The history and antiquities of Boston, and the villages of Skirbeck, Fishtoft, Freiston, Butterwick, Benington, Leverton, Leake, and Wrangle; comprising the hundred of Skirbeck, in the county of Lincoln. Including also a history of the East, West, and Wildmore fens, and copious notices of the Holland or Haut-Huntre fen ... sketches of the geology, natural history, botany, and agriculture of the district; a very extensive collection of archaisms and provincial words, local dialect, phrases, proverbs, omens, superstitions, etc. By Pishey Thompson. Illustrated with one hundred engravings.

154 THE SMALLER GUILDS.
The same MS. contains the following memorandum:"That ther be divers other grauntes, licences, and chartures,. pardon made by the
Kinges progenitors to the severall incorporacons of the said fyve Guilds, remaining in the
custody of the sayd Maior and burgesses, who have received commaundement on the Kinge's
Maties behalfe, by the sayd Commissioners, to bring the same to London, redy to be showed,
when they shall be demanded, which said grauntes and other wrytynges the said Commissioners, for shortnesse of tyme, were not able severally to examyn. The contentes whereof
be not therefor certefied.
" The gyfts, chattels, and other ornaments belonging to each of the said Guilds, are particularly specified by the indented inventory remaining in the hands of the supervisor;
besides six chalices, one pax, and one cover or lid for the Books of the Gospels, gilt. These
pieces weigh 124 oz. and a quarter; and besides two chalices and three paxes of silver,
partially gilt, weighing 45 oz. and a quarter. These stand valued at 811."'
SMALLER GUILDS.
We know very little about the ten smaller or unincorporated Guilds; and of
five of them nothing but the names, as we find them recorded in the history of
the Corpus Christi Guild; these are, —the Apostles' Guild, the Postill Guild
(probably the same), the Guild of the Fellowship of Heaven, the Guild of the
Holy Rood, and that of the Seven Martyrs. Of the remaining five,-those of
the Ascension, St. Catherine, the Cordwainers', St. James', and St. Simon and
St. Jude,-we have a few more particulars.
Of the Guild of the ASCENSION there is a certificate presented to the Royal
Council in obedience to a proclamation by Richard II. (1389). This certificate
states, that the Guild of the Ascension was founded for the sole purpose of'; augmenting and increasing divine service." The Guild did not hold any
common property or chattels of any kind; its sole income was derived from
an annual payment of 13d. by each brother and sister of the Guild, with which
to provide a chantry clerk, and candles and tapers to light at the funeral
obsequies of brethren and sisters, and to carry in the procession of the Sacrament on the feast of Corpus Christi, according to usage long observed; and
also to be used annually at the commemoration of the resurrection, and every
morning during Easter, &c. &c.
The Guild of ST. CATHERINE is frequently mentioned in the history of that
of Corpus Christi, and also in the Compoti of the Guild of St. Mary. This Guild
also made a certificate to the Royal Council, under the proclamation of
Richard II. (1389), by William Strug, guardian of the said Guild. The certificate states, that the Guild
" Was established as a small and common fraternity in the town of Boston, in the year
1349, in honour of the glorious Virgin St. Catherine, in form and manner following: —
First, on festival days at matins and masse, to burn before the image of St. Catherine, in
the parish church of St. Botolph, six wax tapers on a perch, provided by an annual payment
of 6cl. by each companion of the said Guild."
Also, from the same pension are provided twelve tapers to burn at the funerals
of companions, male or female, and twelve tapers for the procession on Corpus
Christi day, and on the Resurrection day, and on each morning in Easter.
The Guild has no other ordinances or customs, nor any lands, tenements, goods,
possessions, or chattels. Signed by the guardian, with the consent of the entire
Guild, at Boston, 20th of January, 12 Richard II. (1389).
1 COTTON MSS. This valuation makes the silver nearly 10s. the ounce. There is a mistake somewhere.
We have correctly transcribed the MS.