“W. Burghley.
“To my loving frendes, ye Officers of ye Port of Chester.”
“Recepta per nos viii. die Maii per manus Richardi Massy.
Tho. Fletcher, Maior.”[[14]]
[14]. Transcribed by Dr. Furnival for his present work on Chester MSS.
In 1597, by the same books, some money was distributed to twenty poor people, having been free of the city twenty years at least; among these were five women.
In the Town of Winchester women could be free. In an old Customary of that town we may find “Every woman selling Bread in the High Street, not having the freedom, pays to the King 2s. 5d. a year, and to the City Clerk 1d., if she sells by the year, if less, in proportion. Every woman who brews for sale is to make good beer. No Brewer not free of the City (nul Brasceresse hors de Franchise) can brew within the City jurisdiction without compounding with the Bailiff.” (Archæological Journal, vol. iv., 1852.)
In the Hall-book of the corporation of Leicester 1621:
“It is agreed by a generall consent that Wm. Hartshorne, husbandman, shall be made ffreeman of corporacon payinge such ffine as Mr. Maiour and the Chambleyns that now be shall assess. But he is not allowed any freedom or privilege by reason that his mother was a ffreewoman. Neither is it thought fit that any woman be hereafter made free of this corporacon.” (Notes and Queries, vol. v., 5th series, p. 138.)
This note is important as showing the period of the change of tone and spirit.