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Analytical Index to the Series of Records Known as the Remembrancia 1579-1664. Originally published by EJ Francis, London, 1878.
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Aldermen.
I.86. Letter from Sir Richard Martyn, Master of the Mint, to
the Lord Mayor, stating that being compelled to serve the office of
Alderman on pain of imprisonment in Newgate, the Court of Aldermen had agreed to respitc him from serving the office of Sheriff, and
to move the Common Council to confirm the same, and requesting
that this might be carried into effect, or that he might be released
from the office of Alderman.
Dated from his house in Cheapside, 11th February, 1579.
I. 200. Letter from William Box the Elder (fn. 1) to the Lord
Mayor and Aldermen touching his resignation of the office of
Alderman on account of his infirmities.
2nd May, 1581.
I. 218. Letter from the Lord Mayor to Mr. William Rowe, (fn. 2)
Ironmonger, informing him that the inhabitants of Castle Baynard
ward had presented to the Court of Aldermen four persons to
represent that ward in the room of Mr. Bowier, (fn. 3) Alderman,
deceased, and that the Court, according to custom, had proceeded
to the election, and had chosen him to that office, and directing him
to repair to a meeting of the Court of Aldermen on the Tuesday
afternoon next, at Guildhall, to take upon himself the said office.
27th June, 1581.
I. 577. Letter from the Aldermen of London to.....................,
acknowledging his letter desiring to resign his office of Alderman.
14th December, 1587.
II. 156. Letter from the Aldermen to Mr. Alderman Skinner, (fn. 4)
informing him of Her Majesty's desire that Mr. Alderman Billingsley (fn. 5)
should not be elected to the office of Lord Mayor for the following
year, and requesting him to repair to London not later than the 7th
or 9th of September, to confer with them touching his election to
that office.
1st September, 1596.
II. 201. Letter from King James I. to the Lord Mayor and
Aldermen, complaining of their conduct in committing Thomas
Middleton (fn. 6) to Newgate, for refusing to serve the office of Alderman, to which he had been chosen, and directing them to release him
immediately, as he was employed in an important service for the
State, which privileged him from private service.
11th June, the first year of his reign (1603),
II. 223. Letter from the Lord Mayor (Sir Robert Lee) (fn. 7) and
the Aldermen to the Lord High Treasurer, upon the removal of Sir
Richard Martin, Knight, (fn. 8) from his Aldermanship, on account of
his unfitting demeanour and carriage.
20th December, 1602.
II. 237. Petition of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen to the King
(James I.), informing him that Thomas Middleton, having been
elected an Alderman of the City, had refused to take the oath of
office, alleging that he was privileged and exempted by virtue of his
office of Surveyor of Customs, and that they had committed him to
Newgate, according to their oath and the customs of the City.
Sans date.
II. 238. Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty
to the King (James I.), in answer to His Majesty's letter to dispense
with the services, both now and hereafter, of Sir Thomas Hayes,
Knight, (fn. 9) who had been lately elected an Alderman, upon the payment of a fine, and informing him that it was not usual to dispense
with the services of any one elected to the office of Alderman, unless
on account of inability of body or estate, which they knew not to be
the case with this gentleman, and begging His Majesty to confirm
their proceedings.
Sans date.
II. 253. Letter from the Lord Mayor and the Court of Aldermen
to the King (James I.), stating that being before required by him to
spare Sir Baptist Hickes, Knight, (fn. 10) from nomination or election to
the place of Alderman in the City, they had obeyed, but at this time
the Commons of a Ward where an Alderman was wanting had
nominated him, as having a special liking of him, and urged it the
more because he had promised two years ago, if spared, he would be
willing to serve, which time having expired, they were desirous of
electing him to that office, and praying His Majesty's permission to
do so.
Sans date.
II. 293. Letter from the Lord Mayor to Mr. Alderman Blinckoe, (fn. 11)
informing him that the inhabitants of the Ward of Aldgate had
lately nominated him, amongst others, for Alderman of that Ward, and
that the Court of Aldermen had chosen him thereto, and directing
him to appear before the next Court, to take upon him that office.
3rd July, 1607.
II. 334. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Alderman elect of
Farringdon Ward, (fn. 12) commanding him to attend the Court of Aldermen,
to be sworn in, notwithstanding the excuse he had lately offered.
29th November, 1608.
III. 29. Letter from Roger Aston (fn. 13) to Sir Thomas Lake, (fn. 14)
stating that the King had been informed that the Lord Mayor and
Aldermen had elected Sir Baptist Hicks, His Majesty's servant, to
be an Alderman, contrary to a letter long since written to them by
the King; and that now, on the renewing of the matter, the King
directed him to acquaint them with his desire that Sir Baptist Hicks
should be no further proceeded with, now or hereafter, and the rather
that he had not moved them for any in that kind heretofore, and did
not intend to do so again.
13th November, 1611.
Note in margin.—Upon this letter Sir Thomas Lake came in person to the Court of Aldermen, and there signified His Majesty's pleasure to have the said election forborne, putting them in mind of the King's former letter.
