the guild's arms, with the tools and insignia of the trade. Thus, the painters had for their arms, in imitation of those of Prague, three small escutcheons, white with black dots in a field gules, the crest a virgin kneeling, with waving hair and veil, the left hand leaning on the hip, the right one grasping a spear. The goldsmiths followed those of Breslau in having for arms an image of St. Eligius (the "St. Loy" of Chaucer's Prioress) in the act of manufacturing a chalice in embossed work. Each guild had its own patron: the painters St. Luke, the potters our first parents (because man was the first piece of potter's work, being made of earth); the joiners of course had St. Joseph; and the "gentle craft" of shoemakers SS. Crispin and Crispinian. With images of these saints they adorned their documents, their corporation insignia, and other implements. A sample of these is a magnificent glass bumper which belonged to the sword-cutlers' guild, dating from 1603, with the arms in beautiful enamel, and a representation of Christ's passion.
The seniors of the guilds, of whom one was chosen "Master of the Guild" every year, conducted all business affairs, administered the property of the guild, entered in its books the names of newly received apprentices—none but Catholics of legitimate descent being admitted—and of the journeymen when they got the freedom, on which solemn occasion the new freeman usually presented to the corporation either a votive tablet with the image of its Patron, or a large piece of coin. The journeymen, when freed, usually went on their travels, wandering on foot through foreign towns, especially in Germany, where they improved their professional knowledge. At the meeting-houses of the guilds, social entertainments took place from time to time, in which both masters and journeymen joined. On such occasions, the pewter vessels and plate of the guild were used, of which the town archives still preserve a considerable store. Invitations for these solemn banquets were sent round by a messenger bearing the badge of the guild; some are still extant: the goldsmiths' badge, being a large ring of bronze and silver, is particularly remarkable for the beauty of its execution; it is
