HANDBOUND AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS
-
THE GILD MERCHANT
GXOSS
VOL. II.
HENRY FROWDE
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE AMEN CORNER, E.G.
THE
GILD MERCHANT
A CONTRIBUTION TO
Britisb flDunicipal
BY
CHARLES GROSS, PH.D.
INSTRUCTOR IN HISTORY, HARVARD UNIVERSITY
VOLUME II
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS 1890
[ All rights reserved ]
PRINTED AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
BY HORACE HART, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY
v^
CONTENTS.
PROOFS AND ILLUSTRATIONS:—
ALNWICK
*ANDOVER .....
AXBRIDGE .....
BARNSTAPLE ....
BEAUMARIS .....
BEDFORD .....
BERWICK
BEVERLEY
*BRIDGWATER .... *BRISTOL
BURFORD .....
BURY ST. EDMUND'S .
CALNE ......
CANTERBURY .... *CARLISLE
*CHESTER ....
.
CHESTERFIELD . .
CHICHESTER ....
CONWAY *COVENTRY .
DERBY .
DEVIZES *DORCHESTER
DROGHEDA .
*DUBLIN *DUNHEVED . *EXETER
FAVERSHAM . GAINSBOROUGH *GUILDFORD .
'
PAGE
i-3 3-12
12
12-15 I5-I6
16-18
1 8-20
21-23 23-24
24-28 28-29
29-36
36-37 37-38 38-40
40-46
46-47 47-48
48 48-51
51-53 53-56 56-58 58-59 59-85 85-86 86-89 89 91
91
91-106 106-107 107-108
* See also Supplementary Proofs and Illustrations, pp. 289-392.
VI
Contents*
PAGE
HELSTON 108
HENLEY-ON-THAMES 108-109
HEREFORD . 109-110
HULL 110-114
*!PSWICH . . . . . . . . . . . 114-132
KENFIG 132-134
KILKENNY 134-136
LEICESTER . . . . 136-144
LEWES . . . . . 145
LICHFIELD 145 146
*LlNCOLN 146-147
LIVERPOOL . 148-150
LLANTRISSAINT .......... 150
*LYNN REGIS .......... 151-170
MACCLESFIELD . .. . . . . . . . 171
MALMESBURY . . . . . . . . . 171-173
MARLBOROUGH , 173-174
NANTWICH ........... 174-175
NEATH ITS"1??
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME 177-182
*NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE 182-188
NEW.PORT ........... 189
NORWICH 189-190
NOTTINGHAM 190-191
OSWESTRY 191-192
*OXFORD 192-194
PRESTON 194-201
READING 202-209
SALISBURY ........... 209-210
SHREWSBURY .......... 210-213
SOUTHAMPTON 213-234
SWANSEA 234-235
TOTNES 235-244
WALLINGFORD 244-248
WALSALL 248-250
WEXFORD 250-251
*WILTON 251
*WlNCHESTER . 251-270
WINDSOR 270-272
WORCESTER ........... 272-276
WYCOMBE 276-277
*YARMOUTH 277-279
YORK 279-285
YOUGHAL 285-288
* See also Supplementary Proofs and Illustrations, pp. 289-392.
Contents,
Vll
PAGE
SUPPLEMENTARY PROOFS AND ILLUSTRATIONS:—
•(•ANDOVER 289 351
BATH 351
•(•BOSTON 352
•(•BRIDGWATER 353
BRISTOL . . 353-355
BUILTH 355-356
CAERWYS . . ... . 356-357
CAMBRIDGE ........... 357 358
CARDIFF 358-359
CARDIGAN ........... 359
•(•CARLISLE 359~36o
•(•CHESTER . . . . . . . . . . . 360-362
ClRENCESTER .......... 363-364
•(•COVENTRY 364-365
•(•DORCHESTER .......... 365-370
fDuBLiN 370
•(•DUNHEVED ........... 370-371
fExETER 371-373
GLOUCESTER 373~374
•(•GUILDFORD . 375
HOPE 375-376
•(•IPSWICH 376-377
•(•LINCOLN 377 379
•(•LYNN REGIS 379-380
•(-NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE 380-385
NEWTON 385-386
•(•OXFORD 386-387
PETERSFIELD 387
ROCHESTER 387-388
SCARBOROUGH 388
WEARMOUTH .......... 388
WELSHPOOL 389
•(•WILTON 389-390
•(•WINCHESTER 390-391
WOODSTOCK 392
•(•YARMOUTH 392
GLOSSARY 393-422
INDEX 423-447
f See also Proofs and Illustrations, pp. 1-288.
ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.
P. 3,1. 27, for '4 'read '14.'
P. 4, 1. 5, for ' Ercheband ' read ' Erchebaud.'
P. 4, 1. 20. for ' tersegis ' read * cersegis,' i. e. Kersey. See the Glossary.
P. 4, 1. 23, for ' ispania ; et promittant etiam ' read * ispania et permissent [i. e. permiscent] ; et.'
P. 5, 11. 24, 25, for 'Ercheband ' read ' Erchebaud.'
P. 5, 1. 28, after ' gildam ' insert * suam.'
P. 5, 1. 6 from bottom, for ' Feugal ' read ' Fugel.'
PP. 6, 7, passim, for 'in rotulo' the correct reading is probably 'in re- spectu.' The contraction in the MSS. is generally ' in ru.'
P. 7, 1. 9, for * inseratur in rotulo ' read f inquiratur in rotul[is].'
P. 7, 1. 12, for ( inseratur' read 'inquiratur.'
P. 7, 1. 22, after ' chit ' insert ' [? chir'].'
P. 7, 1. 30, the semi-colon should stand before ' vim.'
P. 7, 1. 34, after ' 'em ' insert ' [i. e. diem].'
P. 8, 1. 5, for ' Ercheband ' read ' Erchebaud.'
PP. 9, 10, 11 to line 27, are printed more fully and more correctly on pp. 302, 320-346.
PP. 18-20. For some more materials illustrating the history of the Berwick Gild, see Scott, Berwick, 257-260. It is clear from his account of the Gild that this fraternity and the borough government were still distinct in the fifteenth century. He tells us (p. 257) that all debts between gildsmen were subject to a settlement at the hands of the Gild, ' presided over by the Alderman pro anno, rarely, if ever, by the Mayor.' Scott thinks that the charter of James I extended the power of the Gild over the whole of the town's affairs. It should also be noted that Edward I in 1302 granted to the burgesses of Berwick a charter in which the Gild Merchant is mentioned as one of the municipal privileges. (Ibid., 246, 247.)
x aitoitions anti Corrections,
P. 22, 1. 2, * Sancti Johannis ' refers to the collegiate Church of St. John at Beverley.
P. 24, 1. 7 from bottom. The passage in the Red Book of Bristol referred to by Barrett is printed below on p. 354.
PP. 32-34. For corrections, see vol. i. p. 10, n. 4. P. 40, 11. 6-8. Cf. vol. i. p. 1 1 8, n. 5. P. 41, 1. 2. Cf. vol. i. p. 12, n. I. P. 44, 1. 19, for 'lene ' read 'leue.'
P. 45, 11. 14-17. Perhaps the answer to this quo warranto is the docu- ment printed on pp. 43-44.
P. 48, 1. 12, for ' Bela, Newburgh ' read ' Bala, Newborough.' P. 49, 1. 24, for * pres ' read ' pies.'
PP. 51-53. I collated this document with the original MS. in the Public Record Office, and corrected some errors in the version printed by the Record Commission.
PP. 60-79. For the Holy Trinity Gild of Dublin, see also Gilbert, Cal. of Dublin Records, 275, 283, 316, 438.
P. 64, 1. 14, for * asportarum ' read l asport[at]arum.'
P. 70, 1.27, 'of [tin] ' = < often.'
P. 89, 1. 7 from bottom, after ' warden ' insert ' [i. e. wardens].'
P. 94, 1. n, for ' porce ' read 'porte.'
P. 103, 1. 6 from bottom, for * Brongavell ' read ' Brougavell.'
P. 118, 1. 9, for 'quum ' read f quam.'
P. 124, 1. 1 8, after ' estoviis ' insert ' [i. e. estoveriis].'
P. 124, 1. 3 from bottom, for ' mi. s.' read ' mi. d!
P. 133, 1. 6 from bottom, after ' came ' insert { [Pcarue].'
P. 139, 1. 2 from bottom, for ' unies ' read ' mues.'
P. 140, 1. 4, dele ' [i. e. orendreit].' See Glossary s. v. Audreyn.
P. 143 1. 15, for 'abjudged' read ' adjudged.'
P. 146, 1. 5 from bottom, for ' dedecunt ' read * deducunt.'
P. 148, 1. 9. See also Picton, Memorials, i. 29.
P. 153, 1. n, for * Panere' read ' Pauere.'
P. 167, 1. 27. The ' return of Thomas Botesham ' is the answer to the royal writ of inquiry referred to on p. 158.
P. 167, n. Mr. Day's volume was evidently a transcript of extracts from the old Gild Rolls of Lynn.
ant) Corrections xi
P. 176, 1. 4 from bottom, dele ' [i. e. corf].'
P. 178, 1. 23, for 'nono ' read ' decimo nono,' i.e. 1235. See vol. i. p. 14,
n. 3.
P. 189, 1. 15, for '8 Richard II ' read ' 5 Henry VI,' i.e. 1427. P. 191, 1. 15, after ' lene ' insert ' [i. e. leve].'
PP. 202-209. For the Gild of Reading, see also Rep. MSS. Com., 1888, App. vii. 169-172, 210, 227.
P. 205, 1. 4, after ' achate ' insert ' [ble].'
P. 205, 1. 9 from bottom, for * forsenee ' read ' sorsenee.' See the Glossary.
P. 208, 1. 2 from bottom, after ' potuaries ' insert * (i. e. poticaries).'
P. 210, 1. 4 from bottom, after * 78 ' add ' and 742.'
P. 218, 1. 17, for 'partenir ' read 'parcenir.' Cf. ii. 230, 1. 18.
P. 221, 1. 10 from bottom, for ' dount' read ' dounc.'
P. 222, 1. 13, for 'dount et' perhaps the scribe intended to write 'et dounc.'
P. 225, 11. I and 17, dele ' [i. e. seit].'
P. 228, 1. 3 from bottom, for hotels' read 'locels.'
P. 239, 1. 4, for ' sectator ' read ' seccator ' ; for * burgi ' read ' bursae.'
P. 250. 1. 13. These laws are also printed in Willmore's Hist, of Walsall, 165-169. He thinks that they were made about A. D. 1422.
PP. 251-270. For the Gild Merchant of Winchester, see also Kitchin, Winch., 74, 162-167.
P. 258, 11. 3 and II, for 'panagio* and 'panagii' read 'pauagio' and ' pauagii.'
P. 261, 1. 10, for ' accrestere ' read ' accrescere.'
P. 285, 1. 9 from bottom, ' manifacturas ' (sic).
P. 292, 1. 14, for ' Richensam ' read ' Richemam ' i. e. Richeman.
P. 301, 1. 12 from bottom, for ' Coccas ' read ' Coctas.'
P. 328, 1. 1 8, for* se ' read <de.'
P. 331, 1. 4, for ' pelle drappas ' read ' pelles, drappas.'
P. 353, 1. 19, 'predicto ' refers to the Statute of Mortmain mentioned in a preceding document in the Patent Roll.
P. 354, 11. 24, 25, for ' filiorum suorum ' read * filii sui.' P. 365, 1. 21, for ' conculauerunt ' read ' concul[c]auerunt.'
ALNWICK1.
1672, July 3. — 'It is ordered by consent of the four-and-twenty, ALNWICK. that every apprentice shall be obliged, after one yeare of his entrance into his apprenticeship, to repare to the comon guild, whensoever assembled, and there shall record his time of entrance and the date of his indenture in the towne booke by the cham- berlanes, and that afterwards he shall serve within his master's house at meat, drinke, and lodging for seven years complete, upon paine of everye one that taketh any such apprentice con- trary to this order, which hath been made, as appears to us, by our predecessors in the year 1628, and now confirmed by us the day and yeare above said.' — (Tate, Alnwick, ii. 237.)
In a similar order made April 20th, 1692, the apprentice is required to 'repare to ft& privet guild? — (Ibid.)
The earliest notices in the borough accounts shew the con- nection between gilds and taxation: '1611 — received in guild money and guild grots £3 *js. ^d.\ 1613 — received guild money £2 5.$-. 4d. ; 1617 — received the guild money at May-day last £2 6s. 6d' In 1613, at a meeting called a gyld, orders were made by the Four-and-Twenty taxing the freemen for the repairs of the Mart House, letting lands, etc. ; and another order was made 'by general consent of the Four-and-Twenty and of the aldermen and companies and of the freemen and others,' au- thorising the aldermen to distrain for payment of the taxes im- posed ; at ' a general guild ' orders were made for the maintenance of the schools ' by the Four-and-Twenty, with the general consent
1 See Tate, Alnwick, ii. 237, 269-272 ; Munic. Corp. Com. 1835, pp. 1414^ 1418 ; Davidson, Alnwick, 325-327.
B
ALNWICK. of all the aldermen and companies of the town and of the free men and burgesses of the same.' During the seventeenth century the term gild was applied to the more important meetings of the Four-and-Twenty, when the whole would be expected to attend ; and it seems that some of these meetings were openly held in the Common Guild Hall, in the presence of the freemen, bur- gesses and inhabitants of the town. — (Tate, ii. 270.)
In 1629 'the custome Corne is lett by the consent of the Chamberlains and Comon Guild ' ; and ' the Comon Guild and Four and Twenty ' made regulations for settling disputes between different companies. — (Tate, ii. 271.)
At the 'general gylde ' held December 2Qth, 1631, the new Chamberlains refused to receive the accounts of the old Cham- berlains, ' to the great contempt of the whole Towne and comon gylde.' In 1633 'the Chamberlains, the 24 and the Comen Guild ' agree that every freeman pay 4^. yearly to repair Potter- gate and Clayport towers. A.D. 1649, 'granted then by the Chamberlaynes with the consent of the Four-and-Twenty, upon voate then passed in publique guild,' a lease of Hesleyside for seven years. Gilds were held in 1665 and 1669 which appear to have been merely meetings of the governing body; but from 1687 to 1712 gild meetings of the whole of the freemen were held by the authority of the Four-and-Twenty. — (Tate, ii. 271-272.)
In 1762 the freemen contended that an agreement between the corporate body and the Duke of Northumberland was not obligatory upon them, unless it received the sanction of the ' common guild.' — (Munic. Corp. Com. 1835, P- I4I4-)
'January 13, 1628. It is ordered and agreed, by the four- and-twenty and common guild of this borough, the day and year abovesaid, that the chamberlains every year, for their year being, shall call together the four-and-twenty and common guild always upon the loth of December, unless it fall on a Sunday, and then in the Tollbooth let, with the consent of the four-and-twenty and common guild, all such things as are due and belonging to the town.' — (Ibid., 1417.)
proofs anu 3|Iliisttations. 3
In the seventeenth century the freemen appear to have had ALNWICK. the power of calling for the yearly account of the Chamberlains in open gild. The former were now only convened in gild by the twenty-four, when there were important questions to consider affecting the franchise, or in which the personal interests of the freemen were concerned. The last common gild was held about the year 1712. Since the disuse of gilds the freemen had gradually lost all participation in the conduct of affairs. — (Ibid., 1417-1418.)
ANDOVEB.
' Homines de Andeura reddunt compotum de x. marcis pro habenda eadem Libertate in Gilda sua, quam homines de Wiltona et de Saresberia habent in Gilda sua.' Pipe Roll, 22 Henry II, Rot. 13 a. — (Madox, Firma Burgi, 27.)
' Johannes Dei gratia, etc. Sciatis nos concessisse hominibus de Andever quod habeant gildam mercatorum in Andever, et quod sint quieti de theolonio et passagio et consuetudine per totam terram nostram, sicut burgenses Wintonie qui sunt de gilda mercatorum sunt quieti; et super hoc nullus eos injuste disturbet pro consuetudine super decem libras forisfacture, sicut carte Henrici Regis patris nostri et Regis Ricardi fratris nostri quas inde habent rationabiliter testantur. Testibus, Ricardo comite Cestr', Warin' filio Ger', W. de Braosa, Petro filio Herb', Henrico Bisset, Hug' de Lascy, Petro de Stok'. Datum per manum J. de Well' apud Rading' i. die Maii, anno, etc. vi °.' — (Rotuli Chartarum^ 148.)
The Gild Merchant of Andover was confirmed by charters of 12 Henry III, 29 Edward III and 4 Richard II \
The town archives of Andover contain many records of the ancient Gild. Subjoined is a transcript of the oldest 2 : —
1 Madox, Firma Burgi, 44 ; Petyt MS., i. 46.
2 This membrane was evidently a part of a larger Roll. It is a thin parch- ment, 14 by 5 inches. One entry is defaced by a number of perforations, and a corner of the MS., embracing portions of the last entries, is wanting. Other- wise the MS. is in an excellent state of preservation, the writing being very distinct.
B 2
4 Cfie ®iiu egercfmnt,
ANDOVER. Morgespeche gilde mercatorie de Andeuere die veneris proxima TOAO Post diem Pasce Anno regni regis Henrici filii regis Johannis
i JL^CJ^J.
XL sexto.
Esson*. Johannes Waukelin uersus Adam de Faccumbe per Rad' Ercheband, et datus est ei dies usque ad proximum morhespeche.
Petrus Wyking de Rogero Scpin ; plegii de prosequendo, Stephanus le Setere et Reginaldus Euerard, Symon le Setere.
Alicia relicta Philippi le Setere de Cristina relicta Nich' Osward ; plegii, Stephanus le Setere et Ricardus Marscallus.
Henricus le Tanere optulit se et petit societatem gilde de gilda que fuit Willielmi Hendibodi, et films Willjelmi comparuit et inhibuit, et habet ius filii et non alius.
Us. Emma que fuit filia Ricardi Bus dat gildam suam Beatrici Relicte Waited Ascelin' ; sit super forewardmannos. Juret quod non recipit nee dat aurum nee argentum nee valenciam, nee aliquis alius pro ipsa ; habeat et gaudeat et det iura. ii.j. Robertus films Roberti le hay ward intrat in gildam merca- toriam per uxorem suam ; faciat que facere debet domui, et habeat.
Memorandum de illis qui ponunt lanam de Ispania in pannis tersegis; vnusquisque gildanorum intromittat et capiat pannos ad comodum domus gilde ; et uocentur omnes textores coram commune; et jurent quod dicent ueritatem qui sunt illi qui faciunt pannos de lana [de] ispania ; et promittant etiam quod nullum pannum facient, nisi dicant balliuis.
Auicia filia Thome Roc petit gildam que fuit patris sui sicut hereditatem super Robertum de Rokesburch, vnde pater suus obiit vestitus et saisitus vi et iniuste, et inde habuit sufficientem sequelam in dampnum de X..T. Robertus de Rokesburch dicit quod non debet respondere quia Auicia est de purcatio, et dicit quod habuit per Amiciam uxorem suam et per denarios et per consensum forewardmannorum ; nolunt defacere quod predecessores eorum fecerunt; habeat Robertus, et Auicia amittat et vadiet misericordiam.
Johannes filius Thome le messag' petit gildam que fuit Beatricis matris sue; habeat sicut hereditatem, saluo iure vniuscumque hominis,
Proofs anD 3[litistration& 5
Ricardus filius Ricardi Walkelin fuit essoniatus ad proximum AN DOVER, morhespeche et non venit, nee Ricardus pater eius, et ideo ambo
VI. a.
in misericordia.
Willielmus Kniht uersus gildanos de quadam lege eis facienda Esson*. per Johannem Joie de ultra mare XL. dies.
Prouisum est per forewardmannos quod potabunt die dominica ante pentecostem.
Item colligatur debitum et distringatur Adam de Mar[isco], Petrus Remund et Domina Beatrix pro debito quod Thomas Spirecoc debuit domui.
Item distringatur Willielmus Gode et Beatrix uxor Walteri As- celin' sicut executores Johannis Scpin, distringantur de die in diem pro debito quod dictus Johannes debuit domui et pro debito quod Walterus Ascelin' debuit antequam catalla distri- buantur et dispergentur, et omne debitum vetus et novum colli- gatur de cetero de die in diem nisi clarum est, et fiat destrictio.
Domina Beatrix dat gildam quam Emma Bus dedit sibi iii. sh. Johanni filio filii sui ; habeat et faciat Jura domui.
Morhespeche gilde mercatorie de Andeuere die lune proxima ante Pentecostem Anno regni regis Henrici filii regis Johannis A.D. 1262. XL sexto.
[Rogerus] Scpin uersus Petrum Wyking per Johannem de Were- welle.
Isabel de Pict' uxor Johannis Ercheband uersus Adam de Faccumbe per Radulphum Ercheband.
Johannes Athele dat Philippe de doggepole gildam que fuit Wil- lielmi Athele fratris sui. Juret et habeat et faciat Jura domus.
Willelmus le lade de salesburia dat gildam Johanni molen- dinar' ; differatur quousque Johannes sit presens.
Reg' Ffcugel de-WiUJekno d^Ambresburia, plegius de prosequen- xii. d. do Walterus^Jngus; protfetj>er duos gildanos, et quia testificatum fuit per 4n6s gilo^qos,^.^. vacliet Willielmus de Ambresburia.
Petronilla de Saresburia dat gildam que fuit patris sui Willielmo de Goselinch et exigit dictam gildam sicut hereditatem suam ; habeat sicut hereditatem suam et faciat Jura domus.
Cfte <$ilD asjerclmnt
AH DOVER. Cristina Relicta W. Scpin dat gildam suam Johanni persone de Penitun' meis . . . . et habeat.
11. S.
Johannes Wombstrang dat gildam que fuit Ric' Wombstrang Johanni Salide quia .... habeat et faciat Jura domus.
Memorandum de gilda que fuit Willielmi Hendibodi quia Judicium non f seq' nee jur'.
Cristina Relicta Nicholai Osward dat gildam suam Elesabete
filie
Willielmus Kniht in misericordia quia defecit in lege vi. d.> et pacabit post prandium
Petrus Scpin et Johannes Kidenot, plegius Thorn' Joie, ponunt
se super forewardmannos quia pertinebat ad hereditatem
de gilda que fuit Thome Joie. xii. d. Johannes Brun et Johannes de Wymeledun' offerunt xii. d. ut
h[abeant] nolunt ipsum judicare in absentia sua sed
summonicetur contra ipsos
ii. J. Johannes de Winton' promittit ii. s. ita quod Alic' filia beil ....
Matillda Hendibodi dat gildam suam Elie Ascelin'
Malina de Aira' dat gildam suam Thome filio
The following is a transcript of another Roll of the time of Henry III * :—
Collectores debitorum weteris gilde mercatorie, Walterus de Mar', Willielmus le Palmere, Jacobus Gode, Johannes Salide.
Proximum Magespeche die veneris proxima ante festum sancti A.D. 1262. Edmundi martiris anno domini regis [Henrici] XLVII.
Hugo Faber uersus Hugonem parmentar' per Petrum Frewme. Dies datus est usque ad proximum morgespeche. vi. d. Rogerus Scpin in misericordia quia non obedivit. Habuit
essonium suum vi. d.
ii. s. Ricardus King intrat per uxorem suam et offert facere Jura Gilde saluo Jure vniuscuiusque. Juret et faciat ii. s.
Galfridus Wynegod petit societatem Gilde mercatorie ; in rotulo quousque habeant aliud consilium.
This membrane is somewhat larger than the preceding. A small portion, toward the centre and left-hand side, is in a tattered condition.
Proofs anu 3[llustration& 7
Johannes Godspede petit eodem modo societatem glide merca- AN DOVER, torie ; in rotulo sicut de primo.
Hugo Fromund petit Gildam que fuit Ade Horn super Hugonem Fabrum, et Hugo fuit essoniatus.
Petrus Wyking petit gildam que fuit Stephani Wyking adwunculi sui sicut Jus et hereditatem suam super Rogerum Scpin, et habuit sufficientem sequelam. Rogerus Scpin comparuit et posuit se super forewardmannos, quis eorum habeat magis Jus ; et in dicta gilda dicunt quod placitum terminatur et inseratur in rotulo si Stephanus Wyking debuit debitum super dictam gildam aut Matilda uxor eius ; et saisietur libertas in manus gildanorum, quod ullus eorum utatur dicta libertate quousque inseratur rei veritas.
Willielmus peramenator petit societatem gilde mercatorie; in rotulo.
Adam de Faccumbe petit gildam que fuit eldefadi sui super Johannem Walkelin et uxorem suam sicut Jus suum et here- ditatem suam quod de iure sibi debet descendere, et inde habuit
sufficientem sequelam, et idem Adam desawoa suum narratorem vi. d.
iniscri- Stephanum le Setere, et ideo Stephanus in misericordia : plegius cordia.
de misericordia Adam de Faccumbe vi. d.
Memorandum de xiiii. s. quos gilda mercatoria dat capellano hospitalis sancti Johannis ; habeat de denariis quos Rogerus chit habet in custodia sua ; habuit et Rogerus soluit ei.
Adam de Faccumbe petit gildam que fuit Roberti atteputte eldefadi sui super Johannem Waukelin et super uxorem suam j quod iidem deforciant et ideo iniuste, quia ius suum est et here- ditas sua ; quia vnus Willielmus avus suus obiit sine herede, de se descendit dicta gilda v[ero] Matillide sicut sorori sue et matri sue istius Ade et de ilia MatilP isti Ade sicut filio et heredi suo, et inde habuit sufficientem sequelam, vim et iustum ; deffendit Johannes pro se et Isabella uxore sua et ponit se super forewardmannos, desicut exigit super se et non super uxorem suam desicut non tenet nisi per uxorem suam, et non dedit illi; nomen ponitur in rotulo us- que proximum morhespeche, et capient 'emamoris sivolunt interim. . . . veniunt et vendunt carnes contra prouisionem et veniant qui tulerunt vnum carto' . . . et pelles et vendant sicut prius
8
ANDOVER. et corea et maxime diebus ferie et sutores et pannarii [et] omnes alii mercatores fideles.
Morhespeche gilde mercatorum de Andeuere die veneris proxima A.D. 1263. ante mediam XLmam anno XLVII°. Esson'. Johannes Walkelin per Rad' Ercheband de ultra mare uersus
Adam de Faccumbe dies XLUS.
Renerius Memorandum quod forewardmanni prouiserunt quod tres plegii de Bosco. Rener{j de BQSCO respondeant de debito quod acomodauit apud Sarum et quod plegii sint, balliui si aliquod possint inuenire in manibus suis capiant, et quod plegii habeant libertatem dicti Renerii quousque eis satisfecerit, et quod faciant inde pro uoluntate eorum, et quod priuetur libertate sua.
Rob' le Memorandum quod prouisum fuit per omnes gildanos die veneris ante mediam XLm anno XLVII° quod plegii Rob' le Wite habeant domum suam quousque soluerit eis debitum vnde fuerunt plegii, et priuetur libertate sua et exeat a uilla quia intrauit mal ad hostium haie retro (?).
xii.</. Hugo Fromund promittit domui xii. d. ut habeat rectam conside-
rationem Johanni filio suo de gilda que fuit Ade Horn quam Hugo Faber ei detinet; sit super forewardmannos ; habeat puer sicut heres. Auicia Relicta Symonis Orpede dat Willielmo Arug gildam suam que fuit patris sui ; sit super forewardmannos ; remaneat gilda illi cui terra.
