THOMAS OF Reading OR The sixe worthy yeomen of the West Now the fourth time corrected and enlarged By T. D. Printed at London for T. P. 1612. ¶ The pleasant Historie of the six worthie Yeomen of the West IN the dayes of King Henry the first who was the first king that instituted the high court of Parliament there liued nine men which for the trade of Clothing were famous throughout all England Which Art in those dais was held in high reputation both in respect of the great riches that therby was gotten as also of the benefite it brought to the whole Common wealth the yonger sons of knights and gentlemen to whom their fathers would leaue no lands were most commonly preferred to learne this trade to the end that therby they might liâ—e in good estate driâ—e forth their daies in prosperity Among all Crafts this was the only chiefe for that it was the greatest marchandize by the which our Countrey became famous through all Nations And it was verily thought that the one haâ—â—e of the people in the landliâ—ed in those daies therby and in such good sort that in the Common-wealth there was few or no beggars at all poore people whom God lightly blesseth with most children did by meanes of this occupation so order them that by the time that they were come to be sixe or seauen yeares of age they were able to get their owne bread Idlenesse was then banished our coast so that it was a rare thing to heare of a thiefe in those dayes Therefore it was not without cause that Clothiers were then both honoured and loued among whom these nine persons in this Kings dayes were of great credit viz. Thomas Cole of Reading Gray of Gloucester Sutton of Salisburie Fitzallen of Worcester commonly called William of Worcester â—om Doue of Exceter and Simon of South hampton alias Sup-broath who were by the King called The â—ixe worthy husbands of the West Then were there three liuing in the North that is to say Cutbert of Kendall Hodgekins of Hallifax and Martin Byram of Manchester Euery one of these kept a great number of seruants at worke spinners carders weauers fullers diars shéeremen and rowers to the great admiration of all those that came into their houses to behold them Now you shall vnderstand these gallant Clothiers by reason of their dwelling places seperated themselues in thrée seuerall companies Gray of Gloucester William of Worcester and Thomas of Reading because their iorny to London was all one way they conuerced commonly together And Doue of Exceter Sutton of Salisburie and Simon of South-hampton they in like sort kept company the one with the other meeting euer altogether at Bazingstoke and the â—ji northerne Clothiers did the like who commonly did not meet till they came to Bosoms Inne in London Moreouer for the loue and delight that these westerne men had each in others company they did so prouide that their waines and themselues would euer méete vpon one day in London at Iarrats hall surnamed the Gyant for that he surpassed all other men of that age both in stature strength whose meriments and memorable déedes I will set downe unto you in this following discourse How King Henry sought the sauour of all his subiects especially of the Clothiers Chap. 1. THis King Henry who for his great learning and wisedome was called Beauclarke being the third son to the renowned Conqueror after the death of his brother William Rufus tooke vpon him the gouernment of this land in the absence of his second brother Robert Duke of Normandy who at this time was at warres against the Infidels and was chosen King of Ierusalem the which he for the loue he bare to his owne country refused and with great honour returned from the holy Land of whose comming when King Henry vnderstood knowing he would make clayme to the crowne sought by all meanes possible to winne the good-will of his Nobility to get the fauor of the Commons by curtesie for the obtaining whereof hee did them many fauours thereby the better to strengthen himselfe against his brother It chaunced on a time as he with one of his sonnes and diuers of his Nobilitie rode from London towards Wales to appease the fury of the Welshmen which then began to raise themselues in armes against his authority that he met with a great number of Waineâ— loaden with cloth comming to London and séeing them still driue on one after another so many together demaunded whose they were the Waine-men answered in this sort Coles of Reading quoth they Then by and by the King asked an other saying Whose cloth is all this Old Coles quoth he and againe anone after he asked the same question to other and still they answered Old Coles And it is to be remembred that the King met them in such a place so narrow and streight that he with all the rest of his traine were faine to stand vp close to the hedge whilest the carts passed by the which at that time being in number aboue two hundred was néere hand an houre ere the King could get roome to be gone so that by his long stay he beganne to be displeased although