8th October, 1555. The Clercke of our Companye shall have for waxe pennes and ynke and for trymynge of the gardeyn yerelye vjs viijd. Yf the gardeyn be not well trymmed and made clene weded and swept at all tymes when the Mr and Governors of the clothing or any of Thassistaunce of the same shall see yt and thereupon fynde faulte then the saide Clercke shall paye a ffyne to the hall because the said gardein ys not made cleane swept and wedyd as the Mr and Governors of the Clothinge and thassistaunce of the same shall think meete and convenyent.
5th March, 1556. It was ordered that if—
The Clercke of the Company doo evile mysuse any of the Clothinge or of the yomanry wth unsemely words & dewe proofe therof had and proved he shalbe dismyssed clere from the having of the Office of clercke.
27th August, 1557. John Johnson was elected and sworn Clerk “for so longe time as he shal behave hymsyllfe well and honestlye in the saide office.” The salary was fixed at £4 per annum, with 6s. 8d. extra for paper, ink and keeping the garden, and “for wasshinge of the lynen of the howse iijs iiijd.”
It would appear that one Wilson had some time previously been Clerk, for arrangements were made by which Wilson’s widow was not to be put out of her house, and it was also settled that if Johnson died before his wife, his widow should in like manner have the house after his decease. The rent of this house, which was attached to the Hall was 10s. per annum, and paid by the Clerk to the Renter Warden.
Johnson probably continued Clerk till about 1570, as the books are kept in the same handwriting until then.
Thomas Garter succeeded Johnson, but on 14th January, 1572, he was dismissed from his office for a “certain lewde facte by him committed,” and William Field was elected and sworn in in his place. Field wrote an exceedingly neat and precise hand.
20th March, 1572. It was ordered that in future the Clerk of the Company should always be chosen from among the freemen.
15th March, 1575. William Eden elected Clerk vice Field.
14th November, 1577. Eden was ordered to receive £6 per annum “benevolence” over and above his salary of £4, in consideration of the “smalenes of his lyvinge.”