Johannes de Farham monstrat quod Hugo Renfrei fouet catalla Petri le Wite pro suis, quod dictus Johannes probauit super dictum Petrum et petit rationabilem considerationem, si possit probari et inquiri si sint propria catalla illius qui stat cum catallis aut parti- ceps; et ille refutat; amittat catalla et sint in misericordia ita quod. Matillda Ingulf petit quod possit dare et dat gildam suam Emme filie sue ; sit super forewardmannos ; habeat Matillda tota uita sua, quia Ingulfus uir eius intrauit in gildam.
Suetune uxor Hugonis fabri dat Hugoni fabro viro suo gildam suam ; sit super forewardmannos ; faciat omnia que pertinent de Jure domui, quia prius fuit in libertate.
Memorandum de Nicholao le Noble qui dicit quod homines de
proofs ana ^lustrations, 9
Basingestoke exigunt ab eo theloneum et denarios de pugillo. AN DOVER. Moneantur quod soluant pugillum suumaut distringatur postmodo.
There are several Gild Rolls and fragments of Rolls of the time of the three Edwards. Their contents consist chiefly of admis- sions to the Gild, as is exemplified by the following extracts from one of these parchments : —
' Morghespeche tenta die mercurii proxima post festum sancte A.D. 1329. Katarine Anno Regis Edwardi [III] Sectmdo.
Johannes Gylemyn petit quod possit dare Gildam suam Wil- lielmo de Hungerford filio auunculi sui
Galfridus Molindar' petit societatem Gildanorum.
Marger' Conde petit quod possit dare Gildam que fuit Johannis fratris sui Willielmo filio suo.
Johanna vxor Johannis le Breghe petit Gildam que fuit Josephi de Wherewelle.
Johannes Chyre petit quod possit dare Gildam que fuit Rogeri fratris sui Nicholao fratri suo.'
There is also a Roll entitled 'Rotulus fforwardmannorum de Domo Inferiora intitulatus Anno Regni Regis Edwardi filii Regis Edwardi Secundo,' containing some 180 names, opposite one of which are the words ' petit gildam que fuit Walkelini.'
Another Roll, ' De Pacto Anno Domini Regis Edwardi sep- timo,' has about 90 names with payments varying from 6d. to i2d.
On the dorse of a membrane headed c Scotipanyes ' (scot pennies) is the following entry : —
1 Morchespeche tenta die veneris proxima ante ffestum sancti vincencis anno Regis Edwardi [III] vm°. A.D. 1334.
Ad quern diem Johannes Porker junior petit quod possit dare Johanni filio Johannis Porker senioris Gildam suam hanceriam, et dat donum ii. marc'.
Ad quern diem Will' le Tanner petit quod possit dare Gildam suam hanceriam que fuit Will' le Tanner jun' filii sui Roberto filio suo, et dat donum ii. s.'
Of the bound volumes at Andover the one of particular
sgjerclmnt,
ANDOVER. interest to us is a small folio known as Liber A., or 'Maneloq' Liber temp' Henr. 6, Edw. 4, Henr. 7, Henr. 8, Mar. Regine V Subjoined are a few brief extracts : —
fol. 2. Ordinatum est in plena Morowspeche tenta . . . . i Edw. Ill [concerning tenements].
Morowspeche tenta ibidem die veneris proxima post ffestum
A.D. 1329. sancti Matthei Apostoli anno regni regis Edwardi tercii a con-
questu secundo. Johannes Wolfel electus est ad officium Balliui
per omnes Gildanos .... [the election of another bailiff follows.]
fol. 4. Maneloquium tentum ibidem die dominica proxima ante
ffestum sancti Michaelis Archangeli anno regni regis Henrici
A.D. 1458. sexti xxxvn0. Electi ad officium Balliui per xxim fforward-
mannos .... [four names, from which the two bailiffs were elected
by the old stewards and bailiffs, and the two stewards by the 24]2.
fol. 6. Andeuere: — Cum Robertus Kyller conuictus fuit in plena
Morowspeche tenta ibidem die veneris proxima post ffestum
Apostolorum Petri et Pauli anno regni regis Edwardi tercii post
A.D. 1327. conquestum primo quod ipse sciauit discordiam inter quosdam
magnos ville de Andeuere et ceteros eiusdem communitatis
dicendo Le fors Juratos et paratos ad depredandum et destru-
endum dictos magnos menciendo. Ideo consideratum est per
totam Moroghspeche quod nullus ipsum receptat in villa predicta
Nota. nee cum ipso emat neque vendat neque sibi det ignem nee aquam
neque cum ipso communicet sub pena omissionis sue libertatis.
Ricardus films Thome Severe fforisfecit Gildam suam liberam quam habuit de dono patris sui pro eo quod cooperuit Thomam Porker filium Johannis Porker Senioris custumarium sub Gilda sua et quod cum eo mercandizauit ad proficuum et eorum utilitatem. Postea [venit] idem Ricardus de nouo et petit societatem Gildanorum, et concessum est per omnes fforwardmannos quod
1 A parchment volume (12 by 9 inches) containing 55 leaves. Most of the handwriting is of the reign of Elizabeth. The early entries (temp. Edw. Ill, etc.) are evidently copied from an older MS. volume which is still in the archives of Andover.
2 Bailiffs were elected in the same way, temp. Hen. VI, Edw. IV and Hen. VII (ff- 4~5)« The growth of a 'select body' in the fifteenth century is here apparent.
ano 3[ilusttatton& u
idem Ricardus intret pro Ix. s. talliendis in tallagia sua Iviii. s. AN DOVER. eo quod sit hansare de gracia speciali quia ignorans. Et con- sideratum est per omnes fforwardmannos quod si quis sua liber- tate aliquem cooperuerit custumarium, forisfaciet libertatem suam Nota. et de cetero nulla gaudeat libertate nee habeat de nouo de emptione domus.
Moroghspeche 25 Hen. VI [election of bailiffs]. Ad fol. 6.
istud venit Johannes Champion et petit societatem Gildanorum, et concessa est ei soluendo communitati ville predicte xx. s. vi. d. .... [two pledges].
Maneloquium 34 Hen. VI. Ad istud venit Robertas Cusse et fol. 7. petit societatem Gildanorum et consocietatem ville predicte . . . . . . [fine and two pledges]. Two similar admissions follow. John Topias received a stall for the term of his life, ' cepit de consocietate Gildanorum vnum stallum.'
Maneloquium 35 Hen. VI [election of bailiffs]. It was fol. 8.
ordained by the Steward and the 24 l that all tho that ben made enfranchised before this day that they or her boroghes pay here ffynes.'
'Maneloquium 18 Edw. IV. Ad istud venit Jacobus Caue et fol. 9. petit quod possit habere Gildam Mercatoriam in Andeuere. Et consideratum est per omnes fforewardmannos ville predicte quod supradictus Jacobus habeat et gaudeat Gildam predictam secun- dum antiquam consuetudinem. Et soluit donum xiii.j. im.d. Et habet diem soluendi citra ffestum sancti Michaelis quod erit anno integro post datam presentem.*^ This is the last reference to the Gild in Liber A.
The old laws of the haberdashers begin with this preamble : — ' Ordinances of the Guild of Merchants in Andever in the County of Southampton, which Guild is divided into three several Fellow- ships [i.e. leather-sellers, haberdashers and drapers], whereof these are only of the Fellowship of Haberdashers.' It then goes on to say that Henry III granted the men of Andover a Gild of Mer- chants, which whole Company has been divided into three fellow- ships. The Company of haberdashers included haberdashers,
12
AXBRIDGE. milliners, mercers, grocers, innholders, vintners, bakers, brewers, smiths, cappers, hat-makers, barbers, painters and glaziers. — ( Wilts. Archaeol. and Nat. Hist. Soc., Magazine, vol. xxi. 306.)
AXBBIDGE.
A Portreve and two 'Senescalli Gildae' are mentioned 30 Henry VIII. In the archives of the town there is a rent-roll of the Gild with the following title: 'Axebrugge. — Rentale Gildae Aulae confratrum ibidem, anno regni Regis Henrici Septimi decimo-octavo, tempore Willelmi Ewen et Willelmi Fychet, Senes- callorum Gildae Aulae praedictae.' There are similar rolls dating from the reigns of Henry VIII, and Philip and Mary. There are also various rolls containing the Accounts of the Gild Stewards, or Masters of the Gildhall, temp. Richard II, Edward IV, Henry VIII, etc. In 1415 they received from tenants of the Gild- property, among other payments, one called 'borgeswyke' or * borgesshippe,' the fee for admission as burgess. Walter Cadell and John Rogerus were ' Eldestuardis of the Gilde Halle of Axburgge,' 17 Edward IV. — (Rep. MSS. Com. 1872, pp. 301-304.)
John Fitz, burgess of Axbridge, and Alice, his wife, granted to the two ' Masters of the Commonalty of the Gild of Axebrigge ' that they may make holes in the wall of the house adjoining the Gild Hall and put timber therein, 25 Henry VI. — (Ibid., 307.)
In 1624 it was enacted, that 'as there have hitherto been three Companies in the town, those of the Drapers, Leathermen, and Firemen, all householders who shall keep a shop or stall, or who shall abide or keep a family within the borough, shall be made to enter one of such three Companies. In the case of a private man, following no trade, he shall choose such Company "as he himself liketh to be free of," under a penalty of 20 shillings.'— (Ibid., 302.)
BABNSTAPLE.
'Ordinacio officiorum in Gulda Libertatis Burgi Barnestapol
tenta die dominica proxima post festum Epiphanie Domini anno
A.D. 1303. Regis Edw. XXXIL, anno Domini Mmo ccc tertio, facta per as-
sensum Ricardi Wynem, tune majoris dicti Burgi, ac totius Com-
Proofs anu ^lustrations* 13
munitatis en [i.e. cum] nominibus inLibertate existentium. Unus- BARNSTAPLE. quisque qui intravit post postremam Guldam dabit majori unum den., Ostario unum Ob. et Pincerne unum Ob. Symion de la Barr
Math8 de Chyvenor
, v Furchyngmen ». Bernardus de la Bogha
Ric'us Le Dirna Durandus Le Corinser2Ni
Toh'es Pollard
. Aldremen.
Walt8 de Brtone
Phs de Meheppa
Gilbtus de Biricom Ostiarius.
Robtus Burel Pincerna.
Sym. ... . . . '
Then follow two parallel columns, one headed ' De intrinsecis et feoffatis,' with no names appended; the other headed ' De forinsecis non feoffatis,' with 92 names.
'BURGUS BARNESTAPL'.
' Convocatio communitatis eorum qui sunt in Libertate Burgi Barnestapl' ad Guldam factam die dominica prox' ante festum Conversionis Sancti Pauli anno Regni Regis Edwardi filii Regis Edw. duodecimo, secundum consuetudinem libertatis predicte [a] A.D. 1319. tempore quo non extat memoria in contrarium usitatam in dicto burgo, Johanne Pollard tune majore dicti Burgi. Nomina offici- orum [et] singularum personarum in predicta Gulda inferius ex- pressius continentur et designantur ; vidz., In primis, unusquisque dicte Communitatis post postremam Guldam factam in dicta Liber- tate ingressus et durante Gulda presente ingrediens dabit majori unum den., Ostiario unum Obolum et pyncerne unum obolum, qui pro tempore fuerint. Et singuli in dicta libertate existentes qui majores tune vel antea non fuerint vel in Officio dicte Guide constituti, singulos solvent denar' qui Scot peny vocatur.'
Then follow lists of officers as before, with parallel columns containing the names of the 'Intrinseci et feoffati' and the ' Forinseci et non feoffati,' 221 in all.
1 i.e. Furthyngmen. 2 Probably ' Le Coruiser.'
H Cfje ®tlD agercfmnt
BARNSTAPLE. The Third Roll begins as follows : — ' Convocacio communitatis eorum qui sunt in libertate Burgi Earnest' ad Guldam factam die
A.D. 1329.
dominica ann. [i.e. ante] festum conversionis Sancti Pauli anno regni Regis Edwardi tertii a conquestu tertio, secundum consuetu- dinem libertatis predicte a tempore quo non extat memoria in con- trarium usitatam in dicto Burgo, Galfrido Tinctore tune majore dicti Burgi. Nomina Officiorum [et] singularum personarum in predicta Gulda inferius expressius continentur et designantur. Videlz., Imprimis, unusquisque dicte Communitatis post postre- mam Guldam factam in dicta libertate ingressus et durante Gulda presente ingrediens dabit majori unum den., Ostiario unum Obolum et pincerne unum Obolum, qui pro tempore fuerint ; et singuli in dicta libertate existentes qui majores tune vel ante non fuerint vel in Officio dicte Guide constituti, singulos solvent den. qui Scot peny vocatur.'
Then follow the names of four ' Ferchyngmen,' four 'Alderne- men,' an 'Ostiarius/ a 'Pincerna,' about 180 ' Intrinseci' and 91 * Burgenses Extrinseci.'
The names in the three Rolls include persons from various parts of the county and from towns in other counties, landowners with territorial names and lords of manors, as well as persons bearing the names of humble trades such as ' Touker,' 'Lorimer,' ' Tinctor,' 1 Piscator,' ' Sutor,' etc. There are also some women among them.
This Fraternity, which was called the Gild of St. Nicholas, had a common seal ('sigillum commune fratrum Guide Sci. Nichi.') and possessed considerable property. Soon after the Reformation ' the chapel and hall of the Guild came into posses- sion of the corporation by purchase, the conveyance to them in 1584 describing the property as " the scite of the late chapel of St. Nicholas, and a building called the Kay Hall." The same had by a previous deed of the reign of Edward VI, A.D. 1549, been granted off by the Crown under the Act "for dissolving and abolishing all Gilds, Free Chapels, and Fraternities " therein recited, which period no doubt marks also the time of the dis- continuance of the meetings of the society, as well as the dissolu- tion of the chantry and fraternity.'
proofs ann 3[llustration& 15
'Most of the Aldermen of the Guild had been Mayors, and BARNSTAPLE. assuming that the Chapel of St. Nicholas (or the building called the Kay Hall in later times) was also the hall of the Guild, it is clear that it was used as a public market; for as early as 1394 there is an entry in the Borough Receiver's accounts — " Paid the Keeper of St. Nicholas for the Market house, iv.^.," and this was just two centuries before it was bought by the Corporation. Payments from the town to St. Nicholas as an acquittance continued to be made down to a much later period. There are many other references to it in the Borough Records.' In an account of the Receipt of Fines, etc., 10 Edward III, there is one column headed ' Arrears of the Guild ' : — ' From Durand le Ballon, because he did not attend, is. iod' 'From Walter Couterman, surety, Walter atte Crosse, for the same, 4^.,' etc. In the Borough Receivers' Account of 1390 is this entry, 'Re- paid to the Wardens or Officers of St. Nicholas for the butcher's house,' and entries of the same kind are almost regular after- wards. In 1402 the grand inquest presented, among other officers to be sworn, Wardens of the Long Bridge and two Wardens of St. Nicholas, who took their oath. At a later period there was an order, 'that all foreigners coming to the town should bring their wares to the Kay Hall, being the common Market.' ' Many other features connected with the old Hall of St. Nicholas tend to associate it with the early trade of the town.'
In a fragmentary Account Roll of the Gild, apparently dating from the early part of the fifteenth century, we find expenditures for Wax, ' Brede and Wyne,' ' vi. Prysts at derige,' ' viii. Gallons of Alle,' ' a hard Cheese,' ' Meysers, Strawbers and Hurts,' etc. In the Accounts for 1526-27 there is this item, 'For the town clerk's salary, 6s. 8d.1 '
BEATJMABIS. During the reign of Edward III the burgesses of Beaumaris
1 The above extracts are taken from J. R. Chanter's account of the Gild : — Devons. Assoc. for Adv. of Science, etc., Trans., xi. 191-212 ; North Devon Journal, Jan. i and Jan. 8, 1880. I have extended and amended the Latin of Mr. Chanter's text.
1 6 Cfce <&ilD sgjercfmnt*
BEAU MAR is. were summoned before the Justices Itinerant to show by what warrant they claimed certain liberties, among which are speci- /fied : — ' Et habere gildam mercatoriam cum hansa et aliis con- / suetudinibus et libertatibus ad huiusmodi gildam pertinentibus, „ / / ita quod nullus qui [non] sit de gilda ilia mercandisam aliquam y faciat in eadem villa nisi ad voluntatem burgensium predictorum. Et quod natiui cuiuscumque in eadem villa manentes et in ea terram tenentes et in prefata gilda et hansa, lot et scot cum eisdem burgensibus per vnum annum et vnum diem sine calumpnia mansuerunt, deinceps a dominis suis repeti non pos- sint sed in eadem villa liberi permaneant.' The burgesses produce a charter of the king which grants them these liberties. They are then asked to declare 'quid et cuiusmodi proficuum ipsi clamant per verba generalia in predicta carta contenta.' Among other things they state : — ' Et per illam clausulam quod habeant Gildam mercatoriam, etc. clamant quod omnes in pre- dicta villa manentes vel libertatibus predictis gaudere volentes et qui iurati sunt coram burgensibus predictis, et hansam, vide- licet, quoddam proficuum vocatum hans, et lot et scot cum eis soluerint, erunt de Gilda predicta et tune libere mercandizare possunt in villa predicta absque Theolonio ibidem seu alibi soluendo; et quod nullus qui non sit iuratus et admissus in gilda predicta mercandizare possit in eadem villa absque licencia et voluntate eorundem burgensium.' — (Record of Caernarvon^ 158-161.) l
BEDFOED.
Richard I, Henry III, Richard II and Henry IV granted charters to the burgesses of Bedford in which the Gild Merchant is mentioned 2. The charter of Richard II enacts that no one who is not of their Gild, shall sell any wines or merchandise or any other saleable goods within the said town of Bedford by retail.
The following quo ivarranto proceedings throw much light
1 Cf. the quo warranto proceedings given below under the heading ( Con- way.'
2 Bedford Records, pp. 5-8, 14; Mimic. Corp. Com. 1835, p. 2104.
Proofs anu 3(llustration& 17
i
upon the constitution of the Gild : — ' Major et Communitas ville BEDFORD. de Bedford' summoniti fuerunt ad respondendum domino Regi de placito quo waranto clamant habere gildam mercatoriam cum omnibus libertatibus et consuetudinibus suis in terris, in insulis, in pasturis et omnibus aliis pertinenciis suis ; ita quod aliquis qui non sit de gilda ilia aliquam mercaturam non faciat cum eis in civitate vel burgo vel villa vel in socagiis. Et quod quieti sint de theolonio .... [Various other immunities are enumerated. The burgesses produce a charter of Richard I which granted a ' Gilda Mercatoria ' and other liberties.] Ricardus Rex progenitor domini Regis nunc per cartam suam, quam proferunt, concessit et confirmavit burgensibus suis de Bedeford' omnes libertates et consuetudines et leges et quietancias suas quas habuerunt tern- pore Regis Henrici patris sui, nominatim gildam suam merca toriam cum omnibus libertatibus et consuetudinibus suis in terris, in insulis, in pasturis et omnibus aliis pertinenciis ; ita quod aliquis qui non sit de gilda ilia aliquam mercaturam non faciat cum eis in civitate vel burgo vel villa vel in socagiis. Preterea concessit et confirmavit eis quod sint quieti de theolonio et pon- tagio .... [Several other liberties follow.] Et iidem Major et Communitas quesiti per predictum Ricardum [i. e. R. de Alde- burghe, qui sequitur pro domino Rege] de modo predicte gilde, et quales sint persone que infra gildam suam predictam commo- rantur, et cujusmodi proficuum racione ejusdem gilde percipiunt, dicunt quod tarn burgenses ejusdem ville quam alii quicunque in eadem villa residentes a tempore quo sacramentum prestiterint ad libertates ejusdem ville et pacem domini Regis conservandam et alia villam et gildam predictas tangencia manutenenda, in ipsam gildam recipiuntur, ut extunc quascunque mercandisas suas ad retallium vendere possint et quietanciis et libertatibus predictis ubicunque gaudere tanquam ipsi burgenses racione libertatum suarum predictarum.
' Et predictus Ricardus pro domino Rege dicit quod retornum brevium domini Regis habere est quedam jurisdiccio realis Corone domini Regis specialiter annexa et quam nullus habere potest sine facto ipsius Regis sive progenitorum suorum, maxime cum
c
1 8 Cfte <£ilD ajjerc&ant.
BEDFORD, ad officium Vicecomitis ministri Regis immediate pertinet execu- tiones brevium facere et non alii, nisi per specialem concessionem Regiam ad hoc fuerit deputatus, et de qua idem Major et Com- munitas nichil ostendunt; unde petit judicium, si per perscrip- cionem retornum brevium clamare possint. Dicit eciam quod cum ipsi per cartam predicti Regis Ricardi clament habere gildam et ceteras libertates predictas ut illas que per eandem cartam bur- gensibus de Bedeford' conceduntur, ac iidem Major et Commu- nitas in declaracione gilde predicte asserunt tarn residentes in predicta villa de Bedeford' qui burgenses non sunt quam ipsos burgenses ad predictam gildam fore admissos et predictis quie- tanciis et libertatibus uti debere ac si essent burgenses, cum non sint, nee in predicta carta continetur quod predicte liber- tates alicui alteri quam burgensibus predictis concedantur, petit judicium, si predicti residentes qui burgenses non sunt liberta- tibus illis waranto superius expresso clamare possint, etc. Et quo ad Majorem et Communitatem predictos dicit quod ad hoc quod aliqua Civitas seu Burgus Majorem creare vel Communi- tatem habere possit oportet quod ilia potestas a concessione Regia procedat. Dicit eciam quo ad Coronatores quos ipsi Major
et Communitas clamant habere '
The issue of the case was unfavourable to the burgesses, but not because of any irregularities in the organization of the Gild. — - (4 Edward III. Plarita de quo War., pp. 17-18.)
BEBWICK.
From the fifteenth century the history of Berwick may be included in that of English towns1. James II in the second A.D. 1686. year of his reign granted the burgesses a long charter, of which the following portion relates to the Gild : — ' Et ulterius volumus, ac per presentes pro nobis, heredibus et successoribus nostris, concedimus prefato majori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti, et successoribus suis, quod ipsi et successores sui de cetero im- perpetuum habeant infra burgum predictum guildam mercatorum,
1 For its history as a Scotch town see Volume i, Appendix.
proofs ann 3[llu0tration& 19
cum hansa et omnibus aliis libertatibus, privileges, et liberis con- BERWICK. suetudinibus ad gildam illam pertinentibus, in tarn amplis modo et forma prout antehac habuerunt, consueverunt, seu habere debuerunt sive debent. Ita quod nullus qui non sit de gilda ilia merchandizam aliquam faciat in eodem burgo, suburbiis, libertatibus, aut precinctis ejusdem burgi, nisi de volun- tate et beneplacito majoris, ballivorum et burgensium ejusdem burgi. Volumus etiam, et per presentes pro nobis, heredibus et successoribus nostris concedimus prefato majori, ballivis et bur- gensibus burgi predicti, et successoribus suis, quod quicunque mercatores petierint burgum predictum cum mercato suo, de quo- cunque loco fuerint, sive extranei sive alii, qui de pace nostra fuerint, vel de licencia nostra in terram nostram venerint, veniant, morentur, et recedant in salva pace nostra, faciendo rectas con- suetudines ejusdem burgi. Et quod predicti burgenses aut mer- catores non occacionentur pro mistling [i. e. miskenning] in suis loquelis (viz.) si non omnia bene narraverint. Et quod nullus mercator obviam eat mercatori venienti per terram vel per aquam cum merchandizis suis et victualibus versus burgum predictum, ad emendum vel revendendum, quousque ad predictum burgum venerint, et mercimonia sua ibidem vendicioni exposuerint, sub forisfactura rei empte et pena carceris, a quo sine gravi castigacione non evadat. Et quod nullus mercator extraneus qui non sit de predicta gilda mercatorum, ac de libertate dicti burgi, aliquod mercimonium vel merchandizas aliquas faciat infra burgum pre- dictum, suburbia, libertates, et precincta ejusdem, alteri mercatori extraneo, nee hujusmodi mercator extraneus ab altero mercatore extraneo merchandizas hujusmodi emat infra burgum predictum, sub forisfactura mercandizarum earundem. Et quod nullus mer- cator qui sit extraneus et non de gilda mercatorum predictorum vendat in burgo predicto aliquod mercimonium nisi in grosso. Concessimus etiam, ac per presentes pro nobis, heredibus, et successoribus nostris concedimus prefato majori, ballivis et bur- gensibus burgi predicti, et successoribus suis, quod annuatim et de tempore in tempus predictus major, ballivi et burgenses burgi predicti, et successores sui, possint et valeant inquirere et
C 2
20 e&e (Silo a^erclmnt
BERWICK, inquisiciones facere infra burgum predictum, suburbia, libertates, et precincta ejusdem, si qui burgenses de libertatibus ejusdem burgi sub nomine suo proprio, vel sub nomine alius burgensis burgi predicti, et ut bona et mercimonia sua propria, vel alicujus alius burgensis burgi predicti, vendat vel vendicioni exponat infra burgum predictum aliqua bona, catella, seu mercimonia, aut mer- chandizas eorum qui non sint burgenses de burgo illo nee de libertate ejusdem, contra sacramenta sua hac in parte prestita ; et quod si aliquis burgensium burgi predicti inde culpabilis inventus fuerit, et convictus secundum consuetudines gilde et burgi predicti, quod talis burgensis sic offendens totaliter amittat libertatem suam in burgo predicto, et inde diffranchisetur imperpetuum ; et quod nullus extraneus mercator vendat vel emat aliquod averium, vel mercimonium quod ponderari debeat vel tronari, nisi per stateram et tronaria nostra, sub forisfactura averii predicti.' — (Raine, North Durham, Appendix, 148.)
In 1835 it was still the custom to hold four quarterly head gilds during the year, which were attended by all the free burgesses ; and the mayor was bound to hold a gild at any time on the demand of twelve burgesses l. At such gilds apprentices were presented and other business transacted. In 1799 there were about 500 burgesses, but the number of the brethren on the gild- roll was 980. — (Fuller, Berwick, 241-243.)
The 'Alderman of the year' was the principal gild officer. At the gilds he presented the petitions for admission to the freedom, and he was assistant-clerk of the market 2.
The Gild Books extending from 1509 to 1805 are still preserved in the town archives of Berwick. The 'Book of Memoranda' of Berwick contains a reference to ' the Gildb9oks from 1498, where all the Orders of Guild, or By-laws for the government of the Corporation, are recorded.' — (Rep. MSS. Com. 1872, p. 309.)
1 Munic. Corp. Com. 1835, p. 1442. 3 Ibid., p. 1441.
proofs anti 3illustration& 2i
BEVEBLEY.
