Nicholas Brembre: Difference between revisions

 

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==Charges of corruption and tyranny==

==Charges of corruption and tyranny==

In February 1384, John Northampton’s followers started a riot and Brembre arrested and [[Decapitation|beheaded]] a ringleader, the [[cordwainer]] John Constantyn.<ref>{{harv|Walsingham|1863|pp=110-111}} is quoted as the source in {{harv|Round|1886|p=256}} but Walsingham just says that the executed man was a shoe-maker (”ex arte sutore”) and doesn’t give any name, it’s likely that Round also referred to the Cordwainer’s petition in {{harv|Great Britain. Parliament|1767|pp=226-227}} which does mention “Johan Constantyn, Cordewan de dite Cite”</ref> Our main knowledge of Brembre’s conduct is derived from a bundle of petitions presented to parliament in October–November 1386 by ten companies of the rival faction.<ref>{{harv|Round|1886}} talks about ten petitions, and points out that only two petitions are printed, those of the mercers {{harv|Great Britain. Parliament|1767|pp=225-226}} and cordwainers {{harv|Great Britain. Parliament|1767|pp=226-227}}</ref> In these he is accused of tyrannous conduct during his mayoralty of 1383–4, especially of beheading the cordwainer Constantyn for the riot in [[Cheapside]], and of securing his re-election in 1384 by increased violence.<ref>’Roll A 27: (i) 1383–85′, Calendar of the plea and memoranda rolls of the city of London: volume 3: 1381–1412 (1932), pp. 50–83.</ref>

In February 1384, John Northampton’s followers started a riot and Brembre arrested and [[Decapitation|beheaded]] a ringleader, the [[cordwainer]] John Constantyn.<ref>{{harv|Walsingham|1863|pp=110-111}} is quoted as the source in {{harv|Round|1886|p=256}} but Walsingham just says that the executed man was a shoe-maker (”ex arte sutore”) and doesn’t give any name, it’s likely that Round also referred to the Cordwainer’s petition in {{harv|Great Britain. Parliament|1767|pp=226-227}} which does mention “Johan Constantyn, Cordewan de dite Cite”</ref> Our main knowledge of Brembre’s conduct is derived from a bundle of petitions presented to parliament in October–November 1386 by ten companies of the rival faction.<ref>{{harv|Round|1886}} talks about ten petitions, and points out that only two petitions are printed, those of the {{harv|Great Britain. Parliament|1767|pp=225-226}} and {{harv|Great Britain. Parliament|1767|pp=226-227}}</ref> In these he is accused of tyrannous conduct during his mayoralty of 1383–4, especially of beheading the cordwainer Constantyn for the riot in [[Cheapside]], and of securing his re-election in 1384 by increased violence.<ref>’Roll A 27: (i) 1383–85′, Calendar of the plea and memoranda rolls of the city of London: volume 3: 1381–1412 (1932), pp. 50–83.</ref>

Forbidding his opponents to take part in the election, he filled the [[Guildhall, London|Guildhall]] with armed men, (acorrding to the original Anglo-Norman French of the petition: sailleront sur eux oue graunt noise criantz tuwez tuwez lour pursuiantz hydousement, (…the aforesaid armed men sprang out upon them with a great noise shouting “Slaughter! Slaughter!”, threateningly chasing them.). In 1386 he secured the election of his accomplice, [[Nicholas Exton]], who was Lord Mayor at the time of the petition, so that the mayoralty was still, it urged, ”tenuz par conquest et maistrie” (taken by conquest). While Lord Mayor (1384), Brembre had effected the ruin of his rival, [[John de Northampton]] (who had appealed in vain to John of Gaunt), by his favourite device of a charge of treason;<ref>{{harv|Walsingham|1863|p=116}} according to {{harv|Round|1886}}</ref> and though [[Thomas of Woodstock]], Duke of Gloucester, and the opposition accused him of plotting<ref>{{harv|Walsingham|1863|p=150}} according to {{harv|Round|1886}}</ref> in favour of Suffolk (the chancellor), who was impeached in the parliament of 1386, and of compassing their death, he not only escaped for the time, but at the close of the year (1386) was, with [[Simon de Burley]] and others of the party of resistance, summoned by Richard into his council.

