Chapter LIV: Section V

_Account of the holy Trinity Company_, _of great merchants’ Gild_.

Of all the Lynn gilds, that which assumed the name of _Trinity_, and is the 20th in the Catalogue, appears to have been by far the most eminent and opulent. It had very considerable possessions, in houses, lands, and other sorts of property; and there is still preserved a more particular and full account of this gild than of most, or indeed of any of the rest: of which its large landed property may be one principal reason, as that could not well be conveyed into other hands without some mention of its original or former possessors, and such mention too as would be likely to be long remembered. Most, if not all the property of this mercantile company, and particularly what consisted in houses and lands, was, at the reformation, when the company was dissolved, vested in the corporation, and still constitutes a great part, or most, of their property of that description. The best account of this gild, that we know of, is contained in a MS. volume which once belonged to the late Henry Partridge Esq. but is now the possession of our venerable townsman Thomas Day Esq. who has very obligingly favoured the present writer with the use of it. This account extends much further than that given in Parkin’s printed History of Lynn, though it seems to have been originally drawn up by the same hand, and transcribed from the papers of that eminent antiquary, with his consent, by the procurement of the late Mr. Partridge, in 1749.—We learn from the printed account, as well as from that in manuscript, that though this gild is _said_ to have been _founded_ by _king_ JOHN, at the request of his great favourite, bishop De _Grey_, yet that, in fact, it existed long before that time, as appears by an answer to a certain writ of enquiry, in the reign of Richard II. so that what is called _founding_ it _then_, seems to mean no more than that monarch’s giving it his royal sanction, or taking it under his kingly patronage: and we know not how far that proved of material benefit to the institution. The interference and patronage of statesmen have not always proved favourable to commercial prosperity. But we will now proceed to lay before the reader the account which we have obtained of this gild.

“John de Grey bishop of Norwich persuaded {451} king John to found
the guild of the holy Trinity at Lynn: the brethren of which were
bound, under the penalty of a gallon of wine, to have Mass celebrated
every Trinity Sunday, in St. Margaret’s Church, for the souls of the
said king and bishop.—It was called the _great_ Guild of the holy
Trinity in Lynn, in respect to other less guilds in the same town;
the head or chief person of this guild, or fraternity, was stiled,
the Alderman, or Custos, and was chose by the commonalty of the said
town, and continued so on that choice for life, unless upon account
of any great infirmity or inability, or some other reasonable cause,
he was set aside and removed.

“This Guild was said to have _its rise and begining_ before the reign
of king John, as appears from the answer of Thomas Botesham, alderman
of it, and his brethren, in the time of Richard II. to a writ of
enquiry of that king relating to its foundation, authority, &c. that
its origin was not known, that king John, considering the great
concourse of merchants to this town, granted the alderman that then
was, and the commonalty and their successors, by Letters patents,
bearing date in his sixth year, that they might have a guild of
merchants in the said town: and Henry III. son to the said king John,
by his Letters patents, granted one of their own body and community
to be mayor of the said town, which said mayor and alderman for the
time being, should always have the rule and government of it; and
which said alderman, in the vacancy of a mayor, or in the absence of
the mayor from the said town, should have the rule and government of
the said community, as the alderman and his predecessors, the
aldermen of the said town, had and enjoyed.

