Chapter LV: Section VI

_Account of the remaining Gilds_, _and particularly those of_ St. Francis and St. William.

Next, in the Catalogue, after the gild of the Trinity, are those of St. Andrew, Holy Rood, St. Lovis, St. Austin, St. Barbara, St. Antony, and St. Stephen; of none of which have we been able to obtain any further information.—They were, probably, fraternities of the lower sort; and having no large or permanent possessions attached to them, such necessary records as might exist among them would not be likely to remain to any distant period. Whatever they were, they seem to have long ago perished; and so, in all likelihood, had also their very names, but for the laudable care and industry of the unknown compiler of Mr. King’s valuable MS. Volume, who, finding them in some old record which fell in his way, thought proper to transcribe and insert them among his curious collections and memoranda.

Of the next gild, the 28th, in the catalogue, that of _St. Francis_, the said MS. volume contains a very particular, and what may also be called a very curious account. It has preserved a copy, as it seems, of the incorporating instrument, original agreement, or foundation deed of this gild. This document is certainly uncouth enough, both as to style and orthography: but as it may on that account be no less valuable or interesting, it shall be here inserted, for the entertainment and information of the curious and intelligent reader.—We find that the Gild to which it relates was founded by a priest, or friar, of the name of _John Wells_, who is called Sir John Wells, it being customary in those days to prefix the term, or title of _Sir_, mostly, if not always, to the name of an ecclesiastic. He seems to have been also its alderman in 1467, if he was not so from the time of its foundation, 13 years earlier.—The said Deed, or Instrument, reads as follows.

“Be yt knowen to all chrysten evydently be yis present wryghthyng,
yat in ye yeer of our Lord M, CCCC, LIIII. a certen compan [company]
of ye towne of Lenn begonne a gilde in the honour and reverence of
all myghty God, & of his blessyd confessour seynt Ffransseis, for to
be holde and kept perpetually in the convent of the ffryers mynors of
Lynn before seyde. Wherefore the brethryn be comown assent of hem
all ordeynd hir statuys [statutys] wretyn in a forme to be pronownsyd
& redde two tymys in ye yeer among all ye brethryn of ye gilde, & if
it be not so yat be ye negligens of ye aldyrman yeis statutys be not
redde in all ye yeer ye aldyrman shall pay to ye mendyng of ye
company 1_lb._ wax. Be yt ordeynd yt every yeer shall be schosyn an
aldyrman in yis foorme, first & foremost ye aldyrman shll chose iiij
men, and ye iiij men shll calle to hem other iiij men, and ye viii
sall chose an aldyrman, to whose precepts & commandments ye hole
ffraternyte sall abeygn, and be hym yei sall be governd in all
thynggs yat be loful & proffytabyl to ye gylde, & also yei chose iiij
skevents in whos handys sall be ye catel of ye gylde, & yerof to
geeve a trewe a counth at dew tyme asynd by ye aldyrman & yt be ye
oths made beforne all ye brethryn, of ye which iiij ij sall be ffrers
of ye same place: Also yei shall chese a clarke & a dene to whose
offyce yt lougyth to somawne and warne ye brethryn to cwm toged yr
whan ye aldyrman send for yem for to have her mornspicheoz or any
other thyng ye which sulld be to ye hononr & worshyp of ye gylde in
peyne of a _lb._ of wax, & when ye fforseyd viii men have gevyn ye
verdyt of her electyon and ye aldyrman which is chosyn at ye tyme
refuse to execute ye office he shall paye to ye encres of ye gylde
iiij_s._ iiij_d._ & on the same wysse every skeventh 2_s._ & ye
clarke 12_d._ & ye dean 12_d._ It is ordeynd ye clerke for his
labour in ye yeer sall have 10_d._ and ye dene 12_d._

“Also yt [is] ordeynd yt every yere ye new officerys, yt is to say,
ye alderman skyventys clarke and dene, sulld make an othe or a
promesse to ye olde aldyrman aforne all ye brethyrn at yt time
present to make a promise yat yei sall honestly governe ye fraternyte
in her yer folowyng up her power with all her myght & her
understandyng & manfully ye aldyrman sall defendyn all maner of
hevynes & prejudicys fallyng to ye gylde.

