Thomas Lodge (Lord Mayor of London)
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Lodge was lord mayor of London
.
, born at Cound
in Shropshire. He became a member of the Grocers' Company, serving the office of warden in 1548, and of master in 1559. He was sworn in alderman of Cheap ward in London on 24 October 1553, and was chosen sheriff in 1556.
thanks, in a letter dated from Richmond 9 August 1558, for his willingness to become surety for redeeming Sir Henry Palmer, prisoner in France. In 1561 he was governor of the Russia Company, and on 8 May in that capacity signed a 'remembrance' to Anthony Jenkinson
on his departure to Russia and Persia (ib. East India Ser. 1513-16, p. 6). He also traded to Barbary, and on 14 Aug. 1561 he offered, jointly with Sir William Chester and Sir William Garrard, to defray the charges of a Portuguese mariner for a voyage of discovery to that coast, and to present him with one hundred crowns (Machyn, p. 183). About 1562 Lodge, with other citizens, executed an indenture of charter-party with the queen for two ships, the Mynyon and the Prymrose, to 'sail and traffic in the ports of Africa and Ethiopia'(Cal. State Papers, Dom. Ser. 1547-1580, p. 215). To this voyage has been assigned the unenvied distinction of inaugurating the infamous traffic in slaves, countenanced by Elizabeth. In October 1562 Lodge, Sir Lionel Duckett, and others also furnished money to enable Sir John Hawkins to fit out three ships to trade in the capture of slaves in Guinea (Hakluyt, Principal Navigations, 1599, iii. 500). They made a good profit, and in the following year engaged in a similar venture.
Agarde, in his paper on sterling money in Hearne's 'Curious Discourses' (ii. 317), states that the Easterlings were brought over to England by Lodge from silver and copper mines in Germany in the beginning of Elizabeth's reign to reduce and refine 'the diversity of coins into a perfect standard.' Lodge further told Agarde that the men who 'fell sick to death with the savour' of the base coins in melting, found relief by drinking from human skulls, which he procured from London Bridge, under a warrant from the council (cf. Cal. State Papers, Dom. Ser. 1547-1580, p. 164; Thomson, Chronicles of London Bridge, pp. 587-8).
on 29 October 1562, and was knighted soon afterwards (Metcalfe, Knights, p. 118). His mayoralty was darkened by a visitation of the plague, and by a personal conflict with one Edward Skeggs, 'an unworthy citizen who got to be purveyor for the queen' (Stow). Skegg seized twelve out of twenty-two capons provided for the lord mayor's table. Lodge made him restore six, and threatened him with the biggest pair of bolts in Newgate. Skeggs as a royal servant complained to the Earl of Arundel, Lord Steward, and Sir Edward Rogers, comptroller of the household, and they wrote to Lodge threatening him with punishment. Lodge appealed to Lord Robert Dudley and Secretary Cecil and acquainted them with his version of the case. But he did not succeed in averting the displeasure of the court. He was fined and was compelled four years later (3 Dec. 1566 City Records, Rep. 16, fol. 138b) to resign his aldermanic gown (cf. 'Relations of Worthy Mayors' in Strype's Stow, 1720, bk. i. p. 289).
His will, dated 14 Dec. 1583, was proved: in the P.C.C. on 7 June 1585, and administered by Gamaliel Woodford as executor (Brudenell, 29). He described himself as of West Ham in Essex, and left 5l. to the poor there. He provided for a funeral sermon to bo preached in St. Peter's, Cornhill, and for six other sermons to be preached in that church and the church of St. Mary Aldermary. No mention is made of his son Thomas, but he leaves a bequest to his godson, Thomas Lodge, the son of his son William. Besides his property at West Ham, Essex, he possessed the manor of Malmeynes at Barking, Essex, in right of his first wife (Lysons, Environs, iv. 77).
, lord mayor in 1544. By this marriage he had issue five sons—William, Thomas the dramatist, Nicholas, Henry, and Benedict—and one daughter, Johanna, the wife of Gamaliel Woodford, merchant, of the Staple. Anne, lady Lodge, to whom Edward White dedicated in 1579 his 'Myrror of Modestie,' died in 1579; 'An Epitaph of the Lady Anne Lodge' is described in the Stationers' Company's 'Register' as by T. Lodge, but no copy is known. He married, secondly, Margaret Parker of Wrottisley, Staffordshire, by whom he had two daughters—one, Sarah, married to Edward White, and the other married to Thomas Leicester of Worleston in Cheshire.
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
.
Life
Lodge was the son of William Litleton, alias Lodge, of Cresset in ShropshireShropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, born at Cound
Cound
Cound is a village and civil parish on the west bank of the River Severn in the English county of Shropshire, 6.7 miles south east of the county town Shrewsbury...
in Shropshire. He became a member of the Grocers' Company, serving the office of warden in 1548, and of master in 1559. He was sworn in alderman of Cheap ward in London on 24 October 1553, and was chosen sheriff in 1556.
