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Article among their ranks were many learned eccl... ← Page 8 of 12 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Among Their Ranks Were Many Learned Eccl...
London . " Is the days of King Edgar , more than six hundred years since , " says old Stow * " there were thirteen knights , or soldiers , well beloved of the king and the realme ( for service done by them ) , which requested to have a certain portion of land on the eastpart of the citie , left desolate and forsaken by the inhabitants by reason of
too much servitude . They besought the king to have this land , with the liberty of a guilde , for ever : the king granted their request , with conditions following , that is to say , that each of them should victoriously accomplish three cornbates , one above ground , one under ground , and the third in the water ; and after this , on a certain day , in East Smithfield , they should run with spears against comers ; all which was gloriously performed : and the same day the
king named it knighten guilde . '' To this fraternity a charter was granted by Edward the Confessor , and it continued to flourish for several centuries . In 1145 , however , Queen Maud founded the priory of the Holy Trinity , which she endowed by the transfer of the lands of the " knighten guilde ; " the other rites and privileges of that ancient corporation being transferred to certain burgesses of the
City of London , who had the right to be a guild or trade corporation reserved to them . A curious anomaly arose in consequence ; the prior of the Holy Trinity became the territorial lord and alderman of Portsoken Ward . It is said that a memorial of the ancient " . 'knighten guilde ' has descended to our ow ^ n days in the corrupted name of " JSFightingale-lme . " These several associations of Anglo-Saxon origin had each its secrets ; and the same principle of union united them , assimilated in a great degree to that sacred bond of brotherhood wdiich has ever
characterized the institution of Ereemasonry . We may observe that ecclesiastics identified themselves both with the peaceful guilds and with those devoted to the profession of arms , and we have ample proof that they were fostered and patronized by the Church of Eome , until the period when the wealth of some of the chivalric orders having attracted the envy of both prince and pontiff , they first fell a sacrifice , and the policy of the Church ever afterwards
denounced all secret associations as irreligious and heretical . The associations of trading guilds , however , continue to flourish in England , and especially in the city of London , the great companies of which , till within a recent period , kept up a show of preserving the customs and secrets of the ancient guilds . The records of these old
laws are exceedingly curious , and not unworthy the notice of the antiquary . Thus we find among the articles of the Draper ' s Company of London . " At the yearly feast the master and four wardens shall be chosen . On taking an apprentice , every brother shall present him to the wardens , and pay 13 s . Ad" Strict orders arc laid down for the " admission of members into the crafte . " An
ordinance ( made 5 Edw . IV . ) forbids any "brodcr of this felyshipp to infourm any strainger of the feitz ofdraperie . " Keeping the secrets of the craft was provided for by an ordinance , entitled " None to betray by litel things said in counsell to other of the crafte , or no
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Among Their Ranks Were Many Learned Eccl...
London . " Is the days of King Edgar , more than six hundred years since , " says old Stow * " there were thirteen knights , or soldiers , well beloved of the king and the realme ( for service done by them ) , which requested to have a certain portion of land on the eastpart of the citie , left desolate and forsaken by the inhabitants by reason of
too much servitude . They besought the king to have this land , with the liberty of a guilde , for ever : the king granted their request , with conditions following , that is to say , that each of them should victoriously accomplish three cornbates , one above ground , one under ground , and the third in the water ; and after this , on a certain day , in East Smithfield , they should run with spears against comers ; all which was gloriously performed : and the same day the
king named it knighten guilde . '' To this fraternity a charter was granted by Edward the Confessor , and it continued to flourish for several centuries . In 1145 , however , Queen Maud founded the priory of the Holy Trinity , which she endowed by the transfer of the lands of the " knighten guilde ; " the other rites and privileges of that ancient corporation being transferred to certain burgesses of the
City of London , who had the right to be a guild or trade corporation reserved to them . A curious anomaly arose in consequence ; the prior of the Holy Trinity became the territorial lord and alderman of Portsoken Ward . It is said that a memorial of the ancient " . 'knighten guilde ' has descended to our ow ^ n days in the corrupted name of " JSFightingale-lme . " These several associations of Anglo-Saxon origin had each its secrets ; and the same principle of union united them , assimilated in a great degree to that sacred bond of brotherhood wdiich has ever
characterized the institution of Ereemasonry . We may observe that ecclesiastics identified themselves both with the peaceful guilds and with those devoted to the profession of arms , and we have ample proof that they were fostered and patronized by the Church of Eome , until the period when the wealth of some of the chivalric orders having attracted the envy of both prince and pontiff , they first fell a sacrifice , and the policy of the Church ever afterwards
denounced all secret associations as irreligious and heretical . The associations of trading guilds , however , continue to flourish in England , and especially in the city of London , the great companies of which , till within a recent period , kept up a show of preserving the customs and secrets of the ancient guilds . The records of these old
laws are exceedingly curious , and not unworthy the notice of the antiquary . Thus we find among the articles of the Draper ' s Company of London . " At the yearly feast the master and four wardens shall be chosen . On taking an apprentice , every brother shall present him to the wardens , and pay 13 s . Ad" Strict orders arc laid down for the " admission of members into the crafte . " An
ordinance ( made 5 Edw . IV . ) forbids any "brodcr of this felyshipp to infourm any strainger of the feitz ofdraperie . " Keeping the secrets of the craft was provided for by an ordinance , entitled " None to betray by litel things said in counsell to other of the crafte , or no