The Gild Merchant of Beverley is mentioned in charters of BEVERLEY. Thurstan and William, Archbishops of York, Henry I, Henry II, Richard I, John, Richard II and Elizabeth l. It is called the ' Hanshus ' in the charter of Thurstan : — ' Volo tit burgenses mei de Beverlaco habeant suam hanshus, quam eis do et concedo ut ibi sua statuta pertractent ad honorem Dei et Sancti Johannis et canonicorum et ad totius villatus emendationem, eadem liber- tatis lege sicut illi de Eboraco habent in sua hanshus.' — (Poutson, i. 51 ; Foedera, i. 10.) In the confirmations of this charter by Henry I and Archbishop William (temp. Stephen) the term ' Merchant Gild ' is used for * hanshus ' : —
' Henricus [I] Rex Anglie Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Justiciariis, Vicecomitibus et omnibus Fidelibus suis salutem. Sciatis me concessisse et dedisse et hac mea carta confirmasse Hominibus de Beuerlaco liberum Burgagium secundum liberas leges et con- suetudines Burgensium de Eboraco, et suum Gilde (sic) Merca- torum cum placidis suis et Teloneo et cum omnibus liberis consuetudinibus et libertatibus suis in omnibus rebus, sicut Turstinus Archiepiscopus ea eis dedit et carta sua confirmauit infra villam de Beuerlaco et extra, tarn in bosco quam in piano aut in marisco et aliis. Et volo quod sint quieti de Teloneo per totam Schiram Ebor', sicut illi de Ebor'. Testibus, G. Can- cellario, R. Comite de Medlent, apud WudestokV — (Record Office, Cartae Antiquae, R. 15.)
* Willielmus dei gracia Ebor' Archiepiscopus Clerico et populo et omnibus fidelibus tarn futuris quam presentibus hanc cartam bene et firmiter manutenentibus salutem et benedicionem in perpetuum. Notum sit vobis omnibus me concessisse et dedisse et presentis carte testimonio confirmasse liberale burgagium ville Beuerlaco et burgensibus ibidem commorantibus iuxta formam liberalis burgagii Ebor', ea libertatis lege qua Thurs-
1 Poulson, Beverlac, 51, 53-55, 61 and App., p. 7; Rot. Chart., 53 ; English Gilds, 153. For various comments upon this Gild see Poulson, i. 53, 112, 148.
22
BEVERLEY. tanus Archiepiscopus venerande memorie predecessor noster eis concessit et dedit, saluis consuetudinibus Sancti Johannis et saluo nostro iure cum redditibus. Deinde de libertatis lege con- cessi et dedi eisdem Burgensibus vt habeant Gildam Marcan- dam eorum et placita, eadem libertate et eadem consuetudine inter illos sicut illi de Ebor' inter eos. Et volo vt statuta illius domus sint ad profecuum tocius villatus et ad honorem dei et Sancti Johannis et canonicorum et tocius eiusdem ville. Pre- terea concessi eis Theolonium in perpetuum pro xvm. marcis singulis annis, exceptis tribus festis, quod quidem tune ad nos et Canonicos spectat .... In hiis vero tribus festis hoc modo deter- minatis ipsos Burgenses ab omni theolonio liberos eciam et quietos dimisi. Preterea huius etiam carte testimonio eisdem Burgensibus confirmaui liberos introitus et exitus scilicet in bosco, in piano, in marisco et in ceteris conuenienciis, sicut anti- quiores ipsius ville iurauerunt et probauerunt de suis conueni- enciis, exceptis in pratis et bladis, sicut vnquam melius, liberius et largius predictus Thurstanus predecessor noster venerabilis eisdem Burgensibus concessit et dedit. Hiis testibus, W. Comite Alb',' etc. — (Record Office \ Misc. Chancery, Gilds ; 41.)
Henry II confirmed in general terms the grants of Thurstan and William, — c In thelonio, et in hansus, in liberis introitibus et. exitibus in villa et extra villam,' etc. — (Cartae Antiquae, R. 16.) According to the charters of 5 Richard I and i Eliz., the bur- gesses were to have ' omnes libertates et liberas consuetudines,' granted in former charters, c in sua Gilda mercatoria, in theloneo et in Hanshus, in liberis introitibus et exitibus in villa et extra villam.' — (Cartae Antiq., R. 17; Addit. MS., Mus. Brit., 25703, fol. 6; Poulson, Appendix, 7.)
Among the returns to the writs of inquiry concerning the gilds of England, sent out in the year 1388, is one with the heading, * Magna Gilda Sancti Johannis de Beuerlaco de Hanshus.' It gives no ordinances, but only copies of the charters of Archbishops Thurstan and William, Pope Lucius III, and Richard II.— (Record Office, Misc. Chancery, Gilds, 4J.)1
1 Cf. English Gilds, 150-153.
proofs anu Illustrations* 23
The following is one of several statutes made at Beverley in BEVERLEY. the year 1493 : — ' Also yat every burges of the town of Beverley be fre to bye and to sell hys awne glides so that he kepe no oppyn shopp in retayling, nor no man to by any maner of mar^ chaundyse for redy money to sell it agayne in retaylyng bott it sail be presentyd by the alderman of marchants to the xn. gover- ners for the yere beyng. And itt to be fynabyll by the dyscrecyon of the foresayd xii. governers als oft tymes as any such defawts be founde in retaylynge.' These ordinances received the assent of the alderman of merchants and twenty-one other aldermen of various crafts. — (Poulson, i. 256.)
BBIDGWATEB.
The following documents are among the records of Bridgwater: — A general pardon, 4 Henry [IV], under the Great Seal, to Wil- liam Gosse, William Gascoigne, and Richard Dyut, Wardens or Stewards of the Merchants' Gild of Bridgwater, in behalf of the Gild.— (Rep. MSS. Com. 1872, p. 311.) Two Stewards of the Gild, and the Commons of B. present a priest to the Bishop of Bath and Wells in the year 1393. — (Ibid., 314.) A conveyance by the same Stewards to Roger Satre ' taillour ' of a tenement. Witnesses, ^Humphrey Horelok and John Lombe, Provosts, John Eygod and Ralph Fysschepond, Bailiffs of the Gild there, and John Horelok, Bailiff of the Commonalty, 16 Richard II. In another conveyance two c Stewards of the Gild of the Commu- nity,' two Provosts and two Bailiffs appear as witnesses, 12 Henry IV.— (Ibid., 3 1 5.)
An indenture, probably of the reign of Edward I, makes known that all the burgesses and the commonalty of Bridgwater for the promotion of love and peace have ordained that they will choose yearly two Seneschals of their Gild and one bailiff to attend on them ; such Seneschals to have power to punish those offending
»
against these ordinances. Any one convicted before the Sene- schals for maliciously imputing certain crimes to another, shall be amerced, etc. No one shall implead another without the burgh.
24 Cfte <$ilD sgjerc&ant,
BRIDGWA TER. Any one summoned by the bailiff to appear before the Seneschals and neglecting to do so, is to be amerced ; also any one opposing execution or distress made by order of the Seneschals. No flesh or fried fish shall be bought for the purpose of retailing before 9 A.M. The Seneschals of St. Mary's and of the Holy Cross and the Warden of the bridge of Bridgwater shall render account of moneys arising therefrom to the said Seneschals. All penalties are to be levied by the bailiff. The Seneschals are to render a yearly account of all moneys received by them. — (Ibid. 316.)
The following entries occur in the Rolls of the Receiver, or Bailiff of the Commonalty of Bridgwater (22 Henry VI) : — ' VII..T. vi.d. received of Richard Cloptone for having the freedom of the gild.' ' From John Eremyte for his fine upon having his freedom, vm.s.' f From John Eleys, smith, for having his freedom, iv.j.' ' xii.*/. received of Richard Forde, corviser, for following his craft this year.' — (Odgers, MS. Accounts of Bridgwater , 41.)
BKISTOL.
The charter of John, Earl of Moreton, granted among other things : — ' Quod nullus extraneus mercator emat infra villam de homine extraneo coria, blada vel lanam nisi de burgensibus ; et quod nullus extraneus habeat tabernam nisi in navi, nee vendat pannum ad decisionem nisi in nundinis ; et quod nullus extra- neus moretur in villa cum mercibus suis propter merces suas ven-
dendas nisi per quadraginta dies et quod habeant omnes
rationabiles gildas suas, sicut eas melius habuerunt tempore Ro- berti et Willelmi filii sui comitum Gloucestriae.' — (Seyer, Charters,
8-9.)
* It appears by the Great Red Book of Bristol, p. 30, that the mayor, bailiffs and commonalty had a free guild of merchants in the town and suburb, from time beyond the memory of man, and all things belonging to a guild, viz. : to buy and sell in the said town freely and quietly from all toll and customs, and had other liberties belonging to them, and for the whole time used to take a certain fine (or praestacioneni) to their own use from all who
proofs ann 3illiistration& 25
were admitted into the liberties and society of the said guild, to BRISTOL have the liberty aforesaid according to what could be agreed rea- sonably between them ; — the guild was confirmed in their liberties by John Earl of Moreton, afterwards King John, and by William Earl of Glocester.' — (Barrett, Bristol, 179.)
Robert Aurifaber in 1235 granted the rent charge upon two stone houses, opposite St. Nicholas church, for the chaplain cele- brating mass in the said church, the chaplain to be chosen by the mayor and the steward of the Merchants' Company. — (Nicholls and Taylor, Bristol, i. 119.) The ' Seneschallos Gildae Merca- torum' are mentioned in another deed of 1240. — (Barrett,
The ' Consuetudines Villae Bristolliae' (about the year 1314) assert ' that out of the profits of the Gild of Merchants and of the town they support eight bridges, the pavement or pitching, five conduits of water, the Key before the ships, and the public officers.' — (Barrett, p. vii.)
Nicholls and Taylor (i. 152-158) give a long account of what they call a contest between the Merchant Gild and the crafts in the year 1312. In the original documents, copies of which are printed in Seyer's Memoirs, ii. 88-94, neither the Gild nor the crafts are mentioned. It was simply an uprising of the mass of the burgesses, headed by principal men of the commonalty ('majores communitatis'), against the usurpations of fourteen of the burgesses, who assumed too great authority in the management of the revenues of the town. — (Seyer, ii. 95, 96.)
In the yth year of Edward IV, William Canynges being mayor, the following ordinances were made for merchants, according to the custom from time immemorial : —
1. The mayor and council fifteen days after Michaelmas were to call a council and to choose from them a person that hath been mayor or sheriff, to be master of the fellowship of merchants, and to choose two merchants for wardens, and two beedles to oc- cupy as beedles and brokers to be attendant the said year upon the said masters and wardens, etc.
2. The master and fellowship to have at their will the chapel
26 c&e ®iin
BRISTOL, and the draught chamber at Spicers Hall to assemble in, paying 2os. per annum.
3. All merchants to attend (if in town) upon summons, or to pay one pound of wax to the master and fellowship.
4. All rules for selling to strangers any of the four merchandises [fmete-oyl, wool-oyl, iron and wax'] to be kept on pain of 2os. for every default, one half to the fellowship, the other to the chamber,
5. Nor upon pain aforesaid to sell to any stranger under the ruled price.
6. If any merchant be in distress, he must apply to the wardens or beedles, declaring the same, and if they provide not a remedy within three days, then the merchant burgess to sell any of his four merchandises at his pleasure. — (Barrett^ 179.)
'The Society of Merchant Venturers, as it now exists [1872], is undoubtedly the traditional representative of the ancient Guild of Merchants, whose ordinances, as just stated, were renewed by Edward IV, but whose liberties "to buy and sell in the town freely and quietly from all toll and customs, etc.," had been ante- cedently confirmed by John, Earl of Moreton, afterwards King John. The present company was incorporated by Edward VI, whose charter recites that men who had never been apprenticed to merchants having with strange ships encroached upon the trade of the port, to prevent the continuance of such irregularities the freemen of the city using the art or mystery of Merchant Venturers should be incorporated by the style of the " Masters, Wardens, and Commonalty of Merchant Venturers of the City of Bristol." It was likewise granted that they should choose a master and two wardens of the mystery, who would be sworn before the mayor and aldermen, and have power to make ordinances for the profit- able government of the mystery and the men of the same, and such only as did touch and concern the said mystery, but not in prejudice of the royal prerogative, or of the Mayor of Bristol, or any of the royal charters, or of the Society of Merchants trading to the coast of Holland, Zealand, Brabant, Flanders, and the parts adjacent ; and that none should practise the art of merchandize in
Proofs anD ^lustrations, 27
the City of Bristol, except such as were admitted into the said BRISTOL. society or otherwise apprenticed, or had used the mystery for seven years. This charter was confirmed, by Act of Parliament, in the eighth year of Elizabeth,' but was repealed five years after (13 Eliz., c. 22). Charles I (7 Jan., 1638) restored to the society the charter of Edward VI and granted another charter. ' This second charter of Charles I did not affect the constitution of the society, which is therefore now established under the authority of the charter of 1638.'
' The proper characteristic of the company as qualified by their charters of being a guild of commerce and nothing more, has been practically changed in modern times. In respect to being a kind of feudal corporation and monopolists of foreign trade, its once enormous power has collapsed, and it now lies, like King Arthur after his last battle, but as a shattered column. It has, however, renewed its youth by becoming "from its respectability, the almoner of many noble charities.'" 'Almost the only part of the charter now observed with strictness by the merchants, is the care they take to elect none into their society who are not already freemen of the city.'
' The society are proprietors of considerable landed estates, and possess, among other property, the Hotwells at Clifton.' — (Taylor, Book about Bristol, 236-239. )J
' Another corporate body now [1835] existing in Bristol is the Society of Merchants Venturers, which is unquestionably derived from the Old Merchant Guild of the freemen of Bristol, who formerly claimed an almost exclusive right of trading in the town.' 'The Society has long ceased to be a trading company: the members of it are of all professions indiscriminately. They do not now exercise any authority whatever over the other merchants of Bristol : but they adhere so far to the spirit of their original institution, that they consider themselves incorporated for the purpose of watching any public proceedings relative to the port and trade of the city, and of interposing with their collective
1 Cf. Nicholls and Taylor, Bristol, i. 244-245 ; Barrett, 181-182 ; Munic. Corp. Com. 1835, 1202-1205.
28 c&e <$ilD agercimnt,
BRISTOL, influence accordingly as they judge these to be advantageous or otherwise. On such occasions, they correspond with other public bodies, petition the legislature, and memorialize the officers of the Executive Government.' — (Munic. Corp. Com. 1835, pp. 1202, 1204.)
The Society of Merchant Venturers of Bristol is still in exist- ence.
BUBFOBD1.
'Willielmus Comes Gloec'2. . . Sciatis me concessisse omnibus meis hominibus de Burford omnes illas consuetudines quas Robertus films Hamonis auus meus et Robertus Comes Glouc' 3 concesserunt, sicut carte illius testantur, videlicet istas, vt vnus- quisque domum et terram et omnem pecuniam suam possit vendere et in vadimonio ponere et de filio vel filia vel uxore vel de quo- libet alio absque ipsius domini requisicione heredem facere. Et Gildam et consuetudines quas habent Burgenses de Oxenfordia in Gildam mercatorum. Et quicunque ad mercatum venire voluerint veniant, et in ipso mercato habeant licenciam emendi quecunque voluerint preter lanam et corea, nisi homines ipsius ville. Testi- bus, Willielmo filio Johannis . . . apud Oxenford.' — (Record Office, Misc. Chancery ', Gilds, 23.)
'Henricus [II] Rex Anglic et Dux Normannie et Aquitanie, Comes Andegavie, omnibus Justitiariis et Vicecomitibus et minis- tris suis tocius Anglie salutem. Precipio quod Willielmus Comes Glouecestrie cognatus meus teneat omnes terras suas ita bene et in pace et libere et quiete et honorifice sicut Comes Robertus pater suus eas tenuit tempore Henrici Regis aui mei. Et habeat in pace et integre et plenarie in omnibus locis et in omnibus rebus omnes illas libertates et quietancias et liberas consuetudines quas habuerunt (sic) tempore Comitis Roberti. Et sciatis me concessisse liberis Burgensibus ville Comitis Willielmi de Bureford omnes liberas consuetudines illas quas habere solebant tempore Comitis Roberti et tempore Willielmi Comitis, sicut carte illorum testantur, et gildam et consuetudines quas habent liberi Bur-
1 In Oxfordshire. 2 Died 1173. 3 Died 1147.
proofs ana 3[Hustrattons, 29
genses de Oxenfordia in gilda mercatorum. Quia volo vt ita sit. BURFORD. Teste, Ric' de Humet, Constabulario, et War' filio Ger', apud Chinonem in excercitu Regis.' — (Ibid.)
The certificate from which the above grants were taken, is dated January 28th, [1389], and contains in all eight charters to the burgesses of Burford. The first one on the membrane is that of ' Robertus films Hamonis,' but a portion of it has dis- appeared : — ' Robertus Hamonis filius omnibus suis hominibus et amicis salutem. Volo . . . de Oxenford', videlicet, vt vnus- quisque domum suam et terram . . . vxore vel de quolibet alio absque ipsius domini requisicione heredem facere . . . Gildam mercatorum. Et adhuc concede vt quicunque ad mercatum . . . preter lanam et corea, nisi homines istius ville.' The certificate throws no further light on the history of the Gild; the few explanatory words with which it ends are partially obliterated : — ' Qui quidem burgenses et omnes predecessores . . . consuetu- dines et libertates prescriptas habuerunt et eis vti et gaudere consueuerunt spectant . . . catalla ad predictam gildam.'
BUKY ST. EDMUND'S.
' Item facta est contencio magna inter R.1 celerarium et H.2 sacristam de pertinentiis officiorum suorum, ita quod sacrista nolebat accommodare celerario ergastulum ville ad includendum latrones, qui capiebantur in feudo celerarii. Unde celerarius sepius vexabatur et, latronibus evadentibus, vituperabatur pro defectu justicie. Contigit autem, quod quidem libere tenens de celerario, extra portam manens, Ketel nomine, latrocinio calum- niatus et duello victus, suspensus erat. Dolebat autem conventus propter opprobria burgensium, dicentium quod, si esset homo ille manens infra burgum, non pervenisset ad duellum, sed juramentis vicinorum suorum se adquietasset, sicut libertas est eorum qui manent infra burgum. Videntes ergo hoc abbas et sanior pars conventus, et attendentes quod homines, tarn extra burgum quam infra, nostri sunt, et omnes debent eadem libertate frui infra
1 Rogerum. 2 Hugonem.
30 Cfte <$ilD agercfmnt,
BURY ST. bannamleucam, preter lancettos de Herdewic et pares eorum, con- EDWHO'S. sulte providemnt quomodo posset hoc fieri. Volens itaque abbas officia sacristie et celerarii certis articulis determinare et conten- ciones sedare, quasi fovendo partem sacriste, precepit, lit servientes prefecti ville et servientes celerarii intrarent simul feudum celerarii ad capiendos latrones et malefactores, et prefectus dimidium lucri haberet pro incarceracione et custodia et labore suo, et curia celerarii veniret ad portmanne-mot, et ibi communi concilio judi- carentur judicandi. Statutum est etiam, ut homines celarii venirent ad domum thelonei cum aliis, et ibi renovarent pleggios suos, et scriberentur in rolla prefecti, et ibi darent prefecto denarium, qui dicitur borth-selver^ et celarius haberet dimidiam partem ; sed nunc nihil omnino inde capit celerarius : hoc autem totum fuit factum, ut omnes equali libertate gauderent. Dicunt tamen adhuc burgenses, quod suburbani non deberent esse quieti de theloneo in foro, nisi fuerint in gilda mercatorum. Pre- fectus autem, abbate dissimulante, placita et forisfacturas sibi vendicat de feudo celerarii hiis diebus.' — (Chronica Jocelini de Brakelonda, p. 74, anno 1198.)
'A.D. MCCLXIV. Henrici tertii XLVIII°, quidem juniores et minus discretiores Villae S. Edmundi quandam conspirationem suscitarunt, quam Gildam sub colore appellari fecerunt, cum quodam cornu erecto communi, cui intendere unanimiter prae- sumpserunt, cornu spreto totius communitatis antique, et a tempore de quo non extat memoria prius auctorizato ; et diversas injurias attemptarunt contra Dominum Simonem Abbatem, nec- non contra quosdam Villae, in praejudicium non modicum Monasterii S. Edm. et Villatae ejusdem; propter quod plures dissentiones inter praefatum Dominum Abbatem, Conventum et suos, et Villatam memoratam saepius suscitabantur ; et prae- cipue pro eo, quod iidem juniores una cum suis complicibus eidem Abbati ad Portam Aquilonis vi et armis clausa janua resistentes, necnon insultum aliquando facientes in Portas Ab- batiae S. Edm. injurias et violentias saepius commiserint : unde praefatus Dominus Abbas habito consilio cum Domino Rege et suis Consiliariis, Breve impetravit de inquirendo in hujus-
Proofs anD 3[Hustration& 3i
modi transgressiones, etc. Majores vero et discretiores prae- BURY ST. dictae Villae, attendentes quod per talem actionem eis posset generari periculum de libertatibus suis a praefato Abbate et Conventu longo tempore obtentis et usitatis, per nobiles viros eidem Abbati supplicarunt, quod ab hujus prosecutione desis- teret; ita viz. ut constituat sibi Judices, quos sibi placuerit, nisi ipsemet intromittere voluerit, et in Foro laicali, sive ecclesiastico inquiratur de omnimodis injuriis a Pascha usque ad talem diem Abbati et Conventui factis, et quicunque invenietur culpabilis satisfaciet competenter, et qui noluerit satisfacere distringatur, etc. Insuper praedictam Gildam omnino adnihilabant praefati discretiores et majores, ita quod si quis earn de caetero teneat, extra communitatem ejusdem Villae penitus ejiciatur irrever- surus, nisi condignam pro meritis Abbati et Conventui fecerit satisfactionem. Hinc secuta est concordia talis : Quod cum Burgenses Portam Aquilonalem contra Abbatem, Portam Aus- tralem contra Sacristam et Cellerarium clausas tenuissent, in- sultum ad magnam Portam Monachorum fecissent, Portam Coemeterii fregissent, homines Monachorum usque ad Altare prosecuti essent, et Gildam novam levassent, etc., iidem Gildam illam dampnarent, et pro aliis gravaminibus Abbati illatis usque ad Festum Paschae MCCLXIV. eidem Abbati XL. libras argenti solverent, salvis Abbati actionibus quas habet contra singulares personas ; de injuriis autem post Pascham praedictam illatis coram Abbate vel suo Justiciario respondebunt, et in forma juris parebunt, et si recusaverint, a communitate Villae expel- lentur; ad quod fideliter exequendum xxiv. de majoribus pro se et heredibus suis et successoribus corporale sacramentum praestiterunt ; et scripto in modum Chirographi confecto sigilla sua opposuerunt.' — (Battely, Antiquitates S. Edm.^ 159-160.)
'Memorandum quod ante bellum de Lewes quedam multi- tude de villa Sancti Edmundi in. vel plus numero qui se Bache- larii vocari fecerunt per conspiracionem mutuam quandam Gildam leuauerunt, quam Gildam iuuenum vocauerunt. Et fuit talis conspiracio et confederacio inter eos per iuramentum quod nullo ballivo intenderent, sed aldermannum et ballivos de se ipsis
32 €&e (SilD sgjercfmnt
ST. elegerunt, qui dati fuerunt ad sedandum et corigendum omnes
EDMUND'S.
contenciones inter eosdem factas siue faciendas. Statuerunt
etiam inter se quod cornu haberent commune cui intenderent cum sonum illius audirent, spreto omnino cornu communitatis quod mothorn dicitur et sono eiusdem ; et quicunque non inten- deret illis et conspiracionibus suis judicaretur inter eos publicus inimicus, et sic haberent iustam causam insurgere contra talem. Vnde innumerabiles enormitates tarn speciales quam generales die noctuque indefinenter commiserunt contra pacem Domini Regis, etc., vnde accidit quadam die circa mediam primam quod iidem conspiratores vna cum maxima multitudine villate Sancti Edmundi venerunt cum armis ad ianuam abbacie et in- sultum versus Curiam fecerunt et Januas illas fregerunt et quam plures sagittas infra curiam emiserunt cum non modico periculo.'
(Album Registrum Monast. S. Edm,> Add. MS., Mus.
Brit., 14847, fol. 102. )J
'Placita apud Villam Sancti Edmundi coram Willielmo de Bereford, W. Howard, et W. de Carleton, Justiciariis Domini Regis assignatis die Martis proxima post festum Sanctae Luciae A.D. 1304. Virginis anno Regni Regis Edwardi filii Regis Henrici Tricesimo tertio : — Nicolaus Fouk et alii conspiratione inter eos apud villam praedictam praehabita necnon Sacramento inter eos, et conventiculas illicitas authoritate sua propria facientes die Lunae proxima post Festum Nativitatis Beatae Mariae Virginis Anno Domini Regis nunc xxx°, Ordinaverunt et Statuerunt quod nullus maneret inter eos in dicta villa habens catalla xx. solidorum, qui ne eis solveret n. solidos et unum denarium, quam quidem solutionem vocant inter se hansing-silver, quos denarios tali ratione ceperunt divisim de Reginaldo del Black- house et Roberto le Carpentier, hominibus in praedicta villa commorantibus, et etiam praeter hoc de quolibet ipsorum Regi- naldo et Roberto xn. denarios de gersuma. Et similiter .... inter se Statuerunt, quod quilibet ejusdem villae habens catalla
1 Cf. Yates, Hist, of St. Edm., 123-126; Monast. Anglic., iii. 107.
proofs anD 3|Hu0trationsu 33
ad valentiam x. marcarum solveret eis quadraginta sex solidos BURY ST.
et octo denarios, quos authoritate ilia de Roberto Scot, homine
in praedicta villa commorante, ceperunt. Et etiam eisdem die et anno inter eos statuerunt, quod nullus in praedicta villa moram traheret ultra unum annum et unum diem quin ad Sacramentum conventiculas et ordinationes suas praedictas
manutenendas praestandi l distringeretur [Various other
usurpations of the burgesses are detailed.] Praedicti Nicolaus Fouk et alii bene cognoscunt, quod Abbas Dominus est totius villae praedictae, et ballivos suos ad curiam suam in eadem villa tenendum, etc. ponere, etc. debeat. Sed quoad conspira- tionenr praedictam, etc. bene defendunt, quod de praedicta conspiratione non sunt culpabiles, etc. Et quod Abbas eis imponit, quod illicitas conventiculas in praedicta villa fecerunt statuendp et ordinando, quod quilibet manens in eadem villa habens catalla ad valentiam xx. s., etc. (ut supra), dicunt, quod praedictus Abbas injuste queritur, quia dicunt, quod ipsi habent Aldermannum et Gildam mercatoriam in praedicta villa et sunt liberi Burgenses, etc., reddentes judicia per Aldermannum suum de placitis in Curia ipsius Abbatis coram Ballivis ejusdem in villa praedicta placitatis. Et quod ipsi absque aliquibus transgres- sionibus, conventiculis illicitis conveniunt ad Guildam Aulam suam in eadem villa, quotiens opus fuerit, ad tractandum de communi proficuo et utilitate hominum et Burgensium praedictae Ville, sicut eis bene licet. Et quod ipsi et eorum Antecessores et Praedecessores, Burgenses, etc. tali eonsuetudine usi sunt a tern- pore cujus non extat memoria, scilicet, de capiendo de quolibet homine manente in praedicta villa existente in decennia Abbatis loci praedicti, habente catalla ad valentiam viginti solidorum, duos solidos et unum denarium, pro sic quod mercari possit inter eos et eorum mercatoriis consuetudinibus in eadem villa gaudere ; et similiter percipiendi XLVI.J. vm.d. de quolibet homine Villae praedictae habente catalla ad valentiam x. marcarum ad Guildam suam mercatoriam tenendam. Et quod talis est ipsorum super hoc consuetude, scilicet, quod xn. Burgenses de praedicta Villa
1 i.e.' ad sacramentum prestandum ad conventiculas . . . manutenendas.'
