Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 8.djvu/514

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [11 s. vn. JUNE 28, 1913.


Bakers (Brown and White). The latter were incorporated about 1307. The records mentioned must refer to the " Brown "- incorporated 19th of James. My authority of 1691 implies that both descriptions of bakers were working, while in 1708 there is no distinction.

Barber-Surgeons. Were first incorporated, -as Barber Chirurgeons, 1308, and by Act of Parliament, Barber Surgeons, in the 32nd .year of Henry VIII. The Records are very late.

Basket Makers. I have not found any note of their incorporation or working.

Broderers were known as " Embroider- ers " in 1691 ; incorporated 1561. Their place of meeting was " a handsome building, situated on the west side of Gutter Lane." Their Records must be missing.

Butchers must have been a " brother- hood " ^ long before the Records or their incorporation, which was in 1604.

Carpenters. Their Records show existence before incorporation, which was in 1476.

Clockmakers. Of course clocks were made in this country long before the dates re Registers, &c.. but personally I have not found authority for a recognized " Com- pany " up to the end of the seventeenth century ; but coat of arms appears about the end of following century.

  • Clothworkers. These were the twelfth

Company. Incorporated about 1520.

Cooks. Incorporated 1481. Do not seem to have any Records preserved or obtained. Coopers were incorporated in 1500. Here, then, the Records appear previous to the date of incorporation.

Cordwainers. Were incorporated in 1438, ,nd their Charter was confirmed by Queen Mary, then by Elizabeth, and by King James. The early Records may not be in existence.

Curriers are a very ancient Company, but were only incorporated 1605.

Cutlers are not referred to, but a very ancient body. Incorporated in 1413.

Drapers. If the first Book of Records begins in 1475, then probably the earliest record has been lost, because they were incorporated in 1438. They were the thirc Company rich and powerful. [ {Fishmongers. There were two Companies Stock and Salt ; they were united in 1536. Charter and Arms then settled. Earlier records ought to exist.

ALFRED CHAS. JONAS.

(To be continued.)


THE EARLIEST WORK ON LAWN TENNIS. As there appears to be no copy of Major >Vingfield's pamphlet in the British Museum library, and the first edition is mentioned only from hearsay in Foster's * Bibliography of Lawn Tennis,' the following particulars nay be of interest. The contents consist of pp. (l)-8, size 7 in. by 5 in., and the title reads :

" The Major's Game of Lawn Tennis, dedicated o the party assembled at Nantclwyd. In December, 1873. By W. C. W. London : Harrison and Sons, 59, Pall Mall. [Entered at Stationers' Hall]."

p. (5) is a woodcut illustration of a game in progress. The front of the wrapper s lithographed in black and red, with a design showing a tennis net and crossed rackets, and is inscribed : " ^<j>aipiarriKrj or Lawn Tennis. To be obtained only from French & Co., 46, Churton St., S.W." This design and the inscription are repeated (nearly, Dut not exactly, in facsimile) on the back of the wrapper. On the second page of the wrapper is the following notice :

' This game has been tested practically at several Country Houses during the past few months, and has been found so full of interest and so great a success, that it has been decided tc Dring it before the Public, being protected b\ Her Majesty's Royal Letters [Arms] Patent, Useful Hints. Hit your ball gently, and looi well before striking, so as to place it in the cornei most remote from your adversary. A great dea of side can be imparted to the ball by the propei touch, which, together with a nice appreciatior of strength, adds much to the delicacy and science of the game."

On the third page of the wrapper is ar advertisement stating that the game wa: supplied " in a painted Box," price 5 guineas the implements including " 4 Tennis Bats by Jefferies and Mailings."

B. T. K. SMITH.

BTJRNS'S FRIEND THOMSON. In Crabl Robinson's 'Diary,' under date 11 Nov. 1839, this entry occurs :

" A party at Masquerier's. Robert Thompsor an old man, an octogenarian, was the attractioi He was more than the publisher of Burns 's Song he occasioned the composition of many. H is a specimen of Scotch vitality. He fiddled an sang Scotch songs all the evening."

The diarist's reference is, of course, t George Thomson (1759-1851), editor of th ' Collection of Scottish Airs,' to which Burn contributed over 120 songs. While it is tru that Thomson sometimes stimulated the poe to good purpose, it is also the case that mor than once he did him an ill-turn by officious ness. Two examples may be mentionec Readers who make the acquaintance c