Hall marks on gold & silver plate

ENGLISH GOLDSMITHS. 27
In 1570 several ornaments were stolen from the monument of
King Henry VII, among which were some of the gilt images here
spoken of. The thief, one Raymond, was prosecuted by the Church.
Torrigiano must have resided many years in this country, and
designed and executed other monumental tombs and effigies. In the
dingy Chapel of the Rolls, Chancery Lane, is the tomb of Dr.
Young, Master of the Rolls in the time of Henry VIII. The aged
master reposes, in the sublime serenity of death, upon a marble sarcophagus,
shaped like a Florentine cassons or marriage chest. In
the panel of the pedestal beneath the inscription is the date MDXVI.
The whole is the work of the immortal Torrigiano. He also designed
candelabra and other decorative objects belonging tO' the goldsmith's
craft, for Henry VIII and the nobility.
The ancient altar of the restored tomb of Edward VI, Westminster
Abbey, a splendid work of Torrigiano, was destroyed in
the civil wars; but part of the frieze was found in 1869 in the young
King's grave, and has been let into the modern altar. It is an admirable
carving of the Renaissance, and shows the Tudor roses and
the lilies of France interwoven with a scroll-work pattern.
1570. Robert Taylebois was a goldsmith in the reign of Eliza-
beth. Two of his sons, Ralph and Thomas, were scholars at Merchant
Taylors' School in 1 563 ; the former became prebendary of
Canterbury.
1570. 'Nicholas Hillyard, born at Exeter, 1547, died, 1619,
brought up as a goldsmith and jeweller, also a celebrated miniature
painter. He was "goldsmith, carver, and portrait painter" to Queen
Elizabeth, and continued in favour by James I and appointed sole
painter of " the Royal image." Round his portrait, painted by himself,
is written, " Nic^ liillyard, aurif aber, sculptor, et Celebris illuminator
serenissimae Elisabethas." (In the collection of Lord De
L'Isle and Dudley.)
1 571. John Lonyson, goldsmith, was Master of the Mint,
1 57 1 -6. He died in 1583, aetat fifty-nine, and was buried in the
church of St. Vedast, alias St. Foster, in Foster Lane.
1577. Richard Robmson was celebrated for his misdeeds. He
was in this year, according to Holinshed, drawn from the Tower to
Tyborne, and there hanged for clipping of gold coins.
1577- ^'zV John Langley, goldsmith, was Mayor in this year,
1576-7, Sheriff in 1566.
1579-
Alderman Heydon bequeathed
to the Goldsmiths' Com-
pany the sum of ;"ioo for the poor.
1583. John Speilman, goldsmith, afterwards knighted by
James I, erected a paper-mill at Dartford. In the State records of
the year 1597: "July 4. Grant to John Speilman, Queen's goldsmith,
for fourteen years, on surrender of a former patent, of the
sole license of collecting old rags and stuff for paper-making"; pro-
hibiting any others to erect paper-mills without his license. His first
patent was taken out in 1583.