D
34 Cfte (Silo figjercfmnt
ST. eligere consueverunt quatuor homines ejusdem Villae annuatim EDMUND'S. acj Guj}dam SUam mercatoriam tenendam, quorum quilibet habeat catalla ad valentiam x. marcarum. Qui quidem quatuor homines sic electi praemuniri consueverunt per duos Burgenses de guilda praedicta, qui dicuntur les Dyes, ad Guildam suam prae- dictam tenendam ; et iidem homines sic electi plegia invenire consueverunt coram Aldermanno et Burgensibus in Guildaula praedicta ad tenendam Guildam praedictam, vel quod quilibet eorum solveret XLVI. solidos et vm. denarios, qui Guildam illam tenere recusaret. Et ad hoc faciendum consueverunt Alder- mannus et Burgenses in villa praedicta distringere singulos homines in eadem villa habentes catalla ad valentiam x. mar- carum, inter eos mercari volentes et eorum consuetudinibus mercatoriis gaudere. Et ita tune quilibet praedictorum quatuor hominum sic electorum Burgensiae inter eos et eorum consue- tudine in posterum gauderet, et in forma praedicta usi sunt Bur- genses praedictae villae percipere duos solidos et unum denarium, etc. Et hoc parati sunt verificare, unde petunt judicium, etc. [They answer the other charges of the Abbot.] Jura- tores dicunt, etc. quod Abbas necesse habet respondere,
si praedicti Nicolaus Fouke et alii habeant Guildam mercatoriam in praedicta villa aut non, etc. Abbas dicit, quod non habent guildam mercatoriam, nee cognitiones Placitorum ad guildam mercatoriam pertinentes, nee communitatem, nee sigillum com- mune, nee majorem ; sed tenent quandam guildam ad Festum Nativitatis Beati Johannis Baptistae in certo loco ad commes- tiones et potationes faciendas, tenentes ibidem conventiculas suas illicitas et capiendo de singulis hominibus in dicta villa manen- tibus praedictos duos solidos et unum denarium, et etiam XLVI. solidos et vm. denarios, levantesque hujusmodi pecuniam de hominibus praedictis, ut hujus solventes sint de societate sua, per districtiones super ipsos factas ; et non dedicit quin anteces- sores praedictorum Nicolai et aliorum diu percipere consueverunt hujusmodi extorsiones duorum solidorum et unius denarii et XLVI. solidorum et vm. denariorum, sed contra legem mercatoriam et voluntatem praedictorum solventium et contra pacem, etc., et
proofs ano 3[llu0tratton& 35
ultra quantitatem tertiae partis bonorum suorum ; et per extor- BURY ST. siones hujusmodi et redemptiones clamium [i. e. clamant] facere Burgenses infra libertatem et dominium ipsius, quod ad ipsum Abbatem, et non ad alium, ibidem pertinet faciendum, etc.
' Dies datus est . . . . Consideratum est, quod praedictus Abbas dampna sua versus praedictum Nicolaum et alios centum quater viginti decem et novem libras, tresdecem solidos et quatuor denarios, et similiter praedicta dampna sua de dimidia marca versus Robertum Filium Nicolai Fouke. Et idem Nicolaus et alii committantur Gaolae, etc. Postea praedicti Nicolaus et alii venerunt et finem fecerunt, etc. Et aliqui alii in querela habeant prisonam per unum mensem propter pauperitatem eorum, etc. Et praedicti Nicolaus et alii venerunt coram Justiciariis et satis- fecerunt domino Abbati, etc., ideo liberantur a prisona, etc.' — {Burrough, Collectanea Buriensia, Add. MS., Mus. Brit., 17391, ff. 61-65.)
In an earlier quarrel during the same reign, among other 20 Edw. I. charges brought against the burgesses by the Abbot, we find A-D- 1292' the following : — 'Item burgenses distringunt homines ville predicte ad veniendum ad aulam gilde ad sacramentum prestandum pro voluntate sua, etc. Item burgenses in lesionem libertatis Abbatis capiunt n. sol. de quolibet homine habente catalla ad xx. sol.; et quadraginta et vi. sol. et vin.^. de quolibet habente catalla ad valenciam x. marc. Item Burgenses in preiudicium Abbatis distringunt mercatores vendentes in mercato Abbatis et capiunt de mercatoribus illis graues extorsiones ad dampnum grave
Abbatis Item burgenses de mercatoribus mercimonia sus-
pecta extra mercatum ementibus non permittunt iusticiam fieri,
ut de pellipariis et aliis Item burgenses tanquam conspira-
tores non permittunt aliquem in eorum gilda existentem placitare in Curia Abbatis racione alicuius transgressionis sibi facte per aliquem de gilda predicta, sed huiusmodi placita clam sibi appropriant ad dampnum graue Abbatis,' etc. — (Album Regis- trum Monast. S. Edm., ff. 64-65 ; Burrough, ff. 57-58.)
In the first year of the reign of Edward III certain burgesses A.D. 1327. broke into the abbey and obliged the Abbot and monks to con-
D 2
36 Cfte <$ito figjertibant,
ST. cede to them : — ' Unam cartam in qua continetur, quod dicti __ e Abbas et Conventus concesserunt eis, quod ipsi haberent com- munitatem et commune Sigillum, gildam mercatoriam, et Alder- mannum perpetuum; et quandam alteram cartam, quod ipsi haberent custodiam portarum, puppilorum et orphanorum infra* villam de Sancto Edmundo, et aliarum libertatum; duo item scripta continentia quod iidem Abbas et Conventus obligarentur et tenerentur eis tanquam communitati in duabus Millibus librarum per unum scriptum,' etc. In the concord which fol- lowed the townsmen promised never again to claim a ' commu- nitas ' : — c Concesserunt pro se et heredibus et successoribus suis, quod ipsi Communitatem in dicta villa de Sancto Edmundo non habent, nee .habere debent, nee clamant, nee clamare poterunt in futurum.' — (Burrough^ Collectanea, ff. 68, yi.)1
CALNE.
* These Armes are belonging and apertayning to the guild and Stewards of the Towne and borough of Calne and Burgesses of the said Towne and borough, being one of the Cheefest members of the honnor of WallingrTord and Ewolme, now ratified by act of Parliment, which armes I Clarenciux, King of Armes of the South Eeste and west partes of this Relme of England, have ratified and recorded the same in the Regester of my visitation now made within the Com' of Wilts, and att this present time was Robert Bage gent, and Henry Woodroofe guyld Stewards of the said Towne and Borough and William Allein .... [15 names in all], Burgesses of the said Towne and Barony, Phillip Ryche, Vicar and Towne Clark of the said Towne and Boroughe; in witnes wherof I have hereto Subscribed my name the fourth of [. . .] 1565 and in the seventh yeare of the Reigne of our most Soveraigne Lady Elizebeth, Queene of England, France and Ireland, defender of the faith.' — (MS. Harley 1565, fol. 32.)
' At the head of the corporation are two guild Stewards.'
1 Cf. Yates, 129 ; Monast. Anglic., iii. 108.
proofs ann 3[llustrattons, 37
cThey act as receivers, keep accounts/ etc. — (Mimic. Corp. Com. CANTERBURY. l835> PP- 1231-1232.)
CANTEKBUBY.
' Dis beot5 fa gehworfe betwux San hirede aet Xrescircean and fan cnihtan on Cantwareberig of cepmannegilde. Se heap on ceapmannegilde let lp am hirede to hande vm. hagan wiSinnen Burhgate mid sace and socne, swa hi hit selue haefden ; and se hirede let heom to hande f aer to gaenes nigan hagen, twegen wi<$- utan Readingaten ; on fam anen sit Aelfric and on fam ocSram Bruman. Da seofan sindan wi<5innan Niwingate ; Saereon wittaft Siword Cutfert and Brihtric and Goldwine and Hereword and Willelm and Wulfgeue and Aelfwine mid sace and socne, swa se hirede hie haefde. Daerto is gewitnesse Anselme aerceb. and se hired aet Xrescircean and Calueal portgerefa and t5a yldista men of f am heape. Dis to geswutelian se hired haefcS an gewrit and se heape an otter. ' — (Somner, Canterbury ', i. 179.)
The following is a translation of the above : — This is the exchange between the convent of Christ-Church and the ' cnihts ' of Canterbury of the Chapman's Gild. The society of the Chap- man's Gild puts into the hands of the convent eight houses within Burgate, with sac and soc, as they themselves enjoy them. And the convent puts into their hands, on the other side, nine houses, two without Readingate. In one of them dwelleth Aelfric ; and in the other, Bruman. The other seven are within Newingate. In them dwell Siward Cutfert and Brithric and Golwine and Hereword and William and Wulfgeve and Alfwine, with sac and soc as the convent enjoys them. Thereunto is witness Anselm Archbishop and the convent (hired] at Christ Church and Calveal Portreve and the elders of the society. To show this the convent has one writing and the society another.
A charter of James I (1609) to Canterbury enacts: — 'Quod nullus extraneus sive forinsecus, nisi sit civis et liber homo ejus- dem civitatis, exnunc de cetero imperpetuum vendat aut vendi- cioni exponat aliquas mercandizas infra civitatem predictam aliter quam in grosso, nisi sit temporibus feriae sive mercatus infra
38 Cfje <£ilD sgjercfmnt
CANTERBURY, eandem civitatem tenendi, nee tenebit aliquam shopam, neque utetur aliquo misterio, occupacione sive arte manual! Anglice any misterie, trade or handicraft infra civitatem predictam aut libertates ejusdem absque licencia maioris et aldermannorum aut maioris partis eorundem.' — {Charters of Canterbury, Canterb. 1791,
P- J39-)
CARLISLE.
The Gild of Carlisle was confirmed by Henry II, Henry III, Edw. I, Edw. II, Edw. Ill and Rich. II \ The charters of 35 Henry III and 21 Edward I contain the clause: ' Et quod similiter habent gildam mercatoriam liberam, ita quod nichil inde respondeant aliquibus.' — (Rep. MSS. Com. 1883, p. 197.) The charter of 26 Edw. Ill grants 'unam gildam et liberam electionem maioris et ballivorum,'etc. — (Ibid., 198; Hutchinson, Cumb.,\\. 645.)
' Major et Communitas Karl' summoniti fuerunt ad responden- dum domino Regi de placito quo waranto clament capere et habere muragium quibuscunque rebus et mercimoniis vendicioni expositis in villa predicta. Et quo waranto clament habere mer- catum et feriam, liberam gildam, emendas assise panis et cervisie
fracte, furcas, infangenethef, Et Major et Communitas
veniunt et dicunt, quod tempore quo dominus predictus Henricus Rex proavus domini Regis nunc tenuit predictam villam in manu sua qui illam dimisit burgensibus ejusdem ville ad firmam, etc., dimisit ipse illis predictam villam simul cum predictis libertatibus, excepta tamen libera gilda, quam postea perquisiverunt per cartam
domini Regis [Because of certain irregularities in the
town courts, the liberties are taken into the hands of the King.] Et ideo predicta villa cum libertatibus suis capiantur in manum domini Regis ad voluntatem ipsius domini Regis. Et liberatur Willielmo de Boyvill' custodienda, etc. quousque, etc. Et jura- tores certificent de valore in omnibus exitibus, etc. Et juratores testantur, quod tolnetum intrinsecum et forinsecum valent per annum triginta et quinque libras. Et firma mensurarum valet per
1 Jefferson, Carlisle, 449 ; Rep. MSS. Com. 1883, pp. 197-198 ; Petyt MS., ii. 54-58 ; Hutchinson, Cumberland, ii. 644-645.
Proofs anD illustrations. 39
annum octo libras, tresdecim solidos et quatuor denarios. Et CARLISLE. placita et escaeta valent per annum sex libras, tresdecim solidos et quatuor denarios. Et gilda mercatoria valet per annum quad- raginta solidos. Et gavelyeld valet per annum triginta solidos. Et placee arrentate valent per annum tresdecim solidos et quatuor denarios. Et est ibi unum molendinum fullerettum quod est arrentatum ad Scaccarium ab antique ad duas marcas, etc. Et custodia liberatur Willielmo de Boyvill ad hoc jurato, etc. quam- diu domino Regi placuerit, etc.' — (20 Edw. I. Placita de quo War., 121.)
'Willielmus de Molecastre Vicecomes Cumbrie petit pro domino Rege remedium apponi per dominos Thesaurarium et Barones de Scaccario domini Regis de omnibus articulis subscrip- tis, videlicet : — De Gilda Mercatoria Ciuitatis Karl' qua Burgenses eiusdem vsi sunt sine Waranto in preiudicium domini Regis a tempore quo predicta Ciuitas cum suis libertatibus omnibus capta fuit in manu domini Regis per Henricum de Cressingham et socios suos in vltimo Itinere Comitatus Cumbrie.' Several other articles follow, but there is no further mention of the Gild. — (Record Office, Lord Treas. Rememb. of Exch., Memor., 26-27 Edward I, mem. 52.)
In a response of the citizens of Carlisle to a plea brought against them by Haddock (33 Car. II), the former asserted : — A.D. 1681. ' Quod . . . fuerunt et esse consueverunt triginta et duo alii probi et sufficientes cives civitatis predicte e Gilda mercatoria ibidem electi, qui quidem triginta et duo cives simul cum aliis undecim Conciliariis alias Aldermannis civitatis predicte Majore ejusdem civitatis non existente a toto tempore supradicto fuerunt et esse consueverunt commune consilium Majoris et civium civitatis predicte.' — (71 Raymond, Reports, 2nd edition, 435 ; Tremaine, Placita, 525.)
In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries eight craft gilds of Carlisle often collided with the City Corporation, or governing body \ ' In 1784 the position of affairs was this : — There had for
1 Cf. Ferguson, Cumberland M.P.'s, 189-211 ; Merew. and Stephens, 2132- 2137-
40
CARLISLE, upwards of two hundred years been disputes between the Free- men who were members of the eight city Guilds and the Cor- poration, not alone as to the right to make ex gratia Freemen, but on other points.' — (Ferguson^ Cumb. M.P.'s, 196.) The term ' Gild Merchant ' does not appear to have been employed in these disputes. Had it been used at all, it would probably have been applied to the eight gilds aggregately, rather than to the Corporation.
CHESTEB.
'Rannulphus Comes Cestrie constabulario suo et dapifero et omnibus baronibus et balliuis suis et omnibus hominibus suis Francigenis et Anglicis tarn futuris quam presentibus salutem. Notum sit uobis omnibus me dedisse et concessisse et presenti carta mea confirmasse omnibus ciuibus meis de Cestria Gildam suam mercalem cum omnibus libertatibus et liberis consuetudini- bus quas illi vnquam melius et liberius et quietius habuerunt temporibus antecessorum meorum in predicta Gilda. Et prohibeo super forisfacturam meam x. librarum ne aliquis eos inde disturbet. Testibus hiis,' etc.— (Rep. MSS. Com. 1881, p. 356.) This charter was probably granted between the years 1190 and 121 11.
Charter of John le Scot, Earl of Chester and Huntingdon (temp. Henry III) : — { Sciatis me concessisse et hac presenti carta mea confirmasse omnibus ciuibus meis Cestrie quod nullus mercator aliquod genus mercimonii quod ad ciuitatem Cestrie per mare aut per terram venerit, emat uel uendat, nisi ipsi ciues mei Cestrie et eorum heredes uel per eorum gratum, nisi in nun- dinis assisis, scilicet, in Natiuitate Sancti Johannis Baptiste et in
festo Sancti Michaelis Item concessi et hac presenti carta
confirmaui dictis ciuibus meis Cestrie Gildam suam mercalem habendam et tenendam adeo libere, quiete et honorifice, sicut earn habuerunt in tempore auunculi mei domini Rannulphi Comitis Cestrie et Lincolnie,' etc. — (Rep. MSS. Com. 1881, pp. 356-357.)
1 Harland, Mamecestre, 188 ; Ormerod, Chester, i. 201.
Proofs anti 3[Hu$tration& 4J
Henry III. gave the citizens of Chester a. charter allowing CHESTER. them to buy and sell at the Gild of Durham. — (Ormerod, i. 201.) Henry II granted the following: — ' Henricus dei gracia Rex Anglie et Dux Normannie et Aquitanie et Comes Andegavie balliuis suis de Dunelina salutem. Precipio quod Burgenses Cestrie possint emere et vendere ad detaillum apud Dunelinam habendo et faciendo easdem consuetudines quas faciebant tempore Regis Henrici aui mei, et easdem ibi habeant rectitudines et libertates et liberas consuetudines quas tempore illo habere solebant. Teste, Willelmo filio Aid' dapifero. Apud Wintoniam.'— (Rep. MSS. Com. 1881,
P- 356.)
' We find, that before the said City had any Charter they used by Prescription divers Liberties, and enjoyed a Guild Mercatory, that is, a Brotherhood of Merchants, and that whosoever was not admitted of that Society, he could not use any Trade or Traffick within the City, nor be a Tradesman therein. And the Tenour of this Guild Mercatory did ever run in these words, Sicut hac- tenus usi fuerint, and was after confirmed under the Earls Seal. And there was appointed two Overseers, and those were ap- pointed out of the chiefest of the Citizens, and were greatly respected of the Citizens, as Officers that had the speciall care of maintaining those priviledges ; and did receive for the City all the summes of money paid by strangers for custome of Merchandize brought either by Sea or Land, except it were at the Fairs, which then were, as some say, three in the year, at Midsommer, Michaelmasse, and Martlemas. A continuance of the same Officers, and, as many suppose, the same name of those Officers remaineth to this day in the Leave-lookers, who then were the Head and chief of the Citizens before a Maior was ordained, and still is reputed the head or chief of the fourty, or the Common-Councell of the City, and are chosen usually of the best ability of the same fourty, as may expend and make provision in such matters as belong to the honour and dignity of the City and to look to the profits and commodities of the City in such Customs and Duties as fall due by importations of mer-
42 €&e ®ilD sgjercfmnt
CHESTER, chandize into the same.' — (King's Vale Royal, Chester, 1656, [ii.]
P- I57-) *
' And though the Office of Gustos guild. Mercator. be not found
of any record before this year [1297], yet it is like the said Office hath been ever since there was a guild. Mercator. These be the very same that supplyed the Office that our Leave-lookers do now, which was to give Licence and compound with any that came either to buy or sell within these Liberties contrary to our grants, as may appear by sundry books of their accompts, and did disburse for Wine given and sent, for repairations of buildings and other things pertaining to the City, for as yet there were not any Treasurers, nor of long time after ; * besides, if any did dwell in the City that were not free, if they did ever buy or sell within the Liberties, they did likewise compound with the Gustos and Mercator [Gustos Gilde Mercatorie] by the year. And whereas* now the Leave-lookers do gather two pence half penny upon the pound, of all Wares sold by Forraigners within the City, it is likely that Custom began when the Murage was granted, and so levied; for before that time they agreed as they thought good.' -(Ibid., 167-168.)
In MS. Harley 2057, fol. 16, this same explanation of the office of leave-looker occurs ; but the words included within the asterisks read thus : — ' besides if any dwelled within this Cittie that were not free and either sould or boughte to sell within this Cittie, etc.,
( Andrew Stanlowes ) ,
Alex. Hurrell Maior { , > Vicecomites.
I Rob. Ithell /
they did likewise compound with the Gustos gilde mercatorie by the yeare, otherwise they might not be suffered to retaile every thinge ; and whereas,' etc.
In 1823 the duty of the leave-lookers, according to Hanshall, was * to prevent infringements on the rights of the Citizens by strangers exercising any trades within the liberties, to examine the markets and receive all customs, etc. due to the Corporation.' — (Co. of Chester, 180.) 'The Leave-lookers are also appointed annually by the Mayor for the purpose of collecting the duty of
1 Cf. Ormerod, i. 200; Hanshall, Co. of Chester, 171, 190, 196.
proofs ana Jllustrations* 43
2s. 6d. claimed by the corporation to be levied yearly upon all CHESTER. non-freemen who exercise any trade within the liberties of the City of Chester.' Since 1825, 'the functions of the leave-lookers have become extinct.' — (Munic. Corp. Com. 1835, p. 2621.)
* Maior et Ciues Ciuitatis Cestrie clamant habere libertates
subscriptas, videlicet Item clamant habere gildam
suam mercalem cum omnibus libertatibus et liberis consuetudini- bus quas illi unquam liberius et quietius habuerunt temporibus
antecessorum domini Comitis in predicta gilda 1
Et quo ad hec verba gildam marcalem cum omnibus libertatibus Gildam et liberis consuetudinibus quas illi unquam liberius et quietius habuerunt, clamant quod die veneris proxima post festum Sancti Dionisii quolibet anno possunt eligere de semetipsis duos Sene- leaue-
lokcrs scallos eiusdem gilde, qui sunt de fraternitate eiusdem gilde, qui
tune coram maiore et vicecomitibus et aliis Ciuibus Ciuitatis predicte prestent sacramentum, quod bene et fideliter facient compotum suum de omnibus denariis per ipsos perceptis de aliquibus personis gildam illam intrantibus et omnibus aliis cus- tumis dicte gilde, a tempore cuius contrarii in memoria hominum non existit perceptis et eidem gilde pertinentibus. Et quod quilibet homo qui sit de gilda ilia sit de libertate et franchesiis et potest Ciuitatis predicte, et potest emere infra libertatem eiusdem Ciuita- tis omnimodas marcandisas ad Ciuitatem illam per mare aut per terram venientes absque fine inde faciendo. Et quod nullus qui non est admissus in predictam gildam faciet emptionem aliquam infra libertatem Ciuitatis predicte sine licencia et voluntate dic- torum Senescallorum. Et racione predicte gilde et ad sustenta- tionem eiusdem gilde capiunt, et predecessores sui de tempore cuius contrario in memoria non existit ceperunt, custumas sub- scriptas : Videlicet, de quolibet dolio vini veniente per mare iiii. d. Et de dolio ferri iiii. d. Et de vno lasto allecium ii. s. Et de vno lasto de hides ii. s. Et de vno lasto anguillarum ii. s. Et de
1 In the margin of the MS. an index ($s*) and a loop call particular attention to this liberty.
2 This word was written in the margin by a later hand.
44 €&e (Site figercfmnt
CHESTER, centena de milwellis salsis iii. d. Et de centena linie albe ii. d. ob. Et de centena linie late mensure. Et de centena linie stricte mensure i. d. ob. Et de quacunque alia marcandisa secundum
quod possit concordari dando fauorem extraneis [An
exposition of the words ' soc,' ' curia appenticii,' ' sac ' and ' port- mote ' follow.] Et per hoc verbum Toll clamant habere et percipere tolnetum de quibuscunque marcandisis emptis siue venditis infra libertatem Ciuitatis Cestrie. Videlicet, de qualibet Naue intrante libertatem predictam cum quibuscunque marcandisis seu victuali- bus vocatum Keyltoll iiii. d. et Clerico i. d. Et eciam de quo- libet marcatore habente marcandisas in dicta Naue excedentes valorem v. s. iiii. d. pro tolneto suo pro omnibus marcandisis suis iiii. d. et Clerico i. d. Et de quolibet dolio vini iiii. d. Et de qualibet carectata cuiuscunque marcandise intrante siue exeunte
dictam Ciuitatem et libertatem eiusdem iiii. d? [The toll
for horses, oxen, cows, heifers, sheep and cart-wheels is also given.
This is followed by an explanation of the terms c them,' ' infang-
"theif,' ' utfangtheif,' ' tholonium,' 'pannage,' ' pontage,' ' danegild,'
' gaywite,' 'lene,' ' stallage,' ' lastage,' ' passage ' and 'murage.' l]
Gild ' Isti subscripti intraverunt in Gyldam mercatoriam quando gilda
mercatory, vitjma sedft m Celdis Anno Domini 1250 primo tempore Ricardi
67 free men Clerici, Maioris Cestrie 3. Here begineth those rolles or records
made2. before mencioned by me in this booke, at what time there was 67
persons admitted vnto the franchises or liberties of this Cittie, as
by their severall names in the said record appeareth, for that the
said records had beginninge after this Cittie had Maiors in the
same and diverse charters graunted vnto them before.' — (MS.
Harley 2057, fol. 14.)
1 This interesting document may be found in MS. Harley 2057, ff. 63-65 (R. Holme's Cheshire Collections). The handwriting is probably of the early part of the sixteenth century. Harland has printed a very imperfect translation, which he found at Clithero. (Harland, Mamecestre, 189-195 ; Charters of Clithero, 27-33.)
2 This marginal note was added by a later hand.
3 Cf. King's Vale Royal, 163.
proofs ann 3[llustrations* 45
' Isti intraverunt Gildam Mercatoriam in Civitate Cestrie plena CHESTER. congregatione die veneris proxima ante festum Sancti Michaelis in monte tumba anno Domini 1317 et anno Regni Ed. xi., tern- pore Will, de Doncaster, Maioris Cestrie, electi per mortem Johannis Blunde ad vices ipsius Johannis. Supplende Hugonis leuelokers l de Valle Regalis et Warenno le Blunde, Custod. Gilde.' — (Ibid., fol. 1 6 ; King's Vale Royal, 170.)
The following is from a grant made by Prince Edward (32 Edw. Ill) to St. Mary's Nunnery, Chester : — ' Omnes homines et tenentes dictarum monialium ad voluntatem vel ad terminum annorum qui non sunt infra Gildam mercatoriam civitatis nostrae Cestriae vel jurati ad libertatem ejusdem villae, non ponantur super juratis,' etc. — (MS.J?ar/ey2ioi,fol. 188; Monast. Anglic.^ iv. 3i4-)2
' Et etiam quo Warranto clament habere Gildam suam marca- lem cum omnibus libertatibus et liberis consuetudinibus quas illi unquam liberius et quietius habuerunt temporibus antecessorum in predicta gilda.' Placita de quo Warranto, 14 Henry VII. — (MS. Harley 2115, fol. 73.)
' Ye liberties of ye Cittie of Chester by prescription before ye Cittizens had any Charter graunted. — Before they had any Charter to be shewed, yt is apparant that ye Cittie of Chester by prescrip- tion vsed and enioyed dyuers liberties and a Guylde marcatorie, viz., a brotherhood, of which Companie whoesoe were not could not vse trafficke, or trade within ye Cittie, which appeareth by Auncient Rowles of Recorde, wherein is contayned viz., hoc anno subscripto intrauerunt in Guyldam marcatoriam Ciuitatis predicted — (MS. Harley 2016, fol. 31.) The same manuscript, the handwriting of which appears to be of the early part of the seven- teenth century, contains several entries of fines paid by persons for being 'made free' of the City in the year 36 Henry VIII, — 'admissus fuit ad libertatem et ffranchesias Ciuitatis predicte3,' which was doubtless the equivalent of the ancient expression ' intrauit in Gildam mercatoriam.' — (Ibid.^ fol. 33.)
