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 150 THE CORDWAINERS AND CORYESORS OF OXFORD, The Charter of Incorpoi^ation being drawn up in the most general terms, it became necessary for the Company ^ to make by-laws or private regulations ; in doing which from time to time, they availed themselves of the provisions of the statute 19 Henr}^ VIL, c. 7, by which they were enabled, under certain forms, (that adopted by them being usually the allow- ance of their rules by the judges of assize on their circuit), to make and enforce any ordinances for their own govern- ment and advantage, which were not inconsistent with the general provisions of the law. Such a proceeding seems to have been proposed in five, and actually carried into effect in four, instances. And as a proof that the allowance of their rules was considered to be a matter of validity and weight, we find it formally recited in the second of these instruments (that of the 19 Ehz.), that on November 3rd, in the seven- teenth 3^ear of the same reign, Wilham Tylcote, then mayor of Oxford, with the bailifls, burgesses, and common council of the same, had ordered Mr. Aldeworth, the master, since deceased, and four of the Company, to be committed to the prison of Bocardo, where they had remained for a fortnight, in order to compel them to bring in their books of ordinances, and make Wm. Thomson, a foreigner, free of the Guild ;^ whereupon the justices signing, order that the said ma3^or, baihff's, &c., should pay into the Exchequer such fine, nomine poencB, as they should think good to be assessed for this' disturbance and interruption.^ The dates of the ordinances or by-laws are as follows : — 1. 2 Eliz., July 18. On vellum, and in two pieces/ ' The collective body are styled the afford proof that the cordwainers them- fellowship, occupation, or craft. 1,4,5, selves could sometimes transgress. "Anno Edw. VI., pp. 13 — 15; 1 Mary, p. 17, B., 1500, 7° Octobris. Eodem die stricte &c. mandavimus Ric. Pyttis Johanni Tacley et 2 The phrase " Books of Ordinances " Ric laughton Shomakers et aliis per ipsos probably included the Charter also. The omnibus de societate illius artificii in Oxon' refusal does not seem to have been to de gilda cordenwainorum quatenus nullus admit Mr. Thomson at all, but at a less eorum vexet seu vexari faciat nomine pro- sum than 10/. In B. 75 is noted the prio aut nomine diet' socictatis quondam admission of Wm. Tomson upon Nov. 1 0, Thomam Baker Shomaker servientem 1575, paying a fine of 'Al. 6s. Hd., which uxoris Ed''" Symsonis quousque ostende- is probably the same person. See also rint nobis privilegia quibus possunt Hcite the letter in C. 34. In an order of Dec. 2.0, inhibere et impedire et coercere quod diet' 178.9, the word "foreigner" is defined to Thomas non debet occupare seu exercere mean " every person can-ying on trade in diet' artificium in hac villa Oxon, et hoc the city of Oxford who hath not served a sub poena excommunicationis majoris pre- legal apprenticeship to a freeman of it." cepimus." Regist. 2, fo. 84, in Archh.Univ. ^ See the Ordinances, also Sir Edward Oxon. The penalty is unusual and severe. Saunders's letter B., pp. 77 — 80. On th^ * Transcribed, C. 1. other hand, the University Registers