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 THE CORDWAINERS AND COKVESORS OF OXFORD. 153 With the exception of some few unimportant deeds, the above are all the sources of information that remain from which anything can be learnt as to the internal history and affairs of tlie Company. Their charter went no further than to incorporate them as the corvesors and cordwainers of Oxford,^ and give the exclusive privilege of exercising their trade or mystery within the hmits of the town and the suburbs thereof; while the "Writ Executorie " called in the aid of power to assist in enforcing the forfeitures of prohibited work. Whatever other corporate rights they possessed came to them only as incidents arising from their charter, and not by virtue of direct grant ; so that even the particulars of the constitution of their body are to be sought for in the ordi- nances which they w^ere enabled to make for themselves as before mentioned. And from these it appears that, besides the commonalty of the society, which practically included sisters also,^ the governing part of it was to consist of 1. A Master ; 2. A Warden ; and 3. Two Searchers of Leather, all of whom were to be elected by the members generally on their annual day of meeting, which w^as the Monday following the feast of St. Luke (October 18th) in each year. To these officers are to be added, since they are mentioned in all existing records, though not prescribed by the ordinances, 4. Two Keepers of the Keys ; 5. Two Keepers of our Lady's Light ; 6. A Beadle, an officer first appointed in 1632,^ "in order to assist the Warden in summoning Members;" and 7. and lastly, a Steward. With respect to the duties of these officers : — 1. The Master, " Guardianus sive Gustos,"^ is directed to be sworn to bear true allegiance to the Queue and her successours, "to se unto & governc faithefully the said Grafte or Guylde, & omytte nothynge that slialbe for its commoditie, neither do, or as moche as in hym lyeth, suffer to be donne, anye ' The following order is curious, inas- myhell y*" arkeangcil. In y"^ xxviij yere much as it seems to refer to the cobble- of y' Rayn of kyng Henry y^viij"'-" B. 3. stones, from which the- coblers have been - A. 91, B. 36, 59, D. sub annis 1616, sometimes thought to derive their appclla- le."}'?, &c. lion : — "It'hyt ys agrede y' no man of y= •* He was to be allowed 10s. a year and craft shall hcng forthe no yello leynd schos fees upon admissions, in such manner as on ther raks or gaus or on ther formost the Warden had. D. sub anno. A beadle's pols nor stmu/s bijfor th< r wi/ndos but he staff first appears in the list of property y' takythe them to be forfett to y'^ craft & for 1GJ33, E. sub anno, lie y' takyth hett to have ij"* for hys labor ' See all the early courts in Book A. to made & consented to y'^ Sottorday afore 12 Henry vii., &.c. saynt marten's day to y« fest of Sayut