T HE O LD GUILDS

ENGLAND

FREDERIC K ARMITAGE

A uthm' o A Sh ort Maso nic Histo r f ”y , Th Masonic Lod es o e ld & e th W r 0 . g f o ,

With Ill ustr a tion s .

W EARE CO .

IN WILLIA M STR ET 53 54, K G E , 1918

‘ I LIST OF AUTHORIT ES.

“ BB ENTA N O : Histo ry an d Deve lo pmen t o f t h e

s Gu ild .

“ i T O ULMIN SMITH : En g l sh Guild s .

“ ui M r h an GR OSSE : Th e G ld e c t .

“ f h Liv r o m an i s HAZ LITT : Histo ry o t e e y C p e .

“ LA MBE R T : Two tho u san d y ea rs o f Gild Life .

“ J O HNSO N : Hist o ry of t h e Drape rs Co mpan y .

“ RO SE DALE : Histo ry o f t h e Ho rn e rs Co mp an y .

MA I TLA N D : To wn ship an d B o ro u g h .

“ a MAR SH Re c o rd s o f th e C arp en ters Co mp n y .

“ ME REW E A T HER an d ST E P HE N S : Histo ry o f th e

Bo ro u g hs .

W “ u o f L o STO : S rvey n do n .

“ i r STUBBS : E n g l sh Cha te rs .

“ UNW I N : Th e u i s an d C o m an ie s of Lon n G ld p do .

“ UNW I N : In du strial Org aniz atio n o f th e l 6th an d

1 7t h n ie s Ce tur .

“ W L O : i s i O ri in an o n s e d i u io n . A F RD G ld , th r g C t t t

Ca e n a o f th e a e n o s in t h c o l d r P t t R ll e Re rd O ffic e .

ec o s o f t h e i e s o f h R rd P p R o ll t e E xc hequ e r .

Re p ort o f Royal Co mmissio n o n t h e Live ry Co m

au l e s 1884 p , .

C O N T E N T S .

A UTHO R I TI ES

C HAPTE R

N O O Y I . I TR DUC T R

E II . R LIGIO US GUILDS

III . ME R C HANT GU ILD S

TRAD E Gu I LDs

V LO . N DO N GU I LDs

V B ILDI E I I . U N G TRAD Gu LDs

I O C H A N D S V I . SC T IR ISH GUILD

V D C O N TI N EN TA L S III . O L GUILD

IN DE X .

Illu tr ti n s s a o . PAGE

' ' Ty pic al Guild Hall Frmz tz spz ece

Merchan t Mark at So u thwark Cat he dra l

ar a t a i n e c an s t S . r c e M r h t M k M y , H t h

Che st o f Trade Gu ild

Arms o f t h e Maso n s Co mpan y

Arms of th e Carp e n t e rs Co mpan y

Th e K in g an d h is Chie f Maso n

Churc h B u ilde r o f 11t h Cen t u ry

’ Maso n s Mark s

T HE O LD GUILDS

F EN LAND O G .

R CHAPTE I .

N R D O RY I T O U CT . A S soo n as me n ba n ded themselves together in mu n s w h com ities , the fir t idea hic o c c u u e d to th em w as that of mu tu al defe n ce n n m an d w n ag ai st attacks of their e e ies ; , he n o n n they lo ger feared those , they bega to g u ard agai n st plots amo n g st themselves an d t h e p u tti n g do wn of the more u nru ly or n m m wh o u n in all disho est e bers , are fo d n m n m associatio s of e . For the latter so e m u n w as n wh o syste of vol tary police eeded , shou ld ban d together to keep an d mai n tai n th e mmu n an d peace of the co ity , the earliest form of this w as the h w hich we fi n d in the n wh o n o u w m n Da es , do bt ere the ea s of i n trodu ci n g the idea i n to En glan d when they in n n r vaded this cou try . Their regulatio s e ferred to su ch violen t deeds as those of

B ' ‘ 8 l N‘ TlZ ODUC l ORY

m u an d m n u m m n rder a sla ghter , ore co mo of It cou rse in th ose days than in ou rs . a member o f the Frith G u ild w as killed or n u w n u n i j red , there ere pe alties to be paid der th e u u an d w e r les of the G ild , hear of these 7 ru les in En gla n d as far back as the year 00 . There is some qu estion i n g a”s to the tru”e deri n w u d vatio of the ord g il , or gild , as i t n l in u m n O n e is ge erally spe t old doc e ts . class of stu de n ts derive it from the Saxo n w n ay n u w ord gilda to p , bei g th s allied ith & G m n w m n y n the er a ord geld , o e , as relati g t o the fees charged for admission to these A m d n l m bodies . ore likel y erivatio is c ai ed from th e Da n i sh u r

an i t m m n by easy process , ca e to ea those n w h o n u prese t at the feast , co trib ted to the n an d n u w e expe ses , so eve t ally arrive at the u n idea of a g ild or corporatio . P EQ G- c Gi t - 0

The first of these Frith G uilds of any im portan ce in E ng lan d is fou n d to have existed ’ as n n w e early as Ki g Athelsta s days , for

n . w 930 wn u fi d a code of la s dated , dra p by an d the Bishop M ayor , or Reeve , as the latter w as n o l n n the called , the City of Lo do , for the u n an d n n Gu r li g gover a ce of the ild . This code seems to have been a collection of bye laws for the govern an ce of the i n habitan ts of n u n n the City , providi g for the p ishme t of hi w n m n l t eves , the a ardi g of da ages for perso a n u n n i j ries do e by the citize s to each other , an d n other matters of a magisterial ature , an d it w as Obviou sly the foreru n n er of others INT RODUCT O RY 9 w hich ' gave si milar powers to th e Trade wn in l G u ilds of other to s ater days . The motto of these Frith G u ilds was Let us all shar”e the same lot ; it an y miss let. all an d w bear it , there ere several of these ' u in m w n b u t in n G ilds the sa e to , Athelsta s days it was felt that there was better secu rity it n an d n in they ba ded together , accordi gly Lon don all the G u ilds un i te d with the c r eep n K n Cn iten w tio of the nighte , or G uild , hich n remai ed se parate .

These Frith G u il ds held mon thly mee ti n gs w th e m n w w n ith a feast , re ai s of hich ere give to the poor ; an d o n the death of a member each brother gave a loaf for the ben efit of the d an d n d n Guil , sa g fifty psalms , or pai someo e m m l n d else to do so . Each e ber a so co tribute fou rpen ce towards a f u n d to reimb u rse me m n an d o n e n bers from accide tal losses , shilli g w n e u e ach he a thi f was to be ca ght . The ra n ks of the members w ere divided i n to bodies te n an d 10 0 m t o n u of each , see s have co stit ted m n n a co pa y u der an ackn owledged leader .

In later day s the G u ilds at Berwick - ou w w c was u T eed , hi h obvio sly liable to raids m Sc o tsmen u u m n fro , p rs ed a si ilar pla to that u an d w n of the Frith G ilds , orders ere give that where several G u ilds were foun d in the m u u n n sa e place , they sho ld ite for defe ce , an d the piou s w ish was expressed that the members shou ld have a stron g an d hearty

' n love for o e a n other . INT RODUCTO RY

The idea of a G u ild bei n g on ce established w u l m n ia w w as m ith a religio s e e e t it , hat ore n u w n m n l n at ral , he the Ro a Catho ic religio w as n an d w n o ce fairly established , he the

’ people of En glan d were ed ucated e n o u gh to t an n in ake i terest its forms , that the priests u u se th e n n u sho ld orga izatio of the old G ilds , 1n d m u o wn u o ld it to their p rposes , so as to g e t th e people to take a person al i n terest in f o wn u an d the a fairs of their Ch rch , to play some part in its ceremon ies ? It is tru e the rsh i ers u n o t an d n pp co ld read , the o ly w a m n m th e y , apart fro preachi g , to teach the hidde n tru ths of religio n w as to i n str uct them e u w h n u n ither by pict res , hic ple tif lly ador ed the walls of th e ch urc hes ; by processio n s w n n an d an d ith ba ers crosses ; later , by in w u r sacred plays , hich they co ld get thei n n u m n n n parishio ers to j oi , th s co bi i g e ter INTRODUCTORY 1 1 o wn n r a in th e u cha t y ch pel local ch rch , or sometimes in the crypt of the n eig hbou ri n g cathedral ; an d each of these Guilds had its o wn chaplain to mi n ister to the spiritu al w n m m w a ts of its e bers . These bodies ere also Frie n dly Societies g ivi n g similar be nefits to those of moder n days by gran ts to members wh o w an d n u n ere sick , provisio s for their f e an d m m u rals , for other si ilar atters . Th s , at w fin u w rm o f e d Exeter , a G ild hich gave a fo i n s u ra n ce agai n st the fires which were then so common w ith woode n hou ses by providi n g ’ if an m m u u u n that y e ber s ho se sho ld be b r ed , m m w n n n each e ber as to co tribu te o ne pe y .

These association s also partook of a social m m n n u character , for ost of the had their a al ’ f n o n n n easts , ge erally held the patro Sai t s u w day . To the G ilds the members ere also , u 1300 n m n after abo t the year , i debted for a y u n m m w w of their s r a es , so e of hich ere derived n a from perso l characteristics , such as Short , n wn an d o n an d Lo g , Bro , Gray , so ; after the ” ’ addition of the word son to the father s n u n n n Th o m ame , s ch as Richardso , Joh so , p so n n o u t m m b ack , had give , the e bers fell o n n n m u an d so adopti g the a es of their G ilds, w e W k ave r u D n an d get , F ller , yer , Carpe ter , m n n m a y others as su r a es .

n m m w The a e of S ith , hich is perhaps the c mm n rob ab l v n o t m o o est , p did come fro a u we fe w w G ild , for hear of ith that short u u w e m n t title , tho gh , of co rse , have the i porta ’ n e m m n n n o of the Golds iths Co pa y of Lo do . 1 2 INTRODUCTORY

w There ere also the trades of Coppersmiths , n m an d u Ti s iths , every village m st have had several Blacksmiths to atte n d to the horses of

th e m an d Man - at - m the Squire , Far er , the ar s , thou gh these blacksmiths w ere n o t su fficien tl y n u m u in fe w b n ero s , except a places , to a d in Gu an d n m themselves together ilds , the a e of Smith has probably come direct from th e me n wh o w w mm trades of those orked ith ha ers , l w u n d n m . hether po gol , iro , or other eta s

n an n u m m Taki g i terest , as the G ild e bers ’

in u u . b e l e ll did , their religio s d ties , it that fu n ds were accu mu lated for masses for the dead a n d d n u an . other p rposes , , after He ry VIII had despoiled the M on asteries an d Abbeys of their h is w as u n u riches , last act to t r to the G ilds , a n d to deprive them likewise of their little h was te oards , though it left to the Pro ctor Somerset in the first year of the followi n g n w V I m reig of Ed ard . to co plete the process of li i n o at o .

w ith the Roma n Catholic Ch u rch that afte r n u a the reformatio there , they too grad ally f ded w n in w a ay . The o ly type of body hich we do n ot ob se r ve the rel ig iou s i n fl u en ce w as that n t Gu i d w n w of the M ercha l , hose i teresh tsm ere W m f stt tlv co n fi n ed t o b u si n ess than the T1 ade Gu fl ds and i n con sequ en ce they h ad n o t

’ th e oppoft u n it ie s w hich the latter en joyed of meeti n g tog ether for social an d religio u s u p rposes . IN’I‘ RODUCTORY 13

O n e poin t is very clearly marked in the history both of the M erchan t an d Trade 4 u an d d in inat in n u G ilds , that is the q g at re of the i n fl u en ce fiimposed the ' t hey de rived birth either fr om the (iiig or ‘ & ' Hié m e ria é tr T h e y— — ' ” os fic 15 fiwv r om e d m fiiids e e 0 fi e l féfl p lass u w e al th r e n w , n nt , vg hile the Trade G ilds bei g m o u t m n n extre ely thrifty , of their s all ear i gs in m u mu c n S i n ti e acc lated o siderable av gs , which the e ye of an y Cha n cellor of the u wh o w as n in Excheq er, represe ted those n m n n an d days by the Ki g , ight lo gi gly rest , b be tempted to impose a tax .

A s n o l u m egal levy of a tax co ld be ade , the idea alw ays was to qu estio n the legality n u n o f an d n t h e of the i sti t tio the body , i vite m m m w n e bers to accept a charter fro the Cro , which wou ld at the same time relieve them from f u rther an xiety from fu rther in t e rfe re n ce a a n d n rs th e n ) also reple ish the coffe of Ki g . In fact n o i lleg ality lay u po n the M erchan t u l u t n n n l b n n I . G i ds , othi g dau ted , Ki g He ry ' m l declared several of the to be illega , or “ ” n m m u an d n . ad lteri e , exacted fi es fro the In t h e m w l n a . sa e y Richard I , for fiscal e ds , in 1388 g e t an Act of Parliame n t passed directi n g the Sheriffs to i nq u ire i n to the work th e u an d n th e n ce ie s of G ilds , to se d to Ki g p an n of y charters w hich they held . The reig n o in of He ry V] . has tw Acts to its credit n n n o n e M25 n c o n this co ectio , of forbiddi g ’ M n Gu d an d an federacies of aso s il s , other of 1436 agai n requ iri n g the G u ilds to record 14 INTRODUCTO RY

w in 1503 n their charters , hile a other Act u G u u m t req ired the ilds to s b it heir acts , or n n n J u t ordi a ces , to the Cha cellor , Chief s ice , u u n u n or J stices of Assize . The ret r s der this are m u r n b u t Act ost val able to the histo ia , it ca n n ot be do u bted that the ma in object of M _ w s m n e v each Act a to get o .

prese n t day have 11 the old Trade

m e ed illegal , 1cts of Pa rliamen t we 1 e passed t m u m o ti e to s ppress the . The was o n e 1 303 w was w b y first of , hich follo ed the Statu te of Labour ers in 13—19 an d an Act n 1 1 t o preve n t M aso s from combi n i n g 11 425 . These all c u lmi n ated in the Act of 1 799 to preve n t combi n ation s of workme n b u t it w as u n u e w w m n u fo d sel ss , ith the gro th of a u an d n in n u m fact res , the rapid i crease the ber w r m n r u to ff u m of o k e eq ired , e ect ally stop the m s u n h r 1 n r 111 fro di c ssi g t ei t ade i te ests , W M an d even tu ally all the Ar ts ag ai n st combi n a tio n s of w orkmen 8 2 w w a w e 1 e 1 4 . The orkma n s still u n de 1 ma n y disabilities in tryi n g to n b u t m n in co federate , he a a g ed to do so the same way as the o ld Trade G u ilds had don e by formi n g Fr1e n dl So r re t ie s Bu t the old w m m 1m n hich ight be dee ed ’ t‘ o be restrai t of was T owe ve? S fii fif an n 1867 é h é d i trade , , fi u r u n n in the Co t of Q ee s Be ch decided , the s m u s ca e of Ho by Close , that s ch societie INTRODUCTORY 15

d n u e rf c tl v w . e ere illegal The ecisio , tho gh p n l aw m w as correct , accordi g to the of the ti e , n o t in w accord ith the spirit of those days ,

le Un n w was Bill to alise Trade io s, hich passed

n . re Un n 187 1 an d ext year as t rade io Act , , fromthat time the Trade Un ion s have become as strong a featu re of pu blic life as the old an d n u u ho o red Trade G ilds . 16

CHAPTER II

THE RE DS LIGI O U S GU IL .

“SHE n ext stage at which w e arrive is the form ation of the were re mote

to w alk in n u o n processio thro g h the streets of York , u Corp s Christi Day , the great feast of the m n u 0 11 t h e u Ro a Catholic Ch rch , held Th rs n u n an d n day after Tri ity S day , therefore falli g in m u n . M ay , or early J e The embers of the G u ild were also fou n d u sefu l to be employed in th e w as performers M iracle Plays , hich w m u t ere pro oted by the priests , so as to p in m m r u n n dra atic for , befo e the lear ed , the n w m great stories of the Old a d Ne Testa e n ts . These members were always w illi n g to pay a small fee for admission to the rights an d an d m m privileges of the society , , to ake the n mn u feel that th eir positio had sole d ties , w l r v r m n r as el as p i ileges , the p iests ad i iste ed to them an oath 0 11 thei r bei n g admitted i n to the b o dv ; 11Te7 featu res both of the fee o n

18 RELIGIOUS GUIL DS

o f r m n n an d w n o h n la g e di e sio s , eighed less t a 1 12d 1 a n d in n . lbs . , additio the Earl paid to the Ca n o n th at keepeth the light before O u r Lady of \V alsin g h a1n for h is re ward for the whole year for keepi n g of the said

t n all - m a light , ligh i g of it ”at service ti es d ily h u r t ro g ho u t the yea .

n t wo v n These plays fall i to di isio s , the M a n d t h e m iracle Plays the M ysteries , for er of wh ich represe n te d sce nes from the historical n arratives of the Bi b le ; o r th e n w n w t m m n life , i ter ove i h iracles , of so e Sai t c whose feast day w as ke pt by the Chu r h . A s these w o uld freq u e n tly i n cl u de t h e ac u n m u n u a u r n co t of so e s per at r l occ re ce , the plays w ere easily disti n g u ish ed by the “ & n m o f a e M iracles . The earliest record of m in 1 100 w n G f wh o the is , he eof rey , after ’ w m b t o f n w ards beca e A bo St . Alba s , rote M n f a iracle Play fo u ded o n the life o St . h n n l in Cat eri e . These w ere frequ e tl y p ayed ’ “ u c w h o in n u Cha ”er s days , , his Ca terb ry w n in 1 388 l w \Vife Tales , ritte , a lo s the of Bath to say that as her hu sban d w as abse n t from home in Le n t she then in t e re s t- h in u O n cd erself religio s bserva ces , a mo n g st w h ich w as a t te n da n ce at these hl 1rac l l a e P ys .

The re fo re I ma de my visit a tio n s T o t h e V i i s an d t o ro c e ssion s g l p , T o e ac in s e ke a n d t o i r ima e s pr h g , , p lg g”, T o a s o f irac e s an d m rr i pl y M l a ag e s . RELIGIOUS GUlLDS 19

Cha u cer made an obviou s mistake in pu tti n g d w n m in n m n o arriage Le t , for the Ro a C atholic Chu rch n ever allow ed them to be u n n n celebrated d ri g that seaso . The seco d class w ere the M y stery Plays which dealt w ith su ch portio n s of the Ne w Testamen t h h an d story as the Birt of C rist , his Death u n w m m n n Res rrectio , hich had a ystical ea i g ; b u t for pop u lar p u rposes both classes of plays w n w n u u s ere k o as M iracle Plays . S ch s cces w as achieved in the acti n g of them by the g u ildsme n that they were a fterwards take n u th e u an d n b wh o p by Co rt the o les , n ow n a m e gag ed their ctors to perfor them .

From 1268 the G u ilds acted both classes w w n in c of play , hich ere arra ged sets , ea h of which w as performed by the membe rs of n u an d in wa a differe t G ild , this y the plays w u an d m m o ld last for three , so eti es for In o n e m eigh t days . fact of the told the w hole Bi ble story from the day of Creatio n u n to the day of J dgme t . There are three s v o n e sets of these plays still pre er ed , of w n wn wn s m hich is k o as the To ley , fro the n ame of the family which possesses the MS w 32 n m d , ith plays , bei g those perfor e ’ “ o o dkirk u m by the Abbey of , fo r iles from ' W ak fild e e .

Other sets of plays comprise those of 48 in n u w n York , mber , hile the Cove try set h a 42 n mb 25 s . Those of Chester u er c om ‘ me n c in w u an d g ith The Fall ”of L cifer , n n w D m an d e di g ith oo sday , there are 20 RELIGIOUS GUILDS

m ou t in 1600 1604 three of the , copied , , an d 1607 b u t n n , certai ly acted lo g before r n u h those dates , for the perfo ma ce of s c plays ceased w ith the close of the l 0th n u t h e u n ce t ry , last fo r taki g place at w u in 1585 n y in 1591 Te kesb ry , at Cove tr , a t w in 1598 an d n in Ne castle , at Ke dal 1 u th e n r u n n m 003 . The a thors of are a ed , b ut they obviou sly mu st have bee n written m n an d w in by Church e , as they ere later m m n days perfor ed by Crafts e , it is fair to s u rmise that the Chaplai n s of the G u ilds w wh o w n ere those rote the later o es .

The e arlier on es w ere w ritte n by the mon ks in Lati n for performan ce in the A Clru rclrme n n bbeys by , the first bei g acted u n in 1 189 w in 1 182 at D stable , hile there is m n n u n o n m e tio of plays , fo ded the iracles w u b m u an d ro ght y the artyrs of the Ch rch , i n terspersed w ith sacred ch an t sf b e in g re pre se n ted in Lon don . Later o n the Fren ch n u w as u an d in o n e th e W la g age sed , of ake field plays Kin g Herod apologises becau se he c n S n n w u n a peak o Fre ch . It o ld have bee idle t o con ti n u e the plays in Lati n if they w m u an d in 1 220 h ere to beco e pop lar , t ere w as a Miracle Play in E n glish performed in a u m n n Th e Harro win ch rch by o ks, e titled g of ” c l n n n 24 n an d n Hel . It o ly co tai ed 0 li es bega w ith a prologu e

ea en t o me n o w All h rk , A strife w ill I te ll y o u f O J e su s, an d of Sat an . R ELIGIOUS GUILDS 2 1

The play proceeds with a dialog ue betwee n O u r an d n in w Lord Sata , hich the former says :

e o o me wi o u sa e ca use Th y t k th t k ( ) , oun m an s t o m ac B d y h d y b k , m a I r wit e e a e an oo . Th y b t , th t h bl d C on de mn e d me t o die o n a roo d ’ ’ Fo r am s sin ce ain t is Ad , rt e i I have su ffe r d a ll th s . Adam tho u hast dea rly paid t n o That tho u lo veds me t . Ada m tho u ha st be e n ful l sore n I wi n o t l ee suf e r mo A d ll e t th f re . ’ I shall b rin g the e o u t o f he ll s pain wi h o i n A n d th t e h ly re g .

To this Sata n an swers

? W h o is tha t I hear t he re I c o u ns e h im t o s ea n o mo e l p k r , Fo r h e may so mu c h do h at h e s a u s c ome t o T h ll , Fo r to b e o u r c o mpan io n A n fin h w w re d d o e prove he .

w l ’ m Other speakers ere He l s porter , Ada , n an d s Eve , Abraham , Joh the Baptist , M o es , wh o each speak in the same i n teresti n g n n ma er .

was in 13 11 u n It that , at the Co cil of n n th e m n u d Vie a , Ro a Catholic Ch rch resolve u pon the reg ular keepi n g of Corp u s Christi an d w Day , after that the M iracle Plays ere seen regu larly o n that day ou tside the u an d on n ch rches , the village gree s , per formed by artisan s wh o were members of RELIGIO US GUILDS

u d n ni n n g il s , as bei g the ost i tellige t class I ”? (If ” or The me s seng e r Hell in E n glish w as agai n st n an d w as n o t the traditio s of the Church , b u t in 1350 m n approved by it , a o k of C u s r Ran u l h Hi de rr m n o hester , u ed p g , ade less tha n three j o u rn eys to Rome to obtai n leave n in n an d for the plays to be spoke E glish , he was u ltimately su ccessfu l in obtai n i n g the r rn i i e ss o rr of the Pope for th is pu rpose .

' f n n A ter this co cessio , the M iracle Plays u son re wh at n n grad ally adopted a cha ged to e , a n d n u m n u in o n e i trod ced co ic i terl des , of w hich there was a wrestli n g match betwee n a m an d n w in n w as aster his serva t , hile a other m w n n a co ic scen e bet ee Noah a d his wife . “ ’ Of th”is class w as The Secon d Shepherd s n n in o n e To wn ele Play , co tai ed of the y n w w as u collectio s , hich played abo t the year 1450 an d n b u t , prese ted the birth of Christ ; , w as n u before the Bible story g ive serio sly , ’ there w as a scen e of the shepherd s w atchin g f o n D n r r n over their locks a cold e ce b e ight . d They all fell asleep , except a shepherd calle wh o o n e o f h an d n M ak , stole the s eep , taki g ’ u t in b n i t home p it the ba y s cradle , coveri g “T it w . n w ith a sheet he the shepherds a oke , ’ an d n they discovered their loss , goi g to M ak s u l o c ke d b n in w n ho se , y cha ce the cradle , he the followi n g dialogu e took place

3 rd Sh eph e rd i e me e a e h im t o iss an d i t u t h e c ou G v l v k , l f p l t . T “ a t h e e i is is it h as a o n sn o u I h t d v l th , l g t RELIGIOUS GUILDS 23

2a d Sh eph e rd s u n w e b I n ow a wa s c o me s o u o ut Ill p , k , l y f l . He is like to o u r shee p

& ml Sh eph e rd 1 kn o w c a ttle will c re e p W e re t e s o u n o t o h h y h ld g .

& ml Sh ephe rd I n o w him b t h e ea r ma r a a oo k y k , th t g d

to ke n .

Ma ];

I u i s i s e o s h s n o e is o e n . t ll y , r , br k

Notwithsta n di n g this feeble exc u se the an d in thief is detected , M ak is tossed the w n o ff an d sheet hich is s atched the sheep , w the play proceeds ith the Bible story .

An other M iracle Play w as called Abra

“ an d an d in ham Isaac , is preserved the n l collectio of early plays at Brome Ha l , 0 u f n u 148 . S folk , bei g dated abo t There w n t wo in an d ere o ly performers it , it pre a n w u an n t serves stately dictio , itho t y lapse i o m an d w s co edy , may be regarded , ith other of n m n its class , as the pio eer of the school of oder Tragedy in the same way as the comic i n ter l u des of the Miracle Plays paved the way t o the Comedies of the days of Elizabeth ab ou t

100 years later .

The play begi n s as follows

Abraha m

ise u m c i an d as c ome i e R p y h ld , f t h th r , M e n e a irn a art so wis e y g tl b th t , Fo r we t w o c il mus o to e e , h d , t g g th r A n d u n to my L ord make sacrific e 24 RELIGIO US GUILDS

I sa ac

I am u e a m a e 10 f ll r dy , y f th r, E en at th an I s a n ri e re v y h d t d g ht h , A n d wha tsoeve r ye b id me do s a b e on e wi a c ee It h ll d th g l d ”h r ,

u w an fin e . F ll e ll d

The zealou s n atu re of Abraham is well

u . o u t w n n bro ght , hile the resig atio of Isaac to w n d wn c o n the ill of Heave is delicately ra , clu di n g w ith the prayer :

Fa e o f e a e n t o e e I c r Ah th r H v th y , Lo a mi me in o t h an rd d t t y h d . at which mome n t the An gel opportu n ely ap ’ an d a i 1 pears Isa c s l fe 8 saved .

w e n u As have see , Cha cer says that the w rm in n b u t plays ere perfo ed Le t , here he mu 1 w as n st have e red , for it the that the r w n n playe s ere chose , the first rehearsal bei g in w an d n in W held Easter eek , the seco d hit su n w w n w w eek , he the players ere regaled ith an d l n n cakes ale , paid for by a evy , ra gi g m n n u n o n m m fro a pe y to fo rpe ce , each e ber u of the G ild .

The performan ce u s u ally took place o n ' Corp u s Christi Day w hich gen erally fell in u n w n u mm w as n J e he s er adva ced , so that fin w m n e eather ight be expected for the ope in air performan ces . These started at four n n an d da the mor i g , lasted all y , the plays n an d bei g repeated several times , the stage moved to differen t places in the town for all

26 RELIGIOUS GUILDS

u n n an d n q ite a ovelty the , the e try reads ’ m d e n u n Ite , pai to H rvy for his childre po u 20d w n n St . L cy Day , , hile a other e try show s that the stage cost u mier w as in evi “ n m w e de ce at the ti e , for ”also get Paid for n m n l 3d hiri g of gar e ts , .

O n e may ask wh y the players of these M ysteries shou ld have been drawn almost excl u sively from the ran ks of the members of u an d n w s the Trade G ilds , the a s er appear to be draw n from the circ u mstan ces of the n u n perso ality of the pop latio of those days .

-

n . u The three prese t day grades of pper, m an d w n iddle lo er classes existed the also , u s n n wh o the pper clas es bei g the obles , had s u n b u t w n ome little ed catio , ere above bei g w w s w play actors , hile the lo er clas es ere the a u u u w n o u n an d gric lt ral labo rers , ith ed catio , n an d u u n fit d te little aspiratio , q ite for the u p rpose .

The large n u mber of members of the Trade G u ilds u n dou btedly formed the middle c o f an d u u n o t lass those days , tho gh they co ld read or w rite — pri n ti n g an d the con sequ en t w ave of educatio n in E n glan d n o t comi n g i n to — vog u e till after l 47 5 they w ere at all even ts u me n an d u m a s perior type of q ite the aterial , w hich with some care cou ld be mou lded i n to b u f u n etter st f . Each G ild too had its chaplai , wh o was the motive force of the machi n e that an d n w as drove the plays , his perso ality of great i n fl u e n ce u pon the habits an d lives of t h e u m n n m n g ilds e . The chaplai as stage a ager RELIGIOUS GUILDS 27

an d prompter wou ld read an d re - read th e rs an d w n parts to the playe , ith daily repetitio w o f m an d the ords became familiar to all the , w n l w a n d allo i g a litt e for liberty ith the text , m n a n n u for move e t d eve ro gh play amo n gs t w n m w the actors , the ords at le gth beca e ell kn ow n t o all the liste n i n g members of the u d n n o n m n u d G il , so that a yo e e erge cy co l an in m e w as take y part the , for th re more e n n in u rdle s an d n e c e s ve ess the vario s , less s it n n e y for actors of leadi g parts , tha becam u in the vog e the days of Elizabeth . After that m w n n an u n ti e , ith pri ti g everyday occ rre ce , a n d u n m s a little ed catio for the iddle cla ses , the prod u ctio n of the plays n ecessarily became n m an d n e w n n eve ore easy , ra ks of professio al m u n n play actors ca e po the sce e .

E ven the Gu ilds sometimes became slack in u n y the reg lar performa ce of their pla s , for the players dou btless gre w tired of the lon g u u n w h ad m an d ho rs d ri g hich they to perfor , w find in 467 n n w m e e 1 that , , ordi a ces ere ad u n W w h by the G ild M ercha t of orcester , hic t h e u of cou rse had character of a boro gh , a n d n l u f t co tro led the Craft G ilds, to the e fec “ v n w n t h e that the fi e pagea ts every year , he ” m n u d crafts e sho l go to do service to God , w ere in fu t ure to be more strictly kept .

The performan ce of these plays n aturally m m n o n m ade a great i pressio the perfor ers , an d the n ames of the characters i mperson ated w u n m a in s o ld cli g to the , so th t after day ‘ n m an d n as the a e of Pope , Bishop, Ki g RELIGIOUS GUILDS

U characters remai n ed as a memory to all . p to the begi n n i n g of the l oth ce n tu ry o u r forefathers in E n gla n d ma n aged to get o n in t h e w orld w ith o n ly their Christia n n ames n n b u t 9 50 as a desig atio , after the year , or ou u n m w u n n n n thereab ts , s r a es ere fo d co ve ie t , an d for some of these the titles of the parts d m in m u playe ca e ost helpf lly .

In York there are preserved the records of the performan ce of pagea n ts played there in th e m W m n ti e of the M ayor , illia Al e , com w n u n piled by the To Clerk , Roger B rto , w fif — u t u n hich gives a list of y fo r differe t G ilds , a n d n the part each of them took i the plays . ’ u n n u wh o Th s the first is the Ta ers G ild , showed the creation of An gels an d the fall u w n of L cifer , hile the seco d related the part ’ n u wh o w take by the Plasterers G ild , dealt ith n w w m the creatio of the orld , hile after the ’ m d u wh o d w co es the Car Players G ild , ealt ith n m a d the creatio of Ada n Eve .

There is also a rhymed accou n t of the performa n ce of the Chester plays in the days n A n n w a m w of the M ayor , Sir Joh y , fro hich it appears that the plays w ere writte n by a n n m n d I mo k of Chester Abbey , a ed Re all . t is stated that

is o rth n i A n n wa e n a o o f is Th y k g ht , y , th M y r th gri ty , is or e r t o o a s e c are t o o u s a Th d k , d l y I h ll ,

a b w e n - o u o cc u a io n s a s c ra s o r Th t y t ty f r p t , rt , ft m s e ie s y t r , RELIGIOUS GUIL’DS 29

The se p ag e an ts shall be pl aye d after brie f r ars e he al . Fo r e ve ry p ag e an t t o b e pro vide d wit h a ll In w ic so r w e u r o se is W i su n t i e h h t p p th h t ”d , u r a e an in o r e ar s o i i O p g t t th e p t t d v d e .

The carriage in which it w as performed w as o n w w two in w heels , ith stories , the lo er w a n d o n u of hich the actors dressed , the pper a n w part they played , the c rriage bei g heeled from place to place in the city .

There are records of n o less tha n twelve u u in w an d m religio s G ilds Nor ich , a si ilar ’ ’ n u m in n n n w ber Ki g s Ly , hile at Bishop s n n th w n n h n n Ly e m ere i e . T ey had a gover i g y an d n wh o m bod , a chaplai , perfor ed daily “ masses i n the G u ild Chapel or cha n try attached to the parish chu rches of big town s for the repose of the sou ls of the fou n ders of the G u ild an d its deceased members ; an d o n w n u m n later , he the Trade G ilds ca e i to u n w u vog e , these cha try chapels ere sed for religiou s purposes in con n ectio n with the u w n m h an d in Trade G ilds hose a es t ey bore , m n l n w n n m a y cases are stil k o by those a es , ’ ’ Dve rs an d as the Chapel , the M ercers Chapel , others .

The first of these chan try chapels in E n gla n d was erected in 1140 at t h e Chu rch u in w n u of B rford , Oxfordshire , here eve t ally three other chan try ch apels were added . Nau v parish chu rches had these n e w chapels d m n t w we ma m n n adde , a o gs hich y e tio RELIGIOUS GUILDS

n n an d in u Cire cester , Bosto , partic lar the u n w c o n ch rches at Cove try , hose three spic u ou s spires still attract the eye o f the n t h H visitor as he passes dow e igh Street .

Thou gh n o lice n ce from the K i n g was n u u appare tly req ired to establish s ch a body , u n o t 0 11 w u u n w in it co ld get itho t f ds , hich those days co uld o nly be derived from th e n m n No w m u i co e of la d . here ca e the diffic lty ; n 1216 n u n for , as lo g back as , it had bee fo d agai n st the policy of the fe u dal laws to allo w lan d to get in the ha n ds of ecclesiastical w w n u d bodies , hich ere ever s ppose to die , an d in con sequ e n ce the Ki n g w as deprived of the fi n es which he deri ved o n the death o f “ n n m n a his te”a ts . So the M ort ai , or de d n m n n n an d ha d , Acts ca e at le gth i to bei g ,

i - o for ad l n o f n u rc lnn n v e b e the ho di g la d by Ch e . ’ There is al ways a way o u t of an Act of l arlia n an d th e u w a in y me t , partic lar y the da s we speak of w as”to pay a small li n e to the “ n ff r u a n d Ha aper O ice , or T eas ry , get the Ki n g to give h is lice n ce in M ortmai n for n u u w la ds to be held for religio s ses . So e get in the Sta te Papers the records of the Royal licen ces for the establishmen t of these ’ u n in w l G ilds . O e Ed ard I l . s days is dated 29th u 1349 w in u m J ly , hich is do ble for , for it first gran ts a lice n ce to form a G u ild an d n n n an d frater ity, co sisti g of both brothers in n in n u sisters Bosto , ho o r of the feast of u an d Corp s Christi , to elect a M aster of the u wh o u n n G ild , sho ld bear the a cie t title of l n n o n n n A derma . It the goes to gra t a lice ce RELIGIOUS GUILDS 31 in M ortmai n to allow the Gu ild to hold la n d u £90 n to the val e of , so as to pay six chaplai s m n u n to celebrate ass for the be efit of the Q ee , n W m m s the Pri ce of ales , the e ber of the u an d n an d th e u G ild their be efactors , for so ls w n n . of. all whe they ere o more

Other i n sta n ces are those of the cha n try u chapels at the Ch rches of St . M ichael , n an d n n t h e St . Joh , Holy Tri ity , Cove try , n wh n m 1 23 14 113 lice ces for ich exte d fro 3 to . In later days all these cha pels were u sed by

t h e . u wn an d w e Trade G ilds of the to . shall i n u refer to them n o ur chapter o that s bj ec t . In 1 384 a licen ce was gra n ted for a G u ild of n b u t in the Nativity at Cove try ; , later the m u h ad n an d o n 14 u sa e vear , tro ble arise , th J ly the K i n g appoi nted a Commission to e n q u ire i n to a th reate n ed abu se of the powers of the G u m u an d w m n wh o ild by so e labo rers ork e , whe n ch arged before the M ayor of the to wn w h w n it a breach of its la s , prete ded that they w m m o f u a n d u n o t ere e bers the G ild , co ld be p u n ished except by the Alderma n of that w k u re li iou s body . They ere bac ed p by the g u w n h h e artb u rn in G ilds of the to , so t at great gs an d was n arose , it ecessary to appeal to the n wh o n d mm n n u Ki g , appoi te Co issio ers to e q ire n u n o i to the tro ble . There is record of the re s ul t o f t h e n u y b u t an th e u i q ir , at y rate G ild n t r w n o u n o as . did s ffer , its lice ce revoked

mu a n in There st h ve bee also , each case , a similar licen ce gra n ted by the Bishop of the diocese to allow fo r the chaplai n of the Guild 32 RELIGIOUS G- UILDS

an n u in an d as additio al c rate the parish , to avoid an y friction between this priest an d the W n rector of the parish chu rch . e have a i n teresti n g example of o n e of these lice n ces m W n h in 135 5 fo r fro the Bishop of i c ester , th e m n n w establish e t of a Cha try Chapel , ith w M d l n u t o . a e e priests , at St M ary g Ch rch , lu n sto n - o n - m u n n h n g Tha es , the fo der bei g Jo Rock n wh o was m y , three ti es M ayor of n n c w as Lo do . This hapel established for m th e n u n asses to be said for Ki g , the Q ee , th e u n wife an d h an c e sto 1s an d fo der , his t eir , u r n Th e W n other faithf l departed pe so s . arde a n d his chaplai n s w ere especially directed to abstai n fr om glu tto n y a n d dru n ke n n ess an d n n u in ordered to e tirely avoid taver s ; tho gh , n u w spite of these directio s , tro ble after ards e n su ed owi n g to the n eglect of the Warden to u u properly carry o t his d ties .

In 41 7 V fi 1 n we n d , the days of He ry . , amo n gst the old State papers licen ces from the Ki n g co n firmi n g the establishmen t of u u an d w these religio s G ilds at Bristol Nor ich , show i n g that they had n ot on ly a chaplai n to n u th e b u t h m m co d ct services , t at the lay e bers of the G u ild w ere ru led by an Alderma n an d tw o an d u n M asters , that by the reg latio s of the Society the members had all to w ear su its m m or livery ade of the sa e cloth , so as to n u n m i n prese t a ifor appearan ce n processio s . This same plan w as adopted in the G u ilds of n d n wh o the City of Lo o , had to copy the dress from time to time imposed by the Lord an d w as m M ayor , it fro this fact that the

3 4 RELIGIOUS GUILBS

’ u an d m w m n n m G ild , to y po er ai tai to y life s n d me Go d an d m m an d e . So help y halido ,

It. n i n : by this book . is added sig if ca tly A n d then kiss the book an d be lovi n gly n an d n n received by all the brethre , the dri”k

u an d t n . abo t , after tha depart for that ight

V l ll By the Acts of 1546 of Hen ry . all n w b u t u cha tries ere abolished , to lead p to t u mm n w n his , vario s Co issio ers ere appoi ted n u to make i n qu iries as to their reve es . The res u lts of these were filed in t h e Au gme n tatio n O fiic e w n 1536 , here is a list of cha tries dated , w n n n o n e n hich co tai s refere ce to at Stretto , u n u Il e rick Leicestershire , fo ded by H bert y , s m m o n e o eti e Bishop of Chester , for priest £4 m m There is so e istake here , for there w as n o Bishopric of Chester fou n ded 1541 n o r w as an y till , there a Bishop of other ’ V III n i n s . See beari n g th at n ame n He ry . reig

It is clear these plays were taki n g place ’ u 1558 l n p to , the first year of E izabeth s reig , for in the Act of Un iformity the n passed there is a pen alty placed o n all actors or makers of e n t e rl u de s n m w h o , plays , so gs or . rhy es n mm n spoke agai st the Book of Co o Prayer . in n b u t The plays practically ceased that rei g , o n e was performed by special requ est of the n n m Ki g in th e reig of Ja es I .

Th e mysteries also flou rished in Fran ce on m n in n n an d si ilar li es to those E g la d , the text of at least t wen ty of these written plays has bee n RELIGIO US GUILDS 3 5

O n n Th . e e preserve”d to us of these , e titled n n u Greb an u Passio , is by Ar o l , dated abo t a in l m n d 1450 n d . a , is poetica for Peace ’ n m n n s in M ercy ask God to pardo a s origi al , u an d u w hich is opposed by Tr th J stice . The matter is settled by the volu n tary sacrifice of So n Man w n u an d ru the of , he J stice T th an d a n d rm n n embrace Peace M ercy , ha o y o ce r w more reig ns o n earth . The playe s ere the m u an d me bers of the G ilds , the plays took place in a specially erected theatre n ear the u an d m m d Ch rch , so eti es laste for several days .

A most i n teresti n g G u ild existed at Abi n g do n in u Berkshire , called the G ild of the

Holy Cross , from the days of Richard IL , w t n y in 1442 an d hich ob ai ed a Ro al Charter , died out with the other religiou s G u ilds in

1547 . n o n u n It ce tred its activities b ildi g , ’ an d n u n n erected at St . Hele s Ch rch , Abi gdo , mod an d v t wo a stately , chose e ery year proctors to collect alms an d regu late it s n in . u fin proceedi g s It also b ilt a e cross the 45 t n M arket Place , feet high , made of s o e , gilt an d covered with statuary an d coats ’ w w me n in 1644 of arms , hich Crom ell s u u n wn con sidered s perstitio s a d sawed do .

The brethre n of the G u ild also b u ilt two a w bridges across the Th mes , for hich they n n n V n obtai ed a lice ce from He ry . , copyi g the example of a Fren ch g uild of bridge b u ilders wh o erected two bridges at Avign on n d a 7 a c R n in 14 1 . St . Esprit ross the ho e I CHAPTER II .

THE RC H N ME A T GU ILDS .

I N a co u n try like En glan d it w as u n n e ce s sary to plou gh more fields tha n it took t o grow the corn to feed the sca n ty n u mber n n u n of i habita ts , for obviously past re the w as more likely to pay tha n tillage : The habits of the people did n o t call for a large d m an d u w w u iet of eat , tho gh co s o ld be u an d k n w req ired for their milk s i s , still ithout do ubt it w as more easy an d profitable to w raise sheep for the sake of their ool . The n w u w villei s , as the lo est class of labo rers ere w u n m called , o ld atte d to these at very s all w an d w n w n an d ages , eavi g the ool i to cloth flan n el obviou sly became the mai n i n du stry u n Bu t of the co try . , after the clothes requ ired by the little commu n ity had been m w u l wo l ade , there o ld be a arge store of o an d m n wh over , so arose the ercha t or factor o w as u u an d able to acq ire the overpl s , by bu ildi n g h is small ships to se n d it across to n w w as u u an d w n Fla ders , here it bo ght p ove

‘ W fin n e d was u n i to cloth . that it looked po that three of these sea j ou rn eys were accoun ted n u dub v m n e o gh to the tra eller a ercha t .

On e e asily sees h ow other trades mu st have followed in the wake of the wool trade MERCHA NT GUILDS 3 7

th e n m w u for , after cloth had bee ade , it o ld n n an d w eed dyi g , the dyer , ith a big vat , v w an d m dyed for se eral eavers , beca e a m n n . n l n ercha t too The the cloth eeded sel i g , w n u u an d n n an d or orki g p f rther, ador i g , so w e W got the Cloth orkers , the M ercers , the an d n Haberdashers, the M ercha t Taylors , all of whose n ames w e recogn ise as those of City u w w w G ilds hich ere after ards formed .

These mercha n ts also saw the advan tage which w ou ld accru e by their c o - operati o n w w n w ith others , hich also mea t the po er of ove n i in o wn an d g g their affairs , the idea of ' h u m m n m difi t e o e d Frith G ild ca e to their i ds , n ow n n an d accordi g to their trade eeds , the G u ilds of t h e M ercha n ts became an ao In m u n complished fact . a small co m ity , the mos t mi nu te even ts become of importa n ce ; an d in n n a m , the E gla d of those days , s all collectio n of people was looked u po n as a w an d w w h u n cro d , vie ed it s spicio , so that , w n was m w as he a society to be for ed , it always n ecessary to get the leave of some i wh o u was n h gher body , , of co rse , the Ki g . So it came abou t that the Ki n g claimed to l w d have the right to al o , or forbi , the forma n an d t tio of these bodies , to ake fees for n n m A n lice si g the . list of these lice ces , w n in n n in w ritte Lati , has bee pres”erved hat w as n wn Itolls m k o as the Pipe of the ti e , w hich was the modern equivale n t of the u an d n n m old Treas ry , gla ci g over so e of the h nr w fin d t e . e rolls of days of He y II , that , in 1 17 7 m n £10 , the ercha ts of York paid to 38 ME RCHANT GUILDS

n n n d n r . u a He y I as fi es for its G ilds , Notti g h am w in 1 182 m n hile , , the ercha ts of n in n a n d m n n Tot es Devo , so e of those of Lo do , paid fi n es for G u ilds which they had e s t ab lish e d w u w n t a n d w w itho t arra , hich ere “ calle t ad u lteri n e This moveme n t of the Crow n in later days c u lmi n ated in the G u ilds n m w applyi g for for al charters , hich had the do u ble effect of be n efitin g both the Ki n gs an d u m th e the G ilds , for the for er got fees for n t a n d n u g ra , the latter obtai ed a clear a thority n u u for their existe ce , s bj ect , of co rse , to the n n n u in charters bei g a lled , as some cases n w u n happe ed ith a capricio s mo arch .

O n n in this poi t Pro”fessor Pollard , his n n n n History of E gla d , i s of opi io that a n u t wn n n large mber of o s had bee gra ted , or n d . a n rather sold , charters by Richard I Joh , n o t becau se these mo n archs w ere i n tereste d in mu n n b u t u icipal developme t , beca se they w an ted mon ey ; an d also that the bodies which ’ h ad the mea n s to pay the Ki n g s price w ere gen erally the local M erchan t G u ilds ; which thus were e n abled to de velop meas u res for n m n better local gover e t .

This word adu lteri n e w as a favou rite o n in m n m n an e early Nor a ti es , to de ote d u n u an . a thorised , therefore illegal , act After m n u w as the ti e of the Co q est , it the desire o f n wn an d e every big la do er lord , for purpos s ow n of safety , to erect his castle but as this migh t possibly be tu rn ed i n to the mean s of attack agai n st the Ki n g i n stead of defe n ce ME RCHANT GUILDS 39

a n w n e i h b o u 1 1 0 m ] n gai st a arlike g , a lice ce u i o se w as u an d we fin d 1 1 1 for this p p req ired , the State Pape1 s ma n y 1 e c o rds of these bei ng n m h v n . I o we Le i gra ted so e cases , er the ds p u t. u p thei r b u ildi ngs withou t the n ecessary n an d m He my m lice ce , fro the days of fro ’ 1 0 n w s n ll l s in 2 1 0 . n 1 16 o ard , till He ry reig , ma n y of these u n a uthorised b u ildi n gs were u n a n d m m m w fo d . fro ti e to ti e they ere razed th e u n n u n to gro d as bei g ad lteri e castles .

It mu m m in n n n w st be re e bered , co ectio ith in th e 12 c n u the Pipe Rolls , that th e t ry the whole reve n u e of the State belo n ged to the n an d h was n o n n we n Ki g , t ere disti ctio bet e u sed by th e Treas ury fo r p u blic pu r poses an d those for the. Privy Pu rse o f the n un w u So vereig . Both these f ds ere reg lated L n wh o was m fre by the ord Cha cellor, ost u n an c an d n o t q e tly ec lesiastic , probably did fid m m w u n hi self at ho e ith fig res ; for in course of time he left the Excheq u er part of h is w an a n wh o n ork to assist t , joi ed the title m to an d of his e ployer that of the office , thus n n e w f n th coi ed the title o Cha cellor of. e Ex u an d m an n n d n fi cheq er , beca e i depe e t of cial w w n to deal ith the hole of the State reve ues . In order to aid the recovery of debts due to n t u s was the Ki g , a separa e Court of J tice formed un der the style of the Cou rt of Ex u in w n r cheq er , hich the Cha cello of the Ex u l cheq er at first presided , assisted by severa u wh o w u l n J dges , ere by co rtesy cal ed Baro s n Scaccarii an d of the Exchequer (Baro es ) , wh o sat at a table covered with a cloth of a D 4- 0 ME RCHANT GUILDS

- n o n w m n was chess board patter , hich the o ey an d u n t d u w n o t lai d out co e , as Arabic fig res ere n in u se an d m n n u m the , the old Ro a erals had m In u r u rt to be e ployed . co se of time this Co became ope n 'to the ordi n ary su itor for his l u n n n a W p eas , der the pleasa t fictio of rit of u a mino r w u n f Q , hich s ggested that the Plai tif was n n b u t w as i debted to the Ki g , that he u n able to pay his du es as mon ey w as owi n g h im n n wh o w as n to by the Defe da t , accordi gly u mm n u wa m s o ed before the Co rt . It s a alga ’ mated w ith the Cou rt o f Ki n g s Be n ch in 187 3 u n u u u w der the J dicat re Act , p to hich time its J u dges had always bee n styled as n b u t n m Baro s , o ce a year the old ti es are an d n l o f u revived , the Cha cel or the Excheq er , o n l 0th m w the Nove ber , hich is the Eve of n in u in St . M arti , presides Co rt , dressed his u w n n m n f ll robes , he a list of ge tle e eligible to act as Sh eriffs for the variou s cou n ties are n m n n wh o u u n o i ated for the Ki g , s bseq e tly pricks the n ame of the first on the list for each u n w n n co ty ith a golde bodki .

4 M ercha n t G u ilds spran g u p in En glan d probably in sympathy w ith those on th e Co n t in e n t w w n , hich ere formed for the protectio an d w n w u of trade , ” hich had a ce tral areho se n w in w or ha se , here the goods traded ere n u was u n n stored . The Ha seatic Leag e a io n in 1239 n of M ercha ts , formed , by mercha ts m u m at Ha b rg , primarily to protect its embers a gai n st pirates 0 11 the Elbe an d Germa n

n u w n u m me m~ Ocea tho gh after ards , it bered is in 85 wn w fi u be to s ith head of cials at L beck ,

ME RCHANT GUILDS

’ pay for repairi n g the Bishop s Gate in the n in n n w City , the a dilapidated co ditio , hich n u w th e foreig ers ref sed to do . Th ey ere u n u bro ght before the Baro s of the Excheq er , wh o to in 13 17 w n had decide the case , he the n ce an d n n citize s suc eded , the foreig mercha ts h ad 2 10 m an d to pay arks , to agree to repair in u As n w n t . o the gate f ure the citize s had , the M ayor of Lon don could afford to be n u n an d an n g e ero s to the foreig ers , agreeme t w as made that the foreign ers might store the grai n they se n t i n to En glan d for 40 days in fin d m w u order to profitable custo ers , itho t bei n g obliged to sell it to the fi rst comer ; thou gh in later times the importatio n of n w w as n u n foreig heat forbidde , less there w as in n n an d a scarcity E gla d , the prices of n 6 3 8d th u w h ad . d . e an heat rise above q arter , barley abo ve

E n co u raged by the s u ccess of the German n m n n in 1282 traders , certai ercha ts of Ve ice a n wh o n lso applied to the Ki g , g ra ted a charter w n m in n n allo i g the to trade E gla d , as freely as n n n an d h y w the citize s of Lo do , t e ere also , u n w o n u tho gh alie s , allo ed t belo g to the G ild n n n M ercha t of Lo do .

All the G u ilds even tu ally w ere r uled by an an m n an d officer called Alder a , , as a place t n w as n u of mee i g ecessary , a G ild Hall for m wa n t he s erected . I the same w ay these Han seatic merchan ts were allowed to have t ru n n wh o w heir li g Alderma , had , ho ever , to n th e a n n an d be prese ted to M yor of Lo do , MERCHANT GUILDS 43

We n n approved by him . me tio these foreign u n u n traders , as they m st have had a great i fl e ce o n n on e s wh o m the E glish , copied their ethods an d n n n n of trade , the co ti e tal form of gover m n n o wn u . e t of their Leag e , or ha se

We can n o w carry o n th e story of the n u an d f n E glish traders a step f rther , i d the E n glish merchan ts copyi n g the tactics of the n m n an d n t o wn foreig ercha ts , havi g heir n u in w n a n d w t Ha se , or G ild , each to , , ha was m n n w n n ore , obtai i g po er to forbid a yo e in h wn n to trade t at to , except he belo ged to u w n ot n e the G ild . Trades ere the so divers as to allow of separate M erchan t Guilds for e an d o ne u n m t o ach trade , G ild M ercha t see s wn b n n . have ee appoi ted for each to Thus , in 1264 n n , there is a gra t to the citize s of W h h n w orcester to ave a Guild M erc a t , ith a n and n o o ne n o t in G was b e Ha se , the uild to w u n in wn allo ed to do b si ess the to , except by n l special leave of the citizen s . This gra t a so goes on to refer to some local con dition s o f s u w as m ervit de for , obviously , there so e lord n w n h ad n t h e ear , hose villei s escaped i to w n and n u in w h ad to , take p trade , hich they m u u b u t wh o proved the selves sef l , might be y n u n reclaimed b the lord . Co seq e tly the c u h w n a harter clipped s ch rig ts , by allo i g n m n wh o n in bo ds a , had bee trade for a year a n d an d w as in n n a day , the Ha se , to remai m h i t n t free fro s lord he cefor h . There are n u m u m n o n e in 1 27 7 ero s other si ilar gra ts ; , , bei n g to the b u rgesses of Walli n gford to have a G u ild M erchan t with all its c u stoms an d 44 MERCHANT GUILDS

ws an d is n d th e free la , it clearly defi e that o nly authority its members w ere subj ect to w as h l n u In t at of the A derma of the G ild .

w - o n - w in 1302 the case of Ber ick T eed , , the Alderma n is n o t me n tio n ed b u t the Guild is directed to choose yearly a fit an d discreet

M ayor .

The regu lar method of obtai n i n g a charter for a G u ild M erchan t was for a peti t io n to be presen ted to the Ki n g by several of the wn n n w w to sme , setti g forth their ishes , hich w as followed by a formal e n qu iry as to w w n u in as e ot . hether it d sirable or Th s , 1 340 n u , Cove try desired to have s ch a Guild n on u n for the be efit of its trade , acco t of the wn n n to bei g so far from the sea . Accordi gly the Ki n g directed an e n qu iry to be held by an n h im n w h Escheator appoi ted by , sitti g it w an n u w as a Jury , to decide hether y i j ry wn an d likely thereby to occur to the Cro , the u n u w as res lt bei g favo rable , the charter n wi u u u n gra ted , th the s al cla se givi g the G uild power to make ordin a n ces for the well n an n n h u ruli g d gover i g of t e G ild .

T u in “ u an d in B ilth , ales , also had a G ild , 1383 th e was n b u t it charter co firmed ; , as w as n m w as o ly a s all place , it expressly provided that the G u ild w as n o t to seek to forbid outsiders to its ran ks to trade in the u u y i town an d its s burbs . Obvio sl by th s time the privileges of the G u ild M ercha n ts w n n n d w n an d ere begi i g to break o ; , by 1 400 n w as in n n fo r , their reig over E gla d , MERCHANT GUILDS 45 the power of the w orkers h ad beg un to be A n m n felt . i pressio of the seal of the Guild n n m 1200 M ercha t of Gloucester , dati g fro , is w n n n preserved , hich co sists of a represe tatio o n e u u n of of the city g ates , s rro ded by the w in n u ords , Lati , The seal of the b ”rgesses an d h n u gild of M erc a ts of Glo cester .

W n in n n n u he trade E g la d bega to flo rish , an d w n th e ff n w r m he co ers of the Ki g e e e pty , ’ what was more n atu ral than for th e Ki n g s advisers to co n sider if they cou ld n o t get for ’ h im n a share of the mercha ts profit , by pu tti n g a tax o n the commodities they dealt in ? u mm n in d o f Tr e , the Co o s the ays w d wn n o u Ed ard VI . , laid o that taxes sho ld be imposed w itho u t the con sen t of Parliamen t b u t n n ecessity , especially the ecessity of n n w n o law an d u Ki gs , k o s , this r le of the m n w o n Com o s , though it looked ell paper , w n In 1 3 n n o t i . 30 did ork practice , mo ey w as w n b u t u a ted ; it had to be got tactf lly , an d m n w , as the ercha ts ere those to pay , a n n m w as co fere ce of the , at York , called by the n u w n n u Ki g , tho gh they ere stro g e o gh to decli n e to pay an y higher d u ties than they had don e before .

In w m the days of the three Ed ards , fro 1272 137 7 n m w to , the Ki g , someti es ith , m m w u u so eti es itho t , the a thority of Parlia m n b u t w y t m n u n e t , al a s af er for ally co s lti g m n u t o n u the ercha ts , p taxes vario s articles , pri n cipally 0 11 the wool produ ced in th e u n r an d u in 1297 co t y , sold by them . Th s , , 46 ME RCHA N T GUILDS

w l u n i m n Ed ard . , by the Stat te , the co f r atio m n o u m of the Charter , pro ised to take c sto s from merchan ts w itho u t the con se n t of the m b u t u real , he expressly excepted the d ties o n w n an d n ool , ski s , leather as havi g already been expressly give n to the Ki n g u mm n u u n by the faithf l Co o s , s ch d ties bei g den omi”n ated th e hereditary cu stoms of the wn A n in 1 43 w in . 3 Cro gai , , Ed ard war n u t order to pay his ex pe ses , p a tax of 40 m o n a c w o arks each s k of o l exported , which the Common s tried to a n n ul o n the grou n d that it was t h e E n glish wh o w ere an d n o t n wh o n taxed , the foreig ers , decli ed u to pay any more for the w ool they bo ght . w n n As , ho ever , the mercha ts had co ceded

n an d . w as the poi t , as the tax already pledged to those wh o h ad adva n ced mo n ey to th e n was n o m a nd t h e Ki g, there ore to say , n Bu t t collectio of the tax proceeded . , af er w as o n e n m a n d all , it thi g to i pose a tax n an d u n w as a other to collect it , the q estio h o w this sho u ld be do n e for w ool an d other goods might be se n t o u t of the co u n try from w w as n o an d places here there tax collector , o b vi u s the d u ty wo u ld thu s be lost . The o n w as c pla to have fixed or staple pla es , w u w here all goods sho ld be stored , hich w u an d in 1353 u ere liable to d ty , the Stat te a w as w of the St ple passed , hich directed that n w an d t in an d w E glish ool hides , , lead , ere to be sold at certai n Staple tow n s in En g

n an d n an d n ot w . la d Irela d , else here These

n wn w w - ou - n E glish to s ere Ne castle Ty e , York , n n w W m n n Li col , Nor ich , est i ster, Ca terbury , MERCHANT GUILDS 47

W n n a d . i chester , Exeter , Bristol The trade of W w as n o t an d m n ales large , Car arthe su n w n w as pplied all its eeds , hile Irela d e n u n 1V at e rfo rd an d repres ted by D bli , , Cork , w n w w Drogheda . Other to s ere after ards m n w was added to these , a o gst hich Calais , chosen o n acco u n t of its proximit y to l n o u r u w F a ders , largest c stomer for ool . 1390 w as u u n s By , Calais tho ght de irable for u r n this p pose , as it perhaps stopped foreig m n m m n a n d d n ercha ts fro co i g here , accor i gly “ a n Act w as the n passed en acti n g th at the m n n Staple be re oved from Calais to E g la d , a n d be holde n in the places me n tio n ed in the Stat ute of the Staple of 27 Edward l t w w n o n to n c , ho ever , e t e a t that every alie n bri n g in g goods to E n gla n d was t o fin d u b u u w s s reties to y here g oods s ch as ool , l t in u eather , fells , lead , , b tter , cheese , cloths, an d other commoditie s of the lan d to the val u e of half the merchan dise brou ght b v h im l l 13 ) n e w in f v0 111 l . i a he e y Calais agai g , an d aga i n it was e nacted th at all wool an d fells exported w ere to be taken there fo r sale w ith a n except io n for the mercha n ts of n n G n Ve ice a d e oa .

The ti me h ad obviou sly come to c u rry u w n an d n favo r ith the foreig er , accordi gly t wo other Acts were passed in the same n w n o sessio , the first of hich provided that n n n n was w de ize of E gla d to carry ools , leather , n or n n fells , lead , bei g mercha dise of the a o u t n m u n n St ple , of the ki gdo , po pai of u n forfeit re of the goods , those rights bei g 48 ME RCHANT GUIL DS

n n w reserved for stra gers . The seco d Act as ' a n in n n s an d n t lesso good ma er , e acted tha n n n s u w l mercha ts , bei g stra gers , ho ld be e l an d courteou sly an d rightly u sed an d n n n t u gover ed , to the i te t tha they sho ld h ave the greater cou rage to repair i n to l n En g a d .

At eac h of the S taple tow n s there w as a

w - w w o an d s eigh house , here the ol other good u w h o n e W m n co ld be eig ed , the at est i ster ' e n n u n b i g ear St . M argaret s Ch rch , the ave ’ wh w e in th e w of ich , as read pages of Sto s “ ” u o n d n was n S rvey of L o , erected joi tly by the parishion ers a n d the mercha n ts h In n of t e Staple there . each of the tradi g town s the Staple was con trolled by the M ayor an d n wh o w n t co stables , ere appoi ted , mos n th e n an d n fairly , joi tly by E glish foreig n u u n n mercha ts s ally e gaged i trade there . d u w s All isp tes ere ettled by the M ayor , as n in n an d o n e represe t g the E glish traders , by n m n n n foreig ercha t , as represe ti g the other in terests .

Every effort w as made in the 14th ce n t u ry n u w in n n an d to e co rage holesale trade E gla d , as there were then n o local courts w here merchan ts cou ld speedily recover mon eys du e m w ’ to the , the legislators of Ed ard I . s days passed in 1385 a most ben eficial Statu te of n Un mm h . w n M erc a ts der this , he a co ercial n n m n t u tra sactio took place , the ercha bro ght u n n his b yer before the M ayor of Lo do , or s m w n m o e chief arde of a city , or of so e

50 ME RCHA NT GUILDS

n w fin d in h e t e a poi t , St te papers , a black mark agai n st the n ame of the merchan ts of wn l & n in 1395 wh o the to of osto , , had de fra u de d u m an d w n i n their c sto ers , the Cro , various w ays by deceits excessive weighi n gs an d u i ch ase s an d w fi p of g oods , ere of cially n h t u Ric al d . b u reported to the Ki g, II , do bt l a ai do n w as u an m ess p p rchased , by a ple s um m n w n o t m n n d in of o ey , hich is e tio e the w n n ritte chro icles .

The M erchan t G u ilds w ere composed of t u a n d n wh o the bet er class of b rgesses citize s , w ou ld desire to have a ha n d in the r uli n g of w n an d l w the to s , these bodies clear y ere the th e n w in predecessors of Corporatio s , hich n V m n n w the days of He ry I . ca e i to bei g ith a n d u mmu n a corporate perpet al co ity . It w w follo ed , therefore , that those days hich w d th e u h w ere the birth ays of boro g s , ere also the days whe n the fu n eral k nell of the

M ercha n t G u ilds w as ru n g .

n n w a fo r s It is a familiar thi g , o days , bale of mercha n dise to bear parti c ular marks an d c an n i in letters , so that they be ide tif ed , bills of ladi n g an d i n voices ; an d this appears to be a con ti nu an ce of the practice of the old w n m n o wn days , he each ercha t had his n u m an d M ercha t M ark pec liar to hi self , w n o t n o n o wn hich he o ly placed his goods , b u t sometimes also adopted as a ki n d of m w u w in coat of ar s . It o ld also follo him n an d w n n his devotio s , , he he had give a f u n was gi t to his Ch rch , his M ercha t M ark MERCHA N T GHILDS 5 1 sometimes carved u po n th e w oode n corbels o n w in n the alls of the aisles , or sto e at the h fin d n h u we i t e side of the porc , as Ch rch

n in - of St . M ary , Hitche Herts , to day .

ME R C HAN T MAR K O N C H E ST AT SO UTHWAR K

CATH E DRAL .

u n u n m n h in There is po the m i e t c est , n u w C the North Tra sept of So th ark athedral , the very i n teresti n g M erchan t M ark of Hu gh ff wh o w as f n n in 1588 O ley , Sheri f of Lo do , an d in wa in 1568 died 1594 . He s married th e u 1t n wh o w as to da ghter of Robe Hardi g , a Sh e riff an d u lso a , the chest is s pposed to have been given by Hu gh in the same year w was n n wn to the church , hich the k o as

. O v i n n e r e . w St M ary The chest , hich co tai ed th e u 9 parish registers , is of oak , abo t feet p 3 2 MERCHANT GUILDS

l n 3 w b u t n in o g by ide , it is i laid various w u w d an d h as n parts ith colo red oo s , bee n an d d an d o n th e w r var ished polishe , lo e pan els are tw o represen tation s of the Palace n u c m in u w i was of No s h at Chea S rrey , h ch V II u 1 5 n d in u n r I. 53 a b ilt by He y abo t , later h days w as give n by Charles II . to t e Duchess m u h wh o u wn of Ports o t , had it p lled do . The m u u n i u 4 e ark is of the s al i verted f g re typ , thou gh at the bottom it has an added orn a ff n . n o n s me t O ley placed his i itials the che t , b u t thou ght i t appropriate to combi n e those ’ h is w u n m n of ife s s r a e , Hardi g ; so the letters “ ” are H . H . O .

When the Trade G u ilds came to a n e n d in 1547 w as n m n , it clear that the foreig ercha t u u n o t u m an d in 155 1 g ilds co ld s rvive the , a formal petition of the citizen s of Lon don w as n K n m n n prese ted to the i g , aki g complai t n u su w of these foreig G ilds , the re lt of hich w as n u n o in their abolitio , tho gh this had flu e n ce u pon the trade carried on by the n n u M ercha ts as i divid als .

A con temporary pictu re of themhas bee n \ u s in m r th an pai n ted for poetry o e on ce . The u wh o in u h is first is by Cha cer , ” the Prolog e to n u d n Ca terb ry Tales , escribes the M ercha t of the 14th ce n tu ry as follows

A Merc han t there was with a fork e d bear d In mo e an d i o n o se h e sat tl y , h g h h r , Upo n h is he ad a Flemish beave r h at ; His o ot s u c e ai an d o e b b kl d f r pr p rly . His e aso n s s a e b e u so e mnl r p k f ll l y, ME RCHANT GUILDS

f in To u c hin g alway t h e in crease o th e win n g s . He wo u ld t h e se a w ere g uar de d for his th in g s Bet wist i e ur an d O rwe l M ddl b g h l , ’ e e in xc an e s ie s se W ll c o ul d h e h g h ld ll , is wo r man u we h is wits se t Th thy f ll ll , e re wist n o ma n at h e was in e Th th d bt , So stat e ly was h e of g ove rna n c e W i h is ar ain s an d wi h is sufiic ien ce th b g th , For soo h e wa s a wort man wi a th hy th l , n w t to sa w him c a o n o soo at men . I k , th y , h ll

n in 1503 n w wh o was Ag ai , , Stephe Ha es , u n w n oe m the Co rt poet of He ry VIL , riti g his p n m u u s e titled The Exa ple of Virt e , tells that

A re alm is u pho lde n by thin g s thre e Th e r s an d t h c i it is th w r fi t e h e f e S o d . T h e se c o n d is Law that e ver se rve th wi a Bu t thin t h e re lm on ly . Th e th ird b e Me rc han ts that do mu ltiply In th is re alm we al th an d pr o spe rity Fo r of e e r in e o e n o c c u v y th g th y ft py , i u n h i Eve ry man l ke to s fac u lty . Fo r w ith o u t Me rc han t s can n ot b e No rea m u o e n in we a an d e sur l ph ld lth pl a e .

In me dire val days trade con dition s were , w f n u an d w as n n idely dif ere t to o rs , it a co sta t policy to keep the foreign er o u t of o u r markets if he attempte d to sell g oods which we could make o u rselves . There are several statu tes passed from time to time deali n g n an w fin w d e d n ith these poi ts , restrictio s o n m m n u w the i port of a factured silks , pe ter an d other articles ; w hile by a stat u te of w 1V wh w a m . o s a n Ed ard , hi self tradi g n w M ercha t , a large diversity of goods ere n u n n forbidde to be bro ght i to the ki gdom , 51 ME RCHANT GU1LI) S

m n n w l n the list e braci g ribbo s , oo le caps , t u s clo hs , laces , saddles , stirr p locks , scis ors ,

n - n n n razors , playi g cards , pi s , eedles , sacri g u an d w w w bells , hats , br shes hite ire ork .

n in 1503 w u n n Agai silk ro ght i to ribbo s , l n w t aces , girdles , or poi ts , ere prohibi ed to u n n l n u be bro ght i to E g a d , tho gh all other m i w a ki n ds of silk ca e n free . No ad ys su ch a proh ib itio n w o u ld ten d to raise the price u h b u t n o u u l w of s c articles , s ch res lt fol o ed the n becau se of th e power of the M ayor or J u stices to fix the prices at which the crafts u m n u me n sho ld sell their a factured articles .

was w a l n There al ays fee i g of rivalry . “ w n n an d c raftsme n fii bet ee the M ercha ts the thou g h the Gu ilds of the M erchan ts w ere u ff On e n the first t o s er decay . grieva ce of the M ercha n ts at Hu ll w as that the craftsme n ‘ w n w rm r there ere doi g the ork of the fo e , an d selli n g goods other than those of the w y m m class hich the the selves ade , so the M erch a n ts took steps to set this right by n n n l w in passi g ordi a ces or bye a s , the year 1 499 w u n , as they had po er to do der their “ Charter . These stated that , as the M er h n n n o n u n n n c a ts , havi g other scie ce , c i g or w w n b u t n craft here ith to get their livi g , o ly by the way an d mean s of b u yi n g an d selli n g an d n u h ad n great adve t re , greatly bee hi n dered by mea n s of people of divers ocen ation s an d u m p craft , s ch as tailors , shoe akers , an d wh o n n n others , had ever bee appre ticed t o m n an d wh o m u ercha dise , had presu ptio sly MERCHANT GUILDS 55

taken u po n them to b u y an d sell as me r c n an d in u an d ha ts , their ho ses , shops , w n w O n w mu w i do s pe ly had she ed ch are , “ it w as therefore ordain ed that n o man of cra ft shou ld b u y n o r sell an y ma n n er of ware m c h n d b u t n u a e r or er a ise , o ly s ch as pp t a in e d to the occu pation an d craft whereto a n u n n h e h d bee bo d as appre tice .

The idea of mon opolisi n g foreig n trade w as u an d in 1407 a eagerly ca ght at , Charter w as gra n ted to a M ercha n t Adve n t u re rs m n in o n n w w as an Co pa y L do , hich ’ ff m m n o shoot fro the M ercers Co pa y .

