n8 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 



of Gardmers of London." 1 Thomas Young was appointed first 

 Master, and seven years was the term of apprenticeship to the 

 Company. It was hoped that the formation of this Guild would 

 put a stop to frauds practised by gardeners in the City, who 

 sold dead trees and bad seeds " to the great deceit and loss " 

 of their customers. But it appears that these abuses continued 

 to exist, and a second Charter was granted in the fourteenth 

 year of James I., and the Company was invested with further 

 privileges. No person was allowed to " use or exercise the 

 art or misterie of gardening, within the said area, without the 

 licence and consent " 2 of the Company, nor were any persons 

 who had not served their apprenticeship, and received the 

 freedom of the Company, permitted to sell any garden-stuff, 

 except within certain hours, and in such places and markets 

 as were open to other foreigners who had not the freedom of 

 the City. The Company were also permitted to seize any 

 " plants, herbs or roots that were exposed for sale by any un- 

 licenced person, and distribute them among the poor of the place 

 where such forfeitures shall be taken." And it was also 

 lawful for any four members of the Guild " to search and 

 viewe all manner of plants, stocks, setts, trees, seedes, slippes, 

 roots, flowers, hearbes and other things that shall be sould or 

 sett to sale in any markett within the Cittie of London and 

 sixe myles about," and to " burn or otherwise consume " all 

 that was found to be " unwholesome, dry, rotten, deceitfull or 

 unprofitable." William Wood was elected first Master under 

 the new charter. There were two Wardens, the number of 

 Assistants was increased to twenty-four, a Beadle was ap- 

 pointed, and the Company was granted a livery. The rights 

 and privileges of the Company were again confirmed by 

 Charles I., in 1635. The Court of Aldermen had never been 

 favourable to the new Company, and did not assist to main- 

 tain the powers of the gardeners to regulate their craft, and 

 the abuses continued to exist. In May, 1617, Sir Robert 

 Naunton wrote in the King's name from Holyrood to the 

 Lord Mayor, pointing out that the admission of the Gardeners 

 to the freedom of the City could not be in any way prejudicial, 



1 From the original charter belonging to the Company. 



2 Second'Charter, 1616, in the possession of the Company. 



