Biography of Thomas Offley 1500-1582
In 1500 or 1505 Thomas Offley (age 5) was born.
Around 1550 [his son] Henry Offley was born to Thomas Offley (age 50).
In 1556 Thomas Offley (age 56) was elected Lord Mayor of London.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 28 Oct 1556. The xxviij day of October the new mare (age 56) toke ys oythe, and so whent by water to Westmynster [with] trumpettes and the whettes ryalle, and a galant [pinnace] deckyd with stremars and gonnes and dromes; [the new] mayre master Hoffeley (age 56), marchandtayller, and marchand of the stapull of Calles, and the ij heynchmen in cremesun velvett in-brodered with gold an ell brod; and iiijxx [poor] bachelers, and they dyd gyff iiijxx blue gownes, cape, dobelet, and hose to the iiijxx poure men; and there was a godly pageant; and the trumpets had skarlett capes, and the whetes.
Note. P. 117. Master Offley sworn lord mayor. Sir Thomas Offley, son of William Offley, of Chester, had been sheriff in 1553. He was knighted during his mayoralty on the 7th Feb.; see p. 125. "He dwelled in Lyme strete, towards the north end of it, not farr from St. Andrew's Undershaft, where he is buried." Arms, Argent, on a cross flory-delis azure, between four choughs proper, a lion passant guardant or. (List by Wm. Smith, Rouge-dragon.) "The useful custom of the night-bellmen (preventing many fiers and more felonies) began in his mayoralty. He was the Zacheus of London, not for his low stature, but his high charity, bequeathing the half of his estate (computed, by a reverend divine, to amount to five thousand pounds) unto the poor. He died 1580, and was buried in St. Andrew Undershaft." Fuller's Worthies; and, after noticing two other citizens of the name, Hugh and Robert, he adds, "I believe it was the first of these three Offleys on whom the rhythme was made,
Offley three dishes had of daily rost,
An egge, an apple, and (the third) a toast.
This I behold neither sin nor shame in him, feeding himself on plain and wholesome repast, that he might feed others by his bounty, and thereby deserving rather praise than a jear from posterity."
Henry Machyn's Diary. 07 Feb 1557. [The vijth day of February master Offley (age 57), the lord mayor, and divers aldermen, taking their barge, went to Greenwich, Kent [Map] to the Queen's (age 40)] grace, and ther she mad ym [knight, he] behyng mayre, and master William Chester (age 48), altherman, mayd hym knyght the sam tyme and day.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 23 Mar 1557. The xxiij day of Marche was a commondement cam that the Kyng (age 29) and the Quen (age 41) wold ryd from the Towre-warff [Map] thrugh London with the nobuls of the rayme, boyth lordes and lades; and at the Towre-warff my lord mayre (age 57) mett ther gracys boyth, and thrugh London my masters the althermen and the shreyffes and alle the crafftes of London in ther leveres, and ther standynges set up of evere craft of tymbur, and the strett and the trumpettes blohyng with odur enstrementtes with grett joye and plesur, and grett shutyng of gones at the Towre, and the waytes plahyng on sant Peter's [Map] ledes [leads ie roofs] in Chepe; and my lord mayre (age 57) bare the septer a-for the Kyng and the Quen.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 31 Mar 1557. The xxxj day of Marche the duke of Muskovea rod to dener unto my lord mayre (age 57), and v knyghtes althermen and v other althermen, and mony notabull marchandes men, all they fre of Muskovea. The duke rod in a gowne of tyssuw ryche, and ys under garmentt in purpull velvett in brodere, the gard and ys hatt and the border of ys nyght-cape sett with owtchys of perlles and stones, and ys horse trapyd in cremesun velvett in-brodere of gold, and the brydylle gorgyusly be-senne; and a vii of ys men in gownes of cremesun damaske and cloth of gold; and after dener to ys logyng to master Demmoke('s) plasse, with the althermen and marchandes.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 19 Apr 1557. The xix day of Aprell dyd pryche at sant Mare spyttell docthur Pendyltun (age 33), and mad a goodly sermon; ther was my lord mare (age 57) and xxiij althermen besyd my lord mayre (age 57), and iij juges, and alle the masters of the hospetall with grenstayffes in ther handes, and alle the chylderyn of the hospetall in bluw garmenttes boyth men chylderyn and women chylderyn, that be kept with serten landes and the cherete of the nobull cette of London, and aboyff xx M. pepull of old and yonge, to her the sermon of old custom, and my lade mares and the (unfinished).