The M ercha n ts of Bristol also con si dered that they ou ght n o t to have their l arge deali n gs w ith foreig n cou n tries c u t i n to by wh o u h ad n o the retailer , , tho gh he ships h is o wn u d b u n of , co l y of the captai s of the d n : forei g n ships tra i g to the port of Bristol . n in 1566 n Ad ve n Accordi gly , , the M ercha ts t u re rs of Bristol got a n A c t passed to this

f b u t. w m n n e fect , politics ere a ovi g force eve in an d th e n n o f those days , at ext electio MP s m m wh h ad . . o the e bers for that city , th e in u m n voted for Bill the Ho se of Co mo s , w wn o u t an d w d n ere thro , after ar s a other Act w as carried t o revoke the mo n opoly of n an d in w as nl the M ercha ts , this it plai y stated that the Act w as passed as prices b n u t u an d m n m n t had ee p p , that a y i porta i n habitan ts of Bristol have been c u t o ff from ’ In n the trade of the seas . Elizabeth s reig f n n w as n th e an d oreig tradi g agai to fore ,

E ME RC HAN T GUl LDS in 1592 w as n th e v n , a charter gra ted to Le a t m n w u y w Co pa y to trade ith T rke , hich did n ot l n w in 1600 u ul last o g ; hile , the s ccessf as n m n an d E t I dia Co pa y had its birth charter .

There al ways seems to have bee n a re l ation sh ip between the M ercha n t G u ilds an d wn an d w e e o n e the To s , hav good m n in u m exa ple of this bo d the case of D rha , w w as u b y 11 12 m n hich r led M ayor , Alder e , 24 mm n u n l th e w m Co o Co cil ors , last of ho w ere g u ildsme n selected a n n u ally from the 1 2 u in c it v G ilds the .

The tru e story of the birth of the boro ughs n o t to a an is easy tell , for, as Professor M itl d “ h as poi n”ted o u t in his Town ship an d u n o two m wn u Boro gh , of the have gro p “ in h m w u qu ite t e sa e ay . The word b rh n w n u and w h n mea t a alled e clos re , it i these wall s were the thatched cottages of the wn m n w fe w u to s e , together ith the ch rches which they erected in hon ou r of their patron n s w m w u w sai t , hile so e riters favo r the vie that they were also garrison town s w ith u m soldiers to g ard the .

From Saxon days some form of govern men t an d order w as established in these b urh s an d t , the Domesday Book has a lis of n early eighty of su ch places as existi n g about t h e 1080 u n n year , s ch as Lo do , Dover , an t u w C erb ry , Rochester , Chichester , Le es , ff d a n an . Re di g, Devizes , Bath , Sta ord , York m n 100 m For ore tha years from that ti e ,

58 ME RCHANT GUILDS in n mm n u n w as er circle , called the Co o Co cil , m d u wh o for e by the larger b rgesses , elected

P u h . the M . . for the boro g

111 m a 0 1 u h w ti e , e ch shire had its b o g , hich 10 1 p1 efe1 ei1 ce in early days w as situ ated 0 11 a 1 1 n ive , so as to e able goods to be carried w u m m was by ater , tho tg) h , at the sa e ti e , it n ecessary to b e able to get horses an d carts across to the other side by an easy ford . Thu s w e fi n d sevei al borou ghs in the M idla n d s an d u n n d w r So th of E gla ith this characte istic , s u tic i d He 1t f0 1 d Il e re fo id an d ch as Sta , ,

Bedford .

v “ n n in 1422 ith the accessio of He ry VI . , a n e w idea came i n to the head of some w in u le n la yer , Co rt circ s , to gra t charters u so as m m u a to boro g hs , to ake the perpet l c t n fi u n orpora io s , the rst of s ch charters bei g n in 1439 u wh w as w g ra ted to H ll , ich follo ed in 1443 b c h ar te i s m u u y to Ply o th , So th a m n an i 1 w Cai1 t e 1 b u 1 pto , l othe places , hile y a n d Nottin gham gain ed simila1 h o n o ui s in i n i n u n e c n n 1448 . G a ts the old fo still o ti ued t o be made co n temporan eou sly with those in n ew m u th e the for p to days of Richard III . in 1484 b u t w n n , ith the accessio of He ry VII . n o n ew n w n an d n n u o es ere gra ted , this co ti ed u n w n u d ri g the hole of his reig , tho gh his su n I n n u m ccessor , He ry VII , co ti ed to ake n m g ra ts of both for s of charter .

The form of th e charter gran ted to Hull s a in n n t tes that , co sideratio of the good MERCHANT GUILDS 59

h u an d be avio r of the burgesses , of their u an d n in i an d o labo r expe ses sh ps go ds , the “ to wn shou ld be for ever i n corporated of a an d u e wh o an d su c M ayor b rgess s , their c e ssors shou ld be on e perpet ual corporation common alty by the n ame of the M ayor an d u wn an d h b rgesses of the sai”d to , to ave u u n an d t o perpet al s ccessio , to be able su e an d be su ed by s uch n ame an d to b uy a n d n sell la ds .

It n m m u as has bee so eti es tho ght that , n u an d o the M ercha t G ilds had a M ayor , als possessed admi n istrative pow ers over the o n in u trade carried the boro gh , that they m n n b u t for ed the gover i g body there , the better opi n io n is tha t this w as n o t so ; an d it ma in m wn n n y be that so e to s , besides Lo do , w two e o n e there ere M ayors at the sam time , w for the G u ild an d the other for the to n . That the powers of each were i n depen den t m u n t h e Ac t o f is clear fro the fact that , der 1436 G u in wn su m , ilds to s had to b it their o n n c M u rdi a es to the ayor , or , as the Act p ts “ n u i t, to the chief gover or of cities , b”oro ghs o r w n w u u w e w to s here s ch g ilds er , hich sho ws clearly that the head of the Guild an d the head of the to wn w ere t w o separate an d d n n isti ct perso s .

we c a n w m m u n , ho ever , feel so e a o t of a n tiqu arian pride in thi n ki n g that our pre s e n t (lay n ame of M ”ayor (from the Lati n “ m m th e old M ajor, or greater ) ca e fro MERCHANT GUILDS

G u ilds ; w hile that of Alderman (from the n Earldo rman n was ri Saxo , or elderma ) de ved e ven farther back from the old religiou s w a G u ilds . The title of M ayor s also for merly born e in some royal b u rghs in Scot lan d b u t ha”s sin ce been su perseded there m d u k by provost . So e ecayed boro ghs , li e u n u n rn rr that of Q ee boro gh , ear Shee ess , co t i n n ed to elect M ayors after the n eed of them w as n n an d w as n u to lo g go e , jesti gly all ded in th e literatu re of the 17 th cen tu ry ; thou gh n t w n u w as earlier tha hat , he the boro gh still n in m w a w as t o thrivi g its s all y , it referred y w n m u in w b . a riter , a ed J R ssell , a ork “ ” n l Th e urt u re w n e tit ed Book of N , ritte “ u 1460 in w : abo t , hich he said The M ayor

' of Lon don n ote ab l e in dign ity ; an d of u n a n n in Q ee b”orough the M yor , othi g like degree .

The word seems to have come in first in ’ n w n n III . s a a d as He ry d ys , origi ally spelt ” ’ M in l m n aire , but ”E izabeth s ti e the Spa ish w form of M ayor as adopted . Shakespeare h as a referen ce to th e M ayor of Lon don in h is l ich ard 3 n 1 w II Act , sce e , here it is spelt maior

M o rd t h e aio r o f Lo n o n c o me s t o y l , ”M d e e u g r t yo .

The typi cal M ayor has always bee n im n n m w n a agi ed , though ofte ti es ro gly , as m an ml n an d e of a p e proportio s , Shakespear o bviously had s uch an o n e in mi n d when h e MERCHANT GUILDS 6 1

w in n Man dre , his Seve Ages of , the por trait o f the Justice of the Peace i In air ro un e wi o o c a o n ne . f d b lly , th g d p l d W it e es se e re an d h e ard of o rma cut ; h y v , f l ” Fu o f wise saws an d mo e n in s a n ce s ll d r t , w hile he com”pletes the pictu re in his Romeo an d u b n n w J liet by descri i g the ri g , hich w as an i mportan t par t of the apparel of the Alde rman of the time In shape n o big g er than an ag at e s”to n e r r m n On th e fore fin g e of an Alde a .

The very existen ce of a G u ild n ecessarily implied that there wo uld be a place where the m u m an d u embers co ld eet , the early religio s l u ilds fo un d su ch a hall or room to be a n b u t was w o ecessity , there al ays the likeliho d that it might be t urn ed i n to a cl ub hou se for u u n o t n n w frivolo s p rposes , co siste t ith the d ecor um which shou ld e n velop a religiou s fin i w d n u n o f . e society So , the reg latio s the ’ u d n n n G il s at Bishop s Ly , a provisio that 110 o n e sho uld stay in the G u ild Hou se after m n me n the Alder a had left , except the of f n u a n w n . of ice , der pe alty of t ope ce The hall w as u u n n u an d , of co rse , sed for the a al feasts , u wn the G ilds of the Holy Cross , at the to u referred to , had a r le that every brother of th e fratern ity shou ld w ear a hood of livery

t h e u w n o - o n e of G ild , hile others stated that u m in w sho ld co e to the feast a tabard , hich w as n or w n o r a loose coat , ith his legs bare , u i . was n o n barefoot F rther , there to be o se n n u n an d m or ja gli g d ri g the feast , if a ember 62 GUILDS tried to make trou ble by forci n g himself i n to the seat o f a n oth er he was to be fi n ed a l n n ha fpe y .

MA R K S ST . M X R Y ME R C HA N T K I T C H E N . AT ,

There are on ly a fe w of these halls of the u u b u t u religio s G ilds left , there is a pict re of n u l w me t n the Holy Tri ity G i d , hich ear to u w the Ch rch of St . Botolph , Aldgate , hich w as l w G w n c o n a ha l ith a othic oode roof , a n n f l an d w n w w t i i g a large irep ace , a i do ith n i n e lig hts exte n di n g the wh ole w idth of th e w w l n w n n u n m t o c . roo , ith o g oode be hes der it

. l t w due n is , ho ever , to the larg e M ercha t Gu ilds th at ma n y tow n s h ad t h eir o w n G u ild w c u a a n d m n Halls , hi h ho sed the M yor Alder e of the G u ild a n d provi ded a pla c e where the a m n n l f w as o n d i istratio of ocal a fairs carried , u w n an d wh ere j stice as dispe sed . The best illu stra tion of this is the G u ildhall of the n n w d n w Ci ty of Lo do , hich , accor i g to Sto , w as in m n u w first placed Alder a b ry , here “ ” d n u the Al erme kept their co rt , or bery . 141 1 was in n n f r By i t its prese t positio , o R b n w h o was an n obert Fa ya , Alderma for MERCHAN ' GUILDS 63

Farrin do n W u w h is n g itho t , rote chro icles , “ in which he relate d that in that year the G u ildhall of Lo n do n w as begu n to be n e w fid an d an an d e di e , of old little cottage made i n to a fa”ir an d goodly h ou se as it n In 1 01 w o w appeareth . 5 the idea as co n ceived of holdi n g a di n n er at the i n stal n n e w Gu latio of the M ayor , at the ildhall , n n u i stead of bei g held , as previo sly , at the H m m n an d in h all of so e City Co pa y , t at year n th e n Sir Joh Shaa , the M ayor , had first kitche b u an d m n o f ilt there , com e ced the series civic feasts whic h have bee n a n n u ally held at that l n In th e p ace ever si ce . the year of great 1666 u u f w fire , , the G ildhall s fered , ith other c u n an d was u b u t as th e ity b ildi gs , reb ilt , d n was n o t m n n u th e n esig i posi g e o gh , prese t u d n w as in 17 89 b il i g erected .

There is o n e featu re o f some o f the G u ild w th e l u se halls hich tells ta e of their , for o n e u o n th e u n the at Peterboro gh has , gro d m n s u e floor , a roo ope to the treet , s pport d o n c u mn w m l ol s , hich akes it ook as if it were origi nall y mea n t for an exchan ge where the M ercha n ts co u ld wal k abou t to disc u ss b u n m th e u m n si ess atters , g ild roo proper bei g u n in n pstairs . At Tot es , Devo , there is a m b u t m w m n u w si ilar , so e hat s aller , e clos re hich t h e w o n n d leads to hall , hich is also the grou ’ n d n w u u a o . floor , is sed as a M agistrate s co rt There appears to have been a similar stru ctu re o n the w est side of the G u ildhall in th e City n n w e n a n u n of Lo do , as lear from old ill stratio . 6 -1 MERCHANT GUILDS

The city of Bristol has some old records whi h w on u se u ch t ro light the of its G ildhall , fo r they state that si n ce the Con qu est there h ad w n in wh o al ays bee M ayors that city , u sed yearly o n M ichaelmas Day to take the oath of office before the Con stable at t he l l n u n ast e . n g ate This co ti ed till t he accessio , n 7 wh o m i 132 w . , of Ed ard III , exe pted the M ayors from taki n g the oath at the Castle a b u t n m m a g te , ordai ed that fro that ti e e ch n e w M ayor shou ld be charged o n Mich aeh n as Da an d a c llic e m y by , t ke the oath of fro , his predecessor at th e G u ildhall before all the l common a ty there .

It is tr u e that there were n o millio n aires in n n in m ev b u t w E gla d edia al times , the ealth an was n an d of the M erch ts oted by all , they v ied w ith the Baron s in mag n ifice n ce of n an d n m w m w clothi g , ofte ti es ielded ore po er from their ability to su pply their Sovereig n with ample stores of mon ey to provide both m e n - at - a rms an d their n ecessary arms an d u m n u n o u r w s u acco tre e ts d ri g ar , partic larly w n in 14 n u r v ith the Fre ch the th c e t .

66 T RADE GUILDS

n an d w u Ki gs Nobles , they ere obvio sly help less w i thou t the expert craftsma n wh o w o u ld m an d m an d w n ake repair their ar s eapo s , their saddlery an d their cloth es ; a n d accordi n gly w fin h e d that t e artiz an w as as w elcome a v isitor to th e castles a n d halls of the great a n h m l as k ig t hi se f .

This is show n in th e [ 4th ce n t u ry Welsh “ a MS n w n Re d B rdic ” , k o as The Book of n o w in u O d an d Hergest , Jes s College , xfor , an u u n th e o f tr slated by Lad”y G est , der title Ma in o io n w in n d The g g , h”ere the tale e ti tle K ilh w ch an d w n in w h n u Ol e , hic Ki g Arth r o n e n r c t h e w n is of the pri cipal cha a ters , follo i g d u u n d 1 w l ialog e occ”rs Ope the o”or . il “ “ n o t n W n o t ? kn f ope it . herefore The i e is in m a n d n k in t h e n the eat , the dri is hor , ’ a n d in r u H an d there is revelry A th r s all , n on e may e n ter therei n b u t the so n of a n o f r u n c f m n ki g a p ivileg e”d co try , or a ra ts a 1 n n f b i g i g his cra t .

Th e idea of th e plebeia n workme n gai n i n g w an d m n u d o wn po er , for i g G il s of their , does n o t seem to have bee n acceptable to the c n wh o t M er ha ts , feared tha be we ake n e d ; a Lon do n a 1 1sii1 g n c 1 aft s1iie n un d bei g , l Villiani of the Lon g Bea () a b u t u l bert , the ca se of u u o n e w w w as s al of taxes for the ars , hich , it a n w u n W compl i ed , ere fairly assessed . illiam took the part of c raggy; an d advocate for his W u n d D . S T RAD E GUH.

me n a n d w n was u , a arra t for his arrest iss ed n u I. by the Chief J sticiar of Ki g Richard , w he n t h e leader took refu ge in the to wer of — - le Bo w in a the Ch urch of St . M arv Che pside . n fire w as h im u To force to s rre der , set to the h u h b ut h e c rc , as e ca d u n wh eath by a b r , ose father had \V i m Th e n bee n killed by ill a . risi g thu s an e n d m n b u t c ame to for the ti e bei g , the l n 1 e se n tme n t w as n o t n an d fee i g of go e , the m n 111 '11 da n 1 w crafts e afte gai ed thei po ers, for iii 126 1 l i n th e w n m t they b oke to to o e , _ __ _ a m l c n c m a is t1 at e sse b ed for the ele tio of hief g ,

u fl \ 111 1l he se r 1 n m m rs s [a n 1 . . e be , a y ed the positio Th u s the c raftsme n felt that t hey h ad estab l ish e d n a n d w e a n o m their positio , he r ore of r their t ou bl e s .

( omi n g t o the da 1 s o a abo u t the l o n do n ci tize n s fo u n d that the T “ m i s h a d m o ve i b e arin in e e beco e go their ondu t an d m n n r y a c c a e s , as the felt th t they h 1 iy il fre d n an d n eld a p _e positio , the Ki og r n Th petition ed to evoke the Charter . e w eak Ki n g had n o idea of state sman sh i or the e n r an d w h im th e w f b efit of t ade , ith ole a fair

w as m m n . n u n l a ere matter of o ey Co seq e t y , W m as the eavers on ly paid arks p 91; year fo r the pi ese rvat io n of th e ii Charte r an d the n ff 2 1 m r fo r it s n l n Citize s o ered a ks ca ce latio , t h e b d r b ai ai n an d highest id e got the g , the 7 \\ eave 1 s of Lon don w e 1 e fo r a time defen ce Th n w . e w as w less eavi g trade , ho ever , too m n m n n in y i porta t to re ai lo g a paral sed state , 6 8 TRADE GUILDS

K r a n d by 1 12 1 t h had got their Charter back a a n b u t w an d g i , those ere days of strife a m an d W physic l da age , the eavers feared that their parchme n t Charter might be b u rn ed n n an d n or stole . To avoid this , as ba ks stro g m w u n n w n h in roo s ere k o , t ey deposited it the u \Ve stmin st e r Excheq er at , to be kept there

till they shou ld requ ire it . They prob ably an d 100 Q got it back shortly after , years passed ”}, f an u b u t in ) 320 - before y real tro ble arose , they n w a g fifiq , w ere 13 0 11g h t e g re th e faw Co u rts to prove fl 1 'b f i T ' fi' C ' ' that th éiF Clrart e r fvas a y a l d offs? Like su cce the r u le o f their 0 an d re a to e det of their trade , the admissio n of stra n gers i n to their ran ks ; an d u w n the Co rts , hile holdi g that the Charter w as w w valid , decided that these byela s ere m l an d m d n tr a i a p e , set the asi e as bei g ul

In days wh e n wa l lpapers w ere n o t tho u ght an d w n w l n — m w of , he the alls of ivi g roo s ere m u n w e n ow ore dra ghty tha prefer them , the adorn men t of them w ith tapestry w as a very n m an d w ecessary atter , the eavers of this

’ material mu st have bee n very skilled an d m n e . u w artistic Their G ilds ere , therefore , m n an d w n fi e n d of so e importa ce , freque tly men tion in the Pipe Rolls of these bodies “ ” u n n m telarii r s der the a e of Gilda , o g uild , w eavers

e was u sed for wall T RA DE GUILDS 69

— h n n an d in 1398 n n a gi gs , there is a me tio of n n W n a rras ha gi gs at i dsor Castle . r The story of i n d u stry in E n glan d can n ot be told withou t e f r1' in to the Great Plagu e ‘ 1 g g ' ‘ ‘ o f l w which de ciih até d the W m n an d n u u e , at rally ca sed the price u u in n of labo r to go p , till , the ext year , 1Edward HI] procu red his famou s Statu te of u nfl —w r & . d a m s “ . -n u r o u i La bo re s to be passed . It set t ts reason s as

“ u th e an d Beca se a g reat part of people , w m n an d n lat especially of ork e serva ts , el y d mf n n n ied the pestile ce , ma y seei g the n ecessity of the masters a n d great scarci ty w n o t u n e e } ts , ill serve less they g p iye a n d m w l n wag es , so e rather i li g to beg in idle n ess tha n by lab our to get their ’ n “ e n n th e u in com livi g , co sideri g g rievo s mo dit ie s w f , hich of the lack , especially o plou ghme n an d s u ch labo u rers may hereafte r u n n an d w h come , have po deliberatio treaty it an d n an d n me n the prelates obles , the lear ed n u s n man an d assisti g , ordai ed that every w oman in E n glan d of whatever con dition n in an d they may be , bo d or free , able body n 60 n ot n u der years of age , livi g by mer n n artifir ch an dise a ce an d n o t , or bei g , a n w y may l h vi g property hereb they live ,”shal u n h im serve the master req iri g or her .

It was accu rately foreseen that the effect o f thi s wo uld n o t be as ben eficial as it was i n te n ded to be if some limit were n o t placed u pon the amoun t of the wage which the workers could 70 TRADE GUILDS

d m n n w as in t h e e a d , so a seco d Act passed same session req u iri n g labourers to accept the old w ages u su ally paid in the locality in d u w w . hich they orke This Act , it is tr e , n th e u l b u t referred o ly to agric tural classes , Q fia m m u déman ds b firti z an s fo r the sa e tro bles of w w a n d c o n secu e n t a higher scale of ages , a r in mm w as n rise prices for co odities , foresee , e t a n other Act w as passed in that same n w fo rcb ade m m sessio hich shoe akers , s iths , n m n w in an d carpe ters , aso s , orkers leather , r ifirs an w m n m all other a t c e d ork e to take ore for their labou r tha n the wages they received in 1346 th e u w the year fi before plag e , ith the i ’ ‘ n l if th e did n mm pe a ty , y so , of bei g co itted t n a n n fin e h e . to , “ earest gaol for i de it period m a u se A ?

Th e f o n ar tiz an u e fect of this Act the , s ch

n n w h o w as a. as the maso or carpe ter , also u m n w as an n o n e g ilds a , i direct ; for , by the u w as u n w r les of his society , he bo d to ork th e w fi u an d for ages xed by his G ild , this Act of Parliame n t bou n d those bodies n o t to n m th m l l In i crease the above e for er eve .

a we ff pr ctice , believe , the Act had little e ect , a s all s uch provisio n s mu s t have which have n o t u n m n n m w n p blic se ti e t behi d the , for he a master fou n d a good workma n it w as worth w h im m n hile to pay ore to retai his services . At a later period a n other Act w as passed t o p u t a pe n al ty upo n masters th us evadi n g the b u t the u n lawfu l procedu re of payi n g for w ork accordi n g to its tr u e valu e still n n u mu th e m co ti ed , ch to credit of e ployers in d those ays . TRADE GUILDS

The thinning p f th e n 'anks of w orkers in n u n h e u 1348 an d co seq e ce of t great plag e of , the diffic u lty of earn i ng a l i velihood in the m u m n u fields , see s to have ca sed the sa e i fl x o f c ou n trymen i n to the tow n s as w e see

- m to day . Hitherto the asters had largely w w o w n n b u t ls orked ith their ha ds , they a o i n stru cted their w ives an d children in the u n a details of their b si ess , so th t the craft n n n W wou ld be co ti u ed from father to so . ith n m n n wh o the adve t of so a y stra gers , also so u ght to earn their o w n livelihood in tra l wlu w n o t u m o they ere acc sto ed , em 0 ap n e n t ic e grew u p w ith ad va n tages o sec u mg to the master th skilled labo u r of th e appre n tice after hi . w ’ T h e “ ‘ i i r ri d of t u it io n w as e n su r f s e o over . To p ' t ' m ~ t his a pe ri o d liad to be fixed u po n for t h a n an d w n rs ppre ticeship, allo i g , say , three yea u on w n n w as for t iti , he the appre tice of val u e an d u w little , fo r years for the re ard m l i licaL of the aster , the i b period of seve n_ ’ ’ ’ w m w as arrived at . As riti ng wag n o t

u n n e e le . th e re we re t wo possible to lear ed p p , _ l & & d f u u mou n n if ic lties to s r t , the first&bei g to —‘ get sh in e visible an d bin din testimon y of ‘ w t h e ' n n an d e c o n d e n f l c e tra sactio , v to o the on over to be a Both these ere l o vercomf} by the formation of a flSo c ie ty o f: Maste rsfbefore whom the formal e n try of th e serva n t i n to the rank of , w w u m an d h orkers o ld be ade , the e-ads of w hich w ou ld also be able to sit as Magi strates to e n force th e due observa n ce of the 7 2 T RADE GUILDS

’ m s aster s right . i in b u t e n w an d u i or g ated , o ers d t es

e rmte n en ee an d i n spection of the articles u u n fl h u in n a do t e . ma fact red , tools sed the trade u i n u u rs n c These reg lat o s co ld , of co e , o ly affe t t h e se n u b u t m gover ed by the G ilds , they for ed an u sef ul obj ect lesson for the State in an m w w larger matters , as exa ple of hich e m m u i n a n n th e . y e tio re 0g lat o s as to cloths In 1328 a n d i n 1 11 1373 w r ss , aga , Acts e e pa ed req u i ri n g cloths of l av that is striped or u be r u l n colo red cloths , to of pa tic ar le gths an d r t u n w u b eadths , so tha the ary b yer m n o t w n n n ight be s i dled by bei g give . someth i n g less tha n he imagi n ed he w as bu yi n g ; an d in 1 381 a similar stat u te w as o n e n passed as to other cloths . It is thi g to n rake a decree b u t qu ite a differe n t m r o u t an d A c t mu atter to car y it , this st n n n w u ofte have bee broke , for it o ld take u m m n n l n p the ti e of a y i spectors , travel i g u an d wn u n n c p do the co try , to e for e it , an d it befell that in later days the G u ilds m ” H w t . e the selves had to look af er o ver , ‘ ’ “ it ‘ “ we fln d t in 1 389 in n d hat , , the K g appoi te

n - at— w h th e several Sergea ts Arms , together it a n an d M yors of Cove try , Leicester, York , Lin c ohi sa e in , to search cloths exposed for l an d an d w i h markets fairs , to seize those h c were n ot fou n d to be of the right len gth an d a u breadth as prescri bed by the st t te . w u w n The cloths , ho ever , tho gh ro gly made , w an d w n ere to be sold , the proceeds ere paid i to u n fi the Excheq er for th e be e t of the State .

7 4 TRADE GUILDS

an article wou ld n o t begr u dge givi n g a little n rore for the certai n ty that they were bu yi n g u w m n l s perior goods , hile the co mo peop e cou ld n ot object as they bou ght on ly the nf n w n i erior goods . The Cou cil hich co s ide re d the matter agreed with the prayer o f n an d m n e the petitio , ade a ot to the effect that th ey fou n d n o better way to remedy the ab u se than by mea n s of the mark to be applied t u o s ch goods .

X importa n t lan d mark in the ML.

‘ ’ t h e Trade G u ilds occu rred 111 136 an d n e Ki g , w as to ith the ds i t w as the n people of misteries shou ld choose their o w n rn iste ry a 2md u l w before p y , Febr ary fol o g - in and al n 1 110 86 11 o ne g , so that havi 5 h u h n d n e sho ld keep t o t at a o other . This w as in the days of Edward 111 wh o ga ve hi s Ro yal (311d of the M erchan t

n n - m u was n Taylors , or Li e Ar o rers , as it the n wn m n m m an d k o , by beco i g a e ber of it , tradi n g himself an d n eedless to say his example w as followed by some o f the mem h is u w m n bers of Co rt , hich for ed a precede t G u l w in u o f m 7 for the other i ds , hich co rse ti e m e In 1 a u . 330 u lso ad itt d o tsiders , tro ble ‘ h ad brew ed in Lo n don by distu rban ces cau sed b th e n rn illers u y bakers , taver ers , , cooks , po l r fish m n r u w t e re s o e s n , g , b tchers , bre ers , cor c lran dle rs an d w t others . all of hich ra”des took t h e m m n n riste rie s an d co pli e tary title of , the TRADE GUILDS 75

Ki n g had to issu e his man date to the M ayor an d Sheriffs of Lo n don to su ppress these riots n u n n an d n by mea s of corporal p ishme t , , faili g n 1 n t . w that , by o her mea s t ill be oted that , m i n n w as a at that ti e , the chief off cial of Lo do m t l o n o t si ple M ayor , the it e L rd M ayor n u h i 1 bei g con ferred po n m till the vear 347 .

The G u i lds ra n ge over n ra ny classes of n u r b ut t h e w r in m i d st y , those of o kers etals w r n o t x e r n u m u in m e e y ero s the iddle ages , for th e iron an d steel trades w ere then in x i n n m th e se their c y i fa cy . Articles ade of metals were of cou rse requ ired for ag ric u l u in a n d an d t re the shape of spades rakes , lo u lrs u m n s also for p g , tho gh a y of the e m u were the n ade of wood alon e . Ho sewives requ ired pots an d kettles ; me n of arms w n w an d m u u m u o f a ted s ords ar o r , tho gh ch this came from the Con ti n en t ; an d most m t n u n u i por a t of all , those si g horses m st m n have the shod with iro shoes . The black m was u n w n n o t n in s ith to be fo d orki g , o ly w n an d b u t in th e h am every to village , also n w s rs lets , for the be efit of travellers , ho e ho es m w had ishaps ith their footgear , but these w m in an d w e smiths ere ostly soli tary places , c an n ot expect them to have formed ma n y G u o f m u n mb n w h ilds S iths , less they co i ed it m m rs W e fin d e be of other trades . a Guild of m n f in De rb slrire S iths existi g at Chester ield , y , m b ut w as fe w in n u m from early ti es , it bers , a n d in 1387 amalgamated w ith the Guild of t h e l n in w n Ho y Cross of M ercha ts that to , w hile a n other was formed at Ne wcastle - on 7 6 TRADE GUILDS

n n an te 1436 an d Ty e . Its ordi ces are da d , they n o t on ly direct the members to ta ke in w n in part the M iracle Plays , he performed wn b u t ur n an n n the to , also f ish i teresti g side lig lrt o n the bitter feeli n g existi n g in those d w n n an d for ays bet ee the E glish the Scots . they forbade members to take a Scotsman as m n w as a n appre n tice or work a . There a m n u w was n si ilar Guild at Ca terb ry , hich stro g n u n n w u n n n d e o gh to sta d alo e , itho t joi i g ha s w n t u a n d n n n w ith a o her G ild , co cer i g hich n 1660 w n there is a ote , dated , sho i g that it n w p ossessed la d , hich is described ”as terra r n ild m f rorrun On th e quae pe ti e t ad g a ab . ’ n n u Glou other ha d , a other Smiths G ild at c e ste r n Iro n rn o n e rs u l i cluded g , C tlers , Sad ers an d Glaziers ; while at Boston in Lin col n was u in 1598 m shire , there a G ild , co posed m an d u s of S iths , Farriers , Braziers C tler ; an n L n d w u h d an ce . a t e at Presto , Shre sb ry ’ m u m u rs S iths G ilds also co prised Armo re .

' ’ W fin d n G ld n ri h u e can o ly three o s t s G ilds in n m m n o n e n the cou try , the ost i porta t bei g t in n n w o n e w as Ne w hat Lo do , hile other at

t - on - n w n b u t m w as cas le Ty e , hich , bei g s all , in 1 53 n w u m i corporated ith the Pl bers , w an d n b u t in Glaziers , Pe terers , Pai ters ; Georgia n days it became a separate body a n d the vear 1 7 17 saw it stan di n g alon e a n r w as Gu gai . The e also a ild of Gold m at Slrre wsb ur 1425 b u t s iths y before , it s ubsequ en tl y j oi n ed the Merc e rgs an d 1 11 1480 r w w as i n corpo ated b y Ed ard IV . as the ’ ’ M r d m u erce s an G olds iths G ild . TRADE GUILDS 7 7

W fin d n m e shall expect to refere ces to so e of these G u ilds in the pages of con temporary w an d u n u m n n riters , s re e o gh they are e tio ed “ by Chau cer”in th e Prolog u e to his Can ter u r w n in 1 88 111 w 3 . b y Tales , ritte this ork , whe n describi n g the pilgrims an d their n u n m mem differe t occ patio s , he co es to the l u wh o w bers of severa of the Trade G ilds , ere all in u m m u clad cost es of the sa e colo r , or “ y w w i w e ma m n n liver , a ord h ch y e tio is derived by some write rs from the fact that th e cloth fo”r this livery of the members was d m n a elivered to the , o ce a ye r , by the ’ u n G u ild offici als . Cha cer s descriptio is as follows :

A n a e r a s e r an d a Ca e n e H b d h , rp t r ; IV e bb e r a D e an d Ta ic e r ”A , y r, p We e wi u s e ke c o e in o n e i e r th , l th d l v ry f a r r i O so le mn an d g rea t f a t e n ty .

Fu e s an d n e w e i e ar - imme wa s ll fr h th r g y tr d ,

e i n i e s w e e se -e n o t wi a ss Th r k v r tt , th br , Bu t all wi si e w o u u c e an an d air th lv r, r g ht f ll l f , i w The r girdle s an d th e ir po u c he s eve ry he re . ' W e ll see me d ea c h o f them a fair bu rg e ss To si in a u a t G ild hall o n th e d is . Every man fo r wisdo m that h e c an w ” as fitte d fo r t o b e an Alderman .

This idea of havi n g similar costu mes w or n by large bodies of men w as appropriate d by n wh o u n rs the Baro s , req ired their retai e to w w o w n ear their badge , as ell as their livery b u t w n b u an d of clothes the habit gre i to a se , in 137 7 an Act w as passed to preve n t th e u o m n an c st bei g copied by those of lesser r k , wh o w ish ed to ape the man n ers o f more polite “ y societ . The Act said that divers people of 78 T RA DE G GILDS small reve n u e of la n d an d oth er posse ssio n s m e a n u l as w do ake gr t reti e of peop e , ell of u n m esq ires as of others , givi g to the hats an d l o n e u th e other iveries of s it by year , n m u d u taki g of the the val e , or o ble the v u th e y u n n al e of liver , by s ch cove a t that l m n n h im in u l they sha l ai tai all q arre s , w - n u m e aso n abl e t o hether reaso able or , the great ”mischief an d oppression of t h e

In n u n . w as people . co seq e ce of this it ordain ed that from the n ceforth n o s u ch livery

‘ u w n u sho ld be or . The stat tes of those days n o t m h mu w do see to ave carried ch eight , an d w u n l d as m h ere freq e t y repeate , if this ig t u m n n th e m ca se ore atte tio to be paid to atter , a n d d n in th e 1392 n accor i gly , year , a other Act w as passed o n the same su bj e c t pro h ib itin g all perso n s of less ra n k th an an u w a n h esq ire to e r the live ry of a ot er . This provision w as afterw ards n o t deemed strin ge n t n u an d in 11 68 mu m e o gh , a ch ore elaborate w as m f b u t im Act passed to a si ilar e fect , n n u posi g pe alties for its breach , tho g h to make it qu i te w orkable a speci al proviso w as i n serted exempti n g those w h o h ad to n e w u live l ie s t h e n n 0 1 n s s ch at Coro atio s Ki g , at t h e n n s an d a i stallatio s of Bi hops , lso the m m an G u d n m e bers of y il , frater ity or istery c w a n d ff orporate , as ell as the M ayor Sheri s n w n in n n n an d d . of Lo do , other to s E g la

w in u n n Sto , his S rvey of Lo do , refers h live l i e s w o1 n u m n to t ese as b} G ilds e there , an d says : 1 read n o t of licen se of theui u i o c u i e d fo i livel ie s to w n (the G ilds) p be or , T RADE GUILDS 79

’ u t n n n b at their Gover or s discretio to appoi t , n m m in um n as occasio asketh , so e ti e tri pha t m n n m m m m u n n a er , so e ti e ore o r i g like , an d su ch liveries have they taken u pon m w l n w the , as e l before , as si ce they ere n n by lice se associated i to brotherhoods , r n n u n n or corpo atio s . The der the headi g of Liveries w o rn by citize n s of Lo n don in timesof tri u mphs an d otherways he tells of variou s State procession s of the M ayor an d

Sh e riffs n n an d n . of Lo do , of their clothi g ’ u in 6 u n 1 n Il l n Th s , de He ry , the citi ze s w l in n m n e 1n b 1 o idme d ere c othed lo g gar e ts , u w d an d in r u abo t ith gol , silk dive s colo rs , w in 1300 600 n in o n e hile , citize s rode livery an d w w n n c o f of red hite , ith the cog iza es s their mysteries embroidered u pon their sleeve . In 1415 the craftsme n rode after the M ayor in r d w d d n d w w in e re a e . , ith hoo s hit hile 1432 th e common alty of the City w ere clothed in w w n an d w hite go s scarlet hoods , ith divers n c ogn iza c es embroidered o n their sleeves . Stow poi n ts o u t that hoods were always w orn u t o m n w n u p the ti e of He ry VIL , he sq are n n m n o n n m n bo ets ca e i t fashio for oble e , n m n a n d n an d in ge tle e citize s , the first year n 1485 1 e d u of his reig , , the colo r of the G u d w as n l mo u 1 n i11 il s cha ged for vio et , as a g c o lo u i a ft e 1 in cu ri e d th e e , the losses at battl n of St . Alba s .

111 addition to the dign ity of w eari n g m n u m m d livery , a y of the G ild e bers , oubt C an d w w d less , opied their betters ore s or s , a n w m an fashio hich . the ore adv ced of the 80 TRADE GUILDS

o u m w lab r classes so etimes desired to follo , w f 0 11 n ith bad ef ects others , as the possessio of a sword w as t oo great an advan tage to a m n m u a with a hasty te per . Tro ble had evi den tl a n o n u n h in 1389 y rise acco t of t is , for Parliamen t passed an Ac t forbiddi n g an y servan t in hu sba n dry or labou rer to wear a w u d an d th e s ord , b ckle or agg er ; for good con du ct of their morals it w as also ordai n ed that they shou ld n o t play at dice or othe r m m si ilar ga es .

n man wh o w as . in The ha dy , a dabbler m n d b u t wh o m a y tra es , ost likely excelled in n n w as u u m n an d o e , a tro ble to the g ilds a , m n o u m t was Parlia e t to k p this at er , for i t fo u n d that th ere were ma n y pairs of boots an d n n m shoes bei g sold of i ferior ake , as the tan n er wh o c u red the leather sometimes

e m m u n - w att mpted to ake the p i to foot ear , in n m stead of leavi g it to the boot aker , or cordwai n er as he was the n called so in 1423 an Act was passed settin g o u t the grieva nce u an d n u n caused to the p blic , forbiddi g , der n s th 6 . 8d w n n e a fi e of , cord ai ers to e ter my ice r e rsri nn an d v . stery of the ta ers ,

An oth er Act of 1423 forbade th e girdlers u si n g white metal bu ckles for the girdles m an d n n they ade , chargi g extra for the ador m n - e t . As this i n creased the cost of every day w as m n u u n n dress , it dee ed so i j rio s to the atio that a petition w as presen ted by the Commo n s n w h to the Ki g for po ers to stop it . Ric ard w w a n u in d ho ever, ith eye to bea ty ress ,

82 TRADE GU[ LDS they w ere older in d a te of establishmen t than o f a n d the Charter the City itself , therefore w n o n 111 e n d m o ed allegia ce . the it see s that m m w a u h su b se ost of the gave y , tho g the u n n w c ly q e t gra t of Royal Charters , hi h clear defi n ed w h o w as th e body to approve the n n r u n 111 t h e ordi a ces , cleared the g o d . u n w n o n e n co try to s thi g is clear , that by the e n d of th e 15th ce n tu ry th e G u ilds in the tow n s h ad to su bmi t their ordi n a n ces to th e w o n e n M ayor , ith the exceptio of Oxford , w th e Un a n w in here iversity obt i ed po er , their 1523 w ld u n th e Charter of , to ie the j risdictio of ' wh n n u l o . M ayor , had a a ly to go to St M ary s u an d an m n n Ch rch , take oath to ai tai the pri v ile e s Un in u w g of the iversity , defa lt of hich h e w as fin e d u n liable to be , as act ally ha ppe ed in o n e 111 fe w u d in case . fact , very G il s the u n b u t u l o f co try possessed charters , the G i d n y w a n d m G irdlers at Cove tr , hich att i e so e fame from the acts of its members in maki ng the fa n c y girdles o f wh ich w e have j u st h d w n n a n a t o . spoke , cert i ly a char er of its

’ “ h e n n in m u s e s th e , as happe ed so e , Gu ilds had deserted the tow n s a n d worked u e y w u u o tsid , the ere s bject to the a thority u f h a How t m of the J stices o t e Pe ce . his ca e u n o t u n n l b u t abo t is ab da tly c ear , it appears to be most likely that it arose by virtu e of vario u s Acts o f Parliame n t w i th which w e n o w a w m m n shall deal , l ays re e beri g that Acts were n o t so freely passed then as in o u r an d w fe w in n u m days , ere very ber . m w n s n n So e ere o ly pas ed till the ext sessio , TRA D E GUILDS 83

w he n the y were in some cases re - e n acted w ith n w m m n n o f alteratio s ; hile , ost i porta t poi t all w as dillic u l t n w h , it to e force those of hic th e l did n o t an d peop e heartily approve , ma n y of these Acts remai ned o n the Stat u te

Book as dead letters .

The first importa n t Act for o u r p urpose w d m n o f c as passe by the Parlia e t Ri hard H . in 1388 w me t m an d , hich at Ca bridge , i t directed a n i n qu isition to b e made by the u n u Sheriffs of each co ty as to their G ilds , for w hich p u rpose t wo w rits were issu ed i l th e f h w to th ose o liic a s . By irst t ey ere req u ired to call o n t h e M asters an d Warde n s of all G u ilds an d Brotherhoods to g ive ih m n th e u n d n u an d for atio as to fo atio , stat tes , property of those bodies ; an d by t h e seco n d “ w w t o u n ri t they ere call po the M asters , W n an d o f m arde s , Overlookers all isteries an d cra fts in their c o u n ties to se n d to n C t h e the Ki g opies of Charters , or Letters n w w r u n Pate t , by hich they e e fo ded . This w as n an d w e u do e , shall refer to the res lts n u o n n of these e q iries later i this chapter .

’ 1436 in n V I s n By the year , He ry . reig , fu rt her trou ble had arisen as to the ordi n n m u an d in a ces ade by some of the G ilds , con sequ en ce a somewhat similar Ac t of m n w as w n Parlia e t passed , hich e acted that u n an d me n the M asters , G ardia s , of every u n n m n G ild , frater ity or i corporated Co pa y w ere to record their charters before the

u ‘ u n th e J stices of the Peace of co ties , or 84 TRA DE GUILDS

n . of u chief G over or the cities , boro ghs , or wn w u u w an d to s here s ch G ilds ere , these G u ilds were prohibited from maki n g “any ordi n an ce u nl ess previou sly approved by su ch

u n . J stices of the Peace , or Gover ors This m h an d Act see s to . ave expired shortly after, ’ V ll m in 1 n in n . s 503 He ry ti e , , a other Act w as n o r W r n o r passed , that M aste s , a de s , w h n or an Fello s ips of Craft or M isteries , y ru lers of G u ilds or Fratern ities shou ld take u pon them to make any acts or ordi n an ces n mm n i agai st the co o prof t of the people , u nless su ch ordi n an ces sho uld be exami n ed an d n approved by the Cha cellor , Treasurer n n u of E gla d , or Chief J stices , or before the u u n n J stices of the Assize , der a heavy pe alty . This Act w as largely disregarded by the u wh o m n n G ilds , desired to ai tai their ex c lu sive an d n y character , i crease very heavil the fees t o be paid by appre n tices an d by m n m n n . n crafts e to obtai ad issio Accordi gly , ’ in 1 0 n V l l l s n n 53 . , He ry reig , a other Act 23 M n fixed these fees at . . for the e try of 4d h i an n an d 3s . s n o n appre tice , . for e try u w n m the rolls of the G ild , he his ter had n n expired a d e ded .

It is fortu n ate for u s to- day that these w l u n Acts ere passed , for the forma ret r s made by the Sheriffs u n der the Act of 1388 n ow in n are existe ce at the Record Office , from which we have authen tic eviden ce of th e ordin an ces an d byelaws which th e various u n G ilds had made for their gover men t . TRADE GUILD S 85

Th e ordi n a n ces all have family character istics an d n w an n , begi ith ascriptio To the n an d God of Heave , his M other , St . M ary , an d m n n an d all the Holy Co pa y of Heave , then proceed to the variou s d u ties of the m : u W e m embers of the G ild . might so e times imagin e w e were readi n g the ru les of. a mon astic establishmen t ; b u t when we re member that the members h ad a priest m n ffin n a d a o gst their o cers , also that exter al forms of religion formed an importan t part l n w e n n o n of the ife of every citize , eed lo ger won der at the ecclesiastical ton e of these u m n w w n o n e e . doc e ts , of hich appe d

Th e r eg ula t io ns of th e Guild of th e Bre th e rca a n d Siste re a of th e Fu ll e r's of L inco l n .

A w axlig h t shall be kept b u rn i n g before the Holy Cross o n the days when they go in n in h n u processio o o r of the Holy Cross . Non e of the Craft shall w ork f ull cloth by treadin g it with feet in the trou gh) an d n on e shall work at the woode n bar with a w m n u n s w w o a , les ith the ife of a master or n m n m w her ha d aid . No e of the shall ork t nn o n u n or o n an da s af er di er Sat rdays , y y which they ou ght to keep as festival accordin g l u to the aw of the Ch rch .

s n in If a tra ger to the city comes , he ma u n i i n n n wax w y , po g v g a pe y to the , ork n b re th e re n an d a i amo bg the sistere , ar d his n a n n me shall be writte o t heir roll . 86 T RADE GUILDS

n n w n th e n o If a yo e ishes to lear Craft , o n e shall teach it to hi n t un til he h as give n h w ax tw ope n ce to t e .

If an y of the brotherhood is j ustly w u n n charg ed ith theft , to the val e of a pe y , u t o u t m n h e shall be p of the Co pa y .

Whe n an y of the b re th e re n or sist e re n n n dies , the rest shall give a halfpe y each , to b u n y bread , to be give to the poor , for the ’ h s o ul s sake of t e dead .

l f an y brother or sister is goi n g o n a n d u n d m . e a a a pilgri age to Sts Pet r Pa l , it is u n d b re th e re n S ay or other festival day , all the a n d siste re n in m n wit h im shall go co pa y h , ’ u u n an d o tside the City as far as Q ee s Cross , h im n n each shall give a halfpe y or more . W n m he he co es back , if , as before said , it is a u n an d h e m S day or festival day , has let the n w m n b re th e re n an d k o of the co i g , all the sist e re n m m s a n d shall eet at the sa e Cros , go im m n w ith h to the o astery .

An yon e n o t keepi n g an y of these ordi f u n w x n an ces shall pay hal a po d of a .

n n m m w n an d If a yo e by ishap co es to a t , m t h e S n h asks help fro Gild , ixpe ce a year s all h m t n i o u . be adva ced to , of the g oods of the i h . W n n Gild , for t ree years he he gets better c an th e m n case , he shall , if he , repay o ey n h im b u t n n n adva ced to ; if he ca ot , the the d ou t w t ebt shall be repaid to the Gild , of ha ’ is collected after his death for his sou l s sake T RAD E GUI LDS 8 7

an d w hat. remai n s shall be faithfu lly applie d ’ u for his so l s sake .

W n any n he brother or sister dies , the Dea u t u w a x u n b an d shall p fo r lights ro d the ody ,

Grac e man . l n n m the shal offer a pe y for a ass , an d the W arde n a h alfpe n n v o u t of the goods of the Gild .

' If a n yon e is in arrear in the halfpe n c e du e u h u n w for the so l , he s all pay a po d of ax h to t e Gild .

In w n w it ess hereof , to have the greater in m ' m th e proof thereof ti e to co e , official seal of the Dea n ery of Christia n ity at Li n coln h as at the special requ est of the b re th e re n an d si te re n n u s t . n of this Gild , bee p hereto Give n n o n n m A D at Li col , the No es of Septe ber . .

w n n Not ithsta di g the date , it is clear that the G u ild w as origi n ally fo u n ded o n the u n an d S day before the Feast of St . Philip m 1s 1297 n d u . t a St Ja es , M ay , i t t h s took forty y ears before the members thou ght it n ecessary to get the ordi n an ces pu t in order an d writte n m u n out . At a later date some ore were fo d n e c e ssar v w w e n to be added , hich appe d

Grace man Farther , it is ordered that the , an d two W n the arde s of the Gild , shall each m two of the have , at the Feast of the Gild ,

n an d th e n on e n . gallo s of ale , Dea gallo G 88 T RADE GUl LDS

The Dean sh all have for collecti n g th e u n n m b re th e re n o n th e to ld pe ies fro the , first w n o u t day t ope ce of the goods of the Gild , b u t n o t o n any day afterwards

W n Grace man an d w l hoever is chose , il n o t u u n d serve , shall pay fo r po s of wax ; w n W n an d w n o t e v hoever is chose arde , ill s r e , shal l pay t wo pou n ds of wax ; an d whoever n an an d w n o t l is chose De , ill serve , shal pay o n e u n w x po d of a .

Every n e w brother shall pay to the Dea n o n e n n v pe .

“ ' l l h o e v e r fails in o u g ht tou chi n g”these n n a u n w ax ordi a ces sh ll pay a po d of .

The refere n ce to w ax so u n ds odd to m n rs b u t n oder ea , it appears to have bee q u ite a c u sto mary payme n t to make to an e fin d i 11 w n 85 ecclesiastic , for , , that the Kn ights Hospitallers w ere payi n g to th e Bishop of Wi n chester as the ren t of the u u Hospital of Holy Cross , j st o tside the city , in n an d two an w ax five marks mo ey c dles of .

The c u stoms of these G u ilds with refere n ce to the b u rial of deceased members is still remembered by certai n of the Livery Com e n o n n w p ies of L do , hich still preserve the f u n u n pal ls of icially sed o s ch occasio s . The ’ m n an n n n Coopers Co pa y has i ve tory , dati g m 15 70 “ h w n n fro , s o i g their possessio of a pall h earin u m or g cloth of bl e velvet , e broidered

TRA DE GUILDS

’ 1 n n w 500 . , a Society of St Stephe s Ri gers , ith W d n was u f a M aster an d ar e s . This a G ild o

u - n an d n n ch rch bell ri gers , the ordi a ces pro v ide for fi n e s for those wh o failed to atten d w n u m n n wh o he s mo ed to ri g the bells , or r n o u t ou t a g of place , or took the rope of his ’ w n w n l w n w l fello s ha d he the bel s ere doi g e l . fiu u n b e tte d u As a Ch rch G ild , the reg latio s w an d m w n t o ere strict , embers ere forbidde w n an d s talk hile the bells ra g, be ides this everyon e had to kn eel dow n an d pray before w n n u n fin e 6d he e t i to the belfry , der a of .

n u n m . for the first offe ce , or exp lsio fro the u n G ild for a repetitio of it . r An other G uild composed o f profession al m u sician s is men tion ed by Percy i”n h is “ n n n l Reliques of A cie t E g ish Poetry . He in h 146 w u t e 9 . n says that , vear , Ed ard IV , po m l in ffidm a c o p a m m sTE m e n an fir u u m d arti ce s of vario s trades had ass ed the ’ t an d l n Mn s an d itle ivery of the Ki g s i strel , u n der that colou r an d prete nce had coll ected m n in n m an d o ey divers parts of the Ki gdo , mm h th e n n co itted ot er disorders , Ki g gra ted ’ W an d a charter to alter Halliday , M arshal , n ow n n w seve other of his M i strels , by hich a u n he created G ild of M i strels , similar to o n m l n n ew u wa e for er y existi g . The G ild s to be gover ned by a M arshal appoi n ted for n w t wo W n h n life , acti g ith arde s to be c ose n n wh o w m w m a ually , ere e po ered to ad it Brothers an d Sisters i n to th e body ; to exami n e the preten sion s of all s u ch as were affected t o exercise th e profession of M i n strel ; an d to TRADE GUILDS 9 1

n an d n u regulate , gover pu ish them thro gh u m m n y o t th e real . For so e reaso the Cit of Chester w as excepted from the au thority of u w m this G ild , hich looks as if there a si ilar u w G ild held s ay .

This charter w as re n e ve H n r al n n e . VIII to his M ars Joh Gilma , an d n n an d 1635 l n d seve M i strels , Char es gra te Letters Paten t for a Corporation of M u sicia n s in W m n h b was u est i ster . T is ody obvio sly i n ten ded to su persede the previo u s G u ild w u n w . fo ded by Ed ard IV , hose Charter is recited in the doc umen t o f Charles I .

A somewhat s imilar G u ild o f M usician s existe d in parts of German y in the 15th cen tu ry u n der the n ame of the M eister n s an d lV a n e r w n m n si ger , g has ove the i to n w the plot of his opera of that ame . They ere n ot a gu ild in the se n se that they devoted w a u an d their hole time to the cr ft of m sic ,

- to day they w ou ld probably be called a cl ub . The mu sical aspiran t had to be admitted to the G u ild afte r passi n g the ran ks of Appre n t ic e sh i an d n an d n p , Scholar Si ger , he the u w com g rad ated as a M aste r . The body as u posed of the b rgher class of various trades , wh o had made r ules an d tradition s of their o wn to govern the forms of mu sical composi n an d w tio , the lyrics to hich they set their m w n n m u sic . These ere o li es far re oved from those of the or Love n l 12 h M i stre s , of the older days of the t an d 13th n u e in m n wh o w ce t ri s Ger a y , ere 92 TRADE GUILDS

con cern ed more with lyric poetry than with u in w was n d the m sical form hich it re ered ,

an d were of the class of love cavaliers .

W fie X r ss n in e n d p e reg ulatio s most of the ordi n an ces of the G u ilds agai n st goi n g to la w w m an d an u ith me bers , if y q arrel arose , the fellow members of the dispu tan ts w ere to try to w h u u u o f heal i t , it o t reco rse to the Co rts Law an d n o n u was m m , o ly fail re the e ber u t o go to litigation ou tside the G ild .

- fin d u There was a w ell de e code of r les n n in n n w co cer g the taki g of appre tices , hich w To e may pu t u n der the follow i n g heads . begi n w ith there was the en try by the master n o n l u of the appre tice the ro ls of the G ild , whic”h gave him the title of en tered appre n an d u n h im tice , bo d by the rules of the G u ild ; echoes of which w e can trace in old

i n den tu res of appren ticesh ip in variou s trades . In l w fin d u r the atter e that the p pil ag eed to n an d n u u n ot be ho est i d strio s , to steal the m n o t to m n goods of his aster , resort to ga i g an d n o t mm m m n an houses , to co it atri o y , or y u n u m n law f l offen ce . The ter of appre ticeshi p in u was w n an d th e the G ilds al ays seve years , n n 14 average age for the appre tice bei g years , h e was 21 when he emerged fr om his cou rse of in stru ction an d it is still officially declared t hat by th e cu stom of Lon don n o person c an b e n n u n 14 n or bou d appre tice der , over 2 1 L years of age .

n n n in me The seco d poi t , at all eve ts so G w as th e n h ad b e uilds, that appre tice to K TRAD E GUILDS 9 3

“ fre e an n w If , f expressio hich at this time is , _ u In da s it u n o t . perhaps , q ite clear early y m st have referred to the disti n ction betwee n the serf and the man wh o w as free fr om bon dage the former of whom wou ld n o t b e el e m ssi n th e G i ; b u t igibl for ad i o to u l”d , after w th e n l m n was u ards , expressio f ee a sed by of h is w as o n his the V ile of a fu ll m 0 11 u me ber . Later , the cities sed the same word to den ote that their citize n s were free from the j u risdiction of the Sheriff of the

u n a n d w n l t | 1e ° Ma o r Co ty , ere o ly liab e to y Th of the City in which they resided . is i ig h t w ou ld descen d to the Freema n s sons ’ b m n w as u y patri o y , as it called , tho g h strangers inig h t occasion ally acqu ire i t by

p u rch ase .

t n i n in 1 e i n I is sig if ca t that , the g of w w n n Il . as o n Ed ard , it e acted that perso u m m n n n co ld be ad itted as a Free a of Lo do , n u w a n n n u n eve tho gh he ere i habita t , less he also were a member of o n e of the trades

m - dav n or isteries ; but , to the positio is re ve is e d w n n e w m m , for he a e ber of a City m n n o t l Co pa y is admitted he has , if a ready m n m u an d a Free a of the City , to beco e s ch , this F1 e e do m is n o w obtai n able b y a n yon e o n m n a m n the parlia e t ry register , by pay e t of o n e u n i t y m n u h g i ea to the C Cha berlai , tho g t h e Corporatio n o cc asmn ally h e n on i s disti n g u ish e d stra n gers by the presen tation of the Freedom to them an d admits the appren tices 94 T RADE G U ILDS

Fre e man u v of , by servit de , after they ha e v m n w se r ed their ter to their master . A arro parchmen t certificate is give n to the r”ecipie n t u n n w it w by p rchase , headed Lo do , to , hich m n n n m a n d u n e tio s his a e , address occ patio , an d s tates that h e was admitted to th e Freedom an d n t aforesaid , made the declaratio of loyal y to the Ki n g requ ired by law in the M ayoralty B n an d X Y of Sir A . . , K ight , M ayor , Sir . . , m n an d w as n in Cha berlai , e tered the book r n u n o f ms an d elati g to the p rchasi g Freedo , m n m n h n w the ad issio of Free e . T e follo s the a e w n th e d t , ith the year of the reig of n an d n u l n w n Sovereig , it co cl des it ess whereof the seal of the o flic e of Chamberlai n u n f in th of the City is here to af ixed . Dated e Chamber of the G u ildh”all of the same City th e an d day year aforesaid .

The third poi n t abou t the e n try in the Gu ild Bo oks w as that the appren tice had to take an oath to preserve the secret s of his ’ m s a n d b a ter s trade , it is proba le that this oath w as admi n istered in the presen ce of the u l n fi u l h o w G ild chap ai , for i t is dif c t to see u n n n else it co ld the have bee give , as a copy w as n w w ul of the Gospels ecessary , hich o d n n in n an d the o ly be the possessio of , read ab le b an m y , ecclesiastic . This theory see s m in n the ore likely , as there is existe ce the r in an u ecord of a case Ecclesiastical Co rt , be fore the Commissary o f the Bishop of n n wh o n h ow Li col , had to co sider far it w as su an w n a breach of ch oath , for the s or member of a G u ild to impart its secrets t o TRADE GUILDS 95

u \V n o t n w u o tsiders . e do k o the res lt of t u in n u hi s case ; tho gh , a other ca se , Arch n w n n u bishop M orto , he sitti g as a spirit al u u u n u wh o J dge , let off a fra d le t exec tor, w as l u o n u n liab e to that Co rt , the gro d n n u w u that by his reprehe sible co d ct , he o ld mn in a n d w as u n ne ce s be da ed hell , that it sary to add to that p u n ishmen t w hile he w as alive .

We c an trace n o records of an y w ritte n n n in d w i de n t u res of. appre tices the ays e u t wo a n : F speak of , obvio sly for re so s irst , the gen eral lack of k n owledge to write in me n of th e type with which w e are deali n g ; a n d n u sn u w n , seco dly, the seles ess of s ch riti g s when the whole of the G u ild kn ew of the fac t n n n m of the appre tice bei g take by his aster , a n d an f n a n m o f if y dif ere ce , at y ti e the appren ticeship sho u ld have arise n 0 11 the part m s n of ei ther the a ter or the appre tice , this wo uld be speedily sett led by t h e M aster an d \ n u ld Varde s of the G i .

In n m later days , as at the prese t ti e , w ritten Articles of Appre n ticeship ca me i n to u a n d m m n u vog e , these ore oder forms do bt less co n tai n ed provisio n s adopted from the u u u n sages of the old G ilds . Th s the appre tice ’ co n tracted n o t to steal his master s goods ; to h im an d u an d m do good la dable service , ost n n n o t mm sig ifica t of all , to co it a n d n u m to play at o u nlaw f l ga e .

On e m u u n an d ga e m ch sed by appre tices , w ul in n n u n 1849 was la f E gla d til the year , 96 TRADE GUILDS

n w was an n that of cockfighti g , hich old E glish m n u in s pasti e , i d lged by choolboys as early as th e 13t h ce n tu ry on Shrove Tu esday s i n m n o w n t u r . c a par ic la Ea h provided his cock , w w as w u an d m hich armed ith sp rs , ade to in o n u u fight a cockpit a circ lar stage , abo t 20 in m v w t m n feet dia eter , co ered i h atti g , rs an d e n closed by a barrier for the spectato . n w as u on A lice ce req ired to carry a cockpit , an d we have before u s o n e gra n ted in 1706 an a m n w for est blish e t at Ne port , Isle of W wh t : was ight , ich states hat the holder of it appoi n ted to keep a hou se for the exercise of n n n w u t o o . a cockpit , co ditio s hich are set d an d a h The first is to keep good or er , fter t at there is o n e req u iri n g the licen see n o t to u ff n b u t n u s er appre tices to play , o ly at s ch m w m s an d n o t ti es as are allo ed by their aster , h uf o n Su n days . The older is n o t to s fer idle an d suspicio u s person s to lu 1 k abou t to cheat an d defrau d b u t on ly to u se the cockpit for the

m r n - n oderate ecreatio of civilly disposed perso s , an d n n u ur at seaso able a d lawf l ho s .

B u ll baiti n g w as also o n e of the lawfu l games for appre n tices an d others in E n glan d u n 1835 an d m in til , this sa e cockpit the Isle of Wight was also u sed for this game u n til 1 7 59 w n w u , he the streets ere sed for the u r ul w as n u b h e p p ose . The b l ofte s pplied y t an d w n w as w as M ayor , he it killed its flesh n in u we give charity to the poor , tho gh Q< devou tly hope it w as n o t fo u n d t o o tou gh for m fin u u the , as a ghti g b ll m st have proved m w t so e ha hard to eat .

98 TRADE GUILDS

It has been estimated that there were in ’ E w III s n u u s d ard . reig abo t religio a n d Gu in n n m o f m trade ilds E gla d , ost the m u o f u s all , tho gh that Corp s Christi at York , w w as u o ne m n hich a religio s , had as a y as m w n o n me bers . There ere less tha 150 h u n Ne w of t ese G ilds at Bristol , Cove try ,

c s l —ou - n w h an d m n a t e Ty e , Nor ic , York , a o gst ’ w w h n m n hich ere the M erc a ts Co pa y at York , u w t h e the G ild of St . George at Nor ich , h n n u m n w l M erc a t Adve t rers Co pa y at Ne cast e , a n d an th e m n m other of sa e a e at Bristol , the t wo w u v last of hich still s rvi e .

Gu ild n m e r The ret“ periodically , so e u b ’ ‘ e k b u m tli ii u in t . e GE a d , ost of iii f q arter , e li r an d tlié had n o 1 3 th ir yg y ; if y 11 9 13 ; hall , ' m ' th ifi e e mb e rs of th e vario u s G u ilds me t at ’ e c u in n a h others ho ses rotatio . The property - o f u w aske t in a i do de h est w the G ild p p , hich i m‘ w as an m n m an d war aste n e d i porta t i te , f w se e ral w w ith y locks , the keys of hich ere “ ' g pt se e ral als h w u k by g ot i . T is chest o ld c n n th e u o tai charte of the G ild , if there ” r; n t o ase fin e w u happe ed , ith the G ild a n d the Ope n i n g of the chest

“ s u ch a solemn ceremon y that everyon e i n ’ fl ’ n liad th fiun i prese t e to cover h e d s“ h a There is an illu stration existin g of the ’ mon ey - box of the Cordwai n ers Guild of w d 1 10 Oxford , hich ates back to the year 0, “ a n d t u b n w is of a shape , e circled ith five n an d n two o s an d = < iro hoops , havi g l ck a l

c hai n . There are also description s of the h t wo u m c on c ests of G ilds at Ca bridge , TRADE GUILDS 99

t ain e d in u n w their reg latio s , hich provide that the nio n e y an d g oods of the G u ild were in n two a nd to be kept a chest , havi g locks t wo w w r to t keys , the latter of hich e e be kep th e t wo m n u v each of Alder e of the G ild .

F C H E ST O TRAD E G UILD .

The high day of the year for t h e G u ild w as t h e n n an d we festival of its patro Sai t , w n i c an ell imagi n e the sce e n the town . All the members were attired in a livery o f an d me t th e the authorised colour , at u w n w n in ro G ildhall , from he ce they e t p c n n esso to atte d M ass , celebrated by their n at u in th e Chaplai , the G ild Chapel Parish u n Ch urch . After that they ret r ed to the w w an d m w hall ith their ives fa ilies , here an n u w h they partook of ample ba q et , hic w as doubtless prepared by several of the

R - lo ck l h f l 3 W W a u d fi fi 100 TRADE GUILDS

more impo 1 ta n t members of the G uild at ' m e x e n se an d 1 e side d their jg t p , p over by f iV rd n n n m n t e a e . u n h Di er hav g e ded , b si ess wu d k n i n n n e w W n o l be ta e ha d , the arde for t h e r a n d m n in s yea elected , the o ey the che t n d w h u n u n a . t co ted , agreed it the acco ts Af er w as m n n an d n n that there orris da ci g si gi g , ~ u n less a miracle play had bee n arran ged to be played by the members of the G u ild in n u n w . as m n d the ope air Th s , busi ess co bi e w u an d n n ith pleas re , pleasa t social relatio s w n w hips established bet ee the fello traders .

The room w here the G u ild meeti n gs took to mm n u m place , acco odate the ber of the m m was n S u o n e an d e bers , ecessarily a pacio”s , n s in h is Fairie u n 1 1 Spe er Q ee , Book , n t 7 wr t n in 1590 o n e Ca o , it e , has described of h is time

Th e r oo m w a s a e an d w i e l rg d , A s it so me u i o r so e mn e m e we e G ld l T pl r .

we have see n that in th e c ase o f the v

’ religiou s G u ilds there w as an Alderma n as a fil an d w e m n a high of cia , get the sa e me i u l u n ii . occ rri g the Trade G i ds Thus , in 1 18 o n n n II. 0 u He ry , , made a raid the u t or u n u o f L n n a horised , ad lteri e , G ilds o do , n fin 19 h w a d ed of them , eac of hich , as ha d the Pipe Roll records expressly state , n l m n w n m n a A der a , hose a e is give as the f n n u w o fe der , i stead of the G ild to hich he belon ged .

The records of su bsequ e n t years each show n on ey comi n g i n to the Exchequ er from

102 T RADE GUILDS

G u ilds of the town s w ere disc ussed before wh o m the M ayor , settled the .

There is an i n teresti n g sidelig ht o n th e in 1 m . w n 396 w n odes of life of orkme , he the Ki n g gra n ted a pardo n to the Barbers of n wh o u n Cove try , had got p a strike agai st n u n w a d shavi g , less their prices ere r ise , “ m n u n aki g , as the record q ai tly says , the mu cost of that art so ch”dearer , to the m n da age of the whole people . The Cove try n b arbers a ticipated th e tactics of the workers n w w e n o n e of the prese t days so ell that , h of m n h n Wilnh ald u n the , amed Jo , t r ed blackleg , a n d u u m in dared to shave a scr bby c sto er , n u h e w as defia ce of the r les of the strikers , u an d n u In n d rs assa lted i j red . the e the strike w fin n d n e n e a n m n ere co d m ed to impriso e t , b u t th e n n u , case bei g prese ted favo rably to n Il w as d n the Ki g, Richard . , he please to gra t m n the a pardo .

A A s these Trade Gu ilds w ere so closely 1 t h e u n o w n l allied to Ch rch , i t is o der that n w 1 eli iou s u an d they j oi ed ith the g G ilds , too k their part in th e erforman ce of the p M m st erie s m o n COr u s r , or iracle plays , Ch isti w y p 111 h e u um are day . t British M se about fifty man u sc 1 i t s m r m p of so e of these play s , pe for ed n in 1 168 w r e i m at Cove try , ; hile othe s p for ed m & ' by the Gu ilds at Y o1 k £0 1 111 a series goi n g c ve1 the Bible story fr om the C1 c ation to the u n w an n on e o n Last J dgme t , ith additio al n n n the Coro atio of the Virgi M ary . TRADE GUILDS 103 & The G uilds u n dou btedly did go 1 an d c n their day , exercised a stri t vigila ce over trade ; n o t o nl y in the i n terest of t h e w b u t u m an orkers , also of their c sto ers , importa n t sec tio n o f which were the priors an d mon ks o f the n u mero u s an d wealth y , n A ll n w n m . a o asteries thi gs , ho ever , have a n d sig n s of decay bega n f eet 1 11 bega n to lose asp i red to the dig n ities formerly acqu ired by th e u s w n s n w n . h o M ercha t G ild The Cro , eei g m w n u in atters ere goi g , tho ght fit to step , a n d an Act was passed in 1437 agai n st the u n h h w n o t u se G ilds , declari g t at t ey ere to an y o f their reg u latio n s or ordi n an ces agai nst n r n m n the i te ests of the Ki g , or the co mo fi u G o n pro t of the people . The ilds got very w ell while Lo n do n had on ly the im~ porta nce of a provi n cial town an d trade w as dislocated by the Civil Wars of the b u t w n u n w as s Roses , , he q iet ess re tored , an d m n trade revived , the ost importa t trade , t o f w in th e s w as tha ool , dealt by M ercer , w an d s the first to be dealt ith , its door thrown w ide ope n to competition for cheaper i pr ces .

In 148 7 an was u n wn , Act passed , c tti g do the pow ers of the G u ild of the M ercers of Lo n d n an d w as n r o , it e acted that all trade s w ere to be at liberty to b uy an d sell in

o n n w u r u . i L do , itho t rega d to that G ild Th s w as w t u n V II follo ed by a S at te of He ry , d 1503 ‘ w u ated , by hich the a thority of the H & 104 TRADE GUI 1 DS

Lord M ayor of Lon do n to co n firm the ordi da n ces of the G u ilds th e re was tra n sferred n u to the Lord Cha cellor , the Lord Treas rer , an d u W m n the Chief J stices at est i ster .

A n other importa n t ph ase of G u ild life ose w n m n w , he crafts e resolved to set to ork w n o u the villages , here G ilds existed , n u u n i avoidi g the G ild reg latio s . At f rst , m n si ply led to i dle prohibitio s , as , for n ce o n e forbiddi n g the maki n g of cloth 1e villages rou n d Worcester ; b u t it is u seless to try to prohibit what the fi n n d in n d a u to be of be efit , , co rse m th e u mu w ti e , G ilds lost ch of their po er u w y the rivalry of these o tside orkers .

n n V Il w a n n I. s o e The ext reig , of He ry , of u n n w social revol tio , for the M o asteries ere disban ded an d ecclesiastical property c o n mu fid . n a sc ate This alo e st have l rgely n u n u b ut in u i fl e ced the G ilds , co rse of time th ey had accu mu lated property in con n ectio n w u u in ith their religio s side , tho gh the a reign of Rich rd II . the Sheriffs had repo rted u n o that the G ilds had property , except u n th eir s bscriptio s . First the larger abbeys an d m n w n an d in 1546 s o asteries e t , the les er o n es followed an d it was a n at u ral sequ en ce that the ecclesiastical property of the Guilds u n u n w w as sho ld eve t ally also be take a ay , as ’ don e by Statu te in the last year of Hen ry s n u in 1544 w m n reig , tho gh he had borro ed o ey m of the .

106 TRADE GUILDS

n w heirs , Ki gs . Also ye shall s ear that w ell an d tru ly to yo u r pow er ye shall serve yo u r M aster d u ri ng the term of you r n h An d e h an d appre tices ip . y shall old pe rform the cove n an ts in you r i n den t ure f n n n l o appre ticehood co tai ed . Also ye shal l an d c u n s hold steadfastly , secret y for o el all an d th e w u n n w every la f l ordi a ces , hatso b e n ever they , to the Craft or occupatio of n n an d in the M ercery belo gi g , , as much as o u m al s d y is , every of the , ye sh l ob erve hol an d an d n o t n keep , to break , discover , ope w an m an n b u t or she y of the to y perso , u n to su ch as u n to the fellowship of the M ercery is here accordi n g to th is oath A n d h n t u sworn . that ye s all o depart o t an d m w fro the said fello ship , for to serve , n o t t o be accompa n ied with an y man n er of n an m n w perso of y other co pa y, fello ship , u n w an u occ patio or craft , hereby y prej dice , u m m w e u n , a b th e h rt ‘ or har y gro or ‘ to w an fello ship of the M ercery , or y of the secrets thereof th ereby to be discovered or

n w n . an d n k o So help you God , all Sai ts , n d a by this Book .

