I40 THE DERBY COMPANY OF MERCERS. 



the liberties of the said Corporation,* & incroaching upon the 

 Severall trades, now united into the s"^ Company of Mercers, or 

 some of them, as counsell shall advise." There is in the minutes 

 no further reference to him, but fortunately amongst the few 

 papers left relating to the Company, there is an Indenture made 

 between the Steward and Wardens, representing the Company 

 of Mercers, and John Booth and John Gould of Derby, Mercers. 

 John Booth had been using the trade of a mercer, not being a 

 free burgess of the Borough, and had been "bearinge out and 

 covering under him ye said John Gould (a forreigner), in order 

 to make him a burgesse of the said borough, contrary to his 

 burgesse oath." All prosecutions against John Booth by the 

 Company were to cease, and the Company was to pay all costs 

 expended by them. Mr. Booth was to cease all actions against 

 the Company, and all prosecutions against the mayor and bur- 

 gesses upon a writ of mandamus, and pay all costs of the same. 

 He was to enter into a bond to Samuel Heathcote of Derby, 

 gent., in the sum of ;^36, and to pay ^i8 for the use of the 

 Company. He undertook to quit possession of the shop at the 

 upper end of the Rotten Row, on or before September 29th, 

 and to " remove their effects & goods therein, to some part of 

 ye house or buildings of ye said Jno Booth, situate above on 

 ye North, or North West, side of All Saints Church, in Derby 

 aforesaid." They were not to carry on the trade of a mercer, 

 on the " South, South East, or South West, parts of All Saints 

 Church aforesaid, or nearer to the market place in Derby, 

 aforesaid, than y* said Church." Should the Corporation of the 

 Borough " think fitt to admitt y* said Jno. Gould to be a 

 Burgesse or Freeman of y^ said Borough," or " to restore y= 

 said Jno. Booth to his former freedom of a Burgess of y^ said 

 Borough, from which he was lately disfranchised," then the 

 Company of Mercers shall not " oppose, but, as much as in 

 them lies, promote y* same." The deed was signed, sealed 



* The Corporation of Derby which is referred to in the same minutes a few 

 lines above. 



