thus we find them in the fourteenth century administering large
charities for the benefit of the poor of London, and with the help of
the monasteries providing a system of relief and educational
organisation in the absence of any poor-law administration or State
education.
[Illustration: FURNIVAL'S INN.
_From an old print published in 1804._]
These city guilds were also of a distinctly religious character, and
prescribed rules for the attendance of members at the services of the
Church, for pilgrimages, and the celebration of masses for the dead.
Each company had its patron saint, and maintained a chantry priest or
chaplain. They founded altars in churches in honour of their patron
saint, who was usually selected on account of his emblem or symbol being
in some way connected with the particular trade of the guild. Thus, St.
Dunstan, who was a worker in precious metals, became the patron saint of
the Goldsmiths; the Fishmongers selected St. Peter, a fisherman, and
held their services at St. Peter's Church; the Merchant Taylors
venerated St. John Baptist, whose symbol is the _Agnus Dei_. In several
cases, the saint to whom the church where they attended was dedicated,
was adopted as their own patron. Thus, the Grocers called themselves
"the fraternity of St. Anthony," because they had their altar in St.
Anthony's Church; the Vintners, "the fraternity of St. Martin," from the
like connection with St. Martin's Vintry Church. Indeed, it has been
truly observed that the maintenance of their arts and mysteries during
several ages was blended with so many customs and observances, that it
was not till the times subsequent to the Reformation that the
fraternities could be regarded as strictly secular. On election days,
when the master and wardens were chosen, the company marched in solemn
procession to the church to hear Mass. Stow tells of the Skinners going
to the church of St. Lawrence, Poultry, on Corpus Christi day, with more
than 200 torches of wax borne before them, costly garnished, burning
bright, and about 200 clerks and priests in surplices and copes,
singing. The brethren were clad in their new liveries, the mayor and
aldermen in scarlet, and on their return to their hall enjoyed a great
feast. On the Sunday following the election day the brethren attended
a mass of requiem for their deceased members, when the Bede Roll was
read and prayers offered for the souls of the departed members, as well
as for those who still survived, each brother being mentioned by name.
THE PROMOTION OF TRADE
But the chief object of the existence of the companies was the promotion
of the prosperity of the trades with which they were associated. They
were appointed by charter "to settle and govern their mysteries," to
elect officers "to inquire of the concerns of their trades," and to
correct and amend the same. They had the right of search through their
respective trades, in order that each of them might detect dishonest
practices in his own craft and punish offenders, and to keep out and
suppress all "foreigners" who dared to carry on a trade and yet did not
belong to the particular company which governed and regulated it. To
preserve the secrets of the craft and to regulate apprenticeships were
also some of the duties of the guilds. Each fraternity had its own
duties to perform. Thus, the Grocers had the oversight of all drugs, and
their officers were ordered "to go and assay weights, powders,
confeccions, plasters, oyntments, and all other things belonging to the
same craft"; the Goldsmiths had the assay of metals; the Fishmongers the
oversight and rejection of fish brought to London which they did not
deem fit for the use of the people; the Vintners had the tasting and
gauging of wines. Many curious and obsolete trades are disclosed in the
records of the companies. The Mercers were the _Mercatores_, or
Merchants, no simple pedlars or small tradesmen, but persons who dealt
in a varied assortment of goods, such as linen cloths, buckrams,
fustians, satin, jewels, fine woollen and other English cloths, drugs,
cotton, thread and wool, silk, wood, oil, copper, wine, lead, and salt.
The Grocer was one who dealt _en gros_--wholesale, as opposed to retail
merchandise. The original title of the guild was "the Company of
Pepperers of Soper's Lane." The Drapers were makers of woollen cloth.
The Fishmongers united into one body the two ancient guilds of the
Salt-fishmongers and the Stock-fishmongers. The title of the Merchant
Taylors in the time of Edward I. was "the Fraternity of the Taylors and
Linen Armourers of St. John the Baptist," and manufactured everything
pertaining to armour, including the linings, surcoats, caparisons and
accoutrements, Royal pavilions and robes of state, tents for soldiers,
as well as ordinary garments and wardrobe requirements, except only the
actual metal work. It may be observed how minutely the work of the
trades was divided and subdivided, and how zealously each craft was
guarded, lest one tradesman or craftsman should interfere with the work
of another. The whole system of the companies was to form an absolute
monopoly for each craft. A Universal Provider, or a man who could "turn
his hand to anything," was unknown in the palmy days of the City
Companies.
[Illustration: THE CHAIR OF THE MASTER OF THE SALTERS' COMPANY.]
