33 



Appendix A. 



Zhc ilBoofes of tbe TOre^ouawers' ano flMn=mafeers' 

 Company. 



(See page zo.) 



The first volume commences with the receipts and 

 payments of the year 1497. The income was derived 

 from a yearly subscription (sometimes called Hallage) 

 paid by each member, 13 of whom paid 2 s. each 

 (equivalent in modern currency to about £1 10s.), while 

 one, apparently a new member, paid is. 8d. The dis- 

 bursements of the year were abnormally large, for 

 on this occasion a number of journeymen and some 

 apprentices were called upon to contribute 8d. and 6d. 

 each — a charge which does not occur again for some 

 time. In the two following years the masters paid 

 is. 8d. each, after which the Hallage was reduced to 

 is., at which sum it remained for nearly 40 years. 

 Practically the whole of the receipts were expended at 

 two great civic revelries — on the eve of St. John at 

 Midsummer, and on the night of St. Peter's Day, in 

 August. Small sums were paid on these occasions for 

 torches to light up the procession ; a " minstrel " was 

 always hired, and sometimes two ; a man was rewarded 

 for carrying the " pageant," which from the occasional 

 repair of its " stump " seems to have been the Com- 

 pany's banner, and the balance went for a dinner, 

 sometimes supplemented with a supper. When the 

 funds ran short, there was a levy on the workmen. The 

 Company then had a Hall in one of the Friaries, for 