the admiration of that sight did much qualifie his furiâ— but breaking out in discontent by reason of his stay he â—â—d hee thought olde Cole had got a Commission for all the carâ—s in the Countrey to carry his cloth And how if he haue quoth one of the Wainemen dooth that grieue you good sir Yea good sir said our King what say you to that The fellow séeing the king in asking that question to bend his browes though he knew not what he was yet being abasht he answered thus Why sir if you be angry no body can hinder you for possible sir you haue Anger at commandement The king séeing him in vttering of his words to quiuer and quake laughed heartily at him as well in respect of his simple answere as at his feare and so soone after the last waine went by which gaue present passage vnto him and his Nobles and thereupon entring into communication of the commoditie of clothing the king gaue order at his home returne to haue Old Cole brought before his Maiestie to the intent he might haue conference with him noting him to be a subiect of great ability But by that time he came within a mile of Stanes he met an other company of waines in like sort laden with cloth whereby the King was driuen into a further admiration and demanding whose they were answer was made in this sort They be goodman Suttons of Salisbury good sir and by that time a score of them were past he asked againe saying whose are these Suttons of Salisbury quoth they and so still as often as the King askes that question they answerd Suttons of Salisbury God send me many such Suttons said the king And thus the farther hee trauelled westward more waines and more he met continually vpon which
vnderstood that Gray did neuer eate his meate alone but still had some of his neighbors with him before whom he called his mayd saying Margaret come hither Now because there was another of the same name in the house she made answers I callnot you maiden quoth he but Margaret with the lilly white hand After which time she was euer called so How the Kings maiestie sent for the Clothiers and of the sundry fauours which he did them Chap. 4. KIng Henry prouiding for his voyage into France against King Lewis and Robert Duke of Normandy his owne brother commited the gouernement of the Realme in his absence to the Bishop of Salisbury a man of great wisdome and learning whom the King estéemed highly and afterward he thought good to send for the chiefe Clothiers of England who according to the kings appoyntment came to the court and hauing licence to come before his Maiesty hee spake to this effect The strength of a king is the loue and friendship of his people and he gouerns ouer his Realme most surely that ruleth iustice with mercy for hee ought to feare many whom many do feare therefore the gouernours of the common wealth ought to obserue two speciall precepts the one is that they so maintayne the profit of the commons that whatsoeuer in their calling they do they referre it thereunto the other that they bee alwayes as well carefull ouer the whole common weaâ—th as ouer any part thereof lest while they vpholde the one the other be brought to vtter decay And for as much as I doe vnderstand and haue partly seene that you the Clothiers of England are no small benefit to the wealth publike I thought it good to know from your owne mouths if there be any thing not yet graunted that may benefit you or any other thing to be remoued that doth hurt you The great desire I haue to maintayne you in your trades hath moued me hereunto Therefore boldly say what you would haue in the one thing or the other I wlil grant it you With that they all fell downe vpon their knees and desired God to saue his Maiesty and with all requested three dayes respit to put in their answere which was graunted And thereupon they departed When the Clothiers had well considered of these matters at length they thought méete to request of his Maiesty for their first benefit that all the Cloth measures through the land might be of one length whereas to their great disaduantage before euery good towne had a seuerall measure the difficulty thereof was such that they could not kéepe them in memory nor know how to keepe their reckonings The second thing whereof they found themselues greeued was this that the people would not take crackt money though it were neuer so good siluer whereupon it came to passe that the Clothiers and diuers other receiuing great summes of money to take among it much crackt money it serued them to no vse because it would not go currant but lay vpon their hands without profite or benefit whereof they prayed reformation The third was a griefe whereof Hodgekins of Halyfax complayned and that was that whereas the towne of Halyfax liued altogether vpon clothing and by the reason of false borderers other euill minded persons they were oft robbed and had their clothes carried out of their fieldes where they were drying that it would please his Maiesty to grant the towne this priuiledge that