| Description | Richard Wright, innholder, elected Alderman in the stead of Richard Minshull, deceased, and John Maddock, tanner, in the stead of William Warrington, deceased. They took the oaths and subscribed the declaration.
Thomas Stringer, haberdasher, elected Councilman in the stead of Richard Wright, and Robert Hewitt, ironmonger, in the stead of John Maddocke. They took the oaths and subscribed the declaration.
Richard Cope, silkweaver, was chosen to be one of John Vernon's Almsmen in the place of Randle Farrington, currier, deceased, and Thomas Niccholls, clothworker, in the place of William Dannold, clothworker, deceased.
In a petition John Barker stated that in 1657 he was made Master of the House of Correction for employing such poor people as should be committed to him. He was to have sixty persons under his charge to be set to work there upon the City stock, which he was to secure to the City according to articles of agreement confirmed by an order of Assembly of 22nd May, 1657. He had been ready to give such security, but the agreement was not performed by the City. Further, by an order of the Sessions of the Peace of July 20th, 1657, he was to be paid 13s: 4d a quarter during his continuance in the place, and this had not been paid. He asked that sixty persons might be sent to him, that he might be entrusted with the City stock, and that he might be paid the salary, with arrears of £33: 6s: 8d. It appeared to the Assembly, however, that the City was not to furnish him with sixty persons or with any certain number nor to entrust him with a stock of money for employing them, but that he had covenanted to provide himself with sixty persons and to set them to (ZA/B/2/167) work on his own stock. It was also clear that John Barker was not settled in the place for any certain term, but was merely to enjoy it during pleasure. Therefore, since he had failed in the execution of his office and had broken his covenants, it was declared that the articles were null and void and that no salary was due to him. It was ordered that he should be discharged from the place of Master of the House of Correction at the feast of St. James the Apostle following. The Sheriffs, five Aldermen and five Councilmen were desired to meet together to consider how a stock might be raised for setting up a manufacture in the house of Correction, and to discuss the appointment of a fit person as master.
Isaac Swift, merchant, was admitted to the freedom, paying £100 and giving security not to sell any goods by retail within the City.
James Lemm, distiller, was admitted, paying £50 and giving security not to exercise any trade within the City save that of a distiller.
John Bennett, yeoman, was admitted, paying £10.
It was ordered that Randle Hulme and Ralph Leigh, lately Leavelookers, and all who had been Leavelookers since, should deliver a just account of their receipts to the Murengers, and should pay them what was due within a week.
The Sheriffs, the Treasurers and Alderman Richard Wright were appointed prosecutors in a writ of inquiry to be prosecuted for the discovery of all concealed lands, tenements, rents and profits belonging to the City.
The petitions of John Buck, watchmaker, and of Ralph Bingley, tallowchandler, were read, but laid aside.
A paper presented by Randle Minshull, Macebearer, concerning the tolls of the City, was read, and it was ordered that the rates mentioned therein should be compared with the old customs by Alderman Wilson and George Bulkeley. |