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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A82329	The honour of the cloathworking trade: Or, The pleasant and famous history of Thomas of Reading; and other worthy clothiers of the west and north of England. : Setting forth their merriments, great riches, hospitality to the poor, the favour they gained with their prince, and the privileges granted them. With the unfortunate loves of the Earl of Salisbury's fair daughter, and the renowned Duke of Normandy. The Woful death of Thomas of Reading, murthered by his host; and other matters. Also pleasant songs.	Deloney, Thomas, 1543?-1600.; Clothworkers' Company (London, England)	1680 (1680)	Wing D955A; ESTC R174583	20,562	23

The Honour of the Cloathworking Trade OR THE Pleasant and Famous History OF Thomas of Reading And other Worthy CLOTHIERS of the West and North of England Setting forth their Merriments Great Riches Hospitality to the Poor the Favour they gained with their Prince and the Privileges granted them With the Unfortunate Loves of the Earl of Salisbury's fair Daughter and the Renowned Duke of Normandy The woful Death of Thomas of Reading murthered by his Host and other Matters Also pleasant SONGS Humbly Dedicated to the Worshipful Company of Cloathworkers Printed for J. Deacon at the Angel in Gilt-spur-street without Newgate The Honour of the Cloathworking Trade OR THE Pleasant History of Thomas of Reading c. CHAP. I How in the Reign of King Henry the First Thomas of Reading and many other honest wealthy Clothiers flourished in the VVest and North. How in their way to London the King met their great number of VVains that stopped him and upon the Speech of a VVain-driver made a Law against treading down and spoiling the Corn. How Thomas of Reading made a Request to him and his Answer c. WHen VVilliam Rufus who succeeded VVilliam the Conqueror in the English Throne was killed as he hunted in New Forrest by an Arrow shot by Tyril one of his Courtiers which aimed at a Deer and glancing on a Tree gave the King his mortal Wound in the Side his Brother Henry sirnamed from his great Learning and Wisdom Beau Clark or fine Scholar winding himself by great Gifts and Promises into the Affections of the English and Norman Nobility got himself crowned King whilst his eldest Brother Robert to whom the Conqueror had left the Dukedome of Normandy was warring against the Turks and Sarazens in the Holy Land and by his Valour won Jerusalem of which City and the whole Country of Palestine the Christian Princes would have crowned him King but he refused it and returning home to lay claim to England a miserable Fate or Misfortune befel him as will appear in this History in due place This Henry called King Henry the First the better to support himself in the Throne made many good Laws confirmed the great Charter of the Nation and did such things as made Trade encrease and his Subjects flourish He instituted the High Court of Parliament which has ever since continued to the great good of the Commonwealth In his Reign the Cloathing Trade very much encreased and our Merchants brought home great Wealth for English Cloth it being highly valued and prized in all Countries so that the younger Sons of Knights and Gentlemen to whom their Fathers could leave no Lands were preferred to be Cloathiers and in Riches often exceeded their elder Brothers And among the Eminentest for Wealth and Good Breeding of this Calling were in those Days Thomas Cole commonly called Thomas of Reading as there born and keeping his Cloth Manufacture it being a very fair Town in Barkshire Grey of Gloucester Sutton of Salisbury Fitzallen of VVorcester commonly called VVilliam of VVorcester Thomas Dove of Exeter in Devonshire Simon of Southam of whose Industry and Riches and the great Number of poor People they employed daily King Henry hearing stiled them The Six VVorthy Yeomen of the VVest and that Epithete they carried to their Graves Besides these there were others in the North who drove the same Trade and did a great deal of good in the Land viz Cuthbert of Kendale Hodgkins of Hallyfax and Martin Bryer of Manchester each of these kept at least Two hundred Servants at work viz. Weavers Fullers Dyers Carders Spinners Sheermen Wool-pickers Rowers c. killing each in his House two fat Oxen beside a great many Sheep Swine and the like for the well feeding their Families so that in House-keeping they outdid the best Gentlemen in the Counties where they lived and these to hold the better Correspondency and settle the Prices of the Cloth made an Agreement under a Penalty of forfeiting 20 Pounds to meet every VVhitsontide at London and had their Warehouse at Gerard's-Hall which was then an Inn and so named from a huge monstrous Fellow that kept it Nine Foot high with Hands like Shoulders of Mutton As they were on their way their Wains laden with Cloth passed before them and made a Train like a huge Caravan or the Baggage of a marching Army still encreasing as the first called the next in the way and so to the last which was Thomas of Reading who having highly feasted them set out with the rest his Wains going foremost and being most in number when