^5^ 



Internal Affairs of the Company. 



to church to hear Divine Service ; the Wardens 

 walking first, then the Livery, the '' householders" 

 next, and lastly, the freemen. After returning to 

 the Hall, the Company proceeded to the election 

 of Wardens for the year ensuing, or for two years 

 if it was thought convenient, and any Warden 

 refusing office forfeited the sum of forty shillings, 

 to be levied upon his goods and chattels. The 

 ordinances ratified 6 James I. increased the fine 

 for absence from the election from twelvepence 

 to three shillings and fourpence, and made no 

 mention of the necessity for the attendance of 

 the Livery and Commonalty, whose participation 

 in the election would appear from the following 

 minute to have been discontinued by these latter 

 ordinances : — 



1646. August 14///. 



'* At this Co'"* the Liverie appeared without sumons, 

 and by appoyntment sent into the Court twoe of them, 

 viz*., Thomas Jones and Will'" Deacon, to make knowne 

 to the Court their desire v/''' was that they desired to 

 ioyne with them in the eleccon of Wardens w'^^ the 

 Court denyed." 



The ordinances ratified 21 Charles IL make it 

 clear that the privilege and power of the election 

 of Wardens is restricted to the old Wardens and 

 Assistants, and set forth that after hearing Divine 

 Service subsequent to the election, the Assistants 

 and Livery shall dine together, and that at such 

 dinner the old Wardens '' shall solemnly make an 

 open presentation and confirmation of the said 