Henry Machyn's Diary. 20 Apr 1557. The xx day of Aprell dyd pryche docthur Yonge at santt Mare spyttylle; and ther was my lord mare (age 57) and xxv althermen, none lackyng butt master Wodderoff, the wyche makyth the full nom bur of xxvj; and my lord Broke the cheff justes, and my lord justes Browne (age 48), and my ser John Baker, and ser Roger Chamley, and mony nobull gentyllmen, with the holl cete [whole city] boythe old and yonge, boythe men and women.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 07 Jun 1557. [The same day was the Fishmongers' procession. The mass kept at saint Peter's, in Cornhill; three] crosses borne and a C. prestes in [copes; and clerks] syngyng Salve festa dies; and then cam the [parish with] whyt rodes, and then the craft of Fysmongers; [and after] my lord mayre (age 57) and the althermen, and alle the offesers with whyt rodes in ther handes; and so to Polles, and ther offered at the he auter, and after to dener to the Fysmongers hall to dener.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 07 Jun 1557. The vij day of Juin was a proclamassyon in London by the quen('s) (age 41) grace, of the latt duke of Northumberland was supported and furdered by Henry the Frenche kyng (age 38) and ys menysters, and by the heddes of Dudley, Asheton, and by the consperacy of Wyatt and ys trayturs band; and the sayd kynges mynysters dyd secretly practysse and gyff, and they favorabulle; with trumpeters blohyng, and a x harroldes of armes, and with my lord mayre (age 57) and the althermen; and by the lat Stafford (deceased) and with odur rebelles whom he had interteynyd in ys rayme, and dyver odur mo, the wyche be ther yett on-taken.
Note. P. 138. Proclamation of war with France. A transcript (from the printed copy) of this Proclamation may be found in Starkey's collections, MS. Harl. 353, f. 184. See also Holinshed, 1st edit. p. 1767; Stowe's Chronicle, 1631, p. 631.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 20 Jun 1557. The xx day of Junj dyd pryche my lord abbott of Westmynster (age 42) at Powlles Crosse [Map], and mad a godly sermon of Dyves and Lazarus, and the crossear holdyng the stayffe at ys prechyng; and ther wher grett audyense, boyth the mayre (age 57) and juges and althermen, and mony worshepfulle.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 30 Jun 1557. The sam day was the Marchandes-tayllers' fest, [where] was master of the compene master George Eytune; and thay [had] lx bokes [bucks] at the fest, and he gayffe to ys one parryche [two] bokes to make mere; and ther dynyd at the fest [the lord] mayre (age 57) and the shreyffes, and dyver worshephulle men, and my lord mayre (age 57) dyd chusse master Malere altherman shreyff for the kyng for thys yere folohyng.
Note. P. 141. Master Malory chosen sheriff. Richard Mallory, mercer, son of Anthony Mallory, of Papworth, Cambridgeshire; sheriff 1557, lord mayor 1564-5. "He was a mercer, dwelled in Cheapsyde at Soper lane end, at the signe of the Golden Kay, and was buried in the Mercers' chapell." Arms, Or, a lion rampant and bordure gules. (List by Wm. Smith, Rouge-dragon.)
