Proceedings Volume 49 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 Excerpt: ...by the mayor for not making the provision of gunpowder required of all London companies. In 1588 they had to furnish 35 armed men for the Queen's service against the dreaded Spanish Armada. For the searching and measuring of cloth they kept a "silver yard," weighing 36 ozs. and graven with the company's arms. With this they attended Bartholomew Fair yearly, when a formal dinner was given. The livery hoods in 1568 finally settled down to scarlet and puce, and the gowns to blue. Though not the first in precedence, they rank more royal and noble personages amongst their members than any other company. At King James's visit no fewer than twenty-two earls and lords, besides knights, esquires and foreign ambassadors were enrolled. Before 1708 they had granted their freedom to ten kings, three princes, twenty-seven bishops, twenty-six dukes, forty-seven earls, and sixteen lord mayors. They are specially proud of three illustrious members--Sir John Hawkwood, who was a great leader of Italian Condottieri, who fought for the Dukes of Milan, and was buried with honour in the Duomo at Florence; Sir Baph Blackwell, the supposed founder of Blackwell Hall; and Sir William Fitzwilliam, Lord High Admiral to Henry VIII, and Earl of Southampton, who left them his best standing cup, ' In friendly remembrance of him for ever." Sir William Craven, ancestor of the Earls of Craven, who came up to London a poor Yorkshire lad, was bound apprentice to a draper. His eldest son fought for Gustavus Adolphus, and is supposed to have secretly married the unfortunate Queen of Bohemia, whom he had so faithfully served. By their statutes of 1561 it was ordained that the High Master should be "a man in body whole, sober, discrete, honest, virtuous, and learned in good and ...