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A Day in the life of John Tomkys a preacher (morning)
Public preacher (Image courtesy of J.Bryan)
It is a short walk for me from my lodgings at the Hall of the Drapers’ company to St. Mary’s church where I act as public preacher. I do important work for the Lord here in Shrewsbury and as a sign of this I am given a seat behind the aldermen for church services. The drapers treat me well and most support my work. Not like the shearmen. Those rude men and boys who try to keep old catholic ways! Not long ago I was followed to my lodgings by a group of them, and a blind minstrel playing a harp, making fun of my attempts to halt such festivities. They have not forgiven me for trying to stop them setting up a pagan tree outside their hall as a maypole. Such nonsense must stop!
This is the Shearmen's Hall outside which the maypole was set up.
How true is "Days in the Life..."?
These dramatised accounts have been created by the Discovering Shropshire's History team. We used information taken from biographies of these individuals as researched by Bill Champion, author of "Everyday Life in Tudor Shrewsbury". These biographies, with the sources he used, can be seen in full by clicking on the "in depth" buttons on each page.