162 The Guild of Merchants, at Dedzes. 



"At this psout Yisitacon 1623 was John AUen,^ Mayor, cheife 

 head and goueinour, Edward North,- Maister, John Batt^ and John 

 lies/ Maister Wardens of the Clothyers, AVeavers and Drapers ; 

 Nicholas Barret Maister, John Hoope'' and Marmaduke Bird, W^ar- 

 dens of the Company of Mercers ; Thomas Clarke Maister, Chris- 

 topher PuUeyn and Henry Deane, Wardens of the Company of 

 Lethersellers." 



The Book of Constitutions of the Fraternity of the Drapers. 



This volume, which consists of nearly one hundred pages, is 

 written on vellum, and bears the following title : — 



" Burgus de Deuizes. The Booke of Constitucons, Decrees, 

 Statutes, and Ordenauuces for the Ffraternitye Companye and 

 feloweshippe of the Drapers, wthin the foresaid Boroughe of 2)<?Mt3es 

 had, made, enacted, established, concluded and agreed upon,(amonge 

 other things) by John Allen, gentleman, Maior of the foresaid 

 Boroughe, John Kent, gentleman,Townclarke of the same Boroughe, 

 Robert Drewe, gentleman, (and others) Chief Burgeses and Coun- 

 sailors, Thomas White, Robert Wayte, (and others) Chiefe Bur- 

 geses and of the Comon Counsaile of the same Boroughe. At u 

 Generall Assemhlye or Court of Comon Counsaile of the Maior and 

 Burgeses, &c., holden in the Guildehall there, the 17th daye of 

 June, 12th James I." [1614.] 



It begins with a confirmation by the Mayor, Town-clerk, and 

 Burgesses of the various Constitutions therein contained for the 

 government of the Guild, and is addressed to all Justices of the 



' John Allen, draper, was buried in St. John's Church, September 18, 1624. 



2 This name should apparently be Northey, Edward Northey, sen., was 

 Mayor of Devizes in the years 1612-22 and 30, and Edw. Northey, jun. in 1635. 



3 A John Batt, clothman. Mayor of Devizes 1595, buried at St. John's, Mar. 

 27, 1600. This was probably his son. 



4 John Eylcs, of the Devizes, mercer, living in 1645, the name occurs as 

 Mavor in 1650. John Eyles the elder, and John Eyles the younger were both 

 buried in 1662. Their descendants afterwards resided at Southbroom. John 

 Eyles, of Southbroom, was SheriiF of Wilts in 1716. 



s John Ilope, Mayor of Devizes 1640. Edward Hope, also thrice Mayor, was 

 one of the Devizes tradesmen, who, during the Protectorate, issued his own 

 token. In the floor of St. Mary's Church are flat stones bearing inscriptions to 

 several later members of the same family. 



