William Laxton (Lord Mayor of London)

Sir William Laxton (c. 1500–1556) was a Lord Mayor of London during the reign of Henry VIII, and eight times Master of the Worshipful Company of Grocers.^[1] He is the founder of Oundle School.^[2]

Sir William Laxton
Lord Mayor of London
In office 1544–1545
Preceded by	Ralph Warren
Succeeded by	Martin Bowes
Personal details
Born	c. 1500 Oundle, Northamptonshire, England
Died	27 July 1556

Life

Laxton was born in Oundle, Northamptonshire, England, the son of John Laxton, a local merchant. He was educated at the grammar school in Oundle situated in the old 'gildhouse' in the churchyard of St Peter's parish church.^[3] Upon leaving school he went to London and became an apprentice of the Worshipful Company of Grocers in London. Having completed his seven-year term in 1519 he gained his freedom and prospered. In 1525 the citizen Grocer and Merchant Adventurer Robert Basford of All Hallows, Honey Lane named him as executor together with his widow Katherine and brother Edward, though at Basford's death in 1528 Edward and William reserved power at probate.^[4]

He had at least one brother, John Laxton, who was also apprenticed a Grocer but appears to have died young: John was the father of William's heir Joan, who married an apothecary Thomas Wanton.^[5] It is likely that one Richard Laxton, apprenticed to John Preste (Grocer and Merchant Adventurer)^[6] in 1517, was also his brother, and there was a sister Joan who married Edward Cacher, of the Pewterers' Company.^[7] In 1531 William Laxton, John Prest^[8] and Edward Cacher, and two others, together purchased messuages and land in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire.^[9] After gaining his livery Laxton was elected to the Court of Assistants, and was made Junior warden on 16 July 1534.

In March 1535/6 Laxton was elected Alderman for the Aldersgate ward, and for the years 1536–37 and 1538–39 he was Master of the Grocer's Company.^[10] Laxton applied for and received a grant of arms in 1536.^[11] He served as Sheriff of London in the year 1540–41, together with Martin Bowes, in the mayoralty of Sir William Roche.^[12] Although these selections were made in July or August, the shrieval term of office did not commence until Michaelmas Eve.^[13] Therefore, the executions of Thomas Cromwell and of Dr Robert Barnes and his Lutheran companions, and the King's marriage to Catherine Howard, were all completed before Laxton took office. At Easter 1541 the Mayor, Aldermen and Crafts, greeted the river procession of the King and Queen from Westminster between the Tower and London Bridge 'in barges goodlie behanged and sett with banners', and accompanied them to Greenwich.^[14] It is particularly recorded that Bowes and Laxton as Sheriffs attended Lord Dacre of the South at the Tower of London on 29 July 1541 and accompanied him on foot to Tyburn where he was to be hanged.^[15] As the summer approached the executions of the Countess of Salisbury and of Lord Leonard Gray took place at the Tower.^[16]

Marriage

In 1541–42, and in 1543–44, he was again Master of the Grocers' Company: and, having transferred as Alderman to the Langbourn ward in 1543, late in 1544 he was elected Lord Mayor.^[17] Before May 1539^[18] he had married Joan Kirkeby,^[19] daughter of William Kirkeby and widow of Henry Loddington,^[20] who had died in 1531 leaving Joan with at least three children.^[21] According to heraldic Visitations Luddington, a London Grocer and Merchant Adventurer,^[22] originated from the Adlingfleet area of south Yorkshire between Goole and Scunthorpe.^[23] William Kirkeby, whom Luddington made an overseer of his will, is also said to have been of Yorkshire parentage.^[24] Laxton, who had no children of his own, accepted the Loddington children as stepson and stepdaughters, one of whom (Anne) married the wealthy Grocer William Lane (whose first wife had been sister of Peter Osborne).^[25]

Mayoralty 1544–45

Laxton's mayoralty was an eventful one, during which the King asserted himself towards the Court of Aldermen. His Sheriffs were John Wilford and Andrew Judd. Soon after Christmas Henry demanded a national levy (a 'Benevolence') at 2 shillings in the pound to support his continuing wars in France and Scotland. The Mayor and aldermen were required to make the first payments in a formal ceremony at Baynard Castle, and all did so apart from Richard Read, a newly elected alderman, who was immediately sent to the wars in Scotland, on pain of death, and was taken prisoner by the Scots three months later. Soon afterwards Sir William Roche, for speaking to the Council's displeasure, was arrested in the presence of the Mayor and aldermen and sent to the Tower. On 8 February 1545 Laxton was presented to the King at Westminster and, after the King had thanked him for supporting his recent military successes, he bestowed upon him the honour of Knighthood.^[26]

