Walton, late apprentice to Thomas Grinsell, "was now admitted and sworne a free brother of this Companie, and payd for his admittance xiija, and for default of presentm' and enrollement x'."

Nov. 18. "Accordinge to a custome in this and other societies, to honor their worthy friends with the freedome of their corporaĉon as a present and token of their love and respect unto psons of such qualitie and desert, the freedome of this fellowship was this day presented unto Mr. Robert Heath, Recorder of London, and Mr. Peter Pheasant, counselor at law, and penčonary of this Companye, who both respectively accepted the same, with kind acknowledgement of the love of this Companie, and promise of their readines in all occasions to shew their good respect unto the general bodie thereof; and soe are by this entry enrigestred as free brethren of this societie."

1618-19. Feb. 27. "Mr Warden Cambell acquainted this court how he had heard that a precept from the Lord Mayor was sent unto the Hall (though miscarried), for the pviding of six barrels of gunpowder for the share of this Company, and it is agreed that if m" warden heare further of this matter, he shall forthwith make provision of the said quantity of powder."

In 1619 the Company of Ironmongers entertained "the States of the United Provinces, and the rest of the commissioners residing here, the lord maior, Sir Thomas Smith, and divers others of place and quality;" when it was "thought mete that there be a lane made of the livery on both sides, from the door up into the Hall, beginning with the youngest of the livery below at the dore; after the coming up of the States, the livery to dispose of themselves in other rooms, as that the Hall might be left free for the

entertainment of the States, and the others of the chiefe, and Mr. Ball and Mr. Raph Canning were intreated to sit with the States gentlemen, to entertain them, the former at the end of the table, and Mr. Windham and the clarke among the rest at the same table.

"The meate for the first table to be served up by the livery, beginning from the youngest, and continuing upwards according to the number of dishes.

"It was the same year agreed in respect of the kindness of Mr. Recorder of London sheweth to this Company since he received the freedome thereof, that he shalbe psented with twoo hogsheads of Gascoyne wyne and a but of sack, in token of the Compas loving acceptance of his favour.

"The Recorder having many psents of wine, this was subsequently changed into a sum of twenty peices.”

September 22. By a precept from the Lord Mayor the Company were required to take their "pporcón of powder and match for their store; to witt, 1,220lb. of powder, at xjd. per pound, and nine bundles of match, at ixs. vjd. the bundle."

Upon the petition of the " yeomandry of this mistery now read against certain country larymen, cutlers, and naylemen, that ly at Blossomes and the Maydenhead, and other inns, and retayle their wares within this citty to foreigners, contrary to the privileges of this citty, and to the great hurt of this Company, it is now agreed to make petition to the lord mayor and aldermen in the name of the whole Company for the redressing of this disorder."

"An order of Court before the Lord Maior in yo tyme of Sir Sebastian Harvey, dated ye 5 day of October last, was now read, wherein it was declared that the Lord Maior, by his prerogative of making three psons free of the cittie, had obtained the freedome of Mr. Stapleton as the first of the said three, and y' he should be admitted into the freedom

of the Company by redemption; upon weh order the court being willing to gratifie Sir Sebast" Harvey, the said Stapleton being his gardener, are contented to admit him into this Company, soe as he doe once a quarter take care to keep the Company's garden in order and repair, and to trym ye same, wch he very thankfully accepted of, promising to pforme the same, and therefore took his oath appertayning, and paid for his oath xijd."

"Dec. 3. A precept from the Lord Maior dated this day, and directed to this Company, was read, wherein is signified that the great disorder yt of late years is growne in the severall companies of this cittie, in not being decently attired in their gownes faced with furr, as in ancient tyme hath been used upon the dayes of solemnity in the winter season; for remedy whereof his LOPP and ye Court of Aldermen have thought fitt that the m', wardens, assistants, and those of the livery doe in decent and grave manner wear their gownes faced wth furr, every one according to his degree of precedence in his comp, and not to have their gownes faced with seuall stuffs disorderly, as of late hath been used; and this order of wearing their gownes faced wth furr to be contyneued yearly, from Michaelmas till Easter, and to be put in execution before Xmas next.”

