A wager involving Oliver Davy and White Johanson [1464–65 and recorded 1469–70]

A Wayger made of kunnyng werkemanshipe betwene citezens and goldesmythes of London and aliaunt straungers goldesmythes of the same citie, towne of Westmynster and Borow of Suthewerke, as here after dothe appere.

Hit is to be hade in mynde and to be putte in perpetualle remembraunce in this place that where as a contravercye, demaunde and a question of cunnyng werkmanshipe was hade and mevyd betwene Olyver Davy, citezen and goldsmyth of þe citee of London, and White Johanson, alliaunt strangioure goldsmyth of the same citie, that Englishmen were not so conyng in werkmanshype of goldsmythry as allyant strangioures, in the terminacion of which question the xxj day of Novembre in the iiijte yere of Kyng Edwarde the iiijte [1464] in the taverne called the Popes Hede in Lumbarde Strete in the citie aforesayde, in the presens of Humfrey Hayford, alderman, Robert Boteler, John Byrlyng the elder, and Rychard Mesyngre, citezens & goldsmythes of the Citie of London, Garrade Hawerbeke, Diryke Ryswyke, alliant strangioures & goldsmythes of the same citie, wyth other mo of dyverse nacions, goldsmythes of London. The said Olyver & White Johanson compromyttyd theym, makyng a covande and bounde theyme in leying a wager in the presence aforesayde in manere and forme that folowythe: Fyrst, that Olyver Davy shulde make, worke and grave ynwarde by the handes of an Englyshe man or prentys englyshe in iiij pownsons of stele in the brede of a peny sterlyng a cates face outward enbosyd in one of the sayde pownsons, and the same cates face to be gravyn inwarde in anothere of the same pownsons; and a nakyd man outeward enbosed in the iijde pownson, and a naked man inwarde to be graven in the iiijte pownson. And in lyke wyse the said White Johnson shulde make, worke & grave inwarde be the handes of an alyaunt strangeour or aliaunt childe, takyng hys liberte of whate nacion he wolde, wythin the citie of London, towne of Westmynstre or borowe of Suthwerke dwellyng, a cates face enbosed outewarde and the same to be graven inwarde, and a naked man owtewarde and the same to be graven inwarde, in manere and fourme as hyt is afore rehersed of Olyver Davy.