History of corn milling .. - Centrostudirpinia.it

SOME FEUDAL MILLS. 81
hath byn out of tyme of mynd a craft called the craft of comon HI.
bakers" [&c., reciting the original of January 12, 1463]. ""^TFSTFR^'
Which ordinance by the deliberation and advice of our councillors '_
we approve and confirm. 9^ Bakers'
Witnessed by myself at Chester 18 Deer, the 11^'^ y'" of the reign Company
of our said father [1496]. bound, 1464.
A second civic charter, dated April 26, 1553,
was confirmed by Edward VL July 6, 1553*: —
To all people unto whom this presente writtinge shall come to Harl. MSS.j
be scene or herd, Mr. William Glassier, gent, mayre of the cittie of 2054. 44.
Chester; Rich. Sneyd, gent., recorder of the same citie ; and the
aldermen and justices of the peace within the county of the citty of
Chester, whos names be underwritten, greetinge in the lord god
everlastinge :—
Know ye that whereas we the said mayre, recorder and aldermen;
together with Willm. fflecher, baker [alderman], and John ffayreclyf
and John Smith, stewards of the mystery or craft of bakers within
the sayd citty of Chester, and the brethren of the sayd crafte ; and
at the present contemplation of the sayd alderman and stewards of
the sayd mystery, and the brethren of the sayd crafte :—
Have perfect knowledge and clere understandinge that
" Wheras within the sayd citty of Chester there was and hath byn
tyme out of "
mynd a crafte called the crafte of comon bakers [&c.,
reciting the charter of January 12, 1463; but it amending in one
or two passages to suit the modern times. For example, in the
first clause the words "good and holesome" are inserted before
" brede " ; and the compulsion to pay towards the expenses of
Corpus Christi play is omitted.]
As by divers ordinances of ancient time, agreements of the craft
with the mayor, divers charters and letters patent doth more
plainