Prolusiones Historicæ

JOHN HALLE of great local importance in his day, but not a leading man in the
affairs of the state-From this, and other causes, not much known of his life-

Quotation from a former Essay, stating the probability, that John Halle was the

son of Thomas Halle, a member of the corporate body of Salisbury-Birth-

place, and prior residence of John Halle unknown-Date of the purchase of the

premises, whereon he erected his halle-Appointed one of the collectors of a

subsidy for the Crown for New-street Ward, 1446-and the Constable for the

same Ward, 1449-Reasons for belief, that John Halle married one of his own

kindred-Nothing known of him in his domestic character, but presumption in

his favour-His issue a son and daughter—their marriages and issue-Reasons for

supposing, that John Halle must have been advanced in years, when he erected

his splendid halle-Extract from the opening passage of the work-Aubrey,

probably, acquainted with more of the history of John Halle than is known at

present-The oblivion of Crabb's "Prophecie" an illustration of this pro-

bability-Mr. John Bayly-Quotation from Aubrey-Supposed fulfilment of

Crabb's "Prophecie"-Epitaph of "John Baylye" and Katherine, his wife-

Salisbury, &c., in the middle ages, the seat of an extensive cloth manufacture-

From that, and other causes, Salisbury became a celebrated mart for wool-John

Halle an eminent merchant of the staple-The woolstapler of modern days of

far inferior importance-John Halle a fair, and open dealer in wool-Scene in

the Wool Market of Salisbury-Hyperbolical language of Aubrey with respect

to Halle and Webb-No reason to presume, that those eminent merchants

were partners-The non-existence of wool-sacks in the windows of the halle in

accordance with the query of Aubrey accounted for

p. 287-301

John Halle, in the year 1444, contributed towards a general subsidy to the King-
Causes, which rendered this subsidy necessary-War with France-Wily policy
of the Earl of Suffolk-Marriage of Henry, the Sixth-John Halle elected, in
1446, one of the Common Council of the City of Salisbury-And, in 1448, one of
the Aldermen-In the year 1449 he again contributed towards a subsidy to the
King-In 1451 elected Mayor for the first time-In 1453 chosen as a Burgess
to serve in Parliament-The consequent expenses of John Halle, and of his
fellow Burgess, directed by royal mandate to be paid by the City-Wages
usually allowed to Knights and Burgesses in the middle ages-The receipt of
wages by members of the Legislature in those early times no dishonour-These
monied payments sometimes dispensed with, and sometimes commuted-Curious
compact between John Strange and his electors-Andrew Marvell, M. P. for
Hull, the last who received wages-In 1457 John Halle elected Mayor for the
second time-Fines affixed in 1458 on those members of the Corporation, who
might use violent language at the Councils-Heavier penalty attached to John
Halle-His character vindicated by the Author-In the same year, 1458, ap-
pointed an Alderman of St. Martin's Ward-Elected Burgess for the City the
second time in 1460-Contest between the Houses of York and Lancaster-Battle
of Northampton, and circumstances which give rise to the new parliament-
Important debate, which took place--Extract from Stow-Independent,
but imprudent conduct of the Duke of York-His death-The crown assured
to Henry, the Sixth, for life-Varying contest between the Houses of York and
Lancaster-Deposition of Henry, the Sixth, and accession of Edward, the
Fourth-Measures of the new Monarch-A fresh parliament summoned-

Coronation on the 26th of June-John Halle elected Burgess of the City of

Salisbury for the third time-Small attendance of the Nobility at this Parlia-

ment-Acts against the House of York disannulled, and measures taken against

the interests of the House of Lancaster-The Parliament sat not full two years

-Wages paid to John Halle and his colleague-Their generous conduct to the

City on this occasion-John Halle, waxed in years, retires from the Represen-

tation of the City-The regret of the Citizens
p. 301-313

In 1464 John Halle elected Mayor of Salisbury for the third time-Important

disputes now arise between the City and Bishop Beauchamp-Circumstances,

which render the citizens desirous to throw off the episcopal yoke-Their

oft endeavours so to do-Appeal to the King in the time of Bishop de

Gandavo Their partial success-Injurious result in consequence-The royal

decree revoked on the petition of the Citizens--The yoke still fretted-

Occasion of dispute now seized on by them as to the right to a piece of

ground near St. Thomas's Church--Respective claims of William Swayne,

the Corporation, the Dean and Chapter, and the Bishop-Former disputes

again alluded to-References to the "Historical and Descriptive Account

of Old and New Sarum, or Salisbury," by Mr. Hatcher, and to the " Antiqui-

tates Sarisburienses" of Dr. Ledwych as to the disputes of 1395-Opinion of

the latter, that they arose from the attempts of Bishop Waltham to suppress the

progress of the doctrines of Wickliffe-Supposition of the Author, that the

maintenance of manorial rights was an assistant cause-Severe recognizances

required of the Mayor and Citizens of Salisbury-The subsequent murder of

Bishop Ayscough-The dispute between the City and Bishop Beauchamp re-

ferred to Edward, the Fourth, and his Privy Council-Beauchamp well able to

support his episcopal rights, as he was a man of business, powerfully allied, and

a great favourite with his Sovereign-John Halle unequally matched against

him-The claims of the other parties yielded to those of the Corporation, and

the Bishop-Circumstances which arose from this dispute-Partiality of Ed-

ward, the Fourth, to sitting in Courts of Justice-Instances adduced in proof of

this
p. 313-322

John Halle, as Mayor of Salisbury, appears before the King and Council, with a
deputation of his fellow-citizens-Biassed feelings, under which John Halle pre-
sents himself His intrepid conduct-Apology for John Halle-The language of
the bluff, and honest, John Halle, offensive to the Crown-Letter in consequence
to the "Citizens and Co'mons of the Cete of Newe Salisbury"-John Halle com-
mitted to prison, and the Citizens directed to elect "an nother mayre" in his
stead-Character of John Halle defended from unjust imputations-Distressing
situation of his wife and family-Dismay, and lethargic stupor, which seized
the Citizens-The Citizens aroused by another letter from the King-They are
required," in all possible haste," to elect another Mayor, or that 12 or 8 "atte
the leste" should attend before the Council to show cause for disobedience-
Delay in the arrival of the letter-Convocation held on the Sabbath-day-
Minute (in modern language) of the Convocation, as it appears in the City
Leger-Resolution of the Corporate Body, and an humble Address forwarded

to the King-Effect of this Address on the Monarch-Another letter in conse-
quence from him to the Citizens, postponing the attendance of the deputation,
and reducing the number to 4 or 6-Character of Edward, the Fourth-The feel-
ings, by which he was, probably, actuated towards John Halle

p. 322-332

Letter of the King-The Citizens presume on its softened tone-They appoint John

Halle (although in prison) one of the members of the new deputation-Inconsi-

deration and impropriety of this-The King justly offended at it-Letter from

him, requiring the Citizens to name another person in lieu of John Halle, who

was nat atte his libertie "Letter from the deputation at Westminster to the

Mayor, Citizens, and Inhabitants of Salisbury, praying immediate attention to

the mandate of the Crown-John Chafyn appointed as a delegate in lieu of John

Halle-No further entry on this important subject in the Legers of the City of

Salisbury-The Author compelled to draw on his imagination for the remainder

of this, as yet, most interesting narrative-Reasons for assuming, that the dis-

pute was decided in the favour of the Bishop-Probability, that a general