Laxton's part in the first inquisition of the Protestant martyr Anne Askew is told in her own words. Having been detained under the Six Articles Act for her association with Evangelicals, she went before an inquisition led by Christopher Dare. She was then questioned by Laxton (as the temporal authority) on the same points. After Bishop Bonner's Chancellor had also interviewed her, Laxton put her in temporary custody, refusing to accept sureties, and telling Anne's cousin Brittayne that he would be glad to help her but could neither imprison or bail her without consent of the spiritual powers. Of this John Bale remarked, 'The Mayor of London, which is the king's lieutenant, and representeth there his own person, standeth here like a dead idol, or like such a servant slave who can do nothing within his own city concerning their matters.' However, Laxton's adherence to due process ended in a Not Guilty verdict for Anne in June 1545, and she was acquitted: and the authority of his office was maintained.^[27]

Duty of service was again subverted when Richard Jerveis obtained letters patent freeing him from his aldermanry and from future city office. Laxton and the aldermen went in a body to Greenwich and laid their objections before the King and Privy Council, and Jerveis was induced to resume his office. The Council meanwhile charged the Aldermen to summon the wealthiest citizens to complete the payment of the King's Subsidy. In an atmosphere of growing alarm, large grain imports became necessary, for which the aldermen met the initial costs. The French navy blockaded the Pas de Calais and made attacks on the English coast, and the Mary Rose sank at Portsmouth. A great muster from London marched to Farnham prepared to repel a French army which landed on the Isle of Wight.^[28] Intensive house-searches and curfews were imposed on all strangers living in London, and a nightly mounted watch was maintained by the aldermen, Laxton himself taking the first duty. Another muster of 1000 city men was gathered at Finsbury Fields and sent to Dover from Gravesend.^[29]

Late in 1545 Sir John Aleyn died after 30 years' service as alderman, and Laxton transferred to the Lime Street ward vacated by his death. Aleyn bequeathed a new Mayoral chain of office, and on St Edward's Day (13 October), his memorable year drawing to its close, Sir William Laxton became the first to wear it as Sir Martin Bowes was elected to succeed him.^[30] It was seemingly during Laxton's mayoral year that his stepdaughter Joan Luddington married John Machell, a rising figure in the Clothworkers' Company, whose first wife Ellen was buried at St Peter, Westcheap in 1544, and whose eldest son by Joan was christened there in 1546.^[31] Laxton had also renewed his service for a fifth term as Master of the Grocers' Company.

After King Henry's death at the end of January 1546/7, in February his body was borne from London to Windsor. The procession rested a night at Sion House. Ten Aldermen, Sir William Laxton and Sir Martin Bowes each with a retinue of four and the others with three, all in their black coats, rode in the company, their harness and bridles muffled in black cloth.^[32] Through the reign of King Edward VI Laxton enjoyed three further terms as Master of the Grocers' Company, in 1548–49, 1550–51, and 1552–53.^[33] Following the death of William Lane in 1552^[34] Anne Luddington remarried to the Grocer Thomas Lodge, who was formerly married to Mawdleyn, sister of Stephen Vaughan.^[35]

Death and Exequies

Laxton's will was prepared in July 1556,^[36] and he died on the night of 27 July 1556. By his will his stepchildren were fully acknowledged with legacies, though his heir remained his niece Joan Wanton. In his last days he was visited by Richard Grafton and John Southcott to discuss the disposition of his bequests.^[37]

William Laxton's funeral, on 9 August 1556, was a grand heraldic occasion. In the procession to St Mary Aldermary the body was borne in a hearse with five principals, the majesty and the valence gilt: the house, church and street were decked with black hangings and arms, and there were many penselles and escutcheons: a standard, four pennons and two banners: with a coat armour, helmet, targe and sword, and the crest of a tiger's head with a columbine slipped. There were 34 stave torches, 34 mantle fries gowns for poor men, and one hundred black gowns. The three principal mourners were Thomas Lodge, John Machell and Thomas Wanton, and the Lord Mayor and aldermen were all present in violet gowns, followed by the women mourners, ladies and gentlewomen and aldermen's wives, and many others. After the Dirige the Company of Grocers, the priests and clerks, the heralds, and the Wax-chandlers and others went to the house to drink. On the following day three masses were sung, two of prick-song and one of requiem, and a sermon was preached by Dr. Nicholas Harpsfield, Archdeacon of Canterbury. This was followed by the greatest funeral feast which Henry Machyn had ever witnessed.^[38]

