The Smugglers' City
Department of History, University of Bristol

Complaint of the Bristol Tuckers, 1568

Source: Transcribed by: F.F. Fox and J. Taylor, Some Account of the Guild of Weavers in Bristol: Chiefly from MSS (Bristol, 1889), pp. 91-4
Manuscript: unknown
Modern Version: Evan Jones

The 1568 complaint of the tuckers guild of Bristol is an important, if little known, document. In it the tuckers (fullers) of Bristol attack the Society of Merchant Venturers, which had acquired a total monopoly over Bristol's overseas trade by Act of Parliament (1566). In attacking the Society, the complaint sheds light on the justifications put forward for the 1566 Act. The complaint also contains allegations about the extent to which Bristol's merchants were engaged in smuggling and it reveals the depth of the divisions that developed in Bristol between 1566 and the repeal of the Merchant Venturers' monopoly in 1571. Unfortunately, the complaint is so poorly structured, spelled and expressed, that it can be difficult for students to interpret. For this reason, an edited and annotated version has provided underneath Fox & Taylor's transcription (1889). The new version uses modern spelling / punctuation and additional annotations are added in [squared brackets].

Fox & Taylor Transcription (1889):

To the Right worshipfull maister Wylliam Pepwell (A.D. 1568) maior and leevtennant of this the quenes highnes Cytie of bristowe and to the worshipfull mrs thaldermen.

In theire moste humble wise complayneth unto your discreat wisdomes your humble oratoners the masters and Companye of the towckars where that in the tyme of Mr. Narthal's last year of his meyraltie your saide oratoners as well as other your burgeisis put up theyre suplicacions unto the saide maior and aldermen declaryng therin theyre great greef and myserable estate that they were in at that day and what hurte was lyke to insue yff by the wise discressyon of the saide maior and aldermen some spedy remedy the rather were not provyded The saide maior and aldermen consideryng the petition to be ground ine reason and of puer necessytie They wrote theyre humble lettars unto the honerable lordes of the quenes maiesties councell desyryng reformacion of the premissis and for asmuche as master Wylliam Corrie and mastar Thomas Chestre were then chosen burgeisis of the parlyment by vertue of the quenes wryte then directed to the shereves the hole sute of the commands was put unto theyres handes beyng also ernestly requyred by the saide maior and aldermen to have tender consideracions of the pytifull complayntes of the Commons who promysed asuredly so to do But contrary unto theyre promise and order of humanytie of lovyng burgeisis by meanes of those supplicacions and other suttell allegacions they found the meanes to make the marchauntes and Crafte wch purpose they have sued for sence the time of

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our late kyng of worthy memory Edward the Sixth in all wch tyme they cowlde not be hearde nether prevayle But then havyng all those supplicacions in theyre handes ingroced the to one in the whiche supplicacion they persuaded withe councell that the cheffe decay of bristowe was for that the marchauntes and the navygacion of the Cytie and porte weare in decay by meanes of so many occupying unto the sea in the trade of marchandise and did lade uppon strayngers bottomes and having non experyence ne skyll therin alleagyng theyre wonderfull great losses also as the loss of viii great shippes lade to the frenche valued at threskore thousand poundes the sharpe and cruell entertaynment of the spaynishe nacion of the marcheaunts of bristowe ten shipes broke and leyde up within iiii yeares for lacke of trade theyre oft attempted voyages to the newfoundland and the unproffitable gayne and there of the immedeyat paymentes of custom into the Custom howse where they were wont to have resonable tyme of the payment of the same; the great impostes of wynes that they were not able to put the commons to worke as in tyme past and by this suttyll fetche the optayned to be a crafte that is they promysed the counsell that yff it woldelde please thire hounors to confyrme theyre compocission they wolde fynde the meanes that all the commons of bristowe shulde so be releeved and comforted thereby that they shalbe blesse the tyme that it was fyrste begon upon consideracion whereof they had theyr purpose. Butt what hath happened unto the o bristowe by thease meanes bondayge bondaige and mysery for before Bristowe with all for inhabitauntes were free and hade theyre lybertie alwayes to sende theyr goodes unto the seas or els Mr. Corrie and mastre Chestre had take more care for this Cytie for by the sea and trade therof thei got theyir goodes and the sea was not at no tyme shut up from them but move they as lordes in towne and countrey and so full of worldly welth that it greeves them to se any poore men to prosper. 0 mercifull lorde god who wolde have thought that Mr. Chestre beyeng a free Cytizen borne and sonne unto the naturaleste Cytizen that was in bristow in our tyme who wolde wee beleeve have spent muche monney in the Cyties behalff, or it shulde have had this slaunder wee say who wolde have thought that Mr. thomas chestre by name wolde concent to have the cytie of bristowe made bonde they sayd to the counsell we shuld blesse the tyme nay so that god have commanded to blesse and not to curse wee and the chyldren that are to be borne may curse tyme that they were borne for to do suche a myschyous and uncharytable a deede for by this meanes the Cytie is the worse a

