Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 2.djvu/150

144 whatever he found useful in my little book to his own. He has, at p. 159, this wonderful passage:—

Rake-hell bedeutete ehemals baronet; bald verband sich damit der Begriff von "wohllebender Mensch," und da derjenige, welcher inehr an's Wohlleben denkt, leicht ein Wohllüstling wird, ging die Anfangs gute Bedeutung in diese letztere über; der Ausdruck ward desshalb aufgegeben, um nicht mit dem Gedanken an baronet stets die Idee von einem ausschweifenden wohllüstigen Menschen zu verbinden.

Yours, &c.,

In this letter Col. Rivett-Carnac shows that the German idea, at all events, is that the title "baronet" is synonymous with "blackguard." J-F. Smith did much towards the evolution of such an idea, since, as The Quarterly Review said in December, 1890, he "founded a school of romance (begun by G. W. M. Reynolds) which is with us to-day." In that school baronets are superhumanly wicked.

(See 11 S. vi. 464; vii. 101, 403, 505.)

Blacksmiths.—Had their charter in 1577. Some records relating to this Company in the time of Edward III. were mentioned in the beginning of the eighteenth century. No records mentioned in the notes referred to.

Bowyers.—Incorporated 1622, and were a fraternity long before, but no mention of records has been made.

Brewers.—Were incorporated 1427. No records referred to.

Bricklayers.—Were incorporated 1568. No records referred to.

Cooks.—Were incorporated 1481. No records referred to.

Farriers.—Founded very early, but I have not traced the date of their incorporation. Their origin has been said to foe from Henry de Ferraris, Master of the Horse to William, called the Conqueror, generally assumed to be from French ferrier, a smith's tool-bag why, I know not. In 1585 an ironsmith is said to be derived from "ferrurier."

Fruiterers.—Accounts have been said to begin in 1711, list of members in 1537. They were incorporated 1604.

Gardeners.—Were not incorporated, that I can trace, before at least 1708 and the actual date not known.

Girdlers.—Were incorporated 6 August, 1448, so records mentioned are at least a century later.

Glass-sellers, or, I presume, Glaziers. First title was unknown. The crest shown in 1708 is different from that which appears seventeen years later. The arms were granted in 1588, and on the Visitation (1634) confirmed and signed Henry St. George, Richmond. The oldest Minute Book mentioned may, therefore, date, like some similar instances, long after other records not now to the fore.

Goldsmiths.—Incorporated 1392. Their Hall was built in 1407, and their arms granted 1571. If, therefore, the Company's accounts begin in the eighth year of Edward III., they are anterior to incorporation.

Grocers.—Originally known as Pepperers. As Grocers they were incorporated 1344, and it seems unlikely they were in existence previous to that date.

Haberdashers.—A brotherhood of St. Catharine, their patroness, incorporated 1447, confirmed in 17 Henry VII., 1501, and named Merchant Haberdashers. Their crest was granted in 1571 by Robert Cook, King of Arms. Records of centuries previous to those named seem to be unknown.

Horners.—A very ancient Company, but date of incorporation not found.

Inn-holders.—Incorporated 1505. No records referred to.

Ironmongers' Company is the tenth, date of incorporation 1462. The list of Masters given must therefore be their first record.

Leather-sellers.—The accounts named must be a century after their incorporation, as this took place 1382.

Masons (Free).—If the records of Free-Masons are in existence from 1356, they must have been working before incorporation, which was in 1410. I have referred to 'The Constitution of Free-Masonry' (1800), and find that the "Operative Masons are the 30th Company of London, then having a Hall in Basinghall Street," that they were originally incorporated in the year 1410 by that name, and their arms were granted in the year 1477 by William Hankstow, Clarencieux King of Arms. Upwards of two centuries ago, Masons' Hall is explained as being "situate in Masons Ally, in Bazing hall street."

Mercers.—The first of the twelve Companies, incorporated 1393. It seems improbable, if that date is correct, that such