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 AN HISTORICAL ESSAY 
 
 M! 
 
 Pl 
 
 WITH A SHORT HISTORY OF THE 
 
 TUota^ipfuf Company of CuHtxe 
 
 OF LONDON, 
 
 AND COMBINING AN ACCOUNT OF ITS 
 
 CHARTERS, FUNDAMENTAL LAWS, BYE-LAWS, 
 ESTATES, AND CHARITIES. 
 
 MOTTO ; 
 
 '' l^xxnv Ifanrmiir a' Btinnt) Fmj." 
 
 (" TO KEEP GOOD FAITH.") 
 
 BY 
 
 R. J. CHEESWRIGHT, 
 
 A Liveryman of the Cutlers' Company. 
 
 1881. 
 
CROYDON : 
 
 PRINTED BY JESSE W. WARD, AT THE " CROYDON ADVERTISER " OFFICES, 
 14 & 15, KATHARINE STREET. 
 

 DEDICATED 
 
 (by permission) 
 
 TO THE MASTER, WARDENS, AND COURT 
 
 OF ASSISTANTS 
 
 ^um^iiii if 
 
 ktp(^ 
 
 if SiiliE 
 
 BY THEIR MOST OBEDIENT SERVANT, 
 
 R. J. CHEESWRIGHT. 
 
 147488C 
 
'^ntxoiadion. 
 
 I^^INCE I was first enrolled as a Liveryman of the 
 Pl^^ Ancient Company of Cutlers, I have constantly 
 lamented the want of a history which could make 
 the Members thereof somewhat acquainted with the origin 
 of the Company, and having for some years been favoured 
 with frequent opportunities of acquiring information respecting 
 the concerns of the Company, I have felt it would be interesting 
 to many of my Brother Liverymen also to become acquainted 
 with some particulars of the x\ncient Guild to which they 
 have the honour to belong. 
 
 I have accordingly collected a few remarks on the 
 Livery Companies of London generally, with an account of 
 the Incorporation of the Cutlers' Company — its Charters, 
 Fundamental Laws, Bye-Laws, Estates, and Charities. 
 
 I now present it to my Brethren of the Company, and 
 should it have the good fortune to receive their approbation, 
 1 shall consider the time devoted to its composition as 
 having been well employed, and esteem myself amply rewarded 
 for my labour, 
 
 K. J. CHEESWRIGHT. 
 
 Croydon, i88i. 
 
^^e BiSer^ Companm of Bonbon^ 
 
 " Individuals may form communities; but Institutions must found a Nation." 
 
 ,raHE LIVERY COMPANIES OF LONDON 
 
 (^Jil^ hold a high rank in the history of the City 
 of London. Their wealth, the important trusts 
 reposed in them, the noble charities and founda- 
 tion schools they support, and their connection 
 with the civic constitution of the Metropolis, make 
 them not only of primary interest to every Livery- 
 man, but when it is considered that they had the 
 earliest share in laying the foundation of British 
 commerce, that all trade originally concentrated in 
 their fraternities, that their records are for the most 
 part of remote antiquity, and afford pictures of the 
 government, religious customs, habits and expenses 
 of former times, it will be seen that few subjects 
 are more important in a national point of view, or 
 admit of more entertaining illustration. Not only 
 does the history of the Companies offer a mass of 
 most important information as to the trading interests 
 of the community, but the ancient Charters them- 
 selves, although usually conceived to be the reverse 
 of entertaining, disclose various curious facts, illus- 
 trating the simplicity of early times, and of the 
 infant state of commerce. The City Records, and 
 the valuable Collections in the Corporation and 
 
 Their Origin 
 and Objects. 
 
A Short History of the 
 
 Gilds 
 
 Their 
 
 Antiquity. 
 
 Their 
 Charters. 
 
 Other Libraries, will most amply repay a perusal 
 on this subject, as detailing the manner in which 
 the Companies were first formed into Societies, 
 their places of meeting before the erection of 
 Halls, the curious customs which appertained 
 amongst them (not the least of which was the 
 admission of Sisters as Associates in the Frater- 
 nities), their feasts, their set mode of dress, or 
 wearing a Livery — from which they derive their 
 name — their religious ceremonies, their pageants, 
 and the glorious part they have played in uphold- 
 ing the rights and privileges of the community 
 against oppression and wrong. 
 
 The Livery Companies of London derive their 
 origin from the early associations termed Gilds, 
 which were either Ecclesiastic or Sectdar. 
 
 The Ecclesiastical Gilds were founded for Devotion 
 and Almsdeeds. 
 
 The Secular Gilds were formed for purposes of 
 trade and almsdeed. The whole of these associa- 
 tions were at first composed of persons actually 
 and not nominally professing the trades from which 
 they took denomination. The Charters furnish 
 abundant information as to the kind of authority 
 exercised by the Gilds before such Grants were 
 made, and also of the manner in which they governed 
 themselves. 
 
 These Gilds are of the most ancient repute. In 
 the reign of Henry H they are spoken of as common 
 Institutions. In the same reign the Exchequer 
 History gives a list of i8, which were amerced as 
 " adulterine," or set up without the King's License. 
 
 Various Companies received their Charters from 
 Henry II, John, Henry III, Edward I, Edward II, 
 Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V, Queen 
 Elizabeth, James I, Philip and Mary, and others. 
 
 The Steel Yard Merchants settled in London in 
 A.D. 967, dealing in grain, flax, cloth, and linen ; 
 
Livery Companies of London. 
 
 they swore to remain unmarried. Gradually this 
 Gild decayed, and in 1552 was dissolved. The 
 Mercers, in the year 1172, held lands granted by 
 Gilbert a'Beckett (Father of the great Archbishop.) 
 A few years later, in 1226, a quarrel took place 
 between the Goldsmiths and Merchant Taylors 
 (then called the Linen Armourers.) Each party 
 — assisted by other Companies — met on an appointed 
 night to the number of 500 men, completely armed, 
 and proceeded to fight manfully. Many were killed 
 and wounded on each side, nor could they be parted 
 until the Sheriffs came and apprehended the ring- 
 leaders, thirteen of whom were condemned and 
 executed. 
 
 The purposes and functions of the Gilds were 
 manifold ; they supported, protected, and regulated 
 trade; preserved trade secrets, and generally watched 
 over the interest of their particular Craft or Frater- 
 nity ; searching for spurious goods, testing weights 
 and measures, and imprisoning dishonest traders. 
 
 The Gilds were of the greatest service to trade in 
 ancient times, they settled disputes between Master 
 and Workmen — they upheld the Apprenticeship 
 system as being the best for producing skilled labour, 
 and meeting at their respective Halls, while they 
 enjoyed the festive board, they discussed business 
 matters, thus fostering the social virtues, and increas- 
 ing the mutual interest of Master and Workmen. 
 
 The Master of the Gild (under the name of 
 Alderman), was for the time being omnipotent ; mem- 
 bers of the Gild could not leave London without 
 his permission ; the apprentices were strictly ruled ; 
 they were bound at the age of 14, and having 
 served their seven years, and being of age and 
 good name, they were then sworn and admitted 
 as Freemen. If a man wanted to follow any Craft 
 in the Cit}', or to enjoy any of the benefits of Citizen- 
 ship, he must belong to a Gild. 
 
lO 
 
 A Short History of the 
 
 Their 
 
 Members. 
 
 The reign of Edward III, the great dawn of the 
 fine arts and of commerce, gave birth to an entire 
 reconstruction of the trading fraternities, and of the 
 change of name from Gilds to Crafts and Mysteries, 
 and the substitution for the old title of Alderman 
 that of Master or Warden. Special Charters were 
 granted by Edward III, but the Chartering of the Gilds 
 was not the only favor granted by that Monarch. 
 Having found them to be the mainspring of the trade 
 and industry of his Kingdom, he determined to raise 
 them in public estimation. He became a member 
 of the Linen Armourers (now the Merchant Tailors), 
 which was the first Company to boast a Sovereign 
 amongst its members. Richard II afterwards 
 became a member of the same Company, and the 
 great, both Clergy and Laity, as well as the prin- 
 cipal Citizens, hastened to become enrolled as 
 members of the various fraternities. The Skinners, 
 the Merchant Tailors, and the Mercers, are said 
 to exhibit most princes and nobility in their lists 
 near this time ; other Companies had a greater 
 proportion of City dignitaries. The Grocers, towards 
 the close of Edward the Ill's reign, enumerated 
 no less than i6 Aldermen amongst its members, 
 the Cutlers Company doubtless receives no incon- 
 siderable share of such members. 
 
 Very many distinguished personages have in our 
 own time taken up the Freedom of the Companies 
 and become enrolled as members thereof. 
 
 In the reign of Richard II the Inrolment of the 
 Companies' Charters was, first insisted upon. 
 
 The following list will shew the date of the In- 
 corporation of a considerable number of the Com- 
 panies, viz. : — 
 
 The Bakers... ... 1155 ... Henry II. 
 
 The Goldsmiths ... 1180 ... Henry II. 
 
 The Butchers ... 1180 ... Henry II. 
 
 The Sadlers ■ ... 1272 ... Edward I. 
 
Livery Companies of London. 
 
 II 
 
 The Skinners 
 
 The Carpenters 
 
 The Grocers 
 
 The Vintners 
 
 The Fishmongers ... 
 
 The Mercers 
 
 The Salters 
 
 The Haberdashers ... 
 
 The Cordwainers 
 
 The Cutlers ... 
 
 The Armourers 
 
 The Brewers 
 
 The Drapers 
 
 The Leathersellers ... 
 
 The Barber Surgeons 
 
 The Ironmongers ... 
 
 The Tallow Chandlers 
 
 The Merchant Tailors 
 
 The Dyers ... 
 
 The Pewterers 
 
 The Cooks ... 
 
 The Clothworkers ... 
 
 The Joiners ... 
 The greater part of the Halls which existed before 
 or near the Reformation appear to have been 
 formed from the deserted mansions of the great, 
 and from buildings devoted to religious purposes. 
 Drapers Hall was a mansion belonging to Lord 
 Cromwell ; Salters Hall belonged to the Earl of 
 Oxford ; The Grocers built their Hall on the site of 
 Lord Fitzwalter's town mansion ; the minor com- 
 panies, in several instances, bought and converted 
 the Halls of the dissolved religious houses into Trade 
 Halls, as, for instance, the Leathersellers, who fitted 
 up the fine hall of the Nuns of St. Helens ; the 
 Pinners, who occupied the Austin Friars Hall, 
 afterwards called " Pinners Hall Meeting House " ; 
 the Barber Surgeons, who built on part of the site 
 
 1327 
 
 .. Edward HL 
 
 1344 
 
 .. Edward HL 
 
 1345 
 
 .. Edward HL 
 
 1365 
 
 Edward HL 
 
 1384 
 
 ... Richard H. 
 
 1393 
 
 ... Richard 11. 
 
 1394 
 
 ... Richard H. 
 
 1407 
 
 ... Henry IV. 
 
 I4I0 
 
 .. Henry IV. 
 
 I4I3 
 
 .. Henry V. 
 
 1423 
 
 .. Henry VI. 
 
 1438 
 
 .. Henry VI. 
 
 1439 
 
 .. Henry VI. 
 
 1442 . 
 
 .. Henry VI. 
 
 I46I 
 
 ... Edward IV. 
 
 1463 
 
 ... Edward IV. 
 
 1463 . 
 
 .. Edward IV. 
 
 1466 
 
 ... Edward IV. 
 
 1472 
 
 .. Edward IV. 
 
 1474 
 
 .. Edward IV. 
 
 1480 
 
 .. Edward IV. 
 
 1482 
 
 ... Edward IV. 
 
 1569 
 
 .. Elizabeth. 
 
 Their Halls. 
 
12 
 
 A Short History of the 
 
 Religious 
 Observances. 
 
 of the Hermitage of St. James-in-the-Wall, and 
 others. 
 
 Some of the larger Halls were used for other than 
 trade purposes. By the Parliamentary commanders 
 they were converted into barracks ; by the Puritanical 
 clergy into meeting houses ; and by succeeding Lord 
 Mayors they were occasionally used as temporary 
 Mansion Houses. 
 
 The records of the various Companies shew that 
 it was usual with the fraternity to pay very parti- 
 cular attention to religious observances on the 
 occasions of elections, funerals, and obits of deceased 
 members. The obit was the anniversary of the 
 death of an individual, and to observe such a day 
 with prayer, almsgiving, or other commemoration, 
 was " keeping an obit." After the Reformation the 
 Liturgy and sermons took the place of Mass, but 
 these occasions of divine service were not so 
 numerous as under the old system. On public days 
 the Chaplain's duty was to pray for the prosperity 
 of the fraternity. In some Companies a very solemn 
 custom prevailed of calling over the nam.es of the 
 members one by one, and praying for each indi- 
 vidually and by name. The Merchant Tailors' books 
 in 1645 record that " The names of the Livery being 
 "called over according to ancient custom, after 
 " which, in reverent manner, prayer was made by 
 " the Chaplain, then some of the ordinances of the 
 " Hall being openly read, preparation was made 
 " for dinner." 
 
 Besides these occasions of public worship prayers 
 were said in the Common Hall. Herbert gives an 
 extract of the prayer used as follows : — " Good Lord, 
 " keep this noble City of London, and defend it from 
 " greivous plagues and contagious sickness, that we 
 " may often in brotherly and true love assemble and 
 " meet together to Thy glory and our mutual comfort; 
 " bless this society and brotherhood, and be present 
 
Livery Companies of Lo)idon. 
 
 13 
 
 " with us in all our assemblies and councils that we 
 
 " may use them to Thy Glory and the discharge of 
 " our duties." 
 
 The plate belonging to the Companies was frequently 
 chased in accordance with their ecclesiastical character, 
 being ornamented with the figure of a saint or some 
 other religious device. 
 
 All royal processions into or through the City 
 afforded an opportunity for the Citizens of London 
 and the Liverymen of the various Companies to display 
 their loyalty. 
 
 It is recorded that on the occasion of the marriage 
 of Henry III in 1236, and again on the marriage. of 
 his daughter in 1252, the return of Edward I from 
 his victory over the Scots, 1298; the coronation pro- 
 cession of Henry IV in 1399 (when Froissart states 
 " Cheapside to have had seven fountains with red 
 "and white wine'"); the entry of Queen Margaret 
 into England in 1466 ; the entry of Joan, Queen of 
 Henry IV in 1401 ; on the arrival of Henry V; the 
 coming of the same King from France to London ; 
 after the victory of Bosworth, Henry VII ; 14B5, the 
 Coronation of his Queen, 1487 ; on the arrival of 
 Princess Katharine from Spain, to marry Prince 
 Arthur 5th of Henry VII ; in 1509, when Henry VIII 
 married Katharine (his Brother's Widow) ; the Coron- 
 ation of Lady Anne Boleyn in 1533 ; and many other 
 interesting occasions, it is stated "That the whole 
 " Comm.onalty of the City who seem to have been 
 " Liverymen, brought up the rear, clothed in white 
 " gowns and scarlet hoods, with divers conuzances 
 " embroidered on their ' sleeves.' " 
 
 At the Royal Funerals the attendance of the various 
 Companies was also required. 
 
 The Warden of one of the Chief Livery Companies 
 was allowed to attend the Lord Mayor as Chief Butler 
 at a Coronation. 
 
 In the year 1559 the twelve principal Corporations 
 
 Pageants. 
 
H 
 
 A Short History of the 
 
 of London sent all the same number of Companies, 
 consisting together of 1,500 men, to be mustered in 
 Greenwich Park before the Queen, 800 whereof were 
 pikemen in high armour, 400 harquebusers in coats 
 of mail and helmets, and 200 halberdiers in German 
 rivets. These troops were attended by twenty-eight 
 whifflers, richly dressed, and led by the twelve 
 principal Wardens of the aforesaid Corporations, well 
 mounted, and dressed in black velvet, with six ensigns 
 in white satin, faced with black sarsnet and rich scarves. 
 Their Feasts. The Companies, from their wealth and abundant 
 
 entertainments, became sources of attraction to those 
 who loved the good things of life. 
 
 The Election Feasts in the Halls were especially 
 grand, and were partaken of by Royalty and by the 
 first nobility. These Feasts took place after the 
 ceremonies, when the newly-elected Master and 
 Wardens were " crowned with garlands on their 
 " heads." Then followed the " Loving Cup," as is 
 still the custom ; next the Minstrels and Players. 
 
 Various were the delicacies stored above the Salt 
 at the Feasts, including the "Mighty Baron," 
 " Frumentie with Venison," " Brawn Fat," Swan, 
 " Boar," Conger, and Sea Hog. 
 
 The Salt or Salt Cellar was a large piece of plate 
 forming a division between the upper and lower parts 
 of the Table. To be seated above the Salt was a 
 mark of honor, and our ancestors seem often to have 
 placed persons below it in order to mortify them. 
 
 During the Feasts the Halls were " aromatized " 
 with a precious Indian wood. 
 
 Mention has been made of the introduction of 
 females to the Membership of the Companies. They 
 appear also to have enjoyed the festivities at which 
 they were allowed to be present. The Grocer's 
 ordinances in 1348 show that the " brethren " could 
 introduce their fair acquaintance on paying for their 
 a,dmission. 
 
Livery Companies of London. 
 
 15 
 
 The Clothworkers gave a grand dinner to James I 
 on his inauguration as a Member of that Company, 
 and it is recorded that in the old Hall of the Company 
 the glorious anthem, "God save the King," was first 
 heard ; Dr. John Bull having composed it expressly 
 for the ceremony. 
 
 The " Loving Cup " is a great feature in the Feasts 
 of the Companies. It is of Silver or Silver Gilt, and 
 is filled with spiced wine immemorially called " Sack." 
 Immediately after the Dinner and the Grace, the 
 Master and Wardens drink to their visitors "A hearty 
 welcome." The cup is then passed round the table, 
 and each guest, after he has drank, applies his napkin 
 to the mouth of the Cup before he passes it to his 
 neighbour. The more formal practice is for the 
 person who pledges with the loving Cup to stand up 
 and bow to his neighbour, who, also standing, removes 
 the Cover with his right hand and holds it while the 
 other drinks ; a custom said to have originated in the 
 precaution to keep the right or " dagger hand " 
 employed that the person who drinks may be assured 
 of no treachery like that practised by Elfrida on the 
 unsuspecting King Edward the Martyr at Corfe Castle, 
 who was slain while drinking. This is also given as 
 the reason for a Cover being placed on the Loving 
 Cup. 
 
