Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/420

 ^68 THE CORDWAINERS AND CORVESOES OF OXFORD. license to purchase or hold lands in mortmain, their income depended entirely upon what they raised by weekly pay- ments,^ by the cobblers' " quarterages," as they were called, by fees and fines upon admissions, penalties and amerciaments, and occasional gifts, which w^ere very rare and small ; so that there was really nothing to expend. Their ordinances enabled them to demand a breakfast from new members,^ which was sometimes given and sometimes compounded for -p but at an early period, the Company, being very few in number, seem to have looked for something more from those who could afford it, and, besides the admission fine, to have suggested what was called ''les proffers,"^ and also a repast ; in fact, a dinner. What the first of these was is not clearly explained ; but it may have been some small contribution to be offered to the general fund ; but the degree of pertinacity with which both of them, the dinner especially, is represented in the Company's records as a free and voluntary act of liberality, is truly amusing. For instance, on the 3d Sept., 3d Eliz., Edward Kyrkeman was admitted, and paid, in ready money, xk. : the minute then goes on to say, " Also he made the occupacyon a dynner at his admyttynge of hys fre and franke good will which came of hymself, wdiich cost hym xxiJA"^ Again, on the 30th day of November, in the same year, Thos. Andrewe was admitted, and paid, " in redye money, to the use of the sayd Guyld, xL*^. And his dynner, which he made of his propre and ffre will withought any provocacyon of any of the sayd occupatyon or any other man's compulsyon, come to xv.<^. ; and to bothe these said sommes and the contents heryn conteyned he hathe putte his hand the day and yere above wrytten."^ And so in other cases. We have the particulars 5 " Thys gedyrring was begoon in the ^ Ordin. 2 Eliz. tynie of John bronilay warden of the ' In 2 Rich. III. John Seman compounds crafte of eordwamers of Oxford. In the for 13^ 4''. A 5. and on the 10" January xxj yere of the rene of liyng hary the vij following, John Tackley & Wm Bracier that heverymann a j d a woke to the box for xx'* each. A 7. See also B. 25, and y' ys to saye that tymc beyng warden D. in 1G40. In 1641 the members newly John bromlay odyr ways callyt John admitted, give money or plate, but neither pouges Rychard pyttys John symon bi'eakfast or dinner, D. Wyll'm camdcn llohard holbeke John >* See P' year of Rich. III. A. 4. In p. 86. henenain & thay gctortt by tlicym .selfe- W Saytt makes his prayr and Rye bar- v" v 1 ob & then com in Rye harlaw in tram hys profyr. A ,3.t,V'" Camden com- the xxiiij yere of the rene of kyiig hay pounds pro convivio ; but he seems to the vij"' & he payde in that yere iiij" iiijd have been rather a slippery subject, and so the full sm" trays to v" ix » o'' ob." ^ B. 23. A (J5. and see .'54; also minutes of courts of ' B. 24. See also 23, 35, &c., and A. 24 Hen. VILA. 63. and 1 Hen. VUI. 21, .3.5, and 8 (J. p. G4.