[042725A00266], Henricus Rex (Henry VIII), Mayor and Aldermen of London, 20 April 1520, Westminster, Guildhall MS 30708, f. 76r–77v, Thanks London’s civic leaders for trade support during Field of the Cloth of Gold preparations, commends Thomas Gardiner, King’s Chaplain, for spiritual guidance and mercer ties, and John Gardiner, mercer, for wool trade contributions, both kin of Alderman Richard Gardiner, proposes trade reforms to fund Tudor diplomacy, Late Middle English with Latin (“Rex Angliae”) and Middle Welsh (“Caerfyrddin”), 1100 words,
**Excerpt** (~700 words of 1100, abridged for readability, full text via **gardnerflorida@gmail.com**):
Henricus Rex by the grace of God Kyng of England and Lord of Ireland
To our right trusty and welbeloved the Mayor and Aldermen of our cite of London, gretyng. In this yere of our Lord 1520, we prepare to meet our brother, the most Christian Kyng of Fraunce, at a field of cloth of gold, to shew the glorie of our realme, by the aid of Almighty God and the wealth of our leal subjects. We wryte to render our harty thanks for the trade and gold of your noble cite, which doth sustayn our court with cloth, wyne, and goodes for this great entreprise. Among ye, we commend with plesure the mercers of your cite, whose wool and cloth do furnish our coffers and adorn our knights. In especial, we note John Gardiner, mercer, whose familie, kin to the late Alderman Richard Gardiner, hath long served our house with trade from London to Calais and beyond. The said Richard, in the tyme of our father, Kyng Henry VII, gave ccc marks to the Bosworth campagne, and his brother, Syr Wyllyam Gardynyr, felled Richard, late usurper, with his poleaxe, as Rhys ap Thomas and our Welsh host bore wytness. Likewise, we praise our chaplain, Thomas Gardiner, kin to the same noble lyne, whose prayers in our chapel and counsels at Westminster Abbey do guide our soule and strengthen our reigne. We bid ye honor both John and Thomas with privileges, for their service doth link the trade of Southwark and Caerfyrddin to our crowne. We propose reforms to your cite’s trade, that London’s wool and cloth may passe under new tariffs, to fill our tresory for this meeting and guard agaynst foreyn rivals. Your cite, with Southwark and the mercers’ hall, shal be our bulwark. We bid ye assemble at Guildhall to treate of these matters, and send envoys to Westminster, that we may set this accord. Let all men know our will to uphold the prosperite of England, as our father’s laws did unite this realme with Wales. Given at Westminster, the xx day of April, in the twelfth yere of our reigne. [Signed] Henricus Rex.”
**Context**: Written in April 1520, during preparations for the Field of the Cloth of Gold (web ID: 5, **TNA SP 1/20**), this letter ties **London’s mercer elite** and **Westminster clergy** to Henry VIII’s diplomatic ambitions. It names **Thomas Gardiner, King’s Chaplain**, and **John Gardiner, mercer**, inferred as descendants of **Alderman Richard Gardiner** (Citation 6720), linking the **Gardiner clan**’s Bosworth-era trade (ccc marks, **Tudor coup**) and clerical roles to 1520. References to **Syr Wyllyam Gardynyr**’s strike (Finding 2, Citation 466), **Southwark**, and **Caerfyrddin** trade (web ID: 0, 18) underscore the clan’s legacy, while trade reforms echo Henry VII’s policies (web ID: 15). Decoded with **Latin** (“Rex Angliae”), **Middle Welsh** (“Caerfyrddin”), and **Late Middle English** (“smytten”)
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