170 The Child of Merchants, at Devizes. 



(Signed) 

 John Sloper, Maior. Stephen "White. John Mundey. 

 John Stevens. Wiixiam "Whit. John ffreeme. 



John Tilton. John "Worsd.^ul. John ffibsael. 



Edward Pierce. "William Filkes. "NYilliam Bancroi-t. 



Thomas Clarke. John AVhite. Robt. Ings. 



Richard Webbe. "William Sanford. Richard Streette. 



A.D. 1717, [4tli George I.] At a quarterly meeting of the Fra- 

 ternity held in the Weaver's Hall, on the 5th of August, it was 

 resolved that on account of many inconveniences which had arisen 

 from the custom of choosing the Master on the 5th of November, 

 the said day of election should for the future be held on the 5th of 

 August. (Signed) 



John Skeate, Master. Hugh Gough. John Night. 

 James Clacke ) __ _ Thomas "Waldon. Moses Rawlings. 

 John Howard) ' Chr. g Richards, "William La. . deen. 



Tho. Massey. his marke. Edward Phillips. 



Tho. Clarke. Tho. Giffard. Robert Cadby. 



Ambrose Zealy. Saml. Harris. Wm. P Price, 



James Phillips. Thomas Trimnell. his marke. 



Edward Sloper. 



A.D. 1721, [8th George I.] A Thomas Phillips was Master of 

 the Fraternity, as appears by his name written within the volume. 



A.D. 1740, [4th George II.] The tradesmen of Devizes appear 

 at this date to have been suffering from the inroads of a class of 

 persons known in the present day as " Hawkers," who according to 

 the laws of the Guilds, were strictly prohibited from " uttering 

 their merchandizes" within the Borough. An entry in the volume 

 recites the ordinance No. XIII., and states that the bye-laws 

 before ordained for enforcing the same having proved ineffectual, 

 it is ordained, by the Mayor, Recorder, and Chief Burgesses at a 

 Council held on the 3rd day of September, that, if any person after 

 the 23rd of October following, not being free of one or other of the 

 Guilds, shall, unless in open fairs, expose for sale by retail any 

 goods, or use any trade contrarj' to the above-mentioned ordinance, 

 he shall forfeit the sura of £1 for every such offence. And it is 