1 Later hand. a Cf. Harley MSS., 2115, fol. 52 ; 2060, fol. 29.
3 For similar entries, temp. Hen. VII and Eliz., see Harley MSS. 2093, ff. 32~39> 252 5 2105, fol. 262.
46
CHESTER. t By ye custome of ye said Citty vsed by all the tyme whereof ye memory of man was not to ye Contrary, no person or persons might vse any trade, misterie or occupation within ye said Citty or ye libertye thereof, vnlesse such person were a free man of ye said Citty and admitted and made free of the Company and Society of such trade as he would vse.' — Common Hall Assembly, April 1623. — (MS. Harley 2091, ff. 91-92.) There are many documents among the Harleian MSS. exhibiting the status of the various crafts, which succeeded to the functions of the ancient Gild Merchant of Chester1.
In the year 1766 the City authorities still attempted to enforce the ancient custom, c That no person whatsoever, not being free of the said City, might or ought to sell or put to sale any wares or merchandizes within the city or the liberties thereof by retail ; or keep any open or inner or other place or room for shew, sale or putting to sale of any wares or merchandizes by retail ; or to use or exercise any art, occupation, mystery or handicraft within the same city; the time of fairs excepted.' — (J. Burroiv, Reports of Cases, Lond. 1790, p. 1847.)
CHESTEKFIELB.
The following is taken from the charter of John Wake to his A.D. 1294. men of Chesterfield (22 Edward I) : — ' Nullus alius praeterquam burgenses vlnabit, secabit, aut emdet [i.e. vendet] pannos lineos vel laneos, nee coreas vel pelles virides, crudas, recentes aut sali- cas emat in mercato vel infra villam de Cestrefeud' . . . Et bur- genses habebunt Gildam suam mercatoriam cum omnibus rebus dictam gildam tangentibus Et nullus erit tinctor vel tana- tor aut cutistannati secator, nisi fuerit burgensis aut velit satisfacere
michi et heredibus meis et burgensibus Nullus homo
habeat lot neque scot cum burgensibus de mercandisis emptis per ipsos vel per aliquos suorum infra villam de Cestrefeud' nisi burgenses, sed ipsi burgenses vel sui servientes loco suo habeant lot et scot cum omnibus aliis more suo consueto et antiquo,' etc.
1 See MSS. Harley, 1996, fol. 699 ; 2054, & 89-90; 2104, fol. 348 ; Lanca- shire and Cheshire Records, i. 123.
proofs; ano ^illustrations. 47
— ( Yeatman, Chesterfield Records •, pp. 33-38 ; Addit. MS., Mus. CHESTERFIELD. Brit., 6667, ff. 708-709.)
Among the gild returns of 1388-1389 was one from the Gild of the Blessed Mary, whose members swore to maintain the liberties of Chesterfield and to go forth to do the business of the town ; and another from the Gild of the Holy Cross of the Merchants of Chesterfield. — (English Gilds, 165-169.)
CHICHESTEB *.
' Stephanus Rex Anglie Episcopo Cicestr' et prepositis Salutem. Precipio quod Burgenses mei de Cicestr' ita bene et honorifice et quiete habeant eorum Consuetudines et Rectitudines de Burgo et de Gilda eorum mercatoria, sicuti eas melius et honorabilius et quiete habuerunt tempore Willelmi Regis Avi mei et Avunculorum meorum postea et tempore Rogeri Comitis. Et defendo super meam forisfacturam ne aliquis eis injuriam faciat. Teste Epi- scopo Wint'. Apud Rading.' — (If ay, Chichester, 577.)
' Henricus [II] Rex Anglie et Dux Normannie et Aquitanie et Comes Andegavie Justiciariis et Vicecomitibus et Ministris suis totius Anglie Salutem. Sciatis me concessisse civibus meis de Cicestr' qui sunt de gilda mercatoria omnes libertates et liberas consuetudines suas infra Burgum et extra, ut eas habeant ita plene et libere et quiete et honorifice sicut plene et honorificentius habere solebant tempore Regis Henrici avi mei ; et nullus in Civitate Cicestr1 vendat pannos per detaillum, nisi sit de gilda mercatoria, sicut idem Rex Henricus per Breve suum precepit. Quare volo et firmiter precipio quod ipsi habeant et teneant gildam suam cum omnibus libertatibus et consuetudinibus ad earn pertinentibus, sicut melius solebant habere tempore Regis Henrici. Ne quis eis super hoc forisfacere presumat. Testibus, Reg' Comite Corn', Henr' de Essex Con', Ranulfo de Broc. Apud Brugiax.'— (Ibid., 578.)
The Gild Merchant of Chichester is also mentioned in charters
1 See Turner, The Merchant Guild of Chichester, Sussex Arch. Coll.'s, xv. 165-177.
48 Cf)e (Sift flgjercfmnt*
CHICH ESTER, of 30 Henry VI and 15 Jac. I. Besides the ' Citizens' who consti- tuted the Common Council, there used to be c Freemen' of Chichester. The latter had no voice in the town meetings, admission into this class being considered a mere compliment ; but they had a share in the elective franchise. An entry made in the town records in 1821 states 'that the individual is admitted to the freedom of the merchant guild within the city. The oath of admission is, that the person admitted shall be a true and faithful free citizen and maintain the merchant guild.' — (Munic. Corp. Com. 1835, pp. 715, 716, 719.)
CONWAY.
Quo warranto proceedings, similar to those against Beaumaris described above, were brought against Conway, Bela, Newburgh, Carnarvon, Harlech, and Crukyn (temp. Edw. III). In most of these cases the clause explaining the Gild is as follows : — ' Et per illam clausulam, quod habeant gildam mercatoriam, etc. clamant quod omnes in predicta villa manentes et libertatibus eiusdem gaudere volentes erunt Jurati coram eisdem burgensibus ad jura et libertates eiusdem ville iuste manutenendas, etc., et dabunt ad communem vtilitatem ville quandam custumam voca- tam hans. Et postquam hoc fecerint et lot et scot cum eis sol- uerint, erunt liberi Burgenses, etc. et libere possunt ibidem emere et vendere et omnibus priuelegiis et libertatibus eiusdem ville gaudere absque contradiccione alicuius.' — (Record of Caernarvon^
I6S-)1
A.D. 1284. The Gild Merchant of Conway was granted or confirmed 1 2 Edward I.— (Ibid., 163.)
COVENTBY.
A.D. 1268. Letters' Patent, 52 Henry III : — The burgesses of Coventry to have all their liberties, to hold in free burgage, to enjoy all the laws and customs of Lincoln. The Prior and Convent of Coventry to have coroners ; the men of the same Prior and Convent to
1 See also Record of Caernarvon, 176-181, 186-187, 194-195, 197-198.
Proofs anti 3|liu$tration& 49
have 'Gilda Mercatoria' with all liberties belonging to it. Cer- COVENTRY. tain men of Coventry had prevented them from having ' Gilda Mercatoria,' beating the Prior's men, etc., etc. — (Record Office, Patent Roll 52 Hen. Ill, mem. 25, dorse.)1
Inquisitio ad quod damnum (14 Edw. III). ' Coventre. A.D. 1340. Homines habuerunt unam gildam mercatoriam et imam fraterni- tatem fratrum et sororum ejusdem gilde et unum magistrum, etc.' — (Cal. Rot. Chart., etc., 308.) 'Pro gilda mercatoria et fraterni- tate infra villam de Coventre habenda.' — (14 Edw. III. Cal. Rot. Pat., 139.)
The following return was made by the ' Gilda Mercatoria de Couentre ' (Jan., 1389) : —
' Richard Clerc Meistre de la Gilde Marchand deinz la ville de Couentre certifie a vostre hautesse qe le noble Roy Edward, qe dieu assoil, Aiel a nostre Henry le Roy qore est, a cause qe la ville de Couentre et les marchauntz en la dite ville enhabitantz auoient si graunt trauaile entour lour marchandises pur loynteigni- te de la meere, et mayntefoitz enpouerez a cause suisdite, de sa grace especiale come par sa chartre apert, graunta par mesme sa chartre as les hommes de la dite ville de Couentre qils et lour Successours aueroient vne Gilde Marchand et vne fraternitee des ffreres et soeres de mesme la Gilde en la ville auandite, et vn Meistre ou Gardeyn de toutz yceux qi en la dite Gilde seroient acceptez eslire, et Chaunteries, Almoignes et autres pres oueres pur eux et lour [bienfaisours] ordeigner, et les ordinances par la dite Gilde et toutz choses qe a la dite Gilde et Communalte de ycelle touchantz faire maintenere puissont ; les queux hommes de la dite ville de Couentre par vertue de graunt susdit ordeigneront vne fraternite et freres et soeres des eux mesmes, et vn Meistre ap- pelle Jurdan' de Shepeye eslirent. Et ordeigneront les ordinances desouz escriptz, a durer solonc la purport de la chartre suisdite, le tenure de quele sensuyte, quele chartre feust apres renouellez par mesme laiel par cause qe lescripture de soun seal feust chaungez, come par la copie dicelle auxi ensuante piert pluis au pleyn.
1 Cf. Charter Roll 51 Hen. Ill, mem. 8 ; Merew. and Stephens, 469.
E
50
COVENTRY. ' Edwardus [III] del gratia, etc. Omnibus ad quos presentes littere peruenerint salutem. Quia accepimus per inquisicionem per vicecomitem nostrum Warr' de mandate nostro captam et in can- cellaria nostra retornatam, quod non est ad dampnum seu preiudi- cium nostrum aut alterius cuiuscumque seu nocumentum ville de Couentre, si concedamus hominibus eiusdem ville de Couentre quod ipsi et eorum Successores vnam Gildam Mercatoriam et vnam fraternitatem fratrum et sororum eiusdem Gilde in eadem villa habere, et vnum magistrum siue Custodem de omnibus illis qui ad Gildam illam assumpti fuerint eligere, et cantarias, elemo- sinas et alia . pietatis opera pro ipsis et omnibus benefactoribus suis statuere, et ordinaciones pro Gilda predicta et omnibus Gildam illam et Communitatem eiusdem tangentibus manutenendis facere possint ; — Nos per finem quern prefati homines de Couentre fece- runt nobiscum concessimus et licenciam dedimus pro nobis et heredibus nostris, quantum in nobis est, eisdem hominibus, quod ipsi et eorum Successores vnam Gildam Mercatoriam in villa pre- dicta cum omnibus ad huiusmodi Gildam pertinentibus habeant imperpetuum, et quod iidem homines vnam fraternitatem fratrum et sororum eiusdem Gilde facere, et vnum magistrum siue Custo- dem fraternitatis illius eligere, et cantarias et elemosinas ac alia pietatis opera pro ipsis et omnibus benefactoribus suis statuere et inuenire, et de Gilda predicta ac aliis Gildam predictam contin- gentibus manutenendis ordinare, et ordinaciones inde factas con- seruare valeant, perpetuis temporibus duraturis. In cuius rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste A.D. 1340. me ipso apud Westm' vicesimo die Maii anno regni nostri Anglie quartodecimo, regni vero nostri ffrancie primo.'
The second charter of the same king follows ; then, ' Les or- dinances des ffreres et soeres de la dite Gilde.' Of the sixteen ordinances given only one relates to mercantile affairs : — ' Item si ascun homme ou femme de la dite fraternite qui a lour poiar ad este bien voillantz a lestat dycelle par ascune mesaueynture de seele sanz sa defaute propre chiete en pouert, la dite ffraternite luy apprestera vne somme dargent pur merchander et profiter pur vn an ou deux a lour auys sanz rien prendre de gayn. Et si ascune
ann Illustrations s1
homme ou femme de la dite fraternite soit si feble par maladie COVENTRY. ou veillesse qil ne purra trauailler ne marchaunder, il sera troue a les costages de la dite Gilde couenablement solonc ce qe son estat demaunde.' — (Record Office, Misc. Chancery, Gilds, 49s.)1
1 Also yt ys ordeynyd bye a generail Counsel of all the Crafte and Craftes, and also that the Wryghts Crafte of Coventre schall paye to the Pageant IQS. uppon Whytsonday or else by Corpus Christi daye, uppon the payne of 2os., hallfe to the mayor and hallfe to the Crafte and bycause they haue no more to doo wythe the Pageant but pay eyng there ios., etc.2. . . . Also yt ys ordeynyd be a consell of alle the fyllyschape of the crafts in the yer of yer lorde 1475, tnat tyme beyng mastur John Goodknabaff, and hys
fylleys John Bontyng, John Swyfft, that [A dirge and mass
to be celebrated every year for ' all the bredyryn and systyryn.'] And what mastyr kype not thye Dyrd he schall pay 6s. %d. And how [i. e. who] that of the ffalyschape pay not to the dyrd, he schall pay to the Mastyr 3^. ^d. And therto all we be acord boss namys be aforsyde.' — ( Wanlefs Collectanea, MS. Harley 6466, ff. 5-6.)
DEKBY.
The Gild Merchant of Derby was confirmed by John, Henry III and Edward III 3.
' Burgenses ville de Derby summoniti fuerunt ad respondendum 4 Edward III. domino Regi de placito quo waranto clament omnes libertates •A"I>' 133°* subscriptas : . . . . et habere gildam mercatoriam cum omni- bus libertatibus et liberis consuetudinibus que ad gildam merca- toriam debent sive solebant pertinere. [Many other liberties are enumerated. The burgesses exhibit charters and defend their
privileges.] EtWillelmus deDenum,qui sequiturproRege,
dicit quod ex quo ipsi habent villam predictam ad feodi firmam, etc., et tolneta predicta que ipsi clamant infra loca predicta eis concessa fuerunt infra tempus memorie, et ipsi advocant capere de
1 For a translation of these ordinances see English Gilds', 228-232.
2 An ordinance immediately preceding this is dated 1432.
3 Rot. Chart., 138 ; Plac. de quo War., 158-160.
E 2
52 €&e ®iID agercfmnt
intrinsecis unum tolnetum et de extrinsecis pro eadem re duplum, etc., quod est contra commune jus, etc., et oppressio, etc., petit judicium pro Rege, etc. Dicit similiter quod gilda mercatoria conceditur burgensibus ville predicte, ut patet per cartam predict! Henrici Regis, etc. ; et dicit quod singulares persone, burgenses ejusdem burgi connectuntur ad invicem, et dicunt se esse socios de gilda predicta et alios non, et colore illius gilde mercatorie usi sunt opprimere populum venientem ad villam predictam cum rebus venalibus, quod nullus vendat res suas in villa pre- dicta alicui nisi illi qui fuerit de societate predicta, et hoc ad voluntatem ipsius ementis, etc. Et similiter dicit quod eedem persone non permittunt extraneos mercatores, cujuscunque mer- candise fuerit, vendere aliquas mercandisas in villa predicta nisi tantum in grosso, et hoc uni eorum ; et lucrum quod inde provenit non vertitur in comodum communitatis ville predicte set tantum in comodum eorum qui sunt de societate predicta ; qui quidem usus cedunt in injuriam, oppressionem et depauperacionem populi. Unde petit judicium, etc. Et dicit quod racione gilde mercatorie predicte nullus forinsecus mercator emere debet in grosso vina, lanam, pelles lanatas, corea seu plumbum de aliquo forinseco nisi tantum de illis qui sunt de gilda predicta; nee eciam extranei mercatores vendere debent aliquas mercandisas nisi tantum in grosso, et hoc uni de gilda predicta, etc. Unde petit judicium,
etc.'
' xn Juratores dicunt . . . [The tolls, etc. at the markets and fairs of Derby are given.] Et dicunt quod singulares persone connectuntur ad invicem, et dicunt se esse de gilda mercatoria et alios non permittunt esse de gilda predicta, nisi satisfecerint prius eis ut sint de eadem gilda; et racione illius gilde usi sunt quod si aliquis infra villam predictam deportavit corea bovina, vel lanam, vel pelles lanutas vendendas, et unus de gilda predicta posuerit pedem suum super rem ipsam et apposuerit precium pro quo earn voluerit emere, nullus alius quam ille qui fuerit de societate predicta audebit illam emere, nee ille cujus res ilia fuit audebit rem illam vendere alii quam uni qui fuerit de societate predicta, nee pro majori precio quam ille qui fuerit de societate
proofs ano 3(Hustration& 53
predicte pretendebat. Et dicunt quod lucrum quod inde pro- DERBY. venit non vertitur in comodum communitatis burgi predict! set tantum in comodum illorum qui sunt de societate predicta. Et quia burgenses predicti habent villam predictam ad feodi firmam de domino Rege et ceperunt superflua tolneta et injusta, etc., et ultra id quod ipsi cognoscunt se posse juste capere, etc. Et similiter pro aliis injuriis et oppressionibus quas convictum est per juratam predictam ipsos fecisse, predicta villa et omnes libertates
predicte abuse, etc. capiantur in manum domini Regis, etc
. . . Et super hoc vicessimo octavo die Januarii proximo sequente iidem burgenses fecerunt finem cum domino Rege de quadraginta marcis pro predictis villa et libertatibus, etc. sibi restituendis, etc. Ideo predicte villa et libertates eis restituantur utendi liber- tatibus illis licitis modis. Et quod non capiant superflua tolneta, prout superius convictum est ipsos percepisse, sub periculo quod incumbit, etc. Et quod utantur gilda mercatoria eo modo quod non cadat in oppressionem populi, etc., et ad presens sine die salvo jure Regis, etc.' — (Pladta dequo War., 158-161.)
DEVIZES \
The Gild Merchant was granted to Devizes by Edward I, Edward III and Henry IV. — (Way/en, Devizes, 158, 287; Lansdoivne MS. 230, fol. 5.)
A grant of 3 Jac. I says : — 'Ac insuper, pro eo quod ex con- A.D. 1605, cessione aliquorum predecessorum nostrorum Regum Anglie ab antiquis temporibus infra burgum predictum habebatur et in dies habetur guilda mercatoria, ac eciam cum Burgus predictus tempo- ribus retroactis Celebris fuerat incolatu diuersorum artificium, qui in confeccione pannorum laneorum operam suam posuerunt, vnde pauperiores infra burgum predictum inhabitantes victum sibi querebant laudabilem et honestum, qui iam ad magnam inopiam reducti sint, pro eo quod quidam extranei non inhabitantes infra burgum predictum in mercatis infra eundum burgum quolibet die
1 See Edw. Kite, The Guild of Merchants, etc. in Devizes, Wilts. Arch, and Nat. Hist. Soc., Mag., iv. 160-174 ; Waylen, Devizes, 287-290.
54 €&e <$ilD agercfmntv
DEVIZES. Jovis in qualibet Septimana tentis merces et mercimonia sua inferunt, alia quam frumentum, grana, victualia, animalia, lanam ac telam laneam, anglice other then corne, grayne, victual!, catell, woll and wollen yarne, ac ea ibidem vendunt et distrahunt per retallium et non in grosso, ad magnum habitancium eiusdem burgi nocumentum, — Sciatis igitur quod nos meliori statui eius- dem burgi prospicere volentes, ex ampliori gracia et mero motu nostris volumus ac pro nobis, heredibus et successoribus nostris per presentes concedimus Maiori et Burgensibus burgi de Devizes predicti et successoribus suis [et] per presentes prohibemus quod nullus huiusmodi extraneus inhabitans seu residens extra burgum ilium, libertates seu precinctum eiusdem in villis vel locis aliis ruralibus, vendat aut vendicioni exponat vel proferat aliquas mer- candizas siue mercimonia alia quam frumentum, grana, victualia, animalia, lanam ac telam laneam ac omnimodum pannum lineum vel laneum ex eorum propria factura, anglice corne, grayne, victual!, catell, Woll and Wollen yarne and all manner of clothe, linen or wollen, of there oivne makinge, contra formam cuiusdam statuti inde editi et prouisi infra burgum predictum aut libertates et precinctum eiusdem, alicui persone siue aliquibus personis in aliquo alio modo quam in grosso, exceptis temporibus nundi- niarum et feriarum, anglice vocatarum fayers, infra burgum pre- dictum aut precinctum eiusdem tenendarum, sub penis et penali- tatibus in Statutis regni nostri Anglie, inde editis et prouisis, con- tentis et specificatis.' — (Record Office, Patent Roll 3 Jac. I, pars
*
1 8, mem. I5-)1
The following occurs in the 'Visitation of Wiltshire' (1565) :— ' These be the Armes apertayning and belonging to the Feloship and Corporation of the Burgesses and Marchant Adventerers, Clothiers and Weavers, Drapers and Tailors and others vsing any Faccultie or Art within the Towne and Borough of the Devises, which Armes I Clarenciux, King of Armes of the Sowth est and West parts [of this] Relme of Englond, haue Ratified and Con- firmed to all those of the said Corporation before mentioned and to ther successors foreuer ; and at this present visitation was 1 Cf. Merew. and Stephens, 1493.
proofs and 3(Hustration& 55
Edward Haynes, Maior, Cheefe hed and governor, Willm. Rutty DEVIZES, and Richard Denny, Wardens of the Clothiers and Weavers, Willm. Preston and John Smyth, Wardens of the Drapers and Taylors, John Chappell and Thomas Fitzall, Wardens of the Mercers. In witnes wherof, etc.' — (MS. Harley, 1565, fol. 39.)
On the preceding page of the same MS. are the arms of the borough. — 'These armes are belonging and apertaining to the Maior, Aldermen and Burgesses of the Towne and Borough of
the Devyses Edward Haynes, Maior.' The names of
the Coroner, Aldermen and other town officers follow.
There is a ' Booke of Constitucions, Decrees, Statutes and Or- denaunces for the Fraternity, Companye and feloweshippe of the Drapers,' enacted by the Mayor and Common Council of Devizes in the year 1614. It begins with a confirmation by the Mayor, Town-Clerk and Burgesses of the various Constitutions therein contained for the government of the Guild, ' setting forth that whereas the Mayor and Burgesses by ancient custom, and by divers grants and confirmations of sundry the Kings of England, have and enjoy, among other privileges, a Guild of Merchants, and whereas the King (James I) by Letters Patent, bearing date at Westminster, July loth, in the 3rd year of his reign, hath not only confirmed to them their former privileges, but granted them power to make new ones from time to time. At a general assembly held in the Guildhall, June lyth, 1614, it is ordained that the Guild of Merchants shall be divided into three several frater- nities, companies, or fellowships,'— the Drapers, Mercers, and Leathersellers. The Company of Drapers shall choose annually a Master and two Wardens. All exercising the trades of clothiers, weavers, woollen-drapers, tailors, hosiers, fullers, shearmen, spin- sters, coopers, carpenters, masons, tilers, joiners, cutlers, smiths, and ironmen within the borough shall join the Fraternity of Drapers. The only ' constitution ' of particular interest to us is the follow- ing : * No foreigner or stranger, not being a Burgess or inhabi- tant of the Borough and free of the Fraternity, to sell within the Borough, except on fair days, any commodities appertaining to either of the trades included by the Fraternity other than
DEVIZES, corn, grain, victuals, wool, woolen or linen yarn, woolen or linen cloth of their own making, upon pain of forfeiture for every offense, forty shillings.' The Fraternity of the Mercers, whose ordinances were similar to those of the Drapers, included the mercers, grocers, linen drapers, haberdashers, vintners, inn- holders, bakers, brewers, apothecaries, barbers, surgeons, chand- lers, painters, brasiers, and glaziers. — (Kite, Guild of Merchants in Devizes \ 162-171.)
The preamble of certain ordinances, made by the Common A.D. 1614. Council of Devizes in the year 1 2 Jac. I and confirmed circa 1628, begins thus : — 'Whereas the Major and Burgesses of this Burrough of Devizes by antient custome time out of mind used and had within the same Burrough and also by force and vertue of Divers Grants and confirmacions of Sundry of the Noble Kings and Queens of England, Progenitors of our Sovereign Lord King Charles King's Majestic that now is, have and enioye, among many other customes, liberties, franchises and immuni- tyes within the foresaid Burrough, a Guilde of Marchants, and have all the time whereof there is no Memory of Man to the Con- trary used to make, ordeine and constituate good and wholesome Lawes, Ordinaunces and Statutes, fit, wholsome, profitable and necessary for the well Ordering, good Rule and Goverment of the said Burrough and of the Burgesses, Artificers, inhabitants and resiants within the same.' — (Devizes Register •, Lansdowne MS. 230, fol. 1 8.)
DOECHESTEB.
A.D. 1629. Charles I in the fifth year of his reign granted the burgesses a charter, declaring them a free borough and body corporate and politic by the name of the mayor, bailiffs, aldermen and burgesses of the borough of Dorchester; the two bailiffs, six aldermen and six other burgesses to form the common council ; no merchant, artificer, etc. unless he be a free burgess or in- habitant, to exercise any art, nor to have any shop or standing, to vend any wares, except at fairs or markets, etc. The inhabitants of the borough are constituted a body corporate or
Proofs anu 3[ilustration& 57
politic by the name of the governor, assistants and freemen, who DORCHESTER.
shall be capable of purchasing and receiving lands in fee, etc. ;
to have a common seal; to constitute a governor of the freemen;
and twenty-four of the freemen to be chosen, called the common
council of the freemen, to be assistants to the governor touching
their commerce ; the governor and four assistants to be chosen
out of the twenty-four by the freemen, and five other assistants by
the mayor out of the capital burgesses ; to hold four courts yearly,
to admit any men to the liberty of the borough, and four other
courts yearly to consult concerning the markets ; the governor and
assistants to make laws for the good government of the markets
and all societies of arts, mysteries and of all merchants and
artificers, etc., to fine delinquents, etc. ; the governor to be chosen
yearly by the freemen, etc., etc. J — (Huf chins, Dorset^ 3rd edition,
ii. 349.)
At a special court of the governor, assistants and freemen of the borough of Dorchester, held Sept. 24th, 1630, it was agreed by the court that the tradesmen and handicraftsmen of the borough should be divided into five companies, viz. — I. Merchants, com- prising the merchants, mercers, grocers, haberdashers of small wares, linen drapers, apothecaries, booksellers, upholsterers, button-makers, barber surgeons. II. Clothiers, comprising the clothiers, woolen drapers, haberdashers of hats, weavers, dyers, tailors, hosiers, feltmakers, cloth workers, weavers, borellers. III. Ironmongers, including the ironmongers, goldsmiths, pewterers, smiths, cutlers, plumbers, gunners, painters, glaziers, needle- makers, pin-makers, card-makers, clock-makers, brasiers, tinkers. IV. Fishmongers, including brewers, makers, bakers, innholders, alehouse-keepers, joiners, carpenters, vintners, coopers, butchers, cooks, masons, helliers, thatchers, ' seviers,' mill-wrights, wheelers, fishmongers, fletchers. V. Shoemakers and Skinners, comprising the shoemakers, tanners, glovers, chandlers, skinners, furriers, point- makers, parchment-makers, sadlers, curriers, purse-makers, collar- makers, ropers. At the same meeting it was agreed that the
1 The corporation of the ' governor and assistants of the freemen ' was in exist- ence long before the grant of this charter (Munic. Corp. Com. 1835, p. 1275).
