pp 414–15 (23 June) (Greenwich)
...
A
lettre to the master of the Rolles Sir Owen Hopton knight Iohn Barnes and Richard yonge Esquiors whereas her maiestie is informed that certaine Apprentyces and other idle people theire
adherentes that were authors and partakers of the late mutynous and foule disorder in Southwarke in moste outrageous and tumultuous
sorte haue a further purpose and meaninge on Midsommer eueninge or Midsommer
nighte or about that tyme to renewe theire leud assemblye togeather by
Cullour of the tyme for some bad and mischeiuous intencion to
the disturbance and breache of her maiestes peace and Comyttinge
some outrageus. To preuente in tyme theis wicked and mischeuious
purposes
wee haue giuen straighte order
to the maior of London for the Cittye and the liberties therevnto belonginge and
to all other places nerre to the same to haue regarde herevnto; And so likewyse wee
are in her maiestes name straightlie to Chardge and Comaunde yow
presentlye vpon sighte hereof to sende for the Constables & some of the Cheifest
and descreetest inhabitantes in Holborne
Clerkenwell
St Giles in the feildes &c and
others places nere thereaboutes, and to chardge and Comaunde
them to take ordr
| order that there maye be a stronge and
substancyall watche kept bothe on Midsommer Eueninge Midsommer
night and Sondaye at nighte of housholders and Masters of families to Contynue from
the beginninge of the Eueninge vntill the morninge, and that all
masters of servauntes and of Apprentyses be straightlie
Chardged as they will answere to the Contrarye at theire perilles
to keepe theire seruantes in theire houses for those two
nightes, so as they maie be within the dores before the Eueninge
and not suffered to Come forthe nor to haue anye weapons yf they shoulde be so
lewdlie disposed to execute anye euill purpose And yf notwithstandinge this
straighte chardge and Comaundment any seruantes apprentyces or
other suspected persons shalbe founde in the streetes, to see them
presentlie Comytted to prison. Especiallie yow shall take order that theis watches
of housholders, may be of that strengthe with theire weapons as they maie
be hable yf there be anie vprore Tumult or
vnlawfull assemblye to suppresse the same. Moreouer for avoydinge of theis vnlawfull
assemblies in those quarters yt is thoughte meete yow shall take order that there be
noe playes vsed in anye place nerre thereaboutes as the Theator, Curtayne or other vsuall places there where the same
are Comonly vsed nor no other sorte of vnlawfull or forbidden Pastymes that drawe
togeather the baser sorte of people from hence forth vntill the feast of St michaell. Herein wee are to
require yow yourselues to Call to yow the head Constables and other
officers and suche principall men as dwell in those quarters, and to take some
extraordynarye paines to see theis orders straightlie obserued, and all
other thinges effectually performed that maye tende and be necessarye, for
the preseruacion of the Peace auoydinge of Tumult and suppressinge
of suche disordr as maie happen or be any waie intended and to ioyne and assyste
suche officers of the Cittye as shall keepe Watche nerre vnto yow.
Sixe other letters of the like Tenour to the persons and places followinge./
Mr Gardiner Mr Bowier Mr Parker |
for ye precincts of | Newington Kentish streete Barmondseystreete Clinck, Paris garden & the banckside. |
Lieutenant of ye Tower. Master of St Katins |
for ye precincts of | St Catherins Estsmithfeilde |
Lord Wentworthe | for yeis precincts | Ratcliffe Shorditch Whitechappell. |
Lord Cobham | for ye | Blackfriers. |
Sir Thomas Sherley | for the | Whitefriers. |
Bailiue of Westminster | Westminster St Martins ye Stronde |
pp 414–15 (23 June) (Greenwich)
...