Forbidding his opponents to take part in the election, he filled the [[Guildhall, London|Guildhall]] with armed men, (acorrding to the original Anglo-Norman French of the petition: sailleront sur eux oue graunt noise criantz tuwez tuwez lour pursuiantz hydousement, (…the aforesaid armed men sprang out upon them with a great noise shouting “Slaughter! Slaughter!”, threateningly chasing them.). In 1386 he secured the election of his accomplice, [[Nicholas Exton]], who was Lord Mayor at the time of the petition, so that the mayoralty was still, it urged, ”tenuz par conquest et maistrie” (taken by conquest). While Lord Mayor (1384), Brembre had effected the ruin of his rival, [[John de Northampton]] (who had appealed in vain to John of Gaunt), by his favourite device of a charge of treason;<ref>{{harv|Walsingham|1863|p=116}} according to {{harv|Round|1886}}</ref> and though [[Thomas of Woodstock]], Duke of Gloucester, and the opposition accused him of plotting<ref>{{harv|Walsingham|1863|p=150}} according to {{harv|Round|1886}}</ref> in favour of Suffolk (the chancellor), who was impeached in the parliament of 1386, and of compassing their death, he not only escaped for the time, but at the close of the year (1386) was, with [[Simon de Burley]] and others of the party of resistance, summoned by Richard into his council.

Lord Mayor of London, 1377, 1383–1385

Sir Nicholas Brembre (died 20 February 1388) was a key ally of Richard II within City of London politics. He was a wealthy merchant and became Lord Mayor of London in 1377 and for three terms in the mid 1380s, also becoming an MP for London. He became an important ally to Richard and joined Richard’s Council. His attempts to raise forces in London loyal to Richard against the Lords Appellant who had taken control of the government failed. Brembre was executed in 1388 for treason by the Merciless Parliament despite Richard’s efforts.

Although he’s noted as the son of Sir John Brembre later historians have said that his origin was unknown. He may have been related to Sir Thomas Bramber a keeper of the Privy Seal in 1354–5 under Edward III. By 1369 he had married Idonia Stodey the daughter of a rich London wine merchant.

He became a grocer and citizen of London, and Richard Grafton marked him out as a prominent and powerful citizen.^[3] Although a grocer, most of his money was through being London’s biggest wool exporter and by 1373 he was wealthy enough to purchase land in Kent^[5] and Middlesex with a London residence in Bread Street Ward. He was wealthy enough that he would later be in a position to lend large amounts of money to King Richard II.

London was divided into two factions supporting or opposing John of Gaunt, Brembre was firmly in the opposition together with many other more well off merchants. Brembre’s faction within London was particularly strong among the food suppliers and richer merchants, especially Brembre’s own then dominant grocers and the fishmongers, the latter of whom had an unpopular but lucrative monopoly to supply fish to London.^[9] It opposed to the “lesser companies” such as the cordwainders and butchers, and opposed attempts to give them a greater say in the city’s government,^[10] and this meshed well with Richard’s autocratic policy.^{[citation needed]}

Brembre’s first appearance in London politics is in 1372 as an Alderman for Bread Street^[11] as well as Sheriff of the City of London serving with John Philipot.^[12]

In 1377 after anti Gaunt riots at the close of Edward III’s reign, Brembre replaced Adam Stable as Lord Mayor in the City’s bid keep its self government by putting forward candidates more acceptable to John of Gaunt, taking his oath of office at the Tower of London on 29 March 1377.^[13] He was also re-elected for the succeeding year (1377–8).^{[citation needed]}

In late 1377 Brembre had managed to get a new charter for London agreed. However a few months later a mob broke into the London home of the king’s uncle, Thomas of Woodstock, leading to the charter’s revocation. Woodstock also demanded Brembre’s impeachment as Lord Mayor in the parliament of Gloucester, but this was dropped after Brembre advanced compensation to Gloucester.

During the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381, Brembre’s ally William Walworth was mayor. Brembre was part of Walworth’s party that accompanied the king to meet the rebels at Smithfield, and was knighted for his services.^[15] He was also on a commission to restore order within London in the aftermath of the Revolt.

As a prominent merchant with political connections Brembre held an increasing number of financial positions for the Kingdom. From around 1379 to around 1386 he was one the port of London‘s two Collectors of Customs, with Geoffrey Chaucer as his Comptroller.^[9] In December 1381 he is mentioned as the king’s financial agent.^[17] Although Brembre was not an MP at the time, the 1382 Parliament put Brembre on a committee of prominent merchants to manage the customs revenues raised after the Peasant’s revolt.^[18]

John Northampton his main opponent gained the mayoralty in 1381 after Walworth and managed to be re-elected once.^[12] Brembre made a comeback, becoming an MP for the City at the start of 1783 and securing his return as mayor later that same year^[12] but according to a petition to Parliament he had “secured the mayoralty by violence and by assembling a large body of supporters”.^[20] The nineteenth century constitutional authority William Stubbs said that this forcible election had “the importance of a constitutional episode.”^[21] Brembre then held the mayoralty for three consecutive terms before securing the election of his ally Nicholas Exton in November 1386.

