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expired at Michaelmas and in the October following, he brought 
up his accounts entered on a parchment roll to be passed by his 
colleagues. 
Two members of the Chamber were annually chosen as 
Constables, and minor officials (non-members) were the Sergeants- 
of-the-Mace, the Beadle & Bellman, the Supervisors of flesh and 
leather and the Ale-tasters. 
The various elections were in September, on the Monday 
preceding Michaelmas day, and office apparently commenced the 
first Monday in October. Mention of the constitution of the 
~ Chamber has been necessary as many of the Token issuers were 
members and frequently officials of that body. 
The Chamber met at the Guild-Hall (built 1626-8) then stand- 
ing in the Market Place (High Street), a picturesque building 
externally gay with statues, coat-of-arms and other ornaments all 
bright with color; the Hall of a type still remaining in some 
west-country towns, with accommodation for market people under 
and a series of rooms above. The Hall was probably panelled 
throughout with oak, and hung with shields bearing the Arms of 
the Nation and the City, heavy wood beams enriched with carving 
possibly crossed from side to side supporting a flat ceiling with 
decorated panels ; the room well lighted by a number of square- 
headed windows, their mullion spaces filled with plain glass 
quarries bearing devices of heraldic shields, blazoning the arms 
of important Citizens and influential neighbours. A benched 
seating with carved arms may have been on three sides of the 
room, a raised platform at one end carrying the seats of the 
Mayor and Justices, with seating for the rest of the Chamber in 
the body of the Hall. 
In 1651 payments were made for painting “‘ Mr. Mayors seate 
_ and the Cittie Armes” the Commonwealth Arms and a frame for 
the latter, and the seats throughout the Hall were then 
_ re-cushioned. 
In 1658 occurs “Item paid Thomas Quilly for paintinge and 
