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1568 Mr. Arthur Pepwell'.
1572 Mr. Reginald Wolfe 2.
1573 Mr. Richard Jugge3.
1584 Mr. Ralph Newbery 4.
1591 Mr. Francis Coldock 5.
1593 Mr. William Norton 6.

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gylt."-Such bowls and spoons were at that period the usual gift of the Master and Wardens; and were inscribed either with their names, their arms, or, a posey; and so continued till 1581, when it was agreed that every Master, on quitting his office, should give a piece of plate, weighing 14 ounces at leyst; and every Upper or Under Warden, on election, to give a piece of plate of at least three ounces. In 1604, Mr. East was excused from serving offices, on giving a piece of plate weighing 31 ounces. — In 1605, a silver salt, with a cover gilt, weighing 11 ounces, was presented by Mr. Dawson and Mr. Harris; and a silver salt, with a cover gilt, by Mr. Edward Bishop. In 1607, two gilt bowls were giyen by Mr. White and Mr. Leake, late Wardens. In 1617, three silver cups were given by Mr. Mann, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Matthew Lane, late Master and Wardens, weighing 26 ounces wanting 12 grains.

'Mr. Arthur Pepwell (son of Henry, of whom see p. 546) gave 1001. for the use of the poor.

2 Mr. Wolfe gave, besides the usual silver bowl and spoons, "the Stacyoners armes standyng in a faire compartyment." 3 Mr. Jugge, beside the usual bowl and spoons, gave "eight gryne cushions for the Council-chamber."

4 Mr. Newbery was Master of the Company in 1598 and 1601. He gave a stock of books, and privilege of printing, to be sold for the benefit of Christ's Hospital and Bridewell.

5 Mr. Coldock gave "a silver college pot." He was Master in 1591, and again in 1595. On a pillar in St. Faith's church: "Near to this place lieth buried the body of Francis Coldock, twice Master of the Company of Stationers, who departed this life the XIII day of January, 1600, being of the age of threescore and twelve years; who married Alice, the widow of Richard Waterson; and had issue by her two daughters. Joane, married to William Ponsonby, Stationer; and Anne, who died young. The said Alice was the daughter of Simon Burton, Citizen and Waxchandler of London."

• Mr. William Norton, a Printer of great note, and sometime Treasurer of Christ's Hospital, lived in St. Paul's Church-yard. He was Master of the Company 1581, 1586, and 1593, the year in which he died. By his will, dated Jan. 5, 1593-4, he gave 61, 13s. 4d. a year to Christ's Hospital; and the like sum (to be paid annually by the Governors of the Hospital) to the poor of the Company of Stationers. On a tomb in the old church of St.

Paul was this inscription:

"William Norton, Citizen and Stationer of London, and Trea

surer

1597 Mr. John Stuckey1.
1603 Mr. Short 2.

1604 Mr. Robert Dexter3.
1604 Mr. Henry Billage*.
1609 Mr. Cuthbert Burby 5.
1608 Mrs. Mary Bishop

1610 Mr. George Bishop.

surer of Christ's Hospital, died anno 1593, aged 66 years, and had issue one only son.

"His nephew, John Norton, esq. Stationer, and some time Alderman of this City, died without issue, anno 1612, aged 55 years. "Also Bonham Norton, of Church-Stretton, in the county of Salop, esq. Stationer, and some time Alderman of this City, son of the aforesaid William, died April 5, 1635, aged 70 years. He had issue by Jane, daughter of Thomas Owen, esq. one of the Judges of Common Pleas, nine sons and four daughters, whereof three sons were here buried; Thomas and George unmarried; and Arthur, who married the only child of George Norton, of Abbot's-Leigh, in the county of Somerset, esq. and having by her issue two sons, died October 28, 1635, aged 38 years. Jane Norton, the said widow of Bonham aforesaid, caused this monument to be erected near the sepulchres of the deceased.”

The above sum of 6l. 13s. 4d. is annually paid by Christ's Hospital to the Company of Stationers; who, in return, pay to the Hospital 61. annually, the gift of Mrs. Bishop; and 4l. (in Bibles) the gift of Mrs. Meredith.

Mr. Stuckey gave 20l. to the poor.

Mr. Short gave 10s. a year for 26 years to the poor of the Company, charged on a tenement in Monkwell-street, held under St. Bartholomew's Hospital.