A Month's mind was held for Laxton on 30–31 August, the hearse illuminated with wax tapers, and on the second day a mass and a sermon, followed by another large feast, after which the hearse was dismantled.^[39] He was buried in the tomb of Henry Keble (died 1518), Lord Mayor and four times Master of the Grocers, in St Mary Aldermary; a fact which outraged John Stow, since Keble had been responsible for the rebuilding of the church and was thereby 'unkindly cast out'.^[40] However Keble's monument had formed a chantry, which like other London chantries was deprived of its superstitious uses under Edward VI and then re-granted to the relevant Craft. It is also stated that Keble's tomb had been ransacked during a riot.^[41] Its re-use as the burial-place of William Laxton in Mary's time, and afterwards for Dame Joan Laxton and Sir Thomas Lodge, may therefore have been an attempt to preserve rather than to misappropriate the site of the founder's burial.

Legacy

The grammar school which Laxton had attended slipped into decline and eventually closed. Under the terms of his Codicil Sir William left property in London to the Grocer's Company on condition that they paid annual sums of money for the support and maintenance of a new school in Oundle, Laxton Grammar School now called Oundle School, to replace the former school.^[42] Laxton planned this bequest during the last two or three years of his life, and its terms were negotiated with the Grocers' Company, who at first resisted involvement owing to difficulties with the tenure of the endowment lands. It fell partly to (Sir) Thomas Lodge and to Lady Laxton to implement the terms of the bequest.^[43] Oundle School is now one of the leading independent schools in the United Kingdom.

He also left money to establish almshouses at Oundle for the accommodation of seven poor men, also maintained by the Grocers' Company.^[44]

Family

William Laxton had no children of his own, but acknowledged three of his wife's children fully in his will. His principal heir however was his niece Joan, wife of Thomas Wanton. His stepchildren were:

• Nicholas Luddington, who married Avice Rowe, sister of Sir Thomas Rowe (Lord Mayor of London 1568–69, died 1570),^[45] and by her had three children. Nicholas Luddington, Grocer, became Governor of the Merchant Adventurers at Antwerp,^[46] and, after confrontations with Walter Travers and Thomas Cartwright, had dealings with Sir Francis Walsingham.^[47] He died in 1595 or early 1596.^[48]
• Anne Luddington, who married first (as his second wife) William Lane, Grocer, and secondly (as his third wife) Sir Thomas Lodge, Grocer, who became Lord Mayor of London in 1562. Anne was the mother of the poet Thomas Lodge. Dame Ann Lodge died in 1579.^[49]
• Joan Luddington, who married first (as his second wife) John Machell, Clothworker (Sheriff of London 1555–56, died 1558^[50]),^[51] by whom she had five surviving children:^[52] and secondly (as the second of his three wives) the diplomat Sir Thomas Chamberlayne, by whom she had three surviving children.^[53] Dame Joan Chamberlayne died in 1565.^[54]

Dame Joan Laxton, a wealthy and influential woman in her own right, long outlived her husband and died in 1576.^[55]

