Rambles in an Old City Part 7

Leading from this chamber is a door-way, that opens out upon leads, where in olden times the ladies and friends of the aldermen were wont to enjoy the various spectacles offered by the processions and pageants then so frequently displayed.

The other princ.i.p.al chamber, formerly used by the common-councilmen, and now appropriated to sundry legal purposes, is adorned with the various quaint and significant emblems that once figured in the guild processions, in attendance upon his majesty, Snap, who, from the dignity of his elevation upon the landing-place without, looks down with proud and silent scorn upon all the modern innovations and reformations that have swept away the glories that surrounded his throne;-but of him more by-and-bye.

Beyond the council-chamber is the way of access to the old Record room, whence, now and then, some "Old Mortality" may be seen emerging, laden with treasures rescued from the mouldering heaps of antiquarian lore, there lying buried beneath the acc.u.mulated dust and cobwebs of centuries.

All praise and thanks be given, as due, to these patient and industrious workers, the fruits of whose labours so liberally are placed at the command of all less learned and recondite scribblers, who scruple not to gather of the crumbs that fall from the rich intellectual banquets they have spread before the lovers of history, antiquity, or science.

An armoury room, where weapons of divers sorts and multiform invention are stored, all bearing evidence of long disuse by rust and decay, and a treasury of gold and silver, maces and sceptres, in their various departments, claim notice; but as such things possess neither very great intrinsic worth, or any peculiarly interesting historical interest, save the little sceptre of Queen Elizabeth, a pa.s.sing word may be enough to devote to them; it is time to turn attention to the subject more intimately a.s.sociated with the very name of the building itself. A Guildhall instantly suggests the question of guilds, their origin, character, and the features of history connected with those whose existence are memorialized by this particular edifice and its appendages.

Guilds were societies of persons confederated together for the common cause of trade, charity, and religion. They were very numerous; in this county alone 907 were enumerated by Taylor in his Index Monasticus, as existing at the time of the Reformation.

The Parochial guilds were often too poor to afford to hire a room for their meetings, but a.s.sembled at each other's houses; but when such was not the case, they usually hired a house near the church, which was called a Guildhall, or church house; the situation being chosen as convenient, their business being to pray as well as to eat. The Guild consisted of an alderman, brethren and sisters, the parson of the parish and the princ.i.p.al persons of the neighbourhood being members. They held lands, received legacies, and frequently met; but their grand a.s.sembly was on the day of their patron saint, when they went to church and offered up prayers at his altar for all the members of the society, living and dead. From their saint they took their distinctive t.i.tles, as St. George's, St. Luke's Guild, &c. They bestowed alms annually upon the poor, received travelling strangers, and did other acts of charity, as far as their revenues allowed.

Their meetings were usually crowned by a dinner, and terminated often in a manner not altogether consistent with their commencement. Some of the guilds in large towns were wealthy and influential. The bill for giving their possessions to the king, when sent to the lower house in 1547, was much opposed by the burgesses, who represented that the boroughs could no longer maintain their churches and other public works, if the rents belonging to the guilds were transferred to the king. The act pa.s.sed, upon a pledge that the lands should be restored. It was the last act of Henry the Eighth's reign, and was put in execution by his successor; but the promise was ill performed, many of the revenues being seized, upon the plea of their being free chapel or chantry endowments.

This brief sketch of the nature and origin of guilds, may suffice to introduce more particularly the history of the great Guild of St. George, the most important of all the fraternities that existed in this city, and from being connected with the munic.i.p.al body from an early date, intimately a.s.sociated with the history of the Guildhall. The following copious account of the company, with the copy of one of the charters granted to them, is extracted from the papers of the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society.

COPY OF CHARTER.

