238 
before the Company and not before the Mayor would seem to. 
point to the existence of the Company prior to the incorporation 
of the City by Queen Elizabeth. 
Either the Tailors were a suspicious body or the neglect of 
commercial morality was not uncommon among them as they were 
not content to entrust even to their chief officer their money 
guarded only by the terrors of an oath, but took also the worldly 
precaution of ensuring its safety by obliging him to find two 
sureties of one hundred pounds before he was entrusted with the 
stock of the Company, and these sureties were pledged to see 
that he rendered at the end of the term of office a true account 
of all monies received and expended during his year of office, 
and the discharge was always entered in the minute book of the 
Company and in the earlier years with the signature or mark 
of the new Master appended to it. 
17 June, 1667. 
Mr. Baber his account being and dated the day and year above 
written was passed and allowed by the Company. 
And his receipts amounted to 16 10 0 
And his disbursements to eae ae 
—— 
Rest due 7 
Signed, 
JOHN BALL. 
John Ball was the Clerk of the Company. 
We are not told what was done with the 7d., but in some 
years the accounts were squared by the odd money being expended 
in refreshments. 
Thus in 1684. 
“Due from Mr, Chapman peo bond”... 12 
For quarterage fee : soe > at 
One year’s interest for 131i ee 12 
1317 4 
Disburst the bill ... cas, 
Allowed for his feast 2 ae 
ee 
Due to the Company Or some 