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nombre or honeste occupiers are cut of from occupyeng unto the sea at whose hands the pore Crafte of towckars earned more in a yeare than they do now by ii or iii c. li by the yeare no man must medell with merchauntes Craft and yet they wyll entarmedell with other mens for they have taken upon them to fold and tache cloth by whiche meanes also the poore Crafte of towckars is impayned of theyr lyvyng a mouges them all bettar than xx li by the yeare Some marchaunts use clothyars of the contrey so unhonestly that we have harde some of the clothiars swear that they wyll sell their clothes at london or other places and beare theyr losses rather than they wyll medell with suche marchauntes and our clothiers of bristowe and sell no clothes to marchauntes of the same for what we knowe not but that the marchaunt wyll say they have no money to disbuses But yff any clothier wyll play (delit.) for halff year and halff yeare the marchaunt wyll then have the clothes though this clothiar's stok lyeng out of his hands may not occupy tyll his stok com to handes and by this meanes a nombar of poore people are also owt of woorke to theyr utter impoverishment etc. (delit.) lether, corne buttar chese tallow calveskyns for suche ware the marchauntes have theyre redy money checked and boorde and this ware is dayli laden more now than at any tyme before and that withowte the feare of god or shame of the woreld Ye although some of late have byn taken yett wyll the marchauntes say they lade none But sure we be that shjppes of bristow do cary away our comodytees to our uttar distruction and impover- yshment and by this meanes there is suche disencion, debate, striff and discord at this day that the lyk have not be seem god for his mercy amend it when his wyll is godes vengeance is dayle threatned unto (delit.) of poor (delit.) by the preachers of his word more in our dayes than at any tyme good statutes are made and have byn mad wch do stand in force at this day for inordynat carrying and conveyeng of our commoditie to straung nacions and all prevales not for they fear nother god quene nether ther ministers let any honeste burges spie theyr faltes and make seasur then kyll the knave saith they and other wylbe war by her to medell In tender concyderacion of the promysses we most humblie desyre your worshippes for the tender merci of gode to have suche tender concideracion of this our symple suplicacion as unto mattars of trowth worthy of pitie as your grave worshipes consyderacions shall seem mete so as some relieff and comforte therofmay growe unto your sayd orators wch is theyr earnest prayer unto god and this hole state wch are in nombar ijc and lxxxvii soules shall as they are

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bounde pray unto the eternall and lyvyng god long to preserve your worshippes with increase of health and felicitie etc.

Modern English Version:

To the Right worshipful master Wylliam Pepwell (A.D. 1568), mayor and lieutenant of this the queens highness City of Bristowe, and to the worshipful masters the aldermen.

In their most humble wise complaineth unto your discreet wisdoms your humble orators, the masters and Company of the tuckers. Where that in the time of Mr. Narthal's last year of his mayoralty [1565] your said orators, as well as other your burgesses, put up their supplications unto the said mayor and aldermen declaring therein their great grief and miserable estate that they were in at that day, and what hurt was like to ensue if by the wise discretion of the said mayor and aldermen some speedy remedy the rather were not provided. The said mayor and aldermen considering the petition to be ground in reason and of pure necessity, they wrote their humble letters unto the honorable lords of the Queen's majesties council desiring reformation of the premises. And for as much as Master Wylliam Corrie and Master Thomas Chestre were then chosen burgesses of the parliament by virtue of the Queen's writ then directed to the sheriffs, the whole suit of the commands was put unto their hands being also earnestly required by the said mayor and aldermen to have tender consideration of the pitiful complaints of the Commons [of Bristol] who [i.e. Corrie & Chester] promised assuredly so to do. But contrary unto their promise and order of humanity of loving burgesses by means of those supplications and other subtle allegations they found the means to make the merchants a Craft which purpose they have sued for since the time of