 It was when the " Loving Cup" (as is still the 
 custom) had gone round that the Minstrels and 
 Players commenced their part of the Entertainments. 
 The Minstrels, who were of various kinds, included 
 in their entries harpers who played and sang in the 
 intervals of the others sounding their cornets, shalms, 
 flutes, horns, and pipes. The Players were generally 
 ecclesiastics, who were the first actors of the middle 
 ages, and an original license from the Master of the 
 Revels in 1662 authorizes "George Bailey and eight 
 " servants to play for one year a play called ' Noah's 
 " Flood.' " The sort of dramas then in fashion often 
 
i6 
 
 A Short History of the 
 
 Their 
 
 Government 
 and Officers. 
 
 consisted of single subjects, and made but for one 
 performance. 
 
 The government of the various Companies was 
 by bye-laws or ordinances — the preserving of their 
 trade secrets being a primary one, and continued 
 their leading law so long as they remained actual 
 "Working Companies," whence arose the names of 
 *' Mysteries and Crafts," by which they have been so 
 many years designated. The officers generally con- 
 sisted of the Alderman (subsequently named Master 
 or Warden), Assistants, a Priest or Chaplain, a Clerk, 
 a Beadle, and a Cook — the latter considered a most 
 important officer in those da3's. 
 
 The Civic authorities exercised an undoubted control 
 over the Companies. The Mayor could fine and im- 
 prison the Wardens of Companies at pleasure, and it 
 was common to make presents, or, what in modern 
 times would be called ' give a bribe " to the Mayor, in 
 order to obtain favour during his year of Mayoralty. 
 
 In the 5th of Henry IV, the absolute control the 
 Mayor had acquired over the Companies was remark- 
 ably exemplified in some proceedings which took place 
 on a dispute between the Goldsmiths and the Cutlers; 
 when the former having petitioned the King to confirm 
 their right of search, granted by Edward III, and 
 which they extended to the oversight of the Cutlers, 
 the latter in a counter petition denied such right of 
 oversight to reside anywhere but in the four wardens 
 " de artifice de cotellerie." Both these petitions being 
 considered by Parliament, it was directed " that a writ 
 " should be sent to the Mayor of London, and that he 
 " should be empowered, by authority of Parliament, 
 " to summon the folk of both the Goldsmiths and the 
 " Cutlers mysteries, who should produce their ancient 
 " evidences and usages on both sides before him, and 
 ♦' which said Mayor should, if needful, certify the 
 *' result, without delay, to the King in Council, in 
 " order that the King, on deliberation, and with the 
 
Livery Companies of Loudon, 17 
 
 " advice of the Lords spiritual and temporal, might 
 " act as the case should require." The writs to the 
 Mayor on this occasion, as well on behalf of the 
 Goldsmiths as the Cutlers, command — "that in con- 
 " sequence of certain petitions, which had been 
 " presented to the King in his present Parliament, 
 " by the Goldsmiths and the Cutlers, and which 
 " petitions were enclosed, he should, on reading tlie 
 " same, do what was right on behalf of each, and 
 " make return thereof, under his seal, to the King in 
 " his then Parliament, who would determine there- 
 " upon," 
 
 The return of the Mayor specified " that by virtue 
 " of two writs of the Lord the King, directed to 
 " him, William Ascham, Mayor of London, he had 
 " inspected the petitions of the Goldsmiths and 
 " Cutlers, and had caused to appear before him, at 
 " the Guildhall of the said City, as well the sufficient 
 " men of the said Mysteries as several other good 
 " and sufficient aged men of each ward of the City, 
 " and had had exhibited to him by the said Gold- 
 " smiths and Cutlers, their charters, inrolments, and 
 " evidences, as well written as not written, concerning 
 " the rules, usages, assaying and governments of the 
 " said Mysteries ; and by which it appeared to him, 
 " the Mayor, that the Cutlers had of old times occupied 
 " their works of gold and silver within the City as the 
 "changes of time and fashion demanded; and that 
 " the Wardens of the Mystery of Goldsmiths, for the 
 " time being, subject to the oversight of the Mayor 
 " and Aldermen of the said City, had from old times 
 " been accustomed to have the assay of the gold and 
 " silver work of the said Cutlers within the City of 
 " London." 
 
 The Citizens of London by various Royal Grants 
 
 obtained the privilege of choosing their own Lord '^'^^'J 
 
 Pri\"ilc*^G3. 
 Mayors and Chief Magistrates. They were elected by ° 
 
 the Court of Aldermen and a number of Commoners 
 
 B 
 
i8 
 
 A Short History of the 
 
 Their 
 Troubles 
 and Recovery. 
 
 summoned by them out of each ward ; but the numbers 
 being often varied at the discretion of the Alderman 
 gave great uneasiness to the Commonalty, for the re- 
 moving of which the method of election was altered by 
 an Act of Common Council passed in 1476, whereby 
 the manner of electing by the Liverymen of the several 
 Companies was established. By virtue of this Act, the 
 Lord Mayor or Chief Magistrate is annually chosen on 
 Michaelmas Day, for which purpose the Liverymen 
 assemble in the Guildhall on that day, when by 
 holding up of hands they choose two of the Senior 
 Aldermen below the chair, who being returned to the 
 Courts of Lord Mayor and Aldermen, the Senior 
 Alderman is commonly declared Lord Mayor Elect. 
 
 The Livery Companies formerly exercised the right 
 of sending members to the Court of Common Council. 
 By a list amongst the City records (50 Edward III), 
 it appears the Companies sending Members in pur- 
 suance of their powers were increased from 32 to 48. 
 The Cutlers Company are mentioned in the list as 
 choosing two Members. This right was ultimately 
 taken away, and the Members of the Court of Common 
 Council are now elected by the inhabitant householders 
 of the various wards. 
 
 The Parliamentary representatives were also ex- 
 clusively elected by the Freemen; but this privilege 
 was lost through the operations of the Reform Bill. 
 
 It will be interesting to note here that the first 
 grant of a Charter to the City of London was that 
 made by William the Conqueror. 
 
 The Livery Companies having gradually increased 
 in numbers, engrossed the trade of the Kingdom 
 and selected the bulk of the Common Council, 
 acquired such wealth and consequence as to attract 
 the especial attention of the government. The 
 custom of forced loans which had been begun by 
 Henry VIII was carried on to a most oppressive 
 extent, and the extracting of money from the trading 
 
Livery Companies of London. 19 
 
 corporations became a regular source of supply to 
 the government. Precepts were made on all the 
 Companies alike towards setting the poor to work, 
 towards erecting the Royal Exchange, cleansing the 
 city ditch, projects for discovering new countries, 
 for furnishing naval and military armaments, for men, 
 arms, and ammunition to protect the city, for state 
 and city pageants, for provision of corn and coal, 
 compulsory loans for the government and for the 
 Crown, and various other expedients, were amongst 
 the most prominent by which it was contrived to 
 screw from the Companies their wealth. 
 
 Large amounts were also raised by forced loans for 
 the purchase of foreign wheat as a provision of corn 
 for the city. (In a list published in 1545, the Court 
 of Common Council directed a large loan to be raised 
 for this purpose, the Cutlers' proportion being stated 
 in the list at ;^io.) These precepts were unwillingly 
 complied with, and in 1561 the IMercers caused an 
 application to be made for the return of their money, 
 'formerly lent.' This was answered by another 
 precept being made. 
 
 Besides the arbitrary operation of precepts, both 
 Elizabeth and her immediate successors made it a 
 business of their reigns to influence the selection of 
 officers and the control of the property of the 
 Companies. Instances are recorded of this nature 
 with respect to the Ironmongers, the Merchant 
 Tailors, the Grocers, and other Companies ; these 
 attempts were finally resisted and ultimately ceased. 
 
 The disastrous effects of the reign of Charles and 
 of the civil wars was much felt by the Livery 
 Companies ; precepts were made for large amounts 
 and had to be met by each Liveryman ; thus for one 
 loan of ^40,000 the Ironmongers' proportion was 
 from £10 to ;^i5 each on those who had fined for 
 Master; ;^6 iSs. 4d. on the office of Warden; from 
 each Liveryman £^; and from each Freeman £"3. 
 
20 
 
 A Short History of the 
 
 To furnish the loans thus arbitrarily and rapidly 
 levied, the individuals of the Companies had at this 
 time not only impoverished themselves, but all the 
 fraternities were obliged to sell or pawn their plate. 
 
 The Companies took a conspicuous part in the 
 rejoicings to celebrate the Restoration. Charles was, 
 however, scarcely established on the throne than he 
 cast a longing eye on the wealth of the Companies. 
 In 1684 he brought the whole of them under complete 
 subjection to the Crown through the operation of the 
 quo warranto — an enquiry into the validity of the 
 City Charter, the result of which rendered the King 
 not only master of London but of all the Corporations 
 in England. Almost all the Companies surrendered 
 their Charters. The new Charters granted by Charles 
 contained such prohibitions as showed that all liberty 
 of action was completely destroyed, and that the 
 Companies were only to exist during the royal 
 pleasure. 
 
 The first act of James II (1685) was an attempt to 
 influence the Companies' selection of voters. 
 
 The news of the approach of the Prince of Orange 
 in 1688 forced from James II an Act of Restitution, 
 by which all restrictions consequent on the qiio 
 warranto were repealed. The City Charter was 
 restored, and the Statute 2 of William and Mary 
 passed, which not only reversed the quo warranto, 
 but enacted that all and every of the several Com- 
 panies of the City of London shall be restored to all 
 their Charters and privileges, lands, tenements, and 
 estates. 
 
 Tranquility and confidence having been restored 
 after the Accession of William and Mary, and the 
 privileges and rights of corporate bodies firmly 
 established by Parliament, the affairs of the Livery 
 Companies began to improve. During the interval 
 between that time and the present, various minor 
 events and changes have occurred in their separate 
 
Livery Compaiiies of London. 
 
 21 
 
 histories and government which do not, however, 
 need recapitulation here. May they by their patriotic 
 action, their wisdom in the management of their 
 estates, and their charitable deeds, continue to be, 
 as they most assuredly are, the most powerful and 
 charitable body in the world. 
 
 Although, perhaps, not strictly within the scope of Addenda, 
 the History of the City Companies, a few remarks on 
 the subject of the Great Plague and the Great Fire, 
 and the Monument erected to commemorate the latter 
 event, and by which the interests of the Companies 
 were undoubtedly affected, may not be out of place 
 here. 
 
 About the beginning of May, 1665, one of the Great Plague, 
 most terrible plagues that ever affected this, or 
 perhaps any other country, broke out in the City ; 
 its ravages were so dreadful that in the course of the 
 year nearly go, 000 persons perished. The King's 
 Court and the Parliament removed from London to J 
 Oxford. All business and pleasure were naturally 
 suspended, and it appears the distress of the poorer 
 classes was such that, for the relief of their pressing 
 necessities, the Livery Companies were assessed by 
 the Parliament for various sums of money, and were 
 bound, in addition, to furnish a certain quantity of j 
 coals, of which the proportion of the Cutlers was 75 | 
 chaldrons. ' 
 
 In the year 1666, one of the most dreadful confla- 1 Great Fire, 
 grations that ever happened in any age or country 
 broke out in the City. The fire commenced in 
 Pudding Lane, and extended its ravages to the 
 Temple, and northward as far as London Wall ; it 
 laid waste and consumed the buildings on four 
 hundred and thirty-six acres of ground, four hundred 
 streets, lanes, &c., thirteen thousand two hundred 
 houses, the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, eighty- 
 six Parish Churches, six Chapels, the magnificent 
 
22 A Short History of the 
 
 buildings of Guildhall, the Royal Exchange, Custom 
 House, divers Hospitals and Libraries, fifty-two of 
 the Companies' Halls, and a vast number of other 
 stately edifices, together with three of the City gates, 
 four stone bridges, and the prisons of Newgate, the 
 Fleet, the Poultry, and Wood Street Compters ; the 
 loss of which, together with the merchandise and 
 household furniture, was calculated to amount to ten 
 millions seven hundred and thirty thousand pounds. 
 During the whole of this terrible devastation only 
 six persons lost their lives. The City Companies 
 suffered terribly by the fire. It melted their plate, 
 burnt their records, and laid their premises, from 
 which they chiefly derived their income, in ashes ; 
 and to crown their calamities they found themselves 
 overwhelmed with a load of debt (the consequence 
 of the compulsory loans to the Crown), and which 
 they had now no means of paying. By extraordinary 
 exertion, however, by subscriptions and collections 
 amongst themselves, and by the donations of their 
 wealthier members (some of them to great amount), 
 the whole of the Companies had their Halls rebuilt 
 in two or three years, and generally in a superior 
 manner to the former buildings. Their houses and 
 premises also, by granting advantageous leases to 
 the tenants, arose everywhere again with the new 
 Metropolis. As early as 1670 the old order of things 
 was quite restored, and the Companies started on a 
 new course of prosperity. 
 The Monu- The Monument was erected in Fish Street Hill to 
 
 perpetuate the remembrance of the Fire; the architect 
 was Sir Christopher Wren. In height it is 202 feet 
 from the ground (being 20 feet higher than Trojan's 
 Column at Rome). Within is a large staircase of 
 black marble, containing 345 steps, ten inches and a 
 half broad and six-inch risers, and a balcony within 
 thirty-two feet of the top, which allows room to walk. 
 It was commenced in the year 167 1 (Sir Richard 
 
 ; ment. 
 
Livery Companies of London. 
 
 23 
 
 Knight being Lord Mayor of London), and was 
 finished in the year 1677, Sir Thomas Davis being 
 then Lord Mayor. 
 
fNOVV proceed to give some details concerning ; 
 the Cutlers' Company. 
 
 Before the reign of Henry V there does not appear Antiquity. 
 to be any record of the incorporation of the Cutlers as 
 a Fraternity, but it is stated in the accounts of the City 
 Chamberlain for the year 1355 (there being then 32 
 Companies) that the Cutlers contributed £^ towards 
 a sum raised as a gift to Edward III for defraying 
 the expenses of carrying on his French Wars, and it 
 is also on record that in 1368 the Cutlers sent two 
 members to the Committee of Common Council. 
 
 The following is an Extract from the Archives of 
 
 the City of London, Page 217, Letter Book F, Latin { 
 
 and Norman French. j 
 
 " 18 Edward III, a.d. 1344. i 
 
 " Articles of the Cutlers' Company. Be it re- 
 " membered that on the Friday next after the Feast 
 " of the Decollation of St. John the Baptist (29 
 " August) in the i8th Year of the reign of King 
 " Edward the 3rd the Articles of the Cutlers under- 
 " written were read before John Hamond, Mayor, 
 " Roger de Depham, John de Caustone, and other 
 " Alderman, and seeing that they were befitting, 
 " were accepted and entered in these words." 
 
 (Then follows the Articles.) 
 
 On the 1st of December, 1413 (i Henry 5), on the 
 complaint of the Wardens and good folks of the 
 trade of Cutlers of London, the Freedomship of 
 the City of London, which had been granted to 
 
28 
 
 A Short History of 
 
 one William Wysman, a Freeman of the Coursers 
 (Horsedealers), as one who followed their calling, 
 was withdrawn by the Mayor, Alderman, and 
 Chamberlain on the ground that the said William 
 was at that time and before and since of the Craft of 
 the Cutlers, and not of the said trade of Coursers. 
 
 jfo/ui Stowe, in his interesting work, says: — 
 
 " Peace be within thy Walls, and plenteousness 
 " within thy Palaces. Concerning this Company of 
 " Cutlers, I find them to be of great antiquity, and 
 " that they were incorporated in the beginning of 
 " the Reign of Henry V, afterwards confirmed by 
 •' King Henry VI, King Henry VHI, King Philip 
 " and Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, and King 
 " James in his 5th year, 8th of February, confirmed 
 " all. The Arms of the Cutlers of London were 
 " granted by Thomas Holme Clarencieux, King of 
 " Arms, the i6th of Edward 4th, the Crest by 
 " Robert Coote Clarencieux, which is an Elephant 
 " bearing a Castle." 
 
 A further extract from Stowe says — 
 
 " Knives, for hundreds of years past all memory, 
 " were made in this Kingdom, but coarse and 
 " uncomely. But in the time of James I the best 
 " and finest knives in the world were made in 
 " London. Richard Matthew at Fleet Bridge was 
 " the first Englishman that attained to the skill of 
 " making fine knives and knife hafts, and in the 5th 
 " of Elizabeth he obtained a prohibition against all 
 " strangers and others from bringing any knives into 
 " England from beyond Seas, which until that time 
 " were brought in by ship loads from Flanders and 
 " other places. The same Richard Matthew also 
 " obtained a privilege under the Great Seal for the 
 " making of Knives and Daggers with a new kind of 
 " Haft. But this was much complained of as tend- 
 " ing to the decay and overthrow of the whole 
 " Company of Cutlers within the City, and their 
 " Wives and Children and Apprentices, and that 
 " the prices of Knives would be excessively enhanced, 
 " and so prejudicial to all the Queen's subjects." 
 
 Maitland in his History of London (I'j^o) says of 
 the Cutlers' Company : — 
 
 " Cutlers (i^J. This Society was incorporated 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 29 
 
 " by Letters Patent by the name of the Master, 
 " Wardens, and Commonalty of the Mystery of 
 " Cutlers of London, and being united to the Haft 
 " and Sheath Makers some time after, their Arms 
 " were granted by Clarencieux, King at Arms, 1477. 
 " This fraternity is govered by a Master, 2 Wardens, 
 " and 21 Assistants, to which belongs a Livery of 
 " One hundred and ten Members, who upon being 
 " admitted pay a Fine of Ten pounds each. They 
 " have a convenient and beautiful Hall in Cloak 
 " Lane to transact their affairs in." 
 
 The Cutlery trade appears to have been carried on Charters. 
 
 originally in three branches. 
 
 i.^ — -The Forgers of Blades, or Bladers. 
 
 2. — The Makers of Hafts. 
 
 3. — The Sheath Makers for Knives, Swords, and 
 
 Daggers. 
 
 These were aU incorporated as one united body by 
 
 King Henry V in the year 1413, by the style and name 
 
 of " The Master Wardens and Commonalty of the 
 
 " Mystery of Cutlers of London." 
 
 The following is a list of the various other Charters 
 
 which have been granted to the Company, or of 
 
 confirmations made of existing Charters. 
 
 By Henry VI in 1422. 
 
 By Henry VHI in 1509. 
 
 By Philip and Mary in 1553. 
 
 By Queen Elizabeth in 1558. 
 
 By James I in 1607. 
 
 James H in 1685 revoked all the then existing 
 
 Charters. In the year 1689, however, William and 
 
 Mary revoked the last Act of James II, and restored 
 
 all the privileges granted and confirmed by James I. 
 
 Queen Anne in 1703 also confirmed all the previous 
 
 Charters of the Company. Consequently the Charter 
 
 under which the Company is now governed is that 
 
 granted by James I m 1607. 
 
