Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/262

140 THE CORDWAINERS AND COEVBSORS OF OXFORD. THE CORDWAINERS AND CORVESORS OF OXFORD. The Cordwainers, and Corvesors or Corsjers,^ of Oxford, (corduanarii et corvesarii ^ Oxon'), are a Guild of very high antiquity, and it is extremely probable may have existed as such in Saxon times. For whereas, Mr. Herbert, in his history of the " Twelve great Livery Companies of London,"^ states the earhest charter in the possession of any of them to be one of Edward I., granted to the Fishmongers' Company, in the seventeenth year of his reign;"* and the next in priority of date to be three made in the first year of Edward III. to the Goldsmiths, Skinners, and Merchant Taylors, respec- tively ; these, on the other hand, still have in their archives, and in good preservation, a charter of Inspeximus of the 45th of Henry HI., reciting a previous one, without date, made by his grandfather, Henry II., to the Corvesors of Oxford, in which that prince gives and confirms to them all the liberties and customs, and a guild, as they had it in the time of his own grandfather, Henry I.^ The Inspeximus of Henry III. is conceived in the following terms : — 1. Henricus Dei gra' Kex Angl' Diis Hibfi et Dux Aquittann' Archiepis', Epis', Abbatib's, Priorib's, Comitib's, Baronib's, Justiciar', Vicecomitib's, p'positis ministris et omnib's ballivis et fidelibus suis salutem. Inspexi- mus cartam quam Dils H. Rex avus noster fecit corvesariis et cordua- nariis Oxon' in bee verba. 3. Henricus Dei gra Rex Angl' et Dux Nermann' et Aquittann' et Comes Andeg' Archiepis', Epis', Abbatib's, Comitib's. Baronib's, Justiciar', Vicecomitibs' et omnibs' ministris et fidelibus suis Francis et Anglis tocius' Angl' salutem. Sciatis me concessisse et presenti carta confirmasse corve- 1 This word is used 5 Edward VI., B. 15. is found respecting it in the history of this ' Corvesarii are defined by Ducange to Company. be sutores veterinarii, qui eorio veteri A kuid friend, well versed in these in- utuntur. With all deference to so high quiries, suggests that Palsgrave, in his an authority, this may hardly be esteemed Lesclaircissement de la Langue Francoyse, a satisfactory etymology ; not only be- gives Cordovanier as the French equiva- cause it derives tlie term from the Latin, lent l)oth to corvyser and cordwayner. which cannot well be supposed its root, This would make them occupy, as trq,des- but also because it would make the Cor- men, a station analogous to that of many vesarii mere coblcrs, whereas the Charter tailors in the present day, who both pro- of Henry' IF., and the following Inspexi- vide the cloth and make it up. Roquefort mu3 of Henry III., put them as first and renders courvoissier or courvoisier by principal and before the Corduanarii. The cordonnier, fannier, which confirms Skin- word is by no means of common occur- ner's idea of its derivation, rence, and becomes, in consequence, diffi- ^ 2 vols., iivo, London, 1837. cult to be traced. But the conjecture ad- ■• Vol. i., p. '2-J4. vanccd by Skinner (who spells it Corviser) • This Charter also was in the possession that it was intended to express the cuir of the Company till about forty yeai-s ago, faiseurs, refers us to a probable origin, the at which time it was lent, and has never Norman- French, and agrees with all that since been restored.