In 1360 Nicholas Twyford became Goldsmith in Ordinary to King Edward III.
In 1376 Nicholas Twyford became Alderman of Coleman Street.
In 1377 Nicholas Twyford was elected Sheriff of London.
After 15th June 1381 Nicholas Twyford was knighted by Richard II with four collegues following the death of Wat Tyler.
Westminster Chronicle. The Scots, however, after the truces made between us and them had expired, caring little or nothing for the truce which had been confirmed between us and the French, together with their adherents, invaded the region of Northumberland and made it almost destroyed and desolate by plundering and burnings. But since, on the twelfth day of October, the elders and more powerful men of the city of London were accustomed to proceed to the election of the new mayor, Sir Nicholas Brembre, who had been mayor in the preceding year, wished to take precautions lest any discord or disturbance should be stirred up in an election of this kind. In chambers at the Guildhall he secretly hid armed men, on this condition, that if any dissension or discord should happen to arise in that election, they should immediately come out to restrain the rebels and the disorderly, so that at least through fear of the penalty of imprisonment they might wholly abstain from tumult and unruly talk, and return entirely to concord and unity. What more need be said? The aforesaid men of standing assembled together at the Guildhall for the election of a new mayor. One party of the city cried out strongly, "Twyford, Twyford", desiring to have him as their mayor. The other party, however, thought the contrary, and by shouting also prevailed: "Brembre, Brembre." And so, when dissension had arisen among them, immediately at the nod of Sir Nicholas Brembre the said armed men appeared before those who were present in the assembly, in order to quiet the seditious. When they saw them, those who had been shouting "Twyford" fled. Then, when the storm had been calmed, the more powerful men of the city who remained unanimously chose the aforesaid Sir Nicholas Brembre once again as their mayor. When this had been done, Nicholas Brembre, with the aforesaid band of armed men, went into the street called Cheapside to inquire and investigate whether any disturbers of the peace had gathered there. Afterwards he went into other streets for the same reason, so that, if he found any such seditious men, he might keep them for a time in chains at Newgate, as an example to others. In this way the aforesaid election was held. Yet, although some opposed it as far as they dared, nevertheless the mayor remained in office throughout the following year, especially with the king’s approval.
Scoti vero, treugis elapsis inter nos et illos initis, parum vel modicum curantes de treuga quæ inter nos et Francigenos cum eorum adhærentibus extitit firmata plagam Northumbranam invaserunt et pœne eam destructam et desolatam rapinis et incendiis reddiderunt. Verum tamen quia duodecimo die Octobris seniores et valentiores civitatis Londoniæ ad novi majoris electionem solebant procedere dominus Nicholas Brembre, qui fuit major anno transacto, voluit præcavere ne in hujusmodi electione foret aliqua discordia sive perturbatio suscitata, in cameris apud Gyldehall clam abscondit viros armatos sub ista conditione quod si aliqua dissensio sive discordia fieri contigerit in ista electione statim exirent ad compescendum rebelles et discordes, ut saltem metu pœnæ incarcerationis se a tumultu et verborum loquacitate inordinata penitus abstinerent et ad concordiam ac unitatem prorsus redirent. Quid plura? Convenerunt prædicti valentes in unum pro electione novi majoris facienda apud Gylde Halle, una pars civitatis fortiter acclamabat, "Tvyford, Tvyford:" affectans illum in eorum majorem habere. Altera vero pars e contrario sentiebat, quæ etiam clamando prævaluit "Brembre, Brembre:" sicque facta inter eos dissensione protinus ad nutum domini N. Brembre comparuerunt dicti armati coram illis qui aderant in concione ut seditiosos sedarent, quibus visis fugerunt illi qui clamabant "Tvyford." Porro sedata tempestate valentiores civitatis qui remanserant prædictum dominum N. Brembre iterato in eorum majorem concorditer assumpserunt. Quo facto N. Brembre cum prædicto cuneo armatorum perrexit in vicum qui vocatur Chepe ad inquirendum et investigandum si qui pacis perturbatores forent inibi congregati, postea in alios vicos ea de causa transivit ut si quos tales seditiosos inveniret eos in exemplum aliorum apud Neugate ad tempus in vinculis custodiret. Isto modo fuit prædicta electio celebrata. Tamen licet aliqui illam prout audebant impugnaverint nihilominus per totum annum deinceps stetit major rege præcipue annuente.
