Middle English Literature

particularly London trade guilds became very wealthy and powerful, often
influencing royal policies because they were a principal source of income
for the crown.
Guild records of organizational structure, activities, and membership tended
to be kept in French until the fifteenth century, when they begin frequently
to appear in English. In 1388 King Richard II gave additional impetus to
record keeping when he requested from towns and guilds descriptions of
the make-up of the guilds. The Grocers’ Company, as the most powerful
guild in London in the fourteenth century, has the greatest number of
London records to survive. It shows an annual membership of between 70
and 130 senior members in the late-fourteenth to mid-fifteenth centuries
who were involved in importing spices, fruit, and chemical products, and
exporting primarily wool.
Over twenty-five guilds existed in Bristol, a principal English craft and
trade town, in the fifteenth century. The Weavers in the second excerpt
express concerns first raised earlier in the century about workers not from

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the city. The specific interest in women guild members is a new feature in
their records. Women in England generally had been able to become guild
members, but they were a distinct minority and were usually accorded fewer
rights, privileges, and advantages than their male counterparts. Traditional
women’s work in households and in seasonal work also tended to exclude
them from forming or partaking in guilds.
Primary documents and further reading
Kowaleski, M. and J. M. Bennett (1989) “Crafts, Gilds, and Women in the Middle
Ages: Fifty Years after Marian K. Dale.” In J. M. Bennett et al. (eds.) Sisters and
Workers in the Middle Ages. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 11–38.
McRee, B. R. (1993) “Charity and Gild Solidarity in Late Medieval England.” Journal
of British Studies 32: 195–225.
Nightingale, P. (1995) A Medieval Mercantile Community: The Grocers’ Company and
the Politics and Trade of London, 1000–1485. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
Smith, T. and L. Brentano (eds.) (1963) [1870] English Gilds: The Original Ordin-
ances of More than One Hundred Early English Gilds. EETS, o.s. 40. London: Oxford
University Press.
Thrupp, S. L. (1948) The Merchant Class of Medieval London, 1300–1500. Ann
Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
—— (1963) “The Gilds.” In M. M. Postan, E. E. Rich, and E. Miller (eds.) The Cam-
bridge Economic History of Europe. Vol. 3: Organization and Policies in the Middle
Ages. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 230–80.
Unwin, G. (1908) The Gilds and Companies of London. London: Methuen.
Manuscript Archives, Company of Grocers, fols. 117–22. “Ordenances of the Grocers’ Com-
pany.” In J. A. Kingdon (ed.) (1886) Facsimile of First Volume of MS Archives of the Worshipful
Company of Grocers of the City of London, A.D. 1345–1463, vol. 1. London: Company of
Grocers, 117–22.
Language: English (Southeast Midland)
Manuscript date: 1418
Theis ordynaunces ar be gonne in the worchyp of God in the yer of owr
Lord 1345, of the fraternite of St. Antonyn off the grocers for hem to
maynteyn and susteyn in the best maner, to the wiche we praye God help,
hys modyr Seynt Marye, and all the holy cumpanye off heven. And the same
ordynaunce turnyd in to Englysche be the avyce of the fraternite in the yer
of owr Lord 1418, Robert Chechele, alderman, that tyme governour,
1
Esmond Twyn and Thomas Catworth, maysteres.
1
Also mayor 1421–2.
Guilds
157