The Skinners, or _Pelliparii_, naturally dealt in skins and furs, which,
before the days of sombre black coats and tweed suits, were in great
request, and were the distinguishing badge of rank and high estate. The
Haberdashers united into one guild the Hat Merchants; the Haberdashers
of Hats including the crafts of the Hurriers or Cappers, and the
Millianers or Milliners, who derived their name from the fact that they
imported their goods chiefly from Milan. The Salters naturally dealt in
that necessary article of consumption, and conveniently had their
quarters near the Fishmongers. The Ironmongers were both merchants and
traders, having large warehouses and yards whence they exported and sold
bar iron and iron rods, and also had shops for the retail of
manufactured iron goods. The Vintners, or Merchant Wine-Tonners of
Gascoyne, were divided into two classes--the Vinetarii, or importers of
wine, residing in stately stone houses adjoining the wharves; and the
Tabernarii, or keepers of taverns, inns, or cook-houses. The
Clothworkers combined the ancient guilds of the Fullers and Sheermen.
The above twelve companies are styled the Great Companies, and in
addition to these there are sixty-two minor companies, several of which
are less only in name than their greater brethren. In point of numbers
and wealth some are equal to the less opulent of the great companies.
The Armourers, Carpenters, Leather-sellers, and Saddlers are especially
wealthy corporations, and have fine halls, which are scarcely surpassed
by any in the city. Some have no halls and small incomes, but there is
scarcely a company which has not an interesting history, or which does
not have some attractive and interesting historical associations.
[Illustration: BELL (CAST 1463) FROM ALL HALLOWS', STAINING, BELONGING
TO THE GROCERS' COMPANY.]
THE MINOR COMPANIES
The Apothecaries have a charming little hall in Blackfriars, and have
for centuries waged war against unsound medicines and ignorant quacks.
They would not allow anyone to "use or exercise any drugs, simples, or
compounds, or any kynde or sorte of poticarie wares, but such as shall
be pure and perfyt good." Their good work continues. The Armourers' and
Braziers' Company performed useful duties in the days when the lives of
knights and warriors depended on the good and true work of the makers of
armour. They have an interesting modern hall containing a good
collection of their wares. The Bakers' Company is an ancient
corporation, and received its charter in 1307. The Barbers, or Barber
Surgeons, were incorporated in 1461, but they existed at least a century
earlier. They combined the skill of "healing wounds, blows, and other
infirmities, as in letting of blood and drawing teeth," with that of
shaving, and no one was allowed to perform these duties unless he were a
member of the company. In their hall they have the well-known picture of
King Henry VIII. granting a charter to Barber Surgeons in 1512, but more
probably it represents the union of the Barbers' Company with the Guild
of Surgeons in 1540. The Blacksmiths have a long history, dating back to
their incorporation by Edward III. in 1325. They combined the trade of
makers of ironwork with that of Dentists and Clockmakers, and were by
Queen Elizabeth united with the Spurriers, or makers of spurs. The motto
of the Bowyers' Company, "Crecy, Poictiers, Agincourt," tells of the
prowess of our English archers when archery was the national pastime of
Englishmen, as well as their support in war. Other allied crafts were
connected with the bowyers' art, including the Stringers, or long-bow
string makers, and the Fletchers, who made the arrows. The guild of the
latter still exists, and forms one of our minor companies. The Brewers
were in existence in 1418, and were incorporated by Henry VI. The
Broderers, or makers of embroidery, flourished in the fourteenth
century, and with them were united the Tapissers, or tapestry makers;
their artistic skill was remarkable, and the funeral palls, still in the
possession of the Merchant Taylors, the Vintners, and Fishmongers, are
evidences of their excellent workmanship.
The Carpenters' Company ranks high among its fellows, and has a very
interesting history. Its first charter was granted by Edward IV. in
1477, but it existed years before, as Chaucer witnesses--
"An Haberdasher and a Carpenter,
A Webbe, a Deyer and a Tapiser,
Were alle y clothed in a livere
Of a solempne and grete fraternitie."