The n ext oath is for h im that hath , & an d served his years , desireth to be free , which mea n s of cou rse the oath take n by t h e craftsman o n formally en teri n g the G u ild as u m m an d u a f ll e ber , it proceeds th s

Y e shall swear that ye shall be tru e u n to o u r l n an d iege Lord the Ki g , to his heirs , K n h n an d i gs . Ye s all also be obedie t ready TRADE GUILDS 107 t o co me to all lawfu l s ummo nan ce an d warn W wh n n in n a d. gs of the arde s of the M ercery e , f n u n an d w n as o te as , ye be d ly mo ished ar ed b m an h m b v y the , or by y of t e , their beadle , o r an in n w u l u by y other their ame , la f exc se a w m Al l w u n n an d l ays exe pt . la f l ordi a ces u w d n e r les by the fello ship of the M ercery or ai d , m a nd s an d ade , tablished , hereafter for the w w an d ro fit a w eal , orship p of the s id fello ship e m d All b l a n . to ade , ye shal hold keep w u mmu n n n n n la f l co icatio s , ecessary ordi a ces , a n d co u n se ls for th e w e llfare of the said w an d th e ou fello ship , secrets thereof to y w l a n d fo r she ed , ye shal keep secret hold c u n an d h m n o r an o cil , t e y of them to discover o r shew by a ny mea n s or colo u r u n to an y n n w perso or a y other fello ship . Ye shall also be con tribu tory to all ch arges to yo u pu t b y ’ W n an d w a n d the arde s by the Fello ship , to bear an d pay you r part of charges set for you r d r m w egree , like as othe s of the sa e fello ship l l s . ha l do for their degree M oreover, ye shal n o t depart o u t of the said fell owsh ip fo r to s n o r n o t m n w h erve , ye shall acco pa y you it n an w h u h my perso of y other fello ship , t ro g whom prej u dice an d h u rt may in an y w ise w w A n d gro to the fello ship of the M ercery . over this ye sh all s wear that d u ri n g the time of yo u r service ye shall n either b u y n o r sell u o wn n o r an n for yo r self , for y other perso , n o r that ye shall receive an y goods or mer c h an diz e s by any colou r belo n gi n g to an y o ther perso n tha n on ly to you r M aste1 that ye n o w w n w serve , or shall serve ithi the fello ship o f the 1l e i ce 1 y e xcept by his Special lice n se 1 08 TRADE GUILDS an w l Al h n o t an d i l . so t at ye shall take y u s m n o r w u shop , ho e , cha ber , cellar , areho se an u u u n an d n by y colo r for to occ py , b yi g selli g u n to su ch time as that ye have been with the ’ 11 d n th e r n ar e s of M erce y for the time bei g,

' an d by o n e of them for sh o ph olde r admit t ed

w n n n t . s or a d e tered . Nor hat ye shall take or have an y appre n tice or an y so for to occu py u n til that he be by you u n to o n e of the said ’ W n a n n an d arde s for ppre tice first prese ted , b W d n m d A u y the said ar e s so ad itte . lso s ch n an d 1 m u w w l poi ts , eve y of the to yo r po er el an d u an d tr ly ye shall hold ” keep . So help y o u Go d an d , this book .

The faithf ul appren tice might be selected b y his M aster to go abroad for h im to sell his m n s an d w as n r goods , or ake co tract , here a othe opport un ity w he n the san ction of religion m h h man n ig t elp to keep the ho est . So a fu rther form of obligation w as devised to fit “ t n an d w e an t h e his occasio , have oath for appren tice an d fellowes th at goeth over sea for their masters .

Ye shall swear that ye shall be t r ue u n to o u r n an d h is liege Lord , the Ki g , to heirs , n w l n d u u Ki gs . Ye shall also e l a tr ly serve yo r M aster accordi n g to th e coven an t betwee n y o u m n u an ade . Also ye shall o t b y or sell y m n n 1 ou 1 own n or o r a e of goods for y self , for an m n n n b u t to the behoof of y other a er perso , c n n w an d m n u by o se t , ill agree e t of yo r said n o r an u u m n M aster , by y ca tel or s btle ea s u n an m n w shall colo r or co vey y o ey , j e els ,

110 T RA DE GUILDS

n n o ur w o u perso , serva t of said fello ship , by y n o w an m t n w n n n , or at y ti e hereaf er , k o offe di g in an y the premises , that ye thereof shortly , as n w ma soo after as that ye ell y , either by mou th or writi n g to give k n owledg e u n to o n e W w n . of the arde s of the M ercery . All hich n and m u w w poi ts , every of the , to yo r po er , ell n m a d truly ye shall observe an d perfor . So h o u an d all n an d elp y God , Sai ts , by this

Book .

Th e n w h o ext Oath is for the M aster , is abo u t to ta ke u p a shop for hi mse lf so as to se d l an d n are ll goo s by retai , his obligatio s as follows

Ye shall sw ear that ye shall be tr u e u n to

o u r n an d K n s . Lord the Ki g , to his heirs , i g Also ye shall swear that ye shall keep sad an d g oo d govern a n ce in y o u r o w n perso n an d u s n an d n yo r erva ts , also ye shall be obedie t an d ready a t all lawfu l calli n gs an d s um mo use s of the C u s to se s an d Warde n s for th e m n n m A n d a d . ti e bei g , to every of the that n o r n n in u n m b u n o r n o r ye , o e yo r a e , y , sell , do u n o r d w n c n o r to be bo ght sol , ithi the i ty w u an m n n w a n n itho t , y a er of ares of y perso , n n c n or w b ut serva t , appre ti e lo es , if the good an d th e an w avail thereof , if y , he gro properly to th e use of the master of th e foresaid ser v n n w A n d a a t , appre tice or lo es . also th t ye s l n o t u n o r n m hal receive , colo r, co vey fro n n th e n or f m those parts of E gla d over sea , ro t n n o m n n hose parts i to these parts , a er of m n an u n t ercha dizes that y s ch appre ice , or TRADE GrGILDS 1 l l

w u se lle th se n de th u h lo es , b yeth , f , or occ piet t o o wn u se w t u l n n wn his , i ho t specia lice se k o n a a d had to his M aster . Also that ye t ke n n n b u t t n h im o e appre tice , that ye firs prese t u n W n o n e m a n d to the arde s , or to of the , to o u m n w an n y ad itted . Also , if ye k o y perso doi n g the con trary to this o rdi n an ce an d o w an d n do ath , ye shall she ope it , or it to be shewed a n d open ed to t h e Cu sto se s an d W n th e n o n e arde s for time bei g, or to of m w n u n w the , ithi eight days after s ch k o ledge ma m m n had if ye y co e to the , or else as soo d y e . o u a n as goodly may So help y” God , All w an d b o . Hallo s , y this Bo k

The last form of obligatio n u sed w as an oath for stra n gers admi tted u n to the fellow an d ran u ship , it th s

Y e shall swear that ye shall be faith ful an d u u n o u r an d n a n d tr e to liege Lord Ki g , n r to his heirs , Ki gs . Also ye shall be t ue a n d faithf u l u n to the fello wship of the an d u n in n M ercery , their co sel keep all thi gs u w u n o u an d req isite that shall be she ed to y , u po n a re aso n able war n i n g as ye may atte n d o m w u a n d t co e to all la f l courts assemblies . Also ye shall be con trib u tory to all charges to o u u t W d n an d w an d y p by the ar e s Fello ship , to bear a n d pay yo u r part of charge set fo r u m w yo r degree , like as other of the sa e fello u ship shall do for their degree . All s ch n an d m a m y o u r w poi ts , y of the , to po er

w ell an d tru ly ye shall hold an d keep . So h d n n elp you Go a d all Sai ts . 1 12 T RADE GUILDS

It w ill be n oted that in each form of oath the con clu di n g w ords have a pec u liarity of t o w n b u t u n n was heir , obvio sly the o ly reaso an n u u an d to to give each i divid al to ch , n n n m n n ba ish a ythi g like o oto y .

M ost of the early Trade G u ild Charters n n u m bear a stro g resembla ce , tho gh so e have n u n n an d an n lo g er reg latio s tha others , i te i n o n n w o n rest g e is that gra ted by Ed ard IV . 1 7t h m 1466 Nove ber to the Tailors of Exeter , wh n m ich states that the Ki g , for hi self, his s an d u n l heir s ccessors , e abled his ieges of the Craft of Tailor”s in Exeter to establish a b u t d m n Gild of the Craft , here the rafts a appare n tly had his dou bts as to the real n e c es s it an an d u l ti n y of y Charter , he q a i es the gra t “ w K n by the ords , so far as he (the i g) has w u w as m w o po er . The G ild e po ered to cho se an d u l V arde n s an d me m a M aster fo r , for the w an d bers to ear a livery , to have feasts , to m u l n y u ake s ch reg u atio s as the tho ght best .

The Gu ild was to be a corporatio n with a an d n r an d seal , be co t olled by the M aster W n wh o w m n th e m n arde s , ere to a e d isdoi gs m m d n in an . of the e bers , their serva ts trade n w m n u n The follo s the i porta t r le , still existi g w Lo n d n m n n o o n e ith the o Co pa ies , that u sho ld have a board or shop of that craft , u n less also free o f the City ; a n d n o o n e w as t o w n u u n n w n be allo ed to j oi the G ild , less k o n u to be of good character a d faithf l . The l M aster an d “ arde n s were give n a g en eral n th e a n d co trol over Craft of Tailors , over

1 14 TRADE GUILDS

an d yo u shall s u e n o man of this craft w ithou”t lice n se of t h e M aster for th e time n bei g .

A still e xiste n t part of the a dmissio n o f a freeman of a City Compa n y is the taki n g of an B W n an d u oath before the laster , arde s Co rt , w u n o n n u hich is fo ded the old li es of the G ilds , as witn ess that for the Coopers in u se from v an d n m o f w h ery old days , the prese t for hic 17 41 It u n : Yo u do n i s dated . r s si cerely promise a n d swear that y o u w ill be faith fu l a n d tr u e allegia n ce bear to His M ajesty the n Y o u in n an d l w u Ki g . shall all ho est a f l matters be obedie n t to the M aster an d \Varde n s of the Fellowship of Coopers w ithi n n d n m n a n d the City of Lo o for the ti e bei g , o bedien t an d re ady to come to the la wfu l w ar n i n gs give n y ou o n the behalf of the sa id ’ an d “ n o u M aster arde s , except y have a

n u w u n n . reaso able exc se , itho t feig i g or delay A n d yo u shall obse rve an d keep an d to the best of yo u r power ca u se to be observed an d kept all law fu l ordi n a n ces an d statu tes made for t h e g ood r u le an d politic gu idi n g of the l w Y o u said Fe lo ship . shall also keep all the l w u th e w an d all a f l secrets of said Fello ship , s u ch l aw fu l th i n gs as by way of co u n sel in commu n ication at an y day of assembly amon gst the said Fellowship shall be holde n by the said Master an d \Varden s an d Fe llow a n d n o t m an s n ship , disclose the sa e to y per o o f the same Fellowship an d especially to any su ch person whom the same matter doth or in n m d w s a u o . a y i e y to ch . So help you G T RADE GUILDS

\Ve have preserved to u s the forms of ’ obligatio n u sed b y the Tailors G u ild at n e w m n n Exeter , that for the crafts a bei g as follow s Ye shall swear that ye shall be n d u n n good a tr e to the frater ity of St . Joh the Baptist of Tailors withi n the Cit y of n o t w n Exeter . Ye shall ithsta d or disobey an d W n m n the M aster arde s for the ti e bei g , but thereto be obedie n t at all times witho u t n u n rea so able exc se . Ye shall o t discover the c o u n sel of the brotherh ood or of the a h n w u Cr ft , t at ye have k o ledge of, that sho ld w n u be secret ithi o rselves . It proceeds w ith pro mises n o t to e n cou rage an y stra n ger to dwell w ithi n the fra n chise of the craft ; to show to the Warde n s the i n de n t ures o f n a n d n m n appre tices , to bri g the i to the craft at the e n d of the terms n o t to l u re or en tice away a n y worker or appre n tice ; n o t to take a sh O p till admitted by the M aster a n d n o t w w m m to ithdra fro his aster, an ra an or y brother of the c ft , y of their

' c u sto me ns n o t u b u t ; to leave the G ild , to u n an d w n phold i t , accordi g to his ability , he he died to leave it a legacy ; also n o t to su e a n y brother of the craft withou t the lice n se h of t e M aster .

There are examples of the discipli n e of the Exeter G u ild , for o n e cu stomer c om pl a i n ed to the M aster and Warden s that he h ad given cloth to a craftsma n to make i n to w b u t t a w n n n w s . a go , hat part of it a ti g The was u n n w n case caref lly go e i to , he the M aster a n d lVarde n s fou n d that n o cloth had bee n T RADE GUILDS

sto le n b u t that some had been wasted by t h e ' u w tailor s lack of skill , so poetic j stice as do n e n th e by orderi g tailor to pay for the cloth , he n w wn m bei g allo ed to keep the go hi self .

In H ull the G u ilds were a u thorised by “ ” x w arra n t m co m o sic io n m th e , ter ed a p , fro u m M ayor . The earliest of these doc e n ts is e 1470 an d l dat d , that of the Plasterers Ti ers 1 8 “ be arin g date 59 . They begin : To all Christian people to whom the presen”t In n u c om o sic io n m an d de t re of p shall co e , have the u su al ordi n a n ces for the moral n u ildsrn n n gu ida ce of the g e . Appre ti ce s w n an d ere ordered to serve for seve years , t o en su re their du e trai n i n g in the craft n o master was to have more than o n e appren tice u m till the first had served fo r years of his ti e , an d to e n s ure good behaviou r the master was ordered al ways to m c h rch w h h i . uj it ' ‘ a Warde n wh o , had

in u n o n g ho rs , or bei g dis rderly at , or abse t m m n u an d was fro , eeti gs of the G ild , there the u su al ru le requ iri n g members to atten d f n th e f un erals o deceased brethre .

At Newcastle was the An cien t Gu ild of n w w as n u in 1581 M aso s , hich co stit ted as a w w two body corporate , ith po er to choose u u u a \Varden s . It had the s al r les as to p pren tices an d agai n st the admission of Scots me n an d was an n n , there express ordi a ce as o n s i da t o the mystery plays Corpus Chri t y ,

TRADE GUILDS in ma n y cases the Trade Gu ilds acqu ired o ne o f o wn wh m n o n t h their , ich they e blazo ed e ba n n ers born e before them in procession s un o f m u l a n d at f erals embers . The G i d of o n n n m n St . M ichael the Hill , Li col , a o gst its ordi n a n ces h ad o n e o n this poi n t as fol “ lo w s - The ba n n er of the G u ild shall be u u th e an d bro ght to the ho se of dead , there ope n ly show n that me n may k n ow that the dead w as a brother or sister of the G u ild ; a n d n n d w the ba er shall be carrie , ith a great h u nin m h ou se d torc b r g , fro the ” of the ead h u before t e body to the ch rch .

n n n m n The Lo do appre tice , a o gst his u m m m other d ties , so e of the do estic , had ’ in m an d to help his aster s shop , historical n n h m in fictio has ofte times called t e aid , w n n an d u he describi g riots street q arrels , as bei n g a body which could be easily gathered together o n the sou n d of an y t u mu lt in th e & n in h is n City . Lytto Last of the Baro s a s w w an d de l ith the days of Ed ard IV . , i n trod u ces as a character an appren tice to a m wh Wh n n w e golds ith ; ile Dick itti gto , as n w w as an d in 1483 th e k o , a real character , , Il l was n first year of Richard , he appre ticed Fit z al wv n to a mercer , . With Shakespeare they w ere familiar “ u in I . 3 fig res , for he Richard Act . , Sc , i n trod u ces this passage

Mu st I serve a lo n g appre n t ic e ho o d T o o e i n assa e s an d in t h e e n d f r g p g , . a in m re e om o a s o f n o in e se H v g y f d , b t th g ”l B u t t a I w as a ou rn e man o rie h t j y t g f . TRADE GUILDS 1 19

in h is u n Scott , Fort es of Nigel , bases l n u n m u o fidin in a fu l ote po the th s C n g their n u mbers an d co n viction s the appren tices of Lon don were often sedu ced i n to taki n g liberty with the passe n gers an d exercisi n g their w it at the expen se of those whom they had n o hopes of con verti n g i n to cu stomers b y n w a an their eloq u e ce . If this s resisted by y o f n n n act viole ce , the the i mates of each shop w u in u u an d in ere ready to po r forth s cco r , w o ld n w n n was the ords of so g hich Dr . Joh so u sed to h u m

’ Up the n ro se t h e pre n tic e s a ll ’ i in in n L v g L o do n bo th pro p e r an d ta ll .

Desperate riots often arose o n su ch occa sion s especially wh en the Templars or other you ths con n ected w ith the aristocracy w ere n i n su lted or co ceived themselves to be so . Upon s u ch occasio n s bare steel w as fre u n u i n q e tly opposed to the cl bs of the cit ze s , d m m n u n an death so eti es e s ed o both sides . The tardy an d i n e fficien t police of the time h ad n o other resou rce tha n by the Alderma n o f the w ard c al li n g o u t the ho u seholders an d p u tti n g a”stop to the strife by overpo weri n g u m n bers .

In the days of Elizabeth the pow ers of the u w ob vio u slv w n n an d was G ilds ere a i g , as it felt that they shou ld be assisted by Acts of m n l we n w Parlia e t , severa , as have see , ere m n w as nd passed . A o gst other matters it fou that me n w ere tryi n g to attain a kn owledge of their craft by e n teri n g i n to trades by other TRADE GUILDS

n n n n n tha the a cie t o es of appre ticeship , to stop su ch n e w n otion s th e Act of re n tic e s w as in 1562 w passed , by hich it en acted that n o person shou ld in fu tu re an exercise y trade , craft or mistery , at that o n in n n u n time carried E gla d , less he had previou sly served an appren ticeship to i t of n n w n o t in seve years . Legislatio hich is u w u n u e favo r ith the p blic is ge erally sel ss , an d this Act shared the fate of similar on es in n n l u d n bei g ig ored ve y largely , the j ges givi g n w an n n u to it as arro i terpretatio as they co ld , w in 1 14 w as m hile 8 it for ally repealed .

With the con sta n t prese n ce of the Chap lai n in these G u ilds w e are n o t s u rprised to fin n u in d that religio largely fig red thei r n w w n n u in proceedi gs , hich ere ofte co d cted the Gu In u n ild chapel . most ch rches , the cha cel u n was faced the east , for at their b ildi g it a u u u m w s al c sto for the Bishop , ith various ' m m u local celebrities , to eet the aster b ilder an d n wn an d his craftsme at da , set up a rod n l w at the east en d of the site . The fol o ed a n an d n n u n su n pr yi g si gi g , til the cast the s w o n u n an d hado of the rod the gro d , the n axis of the bu ildi n g was thus fixed . Ofte times this ceremon y took place on the as t n n fe t day of the Pa ro Sai t of the church , so that all churches would n o t have quite the n n same orie tatio .

\ This practice w as n ot al ways strictly a n dhered to by the Roma Catholic Church , b u t whatever the actual direction of the

R, CHAPTE V .

T E ON N H L DO GU I LDS .

u w w we n The G ilds ere al ays , as have see , c n n wn - an d wh n a s o fi ed to to life , e ttempt w on in e ere made to carry trades the villag s , w u was w here labo r cheaper , protests ere made wn an d e w u to the Cro , the trad s ere bro ght W u back again to the busier cen tres . e m st n o t w n n , ho ever , thi k of these tradesme as the u n m n b sy people of moder days , e ployi g a a f w m n t all l rge sta f of ork e , for it is clear hat the tradesmen of th e middle ages worked with o wn n an d u n their ha ds ; as l xuries , i deed e n m m n ve the ost ele e tary comforts of home , w n m n u n ere the al ost lacki g , the b sy ha ds of ’ the trader s wife w ere n o t requ ired to atte n d an u w v to y ho se ork , sa e the care of the childre n an d th e cookin g of the modest

m . n w m eals He ce , ith ti e at her disposal , sh e had the opportu n ity of j oi n i n g her u n in n o n w h sba d carryi g his daily ork , t h e details of which she wo u ld n ecessarily learn from bei n g always w ith him in the shop o n u n th e the gro d floor , room above that n bei g the sleepi n g apartme n t . She w as th erefore elig ible as a member of the tradi n g ’ u an d u n G ild , after the h sba d s death she w u o n u n w n o ld carry the b si ess ith her childre , in r r n i so that this way t ade a n families . Even w hen a n ew appre n tice came i n to the ’ d h e n m o n e m tra e . soo beca e of his aster s ’ fam l in m u an d i y , lived his aster s ho se , LO NDON GUILDS 123

performed man y household as well as trade u d ties .

When we apply these con ditio n s to th e n n we u n n City of Lo do , m st thi k of its citize s as growi n g in wealth an d i n fl ue nce qu icker n n n c un wn tha the i habita ts of the o try to s , beca u se they w ere in closer to uch with t h e w h m n an d na ealt ier ercha ts of the day , ame ble both to the refi n i ng i n flue n ces of the Court a n d u m n n of the ed cated e arou d them . As ’ w n n Can u te s to ealth , Lo do , as far back as

m w as in m n a. ti e , a pre ier positio , for out of n u £8 9 000 o n n total reve e to the State of , L do con tribu ted as mu ch as an d l ater o n u n n in , d ri g the days of Stephe , the 12th n u h W n d ce t ry , the Bis op of i chester tol the citizen s of that city that they were to be accou n ted as n oblemen o n acco un t of the n n n great ess of their city , i to the commu ity of which eve n Baro n s had bee n proud to be received .

m n n w Apart fro these sig s of dig ified ealth , th ere w ere tradi n g g uilds of workers which w e n w - n m t k o to day as City Compa ies , os of w un w u hich started as vol tary societies , itho t a ny leave from the Cro wn ; for it w ill be remembered that n o less than 18 of them w n in 1180 n o t n n ere fi ed , as havi g bee u n u th e n n u properly fo ded , tho gh y still co ti ed h w all o f to exist after t at , ith their errors h \V mu m m u to birt . e st re e ber that p the u n n was man ufac T dor period , Lo do the great u n n w as an d in t ri g ce tre , for it there , i ts LONDON GUILDS s u s t n n t t ub rb , tha the pri cipal i dus ries ook n n n an d place of cloth maki g , iro smelti g , the man ufactu re both of armour an d bows an d in an d of goods silk , leather , gold , silver .

The first body in the n at u re of a G u ild in “ & n n was n u Lo do the old Saxo Frith G ild , n formed for the preservatio of peace , each male perso n above 14 years of age havi n g to give security for h is peaceable behaviou r in days when rebellion an d deeds of violen ce w m u ere everyday atters . This G ild , of course , u n an d n died out as c stoms cha ged , the ext simil ar association in Lon don w as th e “ ” n n Gu w old~ da K ighte ild , a body ith y t n n n m raditio s , remi di g us of the ti es of K n w was n i g Arthur , hich said to have bee f u n n in th e l 0th n t o ded by Ki g Edgar, ce ury, 13 n wh o to by a brotherhood of k ights , had u n n v do chivalro s deeds , by fighti g o ce abo e u n n u n u n an d m g ro d , o ce dergro d , a third ti e in w an d the ater , to prove the victor each In n time . additio to this, they had to fi n n Smith fild n Towe r e r co te d at M , ear the w i n ith spears aga st all comers . For these services a piece of gro un d w as allotted to m in n W n an d the Portsoke ard ear Aldgate ,

w n in n - n was a Charter , ritte A glo Saxo , n m w n g ra ted the by Ed ard the Co fessor , a n n IV ll m w n s d i ia Il . co firmed by , hich begi “ thu s : K n ow y e me to have gran ted the men n n u d u t t of K ighte G il , the G ild ha n m an d th e n belo ged to the , la d that belon ged thereu n to ; with all cu stoms as they h ad in the time of Ki n g Edward an d

126 LONDON GUILDS

From these books w e learn that there were at least fo u r forms of oversight exercised w s u . a o n by the City over the G ilds First , it several occasio n s made the age n t of“ the Crow n to e n qu ire i n to the Charters of t h e Gu n n w y Ma ilds . Seco d , the e l elected sters h ad n t h e u each year to atte d at G ildhall , an d n c i i take a oath of l ce before the M ayor . n w r Third , the City Corporatio possessed po e s th e d n n th e G u a n d to approve or i a ces of ilds , to revoke su ch as they deemed irregu lar ; an d u w n n u n fo rthly , they e t i to the q estio as to the powers of th e gu ildsme n to elect the mm u n Co on Co cil .

O n fin w e fin d in 1 37 the rst poi t that Bre mb re w A the M ayor , Nicholas , ith the lder me n an d mm n un n b n Co o Co cil , havi g o tai ed n m m the asse t of so e of the isteries , ordered that all M asters wh o had Charters for the govern an ce of their misteries sh ou ld su rre n der them to the M ayor an d Chamberlai n of the All m co m City . the isteries appear to have w m n plied ith this order , except the Fish o gers , wh o n n u l n b u t w se t certai se ess pate ts , ere m l u ordered to im ediate y deliver p the others . This w as do n e for the pu rposes of the City n b u t w as n u Corporatio , it o ly a prel de to m on w n a si ilar move the part of the Cro , ’ in 1 in l l s d m 388 . for , Richard ays , there ca e n w from the Ki g a rit , addressed to the M ayor an d f m n Sheri fs , to make procla atio for all W n an d u M asters , arde s , S rveyors of misteries an d crafts in the City an d su b u rbs to bri n g ’ l u n to the Ki n g s Chan cery al their charters . LOND ON GUILDS 127

There seems to have bee n b u t a poor respo n se 0 0 7 1 w i u m n to th s r t , tho gh the Barbers Co pa y v u n n d ha e preserved their ret r to it . A seco wri t was in the same year also i ssued referri n g to g u i lds a n d fratern i t i es of re l i 1o u s an d m i w i g so al bod es , to h ch a larger u w s m ret rn a ade .

O n n n this poi t of Charters , it has ofte been thou ght by bodies which wished to be con sidered of old li n eage that at on e time w m they had a Charter hich had beco e lost , an d this li n e of argu men t w as helped from m n a m n s time to ti e by divers expedie ts , o g t w h n u n 13 97 hic o e is o tli ed by a M S . dated w m an d hich has co e to light , states that “ after the prese n tation of the sa id su pplica tion from the citize n s to the Ki n g there w m m n n an d all ere ade a y bla k Charters , the me n of e very cra ft of the said city w ere charged to come to the G uildhall .t”o se t l n s their sea s to the said bla k Charter .

O n n n o f the seco d poi t , as to the oath the a n n n u M ster take a ally before the M ayor , it w ill be fo u n d that on the fly - leaf of Letter Book D is set o u t the form of oath take n by o lli c er wh o u u y n u n that , is c rio sl e o gh desig ated b m m l Vard n y the ore fa iliar title of e . The n in n h an d w n oath is give Fre c , is to the follo i g effect

“ Ye shall swear that ye shall well an d t ru ly oversee the cr aft of w hereof ye n \ n A n d h be chose Varde for the year . all t e good ru les an d ordi n an ces of the same craft 128 I ONDON GUILDS

t n u hat have bee approved here by the Co rt , an d n n an d o e other , ye shall keep , do to be fii A n d u t n d n kept . all the defa lts hat ye the am an d n m n s e craft do e , to the Cha berlai of th e City to1 the time bei n g ye shall well and t 1 1 1 ese n t n n o man foi u r n o r uy p spari g favo , i n n o 1 n r n n 0 1 g r evi g pe so for hate . Exto tio , w n u n l u ou 1 fi ro g , der co o r of y of ce ye shall n o t do ; n either to n othin g that shall be n an d o u r agai st the state , peace profit of n n Sovereig Lord the Ki g , or to the City ye ll n o t n n b u t m sha co se t , for the ti e that ye shall be in o ilic e in all thi n gs that shall belo n g u n to the same craft after law s an d franchises of the said City well an d lawfu lly u ou an d all y e shall have yo . So help y God n Sai ts .

111 each year there is a record with dates of the mo n ths w he n the n ewly obligated “ M asters appeared before the M ayor to govern m an d r n their isteries , p ese t defects to the m n m n an d . M ayor, Alder e Cha berlai

’ On n the third poi t , as to the approval of w fin n n n e d i the ordi a ces of the Guilds , that 1361 it w as ordai n ed by the M ayor an d “ Aldermen that all misteries of th e City be w u u an d n in la f lly r led gover ed , each its ki n d by good me n elected an d sworn from m n o w each istery , so that deceit or false ork u n n be fo d therei .

u in 1420 in F rther , , as stated . Letter l m . o 1 i u m n m ok , d sp tes arose a o gst e bers of th e mi stery of C u tlers as to th e mode o f

1 30 LONDON GUIL DS

h u n h O n t e t e w . fo rth poi t , as to po ers of the G u ilds to elect m embers of the Common u n n u Co cil , it appears that at all eve ts p to 1347 th e Commo n Co u n cil was elected from W n —da b u t the ards , as is do e to y , after that the G u ilds desired t o take this pow er to m A n in 13 1 . 5 the selves ccordi g ly , , a precept w as se n t to each G u ild as follo ws :

Assemble the good me n of the said m a n d u m m n istery , ca se the to elect , by co mo n n u me n m co se t , fo r good of the said istery , the w isest and most able to treat w ith the m n an d h o f n M ayor , Alder e S eriffs certai i mporta n t bu si n ess tou chi n g the state of the

said City .

was o u t t h e n u an d This of ordi ary co rse , a m in 137 6 fter a ti e disputes arose as to it , for there is a letter from the Kin g u n der the Pri vy Seal to the M ayor as to disse n sio n s whi c h had taken place as to this mode of election of n an d an d t h e n n M ayor , Alderme Sheriffs , ma er m n m of aki n g ordi n a ces . To this the City ade a n a n swer that in fu t u re s u ch electio n s sh ou ld m u an d COIl l ’Se w as be ade by the G ilds , this u u 1383 w n w t h e p rs ed till , he the old po ers of w ards w ere restored to them

Of cou rse every iu ild at first w as govern ed nl b n n an d n n o y y ordi a ces , it is i teresti g to w atch their growth till they attai n ed to th e n On dign ity of posse ssi g a Charter . this “ & n w in u n n e poi t Sto , his S rvey of Lo do , s ts

' o u t the n ames of 69 Gu ilds an d Compa n ies ’ wh in 153 n t ich , atte ded at the M ayor s feas LONDON GUI LDS 131

u n n n w at the G ildhall , begi i g ith the M ercers , n d n n w Bladesmith s n n n a e di g ith the , co cer i g w m n l hich he adds , these Co pa ies severa ly , ' u n m u c n u at s dry ti es , p r hased the Ki g s favo r an d l n h is n s ice se , by Letters Pate t , to as ociate m in w an d the selves brotherhoods, ith M asters \Varde n s for their govern me n t ; ma n y also u n w h have proc red corporatio s , it privileges ,

85 0 .

Th u s the Cord wai n ers got their ordi n a n ces i in 127 1 w w l f rst passed , hich served them el 1439 w n n till , he they obtai ed their charter ; an d similarl y the Armo urers an d Braise rs in 1322 n r n n w obtai ed thei ordi a ces , hile the ’ 145 u r charte r was deferred till 3 . The C tle s n n 1344 an d ordi a ce bears date , their charter 1415 ; while the Coopers in 1396 got thei r n a n d in 15 1 ordi n a ces their charter 0 . The n in u w M aso s , as the records the G ildhall sho , “ r u n der the n ame of. the A t or”M istery of the n n n m n M aso s of the City of Lo do , ca e i to the Cou rt of Alderme n an d prayed that certai n articles for th e better regu lation of the m m wh w as n istery ight be approved , ich do e . These i n clu ded o n e to the effect that withi n n 10 . days of the feast of the Holy Tri ity , the Freeme n of the Guild shou ld assemble to choose tw o Warden s for the two years n ext n u n u n e w W n n e s i g , s ch arde s to be prese ted W n an d m s by the old arde s , six other ember an d m l of the craft for approval , to be for a ly w n in n u s or before the Alderme at the G ildhall , w ith a fin e of in case of ref usal to accept

the office . LONDON GUILD‘S

The regu lation s w en t o n to declare that n o o n e w as to be admitted i n to the craft till after m n n W n an d t w as exa i atio by the arde s , here also a regu lation that th e members shou ld wear the livery of the craft u n der a pen alty 3 d w n m m 6 . 8 of , hile a other provided that e bers u n sho ld atte d M ass at Christchurch , Aldgate , an d u t o n e n n in n n p pe y the collecti g box , bei g l u n m in an d w s c ad ifor ly their livery , after ard n w w n n w atte d ith their ives at a di er , for hich w o 13 m an d 8d they ere t pay . for the selves . for w w n 3 4d m n fi. . e 3 their ives , ith a of for o itti g u n n an d n n this social f ctio . This M ass di er w as n tw o e n held o ce every years , the dat bei g W n b u t in n fixed by the arde s , additio to this the members w ere every year on Q u atu or n 8 m Coro ati Day , th Nove ber , the feast day of n n u d n the Patro Sai ts of the G il , to atte d M ass u n 1 f n n der i e of a shilli g.

’ ARMS o r THE rrx son s C O MPANY .

. ’ In 1472 the M ason s Gu ild obtain ed a gra n t

w - n wn w in of their ell k o coat of arms , hile

LO NDON GUILDS

e n ame of M ercer seems to have bee n” t n m n w m ake fro the old Fre ch ord ercier , w in u n m n w hich , it”s t r , came fro the Lati ord “ m m n n m ercator , both ea i g , si ply , a mer n u n u wh o cha t . The G ild i cl ded traders , de alt in those goods ”w hich are n o w bou ght “ in a n an d w h ge eral shop , ich could be w in l an d n o t u eighed sma l scales , did req ire y m u a heav bea for that p rpose . These articles w an d m w ere haberdashery dress aterials , hile lat e i o n silk was i n cl u ded when that was im mt e d f1 om n b u t n u p Fra ce ; , oddly e o gh , spices an d othe r a1 ticle s of hou sehold u se me n n By 1214 m m also me tio ed . , a e ber u m n n of this G ild beca e M ayor of Lo do , ’ an d m n th e after that date a y of G rocers , ’ ’ Goldsmiths an d Woolstaple rs Compan ies ’ n also attai n ed to that dig ity . The M ercers G u a n in m an d in “ ild app re tly ti e decayed , 131 7 it w as re o 1 g an ise d w ith a body of the u u u 1 i o xidin fo1 s al G ild ules , p g the settle men t of disp u tes by the l V a1 de n s withou t 1 e co u rse law l e u latio n s a re n to , g as to pp an d in n u tices , , additio , a r le that the M istery should appear at Easter every year in their l m m w u ivery , so that all the e bers ere th s

dressed alike .

