Richard Arnold (chronicler) facts for kids

Richard Arnold (died around 1521) was an English expert on old things and a writer of history. He lived in London and was known for his interesting book about the city's past.

Arnold was a London citizen who lived near St Magnus, London Bridge. He was a merchant, meaning he bought and sold goods, often trading with places like Flanders (which is now part of Belgium and the Netherlands). He was also a haberdasher, selling small items like needles and thread.

He traveled to Flanders often for his business. At one point, in 1488, he was held in the Castle of Sluys because some people thought he might be a spy. He also faced money troubles and found safety in a special place called a sanctuary at Westminster. Richard Arnold had a wife named Alice and a son named Nicholas. It's not exactly clear when he died, but it was likely around 1520 or 1521.

Richard Arnold's Book

Richard Arnold's most important work is a book about the history and old customs of London. It includes important documents given to the city and details about its traditions. It also has notes on many topics, especially those related to trade and business.

Some people called his book a history book. This is because it starts with a list of London's leaders, like 'Balyfs, Gustos, Mayers, and Sherefs,' from 1189 to 1502. Much of this list came from an old manuscript now kept at the British Museum. Arnold himself didn't give his book a title, but people often call it the 'Customs of London.'

The Nut-Brown Maid Ballad

The most famous part of Arnold's book is a poem called 'The Nut-Brown Maid'. This poem appears without much explanation, right between a section about fees for English merchants trading in Antwerp and a comparison of English and Flemish money.

No one knows of an older version of this poem. Experts believe it was written only a few years before Arnold copied and printed it. However, some historians think it might be older. The person who wrote the poem is unknown. Some think it was translated from an old German poem by an Englishman Arnold met in Antwerp.

The 'Nut-Brown Maid' was very popular and was printed many times in the 1500s. People became interested in it again in 1707. This is when the writer Matthew Prior first saw it and later wrote his own version called 'Henry and Emma' around 1718.

How the Book Was Published

Richard Arnold's book was first printed in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1502. The printer was John Doesborowe. This first edition doesn't have a date, place, or the printer's name on it.

A second edition of the book was published later. This version updated the list of mayors and sheriffs up to 1520, which was probably when it was printed. Experts believe this edition was printed by Peter Treveris, who was the first printer to set up a printing press in Southwark, London. This edition also doesn't have a date, place, or printer's name.

A third edition, with notes by Francis Douce, came out much later in 1811. The original first and second editions are now very rare. Copies can be found in the British Library, the Huntington Library, and the Folger Shakespeare Library. You can also find a copy online at the Internet Archive.