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During the 16th century, an important emigration out of the southern provinces of the Netherlands occurred.
A first important emigration took place in 1548-1550, followed by a second wave around 1568-1572, culminating in a mass migration in 1582-1585.
In general, historians agree that the persons who left the southern Netherlands before 1568, did so purely for religious reasons. The migrants who left after 1568 may have done so for economic reasons as well.
In volume X of the Publictions of the Huguenot Society of London, in an edition of only 450 copies, and in three volumes in 1900, 1902 and 1907, followed by an index of names and places in 1912, R.E.G. and Ernest F. Kirk published "the returns of aliens, dwelling in the city and suburbs of London, from the reign of Henri VIII to that of James I".
In these four monumental books the Kirks list the names of all the strangers who were living in and around London between 1522 and 1625.
Most of the first names were translated in English and the family names were registered phonetically and accorded with the English spelling, so a lot of names were heavily mutilated.
The Kirks noted all these names maticulously and literally as they appeared in the original documents.
When a part of the role had faded, they used an application, which made the text pop up again for a short period.
Unfortunately, in doing so they damaged the original document even more, so the faded passages are now practically completely unreadable, not even when the most advanced lighting techniques are used.
The Kirks however are estimated very highly, and the original documents, which are often in very bad condition, are hardly ever used.
Andrew Spicer explains very clearly in his book on "the French-speaking Reformed Community and their Church in Southampton 1567 - c. 1620" that these religious refugees were considered strangers by the law, because they were born overseas, and had to pledge loyalty to a foreign king.
The English law inflicted several restrictions and discriminations on them, as well in the political, economical and socio-cultural field.
The "aliens" were not allowed to exercise a political mandate, could not go to court, could not buy houses, and they they had to respect all kinds of economical restrictions.
They had to pay double the amount of taxes in the lay sunsidy as the indogenous people.
These rules were applied to their children as well, even if these were born in England.
A "straunger" could free himself from certain restrictive regulations by denization.
A denizen had the right to exercise a profession and could employ four "servaunts" and he was alowed to pass on his goods by testament to his children who were born in England.
The procedure of patent of denization was quite expensive, and took several months.
A request for naturalisation was even more expensive, and this procedure demanded even more patience.
On the 22nd of april 1549, a list was made of all the taxes payed by the strangers who lived in the district of Surrey.
In this list of "straungers there beyng householders", in the burgus of Southwarke, more exactly in the "Seynt Olaves Parysshe", we find a first possible relative of our ancestors...
The value of the goods of John Vanrock was estimated 20 florins, and he payed a tax of 12 shillings.
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This anonimous etching from 1612 shows us London, as seen from the southern bank of the river Thames. In the foreground we see the district of Southwark, with the Saint Olaves church just to the left of the beginning of London Bridge.
From the 13th to the 15th century, Southwark was a magnificent location for the upper class.
In 1550 the city of London bought Southwark from king Edward VI for 647 £ and it was incorporated as the 26th district of the "Bridge without ward", the wards on the other side of the bridge.
Although the inhabitants of Sothwark were thus given the same rights as the people living in London, they were not alowed to elect their own aldermen. Juridically Southwark remained dependent of the county of Surrey and the bisshop of Westminster.
There were four parishes : St.-Thomas, St.-Georges, St.-Saviours and St.-Olaves, where there was a Flemish cemetery.
From the second half of the 15th century onwards, immigrants came to London in vast masses.
Thousands of people fled the English country side for economic reasons, and from the continent, the first wave of religious refugees arrived in the metropole.
Just as anywhere else there was no space for the newcomers within the city walls, and they had to establish themselves in the outskirts of London.
Between 1550 and 1630 the number of inhabitants of Southwark quadruppled, especially refugees from Flanders settled in this district.
Foreign craftsmen and merchants, who were not alowed to practise their profession in London, because they hadn't fulfilled their apprenteeship with a London master, were alowed to work in the Bridge without wards, and they created jobs for the many young foreign apprentices.
The result was a very dencely populated district with grimy taverns, prostitution, beggers and homeless.
The poor hygienic circumstances provoqued outbrakes of the pest in Southwark in 1577, 1603, 1625, '35, '36, '37 and 1641.
There regularly were scuffles and tussles, robberies and riots, particularly on sundays, when the apprentices didn't have to work...
And yet, Southwark had a good reputation as well : because of its location on the southern bank of the river Thames near London bridge, there were a lot of respectable inns as well, where the travelers who came from the southern counties could rest for a while and refresh themselves before going into London, and where others who left the city bought provisions for their journey.
At twilight Bow Bell anounced the closing of the city gate, the drawbridge was raised and late arrivers and early leavers had to spend the night in Southwark.
Claes Jansz Visscher painted a panoramic view of London in 1616. The painting measures not less than 7 feet and three inches in width...
On the foreground of the detail presented here below, we find the district of Southwark with the Saint Olaves Church.
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At the end of the 16th century, 4 theatres were built in Southwark. In 1587 "the Rose" was built where the plays Titus Andronicus and Henry VI by William Shakespeare were performed, and dr. Faustus, Tamberlain the Great and the Jew of Malta by Marlowe.
"The Swan" dates from 1594, and in 1599 the Lord Chamberlain's men, a group of actors with among others William Shakespeare, financed the building of "The Globe".
A bit later on, an arena where bull and bear fights were organized before was converted into the theater "the Hope".
We couldn't find an other registration of householder John Vanrock and his family in the later lay subsidy roles.
In more than one history book we can read that a lot of religious refugees returned back to their homes in 1554 when the reign of the catholic "bloody Mary" started, and the reformed refugees were no longer welcome in England.