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158
Labor and Capital
The acord is made be comun assent that every man of the brothyr hood
the day of Seynt Antonyn in the moneth off May schall comen to chirch
of Seynt Antonyn fornseid,
2
yf they bien in London, for to hyer the hye
messe, and ther for to abyde from the begynnyng in to endyng of the messe.
And iche of hem schall ofyr a peny in the worchyp of God, and of hys blessyd
moder Marye, and of Seynt Antonyn, and all seynts, and who so faileth
schall paye twelve pence. And the same day, ethyr in eight dayes next
folowyng, the whiche day schall be assygnyd be the maistres, schall comen
to gedres all that ben in London off this fraternite for to speke to gedirs and,
as they accordyn, to gedyr etyn and, aftir the ordenaunce of the maystres,
thay schullyn be servyd. And all tho that beyn in the clothing schull paye
two shillings, six pence. And he that is owt of towun shall paye als moche as
hit is be fornseid for the fornseid mete and for to susteyn the prest.
3
And
all tho that bien owte of the clotyng, and he hold shop, schall paye twelve
pence,
4
com he or com he nought. And that every brothir of the same fela-
shepe holdynge ocupacion up on himself shal quarterly paye to ther prest
seven pence.
And the same daye of the assemble the maystres, whan the mangerye
5
is
endyd, shullen comen with three chapeletts,
6
and they schull chesyn othyr
three wardeyns for the yer folowyng, apon whom the forseid chapelletts
schullen be sette, and to hem delyvered, yf they be ther present.
And than to hem delivered in presence of hem ensosyyd
7
to hem, the
whiche be chosin be all the compaignie, all the monye, all the avoyr,
8
and
the paper, and all that langith to the fornseyd fraternite in payne of losse of
ten pounds and so forth from yer to yer. And who so refusith to be maystre,
he is bounden to paye to the forseyd brothirhed ten pounds sterlynges and
than to be put owt of the brothirhed for all dayes.
And yf eny of the compaignie be put owt of the compaignie for any
trespasse that he hath doon ageins the fraternite, he schalle nowght be take
in to the clotyng ageyn witowten the comun assent of the same fraternite.
Also, hyt is ordeyned that at the first congregacioun off the newe maystres
that there bie chosyn an alderman of the same craft to be governour ovyr
2
May 24; the church of St. Anthony at the intersection of (formerly) Soper’s Lane with
Watling Street and Budge Row.
3
The last phrase deleted in manuscript.
4
Amount deleted in manuscript.
5
feast.
6
head bands.
7
associated or united (in authority).
8
owned items.

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the maystres, that ben for the yer. Also, at devyse of the maystres and the
feleshyp, ther beien chosyn six or ten of the compaignie in helpyng and
counseylyng of the same maystres that bien for the yer, and they schullen be
redy at alle tymes whan they bien assygnyd, and they that faylle pay twelve
pence. And yf eny of the maystres faylle, paye two shillings but they hafe
resonable excusacion. And at the same ferst congregacioun alle these poyntes
to be rehersyd to forn the fraternyte or ellys the maystres at that tyme lese
ten pounds.
Also, hyt is ordeyned that they schull have a bedyl to warne and somune
the feleschyp als oft tymes as he is boden be the wardeyns, and he that is
than warnyd by the bedel and comyth nought shall been amersyd for that
defaut als wel as he were preyed, othyr warned, by the wardeyns. And the
bedel schall have for hys travayle of the commoun good five marc a yer, a
gown, mete, and drynk of the maystres that ben for the yer.
The same day is ordeyned that the wardeyns schull nought aventour over
the see, neyther leve the comun good, bot at her owen aventur.
Also, it is accorded in the same yer that every yer ageyns
9
Crystemas
they schull ben clothyd in sewt, the same clothyng to be kepte two hole yer;
that clothyng and all othyr that perteneth to the comun of the craft shall be
bought be the avyse of the wardeyns forn seyd.
Also that they resseyve no man in to her clothyng bot he have servyd his
termes as aprentice, and than, be counseyle of the maystres and the felawship
that is ensosyed to hem, enquer that he be of good name and ellys resseyve
hym nowght. And yf any othyr man that is freman of othyr craft, or ellys be
redempcioun freyd of the same craft, he shall nought be resseyvyd in to the
forseyd fraternite lesse than he paye at the lest for hys entre ten pounds
sterlynges, and yt nought resseyvyd wit owten hem that bien to the maystres
ensosyed for the yer. And yf they don the contrarye, paye to the fornseyd
fraternite twenty pounds. And whan eny man hath servyd hys prentyshod in
the same fraternite that, be the avyse and discrescioun of the maystres and
hem be fornseyd, shal be resseyvyd and sworn, payynge three shillings, four
pence for his entre.
Also that the newe maystres be boundon to the old jointely in the som
that they delyver hem. And that they make rekenyng and acompt, and
delyver the monye, with all othir thynges that ben longyng to the craft, be
amoneth after that they han chosyn newe maistres, or ellys lese ten pounds
to the box.
9
in preparation for.
Guilds
159