A letter to the master of the Rolls, Sir Owen Hopton, knight, John Barnes, and
Richard Yonge, esquires. Whereas her majesty is informed that certain young
apprentices and other idle people, their adherents that were authors and partakers
of the late mutinous and foul disorder in Southwark, in most outrageous and
tumultous sort have a further purpose and meaning in Midsummer evening or Midsummer
night or about that time, to renew their lewd assembly together by colour of the
time for some bad and mischievous intention, to the disturbance and breach of her
majesty’s peace, and committing some outrages, to prevent in time these wicked and
mischievous purposes, we have given straight order to the mayor of London for the
city and the liberties therein belonging and to all other places near to the same to
have regard hereunto. And so likewise we are in her majesty’s name straightly to
charge and command you presently upon sight hereof to send for the constables and
some of the chiefest and discreetest inhabitants in Holborn, Clerkenwell, St
Giles-in-the-Fields, etc, and other places near thereabouts, and to charge and
command them to take order that there may be a strong and substantial watch kept
both on Midsummer evening, Midsummer night, and Sunday at night, of householders and
masters of families, to continue from the beginning of the evening until the
morning, and that all masters of servants and of apprentices be straightly charged,
as they will answer to the contrary at their perils to keep their servants in their
houses for those two nights, so as they may be within the doors before the evenings
and not suffered to come forth, nor to have any weapons if they should be so lewdly
disposed to execute any evil purpose, and if notwithstanding this straight charge
and commandment any servants, apprentices, or other suspected persons shall be found
in the streets, to see them presently committed to prison. Especially you shall take
order that these watches of householders may be of that strength with their weapons
as they may be able if there be any uproar, tumult, or unlawful assemblies in those
quarters, it is thought meet you shall take order that there be no plays used in any
place near thereabouts, as the Theatre, Curtain, or other usual places there where
the same are commonly used, nor no other sort of unlawful or forbidden pastimes that
draw together the baser sort of people, from henceforth until the feast of St
Michael. Herein we are to require you yourselves to call to you the head constables
and other officers and such principal men as dwell in those quarters, and to take
some extraordinary pains to see these orders straightly observed and all other
things effectually performed that may tend and be necessary for the preservation of
the peace, avoiding of tumult, and suppressing of such disorder as may happen or be
any way intended, and to join and assist such officers of the city as shall keep
watch near unto you.
Six other letters of the like tenor to the persons and places following./
Surrey
Mr Gardiner Mr Bowyer Mr Parker |
for the precincts of | Newington Kentish Street Bermondsey Street Clink, Paris Garden and the Bankside |
Lieutenant of the Tower Master of St Katherine’s |
for the precincts of | St Catherine’s East Smithfield |
Lord Wentworth | for these precincts | Ratcliffe Shoreditch Whitechapel |
Lord Cobham | for the | Blackfriars |
Sir Thomas Shirley | for the | Whitefriars |
Bailiff of Westminster | Westminster St Martin’s the Strand |
Official anxiety about the potential for further unrest and disorder at midsummer triggered by London apprentices was clearly in response to the recent riotous events in Southwark when Feltmakers' apprentices clashed with the knight marshal's men; see Letter from the Lord Mayor to Lord Burghley, 1592. The letters directed to those responsible for the precincts in Newington and Southwark have not survived.
The items in each cell of the left column are encompassed by a brace pointing to the corresponding cell in the middle column, or the far right column in the case of the last row; likewise the items in each cell of the far right column are encompassed by a brace pointing to the corresponding cell in the middle column, or left column in the case of the last row.
The privy councillors listed as present at the meeting (p 414) were Sir William Cecil (c 1520–98), lord treasurer, 1572–98; Charles Howard (c 1536–1624), lord admiral, 1585–1618/19; Henry Carey (1526–96), lord chamberlain of the Household, 1585–96; Sir Thomas Heneage (1532–95), vice-chamberlain of the Household, 1587–95; Sir Robert Cecil (1563–1612); and Mr John Wolley (d. 1596)
For an abstract of the document and details of its transcription history, see the related EMLoT event record.
Record title: Privy Council Letter to the Master of the Rolls et al
Repository:
TNA
Shelfmark: PC 2/19
Repository location: Kew
For an abstract of the document and details of its transcription history, see the related EMLoT event record.
1 October 1591–21 August 1592; English; paper; ii + 340 + ii; 345mm x 245mm; ink pagination 1–557, [558] unpaginated, followed by unpaginated index in different hand and paper (30 leaves, probably contemporary) and another unpaginated index in later hand and paper (30 leaves); bound in worn maroon leather over boards, tooled, gold-stamped title on spine: 'ELIZABETH. | VOL. X. | COUNCIL | REGISTER. | 1. OCT. 1591. | TO | 1. AUG. 1592.'