The Company and the Trade. 203 



search and threatened to strike them with a hammer 

 and giveing very abusive words It is ordered he be 

 ffined ffive pounds for soe doing and that he be sum- 

 moned to appeare at the next Court to answer the same." 



The search was exercised with the utmost im- 

 partiality, no atom of favour being shown to a 

 member of the Company if an ill-made saddle 

 were in question. Instances occur of Wardens 

 and Assistants being similarly fined. In illustra- 

 tion of this, an incident which took place in 1 703 

 may be here cited : — 



1703. October 20th. 



" This Court being informed by Mr. Gunton, Mr. 

 Shelton, and Mr. Carter, that certaine Sadlers having 

 undertaken to furnish a great number of Sadies for the 

 use of his Portugall Majesty, they have been to search 

 and saw the same and found the seats to be made of the 

 worst of sheepskin and the panells stuffed with hay. 

 Did thereupon now order a Remonstrance to be drawn 

 up and presented to the Envoy of his Portugall Ma^^^ to 

 represent the same as a manifest Cheat and tending to 

 the great dishonour and disgrace of her Majesty's 

 Government and the City of London and in particular 

 of this Corporacon." 



A remonstrance was accordingly drawn up and 

 presented. A large number of saddles destined 

 for the expedition to Portugal were condemned, 

 and two members of the Company, who were 

 implicated in their manufacture, were fined the 

 then large sum of ^20 each. 



p 



