Page:An Historical Essay on the Livery Companies of London.djvu/36

 Cutlers of the City of London by Sea they then were not able to live but by the benevolence of well-disposed people, whereof, he having a princely consideration, did grant that the aforesaid Cutlers should have one perpetual Commonalty of themselves. After various other interesting recitals King James by this Charter graciously constitutes and declares that all and singular the persons of the Commonalty and Mystery of Cutlers of London and the suburbs thereof should for ever thereafter be one body corporate and politic in deed and name, by the style of "The Master Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Cutlers of London."

This Charter appointed Thomas Porter, Master, and William Bailey and Thomas Cheshire, Wardens, until the Even of the Holy Trinity following. The following are the names of the first Court of Assistants appointed by the Charter: Richard Hawes, Thomas Greene, John Gardiner, Thomas Asher, Oliver Plunkett otherwise Pluckett, George Ellye, Reginald Greene, Christopher Hatfield, William Hely, John Beeston, Henry Adams, Edward Andrews, Laurence Evans, John Johnson, Nathaniel Matthews, Miles Banks, John Porter, and James Tackley, and Thomas Jadwyn was thereby appointed the first Clerk.

See Appendix "A" for a full Copy of the Charter.

Upon the grant of the before-named Charter by James I various Fundamental Laws were framed by the Commonalty of Cutlers for their government. It appears, however, that in the 19th year of the reign of Henry the Seventh a Statute was passed whereby it was ordained (amongst other things) that no Master, Warden, or Commonalties should take upon themselves to make any Acts or ordinances, unless the same had been examined and approved by the Chancellor or Treasurer of England, or Chief Justices