 This Charter recites that King Henry, after the 
 
 Conquest the Fifth, having information that by reason 
 
 of losses that happened to the men of the Mystery of 
 
30 
 
 A Short History of 
 
 Cutlers of the City of London by Sea they then were 
 not able to live but by the benevolence of well-disposed 
 people, whereof, he having a princely consideration, 
 did grant that the aforesaid Cutlers should have one 
 perpetual Commonalty of themselves. After various 
 other interesting recitals King James by this Charter 
 graciously constitutes and declares that all and 
 singular the persons of the Commonalty and Mystery 
 of Cutlers of London and the suburbs thereof should 
 for ever thereafter be one body corporate and politic 
 in deed and name, by the style of " The Master 
 " Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Cutlers 
 " of London." 
 
 This Charter appointed Thomas Porter, Master, 
 and William Bailey and Thomas Cheshire, Wardens, 
 until the Even of the Holy Trinity following. The 
 following are the names of the first Court of Assistants 
 appointed by the Charter : Richard Hawes, Thomas 
 Greene, John Gardiner, Thomas Asher, Oliver 
 Plunkett otherwise Pluckett, George Ellye, Reginald 
 Greene, Christopher Hatfield, William Hely, John 
 Beeston, Henry Adams, Edward Andrews, Laurence 
 Evans, John Johnson, Nathaniel Matthews, Miles 
 Banks, John Porter, and James Tackley, and Thomas 
 Jadwyn was thereby appointed the first Clerk. 
 
 See Appendix " A " for a full Copy of the Charter. 
 
 Fundamental 
 Laws. 
 
 JTuntrampntal ilatos anlr ©rtrmancrs* 
 
 Upon the grant of the before-named Charter by 
 James I various Fundamental Laws were framed by 
 the Commonalty of Cutlers for their government. It 
 appears, however, that in the igth year of the reign 
 of Henry the Seventh a Statute was passed whereby 
 it was ordained (amongst other things) that no 
 Master, Warden, or Commonalties should take upon 
 themselves to make any Acts or ordinances, unless 
 the same had been examined and approved by the 
 Chancellor or Treasurer of England, or Chief Justices 
 
TJie Cutlers' Company. 
 
 31 
 
 of either Bench, upon pain of forfeiture of Forty 
 Pounds. In accordance with the requirements of this 
 Act, the various laws and ordinances made by the 
 Commonalty of Cutlers were, at a full Court held at 
 Cutlers' Hall on Friday, the 12th of February, 1702, 
 re-enacted and submitted for approval, and on the 
 20th March, 1703 (3rd of Queen Anne), they were 
 approved and allowed by the Lord High Treasurer 
 Godolphin and the Chief Justices Sir John Holt and 
 Sir Thomas Trever. 
 
 See appendix " B " for a full Copy of the Funda- 
 mental Laws and Ordinances. 
 
 Between the year 1703 when the above Fundamental 
 Laws and Ordinances were approved, and the year 
 1830, various resolutions of the Court, having the 
 effect of Bye Laws for the governance of the business 
 of the Company having been passed, some of these 
 resolutions were of a conflicting character, and con- 
 sequently a new set of Bye Laws were framed and 
 consolidated. Again in the year 1857 a similar course 
 was considered expedient. The Consolidated Bye 
 Laws do not, however, make any alterations in the 
 fundamental portions of the Charters or Ordinances. 
 
 Bye Laws. 
 
 Admission to the Company is by — 
 Patrimony, 
 Servitude, 
 Redemption. 
 
 The following is a List of the Fees payable on 
 admission : — 
 
 To the Freedom of the Company — 
 
 By Patrimony ... ... £c^ los. od. 
 
 By Servitude ... ... £c^ los. od. 
 
 By Redemption ... ... £"35 os. od. 
 
 Members. 
 
 Fees and 
 Fines. 
 
 Freedom. 
 
32 
 
 A Short History of 
 
 Livery. 
 
 Stewards. 
 
 Assistants. 
 
 To the Livery of the Company — 
 
 By Patrimony ... ... ;^22 os. od. 
 
 By Servitude ... ... ;^22 os. od. 
 
 By Redemption ... ... £"45 os. od. 
 
 Formerly five Liverymen had, under the Ordi- 
 nances, to provide at their mutual charges, one 
 competent and sufficient Feast or Dinner for the 
 Master Wardens, Assistants, and Livery of the 
 Company, to be kept at the Common Hall of the 
 Company on Lord Mayor's Day. This custom 
 was altered some years since. The Court annually 
 appoint five Liverymen as Stewards, and each 
 Liveryman has, in lieu of paying the full cost of 
 the Dinner, to pay a fine of ;^io los. on his ap- 
 pointment as Steward, and he in return receives a 
 ticket for a visitor. 
 
 The Fee payable on admission to the Court of 
 Assistants is : — 
 
 By Patrimony ... ... £41 los. od. 
 
 By Servitude ... ... £^i los. od. 
 
 By Redemption ... ... ^54 os. od. 
 
 The Fine payable for refusing to serve the office 
 of Master is ;^40, and for not serving the office of 
 Warden ;^20. 
 
 Estates and 
 Bequests. 
 
 1368 & 1400- 
 Purchase. 
 
 ©States antr iSrattfsts of tfje ©ompans* 
 
 The various properties understated have been 
 bequeathed to the Company or purchased by them 
 at the dates named. The following statement shews 
 the date of bequest or purchase, with the present 
 rentals, and the amount of any charge payable 
 therefrom : — 
 
 Watling Street Estate. 
 Two Houses. 
 
 Rental £ig6 
 
 (Subject to a Quit Rent of iis. per annum, payable 
 
 to the Duke of Bedford.) 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 33 
 
 Cloak Lane and College Hill. [ 
 
 Cloak Lane— Cutlers' Hall and Beadle's Residence. 
 
 Two Houses. i 
 
 College Hill — One House. \ 
 
 Rental £636. 
 
 HOUNDSDITCH EsTATE. 
 
 (Formerly the Woolpack Tavern, and the Grounds 
 adjoining.) 
 This Estate was bequeathed to the Cutlers' Com- 
 pany by Mrs. Agnes Carter, widow of Mr. John ; 
 Carter (a Citizen and Cutler of London), viz. :— 
 Houses in Houndsditch — 
 Cutler Street. 
 Carter Street. 
 White Street. 
 Clothes Exchange. 
 Synagogue. 
 The Company purchased Nos. 113 and 114, 
 Houndsditch, and Nos. 32 and 33, Cutler Street. 
 Rental £"1,227. 
 (Note. — In the year 1865 a portion of the Houses 
 in White Street were sold to the Metropolitan Rail- 
 way Company.) 
 
 Aldersgate Street Estate. 
 
 No. 13, Aldersgate Street (portion of premises), 
 was bequeathed to the Cutlers Company by Mr. 
 John Monk (Citizen, Cutler, and Waxchandler), for 
 the use of the Company for ever. 
 
 The Company purchased the House adjoining the 
 above. 
 
 The Company purchased the House adjoining 
 the above. 
 
 The Company purchased the House adjoining 
 
 the above. 
 
 Rental ;^ 1,000. 
 
 1451— 
 Purchase. 
 
 1469— 
 Bequest. 
 
 1879. 
 
 1522 — 
 Bequest. 
 
 1806— 
 Purcliase. 
 
 1S65— 
 Purchase. 
 
 1S76— 
 Purchase. 
 
34 
 
 A Short History of 
 
 1566— 
 Bequest, 
 
 Fleet Street and Fleet Lane Estate. 
 
 This Estate was bequeathed to the Cutlers Com- 
 pany by Mr. Thomas Bucke (Citizen and Cutler of 
 London), subject to an annual charge of £"11. 
 
 Fleet Street — One House. 
 Fleet Lane — Four Houses. 
 
 (The last-named four Houses have been sold to the 
 London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company.) 
 
 Particulars of the charge of _£'ii : — • 
 
 £-^ 6s. 8d. Scholarship in St. John's College, 
 Cambridge. 
 
 Poor of Fleet Lane. 
 
 Poor of the Parish of Wilburton. 
 
 Christ's Hospital. 
 
 St. Thomas' Hospital. 
 
 St. Sepulchre's Church. 
 
 OS. od. 
 
 OS. od. 
 
 OS. od. 
 
 OS. od. 
 
 OS. od. 
 
 £2 
 £2 
 
 £1 
 
 £0 13s. 4d. Armourer and Braziers Company. 
 
 ;fii OS. od. 
 
 1568— 
 Bequest. 
 
 The amount of the Scholarship has been increased 
 to £^0 a year. 
 
 Rental £120. 
 
 Belle Sauvage Estate. 
 
 This Estate was bequeathed to the Cutlers Com- 
 pany by Mr. John Craythorne (Citizen and Cutler, 
 of London), subject to a life interest therein of his 
 widow, Mrs. Margaret Craythorne (who, at his death, 
 gave up such life interest to the Company), and to 
 an annual charge of ;£i9 13s. 4d. 
 
 Belle SaiLvage Yard — Hotel, &c., now Warehouses. 
 
 Naked Boy Court — House, now absorbed in the 
 Belle Sauvage Yard Ware- 
 houses. 
 
 JLudgate Hill — House and Rooms over gateway. 
 
TJic Cutlers Company 
 
 The following are the particulars of the charge : — 
 
 £3 6s. 8cl. Scholarship at Cambridge. 
 
 £-^ 6s. 8d. Scholarship at Oxford. 
 
 £10 OS. od. Poor of St. Bride's Parish for Coals. 
 
 ;^o 15s. od. Debtors in Newgate. 
 
 £0 15s. od. Debtors in King's Bench. 
 
 £0 15s. od. Debtors in Marshalsea. 
 
 ;^o 15s. od. Debtors in Gate House. 
 
 £19 13s. 4d. 
 
 35 
 
 The amount of the Scholarships have each been 
 increased to £20 per annum. 
 
 Rental £1,16']. 
 
 It was here that Sir Thomas Wyatt's rebellion 
 was stopped. 
 
 The sign of the Belle Sauvage is thus spoken of 
 
 in No. 28 of the Spectator : — 
 
 " As for the Bell Savage, which is the sigrj 
 " of a Savage Man standing by a Bell, I was 
 " formerly very much puzzled by the conceit of 
 " it till I accidentally fell into the reading of an 
 " old romance translated out of the French, which 
 " gives an account of a very beautiful woman who 
 " was found in a wilderness, and is called in the 
 " French, ' La Belle Sauvage," and is everywhere 
 " translated by our countrymen ' The Bell Savage." 
 
 The sign was originally a bell hung within g. 
 
 hoop, as proved by a grant in the time of Henry 
 
 VI, when John French gives to Joan French, his 
 
 mother, 
 
 " All that tenement or Inn called Savage Inn, 
 " otherwise called ' Bell on the Hoop." 
 
 Here also lived Grinling Gibbons, 
 
 " Where he carved a pot of flowers, which 
 " shook surprisingly with the motion of the coaches 
 " that passed by." — Walpole. 
 
36 A SJiort History of 
 
 1839&1841— Balls Pond Estate. 
 
 Purchase. 
 
 12 Almshouses. 
 
 5 Shops. 
 
 20 Houses. 
 
 Rental £126. 
 
 (Note. — The proceeds of the sales of Houses in 
 
 Fleet Lane and White Street have been invested 
 
 in New £^ Per Cents, and East Indian Railway 
 
 Stock.) 
 
 In the reign of Queen Elizabeth a rebellion broke 
 out in Ulster, in the North of Ireland, and that 
 province became in a great measure depopulated, 
 and laid waste. Upon the suppression of this re- 
 bellion a great portion of the province became vested 
 in the Crown by forfeiture. 
 
 In 1613 King James, in consideration of a pay- 
 ment of £60,000, granted a Charter to the City of 
 London for the settlement in Ulster of English and 
 Scotch Protestants. The new settlement having 
 been thus made, the towns built and the lands 
 settled, the whole (with the exception of the indi- 
 visible Estates, which are still retained by the Irish 
 Society), was mapped out by the Irish Society, and 
 divided as nearly as could be between the Irish 
 Society and the twelve Livery Companies, who 
 had contributed £"40,000 of the amount agreed to 
 be paid to King James. The Companies drew lots 
 for their several shares, which, on receiving, they 
 each named from themselves, their armorial bear- 
 ings, or other circumstances. Thus the Salter's have 
 their " Manor of Sal " ; the Ironmongers the " Manor 
 of Lizard " (Lizards being that Company's Sup- 
 porters) ; the Drapers have the " Manor of Drapers," 
 and so on. The following is a list of the 
 twelve Companies : — The Clothworkers, Drapers, 
 Fishmongers, Goldsmiths, Grocers, Haberdashers, 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 37 
 
 Ironmongers, Salters, Skinners, Mercers, Merchant 
 Tailors, and Vintners. 
 
 The Charter granted by King James was revoked 
 by King Charles the First by a Sentence of the Star 
 Chamber; but Charles the Second granted a new 
 Charter confirming that granted by King James, and 
 restored to the City of London (represented by the 
 Irish Society) and the twelve Livery Companies all 
 former privileges and estates; and it is under this 
 Charter that the Irish Society continues to act as a 
 Corporation. 
 
 The portion of the £60,000 paid to King James, 
 expended by the Livery Companies, was, as previously 
 stated, ;^40,ooo, and at a Court of Common Council 
 held in 1613, it was agreed to be divided into twelve 
 equal proportions of ;^3,368 6s. 8d. to each of the 
 principal Companies, each of which should stand as 
 Chief, and to whom should be joined so many of the 
 smaller Companies as, according to their contribu- 
 tions, would make up the full amount paid. 
 
 The Cutlers' Company contributed towards the i 
 
 amount paid by the Salters' Company, whose share 
 of the ;^40,ooo was made up in the following manner: 
 
 Salters" Company ... ... ;^i,954 
 
 Dyers' Company 
 Saddlers' Company 
 Cutlers' Company 
 Joiners' Company 
 Woolmen's Company 
 
 580 
 
 390 
 225 
 
 164 
 
 20 
 
 £3>333 
 The Salters paid the remaining 6s. 8d. to balance 
 the account. The share of the Woolmen's Company 
 (who have become extinct) has since been purchased 
 by the Salters' Company ; and the share of the 
 Saddlers' Company has recently been sold. 
 
 By a survey made in 1618 the County of London- 
 derry contains 409,309 acres. The Salters' portion 
 
38 
 
 A Short History of 
 
 of the estate appears to contain upwards of ii,ooo 
 Irish acres, and of which the Cutlers' Company have 
 a claim of a fifteenth part, the exact proportions 
 
 ;^IOO o o 
 
 By a survey (1836) the Salters' estate is stated to 
 consist of the town of Magherafelt and the adjacent 
 county. It is six miles in length, and on an average 
 three miles in breadth. It is bounded on the east by 
 the Vintners' estate and Lock Neagh, south-west by 
 the Drapers' estate, and north-east by Castle Down. 
 
 The estate is managed exclusively by the Salters' 
 Company, who make a yearly report of their pro- 
 ceedings, with a statement of accounts. From these 
 reports and those of other companies may be readily 
 seen the great improvements which have, from time 
 to time, been effected, the additional happiness 
 conferred thereby on the tenantry, and the general 
 high state of prosperity there, so that it has become 
 a recognised fact that the territory of the Irish 
 Society and the estates of the Livery Companies 
 of London are the best managed and most prosperous 
 portions of Ireland. 
 
 The present income of the Cutlers' Company from 
 their share of the estate is about £"400 a year. 
 
 In the year 1838 the various Livery Companies 
 instituted proceedings in Chancery against the Irish 
 Society to obtain a Decree that the Society were the 
 Trustees for the Companies, and for an account of 
 their Stewardship of the Estates. (Mr. Pemberton 
 appeared as Counsel for the Cutlers.) After a hearing, 
 which lasted several days, the Master of the Rolls 
 (Lord Langdale) dismissed the Bill. 
 
 being, viz. : — 
 
 
 
 
 
 Salters' Company 
 
 •• £59 4 
 
 7 
 
 per 
 
 cent. 
 
 Dyers' Company 
 
 .. 17 8 
 
 
 
 
 >> 
 
 Saddlers' Company 
 
 II 14 
 
 
 
 
 j> 
 
 Cutlers' Company 
 
 .. 6 15 
 
 
 
 
 >' 
 
 Joiners' Company 
 
 4 18 
 
 5 
 
 
 )> 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 39 
 
 Ueijttjsts to tl^e Sutlers* ^ompanfi. 
 
 In this year Mr. John Davies (Citizen and Cutler, 1533- 
 of London), by his will charged his Estate, known 
 as the Bowes Farm, Edmonton, with the payment 
 of a sum of Thirty Shillings per annum for ever 
 to the Cutlers' Company " for the use of the Poor 
 Men of the said Company." 
 
 In this year Mr. W. H. Pepys (Citizen and Cutler, 1840. 
 of London), presented the Cutlers' Company with a 
 sum of £"100 in trust as a permanent fund, the 
 amount to be invested, and the interest to be applied 
 in the purchase of Coals yearly for the Pensioners 
 of the Company. 
 
 In this year Mr. John Peacock (Proprietor of the 1S50. 
 London Tavern), by his Will bequeathed the sum 
 of ;^ioo to the Cutlers' Company. 
 
 ®]^at:ftie6 of t^t ©ompans* 
 
 In the year 1838, the Court being desirous in their 
 prosperity to add to the welfare and comfort of their 
 poorer Brethren and Sisters, resolved to build some 
 Almshouses, and they accordingly voted a sum of 
 money for that purpose. A piece of land was pur- 
 chased in the Ball's Pond Road, Islington, and twelve 
 Almshouses erected thereon. The Court grant the 
 use of them to decayed Freemen and Liverymen and 
 their Widows. 
 
 Pensions are also granted by the Court to deserving 
 Freemen, Liverymen, and their Widows, if upon 
 strict enquiry they are found deserving thereof. 
 
 Scale of Pensions. Per annum. 
 
 To Freemen and Widows (under 60) ... ^14 
 To ditto (above 60) ... ... ... ... 22 
 
 To Liverymen and Widows (under 60) ... 22 
 To ditto (above 60) ... ... ... ... 30 
 
 Considerable sums are also given to distressed 
 persons related to former Freemen or Liverymen of 
 
 Almshouses. 
 
 Pensions. 
 
40 
 
 A Short History of 
 
 
 the Company, and large amounts are also voted every 
 
 
 year to various Hospitals and other Charities. In 
 
 
 i88o the sum thus expended was £"911 15s. In fact, 
 
 
 it may be truly said of the Cutlers' Company as of 
 
 
 the other Livery Companies of London, 
 
 i 
 1 
 
 " That, while they feasted all the great, they 
 
 
 never forgot the poor or small." 
 