Henry Machyn's Diary. 15 Aug 1557. The xv day of August cam a commondement to [all the churches] of London to go to Powlles, all prestes in copes a prosses[sion. Before] they whentt, they of Powlles songe Te Deum laudamus; [and after that] down they whent a prossessyon into Chepe, round [about] the crosse syngyng Salve festa dies, and my lord mayre (age 57) [and aldermen in] skarlett round a-bowtt Powlles with-owtt; and after [to Paul's] crosse to sermon; and ther prychyd the archedeken of London, [doctor] Harpfeld, and mad a godly sermon; the wyche day was the [day of the] Assumsyon of owre blessyd Lade the Vyrgyn, and in ys sermon[he] declared how many wher taken, and what nobull men they were.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 29 Aug 1557. The xxix day of August was the Marchand-tayllers' fest on the decolassyon of sant John babtyst, and my lorde mayre (age 57) and ser Thomas Whytt (age 65) and master Harper shreyff, and master Row, and all the cloythyng, and the iiii wardens of the yomenre, and the compene, hard messe at sant Johns in Smyth-feld; and offered evere man a pene; and from thens to the halle to dener, ij and ij together. The sam day a grett shoutyng; and the cheyff warden master Horne marchand-tayller.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 12 Sep 1557. The xij day of September was a commondement that matens and masse to be done by ix of the cloke, [and every] parsun or curett to go to Powlles with surples and copes [and to] go a' pressessyon ther thrugh and a-bowt [Paul's] and Te Deum laudamus song; and my lord mayre (age 57) and the althermen in skarlett; and after they whent into the shroudes [and] docthur Standyche dyd pryche ther; and at after [even-]song Te Deum laudamus and ryngyng thrugh [London] for the good nuwes that cam from owre capteynes beyond the see, the wynnyng of (unfinished).
Henry Machyn's Diary. 03 Feb 1561. The iij day of Feybruary was master John Whytt altherman('s) sune Thomas was cristened in Lytyll sant Bathelmuw parryche; and ser Thomas Offiley (age 61) knyght latt mare of London and master Altham altherman late shreyffe of London godfathers, and mastores Champyon (age 57) (the) altherman('s) (age 66) wyff godmother; and after to ys plase, and mad good chere.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 05 Nov 1561. The v day of November was bered in sant Stephen's in Walbroke ser Rowland Hylle, latt mare and altherman and mercer and knyght, with a standard and v pennons of armes, and a cott armur and a helmet, a crest, sword, and mantyll, and xj dosen of skochyons of armes; and he gayff a c. gownes and cottes to men and women; and ther wher ij haroldes of armes, master Clarenshux (age 51) and master Somersett, and my lord mayre (age 65) morner, the cheyff morner; ser Recherd Lee, master Corbett, with dyvers odur morners, ser Wylliam Cordell, ser Thomas Offeley (age 61), ser Martens Bowes (age 64) and master Chamburlan althermen, and the ij shreyffes, and master Chambur .. and master Blakewell, with mony mo morners, and a 1. pore men in good blake gownes, besyd women; and the dene of Powlles (age 44) mad the sermon; and after all done my lord mayre (age 65) and mony and althermen whent to the Mercers' hall and the craft to dener, and the resedu to ys plase to dener, and grett mon mad [moan made] for ys deth, and he gayff myche to the pore.
Note. P. 271. Death and funeral of the good sir Rowland Hill. This reverend senator has the highest character given him in his epitaph, which was placed "on a faire stone in the south aile of St. Stephen's Walbrook:"
A friend to vertue, a lover of learning,
A foe to vice, and vehement corrector,
A prudent person, all truth supporting;
A citizen sage, and worthy counsellor;
A lover of wisdome, of justice a furtherer,
Loe, here his corps lyeth, sir Rowland Hill by name,
Of London late lord maier, and alderman of fame.
He was the son of Thomas Hill, of Hodnet in Shropshire; was sheriff 1541–2; lord mayor 1549–50. He founded a grammar school at Drayton in Shropshire, and performed other admirable acts of beneficence recorded by Stowe in his Survay, in his chapter "Honour of Citizens." "He dwelled in Walbrook, over against the said church of St. Stephen; and was buried at St. Stephen's in Walbrook 1561." Arms, Azure, two bars argent, on a canton sable a chevron between three pheons of the second, an eagle's head erased of the third, between two mullets gules. (List by Wm. Smith, Rouge-dragon.)
