Vestment Tailors of Warwickshire

Date: 1421 [unknown]
Location: Warwickshire, England
Surname/tag: Bowdle

Contents 1 Guild of the Holy Cross 2 Vestment Makers 3 Summary 4 References

Guild of the Holy Cross

The Guild of the Holy Cross in Stratford-Upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare, was established in 1269 when Robert de Stratford, later Archbishop of Canterbury, granted its charter. In 1427 Pope Martin V granted the Guild the right to have mass and other divine services celebrated in the Chapel by their own and other 'fit priests', 'saving the right of the parish church' and its Collegiate priests. The Guild was dissolved under the terms of Edward VI's Chantries Act of 1547/8.

Vestment Makers

Vestment Makers are highly skilled tailors who make religious clothing for the church. They work with the finest materials to create clothing (vestments) worn by the priest during ceremonies. The vestments belong to the church and are one of the most expensive and reoccurring costs to the church for mending and replacement.

Summary

The entries below are from The Register of the Gild of the Holy Cross, The Blessed Mary, St. John the Baptist of Stratford-Upon-Avon; Ed. Harvey Bloom, Phillimore & Co.: London, 1907; and from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Archives in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

• 1421, William Botulfe & Alice, his w., made fine for 1 vestment, and for the procuring of another vestment, and for the frontal of one altar, completely made and free to the use of the gild, and thus is quit^[1].

From the structure and wording, this entry is William and his wife Alice being received into the fraternity of the guild. The guild includes both husband and wife. Likely, William is not from the area, as he did not inherit membership.

• 1435-36, John Boltulfe, of Warrewyk, vestment-maker … 10s. & 10d. Surety, John Webbe [Fol. 41]^[2].

In the 1400s, they spoke a mixture of French and Old English and wrote in Latin. “Botulfe” the "fe" is likely a flourishment. It will be shown in the next several entries that this is John Botull (Bothill, Botill, Boton), the vestment-maker. William is very likely John’s father; guild membership could be inherited from father to son.

• 1436-37, in the account of John Webbe, Master of the Guild of the Holy Cross, John is mentioned twice. First, he is listed under Arrears; John Buthill, of Warwick, "vestment maker." Numerous fines for souls. Several entries below, John is listed under Costs; Cost of the vestments. (Paid John Botill, "vestment maker," of Warwick, for mending the vestments of the altar of the Blessed Mary; and for mending books (librorum) of the said altar; mending a cope belonging to the said altar, c.).^[3].

• 1436-37, Johane, w. of John Boton’, vestment-maker … 6s. 8d … paid on admission. Surety, John Webbe^[4].

• 1437-38, John Boton, "vestment maker";^[5].

• 1448, Counterpart of lease, indented, from John Webbe, master of the Gild of the Holy Cross, etc., of Stratford upon Auen, and William Parchementmaker and John Marchall, proctors, with the assent of the aldermen and the whole council of the Gild, to John Botull', Joan his wife and one of the sons of the said John, of a tenement in Stratfordin Henleystrete between a tenement of the said Gild then in the tenure of John Garet and a tenement of William Bulnacre, for 80 years at an annual rent of 6 shillings Witnesses: Thomas Balsale, `capitalis ballivus', John Harrop' and Edward Ayleston, `subballivi', John Mayell, Thomas Leeke and others Dated at Stratford in the hall of the Gild, in the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 26 Henry VI. Three seals lost.^[6].

• 1460-61, 4s paid to John Boton for mending a pair of vestments of the Altar of the Blessed Mary; 2s 8d for mending another pair of vestments of the same Altar;^[7].

• 1468-69, "sarsenet and silk" to mend the black vestments of the Chapel, 4s 9d; paid John Boton for mending same, 16d.^[8].

• 1479-80, "William Botell, "Taylor," and Margaret his wife;"^[9].

• 1480-81, William Botull, of Stratford, taylor, & Margaret, his w. 10s.^[10].

• 1485; Margaret Botull',^[11].

• 1495; William Botull, a tenement late of Thomas Grene,^[12].

• 1499-1500; Margaret Botull,^[13].

• 1515-16, For the sole of Grace Botull … 20d.^[14].

Jhon Bowdell (abt. 1515 - 1559), tailor, died in Newbold Pacey in 1559.

Alice Bowdell Aston(abt. 1519 - 1590), wife of Jhon, married second Roger Aston, tailor, in 1559 in Bishops Tachbrook, died Bishops Tachbrook in 1590.

Richard Bowdle (abt. 1545 - 1601), tailor, died in Radford Semele in 1601.

Isabell (Bowdle) Wherret (abt. 1573), Richard’s daughter, was born in Bishops Tachbrook in 1573, and married Mathew Wherret in 1607 in Radford Semele.

References

1. ↑ The Register of the Gild of the Holy Cross, The Blessed Mary and St. John the Baptist of Stratford-Upon-Avon; Ed. Harvey Bloom, Phillimore & Co.: London, 1907, page 33.
2. ↑ The Register of the Gild of the Holy Cross, page 72.
3. ↑ Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Archives in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Ref: BRT1/3/45, Guild of the Holy Cross: Masters' and proctors' accounts; Account of John Webbe, Master of the Guild of the Holy Cross, 1436-37.
4. ↑ The Register of the Gild of the Holy Cross, page 74.
5. ↑ Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Archives in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Ref: BRT1/3/119, Guild of the Holy Cross: Masters' and proctors' accounts; Account of John Webbe, Master of the Guild of the Holy Cross, 1437-38.
6. ↑ Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Archives in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Ref: BRT1/2/494a, Guild of the Holy Cross: Grants and leases, 25 Mar 1448.
7. ↑ Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Archives in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Ref: BRT1/3/69, Guild of the Holy Cross: Masters' and proctors' accounts; Account of John Gylbert and Robert Halle "Iremonger," Proctors of the Guild of the Holy Cross, 1460-61.
8. ↑ Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Archives in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Ref: BRT1/3/69, Guild of the Holy Cross: Masters' and proctors' accounts; Account of Roger Paget, Master of the Guild of the Holy Cross, 1468-69.
9. ↑ Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Archives in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Ref: BRT1/3/92, Account of John Gylberte, Master of the Guild of the Holy Cross.
10. ↑ The Register of the Gild of the Holy Cross, page 171.
11. ↑ Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Archives in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Ref: BRT1/3/143, Stratford-upon-Avon: Guild of the Holy Cross: Rental, 1485.
12. ↑ Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Archives in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Ref: BRT1/3/146, Stratford-upon-Avon: Guild of the Holy Cross: Rental, 13 Jul 1495.
13. ↑ Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Archives in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Ref: BRT1/3/147, Stratford-upon-Avon: Guild of the Holy Cross: Rental, 8 Jul 1499 to 13 Jul 1500.
14. ↑ The Register of the Gild of the Holy Cross, page 216.