 
 (Bxf)ihitionQ to (^amtxiXtQt anlr ©xfortr* 
 
 Exhibitions. 
 
 The Cutlers' Company have one Exhibition or 
 
 j 
 
 Scholarship to Cambridge by the Will of Mr. Thomas 
 
 
 Bucke, in 1566. The yearly amount has been in- 
 
 1 
 f 
 
 creased from £3 6s. 8d. to £30. 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 The Company have also one Exhibition or Scholar- 
 
 1 
 
 ship to Cambridge, and also 
 
 1 
 
 One Exhibition or Scholarship to Oxford by the 
 
 1 
 
 Will of Mr. John Craythorne. The yearly amonnt 
 
 i 
 
 has in each case been increased from £3 6s. 8d. to 
 
 
 £20. 
 
 
 In the year i860 the Court resolved, in consequence 
 
 
 of the increased rental from the property bequeathed 
 
 
 by Mr. Bucke and Mr. Craythorne, to create a new 
 
 
 Exhibition or Scholarship at Cambridge, of the annual 
 
 
 value of £"20. 
 
 
 The Company are accustomed to continue the 
 
 
 payment of these Exhibitions until the occurrence 
 
 
 of one ol the following events : — 
 
 
 I St. — Ceasing to reside. 
 
 
 2nd. — Obtaining the M.A. degree. 
 
 
 3rd. — Obtaining a Fellowship or preferment to 
 
 
 the amount of £io a year. 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 41 
 
 properts of tije ©ompana* 
 
 A list of the most interesting items of Plate, Books, 
 Pictures, and miscellaneous articles belonging to the 
 Company. 
 
 PLATE. 
 
 A Cup and Cover, Silver Gilt, bequeathed by Mr. G. 
 
 Clarke, in i6i6. 
 A Salt, in form of Elephant, presented by Mr. K. 
 
 Carrington, in 1658. 
 A Silver Cup, presented by Mr. W. Davis, Hall 
 
 Marked, i6Sg. 
 Four Silver Spoons, presented by Mr. R. Grimes, 
 
 Master, in 1674. 
 Six ditto, presented by Mr. R. Blaney, Master, 
 
 in 1679. 
 Four ditto, presented by Mr. D. Wilson, Master, in 
 
 1688. 
 Three ditto, presented by Mr. R. Kittlebuter, Master, 
 
 in 1692. 
 A Punch Ladle, presented by Mr. N. Slack, in 17 12. 
 Two Silver Punch Bowls. 
 Two Silver Gilt Rose Water Dishes. 
 One Antique Silver Goblet. 
 Two Silver Loving Cups and Covers. 
 One Ancient Silver Wine Strainer. 
 One large Silver Tankard, bequeathed by Mr. W. 1 
 
 Lund, in 1872. ' 
 
 Two Silver Wine Coolers, bequeathed by Mr. W. 
 
 Lund, in 1872. 
 One large gilt Rose Water Dish, presented by Mr. , 
 
 Henry Graves, in 1872. j 
 
 A Beadle's Staff, with Silver Elephant and Castle, ! 
 
 (ancient.) i 
 
 BOOKS. 
 
 A Bible with Silver Clasps, 1541. 
 
 Stowe's History of London, presented by Mr. Pepys. 
 
 Churches of London, ditto. 
 
# 
 
 A Short History of 
 
 Beauties of England and Wales, presented by Mr. 
 
 Pepys. 
 Smollett's History of England, ditto. 
 History of the River Thames. 
 Microcosm of London. 
 Owen Jones — Illuminated Middle Ages — presented by 
 
 Mr. J. Tyler. 
 Owen Jones — Grammar of Ornament — presented by 
 
 Mr. J. Tyler. 
 
 PAINTINGS. 
 
 Portrait of Henry V. 
 
 Portrait of Queen Anne. 
 
 Portrait of Alderman Winchester, a Master of the 
 
 Company, Lord Mayor of London. 
 Portrait of Alderman Sir R. W. Garden, M.P., a 
 
 Master of the Company, Lord Mayor of London. 
 Three Portraits of Mrs. Craythorne. 
 
 ENGRAVINGS. 
 
 Portrait of Queen Anne, James I, and the Lord High 
 
 Treasurer, Godolphin. 
 Procession of Queen Anne through the Strand in 17 14. 
 Photograph Album, with Portraits of past Masters of 
 
 the Company. 1 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. ' 
 
 One large Hammer for Master, 1603. 1 
 
 Snuff Box, presented by Mr. Underwood. j 
 
 Various Flags and Shields, with Coats of Arms. '. 
 
 Plan of London, presented by the City Solicitor in 1832. 
 Plan of the Ball's Pond Estate. 
 Plans of the various Estates. 
 Plan of the Irish Estate. 
 
The Cutters' Company. 
 
 43 
 
 ^ttiynitnX ©litication. 
 
 The Company fully recognising the great importance 
 of Technical Education, or a knowledge of the prin- 
 ciples of science as applied to the materials used in 
 the staple manufactures of the country, after a full 
 consideration of the subject, decided not to take any 
 part in the proposed scheme for the establishment of 
 a College for the teaching of Technical Education 
 generally, but that they would adopt measures cal- 
 culated to promote and sustain an advancement and 
 improvement in the manufacture of cutlery and of 
 those engaged in the cutlery trade. 
 
 With this object in view, the Company resolved to 
 endeavour to create a spirit of competition among 
 the manufacturers of cutlery, and also among their 
 workmen and apprentices, and they also arranged 
 that such competition should be divided into three 
 classes as follows : — 
 
 Class I. — General Cutlery. 
 
 Class 2. — Surgical Cutlery. 
 
 Class 3. — Sword Cutlery. 
 And that the prizes for manufacturers should consist 
 of the Freedom of the Company, gold, silver, and 
 bronze Medals and Certificates of Merit, and for 
 artisans and apprentices an illuminated Certificate of 
 Merit, with a sum of money to be awarded in such 
 amounts as the judges might think proper amongst 
 such of the competitors as should gain Certificates 
 of Merit. 
 
 The standard of merit in the award of the judges 
 with regard to manufacturers was settled as follows : — 
 
 Class I. — General excellence of material, temper, 
 and workmanship, novelty of style, 
 practical and general utility of goods. 
 
 Class 2. — The general excellence of material, 
 temper, and workmanship, practical 
 and general utility of articles. 
 
44 
 
 A Short History of 
 
 Class 3. — The general excellence of material, 
 temper, and workmanship. 
 And for artisans and apprentices the standard of 
 merit in the several classes of forgers, grinders, and 
 glaziers, and as to fitters, were fixed as follows : — 
 The neatness with which each article is made and 
 framed, so as to give the artisan following him 
 as little difficulty in finishing as possible. 
 The best finished work, having regard to its practical 
 
 utility. 
 The fitting of screws, fitting and finishing of 
 handles, and adjustment of work so as to 
 act perfectly. 
 The Company also decided to exhibit any specimens 
 of ancient cutlery which might be lent for the purpose, 
 so that a comparison might be made with that of 
 modern manufacture. 
 
 A large number of circulars, with conditions of 
 competition, were addressed to manufacturers in the 
 three classes of the cutlery trade, inviting their co- 
 operation, and also that of their workmen and 
 apprentices in the proposed competition. 
 
 The result was that the following large number 
 agreed to compete in the several classes : — 
 
 General Cutlery. — Class I. 
 
 Manufacturers 
 Artisans and apprentices 
 
 Surgical Cutlery. — Class II. 
 
 Manufacturers 
 Artisans and apprentices 
 
 Sword Cutlery. — Class III. 
 
 Manufacturers 
 
 Total 
 
 24 
 24 
 
 -48 
 
 13 
 30 
 
 -43 
 
 3 
 
 94 
 
The Cutlers' Cotnpany. 
 
 45 
 
 In addition to those taking part in the competition, 
 the Company received offers of the loan of a large 
 number of interesting specimens of ancient arms and 
 cutlery for exhibition from their Royal Highnesses the 
 Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh, also 
 from the Baron de Cosson and other gentlemen, and 
 from the South Kensington Museum and the Sheffield 
 Public Museum. 
 
 The following Judges were appointed : — 
 
 For Surgical Cutlery — 
 
 Sir H. Thompson, Mr. Bryant, Mr. Parry. 
 
 For Sword Cutlery — 
 
 Lieut. -General B. Walker, C.B., Lieut. -Col. 
 G. Vernon. 
 
 For General Cutlery — 
 
 Messrs. Plum, Pigall, Slatter, Wing. 
 
 The Exhibition was arranged to be held in the Hall 
 of the Company, and to be opened on the ist of May, 
 1879, by the Right Honourable the Earl of Carnarvon. 
 
 The Judges awarded one Gold Medal, 12 Silver 
 Medals, and 10 Certificates of Merit to various manu- 
 facturers ; and 28 Certificates of Merit to artisans and 
 apprentices, together with money prizes, amounting 
 to the sum of £^^. 
 
 A large number of articles intimately connected 
 with the cutlery trade were also exhibited. 
 
 The Exhibition was open to the public on the 2nd 
 of May, and continued open until the 17th of that 
 month, on two evenings in the week until nine o'clock 
 to give a better opportunity to the artisan class to 
 attend. During the time named abont 15,000 persons 
 inspected the various exhibits. 
 
 On the 7th of May His Royal Highness Prince 
 Leopold, and on the gth May their Royal Highnesses 
 the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, attended and 
 inspected with much interest the various objects of 
 competition and exhibition. 
 
46 
 
 A Short History of 
 
 The Prizes to the successful competitors were 
 distributed on the 17th of May. 
 
 The Company have received the gratifying in- 
 formation and assurance that the result of the 
 competition has been a large amount of benefit to 
 the cutlery trade, and that it has given a stimulus to 
 continued improvement, not only in the quality of 
 the cutlery but also in the knowledge and skill of the 
 manufacturers and artisans engaged in its production. 
 
 A copy of the report of the Committee of the 
 Company engaged in the carrying out of the various 
 details of the competition, with lists of the awards of 
 the judges and a statement of the various expenses 
 incurred by the Company in connection therewith, 
 has been presented to each Liveryman of the 
 Company. 
 
 A tablet has been placed in Cutlers' Hall to 
 commemorate the Exhibition, with the following 
 incription : — 
 
 This Tablet is erected by the Worshipful 
 Company of Cutlers to commemorate the success 
 of the first Exhibition of Cutlery, held in this Hall, 
 under the auspices of the Company, and of the 
 visits thereto of their Royal Highnesses the Duke 
 and Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Leopold. 
 
 The Exhibition was opened by the Right 
 Honourable the Earl of Carnarvon on the ist of 
 May, .1879, and was inspected by nearly 15,000 
 visitors. — T. G. Pocock, Master. W. A. Oldaker, 
 A. Pocock, Wardens. J. Thome, R. J. Cheeswright, 
 Hon. Secretaries. 
 
 As TO Apprentices. 
 
 During the past year the Company, feeling the 
 great importance of providing for a continuity of 
 skilled artisans in the Cutlery trade, resolved to 
 appropriate a sum of ;!f 100 a year for the purpose 
 of apprenticing two boys to members of the cutlery 
 trade in London. Public notice of the intention of 
 the Company was given, and two respectable youths 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 47 
 
 were in December last apprenticed, at the Hall of 
 the Company, to master Cutlers in London. The 
 following are the general terms upon which the 
 apprenticeships are based : — 
 
 1. Forty pounds to be paid each master in two 
 
 instalments, viz., Twenty Pounds at the 
 time of apprenticeship, and Twenty Pounds 
 at the expiration of the third year of the 
 term. 
 
 2. Ten Pounds to be paid to each apprentice, 
 
 either during or at the expiration of the 
 apprenticeship, at the discretion of the 
 Company. 
 
 3. The Freedom of the Company to be presented 
 
 to each apprentice on satisfactory proof 
 being given of his efficiency in the craft 
 and of good behaviour during his appren- 
 ticeship. 
 
 4. The wages to be paid to the apprentice to be 
 
 determined at the time of apprenticing 
 between the master, the apprentice, his 
 father or guardian, and the Company. 
 
 As TO Lectures. 
 
 The Company being desirous to render further 
 assistance in the development of Technical Educa- 
 tion, and a scientific knowledge of the materials used 
 in the cutlery trade, have arranged for a series of 
 papers to be read at Cutlers' Hall upon subjects 
 intimately connected therewith. 
 
 On the ist of December last, Sir Henry Bessemer, 
 C.E., F.R.S., read a Paper " On the Manufactnre and 
 Uses of Steel, with special reference to its employ- 
 ment for Edge Tools." 
 
 On the ist of February last, A. K. Huntington, 
 Esq. (Professor of Metallurgy, King's College, Lon- 
 don), read a Paper on " Steel, its Composition and 
 Properties." 
 
48 
 
 A Short History of 
 
 Cutlers' Hall. 
 
 On the 2nd of March last, Henry Seebohm, Esq. 
 (a well-known Steel Manufacturer of Sheffield) read 
 a Paper on the " Uses of Steel." 
 
 It is intended to make arrangements for other 
 Papers to be read in due course. 
 
 The Company invited the attendance and the 
 cordial co-operation of manufacturers of Cutlery, and 
 through them that of their workmen and apprentices 
 in this movement; and it is gratifying to the Company 
 to recognise from the large attendance of masters, 
 artisans, and apprentices, and the attention paid by 
 them during the reading of the papers, the great 
 interest felt by them in the various technical matters 
 connected with their trade brought under their notice 
 by the talented and scientific gentlemen to whom 
 allusion has been made. It may be added that a copy 
 of each of the Papers read is presented to every person 
 attending the Lectures. 
 
 The Hall of the Cutlers' Company is situate in 
 Cloak Lane, Dowgate Hill. The site was purchased 
 by the Company in the year 145 1, and the first Hall 
 erected there shortly afterwards. It was destroyed in 
 the Great Fire of London, in 1666, when 
 A key of Fire ran all along the Shore, 
 And frightened all the River with a blaze. — Dryden. 
 It was remodelled and improved in the year 1853. 
 
 Maitland in his History of London ^1750^, in 
 describing the Vintry Ward, refers to the Cutlers' 
 Hall as one of the remarkable places of interest in 
 the Ward. 
 
 Cutlers' Hall. — In Horse Bridge Street is the 
 Cutlers' Hall. Richard de Wilchale in 1295 con- 
 firmed to Paul Butelar this house and other edifices, 
 which some time Lawrence Gisors and his son 
 Peter Gisors did possess, and afterwards Hugo de 
 Hingham, and lieth between the tenement of the 
 said Richard towards the South, and the Lane 
 called Horse Shoe Bridge towards the North, and 
 
The Cutlers' Cotnpany. 
 
 49 
 
 between the way called Paternoster Church on the 
 West, and the Course ofWalbrook on the East; pay- 
 ing yearly one clove of Gilliflowers at Easter, and to 
 the Priory and Convent of St. Marj' Overy 6s. This 
 house some time belonged to Simon Dolefly, Grocer, 
 Mayor in the year 1359. They of this Company 
 were (of old time) three Arts or sorts of Workmen, 
 to wit — The first were Smiths, Forgers of Blades, 
 and, therefore, called Bladers. And divers of them 
 proved wealthy men, as namely Walter Nele, 
 Blader, one of the Sheriffs, the 12th of King Edward 
 the Third, deceased, 1352, and buried in St. James, 
 Garlickhithe. He left lands for the mending of 
 Highways about London, between Newgate and 
 Wycombe and elsewhere. The second were Makers 
 of Hafts and otherwise Garnishers of Blades. The 
 third sort were Sheath Makers for Swords, Daggers, 
 and Knives. In the tenth of Henry IV certain 
 Ordinances were made betwixt the Bladers and other 
 Cutlers. And in the reign of Henry V they were 
 all three Companies drawn into one Fraternity or 
 Brotherhood by the name of Cutlers. 
 The general business of the Company is carried on 
 at the Hall, and the Court and Committee Meetings 
 are likewise held there. 
 
 In the Dining Hall, the great hospitality for which 
 the Cutlers' Company has ever been and still is 
 distinguished, continues to be lavishly dispensed. 
 One of the most time-honoured toasts or sentiments 
 drank with enthusiasm at the Cutlers' Feasts is that 
 in which the sympathy of every Liverymen towards 
 the Company is expressed. May it continue to be 
 used for many years to come. It is a sentiment also 
 with which I trust I may not inappropriately conclude 
 my short history of the Cutlers' Company. 
 
 " The Cutlers' Company — 
 
 May it flourish root and branch." 
 
 THE END. 
 
APPENDIX A. 
 
 (^ (Copg of t^t Ch^kt 
 
 Granted to the Cutlers' Company by King James the First, on the 
 
 8th July, 1607. 
 
 ^"fl 
 
 by the Grace of God King of 
 England Scotland France and Ireland 
 
 Defender of the Faith &c. ^O aCC '^Jlen 
 
 to whom these Presents shall come Greeting 
 
 ^^^CXCa^ our noble Progenitor HENRY after 
 the Conquest the Sixth having information that by 
 reason of the losses and unfortunate casualties that 
 happened to the Men of the Mystery of the Cutlers of 
 the City of London by Sea they then were not able to 
 live but by the benevolence of well disposed people 
 whereof he having a princely consideration did by his 
 LETTERS PATENT of his especial grace grant 
 and give license to the foresaid Cutlers of London 
 that they for ever after should have one perpetual 
 Commonaltie of themselves. And that the said 
 Commonaltie should choose and make Richard Wellom 
 Master of the Commonaltie and Misterie aforesaid 
 and Martyn Goddard and John Chadd Wardens of the 
 foresaid Commonaltie and Mysterie for One year and 
 so everie yeare One Master and Two Wardens of the 
 Men of the foresaid Commonaltie and Misterie to 
 survey and govern the said Misterie and Commonaltie 
 and all persons and their Works for ever. And further 
 
 Recitals. 
 