References

1. J.D. Alsop, 'Laxton, Sir William (d. 1556), mayor of London', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
2. W.G. Walker, A History of the Oundle Schools (Grocers' Company, 1956), pp. 25–58.
3. W. Page (ed.), 'Parishes: Oundle', in A History of the County of Northampton Volume 3, (V.C.H., London 1930), pp. 85–101. (British History Online. Retrieved 30 July 2016).
4. Will of Robert Basford, Grocer of London (P.C.C. 1528, Porche quire).
5. See the memorial inscription of their son Nicholas Wanton, in F. Drake, An Accurate Description and History of the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of York, I (A. Ward, York 1768), p. 88.
6. For Prest's dealings with the Mercers, see L. Lyell and F.D. Watney (eds), Acts of Court of the Mercers' Company 1453–1527 (Cambridge University Press 1936), pp. 694–702.
7. Walker, A History of the Oundle Schools, pp. 33–34.
8. Prest served as Sheriff of London in 1532–33, and was among the leading signatories to the petition of 1535 for the diminution of the expenses of the shrievalty, see J. Gairdner (ed.), Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII Vol. 8, January–July 1535 (H.M.S.O., London 1885), p. 78, item 208. (British History Online. Retrieved 19 January 2017).
9. W. Brigg (ed.), 'Feet of Fines for Hertfordshire (Tudor Period)' (Trinity, 23 Henry VIII), The Herts Genealogist and Antiquary Vol. I (William Brigg, Harpenden 1895), p. 140.
10. A.B. Beavan, The Aldermen of the City of London Temp. Henry III to 1912 (Corporation of the City of London, 1913), II, p. 29. Some relationships described in this work are unreliable.
11. Walker, A History of the Oundle Schools, p. 37 (citing College of Arms F.12 81b and 82). The shield is illustrated by Page, 'Parishes: Oundle', in A History of the County of Northampton (V.C.H.) Volume 3.
12. W.J. Thoms, A Survey of London written in the year 1598, by John Stow (Chatto & Windus, London 1876), p. 195.
13. W.D. Hamilton (ed.), A Chronicle of England during the Reign of the Tudors, by Charles Wriothesley, 3 vols, Vol. 1, Camden Society New Series Vol. XI (Westminster 1875), p. 171.
14. Wriothesley's Chronicle, I, p. 124.
15. Wriothesley's Chronicle, I, p. 126.
16. Wriothesley's Chronicle, I, pp. 124–26.
17. Beavan, Aldermen of the City of London, II, p. 32.
18. Will of William Pratt, Grocer of London (P.C.C. 1539, proved 12 June), makes a bequest to Laxton's wife.
19. The manor of Roos Hall at Sarrett, Hertfordshire, which became a property of the marriage, was purchased by the Luddingtons in Hilary 1543/44: W. Brigg (ed.), 'Hertfordshire Feet of Fines', in The Herts Genealogist & Antiquary, Vol. I (William Brigg, Harpenden 1895), p. 157. See Common Pleas concerning Nicholas and John 'Loodyngton' and William Laxton re Sarrett, CP 40/1120 (Hilary 1544), AALT images 6093-94 (fronts), and 7531 (dorse).
20. The Visitations disagree as to whether the heiress Alice Whetthill was Joan's mother ('Luddington', in J.J. Howard and G.J. Armytage, The Visitation of London in the Year 1568, taken by Robert Cooke, Harleian Society Vol I (London 1869), p. 46), or, as the wife of John Kyrkeby, her grandmother ('Machell of Hackney', in G.J. Armytage (ed.), Middlesex Pedigrees as collected by Richard Mundy in Harleian Manuscript no. 1551, Harleian Society LXV (1914), p. 7); (both: Internet Archive).
21. Will of Henry Lodington, Grocer of the City of London (P.C.C. 1531). The register copy of the will has the number of children overwritten, seeming to suggest that Luddington was survived by seven, but in later records only three are mentioned.
22. Acts of Court of the Mercers' Company, 1453–1537, pp. 432–36 (1515/6), 543 (1522).
23. J.W. Walker (Ed.), Yorkshire Pedigrees, 3 Vols, Harleian Society Vols 94–96 (1942–44), in Part II G-S (Vol. 95), p. 279.
24. The inference that the manor of Rolleston, Nottinghamshire came to Anne Luddington's descendants as a Kirkby hereditament (C.J. Sisson, 'Thomas Lodge and his family', in Thomas Lodge and Other Elizabethans (Harvard University Press, 1933: reprint by Frank Cass and Co., Ltd., London 1966), pp. 58–60, p. 77, p. 118 ff. (Google)) is not demonstrated: it was vested in the family of Nevill of Holt (Medbourne, Leicestershire) until at least 1570, before being sold to Sir Thomas Lodge, Anne's second husband (see John Throsby (Ed.), Thoroton's History of Nottinghamshire: Volume 3, Republished With Large Additions (Nottingham, 1796), pp. 101–104. (British History Online. Retrieved 31 July 2016)).
25. Lane and his wife are mentioned in a letter of Sir John Cheke to Peter Osborne, dated 30 May 1549, see 'Biographical Memoir of King Edward the Sixth', in J.G. Nichols, The Literary remains of King Edward VI, Vol. I, Roxburghe Club (J.B. Nichols & Sons, London 1857), p. l, note (a). (Lansdowne MS 2, no. 29).
