The Dolores star., 1920-07-02
The Garden a. me Draper. n.r.
ERIvING its name from the
French "Drnpperie." meaning
cloth work, the Drapers


French "Drnpperie." meaning
cloth work, the Drapers
company, as early as 11SO,
been associated with the textile
de of London; and has numbered
ny distinguished men among its
On Of Henry l, when Henry Fitz-
win. member OF the company. be-
me London's first lord mayor,
itch office he continued to hold for
years.
Between 1891 and 1714 no less than
drapers were thus honorcd, Nays the
hrstian Science Monitor. Not only
h Fitz-Alwin bring civic dignity to
|e company, but he left 1t all his
nds in ST. Mary Bothawe.
Cloth was mnde in England from
kry early days, but from Saxon times
bward the chief seat of the indus
was The Netherlands, whose
eavers obtained the raw wool from
hgland. Edward III, anxious to fos-
r II as British trade. forbade both
be export of English wool, and the
hport Of cloth. and invited balloon
|csvers to settle in England. He
Rye the first charter to the Diapers
bmpany in 1864. to enable II to en-
brce the statutes relating to the sale
cloths.
Growth OF the Industry.
The industry had so rapidly in
Feased by 1885 that Sir Nicholas
rembre, mayor Of London, issued nm
rder separating drapery from tailory
nd the weaving business.
Busy times were the fairs of st.
Bartholomew, West Smithfield and
outhwark, where an enormous trade
textiles was done: and which
be diapers and the merchant tailors
ttended for their trade search. so as
keep sharp guard over Illicit prac-
short measure.
Edward III Is credited with present.
hg the 'Drapers' Ell" to the company,
ind frequent items In their accounts
ire disbursements for new yards" or
Companies standards" and also for
bases in which to keep them.
BY the reign Of Henry vi the
irapcrs had become so powerful that
he king granted them their charter
ff incorporation in 1898. which. with
their six other charters, Is still pre-
kerved 1t is very splendid affair,
beautifully Illuminated with head
piece Of gold, and colors of the finest
work, and is in perfect state Of
preservation.
A Tilt With Royalty.
Royal extortions and levies do not
appear to have affected the drapers
Jas much as some of the other com
panies, but in 1927 we read of great
activity being displayed by them. in
conjunction with the divers auncyant
1elishippes" who assembled at "Frers
Austyns' to discuss how they could
either avoid or lessen the heavy con-
tribution demanded Of them by Henry
VII toward the fitting out of five
ships for the explorer, Sebastian
CABOT. With great bravery they in
formed the king that he had no legal
rlght to extort their contributions ;
and that 1t was "a sore adventure to
1opard ye ships with men and goods
unto the said island (NewfOundlanD
upon the singular trust of one man."
out nnally peremptory message
from my Lord Cardynalr' brought the
"acuient spirits into due submission.
Keen business men were these stall
~art diapers. for not only do their
records contain many entries illustra-
1--WE OF their trade activities. but they
eno" that the management Of their
.har't'es was equally alert. In 1927
'ney entered into a prolonged dispute
win the Crutched Friars, regarding
he boundaries of, the ground pur-
,nased for almshouses by Sir John
sl,'oorn, and Of the keeping UP by the
IFlars Of certain obseryances in his
memory. % Ha
Pa0eants and PROFESSIONS.
II me drapers displayed energy in
BUSINESS and kindly works. they were
so aiways to the fore In the civic
measures which abounded in the mid
me ages; and Of their "ridings." .pag-
s"n's oy land and water. their mid
u'''lher ,,'n walks" and their professions,
""eh one OF their number chnnced TO
".."'he lord mayor. there are many
4ua'ht and Interesting records.
II on me occasion Of the marriage OF
,ny 'e"'y VII and Elizabeth. we hear of
""Pers, with the others. going