58 Cfje
DORCHESTER, wardens of the said companies (there was one warden for each of the five companies) shall attend all of the Governor's courts held during the year, and shall inquire concerning all oppressions and abuses in trading within the compass of their ward, either by foreigners or by freemen, their report being submitted in writing to the Governor. — (Hutchins, ii. 338-339.)
' These companies have become extinct ; but the corporation of the governor, assistants and freemen still meet every year on the Monday after Michaelmas, and hold a court at which a governor and assistants are chosen, and any respectable inhabitants of the borough who may apply, are admitted to their freedom.' — (Munic. Corp. Com. 1835, p. 1275.)
DBOGHEDA.
\
In the year 1229 Henry III granted: — 'Quod villa nostra de
Drogheda versus Uriel liber burgus sit imperpetuum, et quod burgenses ejusdem burgi habeant geldam mercatoriam cum hansa et aliis libertatibus et liberis consuetudinibus ad gildam illam pertinentibus. Et quod nullus qui non sit de gelda ilia mercan- disam aliquam in predicto burgo faciat, nisi de voluntate eorundem
burgensium Concessimus eciam eis quod nullus extra-
neus mercator pannos in predicto burgo ad decisionem vendat, vel vina ad brocham, nisi in grosso.' — (Gilbert, Documents of IreL,
93-95-) *
Another charter of 1253 contains the clause : — ' Et quod nullus extraneus mercator moram faciat in eodem burgo cum mercan- disis suis, pro mercimoniis vendendis, ultra quadraginta dies.' — (Ibid., 133.)
James I in 1609 granted to the corporation that there should be a gild of merchants of the staple in the town and county ; the mayor, sheriffs, burgesses, and commons of the town yearly to choose the mayor and constables of the gild ; no merchants except those of the staple to buy or sell any merchandise of the staple within the county, nor ship them unless purchased of a
1 Cf. Chartae, etc., Hiberniae, p. 20.
proofs ann 3illu$trations, 59
merchant of the staple in the town; the mayor, constables, and DROGHEDA. merchants of the staple to make bye-laws ; none to sell or buy by retail or private bargain any merchandise within the franchises, except merchants of the town and county. By another charter of 1618 the mayor, sheriffs, burgesses, and commons were allowed to divide and distinguish themselves into different gilds and fraternities, according to their conditions, arts, and mysteries, each with its own hall, master, wardens, etc. ; all the gilds were to be governed and directed by the mayor. — (Munic. Corp. Com. 1835, Ireland, pp. 810-811.)
In 1672 it was enacted that all foreigners, who then were, or should be, resident merchants, traders, artisans, etc. should, on their request and on payment of twenty shillings each, be admitted a freeman of all or any separate gild during his residence and should have and enjoy all privileges and immunities of trading, buying, working, and selling in as large and ample a manner as any freeman. — (U Alton, Drogheda, i. 195.) This law applied to ' any city, walled town, or corporation ' of Ireland. — (Rules ', Orders, etc. by the Lord Lieut, and Council, p. 7 et passim.)
DUBLIN.
Earl John in 1192 granted the citizens of Dublin, among other liberties : — ' Quod nullus extraneus mercator emat infra ciuitatem de homine extraneo blada, vel coria, vel lanam, nisi de ciuibus. Et quod nullus extraneus habeat tabernam de uino, nisi in naui. . . . . Et quod nullus extraneus uendat pannos in ciuitate ad decisionem. Et quod nullus extraneus mercator moretur in villa cum mercibus suis, pro mercibus suis uendendis, nisi per XL. dies.
Item quod habeant omnes racionabiles gildas suas, sicut
burgenses de Bristol!' habent, uel melius habere consueuerunt.' — (Gilbert, Documents of Ire!., 5 3-54.) 1
Among the records of Dublin there are various ancient Rolls of
1 These privileges were confirmed by King John in the beginning of his reign, — Chartae, etc. Hiberniae, p. n. In the year 20 Edward I Limerick received a charter, modelled after that of Dublin, in which these same clauses occur, — Add. MS., Mus. Brit., 19865, fol. 80 ; Chartae Hiberniae, p. 36.
. the Gild Merchant. The oldest probably date from the close of the twelfth century and consist of six membranes, each contain- ing on the average about 275 names. Opposite each name is placed a sum of money varying from two to eleven shillings. Many are described as ordinary craftsmen, — 'tannator,' 'carnifex,' ' cirotecarius,' ' lorimer,' etc. ; many are from towns in England, — 'de Oxonia,' 'de Wintonia,' 'de Bristollo,' etc.1 A similar Roll of the year 1226 begins thus : — ' Hii subscripti intrauerunt in gilde- mercaturam, Roberto Pollard et Petro de Ballimor existentibus prepositis, anno regni regis Henrico decimo.' It contains about 220 names, each person paying nine or ten shillings 2. Two other membranes of the years 1256 and 1257 have a similar heading. One contains 64 names, the other 140. Among them are the following : — Ricard le chapman ; Adam blundus de Ardras, tan- nator; Rogerus de Winton, coruisarius; Ricardus de London, cordewanarius ; Robertus de Eborak, parmentarius ; Hugo tan- nator, de Louethe ; Nicolaus de London, pelliparius ; Unfridus de la Velde, carnifex, etc. 3. There are also various lists of names (A.D. 1225-1250), with headings similar to the following : — 'Hii subscripti intrauerunt in libertate ciuitatis, Philippo filio Stephani, Elia Burel existentibus prepositis4.'
A.D. 1451. Henry VI in the 2gth year of his reign allowed certain persons to found a Merchants' Gild of Dublin, to which he granted various fol. i. liberties5: — ' Concessimus eis et licentiam dedimus pro nobis et heredibus nostris ac successoribus nostris, quantum in nobis est, quod ipsi vel illi qui de ipsis superuixerint ad laudem et honorem Sancte Trinitatis quandam fraternitatem siue gildam artis merca-
1 Gilbert, Documents, pp. vii-ix, and 3-48.
2 Ibid., 82-88.
3 Ibid., 136-140.
* Ibid., 112-123.
5 The documents that follow in the text are copied from Egerton MS., Mus. Brit., 1765, a paper volume in folio bearing the title, ' City of Dublin. — Corpora- tion Records.' Ff. 1-118 consist of extracts made by William Monck Mason (nineteenth century) from the records of the Merchant Gild of Dublin, viz., the Books of Bye-Laws, the Books of Orders and the Journals of the Gild, extending from 1438 to 1824. The remainder of the MS. (ff. 119-204) contains materials relating to various other gilds of Dublin.
anti ^lustrations, 61
torum Ciuitatis Dublin ' successiue et in successionem perpetuam DUBLIN. de seipsis et aliis personis, tarn hominibus quam mulieribus, in capella Sancte Trinitatis in ecclesia Cathedrali Sancte Trinitatis Dublin' nunc factam et ordinatam de novo incipere, inchoare, inire, facere, fundare, ordinare, et stabilire . . . . Et quod fratres fraterni- tatis aut gilde sic incepte, inchoate, inite, facte, fundate, ordinate, et stabilite, singulis annis duos magistros et duos gardianos de seipsis [eligere possint], qui regimen, gubernacionem, et super- uisionem fraternitatis siue gilde huiusmodi ac custodiam omnium terrarum et tenementorum, reddituum, seruiciorum, possessionum, bonorum et catallorum, que eidem fraternitati aut gilde pre- dicte exnunc adquiri, dari, concedi, aut assignari, vel ad eandem fraternitatem siue gildam pertinere contigerint, habeant
[To have a common seal, to plead and to be im-
pleaded and to make ordinances.] Et insuper de gratia nostra fol. 2. habundanti concessimus eisdem Magistris et Gardianis ac fratri- bus dicte fraternitatis siue gilde et eorum successoribus, magistris, gardianis, et fratribus eiusdem fraternitatis seu gilde imperpetuum quod nullus alienigena emat in retallia siue in grosso infra dictam ciuitatem vel suburbium eiusdem, seu infra franchesias dicte ciuitatis aliquas mercandizas nisi de mercatoribus eiusdem Ciui- tatis infra dictam Ciuitatem et in suburbio eiusdem Ciuitatis commorantibus ; et si aliquis talis alienigena culpabilis et conuictus inde in futuro inuentus fuerit coram magistris et gardianis dicte fraternitatis siue gilde pro tempore existentibus, per inquisitionem vel examinationem debitam, seu aliquo alio modo legittimo, quod tune bene liceat prefatis magistris et gardianis huiusmodi sic culpabiles et conuictos per eorum warranta seu warrantum sub sigillo commune eiusdem fraterni- tatis siue gilde prisone nostre ciuitatis nostre predicte mancipare et deliberare1. Et quod custos dicte prisone nostre eiusdem ciuitatis nostre pro tempore existens vel eius deputatus ibidem huiusmodi sic culpabiles et conuictos per *warranta seu warrantum dictorum magistrorum et gardianorum dicte fraterni- tatis siue gilde pro tempore existencium custodie prisone predicte 1 MS. ' mancipand. et deliberand.'
62 c&e <$i
/WB/./A/. recipiat, ac eos ibidem saluo custodiat, donee per warranta seu warrantum dictorum magistrorum et gardianorum eiusdem frater- nitatis seu gilde extra prisonam nostram predictam deliberentur ; dantes et concedentes pro nobis et heredibus ac successoribus nostris imperpetuum, quantum in nobis est, predicto custodi et eius deputato ibidem plenam tenore presentium potestatem huiusmodi sic sibi commissos seu committendos auctoritate predicta recipiendi et in prisona nostra Ciuitatis nostre predicte custodiendi, donee huiusmodi sic culpabiles et conuicti a prisona nostra predicta per warranta seu warrantum dictorum magistrorum et gardianorum, ut predictum est, deliberentur absque aliqua impetitione, perturbatione, aut grauamine nostri vel heredum nostrorum quorumcumque, vel officiariorum seu ministrorum nostrorum aut heredum nostrorum quorumcumque
in futuro ' [They may found a chantry and hold lands, etc.
to the value of forty pounds per annum] *.
fol. 3. These Letters Patent were inspected and confirmed by Queen Elizabeth in the year 1577, who in addition formally incorporated the Fraternity and granted : — 'Quod ipsi et singuli eorum qui de
fol. 4. tempore in tempus electi et admissi sunt et erunt in et ad fraternitatem seu gildam predictam solummodo habeant et habebunt potestatem et auctoritatem emendi et vendendi in grosso siue retallia omnes et singulas mercandizas quascumque, omnimodis victualiis solummodo exceptis, que in futuro con- tigerint afferri in ciuitatem, suburbium, libertates seu franchezias eiusdem ciuitatis Dublinie aut in limites, bundas, circuitum vel precinctum earum aliquarum vel alicuius, tarn per mare quam per terras. Et quod nullus alienigena, extraneus mercator, aut aliqua alia persona, siue alique alie persone quecumque, que in eandam fraternitatem siue gildam predictam non sunt vel fuerint electi, admissi, siue electus vel admissus, emat aut vendat, seu
1 That the GilA existed long before this grant is evident from fol. 12:' the whyche [liberties of the gild] ys all alowyt by owr king that nowe ys, henri the fyfte.' — I have collated the Egerton transcript with the MS. in the Record Office (Patent Roll, 19 Eliz., pars 12, mem. 7-10) and corrected some errors in the former.
proofs anD 3(llustratzon$, 63
emant aut vendant, nee ad vendendum ponent seu efferent vel ponet DUBLIN. seu offerret aliquas mercandizas, exceptis preexceptis, in grosso siue retallia infra dictam ciuitatem, suburbium, franchezias vel libertates eiusdem, seu infra circuitum, ambitum, seu precinctum ecclesi- arum cathedralium Sancti Patricii de Dublinia vel iuxta Dubliniam, vel infra locum vel locos vulgariter vocatum vel vocatos the Bishoppes glebe, vel infra circuitum, ambitum seu precinc- tum ecclesie cathedralis Sancte Trinitatis infra dictam ciuitatem Dublinie vulgariter nuncupate Cristes Churche, vel infra ambitum siue precinctum Sancti Sepulchri vel Abbatie Sancte Marie Virginis vel Abbatie vocate Thomas Courte, aut infra aliquos alios locos, glebas, terras glebales, fundos seu alios locos quoscumque scituatos, iacentes, vel existentes infra ambitum, limites, circuitum vel precinctum eiusdem ciuitatis seu libertatis vel francheziarum eiusdem, nisi de mercatori vel mercatoribus vel ad mercatorem seu mercatores eiusdem fraternitatis siue gilde, sub pena forisfacture omnium et singularum mercandi- zarum aliter emptarum seu venditarum vel ad vendicionem positarum vel vendi pretensarum. Et similiter volumus et concedimus ex gratia nostra speciali, certa scientia et mero motu nostris, quod omnes et singuli alienigene, extranei mer- catores et alie persone quecumque que in eandem frater- nitatem siue gildam predictam non sunt electi aut admissi, ut predictum est, de tempore in tempus portabunt omnes suas mercandizas quascumque, exceptis preexceptis, infra dictam ciuitatem, suburbium, franchezias, vel libertates eiusdem, siue per mare siue per terras portatas, ad locum infra eandem ciuitatem vocatum le common hall eiusdem ciuitatis, vel ad quemcumque alium locum conuenientem, vel locos, infra dictam ciuitatem, suburbium, franchezias, sive libertates eiusdem, quem vel quos magistri et gardiani fraternitatis siue gilde predicte, qui pro tempore fuerint, ad hoc assignabunt, sub pena foris- facture omnium et singularum mercandizarum in aliis locis fol. 4 b. positarum. Et in predicto loco vocato le common hall siue in loco alio quocumque ad mercandizas reponendas per magistros et gardianos eiusdem fraternitatis siue gilde predicte, ut pre-
64
0U5/.//Y. dicitur, assignato, iidem alienigene, extranei mercatores et omnes alie persone predicte, sicut predicitur, non admisse vel electe, mercandizas suas solummodo vendent et non alibi, sub eadem pena forisfaciendi easdem mercandizas. Et in eodem loco vel locis ubi sic reposite sunt mercandize ille de tempore in tempus remanebunt, custodientur et ad vendendum ex- ponentur et non alibi infra ciuitatem, suburbium, vel franchezias eiusdem, vel infra aliquem vel aliquos locos, limites, ambitus vel precinctus predictos, nee ab eodem loco siue locis infra spacium quadraginta dierum auferentur sine licencia speciali magistrorum, gardianorum et silccessorum suorum pro tempore existencium in scriptis ad hoc prius habita et obtenta, sub pena forisfacture omnium et singularum mercandizarum sine tali licencia asportarum vel ablatarum. Insuper damus et con- cedimus ex gratia nostra speciali, certa sciencia et mero motu nostris pro nobis et heredibus nostris eisdem magistris, gardianis, fratribus et sororibus fraternitatis sive gilde predicte et succes- soribus suis quod ipsi magistri et gardiani et successores sui possint et valebunt de tempore in tempus infra dictam ciuitatem, suburbium, franchezias et libertates eiusdem ac infra ambitum et precinctum ecclesiarum et nuper Abbathiarum predictarum et infra omnes limites et bundas Ciuitatis predicte et franchesiarum eiusdem necnon alicuius vel aliquorum loci vel locorum pre- dictorum superuidere, examinare et scrutari et alios officiarios et ministros suos nominare et assignare ad superuidendum, exami- nandum et scrutandum infra locos et limites predictos, si aliqui alienigene, extranei mercatores siue aliqua alia persona seu alique alie persone ad fraternitatem predictam non admisse fecerint seu alios facere procurarunt cum mercandizis aliquibus aliter quam in clausulis, concessionibus et prohibicionibus supradictis specificatur, limitatur et fieri prescribitur. Et si per talem superuisionem, examinacionem vel scrutacionem, iidem magistri et gardiani siue officiarii vel ministri sui predicti videbunt et invenient aliquas mercandizas emptas seu venditas, vel in aliis locis positas, seu aliquo modo usitatas contra vel aliter quam predictum est, quod tune bene licebit eisdem
Proofs ann 3[llustrations. 65
magistris et gardianis et ministris et officiariis suis predictis DUBLIN. easdem mercandizas capere, seisire et secum ducere et ad proprium vsum predictorum magistrorum, gardianorum, fratrum et sororum fraternitatis siue gilde predicte retinere et convertere.' fol. 5.
[They may make ordinances and establish penalties,
etc. to enforce them ; all such fines and amerciaments to go to the Gild.]
'The Reule & ordynance of the Trenite yeld of Dyvlyng ordeynit & made by a holde (sic) Semble of f>e Mastirs, War- fo1- I0- deynes and all the brethern of f»e sayde yelde, Rath Pembroke & John Kylberry Maystirs, Dawe Blake & Edwarde Waters Wardens, on Mayday the yerre of our lorde Kyng Henry f>e Seixt xvi., anno Dom. 1438.
Item Inprimis, That all the brethern of the Brethered of the holy Trenyte yeld of Dublin shall noght adherre to none Brethered of fe sayd Citte, except the Bretherred of Saynt Anne and of Saynt George, in none manner wyche shall don or be in hurt of lp e sayde Brethered or Cittei.
All so yff there hap eny Waryaunce or dyscorde, wyche God defend, betwoix brethern of the sayd yeld, that than non of them shall sew oj?ir at lawe. But fyrst he that felyth hymselff grewid shall cum and complayn to the Mastris of f»e sayd yeld for the tym beynge, the wyche shall call the Bretherrede togeddere & make acorde betweix the personnes thus beyng at debate; and he that wyll not obey ]?e rewlle of the Bretherhede shall be put out of f>e yeyld, and the Bretherrehed to mayntene )?e othyr Brothyr agaynste hym in hys Ryght ; and yff anny strange man hawe a quarrell agayne eny brother of the yeld, J?at than fe bretherhed shall maynten the Bretherhed & harre Brothyr in his ryght ; and foo [i.e. who] so Breke thes Reule to fall in J?e payne of x.#.
All so J>e bretherren of the sayde yeld shall be serwerd * of all maner of marchandyse comyng & sold to J?e sayde Cittei befor anny 2.
All so no Brothyr of J?e sayd yeild schall by ne salt ne yrne 1 Served. 3 I. e. before any other persons.
F
66 €&e (Sift sgjercfmnt
. ne collis * to vse or awaylle of no man of the Contrey ne of }?e Cittei but by hyt to his owne awaylle and vse, and aftyre he hawe Cellerrit hyt, hyt shall be lewfull to hym to syll hit out of his cellerre by wyght, yrne, salte & collis, & in none other maner, apon payne of x. //".
All so no man be receuet to fe sayde bretherred but in pleyne
Semble of the sayd yeld by assent of all }>e Brethern. And yff
eny of J?e sayd Brethern hawe challange to eny wyche prauythe
fol. 10 b. to be of the yeld, that he shall noughte be admyttyd vnto J?at he
make sufficient amendds to fe sayde Brothyr.
All so Salt, yren & Collis and suche othyr marchandyse shall be sold by all brethern of fe sayde yeld at on prise, as hit shall be noteffyd to J?e Brethern by byll from Ipe mastirs of J?e sayd yeld, apon J?e payne off xx. //.
All so what so ewer brothere answere nought to dwe Somnes, he schall lese i.//. wax as offt tymes as he makythe default, But yff he hawe a Reasonable excuse.
Memorrandum that by A holle Semble holden be ffor Rychard ffytz Eustace & John Tankarde, Maistris off the sayd yeild, Thomas Barby & Thomas Boys, Wardens off the sayde yeld, the A.D. 1452. xini. day of January Anno regni regis Henrici Seixti xxx°. Ther was chosen at J?at Semble John ffytz Robert, John Bennet, Jamis Dowdalle, Phyllype Bedlewe, Nych. Clerke, Thomas Sawacghe, Wyll. Grampe & Arnnenton Vscherr to make lawes, Rewles, ordynaunces & statutes nedffull & profytabille for fe sayd bretherhed of the trenite yeld. The wyche lawes, Reylis, & ordennaunces and statutes bene affyrmite by an holle Semble afterward holden )?e mi. tywsday next after the fest of Aster [i.e. Easter] fe yere aforsayd. In the wyche ordennaunces ben thes.
In primis, f>at no maner man shall hawe no maner off mar- chandys that comyth to f>e cettie off Dublin pat is boght by mi. byers of fe sayd citei but he J>at hawe ben a prentese with a marchaunt off the sayd Citei at marchaunt craft, & J>at he be Brother off ]?e sayd yeld After forme of marchandis.
1 Iron nor coals.
proofs ant) 3[ilustration& 67
All soo that ii. mastirs of the yelde be alway n. of the IIIL DUBLIN. byers l & the n. wardens be all waye twoo delyweres, trewly to delywir and dewydid untoo all the brethyrn, as it shal be apoyntid by the sayde mastirs & byers, to ewery man after his degree.
All soo when the mastirs & wardins wyll apoyncte assemble as oft as hame semythe godly for the away lie of the sayde yelde, that noo man be somned to that semble ne cum therein bot he fat is a marchaunt & brothir of the sayde yelde.
All soo anny maner off bargayne that is boght by the sayde mastirs & byers fat than the mastirs & wardens shall doo somon all f e brethirhed that be marchaunts to the yelde hall & witt there what ewrye man will holde of the sayde bargayne. And [yff] yt be noght all holden at that tyme, fat than the sayde mastirs, byers & wardens shall set the owerplus of the sayde bargayne apon all f e brethred that bene marchaunts, every man after his degree. And yff the sayde bargayne be lasse than his holdyne by the sayde brethirhede fat bene marchaunts, fat than the sayde mastyrs, byers & wardens shall mesure & devyde truly e to ewry of theme after harr degree.
All soo as soone as anny bargayne ys delywerid that than the mastirs & wardyns shall appoyncte a semble & call the brethirne toogythire and set a. reyssonable pryse & apon all fol. u. marchaundyssys, & all the brethirne shall kepe that pryce and syll thereafter, apon the payne of x. //.
All soo that no maner man Dwellyng within the syttye of Dublinge vse no faculltye of marchaundyse within the fraunchis of this cyttye bot he that hawe bene aprentyse with a marchaunte at marchanddyssis, by the wych he is made freeman of the sayde syttie, laste than he sholde be pleayt by the assemble of the sayde brethrede & make a fyne, & f e proffyte thereof goo too the sayde yelde.
Allso that no marchaunte being brothir of the sayde yelde by noo maner of marchaundyssys inwarde ne outwarde to delywir to
1 In the margin of the MS. are these words : — ' This establishment of byers seems to grow out of the provisions of Stat. Kilkenny in 40 Edw. Ill ; see section 6 of it.'
F 2
68
DUBLIN, no man of the Cowntre as the bargayne is boughte, apon payne of xx. s.
Allsoo that noo brothir of the sayde yelde by noo marchaim- dyssys, that is to saye salt, wyne, yerne & collys that commys to be solde too the Syttye, tyll the mi. byers hawe forsaken yt & that he hawe lewe of the mi. byers, apon peyne of xx. //.
All soo whate man prayethe to be brothir of the sayde yelde in forme of marchaundyses jmt he be noght admytted bot by fyne, as )?e mastirs, wardynes & he maye accorde to paye yerlye, besyde that vm. d.
Allsoo that no brothir of the sayde yelde ne none of there men be attorne for no maner of man ne wooman to flaundyrs ne to none othir plase, no to bye none of there goodys in collor and let to hawe the profyte thereof, bot hyt be for a brothir of the sayde yelde or a freman of the syttye of Dublin that wolde sene for stoff of his howssolde, apon the peyne of v. //.
All soo that all brethirn may be sworne to kepe all cownsayll of all matters that bene mewit in the sembles & in specyall of bargaynes that bene boght & solde, apon payne of x. //.
All soo that the mastirs and wardyns of the sayde yelde hawe ewery quarter onnys assemble in sertayne, the whyche shalbe callyt a grette quarter semble, and that hyt be holdine allwaye the Mondaye before the grete quarter semble of the sayde cytty, excepte the Mondaye semble next after Michaelmas, the which shall be after for reyssonable cawssis. And in that Semble yt be laffull to them to make brethirn and all othir lawis, reules and stattutis fat is nedefull to them for f>e profitte of the sayde yelde.
All soo that yt be lawffull to the mastirs and wardins of the sayde yelde to hawe sembles as ofte as the semythe godly, and in those sembles to examyne and enquere apon all mattirs done within themselfys and to correcte & execute theme accordynge to there rulys & stattutis made to the proffyte of the sayde yelde & brotherede.
fol. nb. The Mondaye nexte befor the mitb frydaye nexte after
mydsomer anno predicto hyt is grauntide in the same semble that the Watter balles make the coll. pc. (?) after xn. gallons, and
Proofs anD 3|llitstration& 69
that there be a portore sworne too met the colls and take for his DUBLIN. labore of the byers for ewery quarter.
All soo hit ys ordyned & stablede for a lawe that the mastirs [&] wardins of the yelde hawe full powere to destrayne for all maner fynnys, amercyments & quarteragys, & whoo soo defforsythe ennye mastir or wardins of suche fynnis, mercyaments and quarterages, lese vi8. vmd. withowt anny grace.
Memorandum that hit ys accordyd by awthorytye of this assemble and from henseforwarde [that] the newe mastyrs shall resewe the olde stok, be hit mony othir cheffware othir hidis, to labowr hit to the awaylle of the yelde, and that theye delywir the sayde stoke with the encrese to the newe mastirs, and soo from yere to yere to accompte therefor, and the sayde mastirs too be ... [a blank] to the awayell of the trynnyte with the best, as farr as the Stok wyll reche.
All soo hyt is ordyned that what soo ewer man beforeynt desyre too hawe annaye porsyone of erene l a wyght within, othir salt a cranoke or within for his howssolde, that he paye at the beme or at the planke redy monye and none marchandyse, bot he be a marchaunte.'
The records of the transactions of the Gild from the reign of Edward IV to the year 1824 are very copious. The matters alluded to in the above ordinances are discussed again and again. The few extracts given below have been selected with a view to throw further light upon the functions of the Fraternity and its relations to the municipal authorities.
[i Henry VII.] — 'Item j?at at ewery quarter semble hold next fol. n b. after myghelmas whane the new mastris & wardens ben made, A.D. 1485. fat the hold wardens shall brynge the namis of all the brethern J?at haw not payt harre quarttarragchis, & delywir to J»e newe Mastris and Wardens, and thay to delywir no parcell of erne ne salt to J»em that not payd tyll therr quartarraghis be payt soo fol. 12. beynge behynde.'
* Allsoo hit is ordeyned that no marchaunte of the Cyttye by
1 I.e. iron.
70 €&e
DUBLIN, noo maner yorn, salt, colls, wyne, pytche, ne rossyne that bene poynted hythire to j?e cyttie, wythe owte consente, assent or lewe of the mi. byers ; and yff he doo, too paye to the yelde c. s. & too be put out of the yelde, & the bargayne to be dystrubote among the brethred. And yff hyt maye be fownde that enny man grawnte of ir profyre anny penny to annye forrene marchaunte more than the mi. byers proferythe withowt lewe of the sayde mi. byers, he to fall in J?e forsayde payne.'