5^ 
 
 The Charter of 
 
 Corporate 
 Name. 
 
 of his more grace did grant and give licence for him 
 and his heirs to the foresaid Master Wardens and 
 Commonaltie that they and their Successors Masters 
 Wardens and Commonaltie of the Misterie aforesaid 
 for the time being might purchase lands tenements 
 and rents to the value of Twenty pounds per annum 
 as by the said Letters Patents more at large appeareth 
 AND WHEREAS the said Letters Patents have 
 been by divers of our noble Progenitors since that 
 time allowed and confirmed as by the several confir- 
 mations thereof likewise more at large appears. 
 NOW KNOW YE that we at the humble petition of 
 the Company of Cutlers of London and the Suburbs 
 thereof for the better rule and government of the said 
 Company and every of them and for the avoiding of 
 divers deceits and abuses used in the said Mysterie to 
 the great damage and loss of our loving Subjects of 
 our special Grace certain knowledge and mere motion 
 have willed ordained constituted and granted. And 
 by these presents for us our Heirs and Successors DO 
 will ordain constitute declare and grant that all and 
 singular the persons of the Commonaltie and Mysterie 
 of the Cutlers of the City of London and the Suburbs 
 thereof for ever hereafter are and shall be by virtue 
 of these presents ONE BODY Corporate and Poli- 
 tique in deed and name by the name " Of Master 
 Wardens and Commonaltie of the Misterie of Cutlers 
 of London " and them by the name of " Master 
 Wardens and Commonaltie of the Misterie of Cutlers 
 of London." WE do by these Presents for us our 
 Heirs and Successors really and fully create make 
 ordain constitute and declare one Body Corporate and 
 Politick in deed and name. And that by the same 
 name of Master Wardens and Commonaltie of the 
 Misterie of Cutlers of London they shall and may 
 have perpetual succession. And that they and their 
 successors by the name of Master Wardens and 
 Commonaltie of the Misterie of Cutlers of London 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 53 
 
 shall and may be for ever hereafter persons able and 
 capable in Law to purchase have receive and enjoy 
 manors messuages lands tenements liberties privileges 
 Jurisdictions Franchises and other Hereditaments 
 whatsoever of whatsoever kind nature or qualitie they 
 be to them and their Successors in Fee and perpetuity 
 or for term of live lives year or years or otherwise in 
 what sort soever. And also all manner of goods 
 chattels and things whatsoever of what name nature 
 or quality soever they be. And also to give grant 
 sett lett alien assign and dispose of manors messuages 
 lands tenements and other hereditaments goods chattels 
 and things whatsoever. And also to do and execute 
 all and singular other acts and things whatsoever by 
 the name aforesaid. And that by the same name of 
 Master Wardens and Commonaltie of the Mysterie of 
 Cutlers of London they shall and may be able to plead 
 and be impleaded to answer and be answered unto to 
 defend and be defended in all Courts and places what- 
 soever and before whatsoever Judge or Justices or 
 other persons and Officers of us our heirs or successors 
 in all and singular actions plaints pleas suits matters 
 and demands of whatsoever kind nature or quality 
 they be in the same manner and form as any other our 
 liege Subjects of this our Realm of England being 
 persons able and capable in Law or any other Body 
 Corporate and Politick within this Realm of England 
 can or may have purchase receive possess enjoy retain 
 give grant set let alien assign and dispose plead and 
 be impleaded answer and be answered unto defend 
 and be defended do permit or execute. And that they 
 the said Master Wardens and Commonaltie of the 
 Misterie of Cutlers of London for ever hereafter shall 
 and may have a COMMON SEAL to serve for the 
 causes and business of them and their successors and 
 that it shall be lawful for them and their successors 
 to change break alter and to make anew the said Seal 
 from time to time at their pleasure as they shall th-'nk 
 
 May hold 
 Lands. 
 
 Common 
 Seal. 
 
54 
 
 The Charter of 
 
 Master. 
 
 Wardens. 
 
 Assistants. 
 
 To make 
 Ordinances. 
 
 best. And further we will and by these presents for 
 us our Heirs and Successors we do grant to the said 
 Master Wardens and Commonaltie of the Misterie of 
 the Cutlers of London aforesaid and their Successors 
 that for ever hereafter there shall and may be one of 
 the Commonaltie or Misterie aforesaid in manner and 
 form hereafter in these presents mentioned chosen and 
 named who shall be and be called the Master of the said 
 Commonaltie of the Misterie of the Cutlers of London 
 And that likewise there shall and may be two of the 
 said Commonaltie and Misterie in manner and form 
 hereafter in these presents expressed chosen and 
 named which shall be and be called the Wardens of 
 the said Commonaltie of the Mysterie of the Cutlers 
 of London. And also that there shall and may be 
 Twenty of the Commonaltie aforesaid in manner and 
 form hereafter expressed named and sworn which shall 
 be and be called the Assistants of the said Commonaltie 
 of the Misterie of the Cutlers of London. And from 
 time to time shall be assisting and aiding to the 
 Master and Wardens of the said Commonaltie and 
 Mysterie aforesaid for the time being in all causes 
 matters and business touching or concerning the said 
 Commonaltie. And further We will and by these 
 presents for us our heirs aud successors DO grant to 
 the said Master Wardens and Commonaltie of the 
 Misterie of the Cutlers of London and their Successors 
 That it shall and may be lawful for the said Master 
 and Wardens of the said Commonaltie and Misterie 
 for the time being or to the greater part of them calling 
 to them the most part of the Assistants for the time 
 being as often as they shall think it needful or 
 expedient to assemble convocate and congregate 
 themselves together at and in their Hall or any other 
 convenient place within the City of London or the 
 Suburbs thereof. And there from time to time and at 
 all convenient times hereafter to entreate consult 
 determine constitute ordain and make any constitutions 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 55 
 
 laws ordinances statutes articles and orders whatsoever 
 which to them or the greater part of them as is afore- 
 said shall seem reasonable profitable or requisite for 
 touching or concerning the good estate rule order 
 or government of the said Commonaltie of the said 
 Misterie of the said Cutlers as to them according to 
 their wisdom and discretions shall seem convenient. 
 And in what order or manner the said Master Wardens 
 and Commonaltie of the said Misterie and all other 
 person and persons using the said Misterie within the 
 City of London and the Suburbs thereof and within 
 three miles of the same City shall demean and behave 
 themselves as well in all and singular matters causes 
 and things touching or concerning the said Misterie or 
 anything thereunto appertaining. As also in their 
 several offices ministries functions and business touch- 
 ing or concerning the said Commonaltie and Misterie 
 as aforesaid. And all and singular such pains penal- 
 ties punishments and imprisonment of body or by fine 
 or amerciaments or by any of them against or upon 
 any offender or offenders which shall transgress break 
 or violate the said constitutions statutes laws 
 ordinances or orders so to be made ordained and 
 established or heretofore made ordained and estab- 
 lished or any of them to impose provide and 
 limit and the same and every part thereof to ask levie 
 take and receive by way of distress or otherwise by 
 any lawful ways or means of or against the said 
 offender or offenders his or their goods or chattels or 
 any of them as the cause shall require. And as to 
 the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said 
 Commonaltie and Mysterie or the greater part of them 
 in manner as aforesaid shall seem most convenient or 
 expedient. All which laws orders ordinances constitu- 
 tions institutions and articles so made or to be made 
 ordained and established. We will and by these 
 presents for us our heirs and successors do grant and 
 command to be from time to time and at all times 
 
 To lay 
 Penalties. 
 
56 
 
 Master 
 Appointed. 
 
 Wardens 
 Appointed. 
 
 The Charter of 
 
 kept obeyed and performed in all things as the same 
 ought to be upon the pains penalties and punishments 
 in the same to be imposed inflicted and limitted. So 
 as the same laws statutes articles and ordinances 
 pains penalties imprisonments fine and amerciaments 
 be reasonable and not repugnant or contrary to the 
 laws and statutes of this our Realm of England nor 
 the laudable customs of our City of London. And 
 for the better executing of this our grant in that behalf 
 we have assigned named constituted and made and by 
 these presents for us our heirs and successors DO 
 assign create constitute and make our well beloved 
 Subject Thomas Porter Citizen and Cutler of London 
 to be the present Master of the said Commonaltie and 
 Misterie of the Cutlers of London to continue in the 
 same Office until the Even of the Holy Trinity next 
 following the date hereof (if the said Thomas Porter 
 shall so long live). And from until another of the 
 said Commonaltie and Misterie shall be chosen and 
 named into the Office of Master of the said Common- 
 altie and Misterie in due manner according to 
 the ordinances and provisions hereafter in these 
 presents mentioned and expressed. And also we have 
 assigned named constituted and made and by these 
 presents for us our heirs and successors we do assign 
 name constitute and make our well beloved Subjects 
 William Bailey and Thomas Cheshire Citizens and 
 Cutlers of London to be the present Wardens of the 
 said Commonaltie and Misterie of Cutlers of London 
 to continue in the said office of Wardens until the 
 said Even of the Holy Trinity (if the said William 
 Bailey and Thomas Cheshire shall so long live). And 
 from thence until two others of the said Commonaltie 
 and Misterie shall be chosen into the said Office of 
 Wardens of the said Commonaltie and Misterie of 
 the Cutlers of London according to the ordinances 
 and provisions in these presents expressed and 
 declared. And we have assigned named constituted 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 57 
 
 and made and by these presents for us our heirs 
 and successors do assign name constitute and make 
 our well beloved Subjects Richard Hawes Thomas 
 Greene John Gardiner Thomas Asher Oliver Plunkett 
 otherwise Pluckett George Ellye Reginald Greene 
 Christopher Hatfield William Hely John Beeston 
 Henry Addams Edward Androwes Lawrence Evans 
 John Johnson Nathaniel Matthews Miles Banks John 
 Porter and James Tackley Citizens and Cutlers of 
 London to be the first and present Assistants of the 
 said Commonaltie and Misterie of the Cutlers of 
 London to continue in the said Office of Assistants 
 during their natural lives unless they or any one or 
 more of them shall fortune to be removed for evil 
 government or misbehaving of him or themselves in 
 the said office or offices of Assistant or Assistants or 
 for some other reasonable cause. And further We 
 will and by these presents for us our Heirs and Suc- 
 cessors We do grant unto the said Master Wardens 
 and Commonaltie of the Misterie of Cutlers of London 
 and their Successors, That the Master Wardens 
 Assistants and Livery of the said Commonaltie and 
 Misterie for the time being or the greater part of them 
 as aforesaid from time to time for ever hereafter shall 
 have full power and authority yearly and every year 
 upon the Even of the Holy Trinity to elect and 
 nominate one of the Freemen of the said Commonaltie 
 and Misterie for one whole year from thence next 
 ensuing and from thence until another of the said 
 Commonaltie and Misterie of the Cutlers of London 
 be chosen to the said Office of Master of the said 
 Commonaltie and Misterie according to the ordinances 
 and provisions in these presents expressed and declared. 
 And that he which shall be so chosen and named into 
 the said Office of Master of the said Commonaltie and 
 Misterie before he be admitted to execute the said 
 Office shall take his corporal oath before the last 
 Master of the said Commonaltie and Misterie his 
 
 Assistants 
 Appointed. 
 
 To chuse 
 Master and 
 Wardens on 
 Trinity Eve. 
 
58 
 
 The Charter of 
 
 predecessor and the Wardens of the said Commonaltie 
 and Misterie for the time being well and truly to 
 execute the said Office of Master of the said Com- 
 monaltie and Misterie in all things concerning the 
 said Office and that after the said oath so as aforesaid 
 to be taken he shall have and exercise the said Office 
 for one whole year from thence next ensuing. And 
 from thence until one other be chosen and sworn in 
 form aforesaid into the said Office of Master of the 
 said Commonaltie and Misterie in manner and form 
 before in these presents expressed. And that likewise 
 they may elect nominate and chuse Two other of the 
 Freemen of the said Commonaltie and Misterie of the 
 Cutlers of London which shall be Wardens for one 
 whole year from thence next ensuing. And from 
 thence until two other of the said Commonaltie and 
 Misterie be chosen and sworn unto the said Office of 
 Wardens of the said Commonaltie and Misterie 
 according to the ordinances and provisions in these 
 presents expressed and declared. And that they which 
 shall be so chosen and named into the Office of 
 Wardens of the said Commonaltie and Misterie of the 
 Cutlers of London before they be admitted to execute 
 the said Office shall take their corporal oaths before the 
 last Master and Wardens of the said Commonaltie 
 and Misterie their last predecessors well and truly to 
 execute the said Office of Wardens in all things 
 touching and concerning the said Office. And that 
 after such oaths so as aforesaid to be taken they shall 
 and may exercise the said Office for one whole year 
 from thence next ensuing and from thence until two 
 others be chosen and sworn in form aforesaid into the 
 said Office of Wardens of the said Commonaltie and 
 Misterie in manner and form before in these presents 
 expressed and declared. And further we will and by 
 these presents for us our heirs and successors DO 
 grant to the said Master Wardens and Commonaltie 
 of the Mysterie of the Cutlers of London and their 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 59 
 
 successors. That if it shall happen the Master and 
 Wardens of the Commonaltie and Misterie for the 
 time being or any of them to die or otherwise for any 
 reasonable cause to be removed or dismissed from his 
 their or any of their office or offices of Master and 
 Wardens aforesaid or any of them within the year 
 wherein thay or any of them shall be so elected and 
 chosen as is aforesaid. That then and so often it 
 shall be lawful to and for such and so many of the 
 said Master Wardens Assistants and Livery which 
 shall be then living or remaining or the greater part 
 of them at their pleasure to chuse make and swear one 
 other of the said Commonaltie and Misterie to be 
 Master Warden or Wardens of the said Commonaltie 
 and Misterie according to the ordinances and pro- 
 visions before in these presents expressed and declared 
 to execute and exercise the said Office of Master or 
 the said Offices of Warden or Wardens of the said 
 Commonaltie and Misterie until the said Even of the 
 Holy Trinity then next following first taking their 
 corporal oaths in form as is aforesaid. And so often 
 as the case shall require. And further We will and 
 by these presents for us our heirs and successors we 
 do grant to the said Master Wardens and Commonaltie 
 of the Misterie of Cutlers of London and their suc- 
 cessors. That whensoever it happeneth any of the 
 said Assistants of the said Commonaltie and Misterie 
 for the time being to die or to be removed from his or 
 their Office or Offices. All which Assistants and every 
 or any of them we will shall be removeable and to be 
 removed by the said Master Wardens and Assistants 
 of the said Commonaltie and Misterie or the greater 
 part of them in manner as aforesaid for evil govern- 
 ment misbehaviour or for any other reasonable cause. 
 That then and so often it shall and may be lawful to 
 and for the said Master Wardens and so many of the 
 Assistants which shall then survive or remain or the 
 greater part of them in manner as aforesaid at their 
 
 On death of 
 Master and 
 Wardens 
 others to be 
 chosen. 
 
 On death of 
 Assistants 
 others to be 
 chosen. 
 
6o 
 
 The Charter of 
 
 Power to 
 purchase 
 Lands or 
 Estates. 
 
 Not to exceed 
 loo marks 
 per annum. 
 
 will and pleasures from time to time to chuse and 
 name one other or more of the said Commonaltie to 
 be Assistant or Assistants of the said Commonaltie 
 and Misterie in his or their place and stead which 
 shall so happen to die or be removed as is aforesaid. 
 And that he and they which shall be so chosen and 
 named to be Assistant or Assistants of the said Com- 
 monaltie and Misterie as aforesaid before that he they 
 or any of them be admitted to his or their execution 
 of the said Office or Offices of Assistant or Assistants 
 shall take their corporal oaths before the Master and 
 Wardens of the said Commonaltie and Misterie for 
 the time being well and truly to execute the said Office 
 or Offices and so as often as the case shall require. 
 And further we will and by these presents for us our 
 heirs and successors do grant to the said Master 
 Wardens and Commonaltie of the Misterie of the 
 Cutlers of London and their successors special license 
 and free and lawful power and authority to have receive 
 and purchase to them and their successors for ever as 
 well of us our heirs and successors as of any the 
 Subject or Subjects of us our heirs or successors 
 whatsoever manors messuages lands tenements rec- 
 tories tythes rents revennues and other possessions and 
 hereditaments whatsoever which are not held of us 
 our heirs and successors immediately in chief nor by 
 Knight's service. So that all the said manors mes- 
 suages lands tenements and other hereditaments 
 whatsoever so by them to be had perceived or purchased 
 by virtue of these presents do not exceed in the whole 
 the clear yearly value of One hundred marks. The 
 Statute of Lands and Tenements not to be put into 
 Mortmaine or any other Statute Act ordinance provi- 
 sion or restraint or any other thing cause or matter 
 whatsoever to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding. 
 And also we grant and by these presents for us our 
 heirs and successors do give free full and lawful license 
 power and authority to any the Subject or Subjects of 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 6i 
 
 us our heirs or successors whatsoever and every of 
 them. That they and every or any of them shall and 
 may be able to give grant assign or by any other 
 lawful ways or means whatsoever alien devise or 
 assign to the said Master Wardens and Commonaltie 
 of the Misterie of the Cutlers of London and their 
 successors any manors messuages lands tenements 
 rectories tythes rents services and other hereditaments 
 whatsoever which are not held of us our heirs or 
 successors immediately in chief nor by Knight's ser- 
 vice so that the same manors messuages lands tene- 
 ments and other hereditaments whatsoever so as 
 aforesaid to be given granted sold aliened or devised 
 do not exceed in the whole the clear yearly value of 
 One hundred marks by the year. The Statute of 
 lands and tenements not to be put into Mortmaine or 
 any other Statute act ordinance provision or restraint 
 or any other cause matter or thing whatsoever to the 
 contrary whereof in anywise notwithstanding. And 
 further we will and by these presents for us our heirs 
 and successors do grant to the said Master Wardens 
 and Commonaltie of the Misterie of Cutlers of London 
 and their successors. That they and their successors 
 shall and may have one honest and discreet person in 
 manner and form hereafter in these presents to be 
 chosen and named which shall be and be called the 
 Clerk of the said Commonaltie and Misterie of Cutlers 
 of London. And we have assigned constituted made 
 named and ordained. And by these presents DO 
 assign constitute make name and ordain our well 
 beloved Subject Thomas Jadwyn to be the first and 
 present Clerk of the said Commonaltie and Misterie 
 of the Cutlers of London to continue in the said 
 Office during the term of his natural life except he 
 shall be removed by the Master Wardens and Assis- 
 tants for the time being or the greater part of them 
 for evil government or misbehaviour or for any other 
 reasonable cause and that from time to time and at all 
 
 Clerk to be 
 chosen. 
 
