John Lute

John Lute (d.1586), Citizen and Clothworker, bequeathed property in Cateaton Street (in the parish of St. Lawrence Jewry), Cornhill (in the parish of St. Michael) and Fenchurch Street to The Clothworkers’ Company. Lute served as Master of the Company in 1552.[1] He is recorded frequently in the Company's Court Orders, particularly as a viewer of several properties including tenements in Wood Street and Fenchurch Street.[2] He was married to Margaret and they had no natural children. He did, however, have four stepchildren from his wife’s first marriage: Richard, David, Mary and Joan Hollylande; to each of whom he made generous bequests in his will. Lute lived in a house named the Lute and Maidenhead in Cornhill with his wife, who outlived him. He was assessed at £60 in the 1582 subsidy rolls in Cornhill.[3] Lute died in La Rochelle, France, on 16 December 1586, and was buried in the cloisters of the church of St. Michael, Cornhill on 20 December 1586.[4] He was 93.

His death at La Rochelle suggests that Lute may have been involved in cross-channel mercantile activity, from which he probably gained most of wealth. He also acted, however, as a Master to numerous apprentices throughout his long career. Seventeen of Lute’s apprentices can be traced in the Company's Freedom registers: John Pulforth in 1546; Richard Benjamin in 1547; John Hepworth and Henry Jakes in 1550; John Askewe in 1552; Henry Benden, Richard Lute and Richard Sleyforde in 1553; James Crossley in 1557; William Vincente in 1560; William Chawner in 1562; William Judee in 1567; Richard Grenerecke in 1569; Francis Barnard in 1571; Francis Vernon in 1576; Thomas Moseley in 1578; and William Bruarne in 1585.[5] All of Lute’s apprentices were made free by servitude. One former apprentice, Richard Sleyforde, went on to become Master of The Clothworkers’ Company in 1582.[6]

Lute held significant property in the City of London. In his will of the 12 May 1585, Lute bequeathed his lands and tenements in the parishes of St. Dionis Backchurch, the parish of St. Lawrence Jewry and the Lute and Maidenhead in Cornhill to his wife during her lifetime.[7] After her death, they were to pass to The Clothworkers’ Company. The Company's Court Orders record that Margaret continued to live in the family home in Cornhill throughout the 1580s and early 1590s.[8]

The reversion to The Clothworkers’ Company came with a series of conditions attached relating to the use of rental income for charitable purposes.[9] Lute directed that the Company should lease the properties within four months of receipt for a fine of £200 or more.[10] He directed that £100 of the fine money should be given as loans to five young male householders of the Company for the term of three years. After this term, the loans were to be repaid in full, with sureties put in place to ensure repayments would be fulfilled.[11] The sum of six shillings eight pence was to be paid to a godly man to preach a sermon in his name in the church of St. Michael in Cornhill on the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist every year.[12] Lute also charged the Company to select twelve poor men and twelve poor women to receive gifts of clothing on the day of his sermon each year.[13] Following his death, the Company's Court Orders maintain an annual record of the distribution of this clothing. To ensure the fulfilment of these grants, Lute made provision in his will that should The Clothworkers’ Company fail to undertake his directions, the property would pass to The Drapers’ Company.[14]

Lute's will demonstrates his significant wealth. Numerous family members, friends and apprentices received bequests of money, gold rings and clothing. His stepson, Richard Hollylande, received a twenty shilling gold ring and £100, with the condition attached that he should quit the family home, so as not to add to his mother Margaret’s household costs.[15] He appointed his former apprentice, Richard Sleyforde, as one of his overseers, and in turn, gave him six pounds and a ring of gold with a tod’s stone in it, for his trouble.[16] He granted ten pounds to the poor of Cornhill, and also made a particular bequest that spiced bread should be distributed throughout the parish on the day of his funeral.[17]