so it happened that the King with the Prince his Son and divers of his Nobility were taking a Progress into VVales to quiet the Welsh who upon hearing that Robert Duke of Normandy was arming to invade England began to rise in tumults and making Inroads did much Mischief to the English on the Borders He no sooner perceived this great Train of Wains that reached over Hills and Valleys many Miles but he began to wonder what it should mean thinking that some great Army was behind and these as the Vauntguard were laden with Provision and Ammunition Some of the timerous Nobles perswaded him not to advance for fear of an Ambushment they supposed these were sent before to train him into and so to surprize and make his Royal Person a Prisoner but he being of an undaunted Courage resolved to pass on and meeting the foresmost at the coming out of a narrow Lane then some Miles long for since the ways have been alter'd he demanded what they were and who they belonged to The Drivers answered To Cole of Reading and that they were Laden to London with Woollen Cloath all his own Manufacture and so they answered till Fifty were passed then others came on and every one as they passed declared who they belonged to which made the King wonder England should abound with such Wealthy People which he little thought before it had done yet vexed to be delayed for the Lane being very narrow he was forced to stay two or thee hours before they all passed by when one of the Drivers not knowing him to be the King perceiving him to frown said bluntly Good Fellow what art thou in hast Pray stay and let your Betters be served before you you are I suppose some Country ' Squire going a Hunting to spoil poor People's Corn and a fine pass they are brought to I hope e'er long the King's Grace will be informed of it and Punish such Knaves as trample down the Bread the Poor should eat and so passed by without staying for a Reply But these Words thrown out by the Country Fellow did afterwards a great deal of good to the Nation for the King upon his Return made a Law to limit the times of Hunting and Hawking under great Penalties and that such Exercises should be forborn till the Corn was off the Ground that it might not be spoiled or wasted for the pleasure of any were he never

them wonder any Place should be so Rich they having never seen the like before Whilst the Merchants Wives thus welcomed the Mistresses the London Weavers in Candlewick-street then full of them and Cheapside did the like by the Iourney-men plying them with Liquor lustily and many Wagers were lay'd on both sides who worked quickest and best some of which the Country-men lost and some the Londoners And so having seen all of Rarity that the Town could afford the Merchants Wives presented the Women with many fine Knacks and the Merchants sent Tokens by them to their Husbands The London Weavers presented the Country Weavers with Merry Songs Pipes and Ribbons So that pleased on all hands they returned wonderfully satisfied and thought the Money in the Iourney well laid out Yet herein an Inconveniency followed to the Clothiers for their Wives having seen the Gallantry of the City Dames fell into disdain of Sheeps Russet and knowing their Husbands Ability never left off leading them weary Lives till they had Cloaths sent for from London no Argument to the contrary signifying a Pin's Point nor could any but London Taylors ever after that please them CHAP. IV. How the Good Earl of Shrewsbury being banished his Countess and ●air Daughter came to miserable Poverty despised by their own Tenants How Grey's Wife took the Lady Margaret into her Service How the Duke of Normandy fell in Love and attempting to Escape with her had his Eyes put out How she turned Nun and was made Abbess With other Matters I Have already spoken something of the Banishment of the Good Earl of Shrewsbury who in his Prosperity was a good Benefactor to the Poor though few in their Distress would assist his Countess or Beautiful Margaret his only Daughter some pretending they durst not for f●●r of the Kings's Displeasure others despising them now fallen from a High Degree to a low Estate as is usual with Ingrateful People in such Cases and those whom they had done most for most slighted them So that the sorrowful Countess worn out with Grief and pined with Want died in a Farmer 's Out-house who had formerly been her Tenant for she was not admitted into the Dwelling-house This great Affliction in the loss of so dear and tender a Mother drew Floods of Tears from her fair Daughter's Eyes She fell upon the dead Body at the homely Grave it was put in upbraiding Fortune's Fickleness and accusing the cruel Destinies of too much Severity desiring them to throw the Earth on her and bury her with her dear tender Mother to that they were constrained to take her away by force then falling into a dead●y sw●●● they conveyed her to the Farmer 's House and gave her comfort●ble things to revive her Spirits but it ceased not her Lamentations Whereupon the Farmer 's Wife who had so often been fed and relieved at the good Earl's Table and under him had got all they had said Carry this puling Baggage out of my House I wonder what a