Biography of William Hewett 1496-1567

Around 1496 William Hewett was born.

In or before 1544 William Hewett (age 47) and Alice Leveson were married.

Around 1544 [his daughter] Anne Hewett was born to William Hewett (age 48).

Henry Machyn's Diary. 30 Sep 1559. The xxx day of September, was Myghelmas day, the [lord] mare was chosen at the yeld-hall, good master Huett (age 63), clo[thworker,] the wyche was ther never mare of that ocquwpassyon a-for; ther wher iij (aldermen), but when that ther turne [came] they ded [died], master Towllys and master Hynd and master Machyll, clothworker.

Note. Master Huett chosen lord mayor. Son of Edmund Hewitt, of Wales in Yorkshire. Sheriff 1553–4, lord mayor 1559–60. He was knighted during his mayoralty (see p. 224). This was sir William Hewitt, known as the ancestor of the duke of Leeds: [his future son-in-law] Edward Osborne (age 29) his apprentice, afterwards lord mayor in 1582, having married his only daughter (age 15) and heir, whose life he had previously saved, when she fell from a window of her father's house on London bridge. Such is the tradition: but our old authority says that sir William "dwelled in Philpot-lane, nere Fenchurch-strete." Arms, Azure, on a fess flory-de-lis or, between three lyons passant argent, three pewitts proper. (List by Wm. Smith, Rouge-dragon.) He died in 1566–7, and was buried in the church of St. Martin Orgar's [Map], as his wife had previously been (see p. 266). Some extracts from his will are given in Collins's Peerage.

In Oct 1559 William Hewett (age 63) was elected Lord Mayor of London.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 26 Nov 1559. The xxvj day of November dyd pryche at Pow[l's cross] [Map] master Juell (age 37), byshope of Salyshere, and ther was my lord mare (age 63) and the althermen and mony of the courte, and ther was grett audyense as (has ever) bene at Powlles crosse.

Note. Pp. 218, 228. Sermons by bishop Jewell. In the edition of bishop Jewell's Works now in the course of publication by the Parker Society, the editor, the Rev. John Ayre, M.A. remarks that the challenge which originated the bishop's important controversy with Dr. Cole was first given in his sermon at Paul's Cross, Nov. 26, 1559—the occasion noticed by Machyn in p. 218. "The sermon, with the challenge amplified, was preached at the court, March 17, 1560 [as mentioned in p. 228]; and repeated at Paul's Cross March 31, being the second sunday before Easter." This last date is from the contemporary title-page of the sermon itself: and therefore is not to be doubted. Our Diarist, however (p. 229) says that Crowley preached at Paul's Cross on that day.

On 21 Jan 1560 William Hewett (age 64) was knighted.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 21 Jan 1560. The xxj day of January by ix of the cloke my lord mare (age 64) and the althermen whent by water to the cowrt in skarlett, and ther he was mad knyght by the quen (age 26).

Henry Machyn's Diary. 02 Feb 1560. The ij day of Feybruary ther was taken [at the] Frenche inbasadur's plasse, the dene of Powlles, [ie the Ambassador was lodged at the house of the Deanery of St Pauls] was candyllmas day, ther was a masse sayd, and ther was dyvers men and women taken [up,] and browth to my lord mayre (age 64), and sum to the conter.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 02 Feb 1560. The sam day at after-non my lord mare (age 64) and the althermen, and all the craftes, whent to Powlles after old maner, and ther was a sermon by the (blank).

Henry Machyn's Diary. 03 Mar 1560. The sam day dyd pryche at Powlles crosse [Map] the nuwe byshope of London master Gryndall (age 41), in ys rochet and chyminer; and after sermon done the pepull dyd syng; and ther was my lord mayre (age 64) and the althermen, and ther was grett audyence.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 03 Mar 1560. The iij day of Marche, abowtt vij of the [clock] in the mornyng, cam in a servyngman with a [horse-load] of flesse of dyver kyndes, and ther yt was st[ayed] and after cared the horse and yt to my lord mare (age 64) (by) the porter of Byshope-gatt, and lett hym goo.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 10 Mar 1560. The x day of Marche dyd pryche at Powlles [Map] the byshope Skorre (age 50), and ther was my lord mare (age 64) and the althermen, and grett audyence, and he prechyd in ys rochet and ys chymber.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 17 Mar 1560. The xvij day of Marche dyd pryche at Powlles cross [Map] Veron, parsun of sant Marttens att Ludgatt, and ther was my lord mare (age 64) and the masters the althermen, with mony more pepull; and after the sermon done they songe all, old and yong, a salme in myter [metre], the tune of Genevay ways.

Note. P. 228. Veron admitted parson of St. Martin's at Ludgate. John Veron, S.T.P. was instituted to this rectory 8 Mar. 1559, on the deprivation of John Morren, S.T.B. Newcourt (Repertorium, i. 415,) has misprinted the name Heron, and supposed this rector to be the same with John Heron, who was vicar of Little Canfield in Essex in 1544–5. Veron afterwards obtained the vicarage of St. Sepulchre, Oct. 21, 1560, and held both livings until his death in 1563, together with the prebend of Mora, to which he was collated Nov. 8, 1559. His first ordination as a deacon took place at Fulham Aug. 2, 1551, from the hands of bishop Ridley, his name being entered in the register as "Joh'es Veroneus, Senonens. dioc. in Gallia:" and he was made priest on the 24th of the same month. (Strype, Memor.) He previously translated into English from Latin the Short Pathway to Scripture of Zuinglius, which was printed at Worcester 24 May, 1550, and was dedicated to sir Arthur Darcy (see Strype, Memorials, Book I. chap. 34). On the 3d Jan. 1552 he was instituted to the rectory of St. Alphage in London, of which he was deprived in 1554. He is frequently noticed as a preacher by the writer of this Diary (see the Index).