A.D. 1480. 20 Edward IV. — The four Porters swear * trulye to mesure salte, collis & othir marchaundys ' and c in making of hidis owtwarde as in weing of yorne inwarde,' etc.
fol. 12 b. 'The forme of the othe of the mastirs of the sayde Yelde.—
Yee shall bee trewe Mastirs vnto the yelde of the holy trinte of the Cyty of Deweling, and ye shall see that all the due rewerence and worship be don to the Trynnyte and that his daye be worshipped and kept by yowr dyscrecion to the worship of the holi Trinitie. Allsoo ye shall see that all dutis that lengithe to the yelde of the Trynnytie be trewly rerit and reservit by yowr powers, where that the wardins may not rere them. Allsoo ye shall be goode and trewe mastirs vnto all the brethern that bene marchaunts of the sayde yelde and them ye shall mayntayne by yowr powere in all ryghte. Allsoo yow shall duly & trewly mantayne all rulys and ordinauncis, statuttis & lawis thereof and due execucion, and ye shall doo according to the sayde rulis agayns ewerye man according to his offense, and duly & trewly ye shall see that all the merciaments bee rerit. Allsoo all due sembles ye shall holden as of [tin] tymis as nedithe to the goode rulle and gowernaunt of the sayde yelde and brethred, and in speciallye nn. quartere sembles, the bene called the mi. Mondays next afor the nn. greate quarter sembles of the sayde syttye, excepte the mondaye next after myghallmas, the whych shalbe after myghallmas for certayne kawsis. Allso whate bar- gayne ye makith for the cyttye ye shall trewlye make rewlacion to the brethrine of the sayde yelde, & trewly mynstir after the rewlis of the same bretherred. Allsoo suche manner othe as ye resewe yee shall gywe to yowr Wardyns ; too this poyncts
proofs anu 3[llu$trationsu 71
and all othirs that lengythe to the sayde yelde and bretherred ye DUBLIN, shall holde, soo god yow help and holydome.'
'The Wardins othe. — Ye shall be trewe Wardins vnto the yelde of the holy Trynnytie of the Citti of Dubling ; all due rewerence and worshipe ye shall doo to the holly triniti ; allsoo all due execucyon that lengith to yowr office yow shall doo by yowr powere; all due sembles with the mastirs as hit lengythe to yow ye shall holde ; but all othir rulis, ordinancis & statutis & lawis yee shall mayntene by yowr powre. Allsoo ye shall well and trewlye rerr to ewery man all the quartaragis, fynnes and merciaments thereof by yowr powere. Allsoo ye shall well and trewlye delywer the marchaundyssis that bene bought by the mi. byers to ewery man according to ther poynctement ; to these poyncts and all otheris that lengithe to yowr offyce ye shall hold, soo god yow helpe & holidome, &C.1 '
1 Allsoo hit is ordined by semble f>at no man that is resident fol. 13. of the citty of Dewling shall supporte nether mayntene no Lumbarde, byrtton, ne Spaynnarde, nethir ne auliant2 to be alegere (sic) to engrose the markete of no maner ware, ne bye ne sill wyt no alliant2 ; but when £>e comithe a ship with anny ware, that then lawfulle the mastir and byers chosin for to by there goodys after harr discrecion, and to be delywerid among the brethirne by the wardyns with the owersight of the master ; and when the ship is delywerid, the alient to resewe his payment, and so to depart with the same shyp othir with som ofir shyp by soche days as the mastir will award j and who contravenes] this lawe to lose XL. //. and to be put owt of the brethred forewir.
Memorandum, it is concludid by the holle fraternyte of the Trinitei Yelde here assembled the moundaye nexte after Relyke Sowndaye, the xvm^ yere of the Reynge of owr sowerayne Lorde Kinge Henrie the VI I Ith, that no man free ne forron A.D. 1526. shall lade or ship anny maner woll, hidis othir stapill warre, sawing onely marchaunts of the stapile, and theye soo lading to fol. 13 b. make ther entre thereof befor the mair3 of the stapull for the
1 The entry immediately following these oaths is dated 18 Edward IV. « I.e. alien. s MS. 'man'.'
72 C&e ®ilD agercfmnt,
DUBLIN, tyme being, vpon peyne of x. //. tocyens quociens ; & that no marchaunts of the stapill sell anny stapill ware to anny man sawing to a staplere within the land, apon the same payne, prowidid that noo Staplere by this lawe be restrained to sell hidis to straungers for mony or ware, as hathe bene vssed in timis past.
Memorandum, yt was agrede and made for a ground lawe by the holle assemble of the trinitie yelde the Monday nexte after the feste of tiburti and valerian, the viith yere of the
A D. 1516. reing [of] owr Soweraine Lorde King henrie the VIIIth, then being mere John Rocheforde, & Ballyffis William New- man & Robarte Cowlye, mastirs of the yelde Master Willame Talbote & Mastir Walter Piparte, biers Nycholas Queytrote and Nicholas Handkoke, and Wardins Patrik fytz Simons & Rycharde Rath, that no Lord, gentyleman, Abbaye, freman ne forrine, excepte onely brethirne of the yelde, shall not be serwid of salt, yerne, collis, wine ne othir warris at the keye ne at the kran by watter mesure or kran weyght in noo wyse; and that no mastir, byere, ne wardine yewe lysins to the contrarie hereof, vpon payne of xx. s., as often as any of them offend, withowt grace ; and that none of the bretherne yew anny parte of his complement to anny othir not beinge a brothir, ne take up in his holding to gywe any othir [by] colore or otherwise, vpon payne of xm. s. mi. d., as often as he offendithe, withowte grace, & half of the sayde pennalty to the finder of the sayde pennaltis & the ofir halfe to the Balliffis, and no mercye to be yewin.'
' Memorandum, yt ys agreede by assemble the HI. moundaye after Chrystemas in the xxivth yere of owr soweraynge Lorde King
A.D. 1533. Henry the VIIIth, then being mayor Nycholas Geydone, Baylyffis Symon Lottrell and Brandame fostere, Mastirs of the Trynyte yelde Thomas barbey and John Sarswell, byers Robarte Shilling- forde & Walter fytz Symon, Wardings Jamis horpye and Richard
fol. 14. Sarswell, — That noo brothir of the sayde trynyte yelde, ne othir inhabytante of the Cyttye of Dublin shall bye anny winnys within the stremmis and lybertys grauntid to the sayde cyttye, But onely mastir mayor and the mastirs and byers of the sayde yelde for the
proofs ana 3[llustration& 73
tyme being, and when annye winnis shall com, after a comenaunce1 DUBLIN. had and a pryce drywin betwyxe the mastirs and biers aforsayde and the marchaunts of the winnis, and thereuppon the wardins of the sayde yelde send to the brethirne of the same to knowe whate every brothir will holde, then after relacion made by the wardins to the mastirs and byers aforsayde whate the brethirn will holde, yf the Mastirs and biers persewe there bye that that wyne maye not be holdin & therevpon refuse and gywe ower the bargayne, Yet all this notwythestanding, no brother ne inhabytante aforsayde shall interprise ne presume to bye the winnis soo refused, ne anny parsell thereof, wytheowte especyall lycense of the master and byers aforsayde; and in kase anny of the sayde brethirne hawe luicens, as aforsayd, to by the wines soo refused and ther- uppon bye them, then all suche brethirne shall hawe that porsyon of winnis that then was contentid to holde at the wardings desyre vppon the sending of mastir mayor and the mastyrs and byers, as aforsayde, to the same pryse as they shall be bought ; and allsoo that anny mastir of the Cyttye, yf he will, maye hawe a hoggyssed or a bott of wine for his owne drinkine to the sayde price, and whatsooewer brothir or brethir attempte to infring or breke this sayde lawe in anny poynte, as oftin timis as he or theye soo doo, that same brothir or brethirne shall forfeyte x. //., the oone holfe to the mayore and ballyffis for the time being, the othir halfe to the trynnyte yelde.'
Temp. Henry VIII. — No freeman except he be a brother off 01.146. the Gild to retail c Salte, yrne, nor collis,' upon pain of forfeiting the same.
[6 Edw. VL] — 'Where of long this bretrede yelde hawe bene fbl. 16. soore oppressed and hindrid by mennis and occasyons of manny A.D. 1553. & dywers by admyttid vnto the same, as tayllors, bowchers, shomakers and men of occupacion whych by there sayde occu- pacion myght get and win there lywing ownestlye according [to] there voccacion, as allsoo dywers othirs that neuer wan the sayde brothred by byrthe, marryache or prenteship, according the olde auncient lawes, vsagis and costoms to the contrarrye prowydid
1 I. e. agreement.
74
ot/fi/.//v. and ordyned, whych admytting of such forens and strawngers to the sayde brethired onelye dothe growe, for that sheffly the Masters & Eldirs of the sayde howse . . . [privately favour the said foreigners,] whereof haw growyne suche a sorte of late amongst theme that the lywing and trade of merchaundise allmost is lost' .... In the future no one is to be admitted under a fine of forty pounds, ' vnless he wine the same by byrthe, maryage or prenteshipe.'
fol. i6£. 25 Henry VIII. — Agreed in assembly that no stapler of Dublin
A.D. 1544. should sell hides to any persons save those who bring the value of the said hides in ' yorne, wine, salte, grayne ' or in any other merchandise brought from France, Flanders, Spain, Britain or elsewhere. Merchants bringing the wares above-written can buy the value of one quarter of said wares in hides above the quantity of the said wares sold by them to any stapler. Penalty for breaking this statute £40, one half to the mayor of the staple and the masters of the Gild, the other half to the City and to the finder of the offender.
fol. 17. 'Memorandum, Where as dywerse and many as well straungers
as forrens as aleans, being the kings subjects and othirwise, doo dalye resorte vnto this J>e kyngs mayestyes Cyttye of Dublin and there demurr and hawe there abood and dwelling, whych dothe from tyme to tyme dayly by and syll by retaylle and parcells at there will & plesure all kynde of marchaundyssis in lyke maner and sorte as those that hathe and be made fremen of the sayde Cyttye dothe, contrary to the lybertis & auncient vsagis of the sayde syttie, vnto the grete lossis, domages & impow[er]ysshing of the mastirs, wardings and brethirne of the trynyte yelde within the sayde syttye, being established by auctoritie of parliament & auctorryssed by the same to make and estab- lyshe all suche ordynaunces as they shall thinke mete frome time to tyme for the rulle & gowernaunce of the sayde yelde and fraternyte of the same and of all othir the inhabytaunts and fremen of the sayde sytty, and lyke to ensuing to there vtter dekaye, vnlesse the same be the sowner be redressyt ; for remedy e whereof the mi*11 fry day e next after the feast of sayncte
Proofs ana 3[llu$tration& 75
myghell the Archangyll, being the xx^ day of octobir in king DUBLIN, Edwarde the VIth by the grace of God king of England, frawnce and Erland, defender of the faythe, at assemble then holdine in the tollsell of the sayde syttye of Dublin, It is ordyned, enacted and establyssed by the Mastirs, Wardyngs and bretherne of the sayde yelde, being awctorrysed, as aforsayde, that from thense- forthe no manner of person ne persons, whate soo ewer he or they bee, be he or they subjects vnto the Kyngs mayestye or othir- wyse, being no freman made within the sayde sytty by the lawis and lybertys of the same, shall by or syll by retaylle or parcells anny manner of kinde of merchaundyssis or warris to or with anny straungers, forren or alien, be he or they the kings mayeste is subjects or othir wyse within the sayde syttye, lyberties or fraunches of the same, only to or wythe the fremen of the sayde Cytty soo made, as ys aforsayde, vpon payne of forfayture of ewrye thing soo to be solde or bought contrarye to the tennor, porporte and trew mennyng of this present ordinance ; the one halfe therof to the seysere and takere, and the othir halfe to the thesuerer of the sayde sytty for the time being to thuse and behoffe of the mayor, ballyffs and syttysins of the same ; and that the syller and retayller, as oftine as he or theye shall offend contrarye to the tennor and trewe mennyng of this present ordynuance, shall forfaite x. //., to fol. 17 be satysfyed & delywerid vnto the thesuerer of the behowffe of the sayde syttye for the tyme being, vnto the vse and behowffe of the Mayor, ballyffs and syttysins of the same ; and that the mayor, ballywis for the tyme being shall cawse ewery suche syller and retailer to be imprysoned in the comen gyll of the sayde syttye, there to remayne tyll suche time as he the sayde syller & retayller doo satysfye and paye vnto the sayde tresurer for the time being the sayd x. //. ; prowydid alwaye that this ordynance shall not take effecte tyll suche time as it be oppenly red in the markete place in a market daye in the sayd cyttie.'
August 7, 1556. — If any bargain be offered to the Masters and Byers by any stranger coming to the City, no brother shall make or move a bargain with the said stranger until the Masters and Byers have clearly refused the bargain, nor yet after such
DUBLIN, refusal without the licence of the latter. Any one breaking this ordinance to pay £40 for each offence, one half to the Treasurer of the city, the other half to the informer.
fol. 19 <5. [A.D. 1573.] 'Yt ys agreide that the mastirs shalbe yearelie chossen of the nomber of theym that have beyne maiors, and that the wardens shalbe yearely chossen of the moste grawe and dis- creete bretherne vnder the callinge of aldermen to assiste the Mastirs, as apperteynethe to that office, and the wardens that be at this presente shalbe clerkes to theis yelde so long as they shall well demeane theymselves, & shall have the same per- quisits that they nowe have, and that the sayde wardens for the tyme beyng shall have for their paynes double holdinges of all the bargaines to be made for this yelde, and shalbe maker of hides to straungers, and byers for the bretherne of the same yelde.'
Before any person be admitted to the Brotherhood, he shall serve seven years as an apprentice, then three years as a journey- man, then occupy two years for himself before he be made a stapler.
fol. 20. The Masters and Wardens ' to sit in the bretherne house in the Tolsell ' every Thursday to hear and determine the complaints of brethren.
fol. 20 b. Brethren receiving goods bought by the Gild are to pay for the same within ten days.
fol. 22 b. No brother from henceforth to buy or receive by holdings any iron, salt, wine, coals or other merchandise for the use of any other man, except he be a brother of the Gild ; but first he is to bring it to his house or cellar and thence deliver it by cellar- weight or measure.
fol. 2$b. No one of any other corporation of this City shall be admitted a brother of this Gild until he be sworn to give over the liberties of such other corporation. Merchants of the Gild must be resi- dent ; otherwise they are to receive no holdings.
Oct. 22, 1577. — The brethren of the Gild are not to retail wines at more than certain specified prices.
fol. 24. Oct. 21, 1583. — No brother shall have more than one shop
Proofs anu 3[ilustration& 77
or more than one wine-cellar to retail wine and other merchant DUBLIN. wares.
July 1 8, 1586. — It is agreed by assembly that every stranger fol. 26. bringing merchandise to this City to be sold shall bring the same to the Common Hall or Common Cellar; and, further, the merchant stranger shall be taken by the Wardens or Clerks before the Masters and Wardens of the Gild, to depose whether he brought any more goods than the quantity placed in the Common Cellar. The Clerks to keep a book having an ac- count of every man's goods ; nor shall they permit any goods to be sold to any persons but brethren of the Gild, nor even to them without licence from one of the Masters and Wardens. The Clerks are to take notice of what every brother buys, to the end that none of those goods be sold to any but a brother of this house, nor be retailed in those places but by way of distribu- tion among the brethren. Four or six brethren are to watch the landing of wares coming to this river, to the end that they may be brought to the places appointed.
May 27, 1603. — It being found that the law passed in 1597, fol. 27 £. repealing the law forbidding any brother from trading directly with strangers, was to the detriment of the Gild, by which inno- vation certain brethren were enabled to buy up commodities which they refused afterwards to dispose of but at excessive prices, it was agreed in an assembly of the Gild that the ancient law for buying and distributing commodities coming to this City shall be established. Henceforth the Masters, Wardens and Buyers shall buy and bargain for all merchandise coming to the City to the use of the whole Brotherhood, to be distributed among them ac- cording to place or calling. No brother shall from henceforth buy or bargain with any foreigner or other person not of the Gild for any merchandise brought to this City to be sold, without special license fol. 28. from the Masters and Wardens, upon pain of £100. Neither shall the Masters and Wardens make any bargain for their own account, but only for the benefit of the whole Brotherhood, neither shall they refuse any bargain without the consent of a competent number of the Brotherhood.
78 c&e ®iID agercfmnt
DUBLIN. November 6, 1648. — 'Wheras diuers and many Intruders as well fol 40 £ freemen °f seuerall Corporacions of Smithes, Gold Smithes, Tayllors, Chaundlors, weauers and Copers, as also diuers other strangers and forinors doe dayly intrude vpon this Guild and doe sett vp wyn-tauerns, Cellors, Shopps, Stalls, and doe buy and retayle wynes and sell all sortes of marchandize contrary to the Charters, Libertys and auncient vsages of this Guild. It is therefore ordred and agreed yat ye Clarke of this house shall take a view of all ye seuerall Intruders, and from tyme to tyme to make a perfect list of theire names, and to returne ye same to ye Masters and Wardens for ye tyme beinge, who are to prosecute ye said Intruders according to ye laws of this house made and provided in that case.'
' Likewise it is ordred and agreed by ye authority aforesaid yat ye Masters for ye tyme being shalbe booth ye buyers, and booth ye Wardens ye deuidors and deliuerors of all marchan- dizes, bought or to be bought by ye Masters for ye vse of this Guild, according [to] ye auncient custome.'
fol. 43- A.D. 1655. — If the City do not pay the Gild the £300 due the latter, the brethren agree to bring suit against the former1.
fol. 44. Apr. 6, 1657. — A Council of 24 is appointed to manage the affairs of the Gild. The other brethren are to attend only at
fol. 55. quarterly meetings. In 1679 it was ordered that only the Lord Mayor, Masters and Wardens, all the Aldermen and Sheriffs Peers that are free of this Gild, and threescore more of the brethren, elected by the Masters, Wardens and Council, should
fol. 54 £. meet and act in the quarter assemblies. At this date there were upwards of 400 members of the Gild.
fol. 55. Apr. 19, 1680. — The Gild is to be represented in the Common Council of the City by 42 of its members.
fol. 64 £. Apr. 2, 1733. — Hawkers are no longer to interfere with the
1 It appears that the Trinity Gild frequently lent money to the civic au- thorities. In 1671, for example, it was ordered that £60 should be lent 'to the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, to be employed for the management of certain affairs of great importance to this City' (fol. 50^). This Fraternity was accustomed to contribute two thirds of the town cess, temp. Elizabeth, and the other gilds, or corporations the remainder. — Egerton MS. 1766, fol. 188.
proofs ana 3[ilustrattons, 79
trade of shopkeepers, ' who regularly pay their quarterage to this DUBLIN. Guild1.'
In June, 1702, the Lord Mayor of Dublin issued a 'De- claration,' of which the following is an abstract 2 : — •
Complaints having been made by the several corporations of the City that persons not free of the City or of any guild or fraternity of the same exercise their trades and sell by retail ' to the great prejudice of Her Majesties subjects, for that such sort of intruders are generally unskill'd in the trades and mys- teries they profess, and have been often detected of apparent fraud and deceitful practices in their way of dealing,' the Lord Mayor publishes the by-laws prohibiting such practices. In the year 1612, 'These Laws, Orders, and Constitutions following were Made and Established in full Assembly then holden.
'Whereas by the antient charters, customs, franchises, and liberties of the City of Dublin, confirmed by sundry acts of parliament, no person not being free of the City of Dublin, may or ought to sell or put to sale any wares or merchandizes within the said City or liberties thereof, or retail or keep any open shop or inward place and room for shew, sale, or putting to sale of any wares or merchandizes whatsoever.
'Now forasmuch as divers and sundry persons not being free of the said City, nothing regarding the said antient charters, franchises, customs, and liberties of the said City, but wholly intending their private profit, have of late years devised and practiced, by all sinister and subtil means, how to defraud the said charters, liberties, customs, and franchises ; and to that end, do in privy and secret places, usually and ordinarily shew, sell, and put to sale their wares and merchandizes, within the said City and liberties of the same, to the great detriment and
1 Ff. 64-118 consist chiefly of addresses of thanks to members of parliament, mayors, etc. ; the election of honorary brethren ; the regulation of coal-meters, etc.
2 There is a printed copy of this ' Declaration ' in the British Museum ; it bears the press-mark 1890. e. 5 (2).
so Cfce ®iin
DUBLIN, hurt of the said City, and of the free citizens thereof, who pay scot, and lot, bear offices, and undergo other charges, which strangers and others not free of the said City are not chargeable withall nor will perform ; — '
For reformation of these disorders it is ordained by the Common Council that no person not free of the City of Dublin shall, 'by any colour, way, or means whatsoever, directly or indirectly, by himself or any other,' sell any wares by retail or keep a shop to sell by retail within the city or its liberties, upon pain of forfeiting five pounds.
'And further, that one equal moyety of the said forfeiture being recovered, shall be imployed in such works of charity, as the Mayor of the City for the time being, and the Masters of the Trinity Guild for the time being shall think fit ; and the other moyety thereof to be imployed for maintaining and bearing the common charges of the masters, wardens, brothers, and sisters of the Trinity Guild, within the said City, &c. Provided always that this Act or Ordinance, or anything therein contained, shall not extend to any person or persons for bringing or causing to be brought any victuals to be sold within the said City and the liberties thereof, but that they, and each of them, may sell victuals within the said City and the liberties thereof, as they might have done at any time before the making of this Act, any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.
'And whereas in the said year of our Lord 1612, the like by-law was made, prohibiting all persons not free of this City, from exer- cising any trade, mystery or occupation, in the said City or liberties thereof, under the pain of forfeiting five pounds for every such offense.
'And forasmuch as the said by-laws tend only to the well regu- lating and ordering of trade and prevention of fraud and deceit ; I the said Lord Mayor of this City, by and with the consent and approbation of the board of Aldermen, do hereby strictly charge and require all persons whatsoever (except such as are free of this City, or of some corporation in the same, or otherwise allowed by the master of such corporation), that they do not
Proofs anD 3|l!ustrationsu 81
presume for the future to keep open any shop inward or out- DUBLIN. ward, for the sale of any goods or merchandizes whatsoever by retail, within this City or liberties thereof, or in any way intrude on the lawful franchises of any of the corporations or fraternities of this City, by retailing merchandizes or exercising their trades, crafts, or mysteries, within this City or liberties thereof . . . Dated at the Tholsel this i2th day of June, 1702.'
' Samuel Walton.'
' The Oath of the Brethren of the Guild of Merchants?
'You shall swear to be true and faithful unto our Soveraign Lady Queen Anne and to the Fraternity, or Guild of Merchants of the City of Dublin : and it you shall support and maintain to your power in all right : also you shall be true to the brethren that be merchants thereof, and them you shall maintain and support in their right against all others : also you shall be true to the rules, ordinances and statutes that be ordained, or shall be ordained by the authority of the masters, wardens, and brethren for the due profit and avail of the said Brotherhood : also all counsels that belong to the said Brotherhood and Guild, and all other counsels that shall be moved in all assemblies, for the just profit and avail of the said Guild, you shall truly and faithfully keep : you shall answer to all due summons : and duly and truly pay your quarterages : you shall not adhere to any other guild, to the hindrance and wrong of this Guild : also you shall not merchandize with any un-freeman's goods, nor be broker for any alien, to the wrong of the Brotherhood. These, and all other things belonging unto the said Brotherhood and Guild you shall support and maintain to the best of your power, for the good of the said Guild. So God you help, &C.1' It is interesting to compare the above with the following : —
' The Oath to be ministred unto every Freeman of the City of Dublin?
'You shall swear that you shall be good and true to our
1 British Museum Library, press-mark 1890. e. 5 (206).
G
82 c&e <£tto sgjercfcant
Sovereign Lady Queen Anne, and to the heirs of our said Sovereign Lady the Queen. Obeysant and obedient you shall be to the Mayor and Ministers of this City ; the franchizes and customs thereof you shall maintain, and this City keep harmless in that that in you is : you shall be contributory to all manner of charges within this City, as summons, watches, contributions, tasks, .talladges, lot and scot, and all other charges, bearing your part as a Freeman ought to do : you shall colour no forreign goods whereby the Queen, or this City might lose their customs or advantages. You shall know no forreigner to buy or sell any merchandizes with any other forreigner within this City or franchizes thereof but you shall warn the Mayor thereof. You shall take no appren- tice but if he be free-born ; that is to say, no bondsman's son, and for no less term than seven years : within the first year you shall cause him to be inrolled, and at his term's end you shall make him free of this City, if he have well and truly served you. You shall also keep the Queen's peace in your own person. You shall know no gatherings, conventicles, nor conspiracies, made against Her Majesties peace, but you shall warn the Mayor thereof, or let it to your power. You shall not be free baker, butcher, or fisher, without you pay custom ; and whatsoever office that you be lawfully called unto within the said franchises, you shall it not refuse. All these points and articles you shall well and truly keep, according to the laws and customs of this City to your power. So God you help, and the holy contents of this book. God save the Queen V
' A short State of the Case of the Corporation of Trinity Guild, Dublin, with an alphabetical list of the Freemen and also of the Council of the House, belonging to the Corporation who are all Freemen thereof was printed by E. Bate, in George's Lane, Dublin, in 1749. It reads thus : —
'That King Henry the Vlth, in the 2gth Year of his Reign, incorporated the Merchants of the City of Dublin, and gave them several Privileges, gave them a Power to chuse every Year two
1 British Museum Library, press-mark 1890. e. 5 (208).
proofs ano Illustrations, 83
Masters and two Wardens, to make By-Laws for the better Gov- DUBLIN. ernment of the Corporation, and also to repeal them as Occasion required.
That Charter was by a new Charter granted to the Corporation by Queen Elizabeth in the iQth Year of her Reign confirmed, and further Priviledges and Immunities granted to them by the Name of the Masters, Wardens, Brethren and Sisters of the Fraternity or Guild of the Holy Trinity, Dublin.
They have made and ordained many By-Laws for their Govern- ment, appointed four Quarter Assemblys of the Corporate Body to be held Yearly, viz. Michaelmas, Christmas, Easter and Mid- summer, on particular Days.
The Master and Wardens are to serve for one Year only, to commence from their Michaelmas Quarter Assembly Day, at which time they are to be sworn.
There has been a Custom Annually, to appoint a Council of the House in the Nature of a Committee to prepare all the neces- sary Business to be laid before the Corporation at their Assembly.
This Council has for many years past been appointed by the Masters and Wardens pursuant to an Order made at every Michaelmas Quarter Assembly impowering them to name such Council.
The Masters and Wardens have usually in pursuance of such Order appointed a Council of the House Yearly, and have con- stantly named the Lord Mayor, all the Aldermen, the Sheriffs and Sheriffs Peers, the Masters and Wardens, and all their Peers and thirty-one more out of the Corporate Body to be of the Council of the House.
There is not any written By-Laws of the Corporation impower- ing this Council to act in the Election of any of the Offices of the Corporation, or in the returns to be made of Persons to serve in the Common Council of the City of Dublin pursuant to the New Rules.
Yet the Council of the House have taken upon them a right to fix on such Persons as they think proper to serve in the several Offices of the Masters and Wardens, and now insist that
G 2
84
DUBLIN, the Corporation is bound to elect their Masters and Wardens out of the returns made by them.
They exercise a power of returning Persons to serve in the Common Council of the City, which is of the greatest Consequence not only to the Corporation, but to the City in general, without ever applying to the Corporation for their Consent or Appro- bation.