62 
 
 The Charier of 
 
 All benefits 
 heretofore 
 granted to 
 continue for 
 ever 
 
 times after the death or removing of the said Thomas 
 Jadwyn the Master Wardens and Assistants of the 
 said Commonaltie and Misterie for the time being or 
 the greater part of them shall and may chuse and 
 make one other discreet person to be the Clerk of the 
 said Commonaltie and Misterie. And that the said 
 Clerk now named as also he which shall be chosen 
 and made to be Clerk of the said Commonaltie and 
 Misterie after the death or removing of the said 
 Thomas Jadwyn as is aforesaid shall and may exercise 
 and enjoy the said office of Clerk of the said Com- 
 monaltie and Misterie during the good will and 
 pleasure of the Master Wardens and Assistants of 
 the said Commonaltie and Misterie for the time 
 being or the greater part of them in manner as afore- 
 said. And that every one of the Clerks so named or 
 to be named and appointed from time to time as 
 aforesaid shall take his or their corporal oaths before 
 the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said 
 Commonaltie and Misterie for the time being or the 
 greater part of them well and truly to execute the 
 Office of Clerk of the said Commonaltie and Misterie 
 in all things appertaining to the said Office according 
 to his skill and knowledge. And so from time to time 
 as often as the case shall require. 
 
 AND further of our more special grace certain 
 knowledge and mere motion we have granted and 
 confirmed and by these presents for us our heirs and 
 successors we do ratify and confirm unto the said 
 Master Wardens and Commonaltie of the said Com- 
 monaltie and Misterie of Cutlers of London and their 
 successors all and all manner of liberties franchises 
 immunities exemptions jurisdictions messuages lands 
 tenements and hereditaments whatsoever which the 
 said Master Wardens and Commonaltie or any of 
 their predecessors by what name or names soever or 
 by virtue of what incorporation soever now have hold 
 use or enjoy or heretofore have had. held used or 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 63 
 
 enjoyed by reason or force of any the Charters or 
 Letters Patents of any of our Progenitors or Pre- 
 decessors Kings or Queens of England by any manner 
 of means heretofore made or granted or by any other 
 means right title use custom or prescription heretofore 
 had used or accustomed although the same or any of 
 them heretofore have not been used or have been 
 abused evil used or discontinued. And although the 
 same or any of them heretofore have been forfeited 
 or lost. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same 
 messuages lands tenements liberties priviledges fran- 
 chises jurisdictions and other the premises before by 
 these presents granted unto the said Master Wardens 
 and Commonaltie of Cutlers of London and their 
 successors for ever to be held of us our heirs and suc- 
 cessors by such the same and the like rents services 
 and sums of money as the same were formerly holden 
 and not otherwise. WHEREFORE we will and by 
 these presents do strictly charge and command for us 
 our heirs and successors that the said Master Wardens 
 and Commonaltie of the said Commonaltie and Mis- 
 terie of Cutlers of London and their successors shall 
 and may have hold and enjoy for ever all the said 
 messuages lands tenements liberties authorities juris- 
 dictions and franchises aforesaid according to the 
 tenor and effect of these our Letters Patents without 
 the let or hindrance of us our heirs or successors or of 
 any Justices Sheriffs Bailiffs or other Officers or 
 Ministers of us our heirs or successors whatsoever 
 willing that neither the said Master Wardens Com- 
 monaltie nor any of them by reason of the premises 
 or any of them by us our heirs or successors. The 
 Justices Sheriffs Escheators or other Bailiffs or 
 Ministers of us our heirs or successors whatsoever be 
 thereof hindred molested vexed grieved or in anywise 
 troubled. Willing and by these presents charging and 
 commanding as well our Treasurer Chancellor and 
 Barons of our Exchequer at Westminster and other 
 
64 
 
 The Charter of 
 
 To have the 
 government 
 of all using 
 the Trade. 
 
 the Judges and Justices of us our heirs and successors 
 as also our Attorney and Solicitor-General for the time 
 being and every of them and all other our Officers and 
 Ministers whatsoever that neither they nor any of 
 them do prosecute or continue or cause to be prose- 
 cuted or continued any writ or summons of Quo 
 Warrants or any other writt writts or process 
 whatsoever against the said Master Wardens and 
 Commonaltie or any of them for any cause thing matter 
 offence claim or usurpation or any of them by them 
 or any of them claimed attempted used had or 
 usurped before the making these presents. Willing 
 also that the said Master Wardens and Commonaltie 
 or any of them by any of the Justices Officers or 
 Ministers aforesaid in or for the due use claim or 
 abuse of any liberties, franchises or jurisdictions 
 within the said City of London or Suburbs thereof 
 before the making of these presents be not molested 
 troubled or hindered or compelled to answer to them or 
 any of them. AND further we will and by these 
 presents for us our heirs and successors for the better 
 order rule and government of all and singular person 
 and persons which now do use or hereafter shall use 
 the Misterie Art or Trade of Cutlers within the said 
 City of London or Suburbs thereof and within three 
 miles of the same City. We do give and grant to 
 the said Master Wardens and Commonaltie of the 
 Commonaltie and Misterie of Cutlers of London and 
 their successors that the said Master Wardens and 
 Assistants of the said Commonaltie and Misterie for 
 the time being for ever hereafter shall have the over- 
 sight view search correction and government of all and 
 singular persons whatsoever occupying exercising or 
 using the said Misterie Art or Trade of Cutlers within 
 the said City of London and Suburbs thereof and 
 within three miles of the said City as well within 
 places exempt and not exempt. And shall have power 
 and authority by virtue of these presents according to 
 
The Cutlers'' Company 
 
 65 
 
 the laws of the Realm to punish and correct or cause 
 to be punished and corrected Offenders for their 
 offences deceits falsehoods abuses or misdemeanours 
 in the false insufficient or deceitful occupation or use 
 of the Misterie Art or Trade of Cutlers aforesaid 
 according to their demerits in that behalf. WHERE- 
 FORE we will and by these presents for us our heirs 
 and successors DO strictly charge and command all 
 singular Mayor Justices Sheriff Constables and all 
 other the Officers Ministers and Subjects of us our 
 heirs and successors whatsoever. That they and 
 every of them be aiding helping assisting and com- 
 forting to the said Master Wardens and Assistants of 
 the Commonaltie and Misterie of the Cutlers of 
 London aforesaid for the time being and ever}- of them 
 to do enjoy have and execute all and singular thing 
 and things whatsoever by us before by these presents 
 granted unto the said Master Wardens and Com- 
 monaltie aforesaid and every or any part and parcel 
 thereof according to the tenor and true meaning of 
 these presents although express mention of the true 
 yearly value or certainty of the premises or any of 
 them or of any other gifts or grants by us or any of 
 our Progenitors or Predecessors to the foresaid Master 
 Wardens and Commonaltie heretofore made in these 
 presents is not made or any statute act ordinance 
 provision proclamation or restraint to the contrary 
 hereof had made ordained or provided or any other 
 thing cause or matter whatsoever in anywise notwith- 
 standing. 
 
 IN WITNESS whereof we have caused these 
 our Letters to be made Patents. WITNESS ourself 
 at Westminster &c., the Eigth day of July in the 
 Fifth year of our Reign of England France and 
 Ireland and of Scotland the Fortieth. 
 
 By Writ of Privy Seal 
 
 CARTWRIGHT. 
 
 To punish all 
 ' offenders. 
 
APPENDIX B.— A Copy of the 
 
 Of the Cutlers' Company, approved by Sir Nathan Wright, Lord 
 Keeper of the Great Seal of England, the Lord High Treasurer 
 Godolphin, and the Chief Justices Sir John Holt and Sir Thomas 
 Trevor, on the 20th March, in the third year of the reign of Queen 
 Anne, 1703. 
 
 all k \a^m 
 
 these Presents 
 shall come We SIR NATHAN 
 WRIGHT Knight Lord Keeper of the 
 Great Seal of England SYDNEY LORD 
 GODOLPHIN Lord High Treasurer of 
 England SIR JOHN HOLT Knight Lord 
 Chief Justice of Her Majesty's Court of 
 Queen's Bench and SIR THOMAS 
 TREVOR Knight Lord Chief Justice of 
 Her Majesty's Court of Common Pleas at 
 Westminster send Greeting 
 
 ^^J^CVCCl^ in a Statute made in a Parliament 
 holden at Westminster the Five and Twentieth day of 
 January in the Nineteenth Year of the Reign of King 
 Henry the Seventh made and ordained for the weal 
 and profit of his Subjects 
 
 IT WAS (amongst other things) ORDAINED 
 established and enacted That no Master Wardens and 
 Fellowships of Crafts or Misteries nor any of them 
 nor any rulers of Guilds or Fraternities should take 
 
 Recitals 
 
68 
 
 The Fundamental Laws of 
 
 upon them to make any acts or ordinances nor to 
 execute any acts or ordinances by them heretofore 
 made in disinheritance or diminution of the King's 
 prerogative or of other nor against the common 
 profit of the people unless the same acts and ordi- 
 nances be examined and approved by the Chancellor 
 or Treasurer of England or Chief Justices of either 
 Bench or three of them or before the Justices of 
 Assize in the Circuits or progress in the Shire where 
 such acts or ordinances be made upon pain of forfeiture 
 of Forty pounds for every time they do the contrary. 
 As by the same Statute more plainly doth and may 
 appear. 
 
 KNOW YE that John Woodcroft Master of the 
 Worshipful Company of Cutlers of the City of London 
 and John Frith and Nicholas Levett Wardens of the 
 said Company of Cutlers having divers orders 
 ordinances and oaths by them ordained devised and 
 made for the conservation good rule and government 
 of their Mystery and Fellow^ship and afterwards 
 assented confirmed and agreed unto in and by a 
 general Court or Assembly of the said Master Wardens 
 and Commonalty of the Mystery of Cutlers of London 
 aforesaid and intending to put the same in execution 
 for the better rule good order and government of such 
 persons as now do or hereafter shall use and exercise 
 the said Mystery or any part thereof and for the better 
 foresight and reformation to be had and used amongst 
 them not willing in anywise to infringe the said Act of 
 Parliament but desirous in all things to have the same 
 duly observed and kept and desiring also to have the 
 aforesaid orders ordinances and oaths to be from time 
 to time executed amongst the Freemen of the said 
 Company now using or exercising or which shall use 
 or exercise the Art or Mystery of a Cutler within the 
 City of London and Westminster or within three miles 
 of the said City according to the tenor of the said 
 Company's Charters made and granted to them by his 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 6g 
 
 most sacred Majesty King James the First. And 
 thereupon they have exhibited their Petition unto us 
 with a book annexed containing certain ordinances 
 constitutions orders and oaths which they humbly 
 desire may be observed and duly kept and put in 
 execution and humbly beseeching us that all and every 
 the said ordinance constitutions orders and oaths we 
 would peruse and examine and them and every of 
 them correct reform and amend and also allow ratify 
 and approve after due manner and form as by the said 
 Act of Parliament is required. KNOW YE that we 
 will perceiving the said supplication to be good and 
 acceptable by authority of the said Act of Parliament 
 and at and by the desire of the said Master Wardens 
 and Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company. 
 All and every the said orders ordinances constitutions 
 and oaths have examined approved and allowed. 
 WHICH said orders ordinances constitutions and 
 oaths are as follows viz. : — 
 
 ORDERS ORDINANCES CONSTITUTIONS Ordinances. 
 
 and OATHS made appointed and agreed upon by the 
 Master Wardens and Assistants of the Commonalty 
 of the Mystery of Cutlers of London at a full Court 
 of Assistants or general assembly by them held for 
 that purpose in their Common Hall situate in the 
 Parish of St. Michael Royal in London on Friday the 
 Twelfth day of February in the year of our Lord one 
 thousand seven hundred and two the First year of the 
 Reign of Our Sovereign Lady Ann Queen of England 
 &c. for the well ordering and governing of the said 
 said Society or Company of Master Wardens and 
 Commonalty of the Mystery of Cutlers of London and 
 the Trade and Mystery of a Cutler. And afterwards 
 ordained assented and agreed unto in and by a General 
 Court or Assembly of the said Master Wardens and 
 Commonalty of the Mystery of Cutlers of London 
 called and held in their said Common Hall on 
 
70 
 
 The Fundamental Laws of 
 
 To call and 
 hold Courts 
 of Assistants. 
 
 Thursday the Fifteenth day of April in the year of our 
 Lord one thousand seven hundred and three. 
 
 IMPRIMIS it is ordained that the Master and 
 Wardens of the Company of Cutlers for the time 
 being or the greater number of them. Whereof the 
 Master and one of the Wardens for the time being to 
 be always present when and as often as it shall seem 
 meet to them and at such fit and convenient place as 
 they shall think fit and proper for that purpose within 
 the City of London or Suburbs thereof shall or may 
 hold or keep Courts which shall be called Courts of 
 Assistants. And unto which Courts all the Assistants 
 for the time being shall be summoned. At which 
 Courts of Assistants the Master Wardens and Assis- 
 tants of the said Company for the time being 
 or the major part of them (whereof the Master and 
 one of the Wardens for the time being to be 
 present) shall and may hear all such controversies 
 and debates which shall or may happen concerning 
 the said Trade Art and Mystery or any part thereof 
 or amongst the members thereof touching or concern- 
 ing the said Trade or Mystery or any part thereof and 
 shall and may there also bind and admit Apprentices 
 to their respective members and make free of their 
 Company such as have served Apprenticeships or 
 otherwise as by the ordinances of this Company they 
 are appointed and shall and may also at such Courts 
 debate hear and order such lawful acts and things 
 which shall at any or times appear to the said Master 
 Wardens and Assistants or the greater part of them 
 fit convenient and lawful touching or concerning the 
 said Trade Art or Mystery or relating thereto or for the 
 better ordering or governing of the same. And the said 
 Master Wardens and Assistants or the greater part of 
 them (whereof the Master for the time being and one 
 of the Wardens to be always present) shall and may 
 yearly and every year keep and hold four Quarter 
 Courts which Quarter Courts shall be held and kept 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 71 
 
 upon some day within one month next following after 
 the Feasts of the Annunciation of our Blessed Virgin 
 Mary the Nativity of St. John Baptist Saint Michael 
 the Archangel and the Birth of our Lord Christ at the ; 
 election of the Master and Wardens of the said Com- j 
 pany for the time being or the greater number of them ; 
 unto which Courts the Master and Wardens shall j 
 summon the members of the said Company at one or \ 
 more of which Courts all the ordinances and orders of \ 
 the said Company made or to be made or so many of j 
 them as shall be held necessary shall be distinctly and ; 
 audibly read before the Members of the said Company j 
 who shall be there assembled the better to acquaint 
 the said Members with the same. 
 
 ALSO it is ordained that every person of the said 
 Company that shall be hereafter elected and chosen 
 into the place or office of Master of the said Company 
 shall before he take upon him to execute the same 
 place give good security by Bond or otherwise as the 
 Master and Wardens and Court of Assistants of the 
 said Company for the time being shall direct and 
 appoint of the penalty of Five hundred pounds with 
 condition not to waste mis-spend or embezzle any of 
 the monies goods or writings which shall be delivered 
 to him or any way come to his hands belonging to the 
 said Company but to deliver and pay the same money 
 goods and writings to the Master of the said Company 
 for the time being when thereunto required by order 
 made at any Court of Assistants to be held for the said 
 Company or otherwise from time to time to pay and 
 dispose of the same as the Court of Assistants shall 
 direct. And that no Master shall be sworn into his 
 Office until such security be given as aforesaid. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that every person of 
 the said Company that shall be hereafter elected and 
 chosen into the place or office of Rentor of the said 
 Company shall before he take upon him to execute the 
 same place give good Security by Bond or otherwise 
 
 Master to 
 give security. 
 
 Rentor 
 Warden to 
 eive securitv. 
 
72 
 
 The Fundamental Laws of 
 
 Old Master 
 and Renter 
 to account by 
 the 20th 
 October 
 yearly. 
 
 as the Master and Wardens and Court of Assistants 
 of the said Company for the time being shall direct 
 and appoint of the Penalty of Five hundred pounds 
 with condition not to waste mis-spend or embezzle 
 any of the money goods or writings which shall be 
 delivered to him or any way come to his hands 
 belonging to the said Company but to deliver and pay 
 the same monies goods and writings to the Master of 
 the said Company for the time being when thereunto 
 required by order made at any Court of Assistants to 
 be held for the said Company or otherwise from time 
 to time pay and dispose of the same as the Court of 
 Assistants shall direct. And that no person shall be 
 admitted into the said office place or employment until 
 such security given as aforesaid. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that by the Twentieth 
 Day of the Month of October next after every election 
 of new Master and Rentor the last Master and Rentor 
 and every of them respectively shall give a just true 
 and perfect account in writing unto such person or 
 persons of the Court of Assistants as shall be ap- 
 pointed by the Master Wardens and Assistants or the 
 greater number of them Auditors for that purpose of 
 for and concerning all and all manner of jewels plate 
 money linnen charters writings books and evidences 
 and of all other goods and utensils profits and com- 
 modities whatsoever appertaining to the said Company 
 and which did at any time or times come to his their 
 or any of their hands charge or custody. And shall 
 deliver to the said new Master all and every the said 
 plate jewels and money together with his or their key 
 or keys and all other things whatsoever then being or 
 remaining in his or their hands custody or possession 
 or which he or they shall be justly charged to have 
 received or possessed to the use of the said Company 
 or otherwise appertaining or belong to the said Com- 
 pany by any ways or means whatsoever without 
 embezzlement or waste or in default thereof that the 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 73 
 
 security so by him given shall forthwith be put in suit 
 against him. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that the said Com- 
 pany of Cutlers and their Successors for ever shall 
 have one or more chests with three locks and keys 
 thereunto belonging wherein shall be kept the 
 Common Seal of the said Company and all such 
 money plate jewels goods charters writings evidences 
 ordinances and all other things whatsoever belonging 
 to the said Company which chest or chests shall also 
 stand and remain at their Common Hall or such other 
 convenient place or places as shall seem meet and 
 convenient to the Master Wardens and Court of 
 Assistants for the time being or the greater number of 
 them and that the said Master for the time being and 
 the two eldest Assistants that have been Masters shall 
 each of them keep one of the said keys and if either 
 the present Master or the two eldest Assistants shall 
 happen to be sick or shall travel far out of the City of 
 London to dwell or sojourn or otherwise shall absent 
 him or themselves for the space of one month then in 
 such case every such Master and Assistant respectively 
 shall and may intrust and leave his or their key or 
 keys with some other person or persons being of the 
 number of the Assistants so that the said Company's 
 affairs may not suffer prejudice for want thereof on 
 pain to forfeit and pay for every such default the sum 
 of Thirteen shillings and four pence of current money 
 to and for the use of the Company and in default of 
 payment thereof to be recovered and levied in such 
 manner as is hereinafter mentioned. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that the Common 
 Seal of the said Company shall not be set or put to 
 any Leases Demises Annuities Grants or Gifts of 
 what nature or kind soever of any house or houses 
 lands tenements or other thing or things whatsoever 
 appertaining or belonging or which ought to belong by 
 purchase donation or otherwise to the Company of 
 
 Chest to be 
 kept for Seal 
 Master and 
 Wardens to 
 keep the Seal. 
 