In 13 3 h d u n s in w n s it a f d its oode che t , an d an u a £87 u r , for o tl y of , it got a f rthe charter in which its members w ere described “ as me n of the”M istery of M ercery in the n n wa n v in du e d . s City of Lo o As i e itable , time la n d an d hou ses were bequ eathed to it w m m an d n by ealthy e bers , for a other modest LONDOBT GUIL DS 135 ou tlay th e Crown w as persu aded to give it n w n m n in rt a other arra t , this ti e a lice se mo mai n to h old la n ds to the val u e of £26 per a n m n y u ye r The a e of the Compa , tho gh w n w n n m i in si ~ ell k o , fades i to co parat ve g n ifie an c n n m o n e e agai st the a e of of its m m t itt in to n wh o e bers , Sir Richard g , W n o n n served as M aster , or arde , seve n an d u m occasio s , fo r ti es held the office of n n n in 1423 T wo Lord M ayor of Lo do , dyi g . years later the G u ild got its seco n d charter m n V l w h in o n fro He ry . , hic stated ”the p “ n n o f an n mu was dero s to es i spexi s , as it c u n alled , that the previo s charter had bee n an d n m an d l i spected co fir ed , a so gave the G u ild power to u se a seal for ratifyi n g its 111 14 7 w m l . m r 6 . e acts , Ed ard IV , hi se f a n w as in u u n n cha t , the s al positio of Ki gs of y n n m n o n those da s , eedi g o ey to carry his ’ w a n d c u l n h im £370 ars , the M er ers G ild e t , wh n n for ich the Ki g gra ted it a charter , e n abli n g it to import all the merchan dise in w an d w u it traded , except ool hides , itho t n a n u m u payi g y c sto d ty .

’ The M ercers G u ild felt th a t they had w o n n n n w m po er the Co ti e t as ell as at ho e , ’ an d m in n V II s it see s that they had He ry . m d n n u day a e other E glish traders , doi g b si n in n n fin n a d e ess Fla ders Holla d , pay a for n wh h m u so doi g , ich t ey atte pted to j stify as bei n g the represen tatives in some u n d e fin e d n m w ay of a frater ity of St . Tho as of l an rb u r n an n w n t e y . Accordi gly Act k o as

- the Stat u te of . M erchan t Adve n tu rers w as 1 30 LONDON GUILDS pas sed in ordai n i n g th at E n glishme n shou ld be a t liberty to b u y an d sell in those u n w u an fin n m co tries i tho t y e bei g i posed u pon them .

In 1 4 w s n 50 a passed the Act of He ry VII . c o n ce 1 n in G u d w 1 e 11 ii e d m g il s , hich q the to su bmit thei 1 qu alification s to the Lord Chan cello1 “ 1111 11 dre w 11 o m the l l e i c e rs Compa n y u d u n n w a f ll isclos re of its orga isatio , hich w n in n as e g rossed a Deed Poll . Its co nte ts a re em n n ou t in extr ely i teresti g , for they set u w u d an d f ll the byela s of the G il , the w ords of the obligatio n s take n by its members md n w c n r n appre tices , hi h sheds i te esti g light 0 11 the c u stoms of the other G u ilds of h d y an d w w e . r t ose a s , to hich have refer ed “ in o u r c 11 c u hapter 0 the Tra ie G ilds . ’ A n other i mporta n t member of the Mercers n w m we mu w as Compa y , to ho st refer , Sir

m Gre sh a1n - wh o in Tho as , lived Bishopsgate wh u n Street , ere he received Q ee Elizabeth whe n she came to the City to O pe n the Royal n u m n Excha g e , b ilt for the ercha ts of the in 157 9 an d w as 1u ' City . He died , b ied at ’ n u h Great St . Hele s Ch rc , Bishopsgate .

. An other of the twelve great Compan ies is n w c n that of the M ercha t Taylors , hi h origi ally w s u n d ni J ohn a the G ild a frater ty of St . an d w n in Baptist, hose origi is lost the early m n In 1 00 w n i . t Nor a days 3 Ed ard I . gra ted “ a charter of con firmation by the n ame of Th ”e Gu an d n n - m u s ild of the Tailors Li e Ar o rer , w w u 0 11 ith po er to hold a feast at M ids mmer,

1 38 LONDON GUILDS

n in 1459 n u others had do e ; for , , a ge ero s n t m n b u t n ff u be efac or, Si o Eyre , tried , i e ect ally , t o rou se sen time n t by makin g a bequ est to t hem of marks to establish a M aster \ n w an d or Varde , ith five priests , six clerks t wo choristers to si n g a daily service in his at n u w i n chapel the Leade Hall , tho gh Sto h is Su rvey of Lon don adds a sorrowfu l n ote t mm was n o u t hat this progra e ever carried .

’ The Drapers G u ild did n o t to u ch u po n m n u u n n u n s b u t the a fact ri g bra ch of the b si e s , con fi n ed its i n terests to those wh o traded in I n drapery goods . n the 13th ce tu ry they d m n w m n l t b u t ealt ai ly ith i ported foreig c o h , after 1350 they tu r n ed their atte n tion to home m n u u an d c e n tu r late r un a fact red goods , a y fo d this cl ass of trade w as also bei n g take n u n an d lo th w r k rs p by the M ercha t Tailors C o e . u in m w a Like other G ilds they , ti e , gave y to n u an d the admissio of o tsiders to their body , w fin d m 1475 n w u u n e that fro o ards a fl ct ati g n umber of n o n —liveryme n w ere i n vited to their di n n ers an d paid their qu arterag e fees to the G u in n n ff ild . It took its part atio al a airs as a m n in h n d it o eyed body , for Elizabet a ays w as called u pon to b u y an d store corn in times of n ecessity ; to raise troops an d pri vateer v essels ; an d t o su bscribe to State loan s an d lotteries .

Th e disti n ction bet ween the t wo G u ilds of t h e Drapers an d M erchan t Taylors seems to h n h w d t ave bee t at , hereas the latter bo y deal LONDON GUILDS 139 m m n n n ostly li e go”ods , taki g the title of n n m u t in Li e Ar o rers , the Drapers deal w n s W n n oolle good . he the latter trade bega

t o n in . feel a slack ess , the days of Charles II , a cu riou s impetu s w as sou ght to be given to it n m n an in 1678 u n by the e act e t of Act , req iri g dead bodies to be bu ried in w ool i n stead of l n i e n sh ro uds .

n w n th e The Haberdashers , also k o as ' Hu rre rs was a n n , offshoot of a M ercha ts A n n wn u n e ssociatio , k o ”as the G ild of Catheri w n u al n d a n d . t St Nicholas , hich eve t ly ob ai e ’ c in 1448 rs a harter . The Cappe or Hat M er ’ n m n t u cha ts trade beca e absorbed i o this G ild , m n n n in as a atter of trade co ve ie ce , the days n of He ry VIII .

Cloth wo rke rs m n m n The Co pa y co es ext , an d is a combi n atio n of the Guild o f the m n wh o w th e Shear e , sheared the ool from an d th e u wh o c sheep , that of F llers , blea hed ’ m n u n th it . The Shear a s G ild w as o e of e n n in 1 180 n u n eightee fi ed as bei g ad lteri e , an d in the Lati n of the Exchequ er Rolls it is “ ’ a P a nn arii u w as c lled . The F llers trade u wn in n s pervised by the Cro , the i terests of w rs an d in 1404 a n w as the orke , regulatio made that fu lli n g should n o t be don e care l n w w b u t w as less y , by treadi g ool ith the feet , o u n two to be carried t by ha d . The bodies w u in 1528 an d ere bro ght tog ether , it is n fin n stra g e to d a G u ild Charter bei g gra n ted as th l e n I . n b e late as days of He ry VI I , o y to r l l n n n . w n a th e evoked i etee years later , he 140 LONDON GUILDS

G u ilds were disban ded an d their property a ppropriated .

w n ot a n d The Dyers ere a large body , w ere somewhat o n the same level as the n an d u Shearme F llers , for all these bodies had to deal with the preparation of the wool w as u l m n u u We before i t act al y a fact red . fim n u 1 26 an d n d in 4 the existi g as a G ild , th ere is fu rther re fere n ce to them in 1473 a s th en con sisti n g o f a Warden an d Co m m o n al y In 15 16 u w t . they had a disp te ith t h e Clo th worke rs w , as to hich body had the n in n u w was precede ce ho o r , hich settled by h e wh t o u t . Lord M ayor , p the Dyers last

' The Weavers were al ways an importan t o w n a n body , for their g ods e t farther broad tha u n d fin d t a w e those of other G ilds , a char er T o f n r in 1 164 n n t o “ e ave rs He y II . g ra ti g the o f n n m in u Lo do their right to eet a G ild , w ith al l the freedoms they h ad in the time of H m I n n n e . y , the gra dfather of the the Ki g , 1 which e sf ries th e mattei back to 1 00. For some mason it was deemed n ecessary to have n m n in 1 185 b u t as a co fir atio of this charter , , n was n n u w a foreig trade spri gi g p , hich it w as m n u w as dee ed ecessary to s ppress , it specially ordered that if an y man made cloth

' o f n w m w n l w Spa ish ool , ixed ith E g ish ool , u n the Portreeves of Lon don were to b r it .

l e d Th e Meta Tr a d Gu il s .

Amon gst the association s worki n g in these trades in Lon do n w e may start W l th the

142 LON D ON GUILDS military p u rposes in the shape of swords a n d u m u u m c m s its of ar o r , tho g h ost of those a e m n n n u se fro the Co ti e t . The first of iron for n n n w as in 1327 w n w III . w ca o , he Ed ard arred

a n u w n w ag i st the Scots , tho gh those eapo s ere m ro b u t n n w as ade ab ad , the E glish iro trade n n u 1354 already spri gi g p , for by the expor n m n t at ion . n was d n of iro fro E gla d forbid e . l n 1453 t h e first ca n n on cast in E ng la n d w ere m Ue kfie ld u an d ade at , S ssex , thirty years after that th e Ki n g a n d his advisers felt so su re abou t its iro n i n d u stry that they a n tici pated the fiscal problems of to - day by pro h ib itin g the importatio n from abroad o f iro n u m n u u g oods , if they co ld be a fact red at m n u in 1584 ho e . Nearly a ce t ry after that , , the iro n i n d u stry was progressi n g so rapidly in the Sou th of E n glan d that a n Act w as passed forbiddi n g the b u ildi n g of an y more

n w in u u n . iro orks S rrey , S ssex , or Ke t

t n n m n s m n Rever i g to the Iro o ger Co pa y , it is clear that it wou ld be u seless to have a G u ild of sellers of iron goods u n less there w m a u a n o t n l o n ere kers of s ch rticles , o y the l n n o m n n n b u t in . C Co ti e t , a so E gla d The n fi l un u m pa y existed rst as a vo tary G ild , fro an u n n bu t b y 1404 certai date , y the ear it w [ V an d a n m . obt i ed a charter fro Ed ard , the title it took then w as th at o f Th e M aster a n d W n an d m n Keepers , or arde s Co pa y of th”e m n n n n . M istery or Art of Iro o gers , Lo do In the same w ay as w e have n oted abo ve ’ n e n n G m m n n e w co c r i g the olds iths Co pa y , a body w as developed o u t of the Iron mon gers LONDON GUILDS 143

in 16 7 0 u n der the n ame of the Tin - plate ’ W m n u n o f orkers Co pa y , to g ard the i terests ’

. a u n n that p rtic lar part of the iro mo ger s trade .

’ Th e n ext body w e n ote is the Armo u rers ’ a n d u w mu w Braziers G ild , hich st al ays have bee n a n ecessary o ne looki n g at the larg e m n was m u de a d there for articles of ar o r, w hich w e k n ow w as wor n as late as the time 11 m n t m of Charles . T he Co pa y da es fro b 1412 in efore , for that year they hired the ’ w m n n n n Bre ers Hall for their eeti gs , havi g o e n m of their o w . The other si ilar bodies ’ i n cl u de the Pewterers Gu ild which w as i n terested in the man y domestic articles of w w o u r n v u se an d pe ter hich a cestors lo ed to , wh c m n in 137 2 ich a e alo g , as also did the ’ m u in y Blacks iths G ild the same ear .

The c utlery trade w as al ways a flou rishin g o n e in n n an d was n l Lo do , it divided i to severa n w blade smith s wh o bra ches , for there ere the t h e u r wh o fitted the blades , c tle s fitted the n an d wh o u l ha dles , the sheathers s pp ied the sheaths ; tho u gh it was the cu tler wh o sold n an d u n w m the fi ished article , po ho the In w hole blame for fa u lty goods rested . 1369 ordi n an ces w ere made treati n g the han dle - makers an d blade smit h s as separate an d w as l bodies , it express y declared that n on e of t h e latter class shou ld be also a cu tler b u t these ordi n an ces w ere fou n d very a n d u n w in 1408 oppressive orkable , so that the Lo n do n c u tlers laid the matter before the an d n m M ayor , solicited his i terest for so e 144 LONDON GUILDS

n b u t u u d alteratio to be made , tho gh this aro se h is i n tere st an d sympathy n othi n g was able m u n m to be effected . For a ti e der this syste ’ Me rc e is m n n n the Co pa y , as a ge eral tradi g w t o u t body , ere able to make profi of it , for they fo u n d the n ecessary capital an d bou ght wh th e n blades , ich they gave to ha dle n n makers to complete i to the fi ished article . u t n m n b u t in 1415 This ca sed grea rese t e t, t h e w was u t o n n n hole trade p a differe t footi g , ’ for the n th e C u tlers Compa n y w as estab lish e d in n n b u n Lo do y Royal Charter , der w hich byela ws were made g ivin g to the c u u ts in n tlers excl sive ri g h to trade k ives ,

h n - m n m w m the a dle akers bei g erg ed ith the , w hile the M ercer' s w ere forbidde n to i n terfere w m n ith the trade , except that , as ercha ts , t hey were allo wed to sell the fi n ished article .

' ’ The ordi n a n ces o f the Sp u rriers Compa n y deal more exc l u sively than - any other w ith the t o wn n t an d d de ails of its trade i teres s , is ated 1 345 readi n g as follo ws

m m o n u y t h e Be it re e bered , that T esda , ’ m w n in n n orro of St . Peter s Chai s , the i e t e e n th year of the reig n of Ki n g Edward III the articles u n derwritte n w ere read before n mm n De h a rn Joh Ha o d , M avor , Roger de p , an d m n an d Recorder , the other Alder e ; s n m w d m n eei g that the sa e ere ee ed befitti g , they w ere accepted an d e n rolled in these w ords

In e fi— th rst place that n o o n e of the trade of Spu rriers shall w ork lon g er tha n

146 LONDON GHILD S

n h im trade to do co trary hereof , let be

m th e m in 40 n o n e - a erced , first ti e pe ce , half thereof to go to the u se of the Chamber of

u d - o f n n an d the G il hall , Lo do , the other half to the u se of th e sai d trade ; the secon d time in m an d th e in half a ark , third time 10 n u se m shilli gs , to the of the said Cha ber a n d an d f u m le t h im trade ; the o rth ti e , d forswear the tra e forever .

n o o n e a l Also , that of the s id trade shal h n o u t u o n u n o n an a g his sp rs S days , or y u b u t n other days that are Do ble Feasts , o ly a sign i n dicati n g his bu si n ess ; an d su ch u h are w sp rs as t ey shall so sell , they to she an d l w n w u n se l ithi their shops , itho t exposi g m w u O n n d w n w the itho t , or pe i g the oors or i do s o n n of their shops , the pai aforesaid .

n o o n e d d l Also , that of the sai tra e shal ta ke an appren tice for a less term tha n seven an d u n c s n ro l years , s ch appre ti e hall be e led a n u a a ccordi g to the s ges of the s id city .

t h an o n e e Also , at if y of the said trad , w h o n o t m n an a n is a free a , shall take ppre tice m m for a ter of years , he shall be a erced as

s afore aid .

n o o n e Also , that of the said trade shall

n n - man o u rn e receive the appre tice , servi g , or j y m an o f n in m u n th e a other the sa e trade , d ri g term agreed u po n between his master an d h im 0 11 n the pai aforesaid . LONDO N GUILDS 147

' n o n n u n r Also , that alie of a other co t y , or n c o u n t rv w u se foreig er of this , shall follo or u n i s n n the said trade , less he e fra chised before m n an d m n an d the M ayor , Alder e Cha berlai ; w n an d u that , by it ess s rety of the good folks th e w h o w u n h im of said trade , ill dertake for , n as to his loyalty a d good beha vior .

n o o n e Also , that of the said trade shall w o n u a n n un ork Sat rd ys , after Noo has bee r g o u t in the City an d n o t from th at ho u r u n ti l n m n n w n the M o day or i g follo i g .

Th e Lea t he r a e u il s T r d G d .

Lea ther w as th e basis of an i mporta n t n u in n n a n d w as n i d stry Lo do , represe ted by u m m n w several G ilds , the ost i porta t of hich ’ w s L ath rs ll r m n w as a the e e e e s Co pa y . This ’ u n in a n in n fo ded its H ll bei g St . Hele s w w as t an Place , Bishopsgate , hich par of old n n n n n w h u u er y co ected ith t e Ch rch of St . n Hele .

n n w as w rfu The Ski ers also a po e l body , w in 1328 an d hich got a charter , as leather w n in w e g loves ere the fashio old days , get ’ s m n in 134 s 8 . the Glover Co pa y The Saddler , we ma w as m n u s as y expect , early a o g the G ild in 1200 an d th e wa n the year , Cord i ers , or

-m m in 127 1 w Boot akers , ca e ; hile the wh o m n an d Girdlers , ade fashio able bel ts w n w u in 1448 an d aistba ds , ere tho ght of , in 1605 u wh o w in the C rriers , orked c u an d n olo red fa cy leather , established their m Co pa n y . LONDON GUILDS

Un der th e same headi n g we may i n cl ude ’ n m n m the Hor ers Co pa y , pro oted to foster the n o f w in n w m i terests orkers hor , of hich aterial ma u la an d they de c ps , p tes , forks , other m m u e si ilar ar ticles for everyday do estic s . Su ch an i n du stry mu st have come do wn from u m an d u q ite early ti es , i t is s ggested that this body may f u r n ish o”n e of the cases of a su p “ l n an posed ost gra t of old charter . At n w e can th e all eve ts , go back to days of fin d i I in 1 9 1 to n w . 3 Ed ard , , the records of the City of Lon do n a petitio n of the Comp an y to the M ayor to appoi n t two War den s o n t h e 29th Feast Day of St . M ichael each year ( m w in n Septe ber) to search for all bad ork hor , an d to presen t the c ulprits to the Chamberlai n w n at the G u ildhall . Also for po ers to preve t w n n n o n u y ork bei g do e at ight , or Sat rda n n n after oo s , or vigils of feast days , u der a d n 13 d n 3 . 4 . a d 8 . pe alty of 3 to the G uildhall . u In n w to the G ild . additio to this , po ers w ere asked for to fo rbid foreig n ers wo rkin g i n n i n w n th e hor the City , to all of hich poi ts n fr M ayor gave his asse t , as appears om the h u d in t e . recor s G ildhall (Letter Book H , f o .

Despite this order the foreign er still came to the City to b u y horn s which he worked u p an d n in 1464 abroad , accordi gly the Com n n n th e wn pa y prese ted a petitio to Cro , “ stati n g that me n of the occu pation of th e Hom ers bei n g en fran chised in the City of n n m n n s did Lo do , co plai ed that foreig er n these acts to the damage of E glish trade .

1 50 LONDON GUILDS

1438 n n n m a n d to , co cer i g this atter , the book con tai n s a ro u gh drawi n g showi n g a frau du le n t baker bei n g dra wn to the pillory o n u tw o w a h rdle by horses , ith a short w h u n n u n eig t loaf ro d his eck , as a p ish men t .

’ The Fishmon gers appear in the l ipe Roll 11 4 o n w w fin of 5 as e of those hich ere ed for n w u n u tradi g itho t a Royal lice ce , tho gh the fi n e itself made them legitimate ; an d in 1298 the G u ild celebrated the victory over t h e n in w u Scots by a pagea t , hich appeared st r

n an d m n . In 1 4 g eo s of gold sal o of silver . 36 111 n m Ed ward . gra ted the rights by Letters n w h u m Pate t , hic ass ed that they had existed m m m m a l n fro ti e im e orial . Their h l o the North side of Lon don Bridge w as acqu ired in 1434 an d n , has stood there ever si ce , w here c an be seen a dagger which traditio n says is the ide n ti c al o n e u sed in 1381 by the ‘ ' l da or W m W w m mb y , Sir illia al orth , a e er of m n l Wat the Co pa y , to s ay Tyler .

’ m m n w Next co es the Salters Co pa y , hich s as u in 1355 w n n exi ted a G ild , he it co tri bu ted £5 towards th e Royal expe n ses of the ' n War in u n w c n Fre ch , ret r for hi h certai v w n m A c o n pri ileges ere gra ted to the . firmatio n h w as n of t eir rights gra ted by 11 i n 1391 w th e n n Richard . , hile ordi a ces w w in 14 5 b u t . 6 ere approved by Ed ard IV , ' in Elizabeth s days they got a charter in c o rporatin g th em as Freeme n of the Art or M istery of th e Salters of the City of ' LONDON GUILDS 15 1

b u h n n u . u u Lo do , or s rbs t ereof As s al in u m n was those days , a s pple e tal charter g ra n ted by James w hich gave power to the assista n ts of the Compan y to en ter the premises of members to i n spect both the g oo ds offered for sale an d the weights an d m u n h w f u l v a t . eas res , rej ecti g all t ose that ere

In co u rse of time they over flowed the n w m an d d arro li its of the salt trade , ealt in m an d m l n th e v also flax , he p che ica s , he ce m n wn beca e k o as Dry Salte rs .

The B u tchers m u st n ecessarily ha ve been ve rv u 1 180 was a old G ild , for as early as it n o n e m n u n fi ed ark as bei g ad lteri e , or n w u n m n acti g itho t lice ce fro the Ki g . As e 1266 u n arly as , after m ch co troversy , a food Act w as passed to forbid th e expos u re for d m an d f n w sale of iseased eat , o fe ders ere u n b n ut in w p ished by ei g p the pillory , hile the pu trid carcases w ere slowly roasted in n m fro t of the .

It w as n o t till 1548 that the Compa n y o btai n ed a lease from the Govern ors of ’ m w in St . Bartholo e s Hospital of their Hall n n n w w w as Sti ki g La e , Ne gate Street , hich n n m an d in the the ce tre of the eat trade , 1605 they recei ved a charter of in corpo ra t io n The Compan y had o n e illu striou s m m in n u e ber the perso of Defoe , the a thor “ o f n n u wh o in 1628 was Robi so Cr soe , a dm m m n itted a ember by patri o y .

‘ In 1180 came th e e an d Pepp rers Spicers , 152 LONDON G UILDS

w m fi several of hose embers served the of ce of a o n e w m n w Bo ke re l M yor , of ho , A dre , gave his n ame to the street w hich is still called Bu kl u r 1345 c e rsb y . By the Pepperers had n n m an d cha ged their a e to Grocers , also en larged their sphere of action by dealin g in n u n n m other li es of b si ess , as is see fro a complai n t made in Parliame n t in 1365 “ m n n that ercha ts , called G rocers , e grossed all ma n n er of sellable goods a n d raised an d the prices , kept the goods till they m had bec o e dearer . They got a charter in 1428 an d u m o u r m n , lti ately , like oder in u in stores . they dealt also dr gs , for 1447 n n they received Letters Pate t , relati g an d n n to these goods to oils , co fectio ery , n d U m in 161 ru a . 7 sy ps spices lti ately , , the ’ separa te body of the Apothecaries Compan y w as i n corporated by charter with t h e u sual n n u n d th e w ordi a ces , er latter of hich the m m w u w to e bers ere req ired to ear a livery , u m all u 1 n to con s b it disp tes to the Varde s , tri b u te to a common fu n d for assistin g n n m m s an d to n n n u l i dige t e ber , atte d the A a n d M ass a Feast .

We n ow on n n n c pass to the Vi t ers , i or porate d in 1427 as the successor of several e u on e w in 1363 pr vio s Guilds , of hich o n n m w 111 btai ed Le tters Pate t fro Ed ard . to t in w n n in rade i e imported from Gasco y , “ W n m rs succession t”o on e kn own as i e Su n e n y of Gasco .

’ The Brewers G u ild of Lon don came i n to

1 54 LONDON GUILDS

The several divisio n s which w e have m u w ade of the City G ilds , ith those of the u n m b ildi g trade , co prise the majority of the n n n w Lo do Compa ies , hich from the yea”r 1 320 have bee n k n own as Livery G u ilds from the fact that the members of each origi n w n n ally ore a livery of their ow . Amo gst those which do n o t fall i n to the variou s cate g o rie s we have n amed we may men tion the ’ St atio n e is n u n in 1555 Compa y , fo ded , at w u n 1911 hose Hall , til the Copyright Act of , tll pri n ted books had to be registered to u h preserve the rights of their a t ors . There ’ is also the eq ually importan t Apothecaries n in 1617 w Compa y , established , hich safe u n an d g ards the i terests of the Chemists , m m n wn as provides a edical diplo a , k o ” n A Lice tiate of the Society of pothecaries .

The n ext page in the history of all the G u in n n w as w n in 1546 ilds E gla d ritte , the ’ l n V III s n w n an ast year of He ry . reig , he Act u u n all l as passed for the dissol tio of co leges, n an d n cha tries free chapels , a descriptio w n l u m w hich i c ded the Guilds , ost of hich w n th e had their o w n chan try chapel . O i g to ’ n was death of the Ki g , there a year s grace t w ere t ake n in before active s eps the matter , u in w n n b t . , the first year of the follo i g reig of Edward V I a n e w Act vested in the Ki n g all n w n o t n cha tries hich had before bee seized , n u n n n mis i cl di g all payme ts by corporatio s , t ri s w e e . , or crafts for priests There ere also c on fiscated obits for masses for the dead an d l m Wh t a ps for chapel services . y the s oppage LONDON GUILDS 155 of the ecclesi astical side of the G u ilds should have also brou g ht to a stan dstill their b u si n ess methods is n o t clear ; b u t the City Gu ilds got o u t of their trou bles by c om u n n m w n po di g atters ith the Ki g , for they mu paid as ch as for their property , a n d w n n w e t o ith their work . Shortly after that time the City bodies grad u ally dropped the title of G u ilds an d called th emselves m n u n n Co pa ies , as had previo sly bee do e by n the M ercha t Taylors .

n w as n o n e u n The ext stage agai of pl der , in 1684 n for , the last year of the reig of ‘

Jh arl s Il - n n e . n i , the Attor ey Ge eral moved ’ the Co u rt of K”i n g s Be n ch for a writ of Quo Warra n to agai n st all the City Com an ie s n u n to w w p , calli g po them sho by hat w n u was arra t or title they existed . The r le m u u n fo r ade absol te by the Co rt , appare tly w n an w . the reaso that Act of Ed ard III , hich w as n u u t an u earthed for the p rpose , had p e n d n an d m to their legal existe ce , , for the ti e n m n w n bei g, the City Co pa ies ere co sidered as ’ a m n n w as de d . The Fish o gers Compa y the first to bestir itself to get o u t of the legal u n r an d th e n a q a da y , very ext year it got m m Il b u n n o t . t fresh charter fro Ja es , it eed u fo r : u n was at have tro bled , the Revol tio n a nd in 1690 wh n Wi m an d ha d , , , e llia M ary m w n an was had co e to the Cro , Act passed a n n u lli n g all the proceedi n gs agai n st the City m n an d w n m n n u Co pa ies , allo i g the to co ti e their corporate lives .

All these bodies are called Livery Co m 156 LOND ON GUILDS

e n w p ies , hich merely describe their gen esis m u w i w fro the older G ilds , each of h ch , as e a n h ad own r I . t u h ve explai ed , its live y m st , w n ho ever , be oted that each of the M ayors of Lo n don adopted a livery of their o w n for the n an d w e i n in 1300 citize s , f d that the year , at th e w n n w n eddi g processio of Ed ard I . a d u n th e n n u m r Q ee M argaret , citize s to the be of over 600 were robed in a livery of red a n d w w v an d hite ith hoods o er their heads , t u n t ippe s ro d their n ecks . Su ch as w ere m u u n o t u embers of the G ilds co ld , of co rse , a in o wn an d lso be attired their liveries , they adopted the pla n of wearin g u pon their m m n h sleeves so e heraldic ark , to de ote t e u t o w n G ild hich they belo ged .

Spectacu lar sights have always bee n n n n w n an d pleasi g to the i habita ts of to s , l n n rs w n u o u t especial y to Lo do e , he the d ll li n es of bu ildi n gs cou ld be relieved by the c u n an d u n olo rs of gay trappi gs iforms . The ’ n n u w u s a al Lord M ayor s Sho still pleases , b u t in former days it frequ en tly happen ed that on pu blic occasio n s procession s took an d place of the Lord M ayor , Sheriffs , Alder m e n b u t u r an d u w , the colo b lk of the sho w as composed of the Craft smen of th e G u ilds c l i n n 11 \ e 1 1es u i n ad their differe t Th s , 1 236 Aldel me n an d 360 , the M ayor , , Sheriffs , c n o u t m n r 111 an d itize s rode to eet He y . hi s n e w w n n n ife Elea or , the citize s bei g clothed in lon g garmen ts embroidered with gold an d s o n e n ilk , each beari g a gold or silver cup in his ha n d ; w hile in 1300 a similar proc e s

LONDON G UILDS

m - l - d e u arn . liveries fro St . M ichael Q to Al gate n in m m Agai , Nove ber of the sa e year the craftsme n w ere see n in the streets at n ight n an d m n n th e carryi g torches , acco pa yi g Lord ’ u w m n w as M ayor to St . Pa l s , here a ser o an d u n m preached , they all ret r ed ho e after m n n w J m I I n e n a . id ight . the reig of es , ’ n m in a u m the Ki g ca e st te to St . Pa l s , aeco pan ie d by the Lord M ayor an d the G u ilds of n n m n in u o Lo do , to hear a ser o preached s pp rt of the movemen t to provide fu n ds for the l w w as n in repair of the Cathedra , hich the a n u n n an d was in c o n se very da gero s co ditio ,

u e n ce e d u n n .1 n s q partly r store der I igo o e , ’ n u the Ki g s S rveyor .

The Ci ty Compa n ies have al ways felt that w ma m n their ealth y so e day ag ai , as it did in a n V I t h e the d ys of He ry II , attract n n G nm n an d e atte tio of the over e t , that th re may be o n ce more raised the qu estio n as to w hether the i n terests o f the trades they represen t are properly atte n de d to ; an d in 1884 t w in o f m n hey ere all a state fer e t , for a. Royal Commissio n w as appoi n ted to en qu ire n w m a n d u n w a i to the hole atter , ret r s ere sked m m n fro each Co pa y as to its history , its c n an d th e u e orporate possessio s , act al st ps it w s n s n a taki g to foster the trade it repre e ted . Th e o n ly resu lt of this Commission w as the presen tation of a len gthy report in five u m w u vol es , hich are a very storeho se of i n terestin g i n formation relative to th e variou s m n u w m n n Co pa ies . It sho ld , ho ever , be e tio ed few th e that , a years before that , several of I ONr DON GUILDS larger City Compa n ies h ad formed an ed u ca t ion al sc heme o f a t ech n ical character which u w w as n has yielded good res lts , to hich give the n ame”of The City an d G u ilds of Lon don n u an d n o w t wo n I stit te , has large bra ches at n n n n n Fi sbu ry a d Ke si gto .

We see the tro ubles an d disp u tes o f the Un n — a n d n h m Trade io s of to day , co sider t e u n u b u t if we b ac k me dian d iq e , look to ays w e shall discern their co u n te rparts in the n u m u u u ero s q arrels of the old Trade G ilds , both w ith th e merchan ts an d amon gst th em in n n w n m selves . Those Lo do ere certai ly ore n oticeable than the qu a rr els in t h e cou n try b u t all o f districts , had their fair share q u a1 1 e ls an d bickeri n gs t o mai n tai n their d n an d n prece e ce their trade adva tages . For some time in Lo n do n th ere was a divisio n m n u n o n o n w fin d d a d e d e a o gst the G il s , si e the fou r G u ilds wh o represe n ted the Provisio n h r is r n r d . t e F h no e s Tra es , viz , G ocers , g , Salters , a n d n n wh o w u n d th e d Vi t ers , ere er lea ership Be mb r u th e of Nicholas e . He fo ght battle of the adva n tag es of pi o te c tio n a g a i n st th e ' o t h e i I rade G u ilds dii e c te d by Io h n of m n wh o ad xo e at d fi e e e . Northa pto , trade Un a u l w as der the spices of the atter, there c in 13 7 1 o f u ompiled , the vear th”e J bilee of Il l wa . u w Ed rd , a J bilee Book , hich pro po u n ded a scheme for con trolli n g the actio n u u d an d was of the fo r G il s , this book eagerly sou ght after by the followers of Wa t Tyler in 138 1 n o t u u b u t , for p rposes of st dy , for n destructio . 160 LOND ON GUILDS

Early in the 15th c en tui y occu rred a g reat qu arrel between the G u ilds of the M erchan t Taylo rs an d the Ski n n ers over n u n w w w their precede ce , d ri g hich blo s ere n d an r m n w l . excha ged , several live y e ere ki led Happily the M ayor w as called in to act as an d v th e m arbitrator , he sol ed p roble by allow i n g each preceden ce every altern ate an d h e year , to seal the peace directed that n each body shou ld e n tertai n th e other a nu ally . So it has come to pass that u p to the presen t time the Ski n n ers e n tertai n th e M erch an t 0 11 u Taylors the vigil of Corp s Christi Day , n u n w shortly after Tri ity S day , hile the u 1 Ski n n ers in t r n become their g u ests 0 1 St . ’ n in u n Joh the Baptist s Day J e .

Th e year 1437 w as a memorable o n e in th e o u n n hist ry of the G ilds , for the a petitio w V as n n n I. prese ted to the Ki g, He ry , by m e w n an d m m u the ast rs , arde s , e bers of vario s u d h u u u n n h im G il s t ro gho t the co try , prayi g t o take steps for stricter regu lation of s u ch

Iru il s A s u d . the res lt of this the Act 1 n w 5 . as 6 . He ry VI cap . passed

The places where the variou s trades of Lo n don w ere carried 0 11 in medi aeval days may still be clearly traced by the n ames o f several of the streets in the City ; for in those day s imagi n ation an d fan tasy did n o t play a great part in the mi n ds of o u r matter- of- fact u w l n m n n forefathers . Th s , a ki g fro Lo do ' n o rtlrwards w e m Bridg e , , first co e across Fish u w w as Street Hill , obvio sly here the fish sold

162 LONDON GUILDS

0 11 the left - ha n d side Bread Street speaks of wh w n bakers , ile Friday Street tells of days he w as an m n m o n fish i porta t ite of diet Fridays , an d in this street addition al fish she p s were u n n n fo d ope o those fast days .

n we m w o n Beyo d , co e to Ne gate Street , ’ t h e right - han d side of w hich was Bu tchers Row w m w as l , here the eat trade argely carried 0 11 an d n u — u , ma y sla ghter ho ses existed , the f w w as m n o fal from hich , for a y years , cast n h m i to the T a es . C HAPTER VI .

E D N R DE DS TH BU IL I G T A G UIL .

' We m u m m in n n st re e ber that , E g la d , m n n u t shortly after the Nor a Co q est , apar f m u an d th e w ro ch rches castles , hole of the bu ildi n g trade w as in the han ds of the n u n n u w carpe ters , ho ses the bei g b ilt of ood . Bricks of a n arrow shape had bee n u sed by m n in u n in 44 the Ro a s this co try the year , an d the famou s boast of A u g u stu s will be in n n n un recalled this co ectio , that he fo d his m u b u t capital , Ro e , b ilt of brick , he left it con stru cted of marble . Bricks ceased to be u t e m sed af er these days , xcept for a short ti e u n in 9th n der Alfred , the ce tury , though m n m in s the Nor a s someti es , as the ca e of ’ o t u St . B tolph s Abbey , at Colches er , sed th e R m n n o wn w o a bricks over agai for their ork . O n n n n l n u s the Co ti e t , especial y ear Br ge , m u u an d the Fle ish b ilders also sed bricks , t hese w ere i n trodu ced i n to E n glan d in the 15th n u an d in 1426 e l ce t ry , Tatt rshal Castle ,

‘ in Lin col n sh ire was u , b ilt of brick for the 164 BUILDING TRADE GUILDS

u mw an d u Lord Treas rer Cro ell , abo t the u w same time for ch rch w ork . They ere n n d revived ag ai n in the days of He ry VIII . a u b u t n ot Elizabeth for domestic p rposes , did u w n n in 1666 o st ood till the fire of Lo do , , proved their su itability in the case of large c w u w o n e ities , here ho ses ere placed close to n a other .

w w n in 1603 in Sto , riti g , says that n n u t o u 1200 u s s Lo do , p abo t the year , ho e w u w w ere b ilt of ood , covered ith reed or w n stra , but the the M ayor ordered them to b e u n w s b ilt of sto e covered ith slate or tile , b u t mu n n s this st soo have bee di regarded , or else there wo ul d n o t have bee n so great a c o n flag ration when the great fire took pl ace in th d 11 We n w e . ays of Charles fi d , ho ever , t in n n an d u was u u hat both Lo do o tside it s al , w n u n u an n u t he b ildi g ho ses of y size , to co str c a n u n u n l r n wh dergro d ce lar or c ypt of sto e , ich w as u u an d in sef l for the storage of goods , those days of fighti n g an d t u mu lts su ch a refu ge cou ld be adapted for pu rposes of n con cealmen t . M ost of these crypts have bee m in u n de olished the process of reb ildi g , thou gh we mu st remember that their con struction c alled for the services of skilled s n s n s w ul s n ma o , as the ceili g ere va ted of to e , w n l n hich was ecessarily a diffic u t operatio .