whosoeuer hee was that was taken stealing their cloth might presently without any further triall be hanged vp When the day of their appearance approached the Clothiers came before the King and deliuered vp their petition in writing which his Maiesty most graciously perusing sayd he was ready to fullfill their request and therefore for the first poynt of their petition he called for a staffe to be brought him and measuring thereupon the iust length of his owne arme deliuered it to the clothiers saying This measure shal be called a yard and no other measure thoughout all the Realme of England shall be vsed for the same and by this shall men buy and sell and we will so prouide that whosoeuer he be that abuseth our subiects by any false measure that he shall not onely pay a fine for the same to the king but also haue his body punnished by imprisonment And as concerning the second poynt of your petition because of my sudden departure out of the land I know not better how to ease you of this griefe of crackt money this decrée I make because they account crackt money not currant I say none shal be currant but crackt money And therefore I will giue present charge that all the money through the land shal be â—â—it and so you shall suffer no losse But now for your last request for the towne of Halyfax where by théeues your clothes are so often stolne from you séeing the lawes already prouided in that case are not sufficient to keepe men in awe it is indeed high time to haue sharper punishment for them With that Hodgekins vnmannerly interrupted the King saying in broad Northern spéech Yea gude faith mai Liedge the faule eule of mai saule gifâ— any thing will kéep them whiat till the karles be hangde vp by the cragge What the dulâ— care they for boaring their eyne sea lang as they may gae groping vp and downe the countrey like fause lizar lownes begging and craking The king smiling to heare this rough hewne fellow make this reply Content thee Hodgekins for we wil haue redresse for all and albeit that hanging of men was neuer séene in England yet seeing the corrupt world is growne more bold in all wickednes I thinke it not amisse to ordaine this death for such malefactors and peculiarly to the towne of Hallifaxe I giue this priuiledge that whosoeuer they find stealing their cloth being taken with the goods that without further iudgement they shal be hanged vp Thus sayd our king haue I graunted what you request and if heareafter you find any other thing that may be good for you it shall be granted for no longer would I desire to liue among you then I haue care for the good of the common-wealth at which word ended the King rose from his royall throne while the clothiers on their knées prayed for both his health and happy successe and shewed themselues most thankfull for his highnesse fauor His maiesty bending his body toward them sayd that at his home returne he would by the grace of God visit them How the Clothiers had prouided a sumptuous feast for the Kings sonues prince William and prince Richard at Gerâ—ards hall shewing also what chaunce befell Cutbert of Kendall at that same instant Chap. 5. THe Clothiers departing from the court in a merry minde ioyfull of their good successe each one to other praised and magnified the Kings great wisedome and vertue commending also his affabilitie and gentle disposition so that Hodgekins affirmed on his faith that
my sweete heart speake to me good wife alacke alacke call in the neighbours you queanes quoth he With that shee lift vp her head fetching a great groane and presently swouned againe and much adoe iwis he had to keepe life in her but when she was come to her self How dost thou wife qd he What wilt thou haue for Gods sake tel me if thou hast a mind to any thing thou shalt haue it Away dissembler quoth she how can I belieue thée thou hast said asmuch to mee an hundred times and deceiued mee it is thy churlishnesse that hath killd my heart neuer was woman matcht to so vnkind a man Nay good wife blame me not without cause God knoweth how dearly I loue thée Loue me no no thou didst neuer carry my loue but on the tip of thy tongue quoth she I dare sweare thou desirest nothing so much as my death and for my part I would to God thou haâ—st thy desire but be content I shal not trouble thee long and with that fetching a â—â—gh she swouned and gaue a great grâ—ane The man séeing hir in this cafe was wondrous woe but so soone as they had recouered her he said O my deare wife if any had conceit hath ingendered this sickenes let me know it or if thou knowest any thing that may procure thy health let me vnderstand thereof and I protest thou shalt haue it if it cost me all that euer I haue O husband quoth she how may I credite your wordes when for a paltry suâ—e of apparell you denied me Well wife quoth he thou shalt haue apparell or any thing else thou wilt request if God send thée once health O husband if I may find you so kind I shall thinke my selfe the happiest woman in the world