Bowyers Company Ordinances 1487-88
London Metropolitan Archives
COL/CC/01/01/009
Court of Common Council, Journal 9
Folio 203r
xviii die julii anno regni regis henrici vii tercio bill’ de les Bowiers conceditur in hec verba
[English translation: 18 July in the third year of the reign of Henry VII – i.e. 1488 – the bill for the Bowyers is granted in these words]
Intratur [English translation: it is entered, i.e. into the formal book of record]
To the right honourable lorde the maire and the aldermen of the citie of London
Besechen mekely your gode lordeship and maistershippes the wardeyns and feolasship of the crafte of Bowiers of the saide citie that it might please the same your gode lordeship and maistershippes for the honour and worship of this citie and welle of the saide crafte and in eschewing of suche inconvenients as often tymes happen and fallen within the saide feolasship by divers mysruled and disobedient persones of the same feolasship and also of such disceites as myght be used in the saide crafte of bowiers to the hurte and disceite of the kynges liege people and also of rebuke and disclaundre of the feolasship for lak of gode rules and ordinaunces therfore to be ordeyned and made to graunte unto the saide besechers certeyne articles hereafter folowyng by your grete auctorite to be established and enacted and here in this honourable courte afore you to be entred of recorde for ever
First as often tymes as any persone of the saide Crafte be duely summoned be the bedell of the said crafte or any other persone by the wardeyns of the same crafte for the tyme beyng appoynted to appere afore the saide wardeynes at a certeyne houre assigned appeareth not at the same hour nor nygh theruppon accordyng to his somons that the same persone pay at any suche tyme as he appereth not to the common box of the saide crafte iiiid and if he come not within one hoole hour next aftir the saide hour assigned without a reasonable excuse therin that then he at every suche tyme pay vid the one halfe therof to be applied (Folio 203v) to the said common box and the other halfe thereof to thuse of the cominaltie of the saide citie and if any persone of the same crafte being of the clothing therof accorde not upon the wardens of the saide crafte for the tyme being at a reasonable warnyng to them by the same wardens or their depute in that behalf yoven for the honour of the kynge and the saide citie without a reasonable excuse that they so not attendyng pay at every tyme xiid to be applied as is aforesaide
Also that no person of the said crafte in eschewing the grete displeasure of god worke any thynge perteynyng to the same crafte upon the Saturday nor on the vigille of any double fest after none rongen in the parisshe chirche where any persone of the saide crafte dwelleth upon payne to forfaite and pay at every further defaulte founden ii lb of wax or viiid for the lb in forme folowyng that is to witte that one halfe therof to thuse of the chamber of the yeldhall of the citie abovesaid and that other halfe therof unto thuse of the box of the same crafte
Also that no maner person of the saide crafte from this tyme forthward take any servaunt or allowes [this word means hired man] from any other man enfraunchised or brother of the same crafte mistere or science unto the tyme that he knoweth certeynly that suche servaunt or allowes have fully completed his covenaunt of service with his former maister or if left hath agreed with hym therefore of lasse than suche servant or allowed by thagreement and licence of his saide former maister by assigned by the wardyns of (Folio 204r) the said crafte for the tyme being to departe from his saide former maister and to go unto another maister that for grete beysness of work or for lak of help that he beith in the same compassion wolde have hym nor that no persone of the saide crafte enduce entrete or procure unto his service any mans servaunt of the saide crafte oute of his maisters service during all suche tyme as his maister hath covenaunt of service of hym upon payne of forfeitsure of xls as often as any suche persone be founde and convicted defectif of any matter comprised in this article to be levied devided and applied in maner and forme aforesaide
Also that the men enfraunchised in the said crafte of bowiers aboute the fest of michelmas at ende of every ii yeres make an assemblee to geder at a place to them necessary and convenient and there chose iii able persones of them selfe to be wardeyns of the saide crafte for the ii yeres then next folowyng and the same newe wardyns so chosen be sworne be for the maire and aldermen for the tyme being truly to do and execute suche thynge as shall perteyne and be longe unto ther office like as usage and custume is within the said citie upon payne of xxs to be devided in maner and forme aforesaid
Also that any householder of the saide citie usyng the saide crafte pay every quarter yerely hereafter to the common box of the same crafte iiid to be emploied to thuse of the cominaltie of the crafte aforesaid for to fynde a light to fore the Rode and saint George in the chapelle of Saint Thomas at London brigge if any of the householders refuse to pay the said quarterage when he be the said wardeyns or their depute in that behalf be resonably required that than he at every tyme when he refuseth for to do pay viiid to be divided in maner and forme abovesaid.
