By J. E. Nightingale, F.S.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 

 53$. 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 Bon 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 

 History 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 



