34 



which they paid a rent of 4s., afterwards reduced one- 

 half. Nothing is recorded as regards the business 

 transactions of the craft. The above festivities, occa- 

 sionally supplemented by a procession and carouse on 

 Corpus Christi Day, continued until the ecclesiastical 

 revolution following on the rupture with the Pope, when 

 the Corporation discontinued the above festivities, and 

 the Company, having no call for outlay, reduced the 

 yearly Hallage to 6d., and subsequently to 4d. ; but 

 owing to the fall in the value of money, it was again 

 raised to is. in the reign of Elizabeth. In her time 

 there was an occasional muster of the city trained bands 

 on Midsummer Day, and a "watch" on St. Peter's night. 

 When these occurred a little outlay took place for gun- 

 powder and match, whilst minstrels were hired and 

 treated to supper, but in most years the income was 

 spent in repairing the Hall, the site of which does not 

 appear, and on the annual dinner, to which latter charge 

 the members probably contributed individually, the 

 yearly receipts rarely exceeding 30s., and being often 

 still less. At a meeting in 1602 the minutes were 

 signed by all the members present, eleven in number, 

 of whom ten, unable to write, appended clumsy marks 

 resembling the initial of their surnames. The execrable 

 caligraphy of the clerk presents a striking contrast with 

 the beautiful writing of the early pages. In 162 1 

 Alderman Vawr, an old member, bequeathed the Com- 

 pany ^5, and about the same date the Hall was let to a 

 yearly tenant at 24s. During the reign of Charles I. the 

 Company, like other crafts, had to provide themselves 

 with a corselet, head-piece, pike and sword to fit a man 

 for the yearly muster. From some unexplained cause, 

 the roll of members increased suddenly from 20 to 60, 

 but by 1650 the number had again fallen to 35, and the 



