The Middleton Accounts of 1526: #62
The next four entries in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 were dated 13th October. The first was described as payment for linings, kersey and fustian and costs for Master Draycott, Mistress Alice and the Children of the Chapel. The amount was 14 shillings, which was the equivalent of about £308.89 today. The second was described as a reward to Mr Worth’s son for his going to London and the amount was 2 shillings 4 pence, which was the equivalent of about £51.48 today. The third was described as a reward to German for his wedding and the amount was 12 pence, which was the equivalent of about £22.06 today. Finally, the fourth was described as a payment for 3 ells of cloth for Mistress Alice and Mistress Jane for rails and the amount was 3 shillings 10 pence, which was the equivalent of about £84.58 today.
The Mistress Alice and Mistress Jane referred to in these entries were Sir Henry’s daughters, the latter his widowed daughter Jane Harbottle. Alice was already married to Richard Draycott, who was the Master Draycott referred to in this entry.
Kersey was a coarse but lightweight, durable twill-weave fabric, whilst fustian was a heavy, durable woven fabric made from linen and cotton. An ell was an old measurement, often used for fabric. 3 English ells of fabric would equate to about 3.75 yards or about 3.43 metres.
Rails referred to a type of garment worn around the neck and shoulders by women. A rail was a loose piece of fabric, normally made from either white linen or cotton cambric. It would drape over the shoulders, covering the exposed neck revealed by a woman’s gown or smock, in a similar way to a neckerchief or shawl today. This was not the elaborate ruff or hood often worn by the wealthy, but rather an ordinary practical staple garment used for modesty and warmth. There were also head-rails, which were the same but longer and covered the hair, cascading down the back of the neck and shoulders.
There are multiple entries in the accounts for the name of German, alternatively spelled as Germon, Germun or Germund. At this time, this name does not mean someone from Germany. It is actually a very ancient English surname and forename.
An entry in the Middleton household accounts on 25th June 1522 was described as a payment to Sir John Shortred for the maintenance of John German’s children and the amount was 20 shillings (about £520.02 today). On the following 28th August, there was an entry described as a payment to a nun of Nuneaton for the boarding of John German’s children and the amount was 10 shillings (about £260.01 today). In that entry, John was described as having been of Cossington in Leicestershire. In November 1522, there was an entry which was described as John Howard’s costs to Lenton to send German to Sir Henry’s son, Sir Edward, in London. John Howard is known to have been a servant of Sir Henry. Finally, on 20th December 1523, an entry described that a further 10 shillings was paid to the prioress of Nuneaton for the board of John German’s children.
The manor of Cossington was acquired by the Willoughby family as a result of the marriage of Edmund Willoughby to Alice de Somerville in the late 14th century. It remained one of their possessions until it was sold in 1591 by Sir Francis I Willoughby. The German family are known to have been notable tenants on that manor for centuries.
Given the maintenance payments in the Middleton Accounts, an assumption can be made that John German had either died or become destitute in 1522 and his children had effectively become wards of Sir Henry, as he was the feudal lord of the manor. The entry in the November indicates that someone by the name of German was in the direct household service of Sir Henry. Hence, the wedding of German can be determined to relate to either Sir Henry’s servant, one of his wards, or a tenant.
There are also multiple references to Mr Worth’s children, one of whom was identified in June 1524 as Sir Henry’s godson. More widely, on 14th February 1520/1 a reward of 4 pence (about £8.67 today) was paid for Mr Worth’s children to attend Sutton Coldfield School. There was a similar reward in August 1522, when they attended the same school at the same time as Sir Henry’s son Hugh. An entry on 26th June 1522 was described as a reward for the christening of Worth’s son and the amount was 10 shillings. Nothing further is known about Worth, his children or specifically Sir Henry’s godson.
Further Reading: W. H. Stevenson, Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1911. pp. 335, 343, 346, 349, 363, 367, 385, 386.
Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.
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