Ordinances made 18 April 1450

[p. 15 transcript] This is the orden[a]nce advice and appoyntment made in the tyme of John Grove & Rob't Bale Wardeyns of the Craft of Scriven[ers] of Courte l[ett]re by the Will assent & aggreement of the hole felauship' & company of the same Craft assemblid' togidere in the Chirche of seint Thomas of Akres in London' the xviij^th Day of the moneth of Aprill the xxviij^th yere of the Reigne of oure sou[er]aigne lord' kyng henry the Sixte as foloweth that is to wite.

The lyu[er]ey of hodyng in the saide Crafte fro hens forth tobe of oo [i.e. one] coloure and' tobe used' in the fourme as hit hath' been of tyme passed accordyng to the Act therof made.

Also to the Worship' and pleasire of god' A masse be note of the holy goste yerely to be holden & kept from hens forth' on the Sonday next after Midsom[er]day at Paules if hit may be hadde goodly or elles at a nother place conuenyent Where as the Wardeyns of the Craft for the tyme beyng will lymet & ordeyn' and a dyner' the same day to be hadde for the same felauship' & Company at suche place as shall be aduysed and assigned by the said' Wardeyns. And' the same masse & dynere tobe gynne & be holden the Sonday after Midsom[er]day next nowe comyng. And' so to contynue forth yerely. And that eu[er]y man of the same Craft & Felauship' aswell he that is absent from the said masse or dyne[r] as he that ther[e] at is p[re]sent paie at eu[er]y tyme to the Supportacion therof. xij.d'. that is to Wite. vijd'. tobe applied for the quarterday as hath been used & hadde afore tyme and iiij.d' toward' a part of thexpenses of the costes tobe doon at the said' masse & dyne[r]. And also eu[er]y man of the said' Company to offre atte the masse, j.d' and to be attendannt at place & houre to him therof by the Wardeyns for the tyme or ony other' in theire name assigned. And ther' to abide att the masse & no p[er]sone in ony wise to absent him thens without that he have a resonable excuse be his othe. And the forsaid xij.d' tobe leveed' & hadde atte all tymes by the Wardeyns for the tyme beyng of eu[er]y man of the said' Craft & Company Prouyded alwey that eu[er]y man' of the Craft and Felauship' abouesaid' paie atte eu[er]y of the iij quart[er] Daies folowyng the vij.d' due as hath been vsed & is enacted' afore. And the Wardeyns for the tyme beyng therof to spend' by theire Discrecions to the use of the said' Company as hem best semyth.

Also it is affermed' assentid' and g[ra]nntid' by the said Felauship' and Company that from hens forth theire Act of xij.d'. conteyned in this boke amonge the Articles of the Craft Whiche is cessed' vpon euery p[er]sone of the said' Craft that geueth not his attendannce atte houre & place by the Wardeyns or ony in their name to him assigned' be put in execucion' & leveed accordyng to thentent of the said' Act for thencrece & availle of the Co[mmo]ne Boxe.

And for the more suretee and euydence of the said orden[a]nces appoyntmentes & accord' to be establisshed & contynued' the seid' Company therto subscriben' Whoos names folowen that is to sey.

[Edited transcript] I John Grove (and) Robert Bale, William Brampton', Thomas Clerk, Andrew Joye, William Olov' (and) William Styfford g[ra]nnte & p[ro]mytte to obs[er]ue the same to my power subscribed by myn' owne hand the moneth and yere a[foreseid, torn away]. I Thomas Froddesham to all that is aboue Writen except the colour of the hodyng' I consent & aggree.

I Robert Shodewell g[ra]nnte and p[ro]mytte to obs[er]ue the same to my power &c.

I Thomas Plumer g[ra]nnte and p[ro]mytte to obs[er]ue the said' rule & orden[a]nces to my power Writen' with myn' owne hande. (fn. 1)

I Robert Spayne (and) (fn. 2) Richard Pumfrey, John Parker, Peter Bonauntre, John Geton' (and) Edward Noreys grannte and promytte to obs[er]ue the same to my power subscribed by myn' own hande the moneth & yere aforseid.

I Henry Assheborn' to all that is aboue Written' I consent aggree and it I p[ro]mytte to my power to kepe and observe.

[p. 16 transcript] I Walter Culpet grannte to obs[er]ue the said rule and orden[a]nce to my powr Wretyn' With my owne hand'.

I Thomas Tanner grannte and promytte to obs[er]ue the seid rule and ordena[u]nnces to my power Writen' w^t myne owen' hande the xij Day of Juyn the yere aboueseid.

Footnotes