By J. E. Nightingale, F.8.A. 285 
Mr. John Penruddocke was, in all probability, the legal adviser 
also, of. the Corporation of Salisbury. Mr. Hatcher, in his History 
of Salisbury, states that the office of counsellor of the City of New 
Sarum was first made permanent in October, 1587, when it was 
formally assigned to Mr. John Penruddocke, with a yearly fee of 
53s. 4d. His name appears amongst the admittances into Gray’s 
Inn in 1562, as barrister 1564, ancient 1574. He was also Member 
of Parliament for Wilton in 1584. There is a curious story extant 
of a visit paid to Salisbury in 1585 by the unfortunate and eccentric 
Don Antonio, ex-King of Portugal. It is stated that he lodged at 
Mr. John Penruddocke’s, at which time Mrs. Penruddocke was 
delivered of a son and daughter, and that the King was godfather 
to them—the boy being called Dom Anthony after the King. His 
ex-Majesty seems to have been much gratified with his reception in 
Salisbury, which took place on October 15th, 1585, about a month 
__ before the date of the deed of conveyance. 
It does not appear at what time the Topps were first settled at 
Stockton. The name of Thomas Topp occurs amongst the “ cus- 
_ tomary tenants” of the manor on October 19th, 35th Henry VIII. 
(1543), as holding a small property there, granted to him and to 
his son, John. Mr. Miles says that “there is a tradition in the 
_ parish that the family was raised to wealth and station by success in 
_ trade as clothiers.” This tradition is now confirmed. This John, son 
_ of Thomas, purchased the manor, and was apparently the founder of 
the fortunes of the family. By the courtesy of John Baker, Esq., 
the present Master of the Merchant Taylors Company, I am enabled 
to give some further particulars relating to him, collected from the 
books of the guild. John Topp became freeman of the Merchant 
Taylors Company by redemption on 15th June, 1562. He was 
Warden in 1580-1, and again in 1584-5. He became Master in 
1587. The following allusion to him is found in the “ Early 
Hi ry of the Merchant Taylors Company,” by C. M. Clode, C.B., 
published in 1888 :—“ The Star Chamber claimed to be a court of 
‘revision and appeal from the judgment of inferior tribunals, and of 
this Eden’s case, preserved in the records of the Merchant Taylors 
Company, is an illustration. Eden was admitted a Freeman of the 
_* 
