146 THE DERBY COMPANY OF MERCERS. 



Devonshire's recomendation to this Employ had I had an oppor- 

 tunity upon y* account of that Service his Grace was pleased to 

 put upon mee in the late revolution." It is not known whether 

 Mr. Fletcher or the other applicant obtained the post. Mr. Fletcher 

 was churchwarden of All Saints' in 1655-6, and one of the Wardens 

 of the Company the first year, and Steward the second year. 



In October, 1682, the sum of twenty-nine pounds was " put into 

 the hands of" Mr. Nathaniel Doughtye, grocer. He was church- 

 warden of All Saints' in 1668-9. On November ist, 1683, it was 

 " ordered that Mr Nathaniel Doughty, one of y^ Wardens of y' 

 said Company (being he is removed to dwell in the Country,) the 

 said Company doe elect Mr Abraham Crompton, Warden, in 

 Mr Doughtyes Stead." He paid only one year's interest on 

 April nth, 1688. In February, 1689, he, together with 

 Mr. Fletcher, was ordered to pay the money, or " give such 

 securitie as the Company shall approove of." On September 20th 

 1689, Mr. Franceys, Steward, " received then of Mr W" Brook- 

 house, by order of Mr Nath' Doughty, the some of twenty two 

 pounds : also received at y" same time from Mr W"" Brookhouse, 

 by the order above, one Brothers Gowne vallued to the Company 

 by Mr Doughty at seven pounds : I say, received the above s"* 

 money & gowne p' me AV" ffranceys Steward." This entry is 

 interesting, because it shows that a second-hand gown was 

 worth seven pounds, a considerable sum in those days.* It 

 would probably be sold to a new Brother. 



The next loan was to the Derby Corporation. The money 

 received from Messrs. Fletcher & Doughty amounted to ;^4i i6s. 

 At a meeting of the Mercers' Company on March ist, 1692, it 

 was " ordered that Mr. William ffranceys, Apothecary, doe pay to 

 the Major & Burgesses of Derby or their order, the sum of forty 

 pounds which hee hath now in his hands, being the moneys of 

 the said Company, for the carrying on the waterworks for the said 

 Towne, accordinge to agreement between the said Major & 

 Burgesses & Mr. George Sorrocold, for which said sum of forty 



• The rent of the Angel Inn, with stabling for sixty horses was ;^io per 

 atinum.— "Chronicles of All Saints'," by Dr. Cox and St. John Hope. 