“As to _their possessions_, &c. they are thus returned to the
aforesaid enquiry, That they had a place called the Common Staith
with its appurtenances, valued at 42_l._ 6_s._ 8_d._ per annum clear,
besides all reprises, That the goods and chattels of the aforesaid
Guild amount in the whole to 260_l._ 13_s._ viz. in ready money
60_l._ 13_s._ In divers merchandize 200_l._ and that in many books,
vestments, chalices, and other ornaments for the chaplains of the
said Guild performing Divine service as well in the parish church as
in the chapels {453} annexed to the said church, and that in wax for
lights in the said church and chapels, in the honour and laud of the
holy Trinity, yearly found, and for torches at the funerals of poor
brethren, &c. of the said Guild, and that out of the profits of the
common Stathe, and out of the goods and chattels aforesaid, together
with diverse goods and chattels bequeathed and left to the said
Guild; the alderman, &c. sustain and find _thirteen chaplains_, daily
and yearly to pray, as well for the king, his ancestors, and for the
peace and welfare of his kingdom, as for the souls of all the
aldermen, brethren, and benefactors of the said Guild, also for the
souls of all the faithful deceased: _six_ of which officiated in the
church of St. Margaret aforesaid, _four_ in the chapel of St.
Nicholas, and _three_ in the chapel of St. James in Lenne, who all
day, as they are stated and appointed in the church and chapels
aforesaid, celebrate high mass, by note, and on Sundays and other
festival days, celebrate mass at Mattins, and at Vespers, by note;
and if any of the aforesaid chaplains neglects his duty and office,
or is not of an honest life and conversation, when he has been
admonished by the alderman, and does not amend, he is removed from
the service, and the said alderman appoints another able and honest
one in his place. And further, that out of the profits of the said
Common-Stath, goods and chattels aforesaid, many almsdeeds and works
of charity were yearly given, which, one year with another, are
computed at 30_l._ viz. towards the support of the poor brethren of
the said guild, to the blind, lame, and other distressed persons, to
poor clerks keeping school, and poor religious houses, as well of men
as women, to the lepers in and about Lenne, and in repairs &c. of the
parish church and chapels aforesaid, and in the ornaments of the
same, together with the alms given to the four orders of friers in
Lenne, and to the maintaining of several aqueducts for the use of the
said town: all the goods and chattels aforesaid are in the hands of
the said alderman, and of four men of the said guild, called skivins,
{454a} who yearly distribute the said goods as aforesaid: and
further, that the brethren of the said guild never had nor used any
one suit of livery, either in their vestments or hoods.” {454b}

The following were the _Rules and Ordinances of this Gild_.

1. If any stranger is willing to enter into the fraternity, he ought
to pledge into the hands of the alderman 100_s._ _et jus p’ dict.
domus_; _scil._ to the alderman 4_d._ to the clerk 2_d._ to the dean
2_d._ and afterwards out of the 100_s._ pledged with the alderman and
his brethren, _ad melins_. . . . _poterit_, and shall immediately
give one sextary {455a} of wine, viz. 10_d._ {455b}

2. If any brother has a son, or sons, legitimate, who are willing to
enter into the said fraternity, each one ought to pay for his
entrance 4_s._ the aforesaid right being excepted.

3. Whoever will enter into the said fraternity, ought on the first
day of his admission to wait and serve before the alderman and the
brethren, honourably, in neat clothes, and {455c} . . . of gold or
silver.

4. The alderman to have, on the day of Pentecost, one sextary of
wine, and the dean half a sextary, the clerk half, and each of the
skivens {455d} the same day half a sextary, and every day after as
long as the drinking shall continue, the alderman shall have half a
sextary, the dean, clerk, and each of the Skivins one gallon, and
each of the attendants half a gallon, at evening.

5. If any of the brethren shall disclose to any stranger the
counsels of the said guild, to their detriment, without the assent of
the alderman and his brethren, he shall forfeit the sum of 32 pence.

6. If any of the brethren shall fall into poverty, or misery, all
the brethren are to assist him by common consent out of the chattels
of the house, or fraternity, or of their proper own.

7. If any brother should be impleaded, either within Lenne or
without, the brethren there present ought to assist him in their
council, if they are called, to stand with him and counsel him
without any costs; and if they do not, they are to forfeit 32 pence.

8. None of the brethren is to come into the guild before the
alderman and his brethren with his cap or hood on, or barefoot, or in
any rustick manner, if he does he is to be amerced 4 pence.

9. If any one should sleep at the guild, either at the general
meeting or at their feasts and drinking, he is to forfeit 4 pence.

10. If any one turns him rudely to his brother, or calls him by any
rude name, [he is] to be amerced 4 pence.

11. If any one is called and cited at a prime (or general meeting)
and does not come before the issue of the first consult, he is to pay
1_d._ by order of the dean; and if he refuses and sits down, he is to
be amerced 4 pence.

