172 The Guild of Merchants, at Devizes. 



saboth day except it be for necessities sackc, vpon painc of forfiture of 

 X' for euery sutcli oflFence. 



"Notwithstandinge a Constitucon given and graunted to vs by the 

 maio' and chiefe Counsellers and Comon Counsell" of this boroiiffhe, 

 that the maister and Wardens w*"" other inferior officers should be 

 elected and chosen on the monday after midsomer day, we nowe 

 w"' a general! consent of the wholle fraternitie doe for diu'" causes 

 and consideracons macke choise of this day, the wensday after mid- 

 sommer day, beinge the xxvj**' day of June, 1622, and doe decree 

 also that from henceforth it shall continue at the p'fixed day before 

 ordained in the constitucons, except happen it shall that the licke 

 occasion shall fall out. 



"This ix*^ of Augiist, 1623, Nycholas Barrett, gent, 

 Mr. and John Hope and Marmaduke Burd, Wardens 

 of the Company of Mercers, w^'' diu'" others of the same 

 fraternitie being assembled together in the Haull, made 

 an order, the effect thereof is as foUoweth : — 

 " That whereas our King's Ma*'" hath graunted a Charter vnto 

 this Corporacon, by vertue whereof most trades, occupacons, and 

 sciences arc knitt into three Companyes as in the bookes of Consti- 

 tucons it doth and lonay at large appeare • We therefore the M' of 

 the fraternitie of M'cers w'" diu's of that fellowshippe doe decree : — 

 That once a weeke henceforeward to meete together at the Haull, 

 or as many as shall thinke fitt soe to doe, for the more increase of 

 Amitie and love together, as alsoe there to question and Conferre 

 of matters Coiicerninge the trades, that thereby we may be the 

 more inabled to sell as good pennyworths as any of our neighbour 

 townes, the w"'' by god's assistance, we doubt nothing to the Con- 

 trary, our meeting therefore betwene our Lady day and Michaellmas 

 to be betwen ffive and six of of the Clock every Satturday on the 

 afternoone, and betwene Mich'as and o' Lady daye betwene ffouro 

 and ffive of the Clock every Satturday in the afternoone." 



Two entries which occur in the volume belonging to the Drapers, 

 are omitted in that of the Mercers, viz : — the confirmation of its con- 

 tents (excepting the Oaths) by the Mayor, Recorder, and Burgesses 

 A.D. 1651; and the ordinance for altering the day of election, a.d. 