(Folio 204v) Also that no persone of the saide crafte of bowyiers in the said cite from hensforthward shall deliver to any maner fletcher of the same cite enfraunchised no maner of bowes to utter and sell in the countre saving alway that if any fletcher of the said citie desireth to have iii or iiii bowes to his owne use and disporte without coloure fraude or disceite or shalbe lefull to any to sell unto hym and what maner man of the saide crafte of bowiers on this ordenaunce in any tyme comyng be founde defectif that he so founde defectif and in the payne to lese at the fyrst tyme vis viiid and at the iie tyme xiiis iiiid half to the chamber of theldhall and half to the common box of the saide crafte
Also that no maner persone of the saide Crafte take to his apprentise any persone gretely disfegured in any parte of his body wherby the honour of this Citie or the honesty of the saide Crafte shall inowe in any wise be emblemyshed uppon payne of fforfeitour at every tyme xl s to be devided as is aforesaid And also that every persone of the same Crafte that hereafter shall have any apprentise or apprentices kepe the same apprentice or apprentices within theire houses in all suspecious tymes and seasons. And also that they suffre no such apprentice or apprentices to exercise nor use unlauful games or mysrule to the dishonour of this Citie & Rebuke of the gode folke of the same Crafte uppon payne of iij s iiij d at every tyme that any of the same Crafte doth contrary to this article to be devided as is aforesaid.
(Folio 205r) Also that no servaunt of the saide crafte duryng the tyme that he is in covenaunt with any person of the same crafte or take salary of any person gowe out of the towne to any place of the countre by the space of a day without licence and leve of his maistre upon payne of xiid to be devided in maner and forme abovesaid.
Also that no man enfranchised in the saide crafte shall hold no hopen shop within the said citie unto the tyme that the wardens of the saide crafte for the tyme beyng have sene his worke that he be abill of konnyng to worke and serve the kynge and his liege people of gode and sufficient stuf
Also that no man enfranchised in the saide crafte what degree that ever he be of in no wise shall work without the fraunchese of this citie but if it be the kynges auctorite or else that any chaffer be soyled with cariage goyng towards any faire or market that then it shalbe lefull to the owner of the same stuff to make it clene agayne and he that doth contrary to this ordonaunce shall pay xls half to the chamber of the Guydhall and the other half to the common box of the saide crafte.
Also if any man of the said crafte be chosen for to be master or wardeyn and he that ys so chosen refuse his office and wilnot take it upon hym shall lose and pay vis viiid that is to say half to the chamber of the Guyldhall and the other half to thuse of the common box of the saide crafte.
(Folio 205v) Also whan any apprentice hath served his times he shall serve his master afore any other man of the saide occupacion if they can agree and yf they can not agree then it shal be lefull to hym to serve some other man of the saide crafte but in no wise he take a chamber for to worke therin for divers hurte that may fall in such cases without that he axe leve of the wardeyns for the tyme being upon payne to pay vis viiid to be devided in maner and forme abovesaid.
Bowyers Company Ordinances 1487-88
London Metropolitan Archives
COL/CC/01/01/009
Court of Common Council, Journal 9
Folio 203r
xviii die julii anno regni regis henrici vii tercio bill’ de les Bowiers conceditur in hec verba
[English translation: 18 July in the third year of the reign of Henry VII – i.e. 1488 – the bill for the Bowyers is granted in these words]
Intratur [English translation: it is entered, i.e. into the formal book of record]
To the right honourable lorde the maire and the aldermen of the citie of London
Besechen mekely your gode lordeship and maistershippes the wardeyns and feolasship of the crafte of Bowiers of the saide citie that it might please the same your gode lordeship and maistershippes for the honour and worship of this citie and welle of the saide crafte and in eschewing of suche inconvenients as often tymes happen and fallen within the saide feolasship by divers mysruled and disobedient persones of the same feolasship and also of such disceites as myght be used in the saide crafte of bowiers to the hurte and disceite of the kynges liege people and also of rebuke and disclaundre of the feolasship for lak of gode rules and ordinaunces therfore to be ordeyned and made to graunte unto the saide besechers certeyne articles hereafter folowyng by your grete auctorite to be established and enacted and here in this honourable courte afore you to be entred of recorde for ever
First as often tymes as any persone of the saide Crafte be duely summoned be the bedell of the said crafte or any other persone by the wardeyns of the same crafte for the tyme beyng appoynted to appere afore the saide wardeynes at a certeyne houre assigned appeareth not at the same hour nor nygh theruppon accordyng to his somons that the same persone pay at any suche tyme as he appereth not to the common box of the saide crafte iiiid and if he come not within one hoole hour next aftir the saide hour assigned without a reasonable excuse therin that then he at every suche tyme pay vid the one halfe therof to be applied (Folio 203v) to the said common box and the other halfe thereof to thuse of the cominaltie of the saide citie and if any persone of the same crafte being of the clothing therof accorde not upon the wardens of the saide crafte for the tyme being at a reasonable warnyng to them by the same wardens or their depute in that behalf yoven for the honour of the kynge and the saide citie without a reasonable excuse that they so not attendyng pay at every tyme xiid to be applied as is aforesaide