They now insist that they have a right so to do by Custom, and that the Corporate Body is bound by their Transactions therein.
The reasonableness of those Powers as insisted on by the Council of the House in Opposition to the Corporate Body, is left to [the] Consideration of every Freeman.
If they are thought reasonable, then let such Council be vested with those powers by Act of the Assembly.
If they are thought unreasonable, then the Corporate Body have a Right to reassume the power to themselves, and repeal all such Customs.
It now only remains that every Freeman consider whether the Customs and usages thus exercised by the Council of the House are consistent with the freedom of the Corporation, or whether the Corporation are desirous to be restored to their original right under the Charter for Electing such Persons as they think most proper to serve the Office of Master and Wardens out of the Corporate Body without restraint of the Council of the House. And also to the right of nominating such persons as they think most proper to serve in the Common Council of the City, or leave it to the Council of the House to nominate for them as heretofore.'
Then follow the names of 632 Freemen of the Corporation; the Council of the Guild (the two Masters, two Wardens, Lord Mayor, two Sheriffs and 24 others) ; 14 Sheriffs Peers ; 3 Masters Peers; 21 Wardens Peers; and 'the 31 Members of the Corpo- rations.'
A.D. 1836. — 'On every Michaelmas quarter-day this Guild elects
Proofs anD 3[llustration& 85
a Mayor and two Constables of the Staple *. The retiring Lord DUBLIN. Mayor and Sheriffs of the City are generally elected.' In this year there were about 900 brethren. — (Munic. Corp. Com., 1836, Dublin, 271-273.)
DUNHEVED alias LAUNCESTON.
The following is taken from the dorse of the Borough Account Roll of Dunheved for the year 1334 [translation] : —
Entrances to the Gild.
'John, the son of Ade [i.e. Adam] of Huntenford, entered for his bika [ale measure] by favour of the mayor : Surety, William Huntenford.
Galfrid Boys entered for his bika by the burgesses : Surety, Roger Tankard.
Henry Nayl, entered for 40^. 1 2d. to be paid forthwith, and at Candlemas 12^., and at Easter is. 4^.: Surety, Reginald of Tavistock.
William Lurneherde entered for 3-$-., whereof he paid forthwith i&d., and the residue is to be paid at Candlemas : Sureties, William Hardy and Richard Gibba.
Robert de Polhorman entered for a bika by the burgesses.
Henry le Pensran entered for a bika by the burgesses.
Stephen Curtenay entered for his bika by the burgesses.
Philip le Dodder entered for 4^., which he paid immediately on entry.
Nicholas the son of William de Bere, entered for 2s., to be paid at Easter, by the burgesses.
William Stacy entered by favour of the mayor.
Robert of Tredidan entered for 2s. 6d., to be paid at Pentecost and at Michaelmas : Surety, Adam Kech.
1 The staplers are frequently mentioned in the Egerton MS. (ff, 18, 21 b, 34, 37 b, 90, and see above, pp. 71, 74, 76). The staple was evidently regulated by the Gild, though distinct from the latter. In 1617 the Gild is called ' the brotherhood of this guild and staple,' — Egerton MS. 1765, fol. 37 b. The staple may be regarded as a section of the Gild Merchant, consisting of the wealthier brethren.
86
DUNHEVED. Seven more entries similar in character succeed.' — (Peter, Histories of Launceston and Dunheved, 94-95.)
The Roll for 1336 is endorsed, under the heading, 'Entrances to the Gild,' with the names of twenty persons who were admitted upon payments of money and for 'bikas.' In 1467 'William Coulecote entered into the Gild, and was sworn of the burgesses.' A.D. 1477. The Roll for 17 Edward IV is indorsed, 'Entrances of Burgesses in this year, the names of whom follow.' Thomas Colecombe, of Chepyngtoryton, and Matilda his wife, on the suretyship of John Perys, 6s. 8d. • William Vyell, of Chepyngtory- ton (surety, John Perys) ; Thomas Vela came into the Gild by his heirship, and paid for his turn, i6d. ; Mr. John de Leche came into the Gild (surety, John Estecote), 6^. &d. ; Richard Maunsell, cordwainer, was sworn a burgess, and paid for his admission 6s. Sd. Four similiar entries follow. On the back of the Roll of 1493 are the words, 'Entries of burgesses into the Fraternity of the Borough ' ; five names succeed. — (Ibid., pp. 95, "3, M7, 157, 163.)
EXETEK.
The only reference to the ' Gilda Mercatoria ' at Exeter that I could find in the Record Room of that city or in printed books, is contained in a petition of the citizens to Henry VIII for a new charter, one clause of which was to read thus : — ' Et ulterius concessimus pro nobis et heredibus nostris prefatis Maiori, Balliuis et Communitati et successoribus suis, quod ipsi et eorum successores habeant et teneant imperpetuum Gildam Mer- catoriam cum hansa in Ciuitate predicta, cum omnibus et singulis ad gildam mercatoriam pertinentibus, prout maior, vicecomites et Ciues Ciuitatis nostre london' melius habeant siue habere seu tenere possint. Ita quod nullus, nisi qui de gilda ilia est, mercandisam aliquam faciat in eadem Ciuitate et in portu eiusdem, nisi de voluntate Maioris, Balliuorum et Communitatis predictorum.' — (Record Room, Exeter, 1-430 b.)
There was a powerful Gild of Merchant Adventurers at Exeter,
Proofs anu 3[llitstration& 87
which received a charter from Elizabeth. We are informed that EXETER. it actually overshadowed the local government and dictated laws to the community, to which the Mayor and Chamber submitted. — ( W. Cotton, An Elizabethan Gild of Exeter^ p. 24.)
The charter of Elizabeth was granted to the Merchant Adven- A. D. 1559. turers on account of aid rendered the crown by the citizens of Exeter in the time of Henry VII and Edward VI, and on account of the inconveniences arising from the excessive number of artificers and unskilled persons occupying the art or mystery of merchandising. It formally incorporates the Company by the name of 'Magister, Gardiani et Societas mercatorum periclitan- cium Ciuitatis Exonie.' The Society was given power to hold lands and tenements, not exceeding 100 marks annual value; to plead and be impleaded in courts of law ; to have a common seal ; annually to elect a master and four wardens ; to assemble, when they pleased, to make laws for the government of the Society consistent with those of the city and realm. ' Et insuper, de abundanciori gracia nostra ac pro consideracionibus predictis necnon pro maiori quiete et releuamine mercatorum predictorum, volumus ac per presentes ordinamus et stabilimus quod nullus Inhabitancium Ciuitatis nostre Exonie vel Communitatis eiusdem Ciuitatis, cuiuscumque status seu condicionis fuerit, post festum Purificacionis beate Marie Virginis proximo iam sequens infra eandem Ciuitatem artem seu misteram mercimoniorum vel mer- candizarum frequentare, vel vlla mercandizas seu mercimonia extra hoc regnum Anglie facta seu crescencia per grossam seu per retaliam, videlicet in grosse or by retayle, in publico vel priuate vendicioni exponere aut ab eadem Ciuitate mercimonia, mercandizas vel merces aliquas ad partes extraneas et trans- marinas seu alia loca transportare, traducere, eskippare seu conuehere presumat vel audeat (mercatoribus predictis exceptis), sub pena grauis mulcture seu alterius cuiuscumque punicionis super ipsos racionabiliter imponende, nisi prius liber sit eiusdem Societatis secundum ordinaciones inde ordinandas et, vt pre- mittitur, prouidendas. Et insuper, vt premissa et omnia statuta, leges, ordinaciones et mandata eorundem Magistri, Gardianorum
agercfmnt
EXETER, et Societatis melius obseruari fieri et obidire possint in tempore future, concessimus pro nobis, heredibus et successoribus nostris eisdem Magistro, Gardianis et successoribus suis plenam tenore presencium potestatem et auctoritatem faciendi scrutinium vel scrutinia inter misteram seu artem predictam frequentantes, ac de mercimoniis, mercibus, mercandizis, ponderibus, mensuris et aliis rebus suis mistere illi incidentibus vel ad eandem misteram spectantibus inquisicionem, visum et examinacionem capiendi et habendi, ac defectus in eisdem corrigendi, ac debito et legit- timo modo puniendi et obolendi. Ac quod super delinquentes contra premissa vel eorundem Magistri, Gardianorum et Societatis ordinaciones racionabiles et honestas leges et statuta in forma predicta ordinanda fines, amerciamenta, penas, penalitates, im- prisonamenta, puniciones corporales vel pecuniarias secundum eorundem Magistri et Gardianorum discrecionem, cum auisa- mento et assistencia Maioris Ciuitatis nostre Exonie predicte et quatuor Aldermannorum eiusdem Ciuitatis pro tempore existen- cium, secundum legem huius regni nostri Anglie imponere, assi- dere, appunctuare, exequi, leuare et mandare, ac eadem fines, amerciamenta, penas, penalitates, imprisonamenta et puniciones predicta remittere, relaxare, moderare, mutare et alterare se- cundum discrecionem et per auisamentum et assistenciam pre- dictam possint et valeant, quandocumque et quocienscumque opus et necesse fuerit exnunc imposterum, et sicut eisdem Magistro et Gardianis cum auisamento et assistencia predictis melius visum fuerit. Quorum quidem finium, amerciamentorum et penarum pecuniarum, super huiusmodi delinquentes et trans- gressores pro contemptibus et offensis seu defectibus suis in forma predicta assidendorum vel imponendorum, vnam medie- tatem leuari et responderi volumus et concedimus pro nobis, heredibus et successoribus nostris de tempore in tempus in die festi Sancti Michaelis Archangeli ad proprium opus et vsum Communitatis siue Camerarie Ciuitatis nostre Exonie predicte, in consideracione quod dicti Maior et Aldermanni eiusdem Ciui- tatis de tempore in tempus assistant et auxilient predictis Magis- tro et Gardianis in premissis exequendis et perficiendis ; ac
proofs anti aiiustrattons, 89
i
alteram medietatem inde in solum et proprium opus, vsum et EXETER. releuamen Societatis mercatorum predictorum levari, conuerti et responderi in forma predicta.' The Society must yearly distribute among twenty poor men twenty ' vdstes panneas ' and must assist all of the Company who are impoverished by the violence of the ocean or otherwise. — (Record Office^ Patent Roll i Eliz., pars 4, mem. 31-32.)
PAVEBSHAM.
'On 22nd May, 1616, the Corporation, by bye-laws, established a trading guild, under the name of the Mercers' Company. The first bye-law recites that long experience had shewn that the dividing of the government of cities and towns, and of the tradesmen there, into several companies, had worked great good, and was the means of avoiding many inconveniences and preposterous disorders, in respect that the government of every artificer and tradesman being committed to men of gravity, best experienced in the same faculty and mystery, the particular grievances and deceits in every trade might be examined, re- formed, and ordered. It then states the order made, at request of the tradesmen, that all persons then or afterwards exercising the trades mentioned, and inhabiting within the town, should be one company by the name of the Mercers. The list of fifty-two trades enumerated, comprehends nearly all those now exercised, and includes some which are carried on under another name, or have ceased to be exercised in the town. The latter are mercers, haberdashers of hats and small wares, cloth makers, cloth workers, weavers, shermen, barber surgeons, tanners, vintners, pewterers, armourers, and fletchers. The Company was to have a master, warden, and assistants, clerk, and beadle. No person could thenceforth exercise a trade, unless apprenticed within the town, or first admitted of the Company. No bachelor could set up his trade before the age of twenty-four under a penalty of 5^. a day. No one might sell or utter any other ware or stuff but such as belonged to his trade. Fines for admittance of strangers were not to exceed £10; and no stranger might
90
FAVERSHAM. set up before his admittance upon pain of 3^. ^d. a day. Apprentices brought up in the town were admitted of the Company, and their fine was not to exceed 2$. Persons not coming at the master's summons were to forfeit is. No ap- prentice could be taken under seven years, and his indentures were to be enrolled. Journeymen were not employed under twenty years of age. None might entice another's servant to depart upon pain of 2os. Thursday in Whitsun was appointed for a solemn assembly — sermon and dinner. Freemen dying were accompanied to their burial. Ordinances were to be made from time to time for the good government of the Company. Fines might be imposed upon such as should impugn or break the orders. [One half of the fines was to be paid to the Mayor and Commonalty, the other half to the Company.] A small quarterage was paid by the freemen of the Company, and they, upon the recommendation of the master, warden, and assistants, were made free of the town for a fine of 6s. 8^. Lastly, the master, wardens, and assistants, were not to interfere with the government of the town, but only with measures appertaining to the trades and mysteries of the Company. These ordinances the Justices of Assize for the County of Kent confirmed.'- (Kent Archaeol. Soc., Trans., vol. ix. p. Ixviii.)
'A second set of bye-laws, also confirmed by the judges of assize, was made by the mayor, jurats and commonalty in 1699. The principal provisions in these, relating to the company, are the following : that the mayor for the time being is to be master, that the wardens are to be chosen from the jurats, four of the assistants from the common councilmen, and the other four from the freemen of the company; that all sums, paid on admission into the company by foreigners are to the use of the mayor, jurats and commonalty, to be employed toward the public charges of the town, and some other fines mentioned to the use of the company. In case of neglect or refusal to pay sums imposed by the company, the beadle is to make distress of the goods of the party. The bye-law, after reciting that the number of the freemen of the town had become so small, as not to
Proofs anti 3illustration& 91
furnish sufficient for jurats and commoners, gives the mayor and FAVERSHAM. four jurats power to require any of the freemen of the company to be made free of the town, under a penalty of 5/. and of dis- franchisement.' In 1835 the old organization of the Mercers' Company was still maintained; its sole remaining function was
1 to impose a restriction upon the right to trade within the juris- diction of the corporation.' The Mayor for the time being was still Master of the Company. — (Munic. Corp. Com. 1835, pp. 968- 970.)
GAINSBOKOTTGH.
Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, confirmed the liberties of the town (temp. Edward III). The following is the clause of the charter relating to the Gild [translation] : — ' We have also granted to the same burgesses, whose names remain with us in our treasury, that they and their heirs may have from henceforth a free mercatory gild, and that they be free of toll and stallage in buying and selling all their saleable things in the borough afore- said ; so notwithstanding that neither the said burgesses nor their heirs do receive any stranger into their gild aforesaid as a burgess in the gild aforesaid, unless it be with the assent of us or our steward for the time being, and in our court be presented and entered.' — (Stark, Gainsburgh, 75-76.)
GUILDFOBD.
Henry III in the fortieth year of his reign granted the men of A.D. 1256. Kingston-upon-Thames the Gild Merchant, just as the men of Guildford had it1. 'Gilda Mercatoria' also occurs among the privileges conferred upon Guildford by Edward III 2.
Gilda3 mercatoria tenta in Octabis Sancti Michaelis, Anno Guldeford.
1 Roots, Kingston Charters, 28; Petyt MS., ii. 159.
2 Brayley, Surrey, i. 313 ; Manning, Surrey, i. 35.
3 These extracts are taken from two sources: — (i) Addit.MS., Mus. Brit, 6167, a folio volume of 488 pages entitled, * Collections for Surrey,' made by Rich. Symmes, who appears to have been Town Clerk of Guildford from 1670 to 1680 ; ff. 193-208 refer mainly to proceedings of the Gild from 30 Edw. Ill to
2 Jac. II. (2) A large paper folio belonging to the Corporation of Guildford.
92
GUILDFORD. regni Regis Edwardi tertii a conquestu Tricesimo. Walterus Atte F ~ ffenne venit ad istam Gildam, et soluit de redditibus Aule xim. s., fol. 193. Et sic quietus est. A.D. 1356. Edwardus Barret venit ad istam Gildam et fecit finem ad pas-
In ff. 118-138 we have the proceedings of the Gild from 30 Edw. Ill to 50 Edw. Ill ; in ff. 146-156, the same from 14 Hen. IV to 9 Hen. V. The scribe, Geo. Austen (a person of that name was Town Clerk of Guildford 9 Eliz., — Addit. MS. 6167, fol. 203^), begins as follows : — ' I finde a verie auncient booke of this towne called " The Black Booke " written in the tymes of Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, Edward IV, Henry VII, sometymes Kings of Englande, wherein are written and recorded, the choice of divers officers within the said towne yerelie, with divers accoumpts of money receved for rents, forfeytures, proffitts of courts, faires, customes, and other things, by the bayliff, halwardens and other officers of the said towne yerelie collected and paide. And also divers entries of ffynes paid, and auncient customes observed by sundry persons for admittance by a generall consent into the libertie and ffreedome of the said towne, which booke is so ragged, torne, and rent one peece from another, yea, almost every leaf one from the other, and so disorderly placed that I could hardly bring them into order agayne. Now for so much of the same as came to my hands (a great many leaves of that book being lacking) I have reduced as nere as I can into their places, and collected out of the same the cheif substaunce of so much of that which I found there written as coulde well be readd, for in manie of the leaves of that booke the very words and letters thereof in divers places are worn out by age and ill kep- inge, as may appere to them that shall look into the same. ... I have briefly collected out of the same the chief matters therein sett downe, which I
have summarilie caused to be written in this my booke For the rest of the
matters contained in that booke from the first yere of the raign of king Henry the sixth forthwardes, I have omitted to make eny collections of those latter tymes, because I find from that tyme the booke called the red booke of the said towne to begin and continue yerelie the election of officers, admitting offoreyners by fine and some other things. ... I have taken this paynes to gather out of that book brieflie that which followeth, that thereby instede of the substance some shadow or resemblance of that old book may remayne for those which shall succeed. And yett I would not have that black book by this means to be cast away or not regarded, appering old and ragged, but rather to accompte of him the more in that he doth proceed from your auncient predecessors, and afford him that favour to let him have abode amongest you, where he may rest safelie.' ....
The British Museum MS., being more accessible, has been followed in the text, though the MS. at Guildford is fuller. Additions and variations adopted from the latter are given in brackets, but words added in italics are emendations by myself. The folios of the Brit. Mus. MS. and the Guildford MS. are indicated in the margin by ' fol.' and ' F.' respectively.
Proofs anD 3(llustrations, 93
cendum Gildam pro vi. s. vm. d. Et sic quietus est. Et debet GUILDFORD. vnum Taurum contra proximam [gildani^ per plegium Ricardi le ffletcher, Johannis Hillar, Willielmi Jacob et Johannis Tanner [et sic de aliis].
Gilda mercatoria [de Guldeford] tenta ibidem die dominica Guldeford. proxima ante ffestum Sancti Luce Evangeliste, Anno regni Regis Edwardi tertii post conquestum Tricesimo secundo. A.D. 1358.
Ad istam Gildam venit Walterus Atte ffenne et solvit in. s. nii.</., quos recepit de Johanne Herman pro Jentaculo suo, Etsic quietus est. [Item de aliis, etc.]
Gilda mercatoria tenta ibidem die dominica proxima post fifes- Guldeford. turn Sancti Luce Evangeliste, 35 Edw. 3. A.D. 1361.
Ad istam Gildam venit Willielmus Goffe et invenit plegios ad pascendum ad proximam, viz. Robertum Lungie, Johannem Illory et Johannem Mauroks. Ita quod solvat ad ffestum Sancti Michaelis proximo futurum v.s. et ad proximam Gildam V..T., et Jentaculum suum vna cum cursu cuiusdam Tauri competentis, provt moris est, sine vlteriore dilacione.
Ad istam Gildam venit Henricus at Stonhurst et fecit finem Gilde sue pro vi. s. vm. */., vnde solvit ad istam Gildam XL. d. Et habet diem, etc.
Ad istam Gildam venit Robertus le Spicer et fecit finem ad pascendum gildam pro x. s., vnde soluit nunc XL.^/., et habet diem de vi. s. viu.d. vsque, etc. [et sic de multis aliis].
Senescallus *. Walterus Wodelande. Electio ofiV.
' Walterus at Barr, Henricus Taverner,
Ricardus Pruett, F. 122.
\ Walterus At ffann.
Clericus.
Marescallus. Thomas Hornington.
( Johannes fferor, Rob. Lungie,
Pincerne. < , , i •«• «i i
( Rogerus Lumbard, Ric. ffletcher.
( Willielmus Gallopyn, Custodes Aule.
I Johannes Mauroks.
** Frequently written, ' scenescallus ' in the Brit. Mus. MS.
fferthingmen.
94
fol. 193 b.
GUILDFORD. Memorandum quod Computus de Collectione Marescalli domini Regis de claro computatur inter Communitatem et Willielmum Gallopyn et Johannem Mauroks, Collectores eiusdem. Ita quod de claro, Computo Computando Allocationibus Allocandis, iidem Willielmus et Johannes remanent in debito dicte communitati in v.s. vi. d. ob., preter denarios provenientes de Stokelane, quos Petrus Semer manucepit. Et iidem Willielmus et Johannes petunt allocari de, etc., et de vi.^., solutis pro redditibus Aule pro duobus annis, etc. Et de vi.s. qui fuerunt in manus Walteri Wodeland Maioris de visu ffranci plegii, etc. Inde allocatur pro expensis porce apud ffrenegate, in.s. i.d.t etc.
Plegii Johannis Scots de bono f Johannes fferour, gestu versus Maiorem ville. ( Johannes Illory.
Robertus Troffle ponit se [in misericordia et] in gratia Maioris et Communitatis, de eo quod vocavit Willielmum Loveland La- tronem, per plegium Johannis Butt et Rogeri Baker, et postea ad rogatum Thome Guldeford et aliorum fide dignorum condonatur, sub bono gestu suo imposterum.
Memorandum quod expensa duorum Burgensium missorum ad Parliamentum Domini Regis tentum apud Westm' in ffesto Con- uersionis Pauli, Anno regni sui tricesimo quinto, commorantium ibidem per xxvui. dies, per diem quilibet XH. d., attingat ad sum- mam LVI. s.
Item in expensis factis circa libertatem essendi quietus de Theolonio prestando in Ciuitate London', Southwerk', Sutham- ton' et Winton' in brevi domini Regis et in aliis expensis neces- sariis pro libertate habenda et allocanda a die conuersionis Sancti Pauli, Anno regni Regis Tricesimo quinto incipiente, vsque ad primum diem Maii proximo sequentem, xxxix.j. v.d. ob.
Gilda mercatoria ibidem tenta [tenta ibidem] die dominica proxima post . . . Martyris, 36 Edw. 3.
Walterus Wodeland. f Ric. Pruett, Joh. Mauroks, I Rogerus Baker, Walt, at ffenne.
F. 123.
Guldeford. A.D. 1362.
Electio offic*.
Senescallus. fferthingmen.
Clericus. Marescallus.
Thomas Hornington.
ann 3[llustratton& 95
( Johannes fferour, Rob. Lungye, GUILDFORD.
Jrincerne. \ ~~~~~
( Ric. ffletcher, Job. Illory.
( Willielmus Gallopyn, Custodes Aule. J _
\ Rogerus Lumbard.
Ad istam Gildam venit Robertas At Stone et invenit plegios fo1- J94- ad pascendum ad proximam \gildam\, viz. Johannem Illory, Wil- lielmum Pollingfold, Will. Jacob et Johannem Watte. Ita quod pascet ad proximam cum cursu Tauri competentis, prout moris est. [Item diuers ffynes paide for freedome and distresses taken F. 124. of pleges for the like.]
Gilda mercatoria tenta ibidem die Lune proxima post ffestum Guldeford. Sancti Luce Evangeliste, 37° Edw. 3. A.D. 1363.
Memorandum quod Robertus Lungye debet Communitati v. s., quos recepit, etc. Item venit Ricardus Gadd et solvit Communi- tati ix. s. pro Gilda sua, et omnia alia fecit que ad ipsam pertinuit [pertinent], et sic quietus recessit.
Item venerunt hie Walterus Gerland et Radulfus at Gibbes et dant Communitati vnam marcam per plegium Rogeri Lumbard, quos \<fUam\ solvent 1 incontinenter pro Gilda sua, et Taurus vnius eorum invenietur nunc, et alterius ad proximam Gildam, cum Jantaculo [etc.].
Item venit Rogerus At Tonne et invenit Rogerum Lumbard et Henricum Tanner plegios suos ad pascendum Gildam istam ad proximum annum secundum consuetudinem istius ville sine vlteriori dilacione. Et solvit hie Rogero Lumbard et Willielmo Gallopyn vi. s. vin. d., et aliam dimidiam marcam solvet ad festum Sancti Martini proximo sequens, per plegios predictos, quam dimi- diam marcam postea solvit hie ad istam Gildam, etc. [Et sic de multis aliis.]
Memorandum quod tota summa de expensis Walteri Wodeland et Rogeri Lumbard Burgensium Parliamenti de anno 37° continet mi. //'. mi. s., de quibus Johannes Maurocks et Johannes Hillary Collectores solverunt eisdem die Sabbati proxima post ffestum cor- poris Christi xxxix. s. vi. d. Et iidem Walterus et Rogerus dant
1 The MS. has quos sol*.
96
GUILDFORD. inde Communitati ad emendacionem communis Aule xm. s. mi. */. Ita quod de predicta summa solvuntur eis xxvi. s. vi. d.
F- 125- Item iidem Collectores finis et expensarum Clericorum de
mercato domini Regis expenditarum apud Guldeford in mense Pasche Anno 37° ad predictum diem reddiderunt computum suum, quod omnia compute computando et allocationibus allo- candis remanent in manibus suis ad emendacionem predicte Aule vn. s. mi.d. [etc.]
Electio offic'. Senescallus. Walterus Wodeland.
f Ric. Pruett, Johannes Semer, fferthingmen.
I Rog. Baker, Walt, at ffenne.
[The other officers as above, 36 Edw. III.]
Guldeford. Gilda mercatoria tenta ibidem die Lune proxima post festum °A £ 1304 Sancti Luce Evangeliste, 380 Edw. 3.
Memorandum quod Taurus Rogeri at Tonne quern invenisse debuit ad proximam Gildam precedentem respectuatur vsque ad proximam [Gildam] per eundem plegium suum, et de omnibus aliis quietus est.
Item dies datus est Henrico Cokeshall ad inveniendum Taurum suum et Jantaculum vsque ad proximam Gildham, per plegium, etc. [postea invenit Taurum et Jantaculum proximo Anno se- quente, et sic quietus est. Et sic de multis aliis, etc.] Electio offic'. Senescallus. Walterus Wodeland.
( Ric. Pruet, Johannes Mauroks, nertmngmen. { ,
I Henr. Colas, Walterus At ffenne.
Clericus. Johannes Semer.
Marescallus. Johannes fferour.
( Rob. Wodeland, Thomas Lumbard. Pincerne. <
[ Rich. Fletcher, Rob. Lungye.
( Rog. Lumbard, Custodes Aule. *
Summa collections istius Gilde xvi. s. viu. d. Summa Visus Franci plegii in. s. Inde in expensis istius Gilde in pane v. d., in servitia [i.e. cervisia] xm. s. vi. ^., in came empta HI. s. xi. d., in vino viu. d., in spicis emptis in. s. vi. d., in waufers in. s., in Gar- leke empta n. d. Summa, etc.
ant) 3[llustrarton& 97
Gilda mercatoria ibidem tenta [tenta ibidem] die Lune proxima GUILDFORD.
post festum Sancti Luce Evangeliste, 30° Edw. *.
Guldeford.
Ad istam venit Rogerus at Tonne, et solvit Taurum suum quern A D