Cloth Nor was this all: two other Companies began to compete in Rivalry of the trading business. In the year 1500 the Haberdashers, who the Haberhad been dealers in Haberdashery, with an industrial element, dashers and receive the title of Merchant Haberdashers and absorb the workers. Cappers and the Hatters. In 1527 the Shearmen and the Fullers, united under the title of the Cloth workers, find the last place among the twelve Greater Livery Companies. They obtain the right of search over denizens and aliens in all matters pertaining to their two Mysteries, to woollen cloths and fustians and all other goods used in the same, and for restraint of foreign workmen not of the Freedom, and rapidly extend the trading part of their business." Finally, it should be remembered that in the year 1503-43 the authority of the Crown over all Fellowships of Crafts or Mysteries was enforced by the Act which ordered that in future all ordinances of such Fraternities should be examined and approved, no longer by the Mayor as hitherto, but by the Chancellor, the Treasurer, and Chief Justices of either Bench or three of them, or by both the Justices of Assize, and further forbade Gilds to restrain their members from appealing to the King's Courts. By this Act the Crown definitely asserted its intention to control the trade and industries of the country and thereby rang the death-knell of that system of Town Economy which had been the chief feature of the Middle Age and the true foster-mother of the Gild System. 1 Herbert, ii. 537. 2 In 1515 a Shearman, having prospered in his business, got translated to the Drapers, to the indignation of his old Craft. This and other cases of translation were no doubt one reason for the desire of the Shearmen to obtain the Charter. Unwin, Industrial Organization, p. 44. The Merchant Taylors also quarrelled with the Haberdashers and Clothworkers on the question of apprentices, on the right of search, and the limits of their respective trades. Clode, i. 202-4. The whole question as to the right of powerful Companies to admit persons of other Crafts was raised again in the reign of Elizabeth; but though a Bill passed the Commons in 1575 forbidding translations, it was challenged in the House of Lords and never received the Royal Assent. Clode, i. 206. 3 19 Hen. VII, c. 7. APPENDICES TO VOL. I I. An Account of the chief original Documents up to 1603 in the possession of the Drapers' Company II A. Drapers in the Thirteenth Century II B. Evidences as to the functions of the Drapers in the PAGE 173 182 184 III A. Drapers in the Fourteenth Century up to the date of the first Charter, 1364 III B. Evidences as to the functions of the Drapers in the IV. Ordinances of the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Bethlehem, V. Stat. 37 Edward III, c. 5, 6. That merchants and artificers shall keep to their own merchandise and Mystery. Stat. 38 Edward III, c. 2, repealing same VI. Letters Patent of July 15, 38 Edward III, 1364 IX. Letters Patent of Henry VI. Charter of Incorporation. X. The Grant of the Farm of Aulnage. February 16, 17 Henry VI, 1439, New Style . 185 191 196 202 204 208 211 XI. Grant of Arms. March 10, 17 Henry VI, 1439, New XII. Inspeximus Charter of July 26, 6 Edward IV (1466), con- 229 232 233 XV. Letters Patent of Edward IV, promising that Shearmen shall have no Corporation. April 9, 19 Edward IV, 1479 XVI. Letters Patent of Richard III releasing the Drapers from all forfeitures for offences committed before February 21, 1484. May 21, 1 Richard III, 1484. XVII. The Oath Book or Book of Ordinances, originally drawn up in 1405 and entered in the book in 1460, with later additions up to 1531 XVIII. Transcript of the earliest Wardens' Accounts from 1414 to 1442 XIX. The First Drapers' Hall. Grant of site. XX A. Transcript of the Wardens' Accounts for the year XX B. Transcript of the earliest Renters' Accounts for the year 1481-2 XXI. List of Members of the Drapers' Company in 1493 · 1508-9 XXII B. Transcript of the Renters' Accounts for the year PAGE . 235 236 242 282 348 351 356 364 367 374 I AN ACCOUNT OF THE CHIEF ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS UP TO 1603 IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DRAPERS' COMPANY Charters. No. in Catalogue. IX. A. V. 287. A. V. 288. Ch. XXI. Letters Patent of 38 Ed. III, July 15, 1364. On vellum with seal. Transcribed in Appendix, vol. i, No. VI. There is also a copy of this at the Guildhall. Herbert's copy, i. 480, comes from the recital in the mandate commanding publication by the Sheriffs, which differs slightly from the Drapers' Patent, especially in saying that the four Wardens elected are to be sworn twice a year instead of once as in the original Patent. Charter of Incorporation, Nov. 30, 17 Hen. VI, 1438. On vellum with seal, which is broken. Transcribed in Appendix, vol. i, No. IX. Grant of the farm of the aulnage of cloth, 17 Hen. VI, February 16, 1439 (New Style). On vellum with seal. Transcribed in Appendix, vol. i, No. X. Grant of Arms, March 10, 17 Hen. VI, 1439 (New Style). Transcribed in Appendix, vol. i, No. XI. Book of Evidences A, No. 388, fo. 160 a. Confirmation of Drapers' Right of Search, 26 and 27 Hen. VI, 1447. Transcribed in Appendix, vol. i, No. XIII. Book of Evidences A, No. 388, fo. 160 a. Order of Court of Aldermen concerning Meteyards, October 6, 26 Hen. VI, 1446. Book of Evidences A, No. 388, fo. 160 a. Inspeximus Charter, 6 Ed. IV, 1466. On vellum with illuminated initial letter E and border, in good preservation, seal attached. Transcribed in Appendix, vol. i, No. XII. Book of Evidences A, No. 388, fo. 157 b. Letters Patent of April 9, 19 Ed. IV, 1479, promising that Shearmen shall not have incorporation. Transcribed in Appendix, vol. i, No. XV. |