12. If any one should be cited to the prime, and shall be found in
the town, or shall come late to the drinking, and the dean shall say
to him to be there at the next prime, and he does not come before
they begin to take judgments of defaults, he shall either make some
reasonable excuse, or pay 12_d._ and if he comes before the defaults
are adjudged, and shall depart without leave, shall pay 12_d._

13. If any one of this house shall buy any thing, and a brother
shall come in unexpectedly before the agreement, {457} or at it, he
ought to be a partner with him that buy, and if the buyer refuses it,
he is to be amerced half a mark.

14. If any servant of the brethren comes at the drinking, or the
prime, he is to lay down the cap and cloak, and give it to the
janitor to keep, whilst he enters and speaks to his master, and then
he is to depart forthwith: if it is at the drinking, let him drink
once or twice, provided he does not sit, and then he is to depart,
and if he does not, his master is to be amerced.

15. If any one refuse to obey the precept of the alderman, or dean,
for the honour and profit of the house, he is to be amerced 12_s._

16. If any poor brother shall dye, the alderman and brethren shall
see that his body be honourably buried, of the goods, or chattels of
the house, or out of alms, if he has not wherewith to bury himself.

17. If the alderman shall dye, none belonging to him, neither son,
or any other can act in any thing as alderman but the brethren may
choose a new alderman whom they please.

18. If any brother shall dye, the dean is to summons all the
brethren to make their offerings for the soul of the deceased; and if
any one is absent, he is to give one halfpenny at the next prime
following, for the soul of the defunct, and the dean is to have 4_d._
of the alms collected for citing the brethren.

19. If any brother, or alderman shall act contrary to the ordinances
of this house, he is either to forfeit his brotherhood, or pay half a
mark for the good of the house.

20. No one shall intrude himself while the drinking continues.

21. If any brother shall offend another brother, in word or deed, he
shall make no complaint but to the alderman first, and the mayor; if
he does not, he is to be amerced half a mark.

22. If the skivins shall merchanize with the chattels of the house,
no brother shall have any part therein, but the whole profit to go to
the use of the guild.

23. The skivins are to swear, when they receive the chattels of the
house, that they will employ the same faithfully to the good of the
guild, and will fully account and answer for the profit.

The following additional articles are given, in the said MS. volume, as _Usages and Customs_ of the gild.

[1.] There are four meetings of the alderman and his brethren (viz.)
The _first_ on Friday in the first week of Lent, to settle and order
their alms and other works of charity. The _second_ on Friday next
before the feast of the holy Trinity, to choose the officers of the
said Guild, (viz.) the skivins, and to settle and take the accounts
of them that are then removed. The _third_ on the vigil and day of
the holy and undivided Trinity, to the laud and honor thereof at the
vespers of the said feast, to have placebo {459a} and dirige {459b}
decently and honourably performed, for the souls of all the ancestors
of our lord the king, all the aldermen and brethren of the said
guild, all their benefactors and faithful deceased: and on the feast
of the said festival to have the solemn masses, as well of the said
festival, as the masses of requiem for the souls aforesaid, and to
make their offerings for the same. The _fourth_ on the Friday next
after the feast of the exaltation of the holy cross, {459c} to look
into the state of the said guild, and to receive the arrears, if any
were left in the hands of the skivins of the foregoing years, and to
dispose and order the goods and chattels of the said guild.

[2.] If any brother of the said guild shall dye in the said town,
another brother of the same, deputed by the alderman shall appoint 12
torches to be at the funeral of the said deceased; and further every
brother of the guild in town, shall be warned to make his offering
for the deceased, at the mass that is celebrated on the day of the
burial.

[3.] It any of the aforesaid brethren shall dye in the said town or
elsewhere, as soon as knowledge thereof shall come to the alderman,
the said alderman shall order solemn Mass to be celebrated for him,
at which every brother of the said guild, that is in town, shall make
their offering; and further, the alderman shall make every chaplain
of the said guild, immediately on the death of any brother, to say 30
Masses for the deceased.

[4.] The alderman and skivins of the said guild are by duty obliged
to visit, four times a year, all the infirm, all that are in want,
need, or poverty, and to minister to, and relieve all such, out of
the alms of the said guild.

[5.] If any brother shall become poor and needy, he shall be
supported in food and cloathing, according to his exigency, out of
the profits of the lands and tenements, goods and chattels of the
said guild.