In business
Lodge engaged in foreign trade in Antwerp, and was an enterprising supporter of schemes for opening new markets in distant countries. On 25 November 1553 a sum of 15,426l. 19s. 1d. sterling was paid to him and other merchants in consideration of money advanced to the queen by them at Antwerp (State Papers, For. Ser. 1553-8, p. 30). He received Queen Mary'sMary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
thanks, in a letter dated from Richmond 9 August 1558, for his willingness to become surety for redeeming Sir Henry Palmer, prisoner in France. In 1561 he was governor of the Russia Company, and on 8 May in that capacity signed a 'remembrance' to Anthony Jenkinson
Anthony Jenkinson
Anthony Jenkinson was born at Market Harborough, Leicestershire. He was one of the first Britons to explore Muscovy and present day Russia. Jenkinson was a traveller and explorer on behalf of the Muscovy Company and the English crown. He also met Ivan the Terrible several times during his trips...
on his departure to Russia and Persia (ib. East India Ser. 1513-16, p. 6). He also traded to Barbary, and on 14 Aug. 1561 he offered, jointly with Sir William Chester and Sir William Garrard, to defray the charges of a Portuguese mariner for a voyage of discovery to that coast, and to present him with one hundred crowns (Machyn, p. 183). About 1562 Lodge, with other citizens, executed an indenture of charter-party with the queen for two ships, the Mynyon and the Prymrose, to 'sail and traffic in the ports of Africa and Ethiopia'(Cal. State Papers, Dom. Ser. 1547-1580, p. 215). To this voyage has been assigned the unenvied distinction of inaugurating the infamous traffic in slaves, countenanced by Elizabeth. In October 1562 Lodge, Sir Lionel Duckett, and others also furnished money to enable Sir John Hawkins to fit out three ships to trade in the capture of slaves in Guinea (Hakluyt, Principal Navigations, 1599, iii. 500). They made a good profit, and in the following year engaged in a similar venture.
Agarde, in his paper on sterling money in Hearne's 'Curious Discourses' (ii. 317), states that the Easterlings were brought over to England by Lodge from silver and copper mines in Germany in the beginning of Elizabeth's reign to reduce and refine 'the diversity of coins into a perfect standard.' Lodge further told Agarde that the men who 'fell sick to death with the savour' of the base coins in melting, found relief by drinking from human skulls, which he procured from London Bridge, under a warrant from the council (cf. Cal. State Papers, Dom. Ser. 1547-1580, p. 164; Thomson, Chronicles of London Bridge, pp. 587-8).
Lord Mayor
After serving as a Sheriff of London for 1560, Lodge entered office as Lord Mayor of LondonLord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
on 29 October 1562, and was knighted soon afterwards (Metcalfe, Knights, p. 118). His mayoralty was darkened by a visitation of the plague, and by a personal conflict with one Edward Skeggs, 'an unworthy citizen who got to be purveyor for the queen' (Stow). Skegg seized twelve out of twenty-two capons provided for the lord mayor's table. Lodge made him restore six, and threatened him with the biggest pair of bolts in Newgate. Skeggs as a royal servant complained to the Earl of Arundel, Lord Steward, and Sir Edward Rogers, comptroller of the household, and they wrote to Lodge threatening him with punishment. Lodge appealed to Lord Robert Dudley and Secretary Cecil and acquainted them with his version of the case. But he did not succeed in averting the displeasure of the court. He was fined and was compelled four years later (3 Dec. 1566 City Records, Rep. 16, fol. 138b) to resign his aldermanic gown (cf. 'Relations of Worthy Mayors' in Strype's Stow, 1720, bk. i. p. 289).
Death and legacy
Lodge died in February 1583-4, and was buried near his wife and father-in-law in St. Mary Aldermary Church.His will, dated 14 Dec. 1583, was proved: in the P.C.C. on 7 June 1585, and administered by Gamaliel Woodford as executor (Brudenell, 29). He described himself as of West Ham in Essex, and left 5l. to the poor there. He provided for a funeral sermon to bo preached in St. Peter's, Cornhill, and for six other sermons to be preached in that church and the church of St. Mary Aldermary. No mention is made of his son Thomas, but he leaves a bequest to his godson, Thomas Lodge, the son of his son William. Besides his property at West Ham, Essex, he possessed the manor of Malmeynes at Barking, Essex, in right of his first wife (Lysons, Environs, iv. 77).
Family
Lodge married, first, Anne, daughter of Sir William LaxtonWilliam Laxton
Sir William Laxton was master of the Worshipful Company of Grocers and a Lord Mayor of London during the reign of Henry VIII. He is the founder of Oundle School....
, lord mayor in 1544. By this marriage he had issue five sons—William, Thomas the dramatist, Nicholas, Henry, and Benedict—and one daughter, Johanna, the wife of Gamaliel Woodford, merchant, of the Staple. Anne, lady Lodge, to whom Edward White dedicated in 1579 his 'Myrror of Modestie,' died in 1579; 'An Epitaph of the Lady Anne Lodge' is described in the Stationers' Company's 'Register' as by T. Lodge, but no copy is known. He married, secondly, Margaret Parker of Wrottisley, Staffordshire, by whom he had two daughters—one, Sarah, married to Edward White, and the other married to Thomas Leicester of Worleston in Cheshire.