thy words haue greatly comforted my heart me thinketh if I had it I could drink a good draught of renish wine Well wine was sent for O Lord said she that I had a péece of a chickin I féele my stomacke desirous of some meat Glad am I of that said her husband and so the woman within a few dayes after was very well But you shall vnderstand that her husband was faine to dresse her London like ere he could get her quiet neither wold it please her except the stuffe were bought in Cheapeside for out of Cheapside nothing would content her were it neuer so good insomuch that if she thought a tailer of Cheapside made not her gowne she would sweare it was quite spoiled And hauing thus won her husband to her will when the rest of the Clothiers wiues heard thereof they would be suted in the like sort too so that euer since the wiues of South-hampton Salisbury of Glocester Worcester and Reading went all as gallant and as braue as any Londoners wiues How the Clothiers sent the King aid into France and how he ouereame his brother Robert and brought him into England and how the Clothiers feasted his Maiesty and his sonne at Reading Chap. 7. THe Kings maiesty being at the warres in Fraunce against Lewis the French king and duke Robert of Normandy sending for diuers supplies of souldiers out of England the Clothiers at their owne proper cost set out a great number and sent them ouer to the King Which Roger Bishop of Salisbury who gouerned the realme in the Kings absence did alwayes certifie the King thereof with his letters written in their commendations And afterward it came to passe that God sent his Highnes victory ouer his enemies and hauing taken his brother prisoner brought him most ioyfully with him into England and appointed him to be kept in Cardife castle prisoner yet with this fauour that he might hunt and hawke where he would vp and downe the countrey and in this sort he liued a good while of whom we will speake more at large hereafter The King being thus come home after his winters rest he made his summers progresse into the west country to take a view of al the chiefe townes whereof the Clothiers being aduertised they made great preparation against his comming because he had promised to visite them all And when his Grace came to Reading he was entertained and receiued with great ioy and triumph Thomas Cole being the chiefe man of regard in all the towne the king honored his house with his princely presence where during the kings abode he and his son and nobles were highly feasted Where the king beheld the great number of people that was by that one man maintained in worke whose harty affection and loue toward his maiestie did well appeere aswell by their outward countenances as their gifts presented vnto him But of Cole himselfe the king was so well persuaded that he committed much trust to him and put him in great authoritie in the towne Furthermore the king said That for the loue which those people bore to him liuing that he would lay his bones among them when he was dead For I know not said he where they may be better bestowed till the blessed day of resurrection than among these my friends which are like to be happy partakers of the same Whereupon his Maiesty caused there to be builded a most goodly and famous Abbey in which he might shew his deuetion to God by increasing his seruice and leaue example to other his successors to doe the like Likewise within the towne he after builded a faire and goodly castle in the which he often kept his court which was a place of his chiefe residence during his life saying to the Clothiers that séeing he found them such faithfull subiects he would be their neighbor and dwell among them After his Maiesties royal feasting at Reading he procéeded in progresse til he had visited the whole west countries being wondrously delighted to sée those people so diligent to applie their busines and conuning to Salisbury the Bishop receiued his Maiesty with great ioy and with triumph attended on his Grace to his palace where his Highnes lodged There Sutton the Clothier presented his Highnesse with a broad cloth of so fine a thréed and excéeding good workmaÌ„ship and therewithall of so faire a colour as his Grace gaue commendation thereof and as it is said he held it in such high estimation that therof he made his parliament robes and the first parliament that euer was in England was graced with the Kings person in those robes in requitall whereof his highnes afterward yielded Sutton many princely fauours And it is to be remembred that Simon of Southhampton séeing the King had ouerpast the place where he dwelt came with his wife and seruants to Salisbury and against the K. going forth of that city he caused a most pleasant arbour to be made vpon the toppe of the hill leading to Shaftesburie beset all with red and white roses in such sort that not anie part of the timber could be séene within the which sate a maiden attired like a Quéene attended on by a faire traine of maidens who at