Stow’s account is inserted here to show the unbroken succession of these voluntary associations from Saxon to modern days; though at the Reformation they lost their religious character.
The later trading companies are closely akin to these, but lack the main motive of mutual charity, though they too exist to co-operate in work for which the individuals’ efforts would not suffice. The earliest of them, the Merchant Adventurers, did actually begin as the religious gild of S. Thomas of Canterbury, being joined by Flemings holding a charter to trade from John of Brabant.
USAGES OF WINCHESTER
(Toulmin Smith, English Gilds)
Summary
These be the olde usages of the City of Winchester, that have been used in the time of our elderne, be and shall be to the franchise[15] saving and sustaining.
The Mayor shall be chosen every year, by the four and twenty sworn men and the commonalty.
There shall be four and twenty sworn men, for a Council to help the Mayor: who shall attend him on summons.
There shall be two Bailiffs, who shall be chosen by the Commonalty, out of four named by the Mayor and Twenty four, at the Michaelmas borough moot.
Also four Serjeants to do the bidding of the Mayor and Bailiffs.