“Also yts ordeynd yt ye generall day sall be holden honestly on ye
Sonday after ye feast of sent Francesse in ye monyth of October, les
yan sent Francesse day fall on Sonday, yan sall yt be holden ye same
day, lesse yan any reasonabyl cawes why yt may be holdyn yan, & yan
yt sall befall to ye aldyrman to sett a day as hym thynkkyth behovely
to be sett on in the honowr & reverens of yat blyssyd conffessour yat
he may be good mediator betwix God & us, {476} for ye which
solempnite non of ye brethyrn sull absent yem in peyne of a _lb._
wax, but he have a resonabyl excusacyon: also yt ys ordeynd yt every
yer upon ye day beforne ye generall sall be seyd a placebo for all
our gyld brethyrn & systers, & on ye next day followyng a messe of
requiem be noate at ye awter of Sent Frawnces for ye sowlys of all ye
brethyrn & sisters yat be paseyd outh of yis ward, at ye which messe
every one sall offer an _ob_. {477a}

“Also yt ys ordende yat yis gyld sall have iij or iiij morspytch ys
ye yer, ye fyrst to be holdyn on ye general day, ye othyr morspytchys
to be holdyn most behovely at dyverse tymes in ye yer to ye most
proffitt of ye gyld be ye avyse & assent of ye aldyrman & his
officerys convenyently accordyng.

“Also yt ys ordeynd yt every brodyr shall kepe pes love & charyte
with othyr in as myche as he can or may; harm nor hevynes wyllfully
he sall not do but what with worde strenkyth & mygth as weel with
owthyn ye towne as with inne, he sall socowr & keep hym yt need.
{477b}

“Also yt ys ordeynd yt yf any dyscorde or heavynesse ffall betwix ye
brethyrn, thorow ye informatyon of any othyr wickyd man, yat neydyr
of hem sall vexen nor sewyn othyr in temporal cowrthe nor spyrytual
in to ye tyme yt ye aldyrman and brethyrn competently & wysly make
thereof a ffynial ende in ye payne of 40_d._ so yat ye cawce be
swyche yt lawfully it may be determynd betwix ye brethyrn.

“Also yt ys ordeynd yat yf any of ye brethyrn or systyrs be somownd
of ye dene in lefull {477c} & lawful tyme & will not obeygn nor
aperyn in honest place as wyr a synyd be ye alderman & ye skeventys
at yer morspychys or for othyr thyngs whych sulld profyth to ye
gylde, or yer cum not at ye warnyng of ye dene, yei sall pay 1_lb._
wax, but yf he have a reasonabyl excusacyon ye whych excuse sall be
examynd wysly a mong ye brethyrn whedyr yt be leful or nowth, & yf ye
dene faile in yer somewnys of any brodyr or systyr yat yan ben not
warnyd thorowhys defawthe ye dene sall pay for every brodyr & sistyr
not warnd thorow hys defawte 1_d._

“Also yt ys ordend yt yf any of ye brethyrn or systyrs dey yt all ye
breyeryn [bretheryn] sull cum to ye place of ye dede berying ye body
to chyrche & yer to offyr for ye sowle & for to have messe of requiem
& sythe to be tendannce in yat holy place tyl ye body be beryde &
browth to erde, lesse yay have leve of the aldyrman for to go hoome,
to ye which statute ye ffryerys ben exempte save a cowpul or too
[two] & ye dene for his labour & lyghtys sall have of ye dede
iiij_d._

“Also what brodyr or systyr sall be receyvyd into yis gylde he sall
paye fyrste hys ffees yt ys v_d._ to ye wax 1_d._ to ye aldyman
ij_d._ to ye clerke 1_d._ to ye dene 1_d._ & moreover to ye encres of
ye gylde aft yt he sall pay xii_d._