Henry Machyn's Diary. 24 Mar 1560. The xxiiij day of Marche, was mydlentt sonday, dyd pryche at Powlles [Map] [doctor] Sandes (age 41) the nuw byshope of Wosseter, and ther was m[y lord mayor (age 64)] and the althermen, and he prychyd in ys rochet [and chiminer,] and ther was my lord the erle of Bedford (age 33), and dyvers g[entlemen] and grett audyens of pepull.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 13 Apr 1560. The xiij day my lord mare (age 64) mad a proclamassyon that all maner of wyld fulle [wildfowl] and capons and conys and odur thynges and set a pryse of all kyndes of pultere [poultry] ware, and a penalte for the brykyng.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 28 Apr 1560. The xxviij day of (April) dyd pryche at the [Paul's] crosse [Map] master Coverdalle (age 72), and ther was my lord mare (age 64) and the althermen, and ther was grett audyense.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 26 May 1560. The xxvj day of May dyd pryche at Powlles crosse [Map] [master] Skambeler, my lord of Canturbere('s) chapelen, and ther was my lord mayre (age 64) and my masters the althermen, and a grett audyense.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 10 Jun 1560. The sam day was the masters the Grosers, and ther dynyd my lord mare (age 64) and dyvers althermen and the shreyffes and [many] worshepfull men and dades [Note. Read ladies] gentyllmen and gentyll-women; ther was a nobull dener as has bene ther.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 22 Jul 1560. The xxij day of July was a proclamacion by the mare (age 64) that no man shuld have no gone-powder in ther howses nor sellers, and that men shuld take hed for pyche and tere [pitch and tar] and flax and wax, or elles hyre sum plase nere the townes endes.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 01 Aug 1560. The furst day of August was Lammas day, and the lord mare (age 64) and the masters the althermen and the commenars and all the craftes in ther leverey for to chus the shreyff, and ther serten althermen and serten commenars in the elecsyon to be shreyff for London, butt serten men callyd mygg . master Blakwell skrevener to be shreyff, butt after-ward [the more] vowys whent a-pon master Fokes clothworker and altherman was electyd shreyff, for at the mare('s) fest [feast] was chosen master altherman Draper (age 50) and yrmonger was chosen the quen('s) shreyff.

Note. P. 241. Master Folkes proposed for sheriff. Richard Folkes, clothworker, was an alderman, but never actually served sheriff. Arms, Sable, two bars argent charged with three cinquefoils azure; a mullet for difference. (List by Wm. Smith, Rouge-dragon.)

Note. Alderman Draper. Christopher Draper, son of John Draper, of Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire; sheriff 1560–1, lord mayor 1566–7. Arms, Argent, on two chevronels between three escallops sable, six martlets or. (List by Wm. Smith, Rouge-dragon.) He was buried at St. Dunstan's in the East, and Stowe gives his epitaph, but with the incorrect date 1560. He died in 1580, aged 70. His daughters were married to Sir William Webbe, sir Wolstan Dixie (age 35), and sir Henry Billingsley, all subsequently lord mayors

Henry Machyn's Diary. 09 Feb 1561. The ix day of Feybruary dyd pryche at Powlles crosse [Map] master Pylkyngtun (age 41), electyd byshope of Durram, and ther was my lord mare (age 65) and the althermen and my lord Robart Dudley (age 28) and master secretore Sysselle (age 40), and dyvers odur of the quen('s) consell; and after to my lord mare to dener.

On 08 Apr 1561 [his wife] Alice Leveson died.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 16 Jul 1561. The xvj day of July was cristened Robard Dethyke the sune of ser Gylbartt Dethyke (age 51), Garter, in the parryche of sant Gylles withowt Crepull-gatte [Map], and the chyrche hangyd with clothes of arrys and the cloth of state, and strode with gren rysses and strode with orbese [herbs], and ser Wylliam Huett (age 65) depute for my lord of Shrowsbere (age 33) and master Care [Carey] [Note. Possibly George Carey 2nd Baron Hunsdon (age 14)] depute for my lord Honsdon (age 35), and my lade Sakefeld [Note. Possibly Cicely Baker Countess Dorset (age 26)] the quen('s) depute; and after wafurs and epocrasse grett plente, and myche pepull ther, and my lade Yorke bare my lade depute's trayne; and so hom to here plase, and had a bankett. a bankett .... [master Alexander Avenon was] chosen the shreyff for the quen('s) grace.

Note. P. 264. Christening of Robert Dethiek. It was no unfrequent honour paid by queen Elizabeth to her subjects to stand godmother to their children. In a list of her presents of plate there are nine instances between the 21st April and the 24th Nov. 1561, and among them, "Item, given by her Majestie the 15th of July, to the chrystenyng of sir William Dethyk, alias Garter king at armes, his childe, oone guilte cup with a cover, per oz. 19¼ dim. oz. Bought of the Goldsmyth." Queen Elizabeth's Progresses, edit. 1823, vol. i. p. 129.

In 1562 [his son-in-law] Edward Osborne (age 32) and [his daughter] Anne Hewett (age 18) were married. Her father's sole heiress. She brought him an estate in Barking, Essex, besides lands in Wales and Harthill in Yorkshire. She had, apparently, been rescured by him after falling into the Thames.

On 25 Jan 1567 William Hewett (age 71) died.