History of the Company. 



53 



and subsequent monarchs, together with a long 

 incorporation Charter by EHzabeth herself. The 

 Company are therein incorporated by the name 

 of the Wardens or Keepers and Commonalty of 

 the Mystery or Art of Saddlers of the City of 

 London, and are empowered to receive and 

 possess lands, tenements, and franchises ; to en- 

 force a quarterage of "^d. upon all freemen of the 

 Company for the sustenation of the feeble poor 

 and old men of the Mystery or Art aforesaid, and 

 for the improvement of the state of the common- 

 w^ealth of the Wardens, &c. ; to enforce payment 

 of any sums levied upon the commonalty by the 

 Wardens, with the assent of eight Assistants ; and 

 generally to do and manage all the affairs of the 

 Company. The Charter, moreover, confirmed to 

 the Company power to exercise supervision, 

 scrutiny, and correction over all makers of sad- 

 dles, bridles, bits, reins, stirrups, girdles, and 

 harness, or other things pertaining to the art of 

 saddlery, as well aliens as freemen, within the 

 vills of Southwark and Westminster, and a two- 

 mile circuit of the City. The Company were 

 also empowered to deface and destroy all deceitful 

 wares and to punish their makers, " so that the 

 correction and punishment of such be not exer- 

 cised against the law of England or the ordi- 

 nances and statutes thereof made, or against the 

 customs and liberties and privileges of the City of 

 London." ^ 



^ The original Charter is still in the Company's possession. 



