136 THE DERBY COMPANY OF MERCERS. 



The Company was entirely distinct from tiie Corporation, Its 

 powers were given to it by that body, and there is no trace of 

 any interference in its affairs. Though some of its members 

 belonged to the Common Council, and about sixteen held the 

 office of mayor, it took no part in municipal matters, but was 

 formed solely for the inspection and regulation of certain trades 

 in the Borough. Its members were to behave properly towards 

 the mayor, aldermen, and justices of the Borough, and make 

 no by-laws contrary to the laws of the kingdom or the rights of 

 the borough. 



The fines and compositions were for the sole use of the Com- 

 pany, and on one occasion the Corporation borrowed money from 

 the Society. There were only four cases in which the Corporation 

 had anything to do with the business of the Company : — 



I St. If an apprentice, whose master died, traded before his 

 time was served, he had to pay a fine, determined by the officers 

 of the Company and the mayor and burgesses. 



2nd. If the wardens did not duly present their accounts, the 

 mayor and Common Council had the power of disfranchising 

 them. 



3rd. If a master took an " apprentice at large," he was to be 

 disfranchised by the mayor and burgesses. 



4th. If goods or measures were found to be faulty, the offender 

 was to be reported to the mayor and burgesses for punishment, as 

 well as to pay a fine to the Company. 



Membership or freedom of the Company was distinct from 

 freedom of the Borough ; but in the case of apprentices the former 

 was a qualification for the latter, because when they were made 

 free of the Company, they could take their burgess oath. 



According to a letter of Mr. John Houghton, F.R.S., written in 

 1693, there were then in Derby 694 houses or families, or reckon- 

 ing six people to a house, over 4,000 inhabitants. There were 

 also 76 malthouses, and 120 alehouses. He says there was no 

 wholesale tradesman in Derby, and he gives a list of forty-two 

 trades, in addition to the alehouses. Of these, there were seven 

 apothecaries, seven ironmongers, thirteen mercers, and two 



