Kuhl — Chaucer's Burgesses. 
669 
Did the Londoners desire an infusion of new blood in the 
Aldermancy? Or was Chaucer’s reference a sly thrust at 
the Mayor’s precept of 1384? If the latter, it is a capital 
touch. 1 
That there was rivalry because it implied a minimum 
bank account seems certain. Though Chaucer does not 
tell us that a burgess to be an alderman must have a certain 
amount of worldly goods, he implies it. 
For catel hadde they ynogh and rente. 2 
As a matter of fact, a minimum was necessary. Earlier in 
the century a law was passed stating that each alderman 
must have three horses. 3 
Nor was the spectacular element absent in an Alderman’s 
career. Though not of great importance its social influence 
was not negligible. Fortunately there is preserved a highly 
interesting entry which throws light on this point, as well as 
on the feeling of civic consciousness which was developing 
at this time. Incidentally, the Host’s 
And who so wole my Juggement withseye 
Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye, 4 
is apropos. In 1382 5 the Mayor and Aldermen agreed unani¬ 
mously that “for the dignity of the said city” all the Aider- 
men “should be arrayed upon the Feast of Pentecost (Whit 
Monday).in cloaks of green lined with green taffeta, or 
tartaryn.” Anybody who refused was to pay a penalty 
which was to be determined by the Mayor and such Aider- 
men as were properly garbed. But on the appointed Mon- 
1 Chaucer, it may be observed, exhibits his usual subtlety in his allusions 
to contemporary events. 
2 A. 373. 
3 Letter-Book, C, p. 154. Cf. Liber Albus, I. p. XLVII. In an or¬ 
dinance of 1397 a man to be an alderman had to be “fit in morals and world¬ 
ly goods.” {Letter-Book, H, p. 436). This ordinance implies a minimum. 
Though little information exists we discover, beginning with the next 
century, some interesting facts. For example, in 1469 a man to be an 
alderman must have £1000; in 1710, £15000; in 1812, £30000. Aider- 
men frequently refused to serve (Beaven, II. p. XXXIX). For enviable 
privileges of an alderman see Liber Albus, I. pp. 32 ff. Among other privi¬ 
leges they were not required to pay anything for the enrollment of their 
charters or deeds {Ibid., p. 35). There were heavy penalties for insulting 
an alderman {Ibid). See oath taken by aldermen {Ibid., pp. 307-8). 
That they were not to sell victuals while in office is of interest. 
4 A. 805-6. Cf. 833-4. 
6 Riley, Memorials of London , p. 466. Letter-Book , H, p. 188 contains 
a summary of the incident. 