26. Wriothesley's Chronicle, I, pp. 151–52.
27. H. Christmas (Ed.), 'The first Examinacyon of Anne Askewe, latelye martyred in Smythfelde... with the elucydacyon of Johann Bale', in Select Works of John Bale, D.D., Bishop of Ossory: containing the Examinations of Lord Cobham, William Thorpe and Anne Askew, and the Image of Both Churches, Parker Society (Cambridge University Press, 1849) pp. 136–84, at pp. 153–161.
28. Les Mémoires de Mess. Martin du Bellay Seigneur de Langay (A l'Olivier de P. l'Huilier, Paris 1569) pp. 340–41. (in French)
29. Wriothesley's Chronicle, I, pp. 152–61.
30. Wriothesley's Chronicle, I, p. 161.
31. London Metropolitan Archives, St Peter Westcheap, Composite Register (P69/PET4/A/001/MS06502).
32. R.R. Sharpe, London and the Kingdom (Longmans, Green & Co., London 1894) Vol. 1, Ch. XIV, p. 419.
33. Beavan, Aldermen of the City of London.
34. Will of William Lane, Grocer of London (P.C.C. 1552).
35. Sisson, 'Thomas Lodge and his Family', pp. 11–14.
36. Will of Sir William Laxton, Alderman of London (P.C.C. 1556): printed in Walker, A History of the Oundle Schools, pp. 54–58. Inquisition post mortem of Sir William Laxton (Kent), (Chancery, T.N.A. C 142/112/93) (1558): printed in Walker, A History of the Oundle Schools, Appendix VI, pp. 690–95.
37. Sisson, Thomas Lodge and Other Elizabethans, pp. 54–58, citing T.N.A C 24/101/26 and C 24/103 (Chancery, Grocers v. Wanton, 1572).
38. J.G. Nichols (ed.), The Diary of Henry Machyn, Citizen and Merchant-Taylor of London, Camden Society (London 1848), Original Series Vol. XLII, pp. 111–12.
39. Diary of Henry Machyn, p. 113.
40. A Survey of London by John Stow, p. 95 and note.
41. Walker, A History of the Oundle Schools, p. 50.
42. Walker, A History of the Oundle Schools, Chapters II & III.
43. Sisson, Thomas Lodge and other Elizabethans, pp. 54–58. A schedule of Lady Laxton's and Thomas Lodge's dealings with the Grocers' Company over the foundation is given in 'The Attorney-General v. The Grocers' Company (1843)', C. Beavan, Reports of Cases in Chancery, Argued and Determined in the Rolls Court during the time of Lord Langdale, Master of the Rolls, VI: 1842, 1843 – 6 & 7 Victoria (William Benning and Co., London 1845), pp. 526–536.
44. 'Parishes: Oundle', in A History of the County of Northampton (V.C.H.) Volume 3.
45. See 'Machell of Hackney' and 'Rowe of Shacklewell', in J.G. Armytage (Ed.), Middlesex Pedigrees, as collected by Richard Mundy in Harleian MS. no. 1551, Harleian Society Vol. LXV, p. 8 (Internet Archive); T. Astle (ed.), 'The Will of Sir Thomas Rowe, Knight', in The Antiquarian Repertory: A Miscellany (F. Blyth, London 1780), III, pp. 225–31 (Internet Archive); 'Funeral certificates: Sir Thomas Rowe' in G.L. Gower, Genealogical Memoranda relating to the Family of Gresham (n.p. (Mitchell & Hughes), London 1874), p. 9 (Internet Archive).
46. See 'Letter to Gregory Pecock' (1571) and 'Letter about Easterlings abuses' (1578) in J.E.T. Rogers, The York Mercers and Merchant Adventurers, Surtees Society CXXIX for 1917 (London and Durham, 1918), pp. 186–87, & 196–97.
47. A.J. Butler (ed.), Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume XIII: 1578–1579 (London, 1903), items 299, 300, 308, 318, 327, 328, 349 (Hathi Trust). S. J. Knox, Walter Travers: Paragon of Elizabethan Puritanism (London: Methuen, 1962), pp. 46–47. A.F. Scott Pearson, Thomas Cartwright and Elizabethan Puritanism 1535–1603 (Cambridge University Press, 1925), pp. 180–82.
48. Will of Nicholas Loddington, Grocer of London (P.C.C. 1595).
49. Will of Dame Anne Lodge, wife (P.C.C. 1580).
50. Will of John Machell, Alderman of St Peter Westcheap, City of London (P.C.C. 1558): Inquisition (Philip and Mary), T.N.A. C 142/115/5 (Chancery 1558): Sentence (P.C.C. 1568).
51. 'Machell of Hackney', in J.G. Armytage (Ed.), Middlesex Pedigrees, as collected by Richard Mundy, p. 7.
52. John Machell the Alderman should not be confused with John Machell, Haberdasher of Fleet Street, who died in 1559: Will, London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library Manuscripts, MS 9172/36, no. 33 (dated 6 February 1558 Old Style (i.e. 1559)). Inquisition (Elizabeth), T.N.A. C 142/118/79 (Chancery 1559). The two are entirely distinct.
53. J. Lock, 'Chamberlain, Sir Thomas (c.1504–1580), diplomat and financial agent', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
54. P.C.C. Acts of Probate, 1565.
55. Will of Dame Joan Laxton, Widow of St Mary Aldermary, City of London (P.C.C. 1576).

External links

• Lee, Sidney, ed. (1892). "Laxton, William (d.1556)" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 32. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
• Oundle School Laxton House
• The History of St Peter's Parish church 8 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine
• British History Online – Oundle Parish