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The saint whose name is always associated with the Merchant 
Tailors in the West of England is S. John Baptist. The election 
of officers took place on that day, and in London the Tailors in 
early times attended service at the chapel on the north side of 
§. Paul’s, and when this was found to be too small in 8. Martin’s 
' Outwich, which was contiguous to their Hall in Threadneedle 
Street. The Guild of Merchant Tailors in Bristol was (22 Ric. II.) 
to a certain extent ecclesiastical as well as lay, for two of the 
Burgesses founded a Chapel of S. John Baptist with a chaplain 
to celebrate Masses for the souls of Brethren of the Fraternity. 
In all the more ancient constitutions the members were obliged 
to attend Chapel four times a year, and on the Friday after 
Midsummer Day listen to the recital of the ordinances of the 
company, and every one had to pray daily for the well being of 
the fraternity. At Aberdeen, in 1618, the penalties for not 
attending Church on Sunday were for a Member of the Guild 
being a Burgess 13s. 4d., and for a Master Craftsman 6s. 8d. 
Apprentices were admonished upon signing their indentures to 
serve God every day morning and evening devoutly on their 
knees, and when the Bible was translated into English by Miles 
Coverdale, a tenant of the London Merchant Tailors Company, 
they bought one and set it up in the Common Hall. 
At Lincoln the Guild went in procession on the Feast of 
‘Corpus Christi. At Norwich the important day was the 
fourteenth day after Easter. 
In London as early as Richard II. the Tailors were ordered to 
keep in an honest manner their feast of meat and drink on S. 
John Baptist day, and at Bristol after the service the company 
adjourned to the Master’s house where a great feast was held 
partly at his expense. Each member paid 2s. 5d., raised on the 
confirmation of the Charter by Charles I. to 2s. 6d. Absentees 
were charged one half if their debt was paid within a month. 
At Bristol at the middle of the dinner, the Master, following 
a somewhat similar custom of the London Company, first put a 
