The Company and the Trade. 187 



pany's treasury and sold, or exchanged for other 

 plate. 



Minutes similar to the followino^ occur now and 

 again : — 



1654. October lytk 



'' At this Court it is ordered that our M' and Wardens 

 with two antient M'' shall buy foure table-cloaths and 

 12 doz. of napkins of diaper and cupboard cloatlxs and 

 towelles and to change the spoones for plate reserving 8 

 doz. for the vse of the Hall." 



And again in the following month we read : — 



" Att this Court the Auditors delivered out of the 

 Treasury a C^ to Warden Jones and to our M*" and 

 Wardens six dozen and eight Siluer Spoones whereof 

 26 guilt all which were sould for 33;^ 05^ 10^ and at the 

 same tyme there was bought foure standing siluer Salts 

 Cellars two trencher Salts and fowre beere boules 

 weighing 127°^ 9'^ wth at 5' 6^ p. oz. 35>^ : oj' : 00*^ paid 

 2' &^ for marking them which makes 35^ 3' G^. There 

 was bought at the same tyme fowre diap table clothes 

 containing 34 yards and 6 dozen of napkins containing 

 yS yards and a Court Cupboard Cloth containing 3 yards 

 all which cost 18;^ 13^ 10^." 



Towards the end of the seventeenth century, 

 however, the Company appear to have reverted 

 to the old practice of a pecuniary payment, and 

 several entries occur from time to time of " x* 

 paid for a spoone." 



The ordinances of the Company imposed a fine 

 upon any master presenting his apprentice for the 



o 



