1592. Sir WILLIAM ROE, Ironmonger, and sheriff in 1582, was this year chosen Lord Mayor.*

Arms: Argent, on a chevron azure, between three trefoils slipped per pale gules and vert, as many bezants, a crescent for difference. Harl. MS. 6860.

1594, May 9. A precept was read "concerninge the yeldyng of one third pte out of the gaine that doth growe to the compie by their adventure in the carricke † goodes towarde the buildinge of the peste-house."

1594. It was ordered that "400", pcell of the moneye due to this company for the pts of the carique goodes, be put out to proffyt upon bondes, at the rate of viij" per c. from sixe monthes to sixe monthes."

1595. The wardens were directed to pay into the hands of the Chamberlain of London the sum " of xxvi, by waie of lone, towardes the fournishing of x. light horses and men for her Maties service." Precepts were also received this

*See a pedigree of the family of Row in the Biographical Notices.

This was "the great carrack" named the Madre de Dios, captured at the isle of Flores, on the 3d August, 1592. See a very interesting memoir on this subject by William Richard Drake, esq. F.S.A. in the Archæologia, vol. xxxii. p. 209.

"A statute of the thirteenth year of Queen Elizabeth, which was the first that tolerated the receiving of interest in England at all, restrained it to ten pounds per cent.; a statute of James the First to eight pounds; of Charles the Second to six pounds; of Queen Anne to five pounds; on pain of forfeiture of treble the value of the money lent. The policy of these regulations is to check the power of accumulating wealth without industry; to give encouragement to trade, by enabling adventurers in it to borrow money at a moderate price; and of late years to enable the state to borrow the subjects' money itself."-Paley's Moral and Political Philosophy, vol. i. p. 160.

L

year for the supply of corn, and concerning the wearing of caps according to the statute of the 13th Eliz.

ORDERS made by a Court on the 23 day of October, 1595, ao xxxvijo reg. Eliz. to be observed on the election day.

Highe Table.-Imprimis, that the wardens for the tyme being shall place the maister uppermoste at the highe table, next unto the aldermen, yf any be there; and so manye as have bene maisters, and he that shalbe then chosen maister, and all their wyves (yf rome be for them), upon paine to lose fortie shillings a pece for faylinge in any of theis, w1out pdon. Provided, yf any be there of greate accompte, they shalbe likewise placed at the high table, yf there be rome, and so the companie in their degree till the table be fournished.

Second Table.-Item, that at the second table the reste of the companie, wt their wives, that have beene wardens, shalbe placed in their degree.

Thirde Table.-Item, that, at the thirde table all the bidden guests remanyinge unsett shalbe placed at the descretion of the maister and wardens, and that after the firste messe shalbe served at the second table, the thirde table shalbe nexte served throughout, so far as it is furnished wt guests; and then the second table shalbe last served. But yf there be no guests at the thirde table, then the second table to be served in order as formerlie hath bene used. Provided alwaies, that yf the maister and wardens shall bid more guests then maie be well placed in this order, soe as the companye have suffycient rome left them as before, then the maister and wardens to appointe a table in the plor, whereat shalbe placed all the women by themselves, and they to be firste served. All theis orders to be observed upon the penaltie

before mencioned.

1596, Mar. 27. A precept was received from the Lord Mayor for the loan of £3,500, to be advanced by all the halls, towards the "setting forthe xij. shippes, two pynnasses, and xij c. men to serve in them. To be lent for one whole year upon securitie of the cities bond;" the Ironmongers' proportion being £172.

The year 1597 produced the usual demands for the supply of corn, and a command from the Lord Mayor for enforcing more duly the Queen's proclamation against the inordinate excess of apparel.

This year died William Gomersal, a member of the Ironmongers' Company, who was buried in the chancel of Hillingdon church, Middlesex, where the following inscription to his memory is still remaining:

Here lyeth buried the bodie of William Gom'sall, late cittizen and Iremonger of London, who changed this mortall lyfe the first day of Julie, in the year of our Lord God 1597, in full and pfect hope of a joyful resurrection, and left behinde him one sonne and two daughters.

Arms, a chevron engrailed ermine between three dexter gauntlets; crest, on a helmet and wreath, a hand in armour issuing from a crescent and holding a mace or battleaxe.

