An Historical Essay on the Livery Companies of London. Richard James Cheeswright

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       Richard James Cheeswright

      An Historical Essay on the Livery Companies of London

      Published by Good Press, 2020

       [email protected]

      EAN 4064066067243

Table of Contents

       Introduction.

       The Livery Companies of London.

       The Cutler's Company of London

       The Cutlers' Company.

       Fundamental Laws and Ordinances.

       Bye Laws

       Members of the Company

       Estates and Bequests of the Company

       Irish Estate

       Bequests to the Cutlers' Company

       Charities of the Company

       Exhibitions to Cambridge and Oxford.

       Property of the Company.

       Technical Education.

       Cutlers' Hall.

       APPENDIX A .

       A Copy of the Charter

       APPENDIX B .— A Copy of the

       Fundamental Laws and Ordinances

Introduction.

       Table of Contents

      SINCE I was first enrolled as a Liveryman of the 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 Ancient 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, I shall consider the time devoted to its composition as having been well employed, and esteem myself amply rewarded for my labour.

      R. J. CHEESWRIGHT.

       Croydon, 1881.

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The Livery Companies of London.

       Table of Contents

      "Individuals may form communities; but Institutions must found a Nation."

      Their Origin and Objects HE LIVERY COMPANIES OF LONDON hold a high rank in the history of the City of London. Their wealth, the important trusts reposed in them, the noble charities and foundation schools they support, and their connection with the civic constitution of the Metropolis, make them not only of primary interest to every Liveryman, 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 themselves, although usually conceived to be the reverse of entertaining, disclose various curious facts, illustrating the simplicity of early times, and of the infant state of commerce. The City Records, and the valuable Collections in the Corporation and ​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 Fraternities), 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 upholding the rights and privileges of the community against oppression and wrong.

      Gilds The Livery Companies of London derive their origin from the early associations termed Gilds, which were either Ecclesiastic or Secular.

      The Ecclesiastical Gilds were founded for Devotion and Almsdeeds.

      The Secular Gilds were formed for purposes of trade and almsdeed. The whole of these associations 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.

      Their Antiquity. 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 18, which were amerced as "adulterine," or set up without the King's License.

      Their Charters. 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