MENU
Stratford-upon-Avon Borough: Minute books: Council Book A, 1555-1594
January 18,
1572

BRU2/1 Council Book A 1555-1594, page 149 verso

View Image Assets
BRU2/1 Council Book A 1555-1594, page 149 verso
Click image to enlarge

Institution Rights and Document Citation

 

Reproduced by permission of Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Terms of use
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has graciously contributed images under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommerical ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Visitors may download, link to and cite the images for personal research only. Any further use, including, but not limited to, unauthorized downloading or distribution of the images, commercial or third party use, is strictly prohibited. Visitors must contact the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to request additional use, at: images.scla@shakespeare.org.uk

Document-specific information
Title:  Stratford-upon-Avon Borough: Minute books: Council Book A, 1555-1594
Date: January 18, 1572
Repository: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Call number and opening: BRU2/1, p. 149v
View online bibliographic record

Item Title
Stratford-upon-Avon Borough: Minute books: Council Book A, 1555-1594
Item Date
January 18, 1572
Repository
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Call Number
BRU2/1, p. 149v

Institution Rights and Document Citation

 

Reproduced by permission of Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Terms of use
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has graciously contributed images under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommerical ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Visitors may download, link to and cite the images for personal research only. Any further use, including, but not limited to, unauthorized downloading or distribution of the images, commercial or third party use, is strictly prohibited. Visitors must contact the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to request additional use, at: images.scla@shakespeare.org.uk

Document-specific information
Title:  Stratford-upon-Avon Borough: Minute books: Council Book A, 1555-1594
Date: January 18, 1572
Repository: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Call number and opening: BRU2/1, p. 149v
View online bibliographic record

Robert Bearman, "Meeting of the Stratford-upon-Avon Corporation, with an order appointing the bailiff and chief alderman, Adrian Quiney and John Shakespeare, to act on the Corporation’s behalf according to 'theire discrecions'," Shakespeare Documented, https://doi.org/10.37078/508.

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, BRU2/1 Council Book A 1555-1594, page 149 verso. See Shakespeare Documentedhttps://doi.org/10.37078/508.

Under the 1553 charter of incorporation, Stratford-upon-Avon had been granted a certain degree of self-government, independent of the lord of the manor who had previously held authority over the town's affairs. However, the lord retained certain powers, including the right to continue to hold his manorial court and to approve the appointment of the bailiff, the vicar, and the schoolmaster. Since 1562, this lordship had been vested in Ambrose, earl of Warwick. Although his relationship with the Corporation was generally good, there were occasional disagreements. One such dispute occurred during John Shakespeare’s year as chief alderman.

At its meeting on January 18, shown here, the Corporation agreed that John Shakespeare and Adrian Quiney, the bailiff, should, in the upcoming year, “deale in the affayres concerning the commen wealthe of the borroughe ... according to theire discrecions.” The next order required the chamberlain to give the bailiff £6 in anticipation of an imminent visit to London. Neither of these entries refers specifically to an on-going dispute with Earl Ambrose but at the meeting on May 28, Quiney was further authorized to “deale in all causes now in varience between the Ryght Honorable Lord Ambrose earle of Warwycke,” and the Corporation agreed that he should be reimbursed for any expenses incurred (Minutes and Accounts, ii, pp. 63–4). This implies that John may not been directly involved in the legal proceedings but, as Quiney’s deputy, he would have been called on to take on additional responsibilities in Stratford during the bailiff’s absences in London. 

Written by Robert Bearman

Last updated May 14, 2020