Kuhl — Chaucer's Burgesses , 
661 
de Ferrers, 1 knight, was pardoned for assaulting “with a 
baslard” the servant of Robert Lynne “aberdasher.” 2 
In 1377 the Haberdashers sent four men to the Common 
Council, but their names are not recorded. 3 From time to 
time the guild chose masters to govern its craft. The earliest 
record apparently is in 1328, when they elected three of 
their members as masters. 4 The next mention is in 1371, 
when their ordinances were approved, including the names 
of those sworn to govern the mistery. There were four 
at this time,—Thomas Botulston, Richard Spenser, John 
Polstede and Richard Marchal. 5 The latter was main¬ 
pernor for a “clerk” in 1376. 6 At the supplication of a 
knight, Marchal was pardoned in 1389 for the killing of 
another. 7 Of the other three nothing seems to be recorded 
with the exception of Richard Spenser. He likewise was a 
mainpernor (in 1385), for the prior of Michelham, Surrey. 8 
A will, dated 1376, bequeaths property in London to Spen¬ 
ser. 9 The following will not be without interest in throwing 
light on the financial standing of some obscure burgesses. 
In 1392 Richard Spenser and others are given a license “for 
the alienation in mortmain ... of (1) eight messuages, 
six tofts, 274 acres of land, 2s. 9d. of rent, pasture for 60 
beasts . . . and pasture for 800 sheep ... to the prior 
and convent of Michulham ... in full satisfaction of a 
license granted to them by the late King ... to acquire 
lands, tenements and rents of the yearly value of 10 marks.” 10 
In 1384 the masters sworn to govern the mistery were: 
John Silbourne, William Craft, and Michael Mordone. 11 Of 
these Craft alone seemed prominent enough to find his way 
into the records. In 1365, 12 and again in 1371, 13 he was a 
1 “Ferrers” was a common name in the royal household. 
2 Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1377-81, p. 449. The spelling “aberdasher” is not 
recorded in N. E. D. 
3 Letter-Book , H, p. 59. 
4 Ibid., E, p. 233. 
8 Letter-Book, G, p. 283. 
6 Cal. Close Rolls, 1374-7, p. 347. 
7 Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1388-92, p. 21. 
8 Ibid., 1385-9, p. 72. 
9 Cal. of Wills, London 1889-1890, 2 Parts. II. p. 191. 
10 Cal. Pat . Rolls, 1391-6, p. 184. The present parish of Mickleham. 
is 2f£ miles from Dorking,—21 miles SSW of London. 
11 Letter-Book, H, p. 250. On Craft see Ibid., p. 135. 
12 Ibid., G, p. 191. Cf. p. 221. 
13 Ibid., p. 286. 