3 Mr. Dexter gave 20l. to the poor.

• Mr. Henry Billage, of St. Martin's in the Vintry, Dyer, gave 521. to pay 52s. yearly to the Churchwardens of that parish for bread, to be given to the poor weekly. This sum continues to be regularly paid by the Company, under the erroneous name of Mr. Bellenger's gift. [Mr. John Bellenger was Master in 1686 and 1693.] 5 Mr. Burby gave 20l. to the poor.

This lady was the eldest daughter of Mr. John Cawood. In 1608, she gave to the Company a table-cloth, towel, and two dozen of napkins, wrought with white laid work; and by her will, in 1613, gave ten pounds, four arras wrought cushions, a cupboard cloth, and two long flaxen table cloths of her own spinning.

7 Mr. George Bishop, Stationer, was Deputy Printer to Queen Elizabeth; and became an Alderman of London. His wife is mentioned in the preceding note. He was Master of the Company in 1590, 1592, a part of 1593, 1600, 1602, and 1608. He gave, by his last will, two tenements called Newton, with the lands thereto belonging in the parish of Milbornstoke, Salop, for 500 years, at the quit-rent of a pepper-corn, to paý 61. a

1

year

1612 Mr. John Norton 1.

year to Christ's Hospital; 61. yearly to the Company; and also to pay 101. yearly among such Preachers as come to preach at Paul's Cross, and who, in the judgment of the Mayor and Commonalty of London, are not sufficiently provided for; remainder to Christ's Hospital. On failure of issue by his daughter Martha, he leaves all his freeholds, Norton before mentioned excepted, to the Mayor, Commonalty, and Citizens of London, Governors of Christ's Hospital, on condition of applying the rents to the following purposes: 601. a year to the maintaining three poor students in Divinity; the first three to be chosen by the Mayor, Commonalty, and Citizens of London; and next by the Master, Wardens, and Commonalty of the Stationers Company, and so for ever. In particular, Christ's Church, Oxford; where his son died and was buried, to be chosen rather than any other, as often as vacancies of Scholarships permit; and any poor kindred of his family to have the preference. This allowance to cease as soon as any student is beneficed, or dismissed for misconduct. One moiety of the residue of such rents to be applied to the relief of the poor children of Christ's Hospital; and the other to be paid to the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers. Provided that if in the Judgment of the Master, Wardens, and Assistants of the Company in writing under their common seal, the Mayor, Commonalty and Citizens should be found remiss or negligent, in bestowing snch rents according to the Testator's intention, the bequest to them to be utterly void.

John Norton, esq. was an Alderman of London; and had the office of Queen's Printer, in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. In 1593, he lived at the sign of the Queen's Arms, in the house formerly inhabited by his cousin Bonham Norton; and, being a man of eminence, employed several others to print for him. He appears to have been the first who introduced printing at Eton in 1610. He was Master of the Company in 1607, 1610, and 1612, the year in which he died. He gave 150l. to the minister and churchwardens of the parish of St. Faith, to purchase, in fee simple, lands, tenements, and hereditaments; from the produce of which, ten shillings to be annually paid for a sermon at St. Faith's on Ash Wednesday; and, weekly, to twelve poor persons (six to be appointed by the Company of Stationers, and six by the parish) 2d. each, and a penny loaf, the vantage loaf (the thirteenth, allowed by the baker) to be the Clerk's; the residue of the revenue tn arise by such purchase to be laid out in cakes, wine, and ale, for the Company of Stationers, either before or after the sermon.— He also gave to the Company 1000l. to be laid out, in like manner, in fee simple purchases; and the produce to be applied, by the Master, Wardens, and Assistants, at their discretion, for the benefit of the poor members of the Company. This benevolent Testator's intentions are substantially fulfilled. The weekly pensions continue to be paid. The Sermon is also annually preached; to which the Livery at large are re

gularly

1616 Mr. Thomas Dawson 1.

1620 Mr. Thomas Adams 2.

1623 Mr. Edward Hulet 3.
1625 Mrs. Lownes 4.

1630 Mr. Humphry Lownes 5.
1631 Mrs. Lucretia Easte 6.

gularly invited; and every one who attends receives six buns. — A guinea is presented to the preacher for his sermon, half a guinea to the reader, and 5s. to the sexton. The Court of Assistants dine together on that day, in commemoration of this bountiful Benefactor; whose legacy was paid to the Company by Bonham Norton, esq. who was also an Alderman; and Master of the Company in 1610, 1616, and 1619.

' Mr. Dawson was a Stationer and Printer at the Three Cranes in the Vintry. He was Master in 1615; and gave, July 12, 1616, twenty shillings, towards making up the Stairs in the Garden, up to the City Wall.".

