n8 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 
of Gardiners 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 Holy rood 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. 