In February 1384, John Northampton’s followers started a riot and Brembre arrested and beheaded a ringleader, the cordwainer John Constantyn.^[22] Our main knowledge of Brembre’s conduct is derived from a bundle of petitions presented to parliament in October–November 1386 by ten companies of the rival faction.^[23] In these he is accused of tyrannous conduct during his mayoralty of 1383–4, especially of beheading the cordwainer Constantyn for the riot in Cheapside, and of securing his re-election in 1384 by increased violence.^[24]

Forbidding his opponents to take part in the election, he filled the Guildhall with armed men, (acorrding to the original Anglo-Norman French of the petition: sailleront sur eux oue graunt noise criantz tuwez tuwez lour pursuiantz hydousement, (…the aforesaid armed men sprang out upon them with a great noise shouting “Slaughter! Slaughter!”, threateningly chasing them.). In 1386 he secured the election of his accomplice, Nicholas Exton, who was Lord Mayor at the time of the petition, so that the mayoralty was still, it urged, tenuz par conquest et maistrie (taken by conquest). While Lord Mayor (1384), Brembre had effected the ruin of his rival, John de Northampton (who had appealed in vain to John of Gaunt), by his favourite device of a charge of treason;^[25] and though Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, and the opposition accused him of plotting^[26] in favour of Suffolk (the chancellor), who was impeached in the parliament of 1386, and of compassing their death, he not only escaped for the time, but at the close of the year (1386) was, with Simon de Burley and others of the party of resistance, summoned by Richard into his council.

Through the year 1387 he supported Richard in London in his struggle for absolute power. He was one of Richard’s advisors in Shrewsbury in August 1387 and was in London in the Autumn getting allies among the guilds to swear loyalty to Richard and to promise to rise for him against the Lords Appellant. Thomas Woodstock accused him in Parliament^[when?] of inciting the mayor and citizens against the Lords Appellant.

Late in 1387 Richard went to the royal stronghold of the Tower of London to await forces to take on the Lords Appellant who had taken over his government. Brembre went with him to London, and attempted to raise forces for Richard in the city of London but was unsuccessful due to the opposition of his successor and fomer ally Exton.^[31]

On 14 November 1387 the Lords Appellant charged Brembre with treason with four other of Richard’s close councillors. When London citizens failed to revolt Brembre fled London but was captured in Wales^[32] and imprisoned first at Gloucester^[33] and then on 28 January 1388 moved to the Tower of London.^[34] He was the only one of Richard’s five councillors unable to flee abroad.

When the Merciless Parliament met on 3 February, Brembre and the other four, absent, councillors were formally summoned to be impeached. The only charged man available, on 17 February he was taken from the Tower to the White Chamber to be tried before Parliament. He was refused a copy of the allegations and so entered the plea that he was “guilty of nothing”. He was styled throughout the trial as the “so called knight of London”.^[36] and his demand that as a knight he had the right to trial by combat was refused. Among the standard treason charges there was a specific charges, that he was planning to rename London to “New Troy”^[38] and that he had beheaded without trial twenty-two inmates of Newgate Prison at the “Foul Oke” in Kent.^[39]

When Richard attempted to speak in his ally’s support, as the King traditionally had a right to do in treason trials, the Lords Appellant threw down their gauntlets joined by around 300 other Lords and Commoners in Parliament, a threat of armed rebellion. A committee of 12 noblemen headed by Edmund of Langley were deputised to examine the case but they claimed to find no case for a death penalty. The Lords Appellants next asked representatives of the London guilds to say if Brembre was guilty but this produced no result and on 20 February they called the City of London’s mayor, recorder and aldermen who needed to be asked leading questions to give an answer that would suffice to be used to convict him and on the same day he was sentenced^[41] and hanged at Tyburn.

The hanging was carried into effect, though he had “many intercessors” among the citizens^[42] but was reversed by Richard in his last struggle, 25 March 1399.^[43] He was buried in the choir of the Christ Church Greyfriars^[44]

Brembre’s ally Thomas Usk was also executed afterwards.

• Castor, Helen (2024). The Eagle and the Hart.
• Hasted, Edward (1797). The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. Vol. 2.
• Herbert, William (1834). The History of the Twelve Great Livery Companies. Vol. 1.
• Lloyd, T. H. (1977). The English Wool Trade in the Middle Ages. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Prescott, Andrew (23 September 2004). “Brembre, Sir Nicholas”. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription, Wikipedia Library access or UK public library membership required.)
• Round, John Horace (1886). “Brembre, Nicholas” . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 6. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
• Saul, Nigel (1997). Richard II. Yale University Press.
• Stubbs, William (1904). Constitutional History. Vol. 3 (fifth ed.).
• Sumption, Jonathan (2009). The Hundred Years War: Divided Houses. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-4223-2.
• Walsingham, Thomas (1863). Riley, Henry Thomas (ed.). Historia Anglicana (in Latin). Vol. 2. Longman.
• Rotuli Parliamentorum; ut et petitiones, et placita in Parliamento (in Anglo-Norman and Latin). Vol. 3. London: Record Commission / Great Britain Parliament. 1767. OCLC 695983551.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: “Brembre, Nicholas“. Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.