"Henry, by the grace of G.o.d, (King) of England, France, and lord of Ireland, &c., to whom these present letters shall come greeting:

"Know ye that, whereas we have understood a certain Fraternity, and Gild of the glorious martyr St. George, in our city of Norwich, for thirty years past, and more, continually have been, and are, still honestly governed, and the brethren and sisters of the Gylde aforesaid, for the same time have found a chaplain duly celebrating divine service in the Cathedral church of the said city, and diverse and great cost for the wors.h.i.+p of G.o.d, and the same glorious martyr, have made and do purpose to do more, if we should vouchsafe to a.s.sist them in the behalf. Wee, in consideration of the premises, and for the augmentation of the same of our people, to the said glorious martyr, do, for us, our heirs (as much as in us lye), accept, ratify, and confirm the said Fraternity and Gylde, and we have granted that the said Fraternity and Gylde be perpetually a community in time succession for ever. And that the Fraternity and Gylde aforesaid have the name of the Gylde of Saint George in Norwich, for ever. And that the brethren and sisters aforesaid, and their successors yearly by themselves, at their will choose and create one alderman and two masters successively, and make honest and reasonable ordinances and const.i.tutions to the better government of the said Fraternity and Gylde.

"Also cloath themselves with one suit of cloaths, and yearly make a feast for eating and drinking, in a convenient place within the said city, to be by them a.s.signed.

"And also the aldermen and masters, brethren and sisters of the Fraternity and Gylde aforesaid, and their successors, be able and capable persons to purchase land, tenements, rents and services, to have, receive, and hold to them and their successors for ever, to the aldermen, masters, brothers and sisters of the Gyld of St. George in Norwich; and may in all courts and places for ever sue and be sued, answer and be answered, and gain and lose, and have a common seal for the business of the Fraternity and Gylde aforesaid to be transacted.

"And further of our special favour we have granted and given license for us and our heirs, (as much as in us lyes), to the aforesaid alderman, masters, brethren and sisters, that they and their successors may purchase and hold to them and their successors lands and tenements, rents and services, within the said city aforesaid, up to the value of ten pounds, which are held of us in burgage, as well for the support of one chaplain to celebrate divine service dayly in the church aforesaid, to pray for us and the said brethren and sisters, their healthful state while we shall live, and for our souls, and the souls of the said brethren and sisters when we shall die. And also for the sowlles of our renowned ancestors, and of all the faithful deceased, as for the support of the Fraternity and Gylde aforesaid. And other works and charges of piety made thereof, according to the ordinances of the same alderman, brethren and sisters for ever; the statute made against giving lands or tenements in mortmain, or any other statute or ordinance made to the contrary, or for that the then lands and tenements aforesaid are held of us in burgage notwithstanding.

"And moreover, to the setting aside the maintenance, confederacy, and conspiracy which by means of the Fraternity and Gylde aforesaid we have granted to the prior of the church aforesaid and to the mayor and to the sheriffs of the said city; also to the alderman and Fraternity of the Gylde aforesaid, which shall be for the time being, sufficient power and authority of expelling, discarding and removing according to their discretion, all brethren and sisters of the Fraternity and Gylde, aforesaid, from the Fraternity and Gylde, and from all the benefits and franchises thereof for ever, who shall be the cause of supporting or upholding such like maintenance, confederacy, or conspiracy aforesaid.

"In testimony whereof, we have caused these letters to be made patent. Witness myself at Reading, the ninth day of May, in the fifth year of our reign, by the King himself, and for 40 paid into the hamper, 1417.

"WYNDHAM."

(Here was affixed the great seal of England.)

Another charter of much greater length is still extant; but we pa.s.s on to the next important feature in the history of the society,-its union with the corporate body of the city,-set forth in a voluminous indenture, known as Judge Yelverton's mediation, which we transcribe, adapting the orthography to suit the general readers of the nineteenth century.

"The Mayor, Sheriffs, and Commonality of the City first united to the Fraternity of the Gylde of St. George, by the mediation of

JUDGE YELVERTON.

"This writing indented, made the 27th day of March, the year of the reign of King Henry VI. the 30th, betwixt the mayor, sheriffs, and commonality of the city of Norwich, on the one part, and the alderman and brethren of the gylde of the glorious martyr, St. George, of the said city, of the other part, by the mediation and diligency of William Yelverton, Justice of our Lord the King, of his own place.

Witnesseth that, as well the said mayor, sheriffs, and commonality, as the aforesaid aldermen and brethren of the said gylde, both according of all matters had or moved betwixt them, before this in manner and form, as in the articles hereafter shewing:-

"First, for to begin to the wors.h.i.+p of G.o.d, our Lady, and of the glorious martyr, St. George, forasmuch as the Cathedral church of the Holy Trinity, of Norwich, is the most wors.h.i.+pful and convenient place, that the glorious martys, St. George, be wors.h.i.+pped by the aldermen and brethren of the said guild, that therefore in the said place, after the forms and effect of the old use had afore this time, the said alderman and brethren be there on the feast of St. George, or some other day in the manner accustomed, there to hear the first even-song, and on the morrow following, to go in procession and hear ma.s.s, and offer there in the wors.h.i.+p of G.o.d and the said martyr; and also there for to hear the second even-song and placebo, and dirige, for the brethren and sisters' souls of the said guild; and on the day next following be at the ma.s.s of requiem, and offer there for the souls of all the brethren and sisters of the said guild and all Christians; and that a priest be continued there in the form accustomed, for to sing and pray for the prosperity, welfare, and honourable estate of the most Christian prince, King Henry VI., our sovereign lord, and also for the welfare of William Yelverton, Justice, by whose mediation and diligence the said accord and appointments have been advised and engrossed.

"And then, for the welfare of all the brethren and sisters of the said guild and fraternity living, and also for the souls of King Henry V., first founder of the said guild, and for all other souls of all the brethren and sisters of the said guild, that be pa.s.sed out of the world, and all Christian souls; and if ever afterwards the possessions of the said guild will stretch to sustain and find another priest, that then such priest shall be found for to pray in like form, and that poor men and women of the said guild be found and relieved by the said guild, as hath been accustomed, as the goods will stretch to save other charges and necessary expenses, to the wors.h.i.+p of G.o.d and of the said martyr, and to the good conservation and continuance of the said brethren.

"Also, on the morning next after the solemnity of the said guild, kept in the wors.h.i.+p of the glorious martyr, Saint George, the brethren of the said guild, and their successors, shall yearly choose the mayor of the said city, and that time being a brother of the said guild, for to be alderman of the said guild for all the next year following, after his discharge of his office of mayoralty, then forthwith to take the charge and occupation of the said office of aldermans.h.i.+p of the said fraternity and guild; and so every person chosen to be mayor yearly, after he hath occupied mayoralty for an whole year, to occupy the said aldermans.h.i.+p of the said guild; and in case he refuse to occupy the said aldermans.h.i.+p after his mayoralty, to pay unto the said fraternity 100_s._ to the use of the said guild, and that the old alderman stand still alderman, unto the time another be chosen unto the said office of alderman to the said guild; and if the alderman of the said guild happen to die within the year, that then the mayor for the time being, occupy that office of alderman for his time, and so forth the next year following, according to this act.

"And that all the aldermen of the said city, that now are, and shall be in time coming, shall be made brethren of the said guild, without charge of the feast.

"Also, that every man that is, or shall be chosen to be, of the common council of the said city, be admitted also to be a brother of the said guild if he like; and that by great diligence and deliberation had, as well for the wors.h.i.+p of the said city as the said guild, that no man be chosen to the said common council, but such as are and seem for to be able and sufficient of discretion and good disposition, and that every man that shall be received a brother into the said guild, shall be sworn, and receive his oath in form that followeth:-

"'This hear, ye alderman and brethren of this fraternity and guild of the glorious martyr, St. George, in this city of Norwich, that from this day forward, the honour, prosperity, wors.h.i.+ps, profits, welfare, and surety of the fraternity and guild, after my power, I shall sustain, lawfully maintain and defend, and all lawful ordinances made or to be made, with all the circ.u.mstances and dependancies thereto belonging, truly and duly pay my dues after the said ordinances, without trouble or grievance of the said brethren and sisters, or of any officer of them, and Buxum to you aldermen and all your successors in all lawful commandments, to my power and cunning, so that this oath stretch not to any thing against the laws of G.o.d, nor against the laws of the land, nor against the liberties or franchises, the welfare, good peace, and rest of this city, nor against any panel of the oath that I have made afore to the king, and to the said city.'

