The records of
Lincoln's Inn
from 1588 to 1591 , containing references to
bricklaying, including references to work done by
Robert Brett
(
Jonson
's
stepfather), 1588-1591, and mentioning
Thomas Brett
. This document relates to Fuller's
apocryphal story that
Jonson
'helped in the building of the new structure of
Lincoln's Inn'
(Early Biographies,
'Fuller'), and was spotted reciting Homer by a gentleman who was impressed enough
to
pay for
Jonson
to go to Cambridge (cf. Early Biographies, 'Aubrey'). Eccles (1936a)
conjectures that
Jonson
may have worked on the wall in 1588, as that is the only
appropriate time in which a significant 'new structure' was erected at
Lincoln's
Inn, but
Robert Brett
's name does not appear until 1590, a date favoured by
Bamborough (1960).
Eugene Giddens
[fol. 414v]
[record for 16 May 1588 ]
Brickwall
Item yt is ordered that a Brikewall
shall be made at the vpper end of the Backside toward Holburne, and the care of the
well doinge therof is comitted to Mr Lutcwich with all convenient
speede
Gate near Ficketes field
And
also that there shall be a gate made towardes Fickettes field and another in the Brike wall toward the Pumpe
...
[fol. 426]
[ 4
May 1589 ]
Item it is ordered, That the gatehowse shallbe repaired
with all speede ...
[fol.
431v]
[ In the accounts for Nov.
1588 to Nov. 1589 ]
Et solutum Thome Brett
Bricklayer vt p a tetper Billam
[Trans.: And paid to
Thomas Brett
Bricklayer as appears by bill]
iiijs
...
[fol. 446v]
[ In the accounts for Nov. 1588 to Nov.
1589 ]
Et solutum Edmundo Harryson
Bricklayer vt patetper Billam
xx xiiijs
...
[fol. 454v]
[ 1590 ]
Et solut Roberto Brett bricklayer vt patet
persuas seperales billas
[Trans.: And paid to
Robert Brett
Bricklayer as appears by his several bills]
vli xixs
...
[fol. 465v]
[ In the accounts for Nov. 1590 to Nov.
1591 ]
Et solutum
Roberto Brett le
Bricklayer vt patet per Billam suam
[Trans.: And paid
to
Robert Brett
the Bricklayer as appears by his bill]
viijs viijd
Bibliography
Eccles (1936a), 263-4
Bamborough
(1960)
Thomas Brett could be a relation or a mistake for 'Robert'.
Lincoln's Inn is one of the four main Inns of Court, London 's 'legal universities', where barristers train and work. Lincoln's Inn is located south of Holborn near the north end of Chancery Lane.