“Privy Seal 28 July 1509 for Robert Brikenden to be Keeper or Clerk of the King’s Ships in the Realm of England, with 12_d._ a day for himself, and 6_d._ a day for his Clerk, in the same manner as William Comersale,--out of the customs of Exeter and Dartmouth.”
“Letters and Papers, Henry VIII.,” vol. iii. pt. 2, p. 1263.
“Grant 21 April 1523:--Rob. Briganden, of Smalhed, Kent, alias of Portesmouth. Release, as Clerk of the King’s Ships to Henry VII. and Henry VIII., and purveyor of Stuffs and timber for the same.”
From these two documents it appears that Brigandyne’s appointment as Clerk of the Ships in 1509 was a reappointment on the accession of Henry VIII., and that he had held the same office under Henry VII. after Comersale, who may very probably have succeeded Rogiers.
Brigandyne’s name appears very frequently in connection with naval matters down to October, 1525, after which there is no mention of him in the Calendar of letters and papers.
1526 Thomas Jermyn, or “Letters and Papers, Germyn. Henry VIII.,” vol. iv. pt. 1, p. 954.
Patent 1526, April 3rd. Thomas Jermyn, Yeoman of the Guard and Crown, to be Keeper or Clerk of the Navy, and Keeper of the Dock at Portsmouth, with 12_d._ a day, and 6_d._ a day for a Clerk, out of the issues of the Ports of Exeter and Dartmouth.
From this date to 1530 there are numerous entries connected with Jermyn’s accounts as Clerk of the Ships.
circ. 1540 Sir Thomas Spert. Pepys’s “Miscellanies,” vol. vii. (MS. at Magdalene College).
This volume of the “Miscellanies” includes a collection of payments made to the navy between 1537 and 1541. Amongst these are regular half-yearly payments at the rate of _£_33 6_s._ 8_d._ to “Sir Thomas Spert, Clerke of the King’s Ships.”
circ. 1563 George Winter. Addit. MSS. vol. 5752.
This volume contains an order of Queen Elizabeth, dated 16th July, 1563, to Lord Clinton, Lord High Admiral, to deliver certain stores to George Winter, “Clerk of our Ships.” I have been unable to find the date of his appointment to this office, which he continued to hold till his death in 1581. His epitaph in Dyrham Church, Gloucestershire, is printed in Bigland’s Collection. He was brother to Sir William Winter, Surveyor of the Navy and Master of Sea Ordnance.