Murrain you brought her hither to trouble me for ●ay said the Farmer Wife let her stay here for though I know she cannot do any hard Work being brought up renderly she may do us some Service in keeping our Sheep These Words cut the poor Lady to the Heart and without saying any thing she went out of the House resolving to go to remote Parts of the Country where none knew her and trust in God's Mercy to help her in her Misery Blouze the Farmer 's Wife was glad of her Departure for she being ugly her self and the young Lady exc●eding beautiful grew jealous of her Husband as soon as he spoke in her be half and began to fling and tear like a Fiend of He●l The young Lady having left these ungrateful People put forth her Strength and though weaker travelled out of Shropshire into Gloucestershire feeding on Berries and drinking the Waters of clear Springs till at length weary and faint she sate down upon a Stone by the way side and fell afresh to lament her hard Fortune when it chanced some young Maidens came by and seeing her in that plight compassionated her ma●ing s●veral Conjectures of the Cause one saying It must needs be Love that has brought her into this distress Like enough said another for I my self was once almost at such a pass but thank my Stars I weathered it and kicked it away with my Heel Then they began to ask her several Questions which she answered so courte●●●y and modestly that they admired at it proffering her Victuals and Drink which they had in their Handkerchiefs and Bottles for their Day 's Subsistance which pinching Hunger constrained her to accept and being refreshed her fading Colour returned and looked in her homely Dress for her rich Ornaments had long before been laid aside like a little Angel At length she demanded whither they were going They told her to Gloucester Fair to be hired for Servants and if she was out of Place as by her Discontent she seemed to be if she would go with them she might get a good Service and that if she behaved her self well in it it might in time prefer her to some honest Country Fellow for her Husband This made her smile and then pausing a little thinking it better to live a Servant than wander so forlorn up and down and that in desart places her Beauty might betray her Modesty and Chastity to the Lust of some brutal Villain she approved their Counsel and away they went together Now as she was standing in the Fair Grey's Wife came to hire Servants though she had many already and wishfully beholding fair Margaret's modest Countenance and behaviour came to her and said Maid are you willing to be hired She replied Yes good Dame if you please and I shall be willing to do any thing I am able or capable of Well said replied Dame Grey then Sweetheart come along with me if you are willing I shall be as willing to instruct you where you are ignorant you shall be well provided for and I will give Statute Wages to boot Both Parties agreed she carried her home and set her to carding Wool Grey at Night came from Market and hearing his Wife had hired a new Servant sent for her to see her her Beauty at first sight dazled his Eyes so that he cried out to his Wife That she had he thought brought all the Fair home with her Why so says she Why replied he I never saw one fairer in my Life At this the good Woman was nettled and began to grow jealous intending in her Husband's Absence privately to send her away but after seeing her Diligence modest Behaviour and chast Carriage she concluded she could not be tempted to evil and therefore altered her Resolution preferring her above the rest of her Maids and tendering her as dear as her own Children Whilst she stayed here the King had fought a great Battle in Normandy with Duke Robert his Brother taken him

Prisoner and seized his Country and returning brought him with him committing him a Prisoner at large to Cardriff Castle for he had liberty with his Keepers to Hawk Hunt and follow other Princely Pastimes when one Day coming to Gloucester Grey invited him and his Train to a splendid Entertainment and afterward shewed him his People at work when among the Maids the Duke casting his Eyes on beautiful Margaret stood in a maze to see so fair a Creature in such a place and fell desperately in love with her but concealed it at that time Grey's Son was likewise extreamly enamour'd of her and indeed every one that saw her fell in love with her but in her low Condition remembring her high Birth she gave no Countenance to any till the Duke by Letter and secret Messages made his Love known to her and after that often they met in a neighbouring Forest two or three Miles from the Town and she received from him with a solemn Promise of his honourable Love and entire Affection a Diamond Ring with many other Princely Presents and the Desire she had to see her Father enclined her the sooner to consent for she heard he was in France and the Duke proposed to slip from his Guard in the next Hunting and meet her in that Forest and convey her thither where he would marry her in much Princely State His manly Proportion Beauty and Courage likewise fortified her in her Resolution to commit her self to his Care and Conduct and he failed not at