The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-19
LONDON GUILDS.
CURIOUS RELICS OF EARLY TIMES
STILL EXISTING IN LONDON.
London Trade Societies with Revenues I
Nearly Nine Millions Year.

London Trade Societies with Revenues Of
Nearly Mine Millions Year.
Cincinnati Enauirer.]
LONDON, Dec. 17.-Among the curious
relics OF early English times are the city
guilds. or livery companies, OF London.
In O previous letter it was mentioned
that the "city OF London" comprises but
q small fraction Of the entire area and
population OF the metropolis. the former
having an area Of only about 700 acres
and less than $4,000 people, while the
latter has an area OF some $4,000 acres
and nearly. or perhaps quite, 1000, 900
people. The term ''city" applies only
to this small tract OF 700 acres at the
very heart Of the metropolis, where the
heaviest part OF the business is centred.
The halls Of the livery companies are
all within the limits OF the city, and
these organizations are 80 closely con-
nected with the government and bust
ness Of this part Of London that they
may truly be called the vital part OF the
corporation itself. They own the ground
upon which about ne-half the entire
city is built, from which they draw
ground rent, and In very large number
of instances they own the buildings
upon it, though that Is by no means
always the case. It Is very usual In
England to build upon leased ground,
and the landlord then has no property
in the buildings; but upon the expira-
ton Of the lease the buildings become
absolutely his without any payment
whatever. Ninety-nine years is q very
usual length OF ground leases. The city
guilds are constantly growing in wealth
by the lapse Of such leases.
THESE GUILDS
are about eighty In number. A large
number OF them took their rise in the
times Of the Plantagenet kings. and
some OF them even back to Norman,
times. The charters OF the aaAr ones
were mostly granted by Edward III
and Richard IL, IN the fourteenth GEN.
fury. Many Of them. however, had been
lin existence from 100 to 200 years pre-.
vious to that time, but were then mostly
without charters, and had none Of the
rights Of corporate societies. The guild
OF the goldsmiths can be certainly traced
back as far as 1880, and the MERGERS
back to 1172. Probably both came into
existence considerably before their
known date. The fishmongers are still
older, and were chartered by Edward I,
In the latter part Of the thirteenth GEN.
fury. The twelve great companies are
the MERGERS, grocers, diapers, fish
rovl hn ri,
chant taylors (sic), haberdashers, salt
workers. Many Of the guilds have great
wealth, and all the prominent ones have
magnificent halls, where they occasion
ally give expensive feasts. About forty
OF the minor companies have no hall.
and some Of these have 30 diminished
in numbers rs scarcely to be able to
keep up their organization.
AS THEIR NAMES IMPLY.
they were all originally trade associa-
tiOns. London has always been pre-
eminently a trading place, and in Nor
man and Plantagenet times, when the
city contained nearly the whole popu-
lation OF the metropolis, the citizens
were almost wholly tradesmen. At first |
the term guild seems to have meant
much the same thing as ward; at all |
i
trades had generally appropriated dis
tinct parts Of London to themselves.
It was not long, however, until this
colony arrangement fell into disuse.
After these bodies became Incorporated /
they had the absolute monopoly and
control OF their own trades. No one
could follow the business Of draper
without the consent Of the guild Of
diapers, and presently it was necessa-
~ that all who practised that trade
should be members Of the guild. By
and by the different trades began to
adopt Q dress peculiar to themselves,
and this gave them their later name OF
!lverv companies. At first all men,
pers must be actually engaged In the
peculiar trade OF their several guilds.
AZ the guilds grew In wealth and power
this rule was so far relaxed as to allow
the admission Of distinguished persons
who did not practice the trade. When
, member was in full standing he was I
said to have the freedom Of the com
pany. They always held the privilege (
d presenting, not OF selling, their free
1om to those who did not practice their {
,rade. Finally, their influence became
10 great, and their support SO import
INT, that kings were willing to become !
Queen Elizabeth was free (
II the MERGERS company-that ia. a s
member; and James I was q cloth
worker. Charles III and William TIT t
we're grocers, and Henry VII was a !
merchant tailor.
In the sixteenth and seventeenth CEN t
uries these wealthy guilds were often I
compelled to furnish the sovereigns
money for carrying on foreign wars, |
md for other purposes. The money
vas not generally returned. Henry
VIII came upon them for many large I
ums Of money. In 1915 they paid him
more than 800, 900 toward the Scotch I
var. To get the value Of that sum in 9
ur present currency. the amount must !,
e multiplied by four or five at least !
queen Mary took from them 1926. 900
oward the French war, and Queen Eliz- {
beth Is said to have taken $700, 900 I
rom them. Charles also took large 7
ums, over $500, 600 being handed over
t one time. They suffered in the same
au during the Commonwealth but re. Q