Page:An Historical Essay on the Livery Companies of London.djvu/16

 The reign of Edward III, the great dawn of the fine arts and of commerce, gave birth to an entire reconstruction of the trading fraternities, and of the change of name from Gilds to Crafts and Mysteries, and the substitution for the old title of Alderman that of Master or Warden. Special Charters were granted by Edward III, but the Chartering of the Gilds was not the only favor granted by that Monarch. Having found them to be the mainspring of the trade and industry of his Kingdom, he determined to raise them in public estimation. He became a member of the Linen Armourers (now the Merchant Tailors), which was the first Company to boast a Sovereign amongst its members. Richard II afterwards became a member of the same Company, and the great, both Clergy and Laity, as well as the principal Citizens, hastened to become enrolled as members of the various fraternities. The Skinners, the Merchant Tailors, and the Mercers, are said to exhibit most princes and nobility in their lists near this time; other Companies had a greater proportion of City dignitaries. The Grocers, towards the close of Edward the Ill's reign, enumerated no less than 16 Aldermen amongst its members, the Cutlers Company doubtless receives no inconsiderable share of such members.

Very many distinguished personages have in our own time taken up the Freedom of the Companies and become enrolled as members thereof.

In the reign of Richard II the Inrolment of the Companies' Charters was, first insisted upon. The following list will shew the date of the Incorporation of a considerable number of the Companies, viz.:—