, one of our ancient English chroniclers, is a writer concerning whom
, one of our ancient English
chroniclers, is a writer concerning whom very little information can now be recovered. Stowe says, “Arnolde
was a citizen of London, who, being inflamed with the
fervente love of good learninge, travailed very studiously
therein, and principally in observing matters worthy to be
remembred of the posteritye: he noted the charters,
liberties, lawes, eonstitucioris and customes of the citie of
London. He lived in the year 1519.
” Holinshed, in his
enumeration of writers, at the end of the reign of Henry
VIII. mentions him. as “Arnolde of London,
” who “wrote
certayne collections touchyng historical! matters.
” From
his own work, it appears that he was a merchant of
London, trading to Flanders. He is sometimes called a haberdasher, probably from being a member of that ancient
company. He resided in the parish of St. Magnus, Lon.
don -bridge,, but at one time, from pecuniary embarrassments, was compelled to take shtlter in the sanctuary
at Westminster. In the year 1488, he appears to have
been confined in the castle of Sluys, in Flanders, on suspicion of being a spy, but was soon liberated; and among
the forms and precedents in his work, there is a charter of
pardon granted him for treasonable practices at home, but
of what description, cannot now be ascertained. It is conjectured that he died about the year 1521, at least seventy
years old.