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160
Labor and Capital
Also that non of the same fraternite hold in hys schop but apprentices or
elles alowes
10
that hath servyd hys termes as apprentice in the craft; but yf it
so be that eny of the same fraternite dye or ellys fall in to povert wher for
that he may nowght maygten hym ne lerne hym as apprentyse schuld be
and be accord depart fram hys maystre, than it is leful to eny of the fraternite,
with owte fraude or mal engyn, to hold hym as apprentice for the terme
that he is be hynde with hys maystre forseyd. And yf eny of the fraternite
hold eny man in hys schop or in othyr place ocupyith in any othyr maner
than it is to forn ordeyned, he schall paye forty shillings within eight dayes
aftyr that he is warnyd to voyd hym, and every woke after twenty shillings
to he be voyded.
Also that the maystres onys in the yer at the leste, or as ofte as they
have any man suspecte, goon and asseyen weyghtys, powdres, confescions,
11
plasters, oynements, and all othyr thynges that longyth to the same craft,
they takyng in every schope that they fyndyn defectyve, the same defawt
to be redressid be hem and her felischyp, they takyng of everi man, as well
that be nought defectif as othyr, for ther labour of the forseyd serch, four
pence.
Also, what man comyth nought at dew tyme warnyd be the bedel, that
is to seyn to rydyng ageins the kyng, qwien, or othyr lordes with mayr,
shereff, or goyng on prossession wit ther mayr, as comun cours is at Cristemas
and othir tymes, congregacions, or any othir thynges that they ben warnyd,
to pay the payn to the bedel, or ellys, yf they abyde tyl the maystres comen,
to paye the dowble.
Also, it is be comun assent of the fraternite that no man of the fraternite
take ne be frawde do take hys neighbours hows that is of the same fraternite
or hawns
12
the rent ageyns the wille of thyn forseyde neyghbour; he that is
found in thys defawt schall paye at iche tyme ten pounds, that is to wetyn,
five pounds to the fraternite and five pounds to hym that is thus put owght
of ys hous.
And yf eny debate be be twix eny of the fraternite for mys governaunce
of wordys, or askyng of dette, or eny othyr thynges, that anon the partye
plentyff come to the maystres that ben for the yer and tel hys grevaunce,
and they to maken an ende ther of, and yf the maystres mowe nowght, by
leve of the maystres go to the lawe and, yf they don wit owght leve, paye
forty shillings to the maystres in helpyng of the same brothyrhode.
10
allows.
11
compound medicines.
12
raise.

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And whan eny of the brothyhode dyen in London, the maystres that ben
for the yer shul don her bedel to warn hem in what clotyng they schull
comyn to the dirige and the morwe to the messe, and tho that fayle paye
twelve pence. And yf any of the same brethyrhode die and is nought of
power to paye for the costes of the berying, than the same brothyrhod
grauntyth that it be don of the comyn good, and they to be ther in her
clotyng as they schuld for the richest man of the same bretherhode apon the
payn fornseyde.
And whane eny man of the same bretherhode take apprentice wit any
summe of goods or monye wit hym, he schall paye six shillings, eight pence
to the maystres in help of the same brothyrhode and, yf he take non monye
wit the apprentice, than paye three shillings, four pence wit in eight dayes
aftyr, upon peyne of the dowble.
And yf any man of the same fraternite be aventur of the see, or borowhode,
or eny othyr meschyef have lost hys good, than that the maystres with the
fraternite ordeyne that he may be holpyn and susteyned of the comun good
or ellis of her almes and whan eny of the brothyrhod makyth hys testament
that aftyr hys owen fre ville he devise that is likyng to hym to the forseyd
fraternite in helpyng and performyng of the almes of hem that have nede in
the same fraternite.
Also, an ordinaunce was made in the yer of owr Lord 1346 be comun
assent of the same fraternite: a bonde to the maystres that bien for the yer,
the wiche bonde schall bien asselyd of every brothyr of the same fraternite,
and a byd in the maystres handys for the yer, be the wiche they schull
constreyn, and the stresse hold in here kepynge with owten eny othyr
officer. And he that is ageyns here ordenaunce of eny thyng that is devysyd
to forn or be better avyse here aftyr, he to paye that the wardeyns wit here
felawschyp ensocyed to hem wollen award apon hym, and this to be kepte
at all dayes. Amen.
Bickley, F. B. (ed.) (1900) The Little Red Book of Bristol, fols. 130r–131r, vol. 2. Bristol:
Council of the City and County of Bristol, 127–9.
Language: English (West Midland)
Book date: ca. 1344–1574
Item, hit is aggreed, ordeigned, and assented by William Canynges, maire
of the towne of Bristowe;
13
Thomas Kempson, sherif of the same; and all
13
Mayor 1450–1, 1461–2, 1466–7.
Guilds
161

