CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
The following is the chronological order in which the various Companies obtained their charters of Incorporation. It will be observed that the weavers claim to becoming a Corporate Body in 1154; that in the fourteenth century there are 6 Companies incorporated; in the fifteenth there are 19; in the sixteenth there are 15; in the seventeenth there are 37; and in the eighteenth, 2.
- 1154.
- Weavers.
- 1233.
- Parish Clerks.
- 1327.
- Goldsmiths.
- „
- Skinners.
- „
- Merchant Taylors.
- 1394.
- Saddlers.
- 1399.
- Fishmongers.
- 1415.
- Cutlers.
- 1417.
- Haberdashers.
- 1428.
- Grocers.
- 1429.
- Cordwainers.
- „
- Drapers.
- 1437.
- Vintners.
- „
- Brewers.
- 1444.
- Leather Sellers.
- 1448.
- Girdlers.
- 1453.
- Armourers and Brasiers.
- 1461.
- Barbers.
- 1462.
- Tallow Chandlers.
- 1464.
- Ironmongers.
- 1471.
- Dyers.
- 1472.
- Musicians.
- 1474.
- Pewterers.
- 1477.
- Carpenters.
- 1481.
- Cooks.
- 1483.
- Wax Chandlers.
- 1501.
- Coopers.
- 1501.
- Plasterers.
- 1504.
- Poulterers.
- 1509.
- Bakers.
- 1515.
- Inn-holders.
- 1522.
- Carmen.
- 1527.
- Clothworkers.
- 1536.
- Fishmongers.
- 1556.
- Stationers.
- 1561.
- Broderers.
- 1568.
- Tylers and Bricklayers.
- „
- Girdlers.
- 1571.
- Blacksmiths.
- 1580.
- Joiners.
- 1581.
- Painters.
- 1604.
- Felt Makers.
- „
- Turners.
- 1605.
- Gardeners.
- „
- Shipwrights.
- 1606.
- Fishermen.
- „
- Curriers.
- „
- Fruiterers.
- „
- Butchers.
- 1611.
- Plumbers.
- 1614.
- Founders.
- 1617.
- Scriveners.
- „
- Apothecaries.
- 1618.
- Glaziers.
- 1621.
- Bowyers.
- 1626.
- Upholders.
- „
- Combmakers.
- 1628.
- Playing-card Makers.
- 1629.
- Spectacle Makers.
- 1631.
- Silkmen.
- „
- Clockmakers.
- 1637.
- Gunmakers.
- 1638.
- Soapmen.
- „
- Hatband Makers.
- „
- Horners.
- „
- Distillers.
- „
- Glovers.
- 1656.
- Needlemakers.
- 1657.
- Framework-knitters.
- 1663.
- Pipemakers.
- 1664.
- Glass Sellers.
- 1670.
- Tin-plate Workers.
- „
- Wheelwrights.
- „
- Pattenmakers.
- 1677.
- Masons.
- „
- Coachmakers.
- 1684.
- Farriers.
- 1693.
- Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers.
- 1709.
- Fanmakers.
- 1711.
- Loriners.
ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
In the year 1532, the Companies were placed at the Mayor’s Feast in the Guildhall in the following order:—
- 1.
- Mercers.
- 2.
- Grocers.
- 3.
- Drapers.
- 4.
- Fishmongers.
- 5.
- Goldsmiths.
- 6.
- Skinners.
- 7.
- Merchant Taylors.
- 8.
- Vintners.
- 9.
- Ironmongers.
- 10.
- Merchant Haberdashers.
- 11.
- Salters.
- 12.
- Dyers.
- 13.
- Leathersellers.
- 14.
- Pewterers.
- 15.
- Cutlers.
- 16.
- Armourers.
- 17.
- Wax Chandlers.
- 18.
- Tallow Chandlers.
- 19.
- Shiremen.
- 20.
- Fullers.
- 21.
- Sadlers.
- 22.
- Brewers.
- 23.
- Scriveners.
- 24.
- Butchers.
- 25.
