Warden of the Mercers’ Co. June 1415–16, 1420–1.
Tax collector, London Nov. 1416.
Common councillor, London by 24 May 1417.
Auditor, London 21 Sept. 1418–19, 1421–1422/3; alderman of Farringdon Ward Within 1 June – aft.26 Dec. 1420; Cripplegate Ward by 20 July-bef. 5 Oct. 1423.
Sheriff, London and Mdx. Mich. 1419–20.
It is very easy to confuse this MP (described in the return for 1417 as ‘John Butler junior, mercer’) with John Butler the elder, a less influential and only slightly older member of the same livery company. The problem of identification is compounded by the existence of a John Butler, draper of London, who can first be identified in May 1395 and who died, a very rich man, in 1436 (E179/238/90; Corporation of London RO, hr 123/120, 195/49; PCC 23 Luffenham). He succeeded the subject of this biography as sheriff of London in 1420 (being then described as ‘commoner and draper’: Cal. Letter Bk. London, I, 245), and may well have been another of his kinsmen.
BUTLER, John II (-d.1423)