Also that no person of the said crafte in eschewing the grete displeasure of god worke any thynge perteynyng to the same crafte upon the Saturday nor on the vigille of any double fest after none rongen in the parisshe chirche where any persone of the saide crafte dwelleth upon payne to forfaite and pay at every further defaulte founden ii lb of wax or viiid for the lb in forme folowyng that is to witte that one halfe therof to thuse of the chamber of the yeldhall of the citie abovesaid and that other halfe therof unto thuse of the box of the same crafte
Also that no maner person of the saide crafte from this tyme forthward take any servaunt or allowes [this word means hired man] from any other man enfraunchised or brother of the same crafte mistere or science unto the tyme that he knoweth certeynly that suche servaunt or allowes have fully completed his covenaunt of service with his former maister or if left hath agreed with hym therefore of lasse than suche servant or allowed by thagreement and licence of his saide former maister by assigned by the wardyns of (Folio 204r) the said crafte for the tyme being to departe from his saide former maister and to go unto another maister that for grete beysness of work or for lak of help that he beith in the same compassion wolde have hym nor that no persone of the saide crafte enduce entrete or procure unto his service any mans servaunt of the saide crafte oute of his maisters service during all suche tyme as his maister hath covenaunt of service of hym upon payne of forfeitsure of xls as often as any suche persone be founde and convicted defectif of any matter comprised in this article to be levied devided and applied in maner and forme aforesaide
Also that the men enfraunchised in the said crafte of bowiers aboute the fest of michelmas at ende of every ii yeres make an assemblee to geder at a place to them necessary and convenient and there chose iii able persones of them selfe to be wardeyns of the saide crafte for the ii yeres then next folowyng and the same newe wardyns so chosen be sworne be for the maire and aldermen for the tyme being truly to do and execute suche thynge as shall perteyne and be longe unto ther office like as usage and custume is within the said citie upon payne of xxs to be devided in maner and forme aforesaid
Also that any householder of the saide citie usyng the saide crafte pay every quarter yerely hereafter to the common box of the same crafte iiid to be emploied to thuse of the cominaltie of the crafte aforesaid for to fynde a light to fore the Rode and saint George in the chapelle of Saint Thomas at London brigge if any of the householders refuse to pay the said quarterage when he be the said wardeyns or their depute in that behalf be resonably required that than he at every tyme when he refuseth for to do pay viiid to be divided in maner and forme abovesaid.
(Folio 204v) Also that no persone of the saide crafte of bowyiers in the said cite from hensforthward shall deliver to any maner fletcher of the same cite enfraunchised no maner of bowes to utter and sell in the countre saving alway that if any fletcher of the said citie desireth to have iii or iiii bowes to his owne use and disporte without coloure fraude or disceite or shalbe lefull to any to sell unto hym and what maner man of the saide crafte of bowiers on this ordenaunce in any tyme comyng be founde defectif that he so founde defectif and in the payne to lese at the fyrst tyme vis viiid and at the iie tyme xiiis iiiid half to the chamber of theldhall and half to the common box of the saide crafte
Also that no maner persone of the saide Crafte take to his apprentise any persone gretely disfegured in any parte of his body wherby the honour of this Citie or the honesty of the saide Crafte shall inowe in any wise be emblemyshed uppon payne of fforfeitour at every tyme xl s to be devided as is aforesaid And also that every persone of the same Crafte that hereafter shall have any apprentise or apprentices kepe the same apprentice or apprentices within theire houses in all suspecious tymes and seasons. And also that they suffre no such apprentice or apprentices to exercise nor use unlauful games or mysrule to the dishonour of this Citie & Rebuke of the gode folke of the same Crafte uppon payne of iij s iiij d at every tyme that any of the same Crafte doth contrary to this article to be devided as is aforesaid.
(Folio 205r) Also that no servaunt of the saide crafte duryng the tyme that he is in covenaunt with any person of the same crafte or take salary of any person gowe out of the towne to any place of the countre by the space of a day without licence and leve of his maistre upon payne of xiid to be devided in maner and forme abovesaid.
Also that no man enfranchised in the saide crafte shall hold no hopen shop within the said citie unto the tyme that the wardens of the saide crafte for the tyme beyng have sene his worke that he be abill of konnyng to worke and serve the kynge and his liege people of gode and sufficient stuf
Also that no man enfranchised in the saide crafte what degree that ever he be of in no wise shall work without the fraunchese of this citie but if it be the kynges auctorite or else that any chaffer be soyled with cariage goyng towards any faire or market that then it shalbe lefull to the owner of the same stuff to make it clene agayne and he that doth contrary to this ordonaunce shall pay xls half to the chamber of the Guydhall and the other half to the common box of the saide crafte.
Also if any man of the said crafte be chosen for to be master or wardeyn and he that ys so chosen refuse his office and wilnot take it upon hym shall lose and pay vis viiid that is to say half to the chamber of the Guyldhall and the other half to thuse of the common box of the saide crafte.
(Folio 205v) Also whan any apprentice hath served his times he shall serve his master afore any other man of the saide occupacion if they can agree and yf they can not agree then it shal be lefull to hym to serve some other man of the saide crafte but in no wise he take a chamber for to worke therin for divers hurte that may fall in such cases without that he axe leve of the wardeyns for the tyme being upon payne to pay vis viiid to be devided in maner and forme abovesaid.