BOLDE, William

William Bolde is an obscure figure. He may have been a kinsman of Henry Bolde, clerk, who was admitted to the freedom of Canterbury by his marriage to Isabel, daughter of John Lynde in May 1400, or of another William Bolde, a weaver who purchased the freedom in February 1410.2 Chamberlains’ accts. 1393-1445, CCA-CC-F/A/1, ff. 44, 89v. His own admission as a freeman is not recorded and, indeed, his first appearance in connexion with the city was his nomination as one of the burgesses to sit in the Parliament summoned to meet at Westminster on 12 Feb. 1449. This might suggest that his election was due to links with the royal household. His fellow burgess was Thomas Walter*, a yeoman of the King’s chamber who belonged to the circle around James Fiennes*, Lord Saye and Sele, and the Kent returns to the Parliament were dominated by this circle: William Cromer* was returned as one of the knights of the shire and the elections were presided over by Stephen Slegge* as sheriff, who himself sat for Dover. Indeed, interference in parliamentary elections was a key complaint made by the Kent rebels the following year. Nevertheless, this does not mean that Bolde himself was either an outsider or an unpopular choice as Canterbury’s MP. He received wages for only 65 days’ attendance in a Parliament which lasted 107 days spread over three sessions, although he did receive a further 20s. for ‘divers things done in the name of the commonalty’.3 CCA-CC-F/A/2, f. 27.

At the following Michaelmas Bolde was chosen as one of the 12 jurats. His election may have been linked to that of the influential William Benet* as mayor as Bolde was appointed one of the mayor’s bailiffs for the forthcoming year.4 SC6/1267/1/53. This year saw Cade’s rebellion and a separate uprising in Canterbury, led by Thomas Cheyne alias ‘Bluebeard’, which was resisted by the mayor and the leading citizens. Bolde must have played some role in the suppression of the uprising by virtue of his office. In the immediate aftermath of Cade’s rebellion he, described as gentleman, was one of those Canterbury citizens who felt it prudent to obtain a general pardon.5 CPR, 1444-52, p. 344. Bolde’s two subsequent elections as jurat do not seem to have been out of ordinary nor does he appear to have been exceptionally active on the city’s behalf, but his election as mayor in 1457 once again took place in unusual circumstances. According to John Stone, the chronicler monk of Christ Church, on 26 Nov. the mayor, Philip Belknap, died and three days later ‘Master’ William Bolde, ‘notary’ was elected in his place.6 Chron. John Stone ed. Searle, 71. He was called ‘gentleman’ when sued for debt by the prior of St. Andrew’s, Rochester, during his mayoralty: CP40/790, rot. 176d. This is confirmed in a list of mayors recorded in the Canterbury burghmote register in the early sixteenth century, although the chamberlains’ accounts, compiled at the end of the mayoral year, give no indication of anything untoward.7 Canterbury city recs., burghmote ct. orders 1469-1608, CCA-CC-A/B/1, f. 93. During his official year Bolde rode to London on the city’s behalf on at least one occasion, obtaining writs relating to a grant of murage and two writs of pardon, as well as purchasing a barrel of gunpowder for the city’s new guns.8 CCA-CC-F/A/2, f. 56v. As mayor Bolde also headed a commission of inquiry into certain treasons committed in Canterbury by John Mann and Cornelius Garnour and to deliver these two from gaol.9 CPR, 1452-61, p. 440.

Bolde’s private connexions are equally obscure but appear to have been restricted to Canterbury and its environs. It is not known whether or not he married. He probably had some legal training which would have explained his usefulness to the city as MP in 1449, and Stone’s description of him as a ‘notary’ may not have been inaccurate. In October 1450, along with Thomas Atwode†, he was appointed one of the executors of the former cofferer, William Wodelonde of Westgate.10 Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone, Canterbury consist. ct. wills, PRC 32/1, f. 50. There are no subsequent references to Bolde after the end of his mayoral year at Michaelmas 1458.