“Wher yt was ordeynd syne be ye eleccyon of viii men so yt yt sulld
be consent of ye aldyrman and ye gylde breyeryn, every brodyr &
systyr yt sall be reseyves all pay ii_s._ & thereto they sall make a
promesse upon yer feyth to be trew brodyr & systyr & to kepyn ye
cowncellys of ye gylde & not to bewray yem & to kepe ye statutys of
ye gylde & yt ye clerke geff hem her charge fforthwyth on ye sam day
whych yf any go undyschargyd thorow ye negligens of ye clerke he sail
for yche of yem 1_lb._ wax,—Also ye aldyrman sall have to hys costys
on ye general day brede & ale & of sylvyr xi_d._”

[To the above in the said MS. volume are subjoined the following particulars.]

“MEMORANDUM. Sr John Wells has gyffen to this ffraternite a Maser
with a prynte of seynt John’s hede in ye bothome, with a cover to ye
same, wryten with, soft words swageth ye suffyr and have thi desyre,
which maser shall remayne with the Wardeyn for the time beyng & alway
to be present at every mornspech & general {479}—Also a towelle with
a dubbyl w of dyapyr & a dozen sponys.

“N.B. The above Sr John Wells was ffounder of this gild.”

“_Memorandum_. There be xii sponys sylvyr gevyn be Willm. Lyster ye
which weyyth xiii vn. [oz] a quartr. less.

“Item, A maser with the bond & a prente of s. d. sylvyr gilte yt weyyth xiii vn: _The Charge of a General Day_.—In brede iii. iiij. In Ale iij dosey iiij Galons v. In xii Gees [3_d._ ¾ apiece] iij. ix In Moton [_Mutton_; but we know not how iiij ij. much] In Conynys [_Rabbits_; we know not how ij iiij many] In Onyonys [_Onions_.] ob {480a} In Mylk iiij. In Colys iiij b. [_cabbages_ probably.] vi. In Garlek [_Garlick_] ob {480c} In ye Cok [quere, _Cooking_] xii. For ye tornors [quere, _turnspits_] ij. For ye lyth be forn seynt Ffrawseys xii. For Swyllers i. For half an hondryd woode of belet vi. For ye holdyrs of ye torchys ij. For Rich. Wylgele i. For sponys ij. Sum. xxii_s._ vii_d._

“_Memr._ The price of 3 sheep 8_s._ & 3 calves 8_s._ 10_d._ {480b}

“At a generall day holden at ye ffryers mynors, als. Grey ffryers, on
St. Lucas day, in ye yere of our Lord God M VC XII [1512] it was
ordaynd yt ye morespech shal be kept on Sonday after St. ffraunces, &
ye ffryers of ye order of St. ffraunces to have v_d._ for ever dede
broder & systyr yt ys dede this yer followyng.

“Ordeynd yt John Judd shall finde contenuelly ye wax lyght before St.
ffraunces, & to have for his wax & labour ii_s._ viii_d._ & all
overplus money to go towards repairing the north yle of ye Grey
ffryers chirch.

“The good wills of those yt have gyven toward ye said Grey ffryers
chirch as follows—

s. d. Ffryer Thomas Peke warden iii. iiij. Ffryer Water Martyn Lycster xx. Willm. Gerves thelder iii. iiij. John Dowghty smyth iii. iiij. Willm. Barker painter iiij treys lyme John Judd—iiij treys lyme Willm. Hall tailor xx. Willm. Wiggon iij ml. [3000] lath nayles Willm. Hall draper iii bunches lath Robt. Smyth, a smyth ii ml. [2000] lath nayles

“1524 Ordeynd yt ther shall be kept every sonday next before All
Seynts yearly a solemn masse with dirge for ye sowles ye byfore tyme
departyd & ye dene to warne every broder to offer for ye dede upon
ij_d._ loss to St. Ffraunces.

“The monastry of ye ffryars minorites als. white ffryars [it should
be _alias Greyfriars_] of the order of st. Ffraunces, in which was ye
warden & 9 ffryars.

“1508. Ffrater Rich. Flete, Prior of ye ffryars Augustus.

Ffrater John Wells, Prior of ye ffryars Carmelites.

