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In Hakluyt’s ‘Voyages,’ Park tells us, ‘there is an account of a merchandising voyage to Barbary in the year 1552, set forth by Sir Thomas Wroth and others.’

His name appears in the catalogue of Middlesex gentry,[53] and ‘it is observable,’ says Fuller, ‘that of all in this catalogue, he who went away for his conscience hath alone his name remaining in the County.’ He retained a high reputation to the last, and died at his Manor of Durants, in Enfield, co. Middlesex, October 9, 1573.

The Manor of Hampstead remained in this family till sold by one John Wroth to Sir Baptist Hicks in 1620. This Sir Baptist Hicks was a wealthy silk mercer of Cheapside. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard May, of London, who outlived her husband, and at her death left £200 for the purchase of land, the produce of which was to be appropriated to apprenticing children and assisting the poor of Hampstead.

Sir Baptist Hicks was the son of Michael Hicks, silk mercer in Cheapside, and the younger brother of Sir Michael Hicks, secretary to Lord Treasurer Burleigh. He was brought up to his father’s business, and had ‘great dealings with the Court for his rich silks and commodities from Italy and other foreign parts, by which he made a great estate. Upon the coming in of King James he was sworn one of his servants (anno 1603), and soon knighted.’[54] He is remarkable for having been the first citizen who kept shop after receiving knighthood, and for having built at his own expense, in the midst of the street called St. John Street, Clerkenwell, a building of brick and stone for the convenience of the meetings of the justices of the county of Middlesex, of whom he was one,[55] which had hitherto been held ‘at a common inn called the Castle in St. John’s Street, the resort of carriers and many other sorts of people.’[56]