as well to the mystery as to the guild.[1] The charter of the Fishmongers' Company in 11 Henry VI. shows how such instruments were expressed when the incorporation had relation to the mystery only.[2]
The ordinary practice of these guilds was to hire a priest to he their chaplain and say the requisite masses and prayers at some particular altar. He was often a chantry priest that already had similar duties to discharge. But we have in the deed exhibited evidence of a less common expedient, one of which probably few traces have come down to us, the purchase of the advowson of or perpetual right of presentation to a chantry already existing. The issue of the founder should seem to have failed, and the remote heir, feeling probably but little interest in the matter, or yielding perhaps to the importunity of a husband who felt none, joined with him in alienating this advowson. By the acquisition of it the guild obtained virtually a permanent chantry 'of their own, including priest, altar, and endowment; for they, no doubt, arranged with the clerk whom they presented, that he should be also their chaplain, and should say from time to time at the same altar the requisite prayers and masses for deceased members of the guild. It may be thought that for a purchase of this kind no licence was required ; but the fact was otherwise. As early as the time of Richard II. these guilds had become purchasers and donees of lands, and it should seem even of advowsons; and when in the fifteenth year of that king's reign the Statute of Mortmain (7 Edward I.) was extended to lay corporations, purchases of lands and advowsons by guilds or fraternities were expressly subjected to the same restrictions. In the instance before us, the licence contained in the charter to purchase lands, tenements, rents, and other possessions was most likely considered to be sufficient, and to have rendered any further licence for the acquisition of the advowson unnecessary.
The last priest of this chantry was Robert Shuter. He was presented in the 16 Henry VIII. by the master and wardens, not of the guild, but of the craft or mystery of the Armourers, with the consent of the whole body of the said mystery. What had intervened to account for this does not appear. The bond and indenture executed on that occasion are in the possession of the company. By the former Shuter became bound to the master and wardens of the mystery in 100l.; by the latter, which was made between them and Shuter, his duties were prescribed, and the bond was to become void on the performance of them. Nothing is said in it of the guild, though he was to give attendance on the master and wardens of the mystery unto all such burials and obits as they should go unto in their livery. He engaged to keep and maintain all books, chalices, vestments, jewels, and
