William Baret

William Baret’s commercial interests expanded dramatically during the early 1370s, as he began to trade in a wide variety of commodities. He was importing wine from Lisbon and between 1372 and 1373 he had licence to export 147 sacks of wool from the ports of London and Chichester. He also suffered some misfortune as his merchandise aboard ships was often plundered by pirates. Nevertheless, his business interests continued to flourish and in 1373 he became a member of the Grocers’ Company. In 1376 he had a brief excursion into selling cloth, although it was from the wool trade that he derived his greatest profits.

Baret invested some of his capital in property both in and out of London. At the time of his death Baret owned other land and tenements in the three parishes of St. Dunstan in the East, St. Peter Cornhill and St. Margaret Patyns. Part of his income derived from his wifeEleanor, as she had property in Writtle, Essex, where she also held the reversion of three messuages and extensive farmland.

Baret played an active part in the government of London, being returned as alderman for five wards of the City, as well as sitting on the common council and holding office twice as auditor of London and once as sheriff. He was also a Member of Parliament in 1381, 1383 and 1388.