By the late Rev. R. H. Clutterbuck, F.S.A. 141 
one time, but later there are said to have been, in Norfolk alone, 
no less than nine hundred and nine, and seventy-five of them in 
Lyme Regis only. Dr. Malet Lambert truly says, “‘ No attempt 
to understand or depict the English social life or thought of the 
period from the 10th to the 16th century can be true to its original 
in which these institutions do not play a large part.” These 
Fraternities were generally under the management of an alderman 
and two or more wardens or stewards, assisted by a clerk or 
secretary, a beadle, and in most cases by a chaplain. They were, 
however, far from being ecclesiastical in their character, and were 
open to every class. In 1452 the Gild of St. George at Norwich 
had on its roll one archbishop, four bishops, an earl, knights, clergy, 
fishmongers, smiths, tailors, jailors, butchers, carpenters, and so on. 
King Henry IV. and King Henry VI. were members of a gild at 
Coventry. The Gild of St. Barnabas in London numbered among 
its members both Henry VIII. and Cardinal Wolsey. The members 
do not appear to have been bound by perpetual vows, but they had 
to pay periodical contributions, or “ pence,” as they seem generally 
called, or the “ aid,”’ which contributions were collected four times 
a year. I exhibit some rolls of members belonging to the Andover 
fraternity in which the payment is indicated by notches cut in the 
parchment. I think, too, that the members, at any rate on occasions, 
_ wore a distinctive hood, and I have a theory that we can guess the_ 
fashion of such hoods. The “ Livery” companies of London do 
not, except for the court, retain the use of the gown, although 
when they are summoned to vote at the election of Sheriffs the 
order goes out that they are to attend in their livery gowns. 
‘When, however, a freeman is admitted to the livery a vestment 
is put on his shoulder which I believe is of the character of the 
fraternity hood, and it is always worn by the Master of the 
 Leathersellers’ Company. I have already pointed out so many 
similarities between the craft gilds and the fraternities that I hope 
_ I may not be considered inconsistent (notwithstanding that I want 
to emphasise the distinction between them) by trying to illustrate 
one by the other. 
Before I enter on the subject of the work accomplished by these 