 Not to put 
 Seal without 
 order — Fine 
 ^500 and 
 disability. 
 
74 
 
 The Fmidamental Laws of 
 
 To chuse new 
 Master on 
 Trinity Eve 
 or within 7 
 days. 
 
 Cutlers aforesaid or to any Deed Obligation Bills or 
 Specialities for any sum or sums of money without an 
 order in writing first had and made by the Court of 
 Assistants for that purpose. And that every person in 
 whose power or custody the said Common Seal shall 
 be and that shall sett or putt or consent to sett or putt 
 the same to any deed or writing contrary to the ordi- 
 nances aforesaid or the true meaning hereof shall for 
 every such offence forfeit and pay to the Master 
 Wardens and Commonalty of the said Company for 
 the time being for the use of the said Company the 
 sum of Five hundred pounds to he in default of pay- 
 ment thereof recovered or levied in such manner as is 
 hereinbefore mentioned and shall from thenceforth be 
 amoved discharged and disabled from being either 
 Master Warden or Assistant of the said Company for 
 ever. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that from henceforth 
 yearly for ever it shall be lawful for the Master 
 Wardens Assistants and Livery of the said Company 
 of Cutlers or the more part of them for the time being 
 and their Successors from time to time to assemble and 
 meettogether at their Common Hall or other convenient 
 place within the City of London or the Liberties 
 thereof upon the Eve of the Holy Trinity yearly and 
 every year for ever or on some other convenient day 
 as shall be thought expedient within seven days then 
 following. And shall proceed to the election of one 
 Master and two Wardens to serve as Master and 
 Wardens for the next ensuing year. Which election 
 or choice shall be in manner following First The 
 Master Wardens and Assistants for the time being or 
 the greater number of them shall agree upon and 
 present to the Livery there assembled the names in 
 writing of two or three meet and sufficient persons 
 being of the number of the then present Master 
 Wardens and Assistants of the said Company after 
 which the said Master Wardens Assistants and Livery 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 75 
 
 for the time beinf^ or so many of them as shall be 
 there present shall by majority of voices upon the 
 question put or by their marks with a pen upon paper 
 where their names are set elect and chuseone of those 
 two or three persons so presented in writing to be 
 Master of the said Company of Cutlers for one whole 
 year from thence next following and until another be 
 elected chosen and sworn into the said Office of 
 Master. And for more orderly proceeding the youngest 
 Liveryman then present is to give the first voice or 
 mark or score with a pen for such of the persons in 
 competition as himself best liketh and so ascending 
 orderly to every other Liveryman Assistant Warden 
 and Master until every one hath given his voice or 
 mark. And in case it shall happen that the voices or 
 marks so given or made shall be found to be even in 
 number that is to say one not exceeding the other that 
 then the present Master shall have a double voice or 
 mark for the final determination of the election of the 
 new Master which person so elected and chosen shall 
 upon the first Thursday after Midsummer Day then 
 next following or within seven days of the same take 
 the Oath of Master hereafter in these presents men- 
 tioned and shall rule and govern as Master of the said 
 Company of Cutlers for one whole year and until 
 another Master be in like manner elected chosen and 
 sworn into the said Office. And if any person so 
 elected and chosen Master of the said Company shall 
 refuse or delay to hold and execute the said place of 
 Master of the said Company and shall refuse or 
 delay to take the oath for that purpose hereafter 
 in these presents expressed and ordained and shall 
 have no reasonable or just let or impediment that 
 may hinder him so to do. That then the said person 
 so refusing or delaying shall forfeit and pay to the then 
 Master Wardens and Commonalty the sum of Twenty 
 pounds of lawful money of England to be employed 
 to and for the use of the said Company and to be 
 
 Mode of 
 Election. 
 
 Oath day 
 first Thursday 
 after 
 
 Midsummer 
 Day or within 
 7 days (now 
 Wednesday) 
 
 Fine on 
 refusal to 
 
76 
 
 The Fundamental Laws of 
 
 To chuse 
 Upper 
 Warden 
 after Master 
 chosen. 
 
 levied and recovered as is hereinafter mentioned. 
 And the Master Wardens and Assistants for the time 
 being shall forthwith proceed to a new choice of some 
 other meet person to the said place as before in the 
 case of the Master's refusal and upon refusal to hold 
 or be sworn as aforesaid shall from time to time 
 proceed as is before directed. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that immediately after 
 the electien of every new Master as aforesaid the last 
 Master and Wardens Assistants of the said Company 
 or the greater number of them for the time being in 
 like manner as is before directed shall present to the 
 Livery there assembled the names in writing of two 
 or three meet persons of the then Wardens and 
 Assistants out of which two or three pereons so pre- 
 sented the Master Wardens and Assistants for the 
 time being or the greater number of them and so 
 many of the Livery of the said Company as shall be 
 then present shall elect and chuse by their most voices 
 or marks as aforesaid one of the said persons so 
 nominated to be first or upper Warden of the said 
 Company of Cutlers for one year from thence next 
 ensuing the youngest of the Livery then present 
 giving the first voice or mark and so ascending to the 
 eldest as aforesaid. And if it shall happen that the 
 number of voices or marks given or marked on the 
 behalf of the several persons so presented as aforesaid 
 to be even and equal. THEN the last Master shall 
 have a double voice or mark for the final determination 
 thereof as is aforesaid. WHICH person so elected 
 and chosen shall also take the oaths for such Office 
 appointed as aforesaid. And being sworn shall con- 
 tinue in the said place and office for one whole year 
 and until election be made of some other person to 
 serve in the said place or office and be thereunto sworn 
 as aforesaid. And if any person or persons so elected 
 and chosen first or upper Warden shall refuse or delay 
 to hold or execute the said first or upper Warden of 
 
The Cutters'' Company. 
 
 11 
 
 the said Company or shall refuse or delay to take the 
 Oath for that purpose hereafter in these presents 
 expressed and ordained and shall have no reasonable 
 or just let or impediment that may hinder him or them 
 so to do. That then the said person or persons so 
 refusing or delaying shall forfeit and pay to the then 
 Master Wardens and Commonalty the sum of Ten 
 pounds of lawful money of England to be employed 
 to or for the use of the said Company and to be levied 
 and recovered as is hereinafter mentioned. AND the 
 said Master Wardens Assistants and Livery for the 
 time being forthwith shall and may proceed to a new 
 choice of some one other meet person to the said place 
 as before in case of the Warden's refusal and upon 
 refusal to hold or be sworn as aforesaid shall from time 
 to time proceed as is before directed. 
 
 ALSO IT is further ordained That immediately 
 after the election of the upper Warden as aforesaid 
 the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the greater 
 number of them for the time being shall nominate two 
 or three of the present Wardens or Assistants such 
 as to themselves shall seem meet out of which 
 numbers the Master Wardens Assistants and 
 Livery or so many of them as shall be there present 
 shall elect and chuse in manner aforesaid one meet 
 person to be under Warden of the said Company of 
 Cutlers and who shall remain in the said Office of 
 under Warden for one whole year then next ensuing 
 and from thence until another be chosen and sworn in 
 like manner into the said office and no longer. But 
 if any person or persons so elected or chosen shall 
 refuse or delay to take upon him or them the execution 
 of the said office or to take the oath in that behalf 
 appointed in these presents within the time before 
 limited and shall have no just or reasonable let or im- 
 pediment that may hinder him or them so to do that then 
 every such person or persons so refusing or delaying 
 shall forfeit and pay to the Master the sum of Ten 
 
 Fine. 
 
 To chuse 
 
 Under 
 
 Warden. 
 
 Fine. 
 
78 
 
 The Fundamental Laws of 
 
 Present 
 Assistants to 
 remain. 
 
 Old Master 
 and Wardens 
 to continue 
 Assistants. 
 
 pounds of lawful money of England to be employed 
 to and for the use of the said Company and to be 
 levied and recovered as is hereinafter mentioned. 
 AND then the Master Wardens Assistants and Livery 
 so many of them as shall be there present of the said 
 Company lor the time being shall and may forthwith 
 proceed to another election or elections of such other 
 person or persons in his or their stead and shall in all 
 respects from time to time further proceed in like 
 manner as is before appointed. 
 
 AND for that it is convenient and necessary that 
 the Master and Wardens of the said Company shall 
 always be sufficiently assisted with the advice and 
 good counsel of the most grave and experienced persons 
 of the said Company IT IS therefore hereby further 
 ORDAINED that all persons who do at this present 
 bear or shall hereafter bear or execute the office or 
 place of Assistants of the said Company shall from 
 henceforth be and remain Assistants to the Master and 
 Wardens for the time being and of the Common 
 Counsel of the said Company. But however shall be 
 and are hereby made amoveable from time to time by 
 the said Master Wardens or Assistants or the greater 
 number of them from being one of the Assistants of 
 the said Company at the will and pleasure of the said 
 Master Wardens and Assistants or the greater number 
 of them who are hereby empowered so to do from time 
 to time and to elect and chuse others in their places 
 and steads as unto them or the greater number of 
 them shall seem most conducible to the welfare and 
 good government of the said Society. 
 
 AND it is hereby further ORDAINED that the 
 new Master and Wardens of the said Company and 
 such others as shall hereafter be Master and Wardens 
 when others shall be chosen in their rooms shall con- 
 tinue Assistants to the then Master and Wardens and 
 of the Common Counsel of the said Company until 
 they shall happen to die or be removed from being 
 
The Cutlers' Company, 
 
 7^ 
 
 Assistants by the said Master Wardens and Assistants 
 or the greater number of them as is before mentioned. 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that the Master 
 Wardens and Assistants of the said Company of 
 Cutlers for the time being or the greater number of 
 them shall and may from time to time hereafter 
 elect and make choice of such of the most able and 
 sufficient persons of the said Company as they or the 
 greater number of them shall think fit to be Assistants 
 to the said Master and Wardens and of the Common 
 Counsel of the said Company and that every person 
 and persons so chosen as aforesaid shall before he or 
 they take upon him or them such office or place of an 
 Assistant or sit in any Court of Assistants take his 
 and their several corporal Oaths before the said Master 
 Wardens and Assistants for the time being or the 
 greater number of them to be administered by the 
 Clerk of the said Company for the time being accord- 
 ing to the form hereafter in these presents for that 
 purpose expressed and that every person so chosen to 
 be an Assistant after his being sworn shall pay the 
 usual and accustomary sum of Five pounds for the 
 use of the Company and also the usual fees to the 
 Clerk and Beadle of the said Company for their 
 attendance and if any person or persons so chosen 
 and elected Assistants to the said Master and Wardens 
 shall refuse and delay to hold and execute the said 
 place of an Assistant or shall refuse or delay to take 
 the oath for that purpose hereafter in these presents 
 expressed and ordained and shall have no reasonable 
 or just let or impediment that may hinder him so to 
 do. That then the said person so refusing or delaying 
 shall forfeit and pay to the then Master Wardens and 
 Commonalty the sum of Five pounds of lawful 
 English money to be employed to and for the use of 
 the said Company and to be levied and recovered as is 
 hereinafter mentioned. And the Master Wardens and 
 Assistants for the time being forthwith shall and may 
 
 Assistants to 
 be chosen. 
 
 Fine. 
 
do 
 
 the. Fundamental Laws 0/ 
 
 Renter to be 
 appointed. 
 
 Liverymen to 
 be admitted. 
 
 proceed to a new choice of some one or more meet 
 persons to be Assistants of the said Company in case 
 of refusal and upon refusal to hold or be sworn as 
 aforesaid shall proceed as is before directed. 
 
 ALSO it is further ORDAINED that immediately 
 upon or after the auditing the last Masters and Rentors 
 Accounts yearly and every year for ever hereafter it 
 shall and may be lawful to and for the said Master and 
 Wardens or any two of them the Master being always 
 one to elect and chuse one able and discreet person of 
 the said Company to be the Rentor of the said Com- 
 pany of Cutlers to receive and collect the rents of and 
 belonging to the said Company and who shall continue 
 in the said Office of Rentor for one whole year thence 
 next ensuing. But before every such person as shall 
 be so as aforesaid chosen into the said Office of 
 Rentor takes upon him the execution of the said Office 
 he shall give security to the Company as is herein- 
 before expressed and also pay to the Master of the 
 Company to the use of the said Company the accus- 
 tomary and usual fine of Four pounds and to the 
 Clerk his usual fees for bonds and other papers belong- 
 ing to the Rentor and if any person or persons so 
 elected and chosen shall refuse or delay to take upon 
 him the execution of the said Office and to give 
 security in this behalf appointed in these presents 
 within one month after he shall be so chosen into the 
 said Office and shall have no just or reasonable let or 
 impediment that may hinder him so to do. That then 
 every such person so refusing or delaying shall forfeit 
 and pay to the Master Wardens and Commonalty of 
 the said Company for the use of the said Company 
 the sum of Ten pounds of lawful money of England 
 to be recovered and received in manner as is herein- 
 after expressed. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that when and as 
 often as it shall be thought fit by the Master Wardens 
 and Assistants of the said Company for the time 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 8i 
 
 being or the greater number of them they shall and 
 may elect chuse and admit into the Livery or Cloathing 
 of the said Company such person and persons free of 
 the said Company as they shall think fit and meet. 
 Which person or persons so elected and chosen to be 
 of the Livery and Cloathing of the said Company 
 shall pay to the Master of the said Company for the 
 use of the said Company the usual and accustomary 
 fine of Ten pounds of good and lawful money of 
 England and to the Clerk and Beadle their usual fees 
 after which the Master and Wardens in order shall 
 give to such person and persons which shall be so 
 elected and chosen his and their hands saying these 
 words viz. : We admit you to the Society of Livery of 
 the Company of Cutlers. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that the Master and 
 Wardens of the said Company of Cutlers or any of 
 them with so many of the Assistants of the said 
 Company as shall from time to time be by the said 
 Master and Wardens or any two or more of them 
 nominated and appointed in that behalf shall and may 
 four times in the year yearly (or oftener if need shall 
 require) at convenient time and times in the day time 
 in a peaceable manner enter into the shops warehouses 
 and workhouses of any person or persons Members of 
 the said Commonalty using the said Mystery or that 
 do or shall make for sale or sell anything thereunto 
 appertaining and there search and survey the goods 
 wares and other things appertaining to the said 
 Mystery within the said City or Suburbs thereof or 
 any other place within three miles of the said City 
 and upon such search shall and may take an account 
 of the marks and workmanship of all and every such 
 person or persons making or working for sale selling or 
 which hereafter shall make or work for sale or sell 
 any manner of swords daggers rapiers hangers wood- 
 knives penknives razors or surgeons instruments 
 scissars small knives skeynes hilts pummels battle 
 F 
 
 Power to 
 search Mem- 
 bers' shops 
 for deceitful 
 wares, and to 
 fine the 
 offenders. 
 
82 
 
 The Fundamental Laivs of 
 
 All Members 
 to pay taxes 
 imposed by 
 Master 
 Wardens and 
 Assistants. 
 
 axes halberts or]any other weapons or blades or other 
 things belonging to the said Mystery. And in their 
 said searches they shall find any false or deceitful 
 work or workmanship or any other matter of misde- 
 meanour or abuse concerning the said Mystery within 
 the said City or Limits aforesaid that then it shall and 
 may be lawful to and for the said Master Wardens 
 and Assistants to assess some competent and reason- 
 able fine upon every such offender or offenders for 
 every such offence so it exceed not the sum of Forty 
 shillings for any one offence. To the end that 
 thereby others may be warned from making or selling 
 bad or deceitful wares to the prejudice of Her 
 Majesty's loving subjects. And if any such person or 
 persons using or that shall use or exercise the said 
 Mystery of Cutlers or thereunto belonging or apper- 
 taining within the Limits aforesaid by any manner of 
 means shall be found resisting disobedient to the said 
 Master Wardens or Assistants or any five four or more 
 of them contrary to the true intent and meaning of 
 these ordinances in any of their searches hereafter to 
 be made or in the due execution of any of these 
 ordinances or offices. That then it shall and may be 
 lawful for the said Master Wardens and Assistants or 
 the more part of them whereof the said Master and 
 one Warden to be there to assess and set some reason- 
 able pain on every such disobedient person or 
 persons so offending for every time that he or they 
 shall so offend the same several fines and pains to be 
 levied employed and bestowed to such uses as the 
 fines hereinbefore appointed are ordered and directed. 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that every person and 
 persons that now doth or hereafter shall use the said 
 Mystery or anything thereunto belonging being free of 
 the Company of the said Mystery within the Limits 
 aforesaid shall be contributory bear and pay unto the 
 said Master for the time being or to such person or 
 persons as he shall appoint and authorize to receive 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 83 
 
 the same all such reasonahle sums of money for taxes 
 tallages and other impositions as well ordinar}' as 
 extraordinary as shall he thought good and reasonable 
 to be assessed or imposed upon him or them by the 
 said Master Wardens and Assistants or the more part 
 of them for the time being for all such needful affairs 
 causes and things whatsoever of and for the honour 
 common state wealth and good of the said Company 
 of the said Mystery according to their abilities and 
 every one that shall refuse to pay and discharge the 
 same portion of money which shall be so reasonably 
 assessed rated or taxed upon shall forfeit and pay to 
 the Master Wardens and Commonalty such sum and 
 sums of money not exceeding Forty shillings as shall 
 be assessed for that purpose for every time that he or 
 they shall so refuse contrary to the true meaning of 
 this ordinance to be levied and disposed of in such 
 manner and to such uses as is hereinafter mentioned. 
 ALSO that every year yearly the Master Wardens 
 and Assistants of the said Society for the time being 
 or the greater number of them may elect and chuse 
 such five persons free of the said Company as they 
 shall think fit to be Stewards of the said Company 
 who shall have and bear the Title and Office of 
 Stewards of the said Company and shall find and 
 provide at their own mutual and equal costs and 
 charges one competent and sufficient Feast or Dinner 
 as the Master and Wardens and Court of Assistants 
 or the greater number of them for the time being shall 
 direct and appoint which shall be called the Stewards 
 Dinner and to be kept at the Common Hall of the said 
 Company or such other place as to the said Master 
 Wardens and Court of Assistants shall seem meet. 
 And always on such day yearly and every year as the 
 Lord Mayor of the City of London is or shall be 
 presented at Westminster commonly called Lord 
 Mayor's Day which Dinner or Feast shall be for the 
 Master Wardens Assistants and Livery of the said 
 
 Stewards to 
 be appointed. 
 
84 
 
 The Fundamental Laws of 
 
 Fine. 
 
 Quarterage. 
 