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In the 17th year of his reign, James the First granted to the Ironmongers' Company a "perpetuitie" or confirmation under the great seal of all their lands and tenements in and about London, particularly specifying and describing the same: and, in the month of October following, by other letters patent, still further secured the said lands and tenements to the Company from any doubt, defect, ambiguity, or omission, that might be discoverable in the previous instrument :

PERPETUITIE granted to the m1 and keepers or wardens and cõialty of the mistery or art of Ironmongers, London.

Jacobus Dei gratia Anglie, Scotie, Francie, et Hibernie Rex, fidei defensor, &c. omnibus ad quos presentes litere pervene

rint salutem, &c.

Whereas the m' and keepers or wardens and cöialty of the mistery or art of Ironmongers, London, have several messuages, lands, and tents, viz.

The Hall and three tenements thereunto adjacent.

A messuage in the Old Jewry, in the occupacon of Tho Cambell; one in the occupacon of Robt Cham

berlin; one in Love Lane, in his occupacon.

Two tents in the occupa" of Rich Batenson.

One tent in the occup" of Peter Phesant.

In Noble Lane, three tents in the occup" of Willm Dun.

In Bread St, two messes in the occupa" of Thos Osborn; nine messgs in the occup of Robt Este, Francis Austin, Willm Skidmore, Eliz. Lewis, Rich Vallans, Robt Boydall, Reynold Hayes, Francis Bates, Willm Browne.

Wtout Newgate, two mess, and the cottages in Horse-head Alley. The Ship in the Poultry, in the occup" of Trinion Shortus.

Wood Street, the Flower de Luce and Crown, in the occup" of Willm Mindgay.

In Old Street, a croft or piece of ground in a great orchard, and all the tents therein, with the gardens and all the tents towards the street, in the occupa" of John Cornwell.

An acre and a rood of ground in his occupacon.

In Nics Lane, two tents in the occupa" of Wm Bainbrigge and Robt Blackerby.

In East Cheap, the Xpofer in the occupa" of Eliza Linton.

And whereas the mr and keepers, &c. have petitioned us to confirm and ratifie for ever to them all and singular ye premises, that they and their successors may enjoy the premises quietly, without any claim of us, or heirs, or successors;

Know ye that we, for and in consideration of 100l. paid into our exchequer by the said m2, keepers, &c. have and do for us and or heirs and successors confirm, release, and ratifie to the said mr and keepers, and to their successors, all the aforesaid messes, lands, and tenements, and premises, wt the appurtenances, to have and to hold to them and their successors for ever; viz.—

All the premises in London in free burgage and not in capite, nor by knight's service, and all that in Midd by the same tenure as formerly, and not by other, yielding and paying such and like yearly rents as were formerly paid in the space of 30 years. And we do give and grant to the said m2, &c. all and singular the premises and the reversion of the premises and the rents and profits thereof, except the quitrents due to us; to have and to hold the said messuags, lands, and the reversion and reversions thereof, released and confirmed to the said mr, &c. to their own use and behoof for ever; to hold of us all the premises in London in free burgage, and not in capite nor by knight's service; and all the premises in Middlesex by such tenure as they were formerly, and not otherwise; paying to us such quit-rents as have been paid by the space of 30 years last past. And, moreover, we give and grant to the said m', &c. that they and their successors from henceforth for ever may hold and enjoy the premises afore granted, and every part thereof, and such rights [in reduccons], fredomes, liberties, customes, &c. as they and their predecessors, or any other, have or ought to have enjoyed by reason of any charter, gift, or grant by us or or predecessors, Kings or Queens of England, or by pretext of any Act of Parliament, or prescription, or custom heretofore had, as freely and amply to have had or enjoyed, or ought to have enjoyed the same.

And further we give and grant to the said m', &c. all the aforesaid messgs with their appurtenances, as full and freely as the same came to our hands, or to our progenitors, by reason of dissolution or suppression of any monastery, priory, or by ptext of any Act of Parlt, attainder, or forfeiture, exchange, gift, or by any other lawful means are or ought to be in our hands.

And we will and grant to the said m', &c. and to their successors,