2

"Mr. Adams gave 100l. towards defraying the public charges of the Company, in the discretion of the Court."

3 Mr. Hulet gave 51. to the Company, "for a drinking among them;" and a silver bowl, gilt, in fashion of an Owl, weighing 60 ounces, inscribed, "The gift of Edward Hulet, gentleman, 1623." This bowl was preserved in 1629, when all the rest of the plate was sold, to relieve the King's wants.

Mrs. Lownes, widow of Matthew Lownes, gave, in 1625, 107. as a remembrance of her husband. Matthew was son of Hugh Lownes, of Rode, in Astbury, Cheshire; and was born about 1568. 5 Humphry Lownes, elder brother of Matthew, born about 1566, was bound apprentice to William Lownes in 1580. His first shop was at the West door of St. Paul's; and he lived afterwards at the Star on Bread-street-hill. He was Under Warden in 1616, and Master in 1620 and 1624; and gave 201. to the poor. [There was an earlier Humphrey Lownes, who was Upper Warden in 1615, and died before 1620.]The name continued famous in the trade: John Dunton, about 1698, mentions a "Mr. Lownds in the Strand. He was Dr. Horneck's bookseller for many years; he printed his Great Law of Consideration,' his Sermons of Judgment,' and Discourse on the Sacrament, intituled, 'The Crucified Jesus,' &c. Mr. Lownds was a sincere, honest dealer, and had this peculiar to himself, that he was never much concerned (except for the death of his pious and learned author) for the things that he could not help; for he did all he could to prevent a grievance, and then he acquiesced in the divine pleasure." Life and Errors, p. 290.

6 Widow of Thomas Easte. She gave a legacy of 201. for a piece of plate, "The gift of Lucretia Easte, widow, 1631." VOL. III.

Q Q

1631

1631 Mr. Busby'.

1633 Mr. Locke 2.

1636 Mr. Robert Allott 3.
1648 Mr. Edward Brewster4.
1650 Mr. Anthony Uphill 5.
1654 Mr. Miles Flesher".

1654 Mr. John Mould".

1655 Mr. Christopher Meredith 8.
1656 Mr. Leake 9.

1657 Mr. Thomas Pierrepont 10.

'Mr. Busby gave the Company 51. " for a meeting."

[At that period the fixed sum of 51. was frequently given by individuals for the attendance of the Livery on the funerals of their husbands or wives.]

2 Mr. Locke left a legacy of 50l. towards building the Hall; and a piece of plate value 101.

3 Mr. Allott gave 10l. to the poor, and 101. for a dinner.

A large bowl of silver, weighing 19 ounces, was presented by Mrs. Brewster, as a legacy left by her husband, who had been eight years Treasurer to the Company. See p. 607.—Edward Brewster, their son, was Master in 1689 and 1692.

5 Mr. Uphill left 51. to the poor.

Mr. Flesher, in 1654, gave 5l. "for the service of the Livery at the funeral of his wife."-In 1662, Miles Flesher, esq. having lately fined for Alderman, earnestly moved that he might not be exposed to the election for Master of the Company; but his desire was over-ruled. In 1666, he gave two silver salts."This Bowle and Coller was made in the year 1721 out of two large saltes the gift of Miles Flesher, Printer to the Worshipful Company of Stationers in the year 1666." To this gentleman the elder Mr. Bowyer was an apprentice.

7 A silver bowl was presented, as a token of respect, by John Mould, Tallow-chandler, a Freeman of the Company, inscribed, "The gift of John Mould, Stationer, 1654."

Mr. Meredith gave to the Company 20l. a year; (which still continues a rent charge on two houses on the North side of St. Paul's Church-yard); out of which books to the amount of 61. are annually sent to the rector of Kempsey in Worcestershire, for the use of the free-school in that parish; 47. to Christ's Hospital, for Bibles; and 10l. to the poor of the Company.

9 Mr. Leake, on behalf of himself, Mr. Rothwell, Mr. Hurford, Mr. Pakeman, and Mr. Fawne, presented a large silver cup, valued at 12. 10s. with the Company's arms, and their several names engraved on it.

10 A silver pot with two ears, after the manner of a College pot, weighing 10 ounces 114 dwts. was presented by Mr. Thomas Pierrepont, with the arms of the Company, and his arms, engraven on it. A like pot, of nearly the same weight, was presented by Thomas Vere and William Gilbertson.

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