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162
Labor and Capital
the comune councell of the seid towne of Bristowe holde in the guyldhalle
there the twenty-ninth day of Septembre in the yere of the reigne of Kyng
Edward the fourth after the conquest the first,
14
that for asmuche as divers
persons of wevers crafte of the seid towne of Bristowe puttyn, occupien, and
hiren ther wyfes, doughtours, and maidens, some to weve in ther owne
lombes and some to hire them to wirche with othour persons of the seid
crafte, by the whiche many and divers of the kynges liege people likkely
men to do the kyng servis in his warris and in the defence of this his lond,
and sufficiently lorned in the seid crafte, gothe vagaraunt and unoccupied
and may not have ther labour to ther levyng, therefor that no person of the
seid crafte of wevers within this seid towne of Bristowe fro this day foreward
sett, putt, or hire his seid wyfe, doughter, or maide to no suche occupacion
of wevyng in the lombe with hymselfe or with any othour person of the seid
crafte within the seid towne of Bristowe and that upon payn of lesyng at
every tyme that any person found defective of the seid crafte, and hit justly
and truly presented by the maisters of the seid crafte to the maire for the
tyme beyng and tofore the seid maire so proved, of seven shillings, eight
pence to be leveide, half to the use of the chambour of Bristowe aforseid
and half to the contribucion of the seid crafte, provide alwey and excepte
that thes acte strecche not to any mannes wyfe of the crafte of wevers nowe
levyng at the makyng of thes acte but that they may occupy ther seid wyfes
duryng ther naturall lyfe of the seid women in maner and fourme as thei
didden tofore the makyng of thes seide acte, etc.
Item, hit is aggreed, ordeigned, and assented by Philip Meede, maire of
Bristowe;
15
William Spencer, Sherif; and all the comyn councell of the seid
towne at the councell of Bristowe hold in the guyldhall of the seid towne
the laste day of May, in the yere of the reigne of Kyng Edward the fourth
after the conquest the second,
16
that for asmuche that divers and many of
the crafte and occupacion of wevers daily receyven and put in occupacion of
the seid crafte straungiers, allions, and othour not born under the kynges
obeisaunce, and for ther singuler profit, provokyn and stere divers marchauntz
and othour to bryng in to this towne of Bristowe people of divers countrees
not born undir the kynges obeisaunce but rebellious, which been sold to
theyme as hit were hethen people, and through the contynuance thereof in
defaute of correccion hit hath caused that suche straungiers and allions beth
gretely multeplied and encreased within the towne of Bristowe and that the
14
March 4, 1461–March 3, 1462.
15
Mayor 1459–60, 1462–3.
16
March 4, 1462–March 3, 1463.

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kynges liege people born within this seid towne and othour parties of this
his realme bene vagarauntz and unoccupied, and may not have ther labour
for ther levyng, that therefor fro this day foreward no maner person of the
seid crafte of wevers within this towne of Bristowe set or put any suche
estraungier or allion to wirche in the occupacion of the seid crafte of
wevers, nor in any thyng therto belongyng or perteynyng; and yf by due
cerche made by the maisters of the seid crafte to the maire of Bristowe
for the tyme beyng be presented, and tofore the seid maire, truly, justly,
and lawfully proved that any suche person or persones bith so occupieng
and excercisyng suche straungiers and allions in wevers crafte or any thyng
belongyng or perteynyng therto hereafter contrary to this seid ordnaunce,
that he or they and every of theyme lese, forfeite, and pay as oftyn tymes as
he or they be founden defective of the premisses for every suche defaute six
shillings, eight pence, half to the use of the comyn chambour of Bristowe
and the othour half to the contribucion of the seid craft, provyd alwey
and excepte that thes acte strecche not to any person or persons that was
or were made prentice to any burgeise within this seid towne of Bristowe
tofore the feste of Cristmas last passed and at that tyme they beyng in
theyre prentiswyke. In witnes of the whiche premisses and ordnaunces
aboveseid, we Philip Mede, maire of Bristowe, by the assent and concent of
all the comune councell of Bristowe aforseid, have putto oure seall of Office
of Mairalte of Bristowe the day and yere aboveseid, etc.