"Also, the said aldermen and common council of the guild, shall choose when they list, from henceforward, other men and women of the said city, beside the said alderman and common council, such as they may think convenient by their discretion, and able thereto for to be brethren and sisters of the said guild.

"Also, that there be no man chosen nor received from henceforth into the said guild, dwelling out of the said city, but if he be a knight or a squire, or else notably known for a gentleman of birth, or else that he be a person of great wors.h.i.+p by his virtue, and by his truth and great cunning, or be some great notable means and cause of great wors.h.i.+p, and yet that all manner of thing that shall appertain to the governance of the said guild, or to any possessions or goods thereof, or choosing of any brother into the said guild, or correction of any default done to any brother, or by any brother thereof, and all other things that appertaineth to the rules of the said guild, or by the more part of them dwelling within the said city.

"Also, that all the possessions and moveable goods, that now or hereafter shall appertain to the said guild, be all only employed and applied to the wors.h.i.+p of G.o.d and our Lady, and of the glorious martyr, St. George, and to the wors.h.i.+p of the brethren of the said guild, and for the health of the souls of all those that have been brethren and sisters of the said guild, are and shall be in time coming, and in none otherwise; and hereto every man be sworn at his coming in specially, that henceforward shall be any other brother in the said guild, that he shall here do all that is in his power, and in no wise give his a.s.sent nor his favour to the contrary.

"Also, that every year be chosen surveyors, and such convenient officers as shall be thought necessary by the discretion of the aldermen and brethren of the said guild; and that every year the said alderman and four brethren of the said guild, whereof two be aldermen of the said city, be chosen for to see a reckoning, and to know the disposition and governance of all the possessions, moveables, and goods appertaining to the said guild, and to make a writing of the estate thereof, and shew that to the brethren of the said guild yearly, or else to a certain number of brethren, resident in the said city thereto named.

"Also, that every four years, once be given hoods or liveries of suit to each of the brethren of the said guild, and them honestly to be kept and worn to the wors.h.i.+p of the glorious martyr, St. George, and of the brotherhood, if it seemeth to the said alderman and common council convenient.

"Also, although the aldermen of the city, and every person of common council of the same city, be brethren of the same guild, yet if it happen that any of them, or any other citizen or brother of the said guild, be discharged of his aldermans.h.i.+p, or put out of the said common council, or _discomynyd_ against his will, for a great and notable cause against his wors.h.i.+p, that then forthwith he be discharged of the said guild; or else, whosoever be once a brother of the said guild, that he be a brother still, paying his duties, till he will wilfully serve his own discharge, or else for notable causes be reasonably discharged.

"Also it is ordained that the alderman and twenty of the brethren, aforesaid, be for the a.s.sembly, and the common council of the said guild, and that it needeth not to have no greater number thereto; and that the alderman name thereof six, by his oath, that he choose no person by no manner persuaded, nor private means, nor for favour nor friends.h.i.+p of no person, nor of no parties, but such as to his conscience are most indifferent and best disposed, and best willed to the wors.h.i.+p and welfare, rest, peace, and profit of all the city, and the said guild; and in like form, the six so chosen shall, by their taking the same oath, choose six of such persons of the said guild, according to their said oath; then the alderman, by his said oath, such other two which be aldermen of the said guild, of which two of the aldermen, and the more part of them, shall be and make the common council, and the a.s.sembly of the said guild; and if any of them should be warned to come to the said common council, if he then be resident in the said city, and come not, but if he hath reasonable excusation, that he pay 20_d._ for every day.

