at St Peter, Westcheap in 1544, and whose eldest son by Joan was christened there in 1546. Laxton had also renewed his service for a fifth term as Master of the Grocers' Company. After King Henry's death at the end of January 1546/7, in February his body was borne from London to Windsor. The procession rested a night at Sion House. Ten Aldermen, Sir William Laxton and Sir Martin Bowes each with a retinue of four and the others with three, all in their black coats, rode in the company, their harness and bridles muffled in black cloth. Through the reign of King Edward VI Laxton enjoyed three further terms as Master of the Grocers' Company, in 1548–49, 1550–51, and 1552–53. Following the death of William Lane in 1552 Anne Luddington remarried to the Grocer Thomas Lodge, who was formerly married to Mawdleyn, sister of Stephen Vaughan. Death and Exequies Laxton's will was prepared in July 1556, and he died on the night of 27 July 1556. By his will his stepchildren were fully acknowledged with legacies, though his heir remained his niece Joan Wanton. In his last days he was visited by Richard Grafton and John Southcott to discuss the disposition of his bequests. William Laxton's funeral, on 9 August 1556, was a grand heraldic occasion. In the procession to St Mary Aldermary the body was borne in a hearse with five principals, the majesty and the valence gilt: the house, church and street were decked with black hangings and arms, and there were many penselles and escutcheons: a standard, four pennons and two banners: with a coat armour, helmet, targe and sword, and the crest of a tiger's head with a columbine slipped. There were 34 stave torches, 34 mantle fries gowns for poor men, and one hundred black gowns. The three principal mourners were Thomas Lodge, John Machell and Thomas Wanton, and the Lord Mayor and aldermen were all present in violet gowns, followed by the women mourners, ladies and gentlewomen and aldermen's wives, and many others. After the Dirige the Company of Grocers, the priests and clerks, the heralds, and the Wax-chandlers and others went to the house to drink. On the following day three masses were sung, two of prick-song and one of requiem, and a sermon was preached by Dr. Nicholas Harpsfield, Archdeacon of Canterbury. This was followed by the greatest funeral feast which