Westminster Chronicle. Also, on the 12th day of October, the Londoners, after holding the election of a new mayor as is customary, unanimously elected Sir Nicholas Twyford, goldsmith, as their mayor. Also, in the month of October, the King of France, having gathered a multitude of armed men, advanced against the Duke of Guelders and came into Brabant, where he lost between five hundred and six hundred of his men1. At length he returned to Paris in shame. There, not many days later, when Parliament was held according to custom, the Commons removed the Duke of Berry and the Duke of Burgundy from their king’s council, declaring that they had governed their king wickedly and had always desired war, not peace; and besides this, that they had utterly ruined them. Therefore, setting all other matters aside, they said in final conclusion that they wished absolutely to have peace.
Item xii die Octobris Londonienses, ut moris est, celebrata electione novi majoris dominum Nicholaum Tvyford aurifabrum in eorum majorem communiter elegerunt. Item de mense Octobris rex Francorum congregata multitudine armatorum contra ducem Geldriæ processit venitque in Brabantiam ubi inter quingentos et sexcentos amisit de suis; tandem Parisis cum vereeundia est reversus, Ubi non post multos dies ex more tento parliamento illi de communitate ducem de Berry et ducem Burgundiæ de eorum regis consilio amoverunt, affirmantes eos illorum regem nequiter gubernasse et semper bellum non pacem optasse, et præter hoc eos penitus destruxisse, unde cæteris postpositis finaliter concludendo dixerunt se velle omnino pacem habere.
Note 1. Marginal note: "When the Duke of Brabant died, a certain noble lady [Joanna, Duchess of Brabant] succeeded to his duchy. The Duke [William I] of Guelders claimed it by hereditary right, and withdrew into Brabant with his army in very great array, fortifying castles and other strongholds there on every side. The woman, however, sent to the King of France [King Charles VI] for help. He came splendidly with a company of his men-at-arms to subdue the aforesaid duke. The duke, for his part, blocked the roads by which he would pass. As a result, the King of France lost many of his men there. Afterwards, through the mediation of friends, the two came to agreement in this form: that the Duke of Guelders should not bear arms against the King of France for one whole year, unless the emperor or the King of England should send him on that account; in whose presence, within the year, he might lawfully bear arms against him, notwithstanding the aforesaid agreement. When these things had been duly completed, the duke himself resolved to go to the Holy Land. On the way, he was captured by certain of his enemies and ransomed for 50,000 marks. Having given hostages, he kept to the road he had taken, and did not abandon it on that account in the least. He faithfully sent to the lord king the terms of the agreement between himself and the King of France."
Mortuo duce Brabantiæ quædam matrona generosa in ejus ducatum successit, quem dux Geldriæ jure hereditario vendicavit, ac in maximo apparatu in Brabantiam cum exercitu suo secessit firmans castella et ciotera fortalicin inibi circumquaque. Mulier vero misit pro suceursu ad regem Francorum qui venit splendide in comitiva armatorum suorum ad subigendum ducem prædietum, dux quoque vias suas quibus transiret obstruxit. Unde rex Francorum plures ibi de suis amisit. Ex post enim mediantibus amicis inter utrosque ambo convenerunt sub hac forma, quod dux Geldriæ per unum annum integrum non gestaret arma contra regem Francorum, nisi imperator aut rex Anglorum ea de causa sibi misissent in quorum præsentia infra aunam contra eum liceret arma gestare, non obstante conventione præmissa. Quibus rite pernctis dux ipse disposuit adire Terrum Sanctam et in eundo à quibusdam suis æœmulis fuit captus et quinquaginta millibus marcarum redemptus, datis obsidibus viam tenuit, quam accepit nec illam propter hoc minime prætermisit formam conventionis inter ipsum et regem Francorum domino regi fideliter destinavit.
In 1390 Nicholas Twyford died. He was buried at the Goldsmith's Church St John Zachary Church.