[6.] If any one has a desire and is willing, for the honour of the
holy Trinity, to be received into the said guild, that he may be
partaker of the alms and benefactions thereof, he shall give to the
said guild a certain sum of money to the maintenance of the said alms
and benefactions according to what shall be agreed up on by the
alderman and brethren thereof.

[7.] If any brother has a son, or sons, after his entrance into the
guild, lawfully born and begotten, especially if such be of good and
honest fame and conversation, they are to be received every one of
them into the said guild, if he so thinks well, four shillings each.

[8.] No born slave, {461} or one of such like condition, nor any
apprentice can be received, and if any one of such like condition
should be received into the said guild, the alderman and his brethren
not knowing it, when it is truly and lawfully proved, such a one
shall lose the benefit of the said guild.

[9.] No one until he arrive at the age of 21 years, and is of honest
fame and condition, can be received into the said guild.

[10.] If any alderman shall happen to dye, or shall be removed from
his office on [for] any just and reasonable cause, the community of
the said town shall immediately choose another into the said office,
which alderman so elected, in the presence of the said community,
shall promise, that he will faithfully perform and observe all and
singular those things which belong to his office.

[11.] When any one shall be received into the said guild, he shall
promise in the hands of the said alderman on his faith, that he will
be obedient unto the said alderman and his officers of the guild for
the time being, in all lawful and honest things touching their
office, and that he will faithfully observe, as far as he is able,
all the lawful ordinances which, for the good rule and government of
the said guild, and honourable support of the said chaplains, and the
alms and good works of the said guild, are already made, or shall be
made hereafter.

[12.] It was ordained on Wednesday in the week of Pentecost in the
7. of Edward {462a} that the brethren should keep a general
Morwespech {462b} three times a year; to wit, on Friday in Whitsun
week, on Friday after the exaltation of the Holy Cross, and on Friday
on the first week of Lent.

[13.] Likewise it was ordained, by common consent, that the alderman
and his brethren should take care that a solemn mass should be
celebrated for the soul of John de Grey, formerly bishop of Norwich,
who first obtained the liberty of the said guild; viz. on the feast
of the holy Trinity, where every one of the brethren was to make an
offering of an halfpenny, and if any one made default, he was to give
one sextary of wine to the alms of the said house and gild.

[14.] And on Friday on the week of Pentecost in the 44. Edward III.
[1370] Thomas de Bockisham then alderman of, &c. it was agreed
unanimously that all the brethren who were well in town should meet
at Vespers at St. Margaret’s church, and should hear together Vespers
and Placebo for the soul of the aforesaid king John and John [de]
Grey bishop of Norwich, and on the day following, on the feast of the
holy Trinity, they should all be there present, and hear the mass
said of the holy Trinity, and, immediately after that, the mass for
the dead, by note, for the souls aforesaid.

[15.] On Friday on the week of Pentecost, in the 23 Edward 3. it was
provided by common assent, for ever, that no brother ought to buy or
sell any millstones, or marble stones, brought to Lynn to be sold, as
long as the scabini of this house would buy them for the profit of
the guild and pay for them to the full, and if any one brother should
act contrary hereto, he should for ever be deprived of the society.

[16.] On Friday the week of Pentecost the 24. Edward 3. it was
provided and agreed that every one of the skivins shall faithfully
and separately give in his account before the alderman and his
brethren to shew to them how many millstones he has bought or sold,
to whom he has sold, and for what price; and what size every
millstone was which he either bought or sold: and all the ready money
(silver) he has he shall bring with him; and if he does not, as is
here provided, he shall give six pound of silver to the use and
profit of the said house, or be discharged the society.

[17.] If any brother shall be elected to the office of a skivin and
he shall refuse it, he shall pay 40_s._ to the good of the house, or
be expelled.