Ffrater John Lobby, Prior of ye ffryars Preachers.

Ffrater Thomas Peke Gaurdian [Warden] of ye ffryars minos.

It does not appear that the above Gild had a separate hall, like some of the others, but met, as we have seen, in the abbey, or monastery, of the Grey friars. It seems a very remarkable fraternity, being a mixture of friars, or ecclesiastics, and laics. Its very founder, and, seemingly, its first alderman, and perhaps all its succeeding aldermen, were of the monkish order, and therefore it may be supposed that that description of members bore in it the principal sway, and had the chief management in the direction of its affairs. However that was, it might be in its time a very useful institution, and productive of many valuable and important benefits to its respective constituents. Like the other gilds it appeared particularly attentive to what was then deemed sound doctrine in regard to morality and religion; and, from the character of its leading members, it may be supposed to have exceeded the others, rather than fallen short of them, in the strictness of its attention to those matters, as well as in the rigidness, or severity of its general discipline.

The above extract, with all its uncouthness of style and orthography, will yet, it is presumed and hoped, add to the value of this work, at least, in the estimation of its most curious and enlightened readers, who will be able to draw from it many useful inferences, which are here necessarily omitted, in order to avoid being too tiresome to others whom the author would wish to gratify, and who probably constitute by far, the most numerous part of the encouragers of this undertaking.—Dry and insipid, as many, perhaps, will deem these old documents relating to our gilds, they seem nevertheless to cast a greater light on the state of society in this town, during the period now under consideration, than any other materials that have fallen in the way of the present writer, or whose existence lie within the compass of his knowledge.

What now remains, before we dismiss this tedious subject, is to say a few words respecting the three remaining gilds mentioned in the catalogue. The next, or 29th in that list, is _the gild of the Shoemakers_, which consisted, probably, of persons of that occupation, or the brethren of the _gentle craft_, as it has been sometimes called. They might be pretty numerous then at Lynn; and yet it would seem rather odd if they were so, when most of the inhabitants, those of the better sort as well as others, seem to have been pretty much in the habit of going about _barefooted_; unless it might be supposed that shoes were then made here for exportation, as is now the case in many places, where a great many more hands are employed, of course, than is necessary for furnishing the population of those places with that article. This point, however, must be left undetermined: all we know is, that, among the numerous Lynn Gilds, one was called the _gild of the Shoemakers_, who, whether very numerous or otherwise, seem to have been then a thoughtful, provident, and brotherly set of people.

The 30th Gild was called the _Red Gild_. The reason for giving it that name we are utterly unable to discover, or even to conjecture. Nor do we know whether it was rich or poor—consisted of many, or of but few members—managed its affairs wisely or unwisely:—We just learn, that it was called _the red gild_; and there our knowledge of it begins and ends.—Some may, perhaps, be apt to suspect, that both this and the preceding gild were no better than they ought to be, in point of piety, or what in those days was so denominated, as they did not assume the name of any saint, or angel, or sacred object, like the other gilds, but went each of them, by a plain, simple name, that had nothing in it sanctimonious, venerable, or prepossessing. As the times went, it cannot be thought that these two gilds could be in favour with the friars and the other orders of religious functionaries: nor are we sure that they were at all solicitous about it, or thought proper to employ a single chaplain in their service. They might, however, not be the worse for that, if they were duly attentive to those moral obligations which they owed to one another, and to the rest of their fellow-citizens.

The 31st Gild, and the last in the catalogue, had also, like most of the others, a saint in its belly; and that saint was the poor lad whom the Jews were said to have crucified at Norwich in the 12th century, (as was before noted, at page 352,) and whom the pope sometime after canonized, under the name of _saint William_. {485} His patronage, no doubt, was as effectual a guard to those good folks who chose to put themselves under his protection as that of any other dead saint would have been. This gild, as we are told, traded to North Bern, which plainly implies, that it was another mercantile fraternity, or gild of merchants. By _North Bern_ is probably meant North Bergen, or Bergen in Norway, with which country Lynn appears to have carried on a considerable trade from a very remote period. The connection between this town and those parts was then so great that Lynn merchants usually resided there: and there is to be seen in Mr. Day’s MS. volume, p. 55, the copy of a Latin letter, of the date of 1305, from Bartholomew, the king of Norway’s chancellor, to the mayor of Lynn, in behalf of Thurkill and other merchants resident there. It was also customary for our merchants to have a consul of their own, or alderman, as they called him, appointed for Norway: for which purpose or appointment it was necessary, it seems, to obtain a royal warrant. There is in Mackerell the copy of such a warrant from Henry V. which runs thus—