1598, Aug. 28. Under this date the following precept

occurs :

By the Mayor.

Whereas her Maties most gracious pleasure and requeste was lately signified unto me the Lord Mayor, th'aldermen my brethren, and the com counsell of this cyttie, by tres from the Right Hon. the Lordes and others of her Maties Privy Counsell, that for the necessarie defence of this realme and suppressinge of the rebells in Ireland, her highness desire was to borrowe the some of twenty thousand pounds of this cittie, for the space of six monthes, upon her highness' bonde under the greate seale of England. In accomplishment whereof it was agreed, that the said £20,000 shalbe lente unto her Matie gratis for the sayd tyme required, and to be paid by all the seuerall companies of the cittie.

The proportion of the Ironmongers' Company, £880, was accordingly taken up for six months at interest.

1600, April 9. At this Court it was agreed that, according to a precept received from the Lord Mayor, for

the levying of xxix" vjs viijd imposed upon this Company towards a composition for the "pattente of the serche of oyle, sope, salt, butter, vinegar, hopps, and other things, to them wch are interested in the pattente from ye Chandlers, and accordinglie it shall goe oute of the stocke of this hall."

MONOPOLIES." It was in the parliament of 1601 that the opposition which had during forty years been silently gathering and husbanding strength fought its first great battle and won its first victory. The ground was well chosen. The English Sovereigns had always been entrusted with the supreme direction of commercial police. It was their undoubted prerogative to regulate coin, weights, and measures, and to appoint fairs, markets, and ports. The line which bounded their authority over trade had as usual been but loosely drawn. They, therefore, as usual, encroached on the province which rightfully belonged to the legislature. The encroachment was as usual patiently borne till it became serious. But at length the Queen took upon herself to grant patents of monopoly by scores. There was scarcely a family in the realm which did not feel itself aggrieved by the oppression and extortion which this abuse naturally caused. Iron, oil, vinegar, coal, saltpetre, lead, starch, yarn, skins, leather, glass, could be bought only at exorbitant prices. The House of Commons met in an angry and determined mood. . . . The Queen however with admirable judgment and temper put herself at the head of the reforming party, redressed the grievance, thanked the Commons in touching and dignified language for their tender care of the general weal, brought back to herself the hearts of the people, and left to her successors a memorable example of the way in which it behoves a ruler to deal with public movements which he has not the means of resisting."-Macaulay's History of England, vol. i. 64. See also Herbert's City Companies, vol. i. 157, who quotes a very scarce tract on the business of patent hunting.

1603. On the accession of James the First, we find an order of court that there should be a new banner, with the King's Majesty's arms thereon; and that the rails should

be made seven yards longer for the accommodation of the livery, who attended in their best apparel when his Majesty passed through the city.

The Company were assessed in the sum of £17, being their proportion, for the full accomplishment and finishing of the pageants prepared by the city on this occasion.

JAMES, in the second year of his reign, confirmed the privileges and possessions of the Ironmongers' Company, by letters patent, to the following effect :

ACOBUS Dei gratia, &c. granteth and confirmeth to the master, wardens, &c. of the Ironmongers, London, and their successors, all their manors, messuages, lands, tents, libties, privileges, freedoms, and whatsoever wch they now have or ought to have, and yt they or their pdecessors have heretofore by whatsoever names had or ought to have had by ptext of any chres of our pdecessors made, confirmed, or graunted, or by any other lawful way, right, or title, heretofore had, used, and accustomed; to have and to hold to the said master, &c. and their success for ever; to hold of such lords, by such rents and services as heretofore they were held. And further, we grant to the said master, &c. and their successors, that they have, hold, and enjoy for ever all liberties, free customs, &c. according to these tres patents and other chres of our progenitors made, without or hindrance, or of or heirs or successors; and we will yt said master, &c. by reason of these pmises be not molested, vexed, or troubled, by us, or heirs, justices, sheriffs, escheato", &c. Comanding o' threr, chauncello", and barons of the Excheq", &c. that neither they nor any of them do prosecute or cause to be prosecuted any writ of quo warranto or other writs against the said master, &c. for any cause, matter, offence, claim, by them or any of them claimed, used, &c. before the day of the date of these pnts. And that the