- Bakers.
- 26.
- Poulterers.
- 27.
- Stationers.
- 28.
- Inn-holders.
- 29.
- Girdlers.
- 30.
- Chirurgeons.
- 31.
- Founders.
- 32.
- Barbers.
- 33.
- Upholders.
- 34.
- Broderers.
- 35.
- Bowyers.
- 36.
- Fletchers.
- 37.
- Turners.
- 38.
- Cordwainers.
- 39.
- Painter-stainers.
- 40.
- Masons.
- 41.
- Plumbers.
- 42.
- Carpenters.
- 43.
- Pouchmakers.
- 44.
- Joiners.
- 45.
- Coopers.
- 46.
- Glaziers.
- 47.
- Linen Drapers.
- 48.
- Woodmongers.
- 49.
- Curriers.
- 50.
- Foystors.
- 51.
- Grey Tanners.
- 52.
- Tylers.
- 53.
- Weavers.
- 54.
- Blacksmiths.
- 55.
- Loriners.
- 56.
- Spurriers.
- 57.
- Wire Sellers.
- 58.
- Fruiterers.
- 59.
- Farriers.
- 60.
- Bladesmiths.
In Stow and Strype, 1755, there is a list of that date:—
- Mercers.
- Grocers.
- Drapers.
- Fishmongers.
- Goldsmiths.
- Skinners.
- Merchant Taylors.
- Haberdashers.
- Salters.
- Ironmongers.
- Vintners.
- Clothworkers.
- Dyers.
- Brewers.
- Leather Sellers.
- Pewterers.
- Barbers.
- Cutlers.
- Bakers.
- Wax Chandlers.
- Tallow Chandlers.
- Armourers.
- Girdlers and Pinners.
- Butchers.
- Sadlers.
- Carpenters.
- Cordwainers.
- Apothecaries.
- Painter-stainers.
- Curriers.
- Masons.
- Plumbers.
- Inn-holders.
- Founders.
- Poulterers.
- Cooks.
- Coopers.
- Tilers and Bricklayers.
- Bowyers.
- Fletchers.
- Blacksmiths.
- Joiners.
- Weavers.
- Woolpackers.
- Woodmongers.
- Scriveners.
- Fruiterers.
- Plaisterers.
- Stationers.
- Embroiderers.
- Upholders.
- Musicians.
- Turners.
- Basketmakers.
- Glaziers.
- Farriers.
- Loriners.
- Paviors.
- Bottlemakers and Horners.
- Glovers.
- Felt Makers.
- Long Bowstring Makers.
- Watermen.
- Silk-Throwsters.
- Starchmakers.
- Pinmakers.
- Clockmakers.
- Spectacle Makers.
- Combmakers.
- Parish Clerks.
- Surgeons.
- Card Makers.
- Carmen.
- Coachmakers.
- Distillers.
- Fanmakers.
- Fishermen.
- Frame-knitters.
- Gardeners.
- Glassmakers.
- Gold and Silver Wire-drawers.
- Gunsmiths.
- Hatband Makers.
- Needlemakers.
- Pattenmakers.
- Porters.
- Shipwrights.
- Silkmen.
- Soapmakers.
- Tin-plate Workers.
- Tobacco-pipe Makers.
- Wheelwrights.
- Woolmen.
Comparing the two lists we find in them changes of no great importance in the order. The Dyers, for instance, are twelfth; the Fullers, Chirurgeons, Foystors, Grey Tanners, Spurriers and Wire Sellers have gone; and there are only sixty in the former to ninety-three in the latter list.
If we compare the second list with that at the present time, we find that no new Companies have been formed, but that the following have disappeared from the list:—
- Woolpackers.
- Woodmongers.
- Long Bowstring Makers.
- Silk-Throwsters.
- Starchmakers.
- Pinmakers.
- Combmakers.
- Surgeons.
- Carmen.
- Fishermen.
- Hatband Makers.
- Porters.
- Silkmen.
- Soapmakers.
- Tobacco-pipe Makers.