[18.] On Friday in Pentecost week, 16. Edward III. it was provided
and ordained unanimously by the alderman and the fraternity that the
skivins for the time being may at any time of the year distrain and
bring their distresses for rents and farms belonging to the guild,
according to the customs, &c. of the Burgh of Lynn, and that for the
time to come the skivins should be responsible for the full payments
of the said rents and firmis till the time of their accounting shall
come, and that the skivins for the time being, whether they are
elected this present year or have been elected the foregoing year
shall every year at the feast of St. John Baptist account with their
tenants, and the said tenants shall hire again of the said skivins
the houses which they shall hold beyond the term of the said St. John
as the said skivins shall see to be most for the profit of the said
guild: and whatever accident shall happen, either by the occupation
of the said houses, the king’s ministers, or any other persons
whatever, or by any other accident whatever, the said tenants of the
farms aforesaid shall answer for the whole time to the said skivins
in full without any deductions at the terms aforesaid. {464}

[ 19.] On Friday on the week of Pentecost in the 27. of Edward III.
Jeffrey Drew then alderman, it is provided that if any brother was
found guilty and convicted of any notorious and scandalous falsehood
to the loss or disgrace of the guild, he should be deprived, and
never be reconciled, but looked upon as a convict and perjured
person.

[20.] On Friday next after the feast of the exaltation of the holy
Cross, in the 31. of Edward 3. Jeffrey Drew then alderman, it was
unanimously agreed by the alderman and his brethren, that as by the
grant of the king in his charter the Burgh of Lynn Epi. had this
Liberty, that the burgesses of the same in all fairs through the
kingdom of England were free and enjoyed that freedom; when therefore
any one of the said burgesses or brethren should go to the fair at
Stirbridge, or where any such like fair is held, and has taken his
place by the consent of any of the bailiffs of those places, and
marked it out by stakes or pins, by wood or stone, if any other
burgess of Lynn, or brother, either by presents or favour should
deprive of or expel the aforesaid burgess, or brother, from his place
so taken as aforesaid, he is to be looked upon and esteemed as a
transgressor of the aforesaid Liberty, and to be fined 40_s._ so that
the person so deprived and expelled may have 20_s._ of it; and if the
transgressor shall happen to be a brother of the said gild, he shall
be obliged by the alderman to pay 20_s._ for the benefit of the said
guild; and if the transgressor shall be a burgess, and not a brother
of the guild, he shall be obliged to pay 20_s._ by the mayor of the
town, for the benefit of the commonalty of the said town.

[21.] It is provided that none of our brethren shall come into the
guild before the alderman and his brethren capped, or hooded, or
barefooted, or in any other rude or rustick manner, and if he does he
shall pay 4_d._ for alms. {466a}

[22.] 16. Richard 2. 1393. Licence was granted that John de Brunham
and Thomas de Couteshale, of Lynn, might give to Henry de Betely,
alderman, the rents and profits of five messuages, one Kay, 11_l._
6_s._ 8_d._ rent, and the profit of one passage boat beyond the port
of Lynn Epi. with the appurtenances in Lynn, P. C. P. &c. N. 54. pt.
2. {466b}

It is very evident from the above extracts that the fraternity of the _holy Trinity_ stood very high among the Lynn Gilds; and there is reason to believe that it far surpassed any of the rest in power and opulence: of which the number of its _chaplains_ and the extent of its _possessions_ may be considered as very good and competent proofs. Of those possessions we can form but a very imperfect idea from what has been above said upon that subject. A much more correct and adequate idea may be obtained from the charter of Edward VI. after the dissolution of the gilds, in which the said possessions are by him transferred or granted to the mayor and burgesses.—This Charter bears date 21. May 1548, the 2nd year of that reign. The substance of it, as it relates to this gild, and serves to elucidate the present subject, is as follows—

“Edward VI. by the grace of God, &c:—Whereas certain lands and
tenements, and other hereditaments lying in our burgh of Lynn Regis,
South Lynn, Hardwick, Gaywood, Sechehithe, Middleton, Westwinch,
Snetsham, Shernborn, Eaton, Ingoldesthorpe, in the County of Norfolk,
and certain lands and tenements lying in Brandon Ferry in Suffolk,
which amount to the yearly value of 32_l._ 12_s._ 11_d._ besides all
reprises, were formerly given and granted to the alderman, custodes,
or scabins, and the brethren of the Merchants’ guild of the Holy
Trinity, in Lynn Regis aforesaid, and their successors.—and all and
singular whereof come to us, and are in our keeping, by virtue of an
act of parliament made at Westminster 4. Nov. in the 1st year of our
reign; and whereas the rents and profits of the same were formerly
laid out in defending the breaches of the sea, repairing of banks,
walls, fleets, and water courses, in Lynn aforesaid, without which
the said village could not be kept and preserved against the violence
of the sea. We therefore considering and having regard to the good
state and defence of the said village, out of our good will, and by
the advice, &c. . . . have given and granted to the Mayor and
Burgesses of Lynn aforesaid, out of the aforesaid lands and
tenements, &c. two messuages, one water-mill, 241 acres and 2 roods
of arable land, 6 acres and 1 rood of meadow inclosed, and 46 acres
of pasture inclosed, lying and being in the village and fields of
Snetsham, Ingoldesthorpe, Eaton, and Shernborn, now or late in the
tenure of William Overend; one messuage called the Chequer with 2
acres of land thereto belonging, and another messuage called Pepers,
with 2 acres thereunto adjoining; 120 acres of arable land, 3 acres
of pasture, and the liberty of a fold for 340 sheep, and the rent of
24_d._ per annum, in Brandon Ferry aforesaid, in the tenure of John
Atmere. Also one tenement now or late in the tenure of William
Bolton, two tenements in the tenure of John Salter, one tenement now
or lately in the tenure of Thomas Wyer; one tenement now or lately in
the tenure of Thomas Wild, one tenement now or lately in the tenure
of John Standfast, one tenement, &c. in the tenure of John Shoemaker,
one tenement in the tenure of Jas. Mayner, one pasture in the tenure
of John Waters, one messuage, or inn, called the White Hart, &c. in
the tenure of Thomas Mese, one tenement in the tenure of Edward
Baker, one tenement in the tenure of Richard Norman, one tenement in
the tenure of Richard Newgate, one tenement in the tenure of Beatrice
Isloppe, one tenement in the tenure of Joan Wilson, diverse tenements
in the tenure of George Felton, two tenements in the tenure of James
. . . one tenement in the tenure of Robert Bleisby, one tenement in
the tenure of Edw. Newton, one tenement in the tenure of Edw.
Irishman, one tenement in the tenure of the Mayor and Burgesses, two
tenements in the tenure of Wm. Manderson, one tenement in the tenure
of . . . Jareth, one tenement in the tenure of Alan Newton, one
tenement in the tenure of . . . Coke, one tenement in the tenure of
John Hart, one tenement in the tenure of Nich. Feries, one tenement
in the tenure of Francis Balden, one tenement in the tenure of John
Cragge, one garden in the tenure of John Wrenche, one tenement in the
tenure of Cornelius Adrianson, one messuage, called Le Guild Hall, in
the tenure of the Mayor and Burgesses, one tenement in the tenure of
. . . Wilson; seven houses, called warehouses, and six chambers over
them on the north side of the port called Common Stath; nine houses,
called warehouses, with chambers over them, on the south side of the
Common Stath; one tenement in the tenure of Thomas Courte, one
tenement in the tenure of Robt. Smith, one tenement in the tenure of
Cuthbert Atkinson, one tenement in the tenure of Rt. Rowes, two
tenements in the tenure of Wm. Clayborne, one Curtilage in the tenure
of John Wilson, one Cartilage in the tenure of Tho. Lockwood, one
Curtilage in the tenure of Rt. Parke, one Curtilage in the tenure of
Sim. Newell, one tenement in the tenure of John Curson, one tenement
in the tenure of John Eldred, one tenement in the tenure of John
Sharpe, one tenement in the tenure of Thomas Furnes, one tenement in
the tenure of Tho. Archers, one tenement in the tenure of Andrew
Skite, one in the tenure of Tho. Maltward, one in the tenure of
Reginald Taylor, one in the tenure of Robt. Weyman, one capital
messuage, late Brasum, now or lately in the tenure of the guild of
the holy Trinity, one Messuage, called New-hall, in the tenure of the
mayor and burgesses, one garden in the tenure of Thomas Miller, and
one passage over the port of Lynn, late in the tenure of Oliver
Braikett; all and every part of which are and lie in the Village of
Lynn aforesaid. And also 15 acres of land in Islington, in the
tenure of Robert Balding, 15 acres of land in Sechehithe in the
tenure of John Barvell, 3 acres of land in Westwinch, in the tenure
of Malachy Cogley, 3 acres of land in Seche, in the tenure of Thomas
Baker, one pasture in Gaywood, in the tenure of Barnard Water, and
one messuage, 46 acres of land, an 100 acres of pasture, 45 acres of
meadow and 50 acres of marsh with the appurtenances lying in South
Lynn in the tenure of Henry Bleisby. Also certain yearly rents
issuing out of the tenements called Baretts, and out of the tenements
late Richard Humphreys, and out of the tenements of William Pipers,
and out of the tenements late Wilsons, and out of the tenements of
Thomas Dawson; and out of the tenements late John Alexander, and out
of the tenements of John Parmyter, and out of the tenements late
Robert Amflet, lately belonging to the mayor and burgessess, and out
of a curtilage late John Baxter’s and William Hall, and out of the
tenement of Robert Gervys, and out of the tenements belonging to the
Warden of the chapel of St James in Lynn, and out of a Pasture called
Paradise in Lynn, and out of the tenements late John Powers, and out
of the tenements of Henry Duplack, called the White Horse, in Lynn,
which were lately parcell of the lands, possessions and revenues
belonging to the Merchants’ Guild of the Holy Trinity in Lynn
aforesaid; together with all the wood, timber, trees, underwood, &c.
liberties of foldage, and all other lands, tenements, &c. lying in
Lynn Regis, Snetsham, Ingoldesthorpc, Eaton, Sherborne, South Lynn,
Hardwick, Gaywood, Sechehythe, Middleton, Seche, {471} and Westwinch
in Norfolk, and Brandon Ferry in Suffolk, belonging to the guild of
the Holy Trinity, to be held of the king and his heirs, paying 13_l._
16_s._ yearly, at the feast of St. Michael and the annunciation, by
equal portions, the court augmentations. And we further grant to the
said mayor and burgesses all the stock of millstones, amounting to
the value 40_l._ late parcell of the goods and chattels of the Guild
of the Holy Trinity. And we further grant to the said mayor and
burgesses and their successors, that they may purchase and acquire to
themselves and successors lands and tenements to the value of 100_l._
per annum, or any other sum than 100_l._ per annum, without any fine
to us or to our use, and that these Letters patents should be granted
them without any fee to be paid or given. Dated at Wansted, 21 May
Aº 2º.” {472}

This document makes it very clear, that our Trinity Gild had acquired large possessions: nor is it to be concluded that the above items, or specifications, constituted the whole of them; their mercantile property and revenue, at least, are still to be added, which cannot be supposed inconsiderable; and there might be lands and tenements beside, that belonged to them, which the king might not choose to include in the above grant. However that was, it may be reasonably and safely presumed that the possessions of this fraternity were much larger than those of any of the rest, and that its weight and influence in the town were also very considerable, not only exceeding those of any of the others, but even, perhaps, of the corporation itself.—Its 13 chaplains may be considered as a proof of its great opulence, as well as of its assuming a very high religious character, which was looked upon, it seems, in those times, as essential to the reputation and prosperity of all social institutions, those of a civil and commercial, as well as of an ecclesiastic nature. The case is not exactly so in the present day. Between our present protestant corporation, with _only two_ chaplains, and this same gild with _thirteen_, one may presume there must be what may be called a pretty strong and striking contrast. We would fain hope, however, that the advantage to the community lies very materially on the protestant side.—Be that as it may, very different from what it is at present must have been the state of things at the period of which we are now treating, when the members of a fraternity which comprehended the first families in the town, were prohibited, as has been already remarked, to appear before the alderman, or at the gild meetings, _barefooted_; which clearly indicates that it was then customary, for even the principal families, to go about, ordinarily, _without shoes and stockings_. It was the case, no doubt, with those of both sexes—shoes and stockings constituting then only a part of the Sunday and holyday dress, or the _full dress_, of even the people of the first fashion in the place, such as the Bagges, the Everards, and the Hoggs of those days: Nor are we warranted to conclude, that they were, therefore, less respectable or less happy than their successors of the present generation. It was the fashion in those times, and it could affect neither their respectability nor their happiness.