Nicholas Twyford

He was active in London politics, becoming an Alderman for Coleman Street in 1376 and during the reformist Good Parliament backed John Northampton's reforms to give greater power to the lesser trades. He became a Sherriff in 1377 but following a riot in Cheapside in March 1378 between Twyford's goldsmiths and the mayor Nicholas Brembre's Guild of Pepperers, he was dismissed by Brembre for attempting to prevent the arrest of one of the Goldsmiths involved in the riot, although he was immediately reinstated after a group of goldsmiths guaranteed a 500 mark bond. London merchants, even wealthy ones, were rarely knighted in this period. Twyford stood against Nicholas Brembre when he stood for re-election in 1384. There were two major factions at that time in London, the wealthier victuallers around Brembre who were close to the king and the lesser trades around John Northampton who were closer to John of Gaunt. Twyford wasn't fully part of either faction but was closer to Northampton's. Brembre secured his victory by concealing armed men in London Guildhall and Twyford's supporters were chased out. He did replace Brembre's ally Nicholas Exton as mayor in 1388. Richard II advised London to choose as mayor someone "trusty and loyal" but Twyford's election may have displeased Richard as although never a supporter of John Northampton the tribune of the lesser trades, Twyford had regularly opposed Exton. The Merciless Parliament held that year also, finally, stripped London of its right to monopolize the retail sale of goods. He was buried in the Goldsmith's guild church, St John Zachary in Maiden Lane, Covent Garden.

• Name — Nicholas Twyford • Honorific Prefix — Sir • Office — Lord Mayor of London • Term Start — 1388 • Term End — 1389 • Predecessor — Nicholas Exton • Successor — William Venour • Office1 — Sheriff of London • Term Start1 — 1377 • Term End1 — 1378 • Office2 — Alderman of Coleman Street • Term Start2 — 1376 • Term End2 — 1390 • Occupation — Goldsmith