In the days of half-timbered houses their skill was in great request,
and they had a large and flourishing guild, which failed not to take
part in all the pageants, processions, and "ridings in the Chepe," and
in all the State functions of the city. They have a noble modern hall,
but one rather regrets the disappearance in 1876 of the old mansion
house of the Carpenters, which survived the Great Fire and recalled many
memories of the past. In order to "seek for and destroy faulty and
deceitful work of clock and watchmakers or mathematical instrument
makers," the Clockmakers' Company was formed in 1631. Some of the
members wanted a hall, and objected to meet "in alehouses and taverns to
the great disparagement of them all"; but this dream has not been
realised, and the company use the halls of other guilds. The Coach and
Coach-Harness makers have a hall in Noble Street, noteworthy as being
the place where the Gordon riots were organized. The company was formed
in 1677, and performed useful functions in examining defective wheels
and axle-trees and in the construction of coaches. The Cooks, formerly
known as pastelers or piebakers, are a very ancient fraternity, but most
of their documents were destroyed in the Great Fire. An _inspeximus_
charter of George III., however, informs us that it was incorporated by
Edward IV., but their history has been uneventful. The Coopers can date
back their existence to the reign of Edward II., but were not
incorporated until 1501, one of their duties being to pray for the
health of King Henry VII. and his Royal consort Elizabeth while they
lived, and for their souls when they shall have "migrated from this
light." The wardens had power to gauge all casks in the city of London,
and to mark such barrels when gauged. Brewers were not allowed to use
vessels which did not bear the Coopers' marks. They have a hall, and a
very interesting history, upon which we should like to dwell if space
permitted.
The Cordwainers, or _Allutarii_, regulated the trades connected with the
leather industry, and included the flaying, tanning, and currying of
hides, and the making and sale of shoes, boots, goloshes, and other
articles of leather. The Curriers have a hall, and at one time were
associated with the Cordwainers. Their documents were burnt in the Great
Fire, but their records are complete since that date. Their ranks were
greatly thinned at the close of the sixteenth century, as we gather from
the record, "the journeymen free of the company are altogether dead of
the late plague." The Cutlers date back to the time of Edward III., and
their trade embraced all manner of swords, daggers, rapiers, hangers,
wood-knives, pen-knives, razors, surgeons' instruments, skeynes, hilts,
pommels, battle-axes, halberds, and many other weapons. They have a
modern hall in Warwick Lane, their former home having been destroyed by
the erection of the Cannon Street railway station.
The Distillers' Company was founded by Sir Theodore de Mayerne, Court
physician to Charles I., for the regulation of the trade of distillers
and vinegar makers, and of those engaged in the preparation of
artificial and strong waters, and of making beeregar and alegar. The
Dyers have an ancient and honourable company, which once ranked among
the first twelve. Theirs was a very flourishing industry in mediaeval and
later times, when the coloured liveries of guilds and the brilliant
hues of the garments of both male and female city-folk testified to the
extent of the Dyers' industry. A charter was granted to them by Edward
IV., and they have taken their share in the great events of civic and
national history. They, with the Vintners, have the right to keep a
"game of swans" on the Thames. The Dyers' mark was formerly four bars
and one nick; now it has been simplified, and one nick denotes the
ownership of the swan by the company.
The Fanmakers obtained a charter from good Queen Anne, their company
being the youngest of all the guilds. They encourage the production of a
female weapon, which is often used with much effect in the warfare of
courtly fashion and intrigue. The Farriers were incorporated by the
Merry Monarch, in order to prevent unexpert and unskilful persons
destroying horses by bad shoeing, and have extended their good work to
the present day by devising an admirable system of examination and
national registration of shoeing smiths. The trade is naturally an
ancient one, and a guild existed as early as 1356, and we read of one
Walter de Brun, farrier, in the Strand, in the time of Edward I., who
had a forge in the parish of St. Clement on the peculiar tenure of
paying to the King six horse-shoes.
The Feltmakers, incorporated by James I., regulated the manufacture of
felt hats. Of the Fletchers, or arrow makers, whose motto is "True and
sure" we have already written. The Founders extended their jurisdiction
over the manufacture of candlesticks, buckles, spurs, stirrups, straps,
lavers, pots, ewers and basins made of brass, latten, or pewter, and
have an interesting history. They had a guild in 1472, when they began
their career with "twenty-four poor, honest men." Their ancient
ordinances contain directions about masses, burials, and almsgiving, the
carrying of wares to fairs, hawking them, and the governing of
apprentices. Their young men caused much difficulty. They loved riots
and sport, and one of the ordinances of 1608 prohibited the playing of
bowls, betting at cards, dice, table and shovel-board. One of the
principal duties of the company was the approving and signing of all
brass weights within the city, which were ordered to be brought to
Founders' Hall and there "sized and made lawful according to our
standard of England," and then marked with the common mark of the
mystery, "being the form of a ewer," the company taking the ancient
allowance for sizing. This was a very important public trust, which the
Founders continue to discharge.
The Framework Knitters' Company owes its existence to an ingenious
curate, one William Lee, of Calverton, who invented the stocking-loom in
1589. We should like, if space permitted, to dwell on his romantic
story, but in this brief sketch it is impossible. The company of
Framework Knitters sprang into being in the time of Charles II., and was
then extremely prosperous, indulging in expensive pomp and pageantries.