' As the mai n bu ildi n gs w ere of woo d we s u s e s i n hall , of co r e , xpect the mo t mporta t

166 BUILDI NG T RA DE GUILDS other provision s si mi lar to th ose of like u ld G i s .

’ A R MS o n T HE CARPE NT ERS Y C O MPAN .

After 144 years the Carpen ters obtai n ed a former charter from the Crow n dated givi n g to certai n Fre e me n of th e M istery of Carpe n try in th e City of Lon don rights to establish a Brotherhood or G u ild in the City n n n to remai for ever , the body co sisti g of th e \ n an d M aster , three Varde s a body of n l n ot n ab b re Freeme . Peop e had lear t to v iate in d an d u was those ays , the f ll title “ The M aster Warden s an d Common alty of the M iste o f Freem”e n of the Carpen try n n w as of the City of Lo do . This Charter , n u m m accordi g to the c sto s of the ti e , affirmed u u n v n n u by s bseq e t So ereig s , appare tly to g ard agai n st an y attempt bei n g made to treat the n n an d ou t w gra t as bei g void of date , hich , in n in fact , happe ed the cases of all the City m n i n n n Il . l Co pa ies the reig of Charles , u ti BUILDING TRAD E GUILDS 167 this Charter of the Carpe n ters w as con firmed by M ary a n d all the s ubsequ e n t Sovereign s u II p to James .

m m n n of the Co pa y , as defi ed w u i n n by these charters , ere to s per te d the erect io n of w oode n b u ildi n gs in th e City of Lo n n an d n u se do , to preve t the of bad

’ m te w w u u n a rials , hich , it h the s bstit tio of n w f w m sto e for ood , a ter ards co prised the fu n ction s of the M ason G u ild or Compan y Th of Lon don . e titles of all the Lo n do n G u ilds in co urs e of time became chan ged “ n m n y n u se i to that of Co pa , appare tly by , l i n. the same way that the tit e of M ayor “ bec ame”gradu ally cha n ged i n to that of Lord w u an n n M ayor , thoug h itho t y sa ctio , except a u in m th t of the City officials , tho gh ore m n n n oder days it eeded the order of the Ki g , w Ed ard VIL , to give the title of Lord M ayor t o m n m a n d cities like Li verpool , Bir i gha , s m o e others .

In the early part of th e 1 7 t h ce n t u ry viewers w ere appoi n ted to i n spect b u ild in s b u t a ft e 1 t h e w n at u rall x n g , , the , ood bega to o ut n an d was u go of fashio , brick sed : while i n 17 74 a b iiildin g Act “ as passed w u r w a n e d by hich District S rveyo s ere ppoi t , an d the n the d u ties an d usefu ln ess of the Carpe n ters Co mpan v grad u ally fell i n to n abeya ce .

The w hole secret of the collapse of the ’ Carpen ters Company as govern i n g th e w ood 1 68 B UILDING TRADE GUILDS

b u ildi n g trade of Lon do n is to be foun d in t in n u n fif r the fac that , co seq e ce of the e o n n in 1666 a n m n w as ”Lo do , Act of Parlia e t ‘ d i fi passe m b y w hich the freemen of th e m n w n n u Co pa y , o i g to their lack of mbers , w t m n an d n ere deprived of heir o opoly , foreig w orkmen were for the first time allowed to work in the M etropolis u n der the protec tion In d n w of the State . ad itio to this e have the fact that ho u ses in Lo n don were n o lon ger u m u w fire b ilt al ost excl sively of ood , as more n m w n u resisti g aterials ere the ceforth sed .

’ There w as also in Lo n don the Plasterers Gu w m 1501 in ild , hich dates back fro , the n V II w n n n t days of He ry , he the Ki g gra ed “ a charter t o members of the M ystery or P ar e t to rs n n Art of g of the City of Lo do , i r r common ly called the P la st e e s . The “ w an d an d m e objects ere to search try , ak due u n m n n u ff u n search po all a er of st , to chi g th e an d m P ar e t tors an d all art ystery of g , w an d w m n in Art e r ork ork e the said or M yst y , t w m t u u an d so hat the said ork igh be j st , tr e lawfu l withou t any deceit or frau d i”n the n n u u an d City of Lo do or S b rbs thereof , they had a coat of arms gran ted to them i 4 n 15 6 .

San itary en gin eerin g w as little thought of in the days with which ' w e are n OW ‘ a n u m m w as de li g , tho gh a pri itive for of it dou btless carried o ut by the Tylers an d an d we ma n Bricklayers , y ote that the first

1 70 BUILDING TRADE GUILDS

'o n e in 15 7 1 w W n w , , allo ed the arde s po er to s h an d w an d an d fin e earc vie bricks tiles , to t h e an d m n makers of bad i perfect o es . Th e l n an n n n n ast ordi ce co cer i g the Compa y, as a w n was in 1723 orki g body , made by

George I .

Bu t w hile some hou ses w ere bei n g bu ilt w m n u n w con of ood , ore importa t b ildi gs ere s u s n w s s l was tr cted of to e , for hich pecial kil r u in th e w wh o u n w eq ired orkers , fo d it ise t o ban d themselves together i n to Guilds for n t h e prote ction of their trade i terests . The b u ildi n gs they w ere en gaged u po n divide t m n — he selves i to three classes Cathedrals , an d an d u n Churches Castles , the b ildi g of these n ecessitated that th e ban d of workme n e n gaged u po n them should remai n in each ' o an d in m ther s society , the sa e spot , for m n m n in th e d a y o ths , or , case of Cathe rals , f r rs u d m o . yea The G il s they for ed differed , m h u d in therefore , fro the ot er Trade G il s h w n o t o n e t wn t at they ere fixed to o , for ma n y Chu rches were bu ilt in sparsely pe pu l w s l w u w s b e ated villag es , hile Ca t es o ld al ay e rected in isolated spots . The Cathedrals a n d Chu rches passed throu gh th e styles of t h e m n w u 1200 Nor a , hich lasted till abo t , w n th e a n in u he E rly E glish came vog e , to b e u t w d s cceeded by the Decora ed , hich sprea o ver the period of the three Edwards in th e f u n n u an d w u n w o rtee th ce t ry , o d up ith the n u w n Perpe dic lar style , hich lasted till the reig o f n r n u u n m He y VII . The Ch rch b ildi g ca e a t an d to s op for some years, as to Cathedrals , BUILDING TRADE GUILDS 17 1 no n e were erected till the later years of th e n w n u w an d u o reig of Victoria , he So th ark Tr r w n s w Cathedrals ere co tructed , hile the stately i r pile at Liverpool is still n prog ess .

Castles cou ld on ly be bu ilt by licen ce of n m n u n o t the Ki g , so that ar ed garriso s co ld be erected by Baron s wh o mig ht u se their n wn an d we n c on forces agai st the Cro , fi d stan t referen ces in the State Papers to these

Royal permissio n s for Castle buildin g . As examples of these w e may qu ote a gran t in 12 n n w 3 . 5 by He ry III to the Earl of Cor all , allowi n g h im to bu ild an d fortify a castle of ston e above his M an or of M ere ; an d in 1261 he also gave a formal gran t allowi n g Robert n w n u at St . Joh to fortify ith a pali g his ho se as n u n wn u B i g p to the dyke the thro p there , an d to keep it fortified as lon g as th e Ki n g a llowed .

l in n an d w . u Ed ard III revel ed b ildi g , by an 6 n u 1359 w n order of th Ja ary , made he the ’ u was n n K in s Co rt at Readi g, he appoi ted a g n u M aso , M aster Robert de Glo cester , to take ’ maso n s for the Ki n g s w orks in the C astle W n d n n an d u t of i sor , the bei g erected , to p ’ n w them to work there at the Ki g s ages . w n l in e There ere strikers , appare t y , thos d b u t m w as u mm one ays , the re edy a s ary , ’ for t h e Ki n g s M ason had power to arrest u n n n 0 1 1 e b e llio u s an d those fo d co traria t , to have them brou g ht to h im at the Castle an d m n u n u t o i priso ed , till they fo d sec rity 1 7 2 BUILDING TRADE GUILDS

u in w s n th e stay q ietly the ork , accordi g to in j u n ction of the said Robert .

T HE K IN A ND HI S C IE SO N G H F MA , FR O M THE HI STO R Y O F K ING O FFA B Y T EW A IS I EE N MAT H P R , TH RT TH

C EN T R Y IN B I I S SE . U , R T H MU UM

The question has al ways been raised from w hen ce did o u r early Cathedral b u ilders t heir k n owledge an d wh o drew their plan s ? It was always u su al to talk abo u t e cclesiastical b u n n b an d ildi gs bei g erected by the Ab ots , , b an n u me y easy tra sfer of tho ght , people ca to thi nk that the Abbots themselves drew th e n an d m n a u pla s , that the o ks did the ct al w b u t we n w n o w an d ork ; k o better , that fr om earliest days sto n ework was carried o u t e m b y experts . So far back as th ti e of Pope in n u w Gregory , the sixth ce t ry , there ere I n n m n n in m d n r talia sto e aso s livi g Lo bar y , ea

174 BUILDING TRADE GUILDS

n an d three degrees of workme n. ra ked accord m u s in g to t heir ability . They ade e of u n W m n symbols der the heads of isdo , Stre gth a nd u a n d h t Bea ty , t ey also , like the la er s n n w n a Operative M a o s , frater ised , hile e g ged o n r u w w as s thei Ch rch ork , ith the ecclesi tic , wh o thu s g rew i n terested in architectu ra l u st dies .

It is con ten ded that these Como M ason s w ere the descen dan ts of the old College of as n m m m m w M o s at Ro e , fro the e bers of hich m W th ey derived their symbolis . hether the Operative M ason s in E n glan d of later days still retain ed the tradition s of the Como u m tfu u n as b ilders see s a very doub l q estio , i t is u n likely that the latter wou ld remain in En gla n d after their bu ildi n g o peratio n s were f n s an d n n i i hed , if they did their desce da ts w o u ld in time become more E n glish tha n It n n n a u Ital ia n . is i teresti g to ote that bo t t h e (330 t m year , shor ly after the ti e that the Como M aso n s firs t came to E n gla n d there w as a Pictish Pri n ce in Scotla n d n amed Ne th a n III w h o Be in Ecc le si , ”, as de , his astic al X X L n f m History , Chapter , i or s us , s n m n n Ce o lfrid e t esse gers to the Ve erable ,

Abbo t of th e M on astery of St . Peter a n d u l w n St . Pa at Jarro , prayi g to have archi e u y n n h im ui te ts , obvio sl Italia , se t to to b ld a Ch u rch in his n atio n a fter the Roman m nn u w a er . This Ch rch , hich he promised to w s u n e . a d dicate to St Peter , to be b ilt of sto e n w t r u was i stead of oak , roofed i h shes , as n n in u n an d was the fashio the his co try , it BUILDING T RADE GUILDS 1 75

u u m n wh o n req ired for the C ldee o ks , had bee w n in n n u n ~ orki g the Isla d of Io a , der Col u t h e m n wh o am m r l n d mba , issio ary , c e fro I e a in 560 .

IVh e th e r Pau li n u s was a mason o r n o t is a n O n u n b u t s cert i ly pe to q estio , thi at least u w u n is clear , that he had m ch to do ith b ild i g Eh u rc h e s in n n e t wo E gla d , for B de refers to edifices which were bu ilt in places u n der his r u Th w w r o u r . e as n le first York M i ster , he e “ a K n w n n w as uthor states i g Ed i , as soo as he n baptised , took care , by the directio of the sa m u n u u in m l a e Pa li s , to b ild the sa e p ace an d n u t n in bigger obler Ch rch of s o e , the midst whereof th at same oratory wh”ich he Th e had firs t erected should be en closed . se c o n d b u ildi n g which Pau li n u s erected was “ u n n w a ch rch at Li col , here , it is stated , he likewise b u il t in that city a sto n e Ch u rc h of au u w m n t h e o f wh h be tif l ork a ship , roof ic a n r n h u n h vi g eithe falle t ro gh age , or bee wn wn n m t h e w l t l thro do by e e ”ies , a ls are s il n n u r n to be see n sta di g . S ch a pe so ality mu t n u s a n d we v s i terest , are glad to ha e his description pai n ted for u s by Bede as bei ng u s te e in tall of stat re , a little p g , his hair k 1n e a re ~ h is n s n an d blac , his visage g , o e sle der u n w w as n aq ili e , hile his aspect both ve erable & an d maj estic .

n o f u The origi the order of the C ldees , w h n m in u O n th e t e . as ell as a e , is do bt former poi n t some have g u essed that they w u m r s ere act ally the survivors of so e D uid , 1 76 BUILDING TRADE GUILDS

wh o n n t n had bee co ver ed to Christia ity , w i h le others seek to bri n g them . from P h oene c ia u w e n b o th es , tho gh co sider stori an d m n w improbable , that these o ks ere ' simply arden t admirers an d followers of m a an d w w h im Colu b , came to d ell it h at n H1] n n m the isla d of , or Io a . The a e of u d h as u a u s u n C l ees ca sed gre t tro ble to t de ts , m d u s w n for so e seek to erive it , obvio ly ro g u m n u f lly , fro the Lati C ltores Dei , w orsh ippers of G o d while o th”ers get it m G Ce ille m n n fro the aelic De , ea i g n Go d m n G Serva t of , or fro a other aelic w d C u ilde ach m n n m n o r or , ea i g a o k , m t m n n n t u her i . Fro the i depe de t a tit de they ass u med to th e Ch u rch of Rome they early n u w w m n i c rred its rath . There ere five ai poi n ts o n which they differed ; (1) the date w hen Easter shou ld be obser ved ; (2 ) the qu estion w heth er prayers shou ld be said for th e wh u 3 dead , ich they ref sed to do ; ( ) th e e n u w s u to t s re , hich they al o ref sed d 4 w n to a opt ; ( ) celibacy , hich they decli ed o u t 5 n m n carry ; ( ) the appoi t e t of Bishops , as they had an Abbot at their head an d d l n an u u in ec i ed y higher a thority , tho gh , a a W m n n ch rter of illia the Lio of Scotla d , “ he addresses it w ron gly to the Bishops & a n d n C uldees of the Chu rch at Brechi . w mu h n w a o n Ho ever , they st ave give y t n w fin d w e his poi t , for that they after ards ’ u d n d w se to elect the Bishop of St . A re s , t hou gh in ti me an order of Can on s was c n u h in 1 114 wh o o stit ted t ere , elected the i w as n n n th . e Bishop Th s the begi i g of .

1 78 BUILDING TRADE GUILDS

a n n n n wh o w mo g the orther E glish , ere n u l first co verted by the Scots”, partic arly in t W the Ca hedral of York . e may me n tio n that there is defi n ite evide n ce of h n in n t eir bei g at several places Scotla d , u n u n an d s ch at M elrose , Brechi , D keld , else w b u t w e u m n here , do bt if the o ks at York w m n ere of the sa e order as those at Io a .

A seco n d refere n ce to th e C uldees at York is given by t h e assertio n that they w ere o fficiati n g at the Cat h edral as far back a s 936 w n n l n t , he Ki g Athe sta asked for heir prayers f0 1 his su ccess in an expedition he w as m n n u n n aki g agai st the Scots . Ret r i g v o u m n e ict rio s , he ogave the a 0gra t of a tith of corn from the plo ugh fi elds in the n m Diocese of York , to e able the to help the poor a n d the w ayfari n g travellers wh o might m o n o f m solicit their al s . The associati the w n A t-h elstan w h o in m ith Ki g , so e of the old A n cien t Ch arges of the b u ilders w a”s o n e wh o w n described as loved ell M aso s , has bee n e n o u gh to draw the C u ldees i n to t h e n o f u an d n ra ks the b ilders , to e velop them w ith the assu med dign ity of bei n g m asters of a symbolic system allied w ith n W n fin d n w 1 n c a o M aso ry . e a ra t for this , an l thi n k th at the fact that Pau li n u s had h is b u ilde i s w orki n g close by them in u m n n u in North bria has bee e o gh , com n n w n bi atio ith the story of Athelsta , to cau se these imagi n ative ideas that th e n C uldees were early spec u lative M aso s . BUILDIN G T RADE GUILDS 1 1 9

u n n n o w n T r i g to the old operative M aso s , w . fin d . an e that each”of those bodies had n w n - fiv n e A cie t Charge , of hich seve ty dif fe re n t m n n u n n n speci e s have bee fo d , ra gi g in m 1390 1680 n date fro to , or early three c e n tiu 'ie s l n u m n n u , so o g did the old c sto co ti e u w w n o n l to flo rish . They ere ritte rol s of m n t an d l w u n w u n in parch e , s o ly o d the n u th e readi g, tho gh the fact that part of b ack is more colo u red tha n the rest ten ds to show that o nly a portion was in act u al u a pract ice habit lly read .

The earliest example o f su ch doc u me n ts i s

. m o n e n u 1390 a rhy ed , dati g back to abo t , n o w in th e u u r . British M se m , at fi st called the “ w l MS m n m Halli el , fro the a e of the dis

w - . b u t n o w coverer of it , M r Halli ell P”hilli ps , n w n th e u MS in k o as Regi s , as it is the collection of o ld doc u me n ts prese n ted to th e n by 111 n atio George .

n n h u These A cie t Charges , t o gh they differ in w n u n in m ordi g , are all s bsta tially si ilar m n n for , co sisti g of three parts . the first of w n n n hich is the I vocatio to the Tri ity . This “ ” in w n MS part , the Do la d , reads thus . K n w The might of the Father of i gs , ith his

a u th e glorious gr ce , thro gh grace of the good n l n ess of the Ho y Ghost , there bei g three n in o n e w u s perso s Godhead , be ith at the

n n n n d - u s b a n . egi i g , give grace so to gover

The secon d part con sists of a histor y of th e b u ildi n g world si n ce the day that Adam 180 BUILDING TRAD E GUILDS

e e n u d n n rected his t t o tsi e the Garde of Ede , a n d m r n wn therefore beca e the fi st M aso , do n n in 930 wh o to the days of Ki g Athelsta , w m y loved ell Geo etr .

The third part is the most importan t of

all n a n n . a re n , co t i i g the charges to the pp e c n n n u n an d l tic s , o cer i g their b si ess mora “’ m u . u d ties e q ote this part fro a M S . in n n m n the I er Te p”le Library , e titled the “ H n MS m n m e ery Head , fro the a e of the n wh o 167 5 u h tra scriber , dated his copy , tho g th e orig i n al was probably mu ch earlier than h Th s u t at . e Charges read thu Partic larly the first an d prin cipal that yo u shall be true me n an d u an d t at to G od the Holy Ch rch , h y ou shall n ei ther error n or heresy by you r ’ o wn u n n n w n dersta di g , or discreet or ise me s n an d l ou b e teachi g , a so that y shall true liege me n w ithou t treason or falsehood ; an d if yo u k n ow either treaso n or treachery look o m n o u c an s w n y a e d it if y , or el e ar privily n u u the Ki g , or his r ler , or his dep ty , or his f A n u l u o n o ficers . d also that yo sha l be tr e e to n t an d a other , hat is to say , to every M aster f ell ow of the scien ce a n d craft of M ason ry w n an d u n that be allo ed M aso s , to do to them u An d as they wou ld they shou ld do u n to y o . t hat every M ason keep tru e cou n cil bo th of l an d m an d all u n c s odge cha ber, other co il u n that o ght to be kept by w ay of M aso ry . A n d also that he shall be true to his 10 rd an d an d u t o master that he doth serve , tr ly look ’ h is m fin u l Mafson s A d o aster s pro t . y shall cal u w u h n an d n o yo r fello s , or yo r bret re , by

182 BUILDING TRADE GUILDS

u An d 1 o ght to have . also that 1 0 M aster o r ’ Fellow pu t n o lord s work to task that hath e n u s m t o u n w n b e acc to ed be jo r ey ork . A d also that every o n e gi ve pay to his fellow on ly a s ma o u n or l he y deserve , so that y the ord o f the work be n o t deceived throu gh false work n A n d n o w m n me . also ork a or Fellow do slan der other behi n d his back to make h im n m w lose his good a e , or his orldly goods . A n d n o l w w n also that Fel o ithi lodge , or w u m n n w itho t , do i ister evil a s er to other u w n u n n u . godly ith reaso able ca se . Also that v n l do n e to te e ery M aso sha l revere c his bet rs , a n d u w A n d n shall p t at orship . that o M ason 0 1 0 1 an shall play at hazard , at the dice , y 1 u n w u wh th e ci a t othe la f l game , ereby f may be n A n d n o n s sla dered . also that M aso hould be an y r ibal d at l ech e i y to make the craft n d An d 11 0 w o n t sla dere . that Fello g i o the t ow n in the n ight time without a Fellow to

‘ h e ar h im m n an d wit ne ss th at co pa y , he hath n in n m n so bee ho est co pa y , for if he do there a lodge of Fellow s to pu n ish h im for th at c rime A n d also that every M aster an d l w d n a t Fel o , if they have trespasse , to sta d the reward of M asters an d Fellows to make m an d mav n o t the accord there , if they accord

’ mm n l w A d h n a . n t em , the they go to the co o also e ve i y M ason shall receive an d cherish s tran g e Maso n s when they come o u t of th e c ou n ti an d e m w m n n y , set th to ork , as the a er is if w in ; that is to say , they have orked n in lace ou l m n sto es p , y sha l set the a fort ight an d an d at the least , give each his pay , if he h ave n o ston es for him to work that then h e BUILDING TRADE GUILDS 183

h im n An d shall refresh to the ext lodge . also y o u an d every M aso n shall tru ly serve you r d £0 1 u an d u an d u m lor yo r pay , j stly tr ly ake an d e n d u i w o u rn e vo ork , be it task or j yy if v o u have h ad you r pay tr uly accordi n g as y o u u i A n d n o ght to ha e . also that every M aso w u l u n w n shall ork tr y po the orki g day , so ma an d that he y receive his pay deserve it , so

n u n - that he may live ho estly po the holy day . A n d that every M ason shall receive yo u r pay d u an d e g o ly of yo r M aster , that he shall ke p due m w in u w s an d in u ti e of ork yo r age , yo r ’ n v u n rest as it is ordai ed b the M aste r s Co cil . “ A n d also that if an y sh ows shall be at discord an d dissen sion you shall tru ly treat w e n m m c an d m n bet e the , to ake a cord agree e t , an d h w n o u u n n b u t s e favo r to either party , u a n d u an d j stly tr ly for both parties , that it ’ be don e in su ch time that the lord s work be n o t h n A n d ou n W n an d i dered . if y sta d arde , a n w u n o u have y po er to the M aster y serve , o u u to u wh y shall be tr e yo r said M aster, ile o u w h im a nd u m y be ith , be a tr e ediator betwee n you r M aster an d his Fellows to the u m s u w An d if o u n tter o t of yo r po er . y sta d t w d m S e ar , either of lodge or cha ber , or of mm n u o u u co o ho se meeds , y shall give a tr e ’ u n w h o w acco t of the Fello s good , it is dis e n se d a nd w m h w p , at hat ti e t ey ill take u n A n d o u m acco t . also that if y have ore c u n n i n g than you r Fellow that stan ds by y ou in u w an d h im in n his or yo r ork , see da ger , n an d u n o u to spoil his sto e , he ask co sel of y , ou n m an d h im n y shall i for teach ho estly , so ’ ” th that e lord s work be n o t spoiled . 181 BUILDING TRADE GUILDS

After this came the formal readi ng of the w : oath , as follo s

These charges that we have declared an d mm n u n o u o u w l reco e ded to y , y shall el an d tru ly keep to the uttermost of you r w o u an d Holidome po er ; so help y God , , & a n d n n by the Holy co te ts of this Book .

While this oath was bei n g read the Bible was h eld u p by the older members o f th e lodge an d the n e w member placed his ha n d u n an d w po it after ards kissed it .

in In the Be g s M S . of the days of Il n u n n w n e Richard . , the i j ctio s ere lo g r an d m an d o n e m ore explicit , of the forbade m m to h u at the embers either to co e c rch l e , n in an d or to speak sca dal the gate , also e n joi n s u po n h im

’ His ma ste r s co un se t o e e an d c o se l k p l , ws h A n d h is fe ll o by is g oo d p ur p o se . Th e sec re s of t h e c am e r te h e n o man t h b ll , r in t h e o e w at soe e t n No l dg h v r hey do e . W ha tsoe ve r tho u see st or he are st the m do i t o n o man w ere soe h e n e t e t o . T ll , h v r g

w e t The M S . have ci ed lays great stress u pon Geometry as the fou n dation of the ’ as n s an d S u : M o art , peaks of it th s

In a ime r ou o o e ome th t t , th g h g d G try , This ho n e st c raft of g o o d Maso nr y W as or ain e an d ma e in his mann e r d d d t , f s c r s r Imita te d o the e le k to g e the . A t e se o s a e s e imi a e e omet r th l rd pr y r th y t t d G y , A n d g ave it t h e name o f Masonry” Fo r t h e mo st hon e st craft o f all .

186 BUILDING TRADE GUILDS that th e Ju stices o f the Peace in every u n n w n co ty , at their Sessio s , to be held bet ee an d W u n u re cla Easter hits , sho ld make p m n t n n atio at heir discretio , accordi g to the d u h ow u n earth of vict als , m ch every M aso , n e an d m n w Carpe t r , Tiler other crafts a , ork me n an d n m n s as w other j our ey a labourer , ell in in m u harvest as other ti es of the year , sho ld w an d n w take by the day ith meat dri k , or ith

o u t m n d n w n t wo s n . eat a dri k , bet ee the Se sio s

D u ri n g the 13th cen t u ry the Act of 1389 u n in n n m st have falle abeya ce , for the M aso s felt their power as i mportan t workme n wh o u o w n mu n n co ld fix their rates of re eratio , an d they a n ticipated the modern Trade Un ion s by holdi n g a n n u al meeti n gs in vario u s parts of the co u n try to regu late their craft a n d to fix their rate of w ages w ithou t c on ul in m s w as n s t g their aster . This foreig to t h e t h e m an d w u spirit of ti es , sho ed too m ch i n itiative o n the part of the workmen as a n n m an d w as gai st the i terests of the asters , in flat defia n ce of the tren d of the old Statu te ’ b u rs w III s u n of La o re of Ed ard . days , der w hich labou rers were bou n d to serve some m an d w aster , to have their ages fixed by the

u . c n at local J stices of the Peace Ac ordi gly , ' th e l m n f W o n . Par ia e t He ry VI , held at est m n in 1424 an w as in i ster , Act passed , the

m n - n n n n Nor a Fre ch la guage , agai st the M aso s , “ w hich en acted that As by the a n n ual co n g re g at io n s an d con federacies made by the s n in n h rs m M a o s their ge eral c apte asse bled , t h e good co u rse an d effect of the Statu te of BUILDING TRADE GUILDS 18 7

ou u k an d n in Lab rers is p blic ly violated broke , s u n law an d u bversio of the , to the grievo s m mm n o u r da age of all the Co o s , Lord the Ki n g directs that the said chapters an d c on re at io n s n o t n an d g g shall he ceforth be held , an u wh o u u h if y s ch be held , let those , ca se s c c an d n n hapters co gregatio s to be held , be n an d u n an d t co victed adj dged as felo s , tha all other M aso n s wh o come to s u ch chapters a n d co n g regatio n s be pu n ish ed by imprison n m n . m fi a d n e an d e t of their bodies , ake & n m a th u K in ra so t e pleas re of the g .

In n n th e n w e Lo do , i terests of this trade er ’ u n m n u w g arded by a Sto e aso s G ild , hich ’ su bsequ en tly became th e M ason s Compa n y of w Lo n don . As the records of the latter body ere s r in ditiic ul t de t oyed the Great Fire , it is to r w u b u t trace its early histo y ith exactit de , so far back as 12 72 there is a record of a c harter bei n g gra n ted by the Lord M ayor of Lo n don to the Wo”rshipfu l Society of Free m n n n u n aso s of Lo do , their d ties bei g to i n spect the co n dition of the gates an d w alls o f w w u s y v im the City , hich ere obvio l ery portan t an d n ecessary poi n ts in those days .

There is a record of a meeti n g in 1350 to settle a trade disp u te betwee n the hewers o f sto n e a n d the setters an d layers of i t . ' w n in 1370 n T e ty years later , , the M aso s C ompa n y had grown to s u ch importan ce that it claimed the right to retu rn fo ur m m mm n u n e bers to the Co o Co cil of the City , a n d in 14 72 it obtai n ed a gra n t of Ar ms . 1 88 BUILDING TRADE GUILDS

In 1481 its ordin an ces were su bmitted to m n an d the Court of Alder e , approved by “ ” h m in t e , as recorded Letter Book L of n o f n n w the Corporatio Lo do , hich is to be n u s fou d at the G ild hall Library . It read u 1 1 w A 1481 5 Oc t 2 1 ) . th s , Ed ard IV . ( ) came good me n of the Art or M istery o f M aso n s of th e City of Lo n don i n to the Cou rt o f th e n in m lord the Ki g , the Cha ber of the u an d n G ildhall , before the M ayor Alderme , an d prayed that certai n articles for the bette r & u reg lation of the M istery might be approved . The reason for th is w as that the Compan y w as n l u n n w u o y a vol tary associatio , itho t a h e wn b u t h ow u c art r from the Cro , the Co rt of Alde rmen obtai ned their powers in the m n o t an d we c an n n atter is clear, o ly thi k th at they assu med it as the ru li n g power of an d in m w an the City, ti e it gre to be u n u n q estio ed right .

The ordi n a n ces are similar to those of other G u ilds with w hich we have already an d n u u n dealt , i cl de s ch matters as the electio W n wh o w n us n of arde s , ere to be fi ed for ref i g fiw m u of ce , hile a for al s it of clothes , or Livery , w as w n m m prescribed to be or by e bers , every 1 m n n 63 8 0 . ember faili g to do so to be fi ed . M embers were also fi n ed twelve pen ce if they ref used to atten d M ass o n the Feast of t h e u u n 8th m an d Q at or Coro ati ( Nove ber) , there w as also a salu tary provision that n o o n e was t o be admitted to the freedom of the craft by the Warde n s u n til exami n ed an d proved & u n n n c i g .

1 90 B UILDI \ G T RADE GU ILDS

Corpu s Christi Day they had to take part “ in h r w w as l Bu l t ei play , hich ca led Th”e ria u r y n in of o Lady St . M ar the Virgi . As o u n n o m n other North C try Societies , Scots a w as to be admitted appre n tice u n der a n 40 n b u t u pe alty of shilli gs , if he did th s w a n w as n o t pay his y as appre tice , he w n o u t be a eligible , he of his articles , to n w s member of the frater ity . It a also pro vide d that at the marriages an d fun erals of m m e w w n an d h e b rs the hole ere to atte d , t at h alf the fin es received by the G u i ld sho u ld go tow ards the main ten a n ce of the g reat n w l bridge over the Ty e , hile the other ha f w s w a to go to the fello ship .

As an ill u stratio n o f a n old B uildi n g G u ild w e may cite the still existin g A n cie n t G u ild u w m a of P rbeck M arblers , hich clai s to tr ce e n m m n its d sce t fro the days of the Nor a s , an d that o n ly the members of the G u ild have the right of w orki n g in the marble qu arries in the Isle of P u rbeck The ap ’ n wh o mu u m n son o f pre tice , st be a q arry a s 14 n n u n the age of , is i de t red for seve years , so th at whe n he bec omes 2 1 he c an be m t m n u ad it ed as a Free a of the G ild , the an n u al meeti n g bei n g held o n Shrove u d w n w n T es ay at the To Hall at Corfe , he n e w re e me n m w the F are ad itted , for hich d 63 8 . n they pay a fee of . , a ta kard of ale , an d n n a pe y loaf .

There were n u merou s other B uildi n g u i i n i u n n b u t G lds var o s parts of E gla d , B 19 1 UILDING TRADE GUILDS . as their fu n ctio n s as practical Trade Un ion s c m u eased , they ad itted o tsiders to their n wh o u n m ra ks , allegorised the b ildi gs , fro w w m n u u n hich they dre oral lesso s , th s t r ing the G u ild i n to a society which kept the n m m n b u t w me m trade a e of Free aso s , hose bers worked with their heads rather tha n w h n ith their a ds .

There were ma ny of these operative ’ a n ui in n w lu stor M so s G lds Scotla d , hose y “ we deal with in o u r ch apter o n Sc otch a n d u Irish G ilds .

It was a n old fictio n that in the erection of the early Abbeys the Abbots themselves a ow n t t an d cted as their archi ec s , that the t n w w as m n b u t s o e ork carved by the o ks , ’ the history o f the M aso n s G u ilds dis proves n m n in u n this . Co te porary refere ces c rre t l ite rat u re also bear o u t the case o f the G u ild craftsme n acti n g as the mason s fo r ’ t n w n n n n s o e ork , as , for i sta ce , La gla d s “ wm n w n u 1 370 Piers the Plo a , ritte abo t

ma e o o s fo r e e r c ra I d t l v y ft , Fo r c ar e n e rs ca r e s an d t h e c o m asse s p t , v r , p fo r mas on s

a u t t m an T g h he leve l d lin e .

It is ce rtai n th a t in early days there w as n o wh o w n a n d w as architect dre the pla s , respo n sible for the c o - ordi n atio n of the whole u n m n b ildi g fro start to fi ish , for , had there e n a u n b e , mist kes co ld ever have occu rred u in n n n s ch as the ave at Li col Cathedral , w n n s n o t m here the ave li e did eet . There 192 BUILDING TRADE GUILDS

w as m n u n wh o man a head aso , doubtedly , far n an d aged , so as he could , these poi ts , the State Papers are some gu ide as to when the architect became a promin en t featu re u n n m of the b ildi g trade . The Ki g fro time m a n h n b u t in to ti e ppoi ted a c ief M aso , ’ w e fin d m n a Elizabeth s days first so eo e p poi n ted wh o is called S u rveyor ; an d wh e n in m n J n n u the days of Ja es I . I igo o es , dou btedly an architect in the moder n se n se m was u r of the ter , appeared , he called S rveyo “f u th e of the orks , tho gh first of that title w m l as n . his predecessor , Si o Basil

The Scottish architects al ways used the m m n n t MAI. n let ers after their a es , ea i g n an d M aster M aso , at Holyrood Palace is the n n th e l n M l n e i scrip tio of architect , A exa der y , n in 164 an d n in . 3 this fashio He died , eve o n his tombsto n e in Holyrood Abbey Ch urch ‘ i s n o t an b u t he described as architect , as ’ W o rth y Man an d an i n gen i ou s M ason ; w hich in n cla r issimmn e ir mn la ic idam Lati r”eads , p i w as u egreg u m. The Abbey itself b ilt by in 1128 wh o n n . n Ki g David I of Scotla d , se t to Fran”ce an d Flan ders for right Crafty M ason s to design an d bu ild it .

