This article is about the mayor of London. For the vicar of Earls Colne, see Ralph Josselin.
Sir Ralph Josselyn (or Jocelyn) KB (died 25 October 1478) was a 15th-century English politician who held several political offices, including two terms as Lord Mayor of London.
Ralph Josselyn was the son of Jeffrey Josselyn of Hide Hall in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, by his wife Katherine Bray.[1] His eldest brother, Thomas Josselyn, was the ancestor of the Earls of Roden.[2]
Career
As Josselyn's elder brother inherited their father's lands on his death, he went to make his career in London. He became a member of the Worshipful Company of Drapers, of which he would become the Master in 1457-8.[1] He became an alderman, of Cornhill Ward, in 1456.[3] In 1458 he was elected one of the Sheriffs of the City of London. In 1464 he was elected to the first of his two mayoral terms.[1] During this term, he was one of four London citizens made a Knight of the Bath, at the coronation of Edward IV's queen, Elizabeth Woodville.[4]
After his first mayoral term, Josselyn continued to be active in the city's affairs. He was elected to Parliament, representing the City of London, in 1467.[5] In 1471, he raised a force to repel the assault of Thomas Neville, Bastard of Fauconbridge, when the latter attacked the city in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the imprisoned King Henry VI from the Tower of London.[6]
Josselyn was elected to a second term as mayor in 1476. During this term, he initiated a huge effort to repair the city's walls, which had fallen into grave disrepair. He procured massive quantities of bricks and lime, levied taxes to pay for the significant costs of the repairs, and provided for the work to be supervised by a hand-picked panel of citizens representing each of the city's wards.[7] He also took measures to curb the abuses of bakers and victuallers within the city.[1]
Personal life
Josselyn seems to have married three times. His first wife, Margery, may have been either the daughter or the widow of another draper, Thomas Aylesby.[1] His second wife, Philippa, was the daughter of Philip Malpas, another London alderman and (unlike Josselyn) a staunch Lancastrian; her sister married Thomas Cooke, another mayor of London.[2] His third wife was Elizabeth Barley, daughter of William Barley and sister of Henry Barley, MP for Hertfordshire; she survived him and married Sir Robert Clifford, son of Thomas Clifford, 8th Baron Clifford.[8] She and her new husband were sued by her father over ownership of a manor in Linslade, previously owned by Josselyn.[9]
Josselyn died on 25 October 1478 and was buried at St Swithin's Church in London, of which he had been a benefactor; a memorial erected to him in Sawbridgeworth church has caused some authors to state he was buried there. He seems to have had no surviving children, as his heir was his nephew George Josselyn, son of his elder brother Thomas.[1]
Literary representation
Josselyn appears in the Elizabethan playwright Thomas Heywood's Edward IV. In the play, Josselyn is portrayed as a comic, buffoonish character, quite at odds with historical reality.[10]
References
^ abcdef"The New England Historical and Genealogical Register", pg. 239-240
ralph, josselyn, this, article, about, mayor, london, vicar, earls, colne, ralph, josselin, jocelyn, died, october, 1478, 15th, century, english, politician, held, several, political, offices, including, terms, lord, mayor, london, contents, family, background. This article is about the mayor of London For the vicar of Earls Colne see Ralph Josselin Sir Ralph Josselyn or Jocelyn KB died 25 October 1478 was a 15th century English politician who held several political offices including two terms as Lord Mayor of London Contents 1 Family background 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Literary representation 5 ReferencesFamily background EditRalph Josselyn was the son of Jeffrey Josselyn of Hide Hall in Sawbridgeworth Hertfordshire by his wife Katherine Bray 1 His eldest brother Thomas Josselyn was the ancestor of the Earls of Roden 2 Career EditAs Josselyn s elder brother inherited their father s lands on his death he went to make his career in London He became a member of the Worshipful Company of Drapers of which he would become the Master in 1457 8 1 He became an alderman of Cornhill Ward in 1456 3 In 1458 he was elected one of the Sheriffs of the City of London In 1464 he was elected to the first of his two mayoral terms 1 During this term he was one of four London citizens made a Knight of the Bath at the coronation of Edward IV s queen Elizabeth Woodville 4 After his first mayoral term Josselyn continued to be active in the city s affairs He was elected to Parliament representing the City of London in 1467 5 In 1471 he raised a force to repel the assault of Thomas Neville Bastard of Fauconbridge when the latter attacked the city in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the imprisoned King Henry VI from the Tower of London 6 Josselyn was elected to a second term as mayor in 1476 During this term he initiated a huge effort to repair the city s walls which had fallen into grave disrepair He procured massive quantities of bricks and lime levied taxes to pay for the significant costs of the repairs and provided for the work to be supervised by a hand picked panel of citizens representing each of the city s wards 7 He also took measures to curb the abuses of bakers and victuallers within the city 1 Personal life EditJosselyn seems to have married three times His first wife Margery may have been either the daughter or the widow of another draper Thomas Aylesby 1 His second wife Philippa was the daughter of Philip Malpas another London alderman and unlike Josselyn a staunch Lancastrian her sister married Thomas Cooke another mayor of London 2 His third wife was Elizabeth Barley daughter of William Barley and sister of Henry Barley MP for Hertfordshire she survived him and married Sir Robert Clifford son of Thomas Clifford 8th Baron Clifford 8 She and her new husband were sued by her father over ownership of a manor in Linslade previously owned by Josselyn 9 Josselyn died on 25 October 1478 and was buried at St Swithin s Church in London of which he had been a benefactor a memorial erected to him in Sawbridgeworth church has caused some authors to state he was buried there He seems to have had no surviving children as his heir was his nephew George Josselyn son of his elder brother Thomas 1 Literary representation EditJosselyn appears in the Elizabethan playwright Thomas Heywood s Edward IV In the play Josselyn is portrayed as a comic buffoonish character quite at odds with historical reality 10 References Edit a b c d e f The New England Historical and Genealogical Register pg 239 240 a b Notes on the aldermen 1240 1500 Aldermen of the City of London Cornhill Ward Sharpe Reginald R London and the Kingdom pg 307 Aldermen in Parliament The Spectator Vol 39 pg 717 The Development of the Post of City Architect and Planning Officer 1478 1954 Breverton Terry Henry VII The Maligned Tudor King Linslade Manors Rowland Richard Thomas Heywood s Theatre 1599 1639 Locations Translations and Conflict pg 45 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ralph Josselyn amp oldid 1085225455, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
