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COMMERCE [41 Se ee together on certain days. These guilds Oe tee by degrees lost their primitive character, and became merged in the chartered companies, some of which consisted of the men of a single guild, some of two or three. Finally, the guilds, which had by that time become wholly religious, were abolished by Act of Parliament in 1552, and their estates were either forfeited or were bought in by the companies. When people speak nowadays of the " guilds,” meaning the companies, they commit a complete anachronism. hő ran TT Tie (See a Hoo a a a fa, 3 1 a a is = a JaB oro a de a tiple es - at At , —_* te ég Vere Te 5 le ¥ ai me =" 5 ENTRANCE TO MERCERS HALL, CHEAPSIDE There is not a single guild now in the city. Edward III first chartered companies, though as early as the reign of Henry III the trade guilds of the cappers, the parish clerks, and the ‘‘burillers” or cloth measurers, are said to have been recognised in some way by the king. The first charters of Edward III were given to the ee goldsmiths, the linen-armourers, d ai whose company the king himself = eke vi er — tm _ pe im 7 >] u fess 7