III. 30. The Letter of King James I. to the Court of Aldermen
(referred to in the preceding letter), requiring them to take measures
not only to have his servant, Sir Baptist Hicks, excused now, but
on any future occasion.
Dated from Hampton Court.
(The date and conclusion of letter are illegible.)
V. 106. Letter from Mr. Augustine Skinner (fn. 15) to the Lord Mayor
with reference to his election as an Alderman, excusing himself on
account of bodily infirmity, and praying that such favour might be
shown him as his case required.
West Farley, Kent, 12th May, 1621.
V. 107. Answer of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen,
expressing their regret that the impediment to his attendance before
them arose from infirmity of body, and reminding him that he did
not absolutely accept or refuse the office, which they required him
to do, and either by himself or by some one deputed by good warrant
under his hand to deliver his submission for his fine (in case he
refused) to the grace and favour of the Court.
Sans date.
V. 124. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen
to Sir Francis Jones, Knight, (fn. 16) with reference to his continued
absence from the City, and neglect of his duties as an Alderman, and
requesting him to signify in writing whether he intended to continue
to hold the office and perform its duties, that they might take such
steps as should appear best for His Majesty's service and the good
government of the City.
15th January, 1621.
V. 140. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen
to Mr. Franklyn, (fn. 17) stating that the Ward of Bishopsgate, having
returned him with others to the election of the Court for an Alderman
of the City, according to ancient custom, the election had fallen upon
him, and requiring him to appear before the Court.
Sans date.
VI. 81. Letter from the Earl of Pembroke (fn. 18) (Lord Treasurer),
intimating the King's desire that Gideon de Lawne, (fn. 19) one of His
Majesty's Apothecaries, who had been in the service of the Crown,
without interruption, for twenty years, should be discharged from the
office of Alderman, to which he had lately been chosen.
Withehall, 20th January, 1626.
VI. 112. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen
to ("Mr. Secretary Conway" (fn. 20) in margin), acknowledging the
receipt of a letter from him, forwarding a petition intended to be
presented to the King by Mr. Coxe, (fn. 21) and stating that he had
been duly chosen according to custom, first to be Alderman, and
afterwards Sheriff, which he had vehemently opposed, and alleged disability of estate. This they had refused to admit. The matter had been
heard before the Lords in the Inner Star Chamber, who had ordered
him to become bound by recognizance to conform himself to the
City within five days, which he afterwards did. Upon his suit he
was subsequently discharged, for a fine of £400, by Act of Common
Council, from being ever chosen Alderman or Sheriff.
Sans date.
VI. 184. Letter from the Lord Mayor to Mr. Edmund Wright, (fn. 22)
Grocer, informing him that he had been elected Alderman of Cordwainer Ward, and requiring his attendance on the next day.
Guildhall, 23rd June, 1629.
VIII. 77. Letter from the King to the Lord Mayor and Court of
Aldermen, requesting them to excuse Robert Mildmay (fn. 23) from
serving the office of Alderman, because he was entirely settled in the
country, where the King might charge him with services wherein
other gentlemen of estate resident in the country were usually
employed; or, if this could not be done without very much inconvenience, that his fine might be so moderated that it might appear
the King's request had not been fruitless.
11th October, 1626.
VIII. 80. Letter from Lord Keeper Coventry (fn. 24) to the Lord
Mayor and Court of Aldermen with reference to the case of Mr.
Francis Pember, (fn. 25) who had been elected Alderman, and so consequently would be chosen Sheriff at the next election, requesting them,
in consequence of the insufficiency of his estate, and the fact that
he had the last year served the office of Sheriff of Herefordshire,
where he resided, and that his accounts had not then been passed at
the Exchequer, to discharge him, or moderate his fine.
24th April, 1626.
IX. 7. Letter from the King to the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and
Common Council, stating that by the passing of the Act of Indemnity (fn. 26)
many of the Aldermen had been rendered incapable of continuing
in office, and recommending them to restore into such vacant offices
those who had been in times past removed for their affection to His
Majesty, many of them having submitted to be fined rather than take
office against their consciences, and further recommending that such
fines should be returned to them.
4th September, 1660.
IX. 8. Letter from Sir John Langham (fn. 27) to the Lord Mayor
and Court of Aldermen, informing them that he had received a copy
of the vote of the Common Council of the 4th of September, declaring
his election to the office of Alderman, and requesting to be excused
on account of his advanced age (77), and stating that he had been
laid aside about twelve years since, and imprisoned in the Tower
by the Rump Parliament on the 24th of September, 1647, chiefly to
prevent his being chosen Lord Mayor, the following Michaelmas,
and had been released on the 6th of the following June, and removed
from office with Sir John Gayre, (fn. 28) Alderman Adams, (fn. 29) and Alderman
Bunce (fn. 30) by the remains of a House of Commons that presumed
to sit as a parliament.
Crosby House, 18th September, 1660.