The sharp eyes and honed dealer instincts of Past Master Derek Austin spotted lot number 1242 in the catalogue of Gorringes, the Sussex auctioneers. Their sale of fine art, antiques and collectables ran from 5th to 7th September 2006 at Lewes. Described in the catalogue as a 17th century certificate of the 1465 original grant of arms to the Upholders' Company being written and painted on parchment and later approved and entered in the College of Arms Visitation of London book of 1634.
Inspection of the lot confirmed the description and it was clearly a 'must have' for the Company. It was successfully bid for and duly obtained. The importance of the manuscript is undoubted, dated as it is to 1634. This makes it quite our oldest document and, indeed, the oldest artefact in our possession. It has been independently authenticated and it is known that the appearance of such a heraldic item relating to a London Livery Company at auction is extremely rare. The manuscript has, somehow, survived the 1666 Great fire which destroyed the Company's Hall in Peter's Hill, the 1812 fire which devastated the upholstery firm of Say & Kay in Ludgate where our chest of treasures was kept, the World War 1 Zeppelin raids and the Blitz of World War 2. Happily, its acquisition has been financed without cost to the Company by contributions from individual Court members.
The reverse of the manuscript shows the following wording:-
11 Decr 1465 5 E 4, William Hawkslow, Clarenceux King of Armes 1634,Hen St Geog- Company of Upholders, London.
This writing has been dated to 1740 - 1800 and is typical of an endorsement by a solicitor simply describing the contents of the document.
The front of the document has a bold and colourful illustration showing a black shield containing three spervers each flying a gold flag and the sperver in the base contains the Lamb of God on a cushion of gold. Each of the spervers is shown in ermine and in addition shows feint traces of red shading or trimming. No crest, motto or supporters are depicted. The ram's head above the shield in the decoration is almost certainly just decoration. The original arms are not thought to have included a crest or supporters.
The text, in rather faded writing, states:-
To all Gentilmen that this prefent Letters fhall fee or here, humble recommendacious by me William Hawkeflowe, otherwife called Clarenfeux, King of Armes of the South Marches of England and Servant of Armes: it is fo that many Perfons moved of noble corage purpofing to exercife vertuous codicions and manners, by the habilitis of which condicions and noble converfacions, with goddes grace fhall come to perfection of grete honour and worship: and one in efpecial entending to alle gentilneffe, is come to me the faid Clarenceux Kinf of Armes, praying me to avife a conyfaunce of Armes for the Crafft and 0Felafhip of Upholders in the City of London, and att that Requeft I confidering the gode difpofition of the faid Craft and Felafhip, and alfo the grete honour and worship that hereafter may fall to them: I have avifed, graunted, and given to them and their Succeffours for evermore, Armes, that is to fey a Field Sable, three Spervers Ermin, a Lamb Silver, couchand upon a pillow of Gold: the which Armes I Clarenfeux aforefaid grante without empechement of any Perfon. Witneffe of this Letter to the which I fett my feal of Armes; and my Sign manuel wretten att London the XJ day of the Moneth of December, the yere of our Lord God, M.CCCC.LXV. and in the fifth yere of the reign of King Edward the Fourth.
Clarenfeux King of Armes
Briefly, the story of the document is as follows. The Heralds of Arms held periodic visitations in much the same way as accountants have audits and audit certificates. A visitation of London took place in 1634 when the College of Arms would have publicly proclaimed the need of all individuals and corporations bearing Arms to produce their Grants of Arms to the Herald. Those who did so would have their actual grant endorsed by a certificate either being written on the grant itself or primitively stapled to it. Those who could not produce a grant would have admitted as much, the Herald would have gone back to the original heraldic records, and eventually, possibly the next day, have produced, doubtless for a fee, a certificate such as this particular manuscript.
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