THE DERBY COMPANY OF MERCERS. 145 



When there was a large balance in hand, it was lent to an 

 officer of the Company [probably for use in his business], and he 

 gave a bond for the amount. In July, 1677, jQ-i^2 was "put into 

 the hands of Mr John Taylor [mercer] & George ffletcher [apothe- 

 cary], equally betwixt them at six pounds p' Cent, interest p. 

 annum." This is the only mention of interest at six per cent., 

 and it is uncertain from the minutes whether they paid it ; for in 

 February, 1684, i.e., five and a half years after, " Mr John Taylor 

 & Mr George filetcher had their bonds delivered in to them," and 

 repaid the thirty-two pounds, together with four pounds interest 

 They may have spent some of the remainder on behalf of the 

 Company. The ^36 was then put into the hands of Mr. George 

 Fletcher at five per cent., " for w'^'' said sum" he gave "his bond 

 y' day & yeare above said, to Mr Samuell Wills minister of All 

 Saints in Derby,* who is intrusted for y^ use of y* said Company." 

 In April, 1688, Mr. Fletcher paid one year's interest, and on 

 March 19th, 1689, was received by Mr. Franceys, Steward of the 

 Company, from " Mr Daniell Wetton & Mr Bull, two of the 

 trustees for Mr George ffletcher, the some of nineteene pounds 

 sixteene shillings, being one moitye of a bond for ^%(i with 

 interest, due from Mr Geo ffletcher to y^ Company of 

 Mercers." There is no record of the remainder having been 

 received. On April i8th, 1693, Mr. Richard Hodgkinson was 

 elected a brother in " roome of Mr George ffletcher, now remooved 

 into Ireland." Amongst the county records appears a letter from 

 this Mr. Fletcher,t applying for the post of Master of the House 

 of Correction, situate in Walker Lane, Derby. He says, "The 

 humble petition of Geo : fletcher late of Derby apothecary & 

 Licentiate in Phisick Sheweth Providence this Juncture of time 

 hath brought him the said Geo : Fletcher from Ireland, Aged & in 

 meane State Tho healthy Active, Wellknowne times past to many 

 for his public works to his Cost etc." ... 



" I doe not doubt but to have had his Grace the Duke of 



* Mr. Wills was incumbent of All Saints' from 167 1 to his death in 1685. 

 t A copy of this letter is given by Dr. Cox in " Three Centuries of Derby- 

 shire Annals," 1890, Vol. II., p. 30. 

 TI 



