History of the Company. 99 



" There shalbe a Banner made an ell square against 

 y" next Lord Maior's day with the States armes upon 

 it." 



About this time an order was Issued from the 

 The King's Councll of State, commanding the 

 Arms. removal of the arms and pictures of 

 the late King from all churches, common halls of 

 the Companies, and other public places, and 

 accordingly we find the following minute Im- 

 mediately ensuing upon the one just quoted : — 



" Att this Corte it is ordered that y*" late King his 

 armes shalbee pulled downe and destroyed, and white 

 glasse put in y^ place." 



During the latter part of the period of civil war 

 The Fine of ^^^ Halls of the City Companies were 

 Marlborough, nearly all occupied by various Depart- 

 ments of the State for the transaction of public 

 business. The Guildhall was used as a Parlia- 

 ment House. Weavers' Hall was the office of the 

 Exchequer, Goldsmiths' Hall the national bank, 

 and so on. Saddlers' Hall In 1653 was occupied 

 by the Commissioners for collecting funds for the 

 relief of the City of Marlborough, which In the 

 April of that year was almost totally destroyed by 

 fire. Curiously enough, the circumstance of this 

 occupation of their Hall Is nowhere alluded to In 

 the Company's books, although mention occurs of 

 a subscription towards the relief of the Inhabitants. 

 In the archives of the City of Chester, however, 

 there are preserved letters from the Commis- 