the ●●me appointed with two trusty Servants and a Horse for her to ri●● on to meet her and she mounted they posted away to the Sea-side but no shipping being ready to go off they waited so long that the Noise of his Escape being brought to the King's Ear such strict Search was made that he was found and the fair Lady in his company But setting himself before her he drew his Sword and sternly commanded his Pursuers not to advance a Step for if they did they must come on the point of it but they being a multitude in hopes of Reward pressed forward to seize him when the Duke so layed manfully about him that nine or ten of them were slain the rest beat off many wounded with a Cry raising the whole Country his Servants slain in his Defence he at last with the beautious Margaret was taken Prisoner and both carried back to Cardiff Castle till the King's Pleasure should be put out with Burning-glasses and the Maid which he believed had enticed him to escape should be put to death by strangling This cruel Sentence being noised abroad Grey's Wife understood that it was her dear Margaret that was doomed to die whose Absence she had mourned ever since she was missing This brought her almost to distraction but taking more sober Advice she for a good Summ got the Execution of the Sentence on both delayed and writing to all the Clothiers Wives to hast to London and meet her there letting them know the Occasion they failed not to do it and going in their richest Apparel to the Palace falling at the King's Feet Grey's Wife shedding abundance of Tears humbly besought His Highness to spare the Life of her poor innocent Maid whom the Love of the Duke his Brother had caused to fall under his Displeasure and by him to be sentenced to death The King upon this demanded who they were and when he understood they were the Clothiers Wives he bid them stand up and asking them many Questions hearing what a vertuous beautiful Maid she was he was moved with Compassion towards her and granted her Pardon for Life and Liberty but would in no wise do it for the Duke fearing at one time or other he might effectually escape and raise fierce Wars against him and withal strictly commanded that the Maid for her Presumption should be punished by seeing his Eyes put out Grey's Wife humbly thanked the King and returning with joy caused fair Margaret to be released but when she understood the Duke's Punishment was not remitted and that she must be a Spectator of so killing a Sight her Love to him made her burst into Tears and passionately wish that the putting out her own Eyes might excuse him since they had been criminal in leading him to do what he did but nothing availed for she was compelled to be at the woful Sight but before it was done they embraced kissed and tenderl● mourned weeping over one another so that the Hearts of those that stood by melted at their passionate Grief The Duke of a haughty Spirit enraged to be thus dealt withal by his Brother for Grief and Anger beat his Brains our against the Walls of the Castle wherein he was close confined and so died which woful Tragedy fair Margaret no sooner heard of but bursting into a flood of Tears she discovered to Grey and his Wife her Parentage and the Miseries of her younger Years at which they greatly wondred and now becoming weary of the World she vowed a Religious Life went into a Nunnery and for her vertuous Behaviour was in time made Abbess and spending her Days in Devotion died an honourable Virgin CHAP. V. How a Law was made to Arrest Men for Debt and how difficult it was to get Officers no English being then found that would accept of the Place How Tom. Dove was Arrested and how Gerrard served the Officers How Tom. Dove falling into Poverty was sighted by his Servants and others How in his Despair the Clothiers fet him up again so that he became very Rich c. IN the Reign of this King Henry the First Arresting and Imprisoning Men for Debt was first established by Act of Parliament taken from a Custom used among the Flemings before their Goods being only seizable and their Persons free to labour and get more for the subsistance of themselves and Family and however Creditable it is esteemed now amongst the Catchpoles who make great Interest and give good Summs of Money for their Places the English Men in those Days so abhorred the Thoughts of thrusting their fellow-Subjects into Prisons to restrain that Liberty which all things in Nature so much desire and let them lie starving between Stone Walls as too cruelly now it is seen that it was as hard for the Sheriffs to get Catchpoles as Hodgkins of Hallifax Hangmen no English Man being to be found though never so poor that for any Money would take that despised Office upon him so that they were obliged to send for Flemings maintain them a Table and give them large Sallaries Soon after this Law was made Tom. Dove received great Losses by the Merchants Goods being taken on the Seas whilst France and England were at Wars and coming up to Town to see if he could get in any Debts the two Catchpoles Flemings hired by the Sheriffs of London to do the Office were set on by his Creditors to seize him and being showed him in the Street after the