"And that all the old rules and ordinances of the said guild shall be seen by the aldermen, and the said common council of the said guild, and all those that be good, reasonable, and convenient to the wors.h.i.+p of G.o.d, our Lady, and the glorious martyr St. George, and to the weal and peace within the said city, shall be kept, with reasonable additions put thereto, if it need; and if any ambiguity or doubt hereafterwards fall for the understanding or execution of the said article, in case that the said alderman, and more part of the said common council cannot accord therein, that then it be reformed and determined by the advice of the said William Yelverton.

"And if any brother now being, or in time coming shall be, do conspire or labour to attempt to do in any thing the contrary of any of these appointments, or any other in time coming, by the aldermen or more part of the common council to be made, and that reasonably proved upon him before the said alderman, and the more part of the said common council, that then he be forthwith discharged of the said guild, and that notified by the said alderman to the mayor, in the common council of the said city, that then, it done, he be discharged of his liberties and franchises of the said city, and unable ever to be citizen of the said city, or brother of the said guild, and taken and had as a forsworn man shamed and reproved, and _reune_ in the pain of infamy.

"Also, that all these articles abovesaid, be every year, once, or oftener if it be needed, be openly read before the said alderman, and all the brethren, or the most part of them. In witness of these premises to the one part of this indenture remaining towards the said mayor and commonality, the alderman and brethren of the said fraternity and guild have set their common seal; and to the other part of the said indenture, abiding toward the said alderman and brethren of the said guild, the mayor and commonality of the said city have set their common seal. Given and done at Norwich, the day and year aforesaid, in the time of the mayoralty of Ralph Segrim, when William Baily and John Gilbert were sheriffs, Thomas Allen, alderman of the aforesaid guild, according to the tenour of this agreement.

"From thenceforth, the court of mayorality, justices, alderman, sheriffs, and common councilmen, were admitted and united to the fraternity of the glorious martyr St. George. The rank and importance of the members of the society may be inferred from the fact, of their admitting from the country none beneath the rank of _notable gentlemen_. The union of the two bodies took place fourteen years after the subst.i.tution of mayor and sheriffs for bailiffs."

Among the entries in their book occur the following:

"At George's Inn, Fybriggate, at an a.s.ssembly there, holden the Monday next before the feast of All Saints, in the ninth year of King Henry IV., A.D. 1408; it was agreed to furnish priests with copes, "and the George shall go in procession and make a conflict with the dragon, and keep his estate both days."

"Item. It is ordained that two new jackets of fustian and red buckram be bought for the henchmen (servitors upon George).

"A.D. 1408, auditors were chosen to survey the accounts of the company, a bellman to the company to have 2_s._ a year salary; a beadle 1_s._ 3_d._, and for all those that are admitted and sworn, 2_d._ for each entry; and the minstrel waytes of the city 5_s._, the beadle for warning the brethren at any 'obite,' 6_d._; and twelve poor men to be fed at a table by themselves every year, on St.

George's day.

"Item. It is ordained by the common a.s.sent, that forasmuch as before this time, the dirige, and ma.s.s of requiem, have been so rudely and dishonestly kept, and sung by aggregate persons, and children standing in temporal clothing, for remedy whereof to the honour of G.o.d, and spiritual conservation of the souls departed to G.o.d, that henceforth yearly shall be provided ten secular priests, that be not brethren of this fraternity, to be there at dirige and ma.s.s of requiem; each of them to have, when ma.s.s is done, 4_d._ of the obite money.

"A.D. 1469, ordained that an inventory of all the goods and jewels appertaining to the said fraternity be taken."

INVENTORY.

"Imprimis. A precious relic; viz., an angel, silver-gilt, bearing the arms of St. George, given by Sir John Fastolf.

"One chalice, silver-gilt.

"A manual, with two silver clasps.