Henry Machyn's Diary. 01 Jul 1562. The furst day of July was the Marchand-tayllers' fest, and dynyd my lord mare (age 66), the yerle of Sussex (age 37), the yerle of Kyldare (age 37), ser (blank) Stanley, and ser Thomas Whytt, ser Thomas Offeley (age 62) and master Ro .., ser Wyllyam Huett, ser Marten Bowes (age 65), master Cowper, master Allen, master Gyl[bert,] master Chamburlayn altherman, master Champyon, master Avenon, master Malere, and master Baskerfeld, and the master and the iiij wardens and the clarkes and the bedyll of the Skynnars, and mony worshephull men, and mony lades and gentyllwomen, and they had agaynst the dynner iijxx and (blank) bukes [bucks] and iiij stages; and master Wylliam Allen (age 47) electyd shreyff for the quen, and master Whettelle the master, and master Raff Whytt hed warden and master Mar .. and master serjant Halle and master Browne wardens; and master Garter (age 52) and master Clarenshux (age 52) dynyd there.
Note. P. 287. The Skinners attend the Merchant-taylors' feast. In the 1st Rich. III. a dispute for precedency between the Skinners and Merchant-taylors was determined by agreement that either should take precedence in alternate years, and that the master and wardens of each should dine with the other company on their respective feasts of Corpus Christi and the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. See the ordinance effecting this arrangement in Herbert's Twelve City Companies, vol. ii. p. 319; and see remarks by the present writer in Archæologia, vol. xxx. p. 500.
Henry Machyn's Diary. Mar 1563. [The .. day of March was buried master David Woodroffe, alderman and haberd]asher [of London,] .... and I blake gownes and cottes and .... whent a-for hym and after a xx clarkes [with their surplices] a-pon ther armes, and next iiij althermen in [violet]; then cam a morner, beyryng hys pennon of ys [arms], a harold beyryng ys cotte armur, and next master Clarenshux (age 53) [in his] cott armur kyng of armes, and next cam the corse covered with a pall of blake velvett and with armes hangyng of ytt, and vj [mourners] beyreng the corse, and next ij pennons borne on evere syd; [the chief] mornar master Voderoff ys eldest (son), and next master Stonhowse ys sune [in law, and a]nodur sune and a-nodur sune-elaw, and mony odur mornars, [to the] chyrche, and then mony women mornars; the iiij althermen [sir William] Garrett, ser Thomas Offeley (age 63), ser Wylliam Chastur and master Cristoffer D[raper]; and (the) chyrche hangyd with blake and armes rond a-bowtt, andin .... the chyrche was raylles mad and hangyd with blake, [and] the strett hangyd with blake and armes, and the howse; and .... dyd pryche; and after they offered ys cott and pennon of armes, and all the mornars and the craft offered, and after [to his place] to dener.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 30 Apr 1563. The xxx day of Aprelle was cared to berehyng from sant Margett in Lothbere unto sant Donstones in Whest [Map] master Chamley the recorder, and ther was a C [100] mornars in blake, and the swardbayrer, and my lord mare and dyvers althermen and the reseduw [...] vyolett, and a lx gowne to pore men; and sant Donstones cherche hangyd with blake and armes, and raylles mad for the body; and so they whentt throughe Chep-syd, and so to Nuwgat, and so up Flett strett to sant Donstones, furst ij porters in blake, and then the pore men, and then serten mornars, and on bayryng ys baner of armes, and then ij haroldes of armes, and on ys cot beyryng, and then cam the corse with a pall of blake velvett and with armes, and then cam ij mornars baryng ij pennons of armes, and then the mornars cam, ser Thomas Lee, ser Wylliam Garrett, ser Thomas Offeley (age 63), master John Whytt, and after my lord mayre; and after ij C. of the yn of the cortes to the chyrche, and a xx of clarkes syngyng; and master Goodman (age 34) mad the sermon; and after to the plase to dener, for ther was the grettyst dener that ever I sawe.... strett, and he gayff for ys .... of rattes coller unto xxx pore men, and .... chyrche was hangyd with blake and armes ... the mornars and the corse hangyd with blake and armes ... furst whent the pore men, then cam a mornar beyryng a pennon of armes, and next a harold beyryng ys cote armur, and then cam the corse with a pall of blake velvett and with [arms, and] then the clarkes metyng the corse, and then cam master ... cheyff mornar, and dyvers odur mornars; and the dene of Westmynster mad the sermon.
In 1582 Thomas Offley (age 82) died. He was buried at St Andrew Undershaft, Aldgate Ward.