Occupation |
Date of first mention |
Reference in the Borough Records | ||||
| 11. | Drapers | . . | 1560 | Vol. | III. | 99. |
| 12. | Shearmen | . . | 1560 | Vol. | III. | 99. |
| 13. | Tanners | . . | 1566 | Vol. | III. | 119. |
| 14. | Weavers | . . | 1573 | Vol. | III. | 152. |
| 15. | Ironmongers | . . | 1573 | Vol. | III. | 152. |
| 16. | Cutlers | . . | 1573 | Vol. | III. | 152. |
| 17. | Brewers | . . | 1574 | Vol. | III. | 154. |
The Glovers were not granted an Ordinal in proper form until 1600, but they had an Ordinal in use as early as 1559.
The Brewers' Occupation was established in 1574, when it was agreed at a common hall that "the Brewers shall together become a fellowship or brotherhood and to have certain orders and decrees made amongst them by the consent of the Mayor before the 25th day of March 1575, and then amongst them to appoint Wardens and such other officers as shall be needful, and the same to be ratified and allowed from time to time by the Mayors there." The Master and 2 Wardens were appointed by the Mayor.
Half of the fines which were incurred for breaches of the rules contained in a trade's Ordinal were paid over to the Chamberlains for the Guild Merchant. Entrance fees were also paid to them by the Steward of an Occupation, when members set up their craft. Moreover, the keeping of apprentices was regulated by the governing body of the town. No one, in the 16th century, might keep an apprentice unbound above forty days, and every apprentice had to be enrolled before the Mayor. All persons entering a craft were required to swear the same Oath, which ran thus:—
"I shall truly do and execute all good rules and customs contained and specified within mine Ordinal. I shall be obedient to my Wardens' commandment at all times convenient. I shall truly and duly pay all such duties and forfeits as shall be due within the said Ordinal and all other good rules and customs belonging to the said Ordinal to my knowledge and power I shall maintain and keep. So God me help and all His Saints."
The Occupations appear to have been managed, as a rule, by two Wardens and a Steward. The Oath taken by these officials is thus given by Nichols in its 17th century form:—
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