NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. ix. JAN. s, 1014.
-charter, and it was surprising to learn the
power the trade exercised for good, which
was not confined to themselves. They lent
money to approved members and others,
for which they did not charge exorbitant
interest ; they built houses, and they took
.an active part in religious and political
matters. Civic management they kept a
watchful eye upon, and as early as 1763
they showed their dislike to the law of
patronage, which in one instance culminated
in a case that went from, one ecclesiastical
Court to another supported by one party
and opposed by another till it reached the
General Assembly, finally resulting in a
'town's riot.
The prices charged by the ordinary retailers of provisions were not overlooked,
- and we have an instance in which all the
incorporated trades of a town combined for the purpose of buying a large quantity of oatmeal, so as to keep down the retailers' price in a time of scarcity.
The Tailors' Incorporation of Glasgow in 1756 passed an acb to purchase their pro- portion (which was 700 bolls) of the quantity ( 4,000 bolls ) "agred by all the trades of that city, in order to make timeous provision for the threatened scarcity of grain, for the requirements of the Trades."
The abolition of the Corn Laws had a trade corporation's support in a compara- tively ins gnificant town of a few thousand people, and this trade gave instructions that " their disapproval " should be published in the "City'^ Newspaper." In 1784 the same trade joined with the town's magis- trates in an address to his Majesty for his " putting off the late Ministre."
But to return to the records :
Scriveners. Were incorporated in 1616; their hall was jointly used by the Coach- makers' Company, the latter being of a later date. The Coachmakers are the six- tieth, and the Scriveners the forty-sixth Company. The hall was on the east side of Noble Street, and is described as " a hand- some building," &c.
Skinners. Were incorporated in 1325, and confirmed in 1394. They were a wealthy Company, as well as an influential one. Numbered among this fraternity were six kings, five queens, one prince, nine dukes, two earls, and a baron. The really early records must be lost, as the earliest named in previous notes only date from 1496.
Stationers. A numerous and affluent Com- pany, having a capital in the beginning of .the eighteenth century of 15,OOOZ. They had
the " sole printing of Almanacs, ABC's,
Primmers, Psalters, and most School books."
This privilege was granted and confirmed
by several kings. They were 'in existence
before printing, but were incorporated by
Philip and Mary, my authority being of
date 1691.
Tallow Chandlers. Incorporated 1461; their hall was on the west side of Dowgate Hill : "it was adorned with Pizza's, columns and Arches of the Tuscan Order." It was considered one of the remarkable places in the parish of St. John Baptist.
Turners. Were incorporated in 1603. Their armorial ensigns are Sable, a Cathe- rine wheel or.
Upholsterers. Date of incorporation not found ; their hall was in St. Andrew's parish. They were the fifty-first Company.
Vintners. This Company of Free Vintners were incorporated by the name of " Wine- tunners " about 1340, and confirmed by Henry VI. It was the eleventh Company. Their hall was on the south side of Thames Street, near Queen Street. It is described as well built of brick, large and commodious, being three sides of a square. The hall was paved with marble, " and the walls richly wainscotted with right wainscot enriched with fruit leaves, &c., finely carved," &c.
Watermen. Supposed to be a very old Company, but as to the actual date of its formation or incorporation little, if any- thing, has been found before 1556, during the reign of Mary. An Act was passed in the latter part of the seventeenth or early in the eighteenth century, in which they are designated the Company of Watermen and Lightermen.
Wax Chandlers. Were incorporated in 1484. Their hall was in Maiden Lane, near to the Haberdashers' Hall.
Weavers. Were incorporated in the reign of Henry II., and were confirmed in 1184. There are, of course, several kinds of weavers, but woollen cloth weavers are supposed to be the most ancient.
Wheelwrights. I do not find any record of their incorporation at least, up to the end of the seventeenth century (1697) and, so far as I can find, they are not included in the sixty-two incorporated Companies exist- ing at the end of the seventeenth century, or that of the eighteenth.
Wire Drawers. I have been unable to trace them to the dates named US. vii. 404.
Woodmongers According to one autho- rity, they were incorporated 3 King James (1606), and their arms appear in 1691.
