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1. THe Mercers (tho then Trading for the most part in Stuffs of the Na∣tive growth) were inabled to be a Com∣pany, and Permitted to Purchase twenty pounds per Annum Lands, in the seventeenth
Year of King Richard the second's Reign, Anno Domini, 1393.
2. The Grocers (tho at that time not brought to half the Perfection that now it is) called Pepperers, before were Incor∣porated, by the name, aforesaid, in the twentieth Year of King Edward the third Anno Dom. 1345.
3. The Drapers for the most part Woollen, were Incorporated in the seventeenth of King Henry the sixth, Anno 1430. hav∣ing been a Fraternity from the time that King Edward the third so earnestly pro∣moted the Woollen Manufacture by admit∣ting the Flemins and other Nations, the free use of Manual Operation within his Dominions. That so his Subjects might learn the Craft, and not be beholden to o∣ther Nations, to work the growth of our own Country, and pay them extraordinary Rates, by the advance of Exportation and Importation; for what might be otherwise ordered to the Advantage and Glory of our own Nation by setting many thousands of Poor people on work, otherwise incapa∣ble of getting whereby to subsist.
4. The Fishmongers (a Vocation no less advantagious to this Kingdom by their in∣couragement of the Fishing-Trade, of which hereafter I shall speak) were (in
former times) two Companies viz. Stock-Fishmongers, and Salt-Fishmongers; but in the beginning of the Reign of Henry the Eight, Anno 1509. did bear their Arms as at present they do, and in the twenty eight Year of the King, Anno 1536, were United and incorporated in one Body with∣out distinction.
5. The Goldsmiths (an Ancient Craft, so I may rightly term it, for formerly those that sold worked likewise their own Plate) were Incorporated and confirmed in the six∣teenth Year of King Richard the Second's Reign.
6. The Skinners had the Favour to be in∣corporated in the first Year of the Reign of King Edward the third, Anno 1327. and were made a Brotherhood in the eighteenth of King Richard the Second's Reign.
7. The Merchant-Taylors had their first pattent of Arms granted by Sr. Thomas Holne Clarencieux King at Arms, being then called Taylors, and Linnen Armourers, viz. in the twenty first of King Edward the fourth, Anno 1480. and since Incorporated by Henry the Seventh, by the name of Merchant Taylors. viz. in the seventeenth of his Reign, Anno 1501.
8. The Haberdashers, or Hurrers, for∣merly so called were Incorporated a Bro∣therhood
of St. Catharine in the twenty sixth of Henry the sixth, Anno 1447. and by the name of Merchants Haberdashers, con∣firmed in the seventeenth Year of Henry the seventh.
9. The Salters had their Arms, and as many suppose, were confirmed in the twen∣tieth Year of Henry the Eighth 1530. be∣ing a Company of good Esteem.
The Iron-Mongers had the Favour to be Incorporated in the third Year of King Ed∣ward the fourth, Anno 1462. at which time they were greatly increased, and the Mines of our Nation much improved.
11. The Vintners, formerly called Wine-Tunners were Incorporated in the Reign of King Edward the third, after he had Con∣quered all Normandy, and by that means ingrossed most of the French Vintage; But were not confirmed till the fifteenth of Henry the sixth.
12. The Cloath-Workers had their Arms granted by Thomas Benolt, Clarenceux, in the twenty second Year of Henry the Eighth, but the time of their Incorporation uncertain.
And thus in brief, have I declared the Original of the twelve Principal Compa∣nies, upon whom the greatest Stress of Trade depends, and by whose prudent Management, and Industry, Brittain Flou∣rishes,
and at this day lifts up her Head above her Neighbour Nations.
Those that remain, are these (whose names I shall only recite, because they tend not much to our purpose, the Dyers, Brew∣ers, Leathersellers, Pewterers, Barbers, Chy∣rugeons, Armourers, White-Bakers, Wax-Chan∣dlers, Tallow-Chandlers, Cutlers, Girdlers, Butchers, Sadlers, Carpenters, Cordwainers, Painters, Curriers, Masons, Plumbers, In∣holders, Founders, Embroiderers, Poulterers, Cooks, Coopers, Bricklayers, and Tylers, Bow∣yers, Fletchers, Blacksmiths, Joyners, Plai∣sterers, Weavers, Fruterers, Scriveners, Bo∣tlemakers, and Horners, Stationers, Marblers, Wool-packers, Farriers, Paviers, Lorimors, or Lorinors, Brown-Bakers, Wood-mongers, Ʋpholsterers, Turners, Glaziors, Clarks, Wa∣termen, Apothecaries, and Silk-Throwst∣ers.
All of these are Fraternities, and most of them Incorporated and have Charters of Priviledge, and large Immunities, tho in the days of our Forefathers, many of them were not known, not having brought their several Trades and Crafts to perfection, for many of which they were obliged to be beholden to Strangers; but the Natives of this Kingdom being▪ naturally Ripe-wited and of a toward Genius, soon
became Arts-Masters, and out-did their Teachers; so that at this day, no Nati∣on under Heaven can exceed them (if the Materials be alike) in all respects.
But having given the Reader an account of the Respective Companies, whose in∣dustry at home, improve to a Miracle, what is brought to them from distant Lands, I shall proceed to give a Relation of the Respective Merchants, whose Tra∣ffick by Sea Inriches the Land, whilest the Land finds them with wherewithal to drive on their Commerce with all Nations, from whence any Valuable Merchandise is brought. But before I Lanch altogether into the Ocean, I think it would be necessary to relate the Incorporation of the Mer∣chant of the Staple, who once were the chiefest boast, and most profitable to this Nation: Nor indeed less profitable to o∣thers, as France, Flanders, Holland, Saxony, and many other Countries, the chief Mart being Established at Calis, a little before taken from the French, by King Edward the third, the profit of our English Wool then chiefly obliging the Flemings to side with us, against their Potent Neigh∣bour.
The Merchants of the Staple having been a long while a Fraternity were In∣corporated
by the aforesaid King Edward the third, and by him indowed with ma∣ny large Priviledges, tho at this day the Woollen Manufacture, being greatly increased, every one buyes his Commodity where he can find it best Cheap, so that there remaining no fixed Staple, these Merchants are not now of such Repute as formerly.