 Company unless it shall be otherwise thought fit and 
 ordered by the Master Wardens and Assistants or the 
 greater number of them. And in case any person or 
 persons free of the said Company shall refuse to hold 
 the said office or place of Steward or fail to make one 
 such competent and sufficient Dinner or Feast as 
 aforesaid or to bear and pay their proportionable 
 charges or shares thereof that then every of the said 
 persons which shall make default shall respectively 
 forfeit and pay to the Master Wardens and Common- 
 alty of the said Company the sum of Ten Pounds 
 current money as a Fine or Mulct for such his or their 
 refusal or neglect to be in default of payment thereof 
 recovered and levied in such manner as is hereafter 
 mentioned. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that every person and 
 persons members of the said Company making for sale 
 or selling anything belonging to the said Mystery 
 within the Limits aforesaid or otherwise being free of 
 the said Company shall upon Summons of the Beadle 
 attend on every Quarter Court Day that shall be kept 
 and held by the said Master Wardens and Assistants 
 or at any other convenient time at the discretion of 
 the Master Wardens at the Common Hall of the said 
 Company for the time being or such other person as 
 shall be appointed to receive the same. All their 
 Quarterage money which shall be due and payable by 
 them according to the proportions and rates following 
 that is to say — The Master Wardens Assistants and 
 Livery of the said Company and such as have been 
 Masters Wardens Assistants and Liverymen of the 
 said Company shall pay the sum of Twelve pence a 
 quarter. And all other persons Members of the said 
 Company shall pay the sum of Nine pence a quarter 
 towards the support and maintenance of the said 
 Company and defraying the necessary expenses of the 
 same and every person who shall refuse or delay to 
 pay the same Quarterage as aforesaid shall forfeit and 
 
The Cutlers' Co?npany. 
 
 «5 
 
 pay to the Master Wardens and Commonalty of the 
 said Company the sum of Three shilhngs and four 
 pence for every such default of payment thereof to be 
 recovered or levied in such manner as is hereinafter 
 mentioned. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that if any person or 
 persons of the said Mystery or which hereafter shall 
 be free thereof shall at any time or times hereafter 
 depart into the country and be resident and dwelling 
 out of the City of London or Liberties of the same. 
 That yet notwithstanding every such person or persons 
 so long as he shall continue his Freedom shall bear 
 and pay all manner of charges belonging to the said 
 Company as if he were dwelling and resident within 
 the Liberties aforesaid. And also shall bear such 
 Office in the said Compan}^ as he shall be called unto 
 or else pay such fines as by virtue of these ordinances 
 shall be imposed upon him for the same. 
 
 ALSO for the avoiding of divers abuses and deceits 
 heretofore used by divers persons in counterfeiting of 
 another man's mark to give credit to his own bad 
 wares wherebj' many of Her Majesty's Subjects are 
 oftentimes much abused and deceived and to the end 
 that every one may use his own proper mark by which 
 his wares may be known and receive commendations 
 or disgrace as he deserveth IT IS ORDAINED that 
 every person and persons members of the said Com- 
 monalty using or which shall hereafter use the said 
 Mystery or anything thereunto belonging within the 
 Liberties aforesaid shall within fourteen days after 
 admonition or warning to him or them in that behalf 
 given present and deliver to the Master and Wardens 
 of the said Mystery for the time being into their 
 Common Hall to be registered and recorded one pecu- 
 liar and selected mark solely and properly of itself and 
 for himself without adding thereunto any other man's 
 mark or any other mark in part or in all which said 
 mark and none other he shall strike and set upon the 
 
 All cliarges to 
 be paid. 
 
 Every Mem- 
 ber a Cutler 
 to use his own 
 mark, — and 
 to register it. 
 
86 TJie Fundamental Laws of 
 
 blade of every knife razor or instruments of what sorts 
 
 soever that he shall make or cause to be made to be 
 
 sold without diminution or addition in part or in all 
 
 (except such marks as are generally sent out of the 
 
 country). AND FURTHER to the end that every 
 
 man may know what wares are made within the limits 
 
 aforesaid every such person of the said profession 
 
 shall likewise strike upon his said blade a little above 
 
 his own mark the mark of a Dagger. And who so 
 
 oftendeth in any part of this ordinance shall forfeit 
 
 and pay for every offence to the Master Wardens and 
 
 Commonalty of the said Company to the use of the 
 
 said Company the sum of Forty shillings to be levied 
 
 and recovered as aforesaid. 
 
 J. e yQrd ALSO that no member of the said Commonalty 
 
 Cutler to buy using or exercising the Art Mystery or Trade of a 
 or sell foreign r^ , ^, , , ,, • • , r ^ 
 
 Hilts. Sword Cutler shall at any time or times hereafter buy 
 
 or contract for or cause to be bought or contracted for 
 directly or indirectly to or for his or their own use or 
 uses or to or for the use of any other person or persons 
 whatsoever to vend utter or sell again in his or their 
 shop or shops or elsewhere any manner of hilts pom- 
 mels lockets chapes sheaths scabbards or handles 
 which are or shall be ready made and sent or brought 
 over from beyond the seas upon the like pain of for- 
 feiture of Forty shillings of like money for every such 
 offence in that behalf unto the said Master Wardens 
 and Commonalty of the said Company and to be paid 
 by him or them so offending or in default thereof to be 
 sued for levied and recovered as herein is mentioned. 
 No Sword ALSO that no such person or persons using or 
 
 Cutler to exercising the Art Trade or Mystery of a Sword 
 
 employ any " •' •' 
 
 but such as Cutler do or shall employ or set on work or cause to 
 
 have passed 111 1 1 
 
 the rules of ^e employed or set on work any person or whatsoever 
 
 the Company. using the several Trades or Workmanships before 
 mentioned or any of them until such time as he or 
 they so to be employed or set on work shall have sub- 
 mitted to the orders rules and ordinances of the 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 S7 
 
 Company of Cutlers aforesaid upon pain of forfeiture of 
 Forty shillings of like money for every such offence 
 in that behalf unto the said Master Wardens and 
 Commonalty and to be paid by him or them so 
 offending or in default thereof to be sued for levied 
 and recovered as hereinafter is mentioned. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that the Master of 
 the said Company for the time being shall and may 
 at any place and time as he shall think fit give direc- 
 tions to the Clerk of the said Company for the time 
 being to bind Apprentice or Apprentices to any the 
 member or members of the said Company and make 
 free such person and persons as shall be approved of 
 by the Master with one or both the Wardens and two 
 or three more old Masters. And the said Master and 
 Wardens may call to their assistance such of the 
 Assistants of the said Company as to them shall seem 
 meet to treat commune and debate of such other 
 matters and things as shall appear reasonable and 
 convenient for the good of the said Company and to 
 report the same to the next Court of Assistants and 
 all persons whatsoever free of the said Company who 
 shall be warned by the Beadle or other Officer of the 
 said Company unto such meeting or meetings and 
 shall not appear accordingly every such person not 
 having a reasonable excuse to be approved by the 
 Master and Wardens or two of them shall forfeit and 
 pay to the Master Wardens and Commonalty of the 
 said Company for the use of the said Company the 
 sum of One shilling for every such default to be in 
 default of payment thereof recovered and levied in 
 such manner as is hereinafter mentioned. 
 
 ALSO for the better avoiding of disorders noise 
 and confusion in all Courts of Assistants IT IS 
 ORDAINED that every member of the said Court 
 shall always keep silence at the commandment or 
 desire of the Master. And when any matter or thing 
 shall be moved or debated in any Court it shall not be 
 
 Apprentices 
 to be bound. 
 
 Conduct of 
 business. 
 
The fundamental Laws of 
 
 Members to 
 meet in their 
 Livery 
 Gowns. 
 
 lawful for more than one to speak at one time to the 
 matter in debate and all debates propositions and dis- 
 courses shall be addressed to the Master or him who 
 shall possess the Chair onl}'. That so the opinion and 
 judgment of every member may be heard and known 
 without any interruption. And that every person 
 (except the Master who shall at any time speak as 
 aforesaid) shall speak bareheaded addressing his dis- 
 course to the said Master. And that if any Assistant 
 shall be commanded silence by the Master he or they 
 shall not speak again to that point in debate without 
 leave of the Master first obtained upon pain to forfeit 
 and pay to the Master Wardens and Commonalty of 
 the said Company for the use of the said Company 
 for every such offence One shilling to be in default of 
 payment thereof recovered or levied in such manner 
 as is hereinafter mentioned. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that all those who 
 shall be of the Livery or Cloathing of the said Com- 
 pany shall from time to time upon all summonses by 
 the Beadle meet at such time and place as shall be 
 appointed in their Livery Gowns and Hoods and shall 
 attend the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of this Honor- 
 able City upon every solemn occasion as is used and 
 accustomed by other Companies of London and all 
 and every person and persons of the Livery or Cloath- 
 ing aforesaid who shall make default of appearance at 
 the time and place to be appointed and in manner afore- 
 said or who shall depart from any such meeting or sei vice 
 without leave obtained of the Master of the said Com- 
 pany for the time being shall for every such default 
 forfeit and pay to the Master and Wardens and Com- 
 monalty of the said Company for the use of the said 
 Company the sum of Two shillings and six pence of 
 current money to be in default of payment thereof 
 recovered or levied as is hereinafter mentioned. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED. that from henceforth 
 no Member of this Company shall retain any person 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 
 
 89 
 
 or persoiis to be his Apprentice or Apprentices upon 
 likeing above one month but shall present the said 
 Apprentice or Apprentices before the Master of the said 
 Company for the time being to be examined and 
 allowed or refused and being allowed shall bind every 
 Apprentice and Apprentices by Indenture which Inden- 
 tures are to be made by the Clerk of the said Company 
 only who shall, also register in a Book to be kept for 
 that purpose every such Apprentice with the time 
 of his being bound and that every person who shall 
 present any Apprentice shall upon his being allowed 
 pay to the Master of the said Company the ancient 
 and customary sums of lawful money of England to 
 the use of the Company and to the Clerk and Beadb 
 of the said Company their usual fees. And that if 
 any person or persons Members ot the said Company 
 shall at any time or times hereafter bind or cause to 
 be bound to him or them any one or more Apprentice 
 or Apprentices by himself or any Scrivener or other 
 person or persons whatsoever other than by the Clerk 
 of the said Company for the time being. That then 
 every such person and persons so offending shall for 
 every such default forfeit and pay to the Master 
 Wardens and Commonalty of the said Company for 
 the use of the said Company the sum of Forty 
 shillings of lawful money of England to be in default 
 of payment thereof recovered or levied as is herein- 
 after mentioned. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that no person or 
 persons of the said Company of Cutlers shall permit 
 or suffer by his countenance or encouragement any 
 person or persons whatsoever not free of the said 
 City to use or exercise the said Art or Trade of a 
 Cutler nor admit any person not free of the City and 
 not having served Seven years to one of the Mystery 
 to be Co-partner with any such Member of the said 
 Company upon pain that every Member of the said 
 Company that shall do the contrary shall forfeit and 
 
 Members not 
 to keep an 
 Apprentice 
 without being 
 bound. 
 
 None but 
 Freemen to 
 use the Trade. 
 
$o 
 
 The I^uudaniental Laios of 
 
 Fines. 
 
 No Member 
 to behave 
 improperly. 
 
 pay to the Master Wardens and Commonalty of the 
 said Company for the time being for the use of the 
 said Company the sum of Twenty shillings a month 
 for every month that any member of the said Company 
 shall do the contrary which forfeitures to be in default 
 of payment thereof recovered or levied as is herein- 
 after mentioned, 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that every person 
 and persons that shall have served Seven years to a 
 Cutler and shall refuse to appear to any Court of 
 Assistants to be held for the said Company and to be 
 made free thereof being allowed fit so to be by the 
 Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company. 
 That then every such person so refusing shall forfeit 
 and pay to the Master Wardens and Commonalty of 
 the said Company for the use of the said Company 
 the sum of Ten shillings current money of England 
 for every default to be in default of payment thereof 
 recovered or levied as is hereinafter mentioned. 
 
 ALSO it is further ORDERED and ORDAINED 
 that no person or persons free of the said Company 
 shall at any time hereafter use any indecent speeches 
 unto or shall revile abuse or defame in words or other- 
 wise the Master Wardens and Assistants. But shall 
 at all times hereafter well and honestly demean him 
 and themselves and be of good will and behaviour 
 as well in their words as deeds and shall be tractable 
 conformable and obedient unto all and every the lawful 
 orders and ordinances already made or hereafter to be 
 made and lawfully ordained for the well ordering and 
 good government of the said Art Mystery and Trade 
 and of the Freemen of the said Company. Neither 
 shall any Freeman or Freemen of this Society at any 
 time or times hereafter be wilful obstinate or dis- 
 obedient unto or make any private assemblies or secret 
 attempts upon or against the Master Wardens and 
 Assistants of the said Company for the time being or 
 any of them to the hindrance or disturbance of the 
 
The Cutlers' Company. ^i 
 
 Penalties. 
 
 due execution of their said Offices or the violation or 
 breach of any of the lawful ordinances contained in 
 these presents. And whoever shall offend in any 
 part of this present ordinance shall forfeit and pay to 
 the Master Wardens and Commonalty of the said 
 Company for the time being to the use of the said 
 Society such reasonable sum and sums of money as 
 shall be imposed on him or them by the Master 
 Wardens and Assistants of the said Company for the 
 time being or the greater number of them assembled 
 in a Court of Assistants to be holden for the said 
 Society whereof the said Master for the time being to 
 be one for every such offence according to the quality 
 thereof so as the same exceed not the sum of Forty 
 shillings for every one offence to be in default of 
 payment thereof recovered or levied in such manner 
 as is hereinafter appointed. 
 
 ALSO it is hereby further ORDERED and Recovery of 
 ORDAINED that if any persons that now is or that 
 hereafter shall be free of the said Company or use or 
 exercise the Art of a Cutler within the Cities of 
 London or Westminster or the Suburbs or Liberties 
 thereof or within three miles of the said City shall after 
 notice and demand thereof made by appointment of 
 the Master and Wardens of the said Company or any 
 two of them for the time being delay defer or refuse to 
 pay any of the aforesaid respective penalties for- 
 feitures duties fines payments or sums of money so 
 as aforesaid in and by the above mentioned orders and 
 ordinances or any of them severally and respectively 
 forfeited rated set taxed imposed or assessed upon any 
 such persons for and concerning the premises or for 
 the offending breaking or disobeying any order or 
 ordinance herein expressed and comprised whereby 
 any such penalty forfeitures duties fines payments or 
 sums of money is or shall be forfeited rated taxed set 
 imposed or assessed upon such persons for such cause 
 or offence respectively. That then it shall and may 
 
92 
 
 The Fnndamentat Laws of 
 
 By action at 
 Law. 
 
 Assistants 
 may remit 
 Penalties. 
 
 A Clerk to be 
 chosen. 
 
 be lawful to and for the Master Wardens and Com- 
 monalty of the Mystery of the Cutlers of London to 
 sue for and recover the same by Action of Debt or 
 Action upon the Case to be brought for the same in 
 the name of the Master Wardens and Commonalty of 
 the Mystery of Cutlers of London in any of Her 
 Majesty's Courts of Record. Or it shall be lawful for 
 the said Master Wardens and Commonalty by order 
 of a Court of Assistants to levy and distrain for the 
 same by any Member Beadle or other Officer of the 
 said Society upon the goods and chattels of the 
 person or persons chargeable with the said penalties 
 or forfeitures payments or sums of money respectively 
 rendering the overplus thereof to the offender if any 
 there shall be. 
 
 AND it is further ORDERED that all fines 
 forfeitures and penalties herein imposed or set or 
 hereafter to be forfeited set or imposed for breach of 
 any of the orders or ordinances aforesaid or herein 
 contained shall and may be sued for and recovered 
 and levied by action of debt or of the case in any Court 
 of Record or by distress or distresses as from time 
 to time shall be thought fit and advised. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDERED and ORDAINED 
 that it shall and may be lawful to and for the Master 
 Wardens and Assistants of the Company for the time 
 being or the greater number of them whereof the 
 Master for the time being to be always one if they 
 in their good discretion shall see cause to compound 
 mitigate lessen remit or discharge any fine or fines 
 forfeitures penalties of any such person or persons 
 that shall at any time or times hereafter become 
 offenders or defaulters in any of the before mentioned 
 Bye Laws or any other Bye Laws and Ordinances of 
 this Company. 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that the Master 
 Wardens and Assistants of the said Company or the 
 
The Cutlers' Company. 93 
 
 greater number of them for the time being shall or 
 may from time to time when and as often as it shall 
 be expedient and necessary nominate elect and chuse 
 one discreet honest and sufficient Clerk for the entering 
 and registering of all decrees ordinances acts agree- 
 ments conclusions orders and things made or to be 
 made in their Assemblies and Courts concerning the 
 Trade Art or Mystery of the said Company of Cutlers 
 and to do and perform all other things which shall be 
 requisite and appertaining to the said office. And that 
 such person as is or shall be so chosen as aforesaid may 
 continue in the said office until he shall be removed by 
 the Master Wardens and Assistants for the time being ■ 
 or the greater number of them for evil government mis- 
 behaviour or for any other reasonable cause. Which 
 person so elected and named from time to time shall 
 take the Oath before the Master Wardens and Assis- 
 tants of the said Company for the time being or the 
 greater number of them as is hereafter in these 
 presents for that purpose mentioned. A Beadle to 
 
 ALSO IT IS ORDAINED that the Master and ^"^ '^°''^"- 
 Wardens of the said Myster}' (or the greater part of 
 them) together with the consent of the greater part of 
 the said Assistants of the said M}'stery for the time 
 being shall from time to time when and as often as to 
 them shall seem meet and expedient elect and chuse one 
 or more honest and meet person or persons to be their 
 Beadle or Beadles who shall be at all times attendant 
 upon the said Master Wardens and Assistants at their 
 lawful commandments. And also to summon and 
 warn all and every person and persons of the said 
 Mystery at their commandments for and concerning 
 the affairs and business of the said Mystery and to 
 make return to them of their answers in that behalf. Oaths. 
 
 AND FORASMUCH as by the Charter of Incor- 
 poration to the said Company of Cutlers granted 
 certain Oaths are enjoined to be administered to the 
 
94 
 
 The Fundamental Laws of the Cutlers' Company. 
 
 Master Wardens Assistants Livery Freemen and 
 Clerk of the said Company for the time being upon 
 their respective elections and admittance. 
 
 §U "^ifVtC^^ whereof WE the said the 
 LORD HIGH TREASURER and CHIEF 
 JUSTICES of either Bench have hereunto sub- 
 scribed our names and put our Seals the 20th day 
 of March Anno 1703. 
 
 GODOLPHIN. 
 J. HOLT. 
 THOMAS TREVOR. 
 
<.<»-*-i e/< 
 
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