GLASTONBURY ABBEY
Attempts have been made to derive the Anglo-Saxon Guilds from the Roman collegia. It is not impossible, supposing that the imitation came through Gaul. At the same time, the points of resemblance on which the theory rests are so extremely slight that one is not disposed to accept it as proved. That is to say, they are points of resemblance such as naturally belong to every association of men made for purposes of mutual support and for the maintenance of common interests. Thus:—
1. Under the Roman Empire there existed collegia privata, associations of men bound together for trade purposes.
2. They were established by legal rights.
3. They were divided into bodies of ten and a hundred.
4. They were presided over by a magister and decuriones—a President and a Council.
5. They had their Treasurer and their Sub-Treasurer.
6. They could hold property in their corporate capacity.
7. They had their temples at which they sacrificed.