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our late king of worthy memory Edward the Sixth [d. 1553] in all which time they could not be heard neither prevail. But then having all those supplications in their hands engrossed them to one in the which supplication, they persuaded [the King's] Council that the chief decay of bristowe was for that the merchants and the navigation of the City and port were in decay by means of so many [people] occupying unto the sea in the trade of merchandise and [who] did lade upon strangers bottoms [i.e. non-Bristol ships] and having no experience nor skill therein. Alleging their wonderful great losses also as [to]: the loss of viii great ships [fully] laden to the French, valued at threescore thousand pounds; the sharp and cruel entertainment of the Spanish nation of the merchants of bristowe; ten ships broken and laid up within iiii years for lack of trade; their oft attempted voyages to the newfoundland and the unprofitable gain there; of the immediate payments of custom into the Custom house (where they were wont to have reasonable time of the payment of the same); the great imposts of wines; that they were not able to put the commons to work as in time past. And by this subtle fetch [i.e. clever trick] they obtained to be a craft – that is they promised the [Queen's] Council that if it would please their honours to confirm their composition, they would find the means that all the commons of bristowe should so be relieved and comforted thereby that they shall bless the time that it was first begun upon consideration whereof they had their purpose.

But what hath happened unto the [city] of bristowe by these means? Bondage, bondage, and misery! For before Bristowe with all for inhabitants were free and had their liberty always to send their goods unto the seas. Or else Mr. Corrie and master Chestre had taken more care for this City for by the sea and trade thereof they got their goods and the sea was not at no time shut up from them, but move they [now] as lords in town and country and so full of worldly wealth that it grieves them to see any poor men to prosper. Oh merciful lord God! Who would have thought that Mr. Chestre, being a free Citizen born, and son unto the most natural Citizen that was in bristow in our time (who would we believe have spent much money in the City's behalf – or it should have had this slander); we say who would have thought that Mr. thomas chestre by name would consent to have the city of bristowe made bound? They said to the council we should bless the time! Nay, so that God have commanded to bless and not to curse we and the children that are to be born may curse [the] time that they were born, for to do such a mischievous and uncharitable a deed, for by this means the City is the worse. A

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number or honest occupiers are cut off from occupying unto the sea at whose hands the poor Craft of tuckers earned more in a year than they do now by two or three hundred pounds by the year. No man must meddle with merchants Craft and yet they will entrammel [interfere] with other men's [crafts], for they have taken upon them to fold and take cloth by which means also the poor Craft of tuckers is impaired of their living amongst them all better than 20 pounds by the year. Some merchants use country clothiers so dishonestly that we have heard some of the clothiers swear that they will sell their cloths at London or other places and bear their losses rather than they will meddle with such merchants and our clothiers of bristowe – and sell no clothes to merchants of the same for what we know not but that the merchant will say they have no money to disburse. But if any clothier will play (delit.) for half year and half year [i.e. on extended credit] the merchant will then have the cloths, though this clothier's stock lying out of his hands may not occupy till his stock come to hands and by this means a number of poor people are also out of work to their utter impoverishment etc. (delit.). [By contrast], leather, corn, butter, cheese, tallow, calfskins –  for such wares the merchants have their ready money checked and board [i.e. paid upfront]. And this ware is daily laden – more now than at any time before and that without the fear of god or shame of the world. Ye, although some of late have been taken [i.e. caught smuggling] yet will the merchants say they lade none! But sure we be that ships of bristow do carry away our commodities to our utter destruction and impover- ishment and by this means there is such dissension, debate, strife and discord at this day that the like have not been seen. God for his mercy amend it! When his will is gods vengeance is daily threatened unto (delit.) of poor (delit.) by the preachers of his word more in our days than at any time! Good statutes are made and have been made which do stand in force at this day for inordinate carrying and conveying of our commodities to strange nations and [yet] all [this] prevails not, for they fear neither god, queen nor their ministers. Let any honest burgess spy their faults and make seizure then "Kill the knave!", saith they [the merchants], "and others will be warned by her [not] to meddle."

In tender consideration of the premises we most humbly desire your worships for the tender mercy of god to have such tender consideration of this our simple supplication as unto matters of truth worthy of pity as your grave worship's considerations shall seem mete, so as some relief and comfort thereof may grow unto your said orators, which is their earnest prayer unto god, and this whole state which are in number 287 souls shall as they are

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bound pray unto the eternal and living god long to preserve your worships with increase of health and felicity etc.