A gilded barge, a large band of musicians, a master's carriage,
attendants resplendent in gold-lace liveries, and banners emblazoned
with their arms, were some of the luxuries in which they indulged. But
their glory waned and their trade passed from London to the Midlands,
and little of their ancient state remains.
The Fruiterers have an active little company incorporated by James I.,
and still do useful work in promoting the cultivation of home-grown
fruit by cottagers and small holders of land. The Girdlers' Company is
an ancient fraternity, once styled the "Zonars," and formerly had the
regulation of the manufacture of girdles of silk or wool, or linen and
garters. Though the use of girdles has died out more than two centuries,
the company remains, and has a charming hall and some valuable property.
It owed its origin to a lay brotherhood of the Order of St. Laurence,
the members of which maintained themselves by the making of girdles, and
the guild was in existence in the days of Edward III., who addressed
them as "Les ceincturiers de notre Citee de Loundres."
The Glass-sellers have a charter granted by Charles II. to his
"well-beloved subjects the glass-sellers and looking-glass makers, which
authorised them to search in all places where glasses, looking-glasses,
hour-glasses and stone pots, or bottles, shall be made, showed, or put
to sale." The ordinances are very severe on apprentices, who, if guilty
of haunting taverns, alehouses, bowling alleys, or other misdemeanour,
were brought to the hall and stripped and whipped by persons appointed
for that purpose. Another company connected with the same substance, the
Glaziers, has little history, and we pass on to the Glovers, who existed
in 1349, and have had an honourable career. Gloves have played such a
notable part in our national life, that it would be a pleasant task to
record their history, but we must confine ourselves to their makers.
These had many allies and were united with the Pursers, and later on
with the Leather-sellers. In 1638 they recovered their independence, and
their charter states that 400 families were engaged in the trade, and
were impoverished by the confluence of persons of the same art, a
disordered multitude, working in chambers and corners, and making
naughty and deceitful gloves. Queen Victoria confirmed the charter of
the Glovers, whose corporation was the only guild so honoured during her
late Majesty's long reign.
The Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers have an ancient guild incorporated by
James I., though existing in 1461. They were concerned in fashioning the
gold and silver embroidered finery of our forefathers, who loved to make
themselves, their pages, and their horse-gear resplendent with gold and
silver. The Gunmakers perform the useful work of protecting our
countrymen from the dangers of defective guns, and their company was
incorporated by Charles I., on the ground that divers blacksmiths and
others inexpert in the art of gunmaking had taken upon them to make,
try, and prove guns after their unskilful way, whereby the trade was not
only damnified, but much harm and danger through such unskilfulness had
happened to his Majesty's subjects. They had the power of destroying all
false hand-guns, dogs, and pistols--to stamp all sound goods with the
letters G P crowned. This good work is still carried on by the company.
The Horners, in the days of horn cups and winding horns, were a
prosperous community, and their company existed in the days of Edward
III., exercising the right of search at the fairs of "Stirbridge and
Elie," their fortunes declining when glass vessels were used instead of
the old horn cups. The Innholders remind us of the old-time inns of
London, which Mr. Philip Norman in these volumes so well describes. At
one time they were styled hostelers or herbergeours, and objected to the
former title, inasmuch as their servants were really called hostillers,
the hostlers or ostlers of modern time. St. Julian was their patron
saint, for he made a hospital or inn by a river where men passed oft in
great peril. Very curious regulations were ordained for their
government, and no one was allowed to remain at an inn more than one day
and a night unless the innholder was willing to answer for him. They
have a hall, which has been newly erected, and some good portraits.
In no work was the amazing subdivision of labour so marked as in that
which related to wood. Carpenters, joiners, sawyers, and planers had
each their own separate work and organization. The joiners' work was
concerned with cupboards, bedsteads, tables and chairs, and "rayles,
sealinge boards, wainscott, chappboards and bedd timber" were their raw
materials. Their company was in existence in 1309, and they have a hall
in the Vintry. The Leather-sellers have an active and flourishing guild,
which is first mentioned in 1372, when their _probi homines_ or _bonz
gentz_ petitioned for some regulations for the prevention of the sale of
fraudulent leather. By the charter of James I. they have the full
oversight of "skins and felts called buff leather, shamoy leather,
Spanish leather, and that of stags, bucks, calves, sheep, lambs, kids
frized or grained, dressed in oil, allum, shoemack, or bark or rawed."
All proper leather was stamped with the arms of the company. They have a
fine modern hall, and can show a good record of useful work.