In 167 1 there w as a Chief State Architect in n W u wh o w as Scotla d , Sir illiam Br ce , ’ - n St u ve o r - n desig ated His M aj esty s y Ge eral , wh o n u c an d u n reco str ted Holyrood Palace , der ’ w m w M l n e ho orked Robert y , His M aj esty s

- n n n n M aster M aso , a desce da t of the Alexa der l y My n e alread referred to .

194 BUILDING TRADE GUILDS “ n o t th e Farmer idealise his plo u gh an d his an d n n m n 1' u sickle , lear lesso s of aki g o g h n atu res smooth an d o f reapi n g harvests of golde n virt u es i n stead of golde n g rai n ? Wh y did n o t the Armou rer form a society where the w orki ng tools wou ld b e th e breast ~ plate a nd the sword ; an d wh y did n o t the Farrier d a n d c h n n n i ealise his forge , tea lesso s poi ti g o u t the dilie re n c e between p u re a n d base m a n d m n u n u n o f. etal , the oral i fl e ces p rifyi g ? a n w u n w e fires The s er to these q estio s is . n m n a e w e thi k , si ple , looki g at the g are n n referri g to . It is that the other avocatio s w ere n o t govern ed so closely by G u ilds as n in w w u the M aso s , hich there ere reg lar

de re e s . fro m th e u wh o g , labo rer carried the m w m n aterials for the ork a , to the M aster M ason wh o car ved an d sc u lptu red in ston e ; a n d what perhaps settled the poi n t u lti mately w as the fact that the M ason w h o b u ilt Chu rches a n d Cathedrals lived in a te m o rar w n a n d p y hostel or lodge hile doi g so , th us came i n to close con tact w ith the learn ed mo n ks an d priests wh o i n flu e n ced h im to n m t u an d u h im obler odes of ho g ht , ta g ht the scriptural facts w hich w e re afterwa rds

m in w - w n n e bodied ell k n o n A cie t Charges .

Grad ually the lodg es of operative work me n in E n gla n d w ere lea ve n ed by the

n u in w - n w n admissio of o tsiders , as the ell k o c W n n ase of the Lodge at arri gto , Lancashire , w m was m in 1646 to hich Elias Ash ole ad itted , a n d which at that time appears to have bee n e n tirely composed of speculative members . BUILDING T RADE G UI LDS 195

n n Ho w c an It has ofte bee asked , the modern Freemason prove his ki n ship to the ’ old worki n g mason of the Trade G u ild 9 an d w e w r n w u n ill t y to a s er the q estio .

(1) Th ere is some direct evide n ce afforded by the M i n u te Books of some of the old M ason ic G u ilds or Lodges of Operative n u in n w M aso s , partic larly Scotla d , hich have u o m n s rvived as L dges of Free aso s .

(2) The old An cie n t Charg es of the Trade Gu ilds of M aso n s h ave an i mportan t beari n g o n m an d n th e the atter , are read i to craft u n rit al of the prese t day .

(3) The old Trade G u ilds h ad an oa th an d obligation s to bi n d their members to an d u keep the secrets of the Society , do btless the form u sed b y the Operative M ason s was similar to th at which w e have q uoted as u sed w in u n by the M ercers , hich its t r has several resembla n ces to the ritu al u sed in the early d y m d n Fr m n r v a s of o er e e aso .

4) The Trade Gu ilds had two formal m n o n e n an d cere o ies , for the Appre tice a n a m n an d in 17 17 other for the Cr fts a , w n r there ere o ly these two degrees . Late o n w n 1 725 an d 1730 , bet ee , a third deg ree w as w w as m established , hich derived fro m u an d h as 11 0 n so e other so rce , relatio ship Gu rlds to the .

(5) The Appre n tice had to possess the m own w w freedo of the t or city here he orked , 196 BUIL DING TRADE GUILDS

an d the modern system proceeds o n the assu mption that the Appre n tice 1s a free rn n a .

Deali n g with ou r poi n t as to the historic al n n u t wo w e c an in co ti ity of the bodies , call n evide ce several of the old Operative Lodges , m n an d m so e E glish so e Scotch . Of the En glish w e will first men tion the Operative as n u w w u n M o s of D rham , hich ere der the Palati n e Govern men t of the Bishop of the

Diocese . Here several Trade Gu ilds or n n u w nn n frater ities spra g p , hose begi i gs are w in e d ell marked , for each case they appli n n to the Bishop for a Charter of I corporatio , w w as n an d re hich gra ted , a cord of each of h m n n W m t e is i existe ce . The eavers ca e t in 13 n u an d in 141 1 firs the th ce t ry , w u n follo ed a Society ”of Ro gh M aso s , \V alle rs an d w n , Slaters , hich obtai ed a in 1 In 1609 ws Charter 594 . their byela w n m wh n w ere co fir ed , e they ere styled u n \V alle rs Ro gh M aso s , ”, Slaters , Paviors , P n i 16 8 an d laiste re rs . n 3 Tylers , Fi ally , , they obtai n ed from the Bishop an other n m m n Charter , styli g the The Co pa y , So cie tie an d w m o n , Fello ship of Free as s , u n W s Ro gh M aso s , allers , Slaters , Pavior , P laist e rers an d n , Bricklayers , the title bei g , as w n o n e ill be observed , a comprehe sive so as to comprise all bran ches of the b u ildi n g w w trade . The Charter as follo ed by the w w n in n u n f m byela s , t e ty mber, dati g ro

' 1 657 1678 in w n o c a to , hich is tra e of in secret society or the use of a ritual ; fact ,

198 BUILDING TRADE GUILDS s tates that fou r Lodges j oi n ed in the move me n t for formin g a Gran d Lodge of Free m n in 1 7 17 m w m aso s , fro hich so e have con cl u ded that o nly fou r Operative Lodg es were in existen ce at that time b u t w e kn ow “ e n o w an d in m e bett r , The Co pl te Free” m n u u s aso , or M lta Pa cis for Lovers of Secret , it is stated that the n u mber in Lon don w as b u t n w n six , it is certai that there ere eve n i n n more tha that n E gla d .

n w in um n was m n n Al ick , North berla d , a i i g n o u w n n eighb rhood , ith sto e quarries ear to it , w fin d h an d e t e W se that at village of ark , clo t w as an d in 1598 by , here Operative Lo ge , u w e n w n m tho gh k o little of it beside the a e . O n 29th m 1 701 an o Septe ber , Operative L dge w as u n n w w fo ded at Al ick , the records of hich h n u s an d ave bee preserved to , are of great n i terest .

Their M i n utes an d An cie n t Charge are reprodu ced in the Newcastle ”Roll of the Ro sicr uc ian a in n an d n : Societas A glia , begi Orders to be observ ed by the Compan y an d Fellowship of Freemason s at a Lodge held at

n w 29th - m 1701 n Al ick , Septe ber , bei g the H n an d Gen eral ead M eeti g Day . The first secon d articles ordered that tw o \Varden s s u c o m ho ld be elected yearly to receive , m n an d su e u n e an d e ce , all s ch pe alti s for r n fin u i w fe itu e s a d es as sho ld ”n an y ise be w n fin d am n a d w e o gst the said fello ship , that the M aster an d the Warden s w ere u l reg lar y elected every year . The fifth BUILDING TRAD E GUILDS 199 article directed that every appren tice of a member of the Lodg e shou ld be e n tered in b an d n n the Lodge ooks , that the A cie t Charge shou ld be give n to h im withi n o n e year fro m n w w as w his appre ticeship , hich al ays a period n rs th e e n d h e u of seve yea . At ”of this co ld dm d u m m be a itted , or accepte , a f ll e ber of the Lodge at the ge n eral meeti n g o n Michael mas Dav .

The A n cie n t Charge is in similar form to ’ an d n n others , ” is headed The M aso s Co sti u i n s w two t t o . There follo passages of u m u Script re , fro the Book of Ecclesiastic s , in w the Apocrypha , the last of hich reads , “ In the ha n ds o f the craftsma n shall the w m n w u u ascri ork be com e ced , ith the s al p n n w th e n tio to the Tri ity , follo ed by M aso ic n h n d Hi story a d t e M oral Charges . At the e is a list of the seven Liberal Arts an d “ n in n u — Fin is : Grann n a Scie ces , Lati , th s u u di Rh e o ri c t . t ca tica loq it r . Log ica vera e v l A r me i c e rat u c an it . ith t ca erba o . M sica m r m n m n u e a . n d ra a t Geo etra po e t . Astro o i m n n capit astra . This last see s at o ce a li k betw ee n the Operative a nd the M editati ve n ma w n M aso s , as they y ell be called , i stead u of Spec lative .

Other li nks are the visits to the Aln wick Lodge by the Scottish members of the Can on w n n n in m 1 755 gate Kil i i g Lodge , Dece ber , an d J u n e 17 56 ; an d we feel at home when w e read of the pu rchase by th e Lodge of a ' sword an d a pair o f compasses for its work . 200 B UILDING TRADE GUILDS

n in 1 75 7 u The e tries close , tho gh it is thou ght that the Lodge li n gered o n for six years after that date b u t clearly it cou ld n o t

w u m n n n - exist itho t the ad issio of o operatives . It took power to admit ou tsiders by an order “ 27 th m 1 748 b u t w e n of the Dece ber , fa cy this

n O n n n - n w as n o t largely acted u po . e o M aso w as w n an n its Clerk , Nicholas Bro , attor ey , w m w m l V arde n in 17 54 ho it allo ed to beco e , a n d in the follow i n g year to attai n the ra n k w w a n o f . s M aster This , ho ever , o ly the n n n e n d h ad n b”egi i g of the , for he bee Clerk 1 n an d w l u or ma y years , hile the Lodge f o rished w as n o t n n in he i vited to take ra k its order . w as an n Nor he expe sive Clerk , for all he w fiv n m n n as e a d received shilli gs each eeti g , when the members requ ired a fresh c opy of in 17 49 h e m on e their Charges , , ade for a fee n of t e n shilli gs .

The Lodge n ever admitted its alleg ia n ce n n n an d to the Gra d Lodge of E gla d , after w n w n n In 1 7 7 9 1 7 63 e k o othi g of it . a u un u in n w b u t Spec lative Lodge spr g p Al ick , n u d an d w as n o t till 1867 that eve t ally ied , it 1 7 n n w . 16 that the prese t Al ick Lodge , No , m w as for ed .

n w A other Operative Lodge , hose history n n w n has rece tly bee ri tte , is the Gateshead 48 w 17 17 b u t Lodge , No . , hich existed before , n o t n u i the exact date is certai , tho gh the f rst u n m n in 1 7 25 a the tic record of its eeti gs is . The evol u tion of this Lodge from Operative u n w e fin d to Spec lative is clearly defi ed , for

202 BUILDING TRADE GUILDS

n n n Thor hill , the pai ter , bei g the w n t in 1725 . M as er This Lodge , he the was n in 1736 w as m Hospital fi ished , , re oved “ t o o n n w w as n w n L do , here it k o as The ’ ” Un d b u t ited Traders Lo ge , it ceased to exist in 1 800.

It must n ot be supposed that the meeti n gs o f the former practical M aso n s an d their n o n practical frien ds were hidden from th e eye w l of the outside or d , for there are quite a n u mber of referen ces to them by w riters n d u ri n g the 17 th cen tu ry . The pri cipal ar”e Iz aac \ n in m n by Valto his Co pleat A gler , w n in 1 5 l 6 7 . ritte ; by Dr P ot , the Keeper of t h e m n u u m in h is Ash olea M se at Oxfo”rd , “ u 1686 Nat ral History of Staffordshire , by

B-an dle lm in m m u Ho e , his Acade y of Ar o ry , 1 688 u in h is u ; by A brey , Nat ral History of ' “ il sh ir 1 2 w mu t e 69 . w e , The last riter st m n n wh o in 1709 n e tio is Steel , , , has a other referen ce to these small Societies of Free m n in U aso s the pages of The Tatler . p w to the last date these ere scattered Societies , wh o own m n w w each had their eeti gs , hich ere n u in o wn m n n an d m co d cted their a er , , as so e n w m m n u thi k , ith so e rese bla ce to a rit al , beside the readi n g of an An cien t Charge an d the oath o n th e Bible to preserve the secrets f o the order .

In 1 7 1 7 there w ere several of these Lodges w n in n n an d in ou orki g Lo do , that year f r o f m n an d n the joi ed together , had a meeti g a t th e G an d n u oose Gridiro Ale Ho se , BUILDING TRADE GUIL DS 203

’ ‘ St u o n 24th u n wh e n . Pa l s Churchyard , J e , they con federated an d called themselves a n m n Gra d Lodge of Free aso s . This body has n n u m an d co ti ed fro that day to this , has n ow m an n u n n th e beco e i fl e tial associatio , methods of which have been copied by n early e n n in u an d w very other atio E rope , hich has e n n u n w xte ded its i fl e ce to all parts of the orld . 204

CHAPTE R VII .

s r n N R S D oo c A D I I H GU I L S .

Scotla n d was a co u n try in which i n d u stries r a u in m wn u h th ived , p rtic larly so e of the to s s c n u m e u n an d as Aberdee , Perth , D fri s , D dee , of u in n ur an d w s co rse Edi b gh , there ere Guild in these town s with regu lation s somewhat like n m those of the E glish bodies . It ust be re m w n r n embered , ho ever , that the e ti e populatio of Scotla n d on ly amou n ted in 1556 to w w w as o n l a an d n ot hile Glasgo y village , did “ n u 1 In attai to the title of b rg till 636 . Edi nb u rgh the craftsmen an d their wares w ere to be foun d gathered together in th e

S t . u is n s . t o High Street , ear Gile Ch rch It be n oted of these G u ilds that the title of n w as u u W n an d Deaco s bstit ted for arde , there were obviou sly many Gu ilds existin g in 1425 w n a stat u te w as n n , he passed givi g ha di craftsmen power to elect a Deacon to preside m b u t was rw over the , this afte ards thought u u n an d w w as prej dicial to .the co try , the po er n u in 1556 w was resci ded , altho gh this po er

‘ agai n given to the G u ilds by Charter of the u n n 1 in . u 600 Q ee Rege t Abo t the year , the n J m h was . n w o reig of a es VI of Scotla d , w n r . n afte ards James I of E gla d , express regu lation s were made as the relation s between n s u ch bodies a d the a u thorities of the town s .

206 SCOTCH A ND IRISH GUILDS

m m n n n an d of e bers , co sisti g of Appre tices i n n w M asters , the latter be g desig ated Fello

’ ma s n s K S o MAR .

W n w m n w as Crafts . he a ork a made a M aster M ason he was give n a M ason M ark to u se as a n u n n ffi disti g ishi g sig atu re to a x to the book of members an d also o n his w ork ; an d after x n m e hibiti g so e proofs of his skill , to the a n m an was n s tisfactio of the me bers , oath the admi n istered to h im to keep the secrets of w u n m u the Society , here po he beca e a f ll m m was e ber . The head of each Lodg e called n u w as w a Deaco , tho gh this title after ards n W n T h e altered to the E g lish o n e of arde . n Scotch Operative Lodges , like the E glish n in u m w m o es , co rse of ti e like ise ad itted u s m u m as o t iders as embers , tho gh it see s if the Scotch Lodges retai n ed the disti n g u ishi n g characteristic of operatives lo n ger tha n did n n an d th e n the E glish o es , resisted i evitable tran sformation to spe c u lat ive s for a lo n ger i m t e .

Th e earliest reg u lar records of a Scotch Operative Lodge take u s back to the year 1 526 w n we n w th e n , he k o that Scottish Ki g , V n m n James . , gra ted a Charter to so e mo ks SCOTCH AND IRISH GUILDS 207

’ m u Ait ch ison s v n w to for a harbo r at Ha e , hich in n Th e w as n u u . ear to M sselb rgh , M idlothia harbo ur was to accommodate ships to carry w was du in n u the coal hich g the ei g hbo rhood , an d it obviou sly n eeded skilled b u ilders for n u w fin d e its c o n stru ctio . Th s gathered n w m n wh o together a ba d of operative ork e , n n formed themselves i to a Operative Lodge . There are in existen ce t wo of their mi n u te n m 1598 an d books , dati g fro as early as , the 9 records exte n d to 185

The first is en titled The Book of the Acts a n d Ordi n an ces of the Noble M asters ’ an d Fellows of Craft of the Lo dge of Aitch iso n s n n in th e w n d . fi e Have Appre tices trade , as m m n u w fro the i te book of the Society , ere n ra n n o t n ge e lly appre ticed , o ly to the M aster , b ut in , case he died before the articles ex pired , ' w u n w ere also bo d to the M aster s ife . The Lodge fee payable w as o n e shilli n g an d eight 5 n o r 3 1 an d in n h pe ce , Scots , , additio , eac M ast er presen t at the Lodge had given to h im n wlv m n l v by the e ade appre tice a pa1r o f g o es . u u m e t n o n lv o n The Lodge s ally o ce a year , n 3 in w n 37 th u t . b St Joh Day i ter , December it apparen tly held emerge n cy meeti n gs whe n requ ired

in n n in n As E gla d , so also Scotla d , the e xcl u siven ess of the Operatives gradu ally w a an d in u 1s m d n u gave y , co e of ti e isti g ished stran gers w ere admitted to th e Aitchison n w fin d in e 1672 Have Lodge , for that , , Alex n n r Win t o u n a der Seato , b other of the Earl of , 208 SC OTCH AND IRISH GUILDS

u u n W M n s bseq e tly . . of the E glish Lodge at m w as m Ro e , ad itted a member .

’ m n Ait ch ison s n The Co pa y of Have , as w as w as it called , admitted to the roll of the n b u t in 1737 Scottish Gra d Lodge , removed ,

u - n tho gh it was afterwards re admitted . It co n n u n u n 1852 ti ed , obvio sly , at all eve ts , til , as a u an d n n c an Spec lative body , othi g be clearer to trace tha n the tran sition stages of this w e w u l Operative Lodge . First , start ith act a i n u n an n . b ilders org a ised society Seco dly , w e n n n have the existe ce of A cie t Charges , for in o ne of their mi n u te boo ks are writte n n o t

n l w - n w n w u o f 1599 o y the ell k o Seha Stat tes , b u t also a copy of some A n cie n t Charges dated 1 666 in m n u u n , referred to ” the i tes der the old y u we ad st le of a b ik . Thirdly , have the missio n o f ou tsiders to the b u ildi n g trade as m m an d u w e m e bers , so grad ally get to ore In mm n w modern days an d a ritu al . co o ith h u l d w as ot er Scottish Trade G i ds , the Lo ge W n an d n first presided over by a arde a Deaco , an fin d th u n d it is n o t till 1825 that we e r li g ffi n o cer is desig ated as the M aster .

We c an trace the Lodge of M other Kil ’ w n n n 1 8 0 59 . i i g , No . , back to ; St M ary s h n u 147 5 w C apel , Edi b rgh , to ; hile there are t wo u n an d n n at D dee , called Operative A cie t , n w n the very ames of hich bespeak their origi .

Irela n d w as n o t in the days w e treat o f c in n u r u n a n d w e ri h i d st ies or b ildi gs , are n o t s u rprised to n ote a n absen ce of Trade u in wn fe w in u n . G ilds the to s , except a D bli

2 10 OLD C ONTIN ENTA L GUILDS

c n on sidered q u ite the thi n g to do in E n gla d . In n w u m n Fla ders also there ere G ilds , co prisi g v n m n m w c illei s a o gst their me bers , hi h bodies l u n u u n the ords felt called po to s ppress , po t h e gro u n d that su ch w orkme n te n ded to m n n m In beco e too i depen de t of their asters . ’ n m n m Gu Fra ce , after Charle ag e s ti e , the ilds w u n b an u was ere also der a , beca se it alleged that in their feasts they were g u ilty of u n an d n w gl tto y , that paga rites ere observed by them ; b u t these charges sou n d like those in w u mu w n raised after days , itho t ch arra t , a a n m In th e m m g i st the Te plars . Paris , e bers of the Trade G u ilds appeared yearly 0 11 the u in m l Feast of Corp s Christi , a iracle p ay w hich they performed in the IV est Gallery o f d m m the Cathe ral of Notre Da e . It see s clear that in German y G u ilds w ere formed n w o n n w for the be efit of orkers the la d , as ell s I n w n as a in n . for those trade , for He ry , k o “ w wh o n in 9 19 The Fo ler , reig ed , ordered t h e u m n in wn G ilds to hold their eeti gs the to s , where they co u ld be better su pervised th an in th e w n w as villages . This to life obviously the begi n n i n g of a n e w phase in the existen ce o f u o n n n n an d n u the G ilds the Co ti e t, eve t ally le d u p t o the adopt-io n of G u ild officers as th e u n ot n h ow n b u t r lers , o ly of t eir body , wn in We also of the to which they traded . h c l n n in ave a very ear i sta ce of this Paris , where the govern men t of the city was given th e m n wh o w n ot n m s to ercha ts , ere o ly me ber n b u t l of the M ercha t Guild there , a so carried h n their goods to ot er parts of Fra ce , by boats o n n d the River Sei e , for they are calle O LD C O N TINENTA L GUILDS 2 1 1

W n I Mercato re s u a . n aq e , or ater M ercha ts m w a a t n in 1050 rm a si ilar y , Colog e , , the te s h u 1 1 an d m n w s n o n vmo u s bghe s ercha ts ere y , a n d w e n atu 1 ally expect to fin d a g i eat ma n y officials of t h e Gu ilds taki ng part in the m wn gover n en t of the to .

m n 13t h n u we i n Co i g to the ce t ry , f d that Trade G u ilds had become stron g at the tow n s n u n an d of Colog e , Strasb rg , Basle , Ratisbo , w n u a Spire , at all of hich places there e s ed u w an d in n deadly str ggle ith the lords , Colog e the craftsmen w ere n early red u ced to a n n m w l u co ditio of serfdo , hi e at Br ssels the mercha n t co uld an d did il l—treat the workma n “ in d wh o w as ma n tra e , described as a w u n u wh o l ith”o t heart or ho o r , ived by his toil .

' W ag n er in his opera Die M eistersi n g er most happily i n trod u ces the Trades G u ilds o f m n m m w G er a y , the e bers of hich appear to n m the strai s of a arch .

As illu strati n g the methods of the G erma n Trade G u ilds in g uaran teei n g the qu ality of ’ the work we may q u ote . from Carlyle s “ wh o w n Frederick the Great , , riti g of the material requ ired by the G erman army in the 17 60 w . y ear , g ives a list of it as follo s n w hi For bed ticki g , ebs ; of s rts m in w ready ade , shoes , I forget hat u n b u t m w n q a tity , fro the poor little to of u 600 — n n t D derstadt , pairs liability to i sta OLD C ONTINENTAL GUILDS l gaggi n g if they are n o t hon est shoes ; floggi n g ’ an d the who”le Shoe makers G u ild su mmon ed u o t to see it .

e n d 1400 By the of the year , victory rested 0 11 t h e u u side of the G ilds , tho gh the lords w ere stro n g e n ou g h to divide the ru le of t h e wn w w to s ith the latter bodies , of hich they o fte n fou n d it expedie n t to become members h m in n n b n n t e selves , as E gla d had ee do e by w III wh o m Ed ard . , became a ember of the ’ m In n Li n e n Ar ou rers G u ild . E gla n d the l u ilds e n j oyed the right of an d alw ays appoi n ted their u w fin d b t u e , tho gh pu rsu ed in Fla n ders w n o n n n n n u n to s the Co ti e t , i cl di g Basle , the n m n w as m an d appoi t e t ade by the Bishop , this mode of c u tti n g off the powers of the Gu ilds w as particu larly n oticeable in the case of the smaller G u ilds which g overn ed i n ferior u 111 1 157 trades . At M agdeb rg , , the right of n n was appoi tme t possessed by the Archbishop , probably becau se of the religiou s elemen t i n u b u t m n n m u the G ilds , he ag a i o sly agreed to w on e m allo of the s aller bodies , that of the m o w n \ d n Shoe akers , to elect their Var e s ; thou gh in Fran ce a q u ite di ffere n t spirit in 1 21 w n 3 . prevailed , he Charles IV deprived the Parisian craftsme n of their powers in an d o n in 1408 n this respect , later , , the Ki g actu ally appoi n ted o n e of his valets to the W n n post of arde of o e of the se G u ilds .

w w as - w This , ho ever , the high ater mark of n n w u w an d e n d i terfere ce ith s ch po ers , the

2 1 4 OLD C ONTIN ENTA L GUILDS

m n n d In 1340 resort to the aid of o eyle ers . , the Gu ild of Tailors at Vie n n a made an ordi n an ce forbiddi n g their memb ers to carry o n w w their trades ith borro ed capital . This w n m n n in a t of o ey by a trader , freshly starti g u n was n u in m n b si ess , acce t ated Ger a y by the fact that he w as expected to give a su mpt u ou s n n h is w w w as a n di er to fello traders , hich n an d u n u h im expe sive affair , freq e tly ca sed n w in d n to start his e career ebt . The ra ks of m m w u u d the e bers ere also j ealo sly g ar ed , an d an u w n n m n , if o tsider a ted to gai ad issio , w he had to pay a heavy fee to do so , hich brou ght from the Emperor Sigismu n d of “ German y the reproach that membership o f & u u the G ilds had to be g rossly bo ght . The m m w n n e bers hip , ho ever , ge erally desce ded m s n n fin d o a d we fro father to , that , after 145 0 u n m , the G ilds of Fra ce beca e as ex c l u sively hereditary as those o f E n gla n d an d G erm n a y .

The i n fl u e n ce of the priests was alw ays in u an d ma w felt the G ilds , it y ell be that , u w fin d n o n n altho gh e trace of a ythi g ap pre achi n g a Trade Un io n referred to in the w fim n n b e n d Bi le , do the e tio of hospitality amo n gst members o f the same trade in “ 3 A nd u u was Acts xviii . , beca se Pa l of the h e w an d w u same craft , abode ith them ro ”ght u n w n m for by occ patio they ere te t akers . It may possi bly be that a priest i nstilled this idea i n to the mi n ds of some Con ti n en tal u m n b u t n is g ilds e , certai it that so as to aid u w m n an d n n s the tr e ork a , to ceme t the i terest OLD C ONTINENTAL GUILDS 2 15

in m u n n of those the sa e G ild , a very i teresti g an u fin d helpf l pla n of hospitality w as ef cie tly o u t in n in 1628 w carried Thuri gia , , here the G u ild of: Shoemakers established an 111 11 for u man their travelli n g jo rn eymen . Here the in w was u search of ork req ired to stay , if he d n m n was esired to obtai employ e t , for it a u u u w u n u labo r b rea , here he co ld e q ire for w r w u ta n in n o o k , hich he co ld ob i other ’ m n n n n a er . The charge for a ight s lodgi g w as n n n w th e m t o ly a halfpe y , hile eal cos 2 1 an d h im a t 5 , , so as to make feel home , th e host an d his wife h”a d to be addressed as “ an d w u father mother , hile the da ghters a n d v n w an d maid ser a ts ere called sister, th e so n s an d male serva n ts had the familiar “ an d r w as title of brother, the travelle u fin m a n s bject to a e if he called the by y n m u me t other a e . The G ild itself every n w n in n n b o x fort ight , he , as E gla d . the belon gi ng to the body was solemnly u n loc ked w an d u n o f th e ith several keys , the reg latio s w m Association ere produ ced an d so etimes read . w as n o w u n The Lodge d ly ope ed , the first u n n u an d ft b si ess bei g a religio s service , a er t h e n s u n n n eces ary b si ess had bee tra sacted , a lo vin ~ c u w as n u n m w g p ha ded ro d , fro hich n u o f everyo e took a dra ght . At the close m n u w the eeti g d es ere collected for charity , —d n w e . n n u e i bei g co trib ted by the memb r . wh ile the regu lar atte n dan ts each con trib u ted i - 1 d d n w an n . Tl . every fort ight , ith additio al 4 at e u m n w w u ach q arterly eeti g, hich o ld possibly ’

0 11 n da . u n take place a Sai t s y The reg latio s , w u s w hich , let hope , ere strictly observed , 2 1 6 OLD CONTIN ENTAL GUILDS

t me mb e ls m l direc ed the to keep strict ora s , w m n an d un n n w hile g a i g , dice dr ke ess ere to i u n w u n . w n be p shed The reg latio s , ho ever , e t an in n n n other step the directio of good ma ers , a n d requ ired the members n o t to i n sult each an d n u in st n other , co cl ded , a still higher rai , by requ iri n g them to g o abou t the town clad in e n n l be in dec t clothes , so as appare t y to h arm on y w ith the fashion able boots made by the members themselves in the co u rse of their b u si n ess .

It is al most sad to thi n k that su ch u se fu l a n d i n teresti n g i n stitu tion s shou ld have ever c m a n e n d b u t w e n w in o e to , k o that ,

n n - n was un E gla d , their death k ell r g by n I I m a n He ry V I . at the ti e of the Reform tio , an d u n n w n o n , tho gh the co ditio s ere differe t n n n u in m n be an the Co ti e t , the G ilds Ger a y g u m t m to close their activi ties abo t the sa e i e , the cau se for which w as appare n tly bou n d u w u a wh p ith their religio s char cteristics , ich n u u w at rally s ffered ith the decay of . the I n n n . n Roma Catholic religio there Fra ce , m n u l w n t o n a for so e reaso , the Trade G i ds e n b u t in 1614 o little lo ger, , , the State res lved u n u n an d so in me po their s ppressio , ti they n n mu t likewise came to a e d there . They s m w m to n w so eho have co e life agai , ho ever , fiu n n v ri for w e n d that d ri g the Fre ch Re olu tio in 1790 n m T s , the Natio al Asse bly , or ier m n s ab o Etat , a o gst other order , decreed the l ition all u n s a of G ilds of the professio , rts , an d n m u or trades , for a seco d ti e the G ilds n i u n wen t u der n that co try .

2 18 OLD C ONTINENTA L GUILDS e xample of th e M ercha n t G u ild at Vale n cie n n es in t n m w w Nor h Fra ce , the me bers of hich ere o rdered by th e G u ild to al ways brin g with w them to the market , here they exposed their d t w n an d goo s for sale , heir eapo s , also to ride to distan t fai rs in armed compan ies so as t o b e able to give a g ood accoun t of themselves an n d to e foes .

It is c uriou s h o w o n e can sometimes cu ll an m s n th e w n i pres io of past from ords alo e , a n d 1 11 th is con n ection w e c an 1 e c all th e flagon s an d flasks an d d 1 i n ki n g scen es of t h e m n u w n w e m old G er a G ilds , he reme ber t h e n m m n w a e f”or their eeti g day , hich is “ “ ” K ru ta e w u n g g , the ord kr ”g bei g the u n o u r w u an d ma u eq ivale t of ord jg , ”y th s fre e lv n as d n n day be re dered ri ki g .

w man u d in u m an d There ere y G il s Belgi , t w o chu rches th ere have i n teresti n g sou ven i rs f n i u o their activities . The o e s at the Ch rch m in n w w Gu n of Notre Da e A t erp , here the ’ o r A u u Gu h smiths , rq eb siers ild have t eir c l wh n n n hape , ich is ador ed by a pai ti g of Ru ben s represen tin g their patron sain t

St . u n n o a Christopher . R be s received p y m n u w w e t for that val able ork , hich he gave t o the G u ild by w ay of compromise for legal proceedi n gs taken again st him by them for u d n is u o n u n b il i g part of h ho se their gro d .

Th e r u w other is at B ges Cathedral , here ’ t h e Bo otmakers Gu ild h ave bu ilt a chapel at t h o wn x n w old eir e pe se , hich has a very oak OLD CONTINENTAL GUILDS 219

scree n s it n h as- n acro s , beari g reliefs of a gels c n m u arryi g the ar s of the G ild .

The old Trade G u ilds of Be lg i u m in 14 1 0 W are referred to by Sir alter”Scott in h is n n n u rw o n e th e ovel of Que ti D ard , of characters in which is descri bed as the head ' of th e gall a n t Ski n n ers G u ild of Curriers an d ar at Liege , Scott relates that a peculi w w as u th e s e histle sed to call member togeth r, each of the crafts havi n g a differen t signal n m amo g the selves .

At Ghen t in the 15 th cen tu ry was a G u ild of Pai n ters of which V an der Goes w as M aster r 4 147 How e f om 1 73 to 5 . such peopl as t w n l s an d artis s , ith their i dividua ta tes l n n e in s h ce ebrities , ma aged to joi tog ther uc a G an d wh o w e w l uild , ere the memb rs of it, il a lways excite the curiosity of an tiquarian s .

Che st

Co n tin en tal Guild s

Co ve n try Chu rc he s C ro ss si n o f , g Cu ldee s

C u tle ry

Do mesda y Boo k Do w an M l d S . Drap e rs Durham Maso n s

Frith Gu ilds Gre at Plag u e

Gu ildhalls

Han aper Office Harro win g o f He ll Han se a tic Le ag u e a we s S e e n H , t ph Ho m ers Hul l Merc han ts

Iro n mo n g e rs In n holde rs

K ilwin n in g Lodg e ’ K in g s Maso n K n ig hte n Guild

La o ur e s S a u es o f b r , t t t Le ather Tra de Guilds 147 ’ Lea th erselle rs Co mpan y 147 Le tte r Boo ks 79 Live ry Co mpan ie s 15 5 Lo n don Guild s 122

Maste r of Guild Me ta l T rade G uilds

Mirac l e Play s

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No rwic h G u ild s

O a th o f App re n tic e O ath o f Craftsman O ath o f Master

‘ O ath o f Sho pkee pe r O a th o f Stran g e r Ordin an c e s o f Guild; Ope rat ive Ma son s

ain e s u i o f P t r , G ld

Pe terbo ro ug h Pie rs t h e Plo wman

Pipe Ro ll

Pur be c k Marble rs

“ Tele ra h ic A ddress : K ENN NG ND N g p I , L O O T e le h on e ; Cit 3 130 a n d 3 13 1 Two in s p y ( l e ) .

GEORGE IIENNING S N 8 O .

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e in a n a cc o u n t o f t h e ro wt o f re e maso n r B g g h F y , e r i r s cr i i Wi h a n d so me o f t h e a l e e e t so c e t e s . t

P ri e a Sy . B i u st ra tio n s . c 6 n e t o o ll 3 . . R y l y

FR EDERI CK ARMITAGE . M P RE S NO ES SO E S TIC . W ritt e n in c o n cise an d pit hy fo rm t ha t almo st i i — m r The ree a on . classe s it as a t ablo d h st o y . F s

i e u h i e i Mr . r m t a t s s cas er a r a nd A g p ”v y f ly , e ar w — Ho me o u ies marsh als h is evide nc e c l ly and ell . C nt n Mag az i e .

r mit a e h as su cc ee e a mira in h is Bro . A g d d d bly — t ask N e w Z eal an d Craftsmen .

2 Sh o t Ma so n ic Hist o r V o l ll A . . . r y ( )

W it h so me a co u n t o f t h e i e r r s W it c h gh de g ee . h i t i n s P ric e 8 u stra o . 6 5 . n e o a v o . B ll t. R y l y R EDE C K A RMI’I‘ A GE F RI . S ME P E S NO E O R S TIC S. a u a e c o n tri io Ma i r A v l bl bu t n t o so nic l t e ratu e .

Square a n d C ompa ss .

r a h a r Bro . A mit g e s p ”e se n t e d a b o o k fo r whic h l — r t t e re is a ac e an d e ma n d . A meric a n T le K o ne h p d y ey s .

’ r it a e s o r Hi r is f Mr . A m g Sh t st o y o imme n se v alu e &Warn ing P o st . N o whe re w it hin t h e same spac e c an so muc h o f & — r e a a u e o a so ns b e u n . can l v l t M fo d A me ri Freemason . W e h ave re a d th e t w o lit tle vo lu mes wit h in t erest a n d e asu re a nd c an c o r ia r ec o mme n t e m t o all pl , d lly d h w h o a re W it h o u t th e t ime o r in clin atio n t o re ad mo re t e r s — u t u t e t e a r a or C oron a i L od T a n i s . l bo a wo k . Q g r sac on

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1 7 5 1