“HENRY, by the grace of God, king of England and of France, and lord
of Ireland; to our trusty and well beloved the mayor, aldermen, and
other merchants inhabiting within our town of Lynn, shewed unto us,
that by the old privilege among you, used in exercising the sale of
your merchandizes in the lands and countries of Denmark and Norway,
ye have an ancient custom to have an alderman chosen by election
among you to be ruler and governor of your company in the said
countries, and to see good rule and order kept among you there, which
we woll be content to help and see to be holden for the increasing
and augmentation of the common weal and prosperity of you and all
other our true subjects; we having the same in our good remembrance,
be content and woll, that ye gadre and assemble toguider, and among
you chuse such oon to be your said alderman, as ye shall think
convenient, good, honest, and sufficient for the premisses; and to
use, have, enjoy, and occupy the liberties and franchises in this
cause heretofore accustomed. Yeven under our Signet at our Manor of
Greenwich, the 18th. day of July, the fifth year of our reign.”

As to our Gild of St. William, that seems to have consisted of mercantile adventurers who traded only to Bergen, which was probably at that time the capital of Norway. It was perhaps an opulent gild, but as none of its records are known now to remain, we must here close our account of it, and so dismiss the subject. {486}

CHAP. VI.

Account of the Monasteries and Religious Houses that were formerly at Lynn.

From the fraternities called gilds the transition is pretty short and natural to the monasteries and religious houses. Of these there were here formerly a great many, the account of some of which is so imperfect and confused, that it is difficult to fix their exact number, or point out the places where they all stood. The following were probably the chief of them—1. A _Nunnery_, or Convent of Nuns: the site unknown. 2. A _Priory of Benedictins_; situated in Priory Lane. 3. A _monastery or Convent_ of the _Carmelites_, or _White Friars_; situated in South Lynn. 4. Another of the _Grey-friars_, _Friars minors_, or _Franciscans_; situated in Fuller’s Row, now St. James’s Street. 5. Another of the _Black Friars_, _preaching friars_, or _Dominicans_; situated in Clough Lane, or rather between that and Spinner Lane. 6. Another of _Austin Friars_, or _Hermits __of the order of St Augustin_; situated in Hogman’s Lane, alias Hopman’s Way, now St. Austin’s Street. 7. Another of _Friars de Penitentia Jesu_; its site now unknown. 8. A _College_; situated near the Town Hall; now inhabited by Mr. Toosey. 9. _St. John’s Hospital_; the site not known. 10. _St. Mary Magdalen’s Hospital_; its site where the Gaywood Almshouse now stands. 11. _Four Lazar Houses_; sites, it seems, at West Lynn, Cowgate, Hardwick, and Gaywood.—To these may be added divers other religious houses and chapels, such as those of _St. James’s_, _our Lady’s on the Mount_, _our Lady’s on the Bridge_, _St. Anne’s_, _St. Catherine’s_, _&c._ the sites of some of which appear not very easy now to mark out. They seem, all of them, to have been laid by at the reformation, when the dissolution of the monasteries and gilds took place: except the _Nunnery_ first above-mentioned; which had long before been removed hence to Thetford. Concerning which removal we are informed, that a certain priory of monks at Thetford being, in 1176, reduced to two, the Abbot of Bury persuaded them to resign; upon which he placed in their stead a convent of nuns who had previously resided at Lynn. {488} But it is not said how long their residence here had been, or for what reason they were removed hence. Of the other convents, &c. we propose giving a further account, under the several following subdivisions or sections.