These exhibitions are now each of the annual value of £12. (See pp. 365, 377.) THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF MERCERS. THIS Company was partially incorporated by letters patent of the 17th of Richard II. A.D. 1393, by the title of "Homines de Misteria Merceræ Civitatis London." In the 20th year of the same reign the Company was confirmed with additional privileges. In the 3rd year of Henry VI. under the denomination of "The Mercers of London," the king confirmed by inspeximus all their previous grants, and "permitted the Mercers to have a chaplain and a brotherhood, for the relief of such of their company as shall come to decay, from misfortunes of the sea." In the 4th year of Philip and Mary, and in the 11th year of James I. the whole of their predecessors' charters were confirmed, but without any extension of privileges. On surrendering their charters and confirmations, in common with the other companies, under the operation of the quo-warranto, in the 24th year of Charles II. the I Mercers received, like them, an entire new charter, granting them a Court of Assistants, and subjecting them to many other new regulations, which were then imposed, and which charter was confirmed in the first year of James II. 1575. Lady Margaret, widow of the Right Honourable Edward, Lord North, paid the sum of £500 to the Wardens and Commonalty of the Mercers' Company, and by indenture they covenanted with the said Lady Margaret North, to pay to her £40 a year for her life, and after her decease, to pay the same to persons mentioned in the said indenture, in the proportions therein specified; and after the death of all the said persons, to pay yearly to four male children, of the ages of nine years or above, to b brought up and taught, first in some grammar-school, and after in the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge (if they should be found apt to learning), 40 marks; namely, to each of the said four scholars £6. 13s. 4d.; provided that, if either of the said children should not be kept at learning in some grammar-school or university, or should be two years Master of Arts in either of the said universities, or advanced to any competent living, that then the payment to him should henceforth cease, and that the other should be chosen in his place; all which children were to be called the Scholars of Lady Margaret North, and should be chosen, appointed, and taken from time to time, by the Wardens and Assistants of the said Com pany, for the time being, out of the male children proceeding from the aforesaid kinsmen; and from lack thereof, from the kin of the said Lady Margaret North; and for lack of such, the choice to be made of other children, apt for learning, according to the good discretion of the said Wardens and Assistants for the time being. From the arrears of Lady North's benefaction, which from time to time have not been appropriated, the income has been increased, and the Company now pay £20 a year to each of four exhibitioners at either University. The exhibitioners are appointed by the Court of Assistants, and if resident, may retain their exhibitions for seven years. 1608. William Walthall, alderman of London, by his will, gave the sum of £500 to the Mercers' Company for various uses, one of which was that they should pay £9 to three of the poorest scholars in Cambridge, towards their charge, on commencing Master of Arts, such as might be recommended to the Wardens to have most need to be relieved. From accumulations arising from payments not made in former years, the Company have augmented the three benefactions to £14 each, which are bestowed on poor scholars, towards the expenses on taking the degree of Master of Arts. 1618. Mrs Mary Robinson, by her will, gave to the Company of Mercers £500 in trust, either to purchase so much land, or otherwise so much maintenance, as should amount to the clear yearly value of £25, which she directed should be paid yearly to four poor scholars of some College or Colleges in Cambridge, at the nomination of the said Company, quarterly, so as they should become students in divinity, and preachers of the Gospel; and when any one of the said scholars should be preferred or die, then she directed that his portion should be bestowed upon some other in his place. At present there are four exhibitioners appointed by the general court, who receive each £30 per annum, and retain their exhibitions for seven years, unless they previously obtain preferment. 1672. Thomas Rich, by will, gave to the Mercers' Company a house in London, from the rents of which he directed that two exhibitions of £6 each per annum should be paid to two poor scholars educated at Mercers' School, on their proceeding to the University of Oxford or Cambridge. These exhibitions are now £50 per annum. 1 THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF MERCHANT Concordia parvæ res crescunt. THIS Company arose, according to Stow, from an ancient guild or fraternity, dedicated to St John the Baptist, and called, time out of mind, Tailors and Linen Armourers of London. It received a confirmiation from Edward I. and in 1446, a more regular incorporation of this company took place under the authority of the letters patent of Edward IV. who was himself a freeman, as all his predecessors in 1 the sovereignty had also been from the time of Edward III. Henry VII. who was likewise a member, re-incorporated the company in the year 1503, and transformed their title into The Master and Wardens of the Merchant Taylors, of the fraternity of St John the Baptist, in the city of London. This was done, as Stow writes, "For that divers of that fraternitie had beene great marchants, and had frequented all sorts of marchandizes into most partes of the world, to the honour of the king's realme; and the men of the said mistirie had, during the 1 time aforesaid, exercised the buying and selling of all wares and marchandizes, especially of woolen clothe, as well in grosse, as by retayle,' throughout all the realme of England, and chiefly within the said city." 1 The charter of Henry VII. afterwards received the successive confirmations of Henry VIII., Edward VI., Philip and Mary, Queen Elizabeth and James I. This company is governed by a Master, four Wardens, and a Court of Assistants. Their Hall is situated in Threadneedle Street. 1620. John Juxon, by his will, gave to the Merchant Taylors' Company an annuity payable out of certain lands at Mortlake, to be paid by them as they should think fit to two poor Scholars, the one year in Oxford, and the other year in Cambridge, for ever. The sum of £9. 12s. received from the estate is augmented by the Company every year to £12, and is paid to a scholar of Oxford and of Cambridge alternately. The chief benefactions in the gift of the Merchant Taylors' Company are appropriated to students at St John's College, Oxford. THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF CUTLERS. THE Cutlers' Company was incorporated by King Henry V. in the year 1417, by the style of "The Master, Wardens, and Commonalty of the Mystery of Cutlers in London." M M Their Hall is situated in Cloak Lane. 1566. Thomas Bucke, citizen and cutler of London, gave to the Company of Cutlers in London a rent-charge of £3. 6s. 8d. out of his premises in Fleet Street, to pay to the Master and fellows of St John's College, towards the finding of some scholar of his name or kindred within the Isle of Ely, or elsewhere, if any might be found; and for want of such, then of any scholar whose father should be free of the Cutlers' Company, if any such should be thought meet by the Master and Wardens of the Company, and the vicar of St Sepulchre's without Newgate in London, for the time being, for ever; trusting in God that the said Company of Cutlers will help to increase it, so that there may be one scholar found and maintained by the said Company of Cutlers in the aforesaid College, that it may be to the praise of God." 1568. John Craythorne, by his will, gave the reversion of certain estates in London, to the Master, Wardens, and Commonalty of the Company of Cutlers, and directed that they should pay yearly £6. 13s. 4d. towards the finding and keeping of two scholars within the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, that is to say, to each scholar £3. 6s. 8d. to be paid to them quarterly, for ever. He also directed that the first two scholars should be appointed by his wife, or by such person as she should name in her last will; and afterwards that the said scholars should be appointed by the Company of Cutlers, provided that neither of the two scholars should hold his exhibition longer than while he was abiding in the said University, nor any longer than that he should otherwise be preferred to the yearly value of £10 or upwards. The exhibitioners are appointed by the Company, and hold their exhibitions until they are of sufficient standing to take the degree of Master of Arts, if resident in the University. The value of each of these exhibitions has been increased, during the will and pleasure of the Court, to £20 per annum. THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF BOWYERS. THE Bowyers were a fraternity by prescription till the 21st year of James I. when they were incorporated by the name of "The Master, Wardens, and Society of the Mystery of Bowyers of the City of London." Their charter was renewed and confirmed by Charles II. It is a singular circumstance that this Company should not have been incorporated in ancient times, and that it should have been incor porated at a time when the use of the bow, as a military weapon, was superseded by the introduction of fire-arms. This Company is under the government of a Master, two Wardens, and 12 Assistants: their Hall is in the King's Arms Yard, Coleman Street. 1625. James Wood, by his will, devised property to the Bowyers' Company, in trust, that the Master and Wardens should, out of the rents of the estates, pay to three Scholars at Oxford and two or more Scholars at Cambridge, freemen's sons of the Bowyers' Company, if there should be any such; but if not, then to five poor Scholars from Christchurch School in London, or such others as the Master and Wardens should think most fit,—the sum of £6 yearly to each of the five scholars, and that each scholar should receive the same for seven years, if so long he should continue at either University. The Bowyers' Company has increased the number of exhibitions, and augmented the payments of them. There are at present five Exhibitions of £10 each, paid to students at Oxford, and three of the same value to students at Cambridge. A preference is reserved in favour of the sons of members of the Bowyers' Company, and students from Christ-church. THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF LEATHERSELLERS*. Soli Deo Honor et gloria. THE Company of Leathersellers was a brotherhood of ancient standing, having been incorporated in the sixth year of Richard II. They were subsequently re-incorporated by a charter from Henry VI. in 1442, by the style of "The Wardens and Society of the Mystery * A TABLE OF SCHOLARSHIPS in the gift of the Leathersellers' Term of Tenure. Company : Estimated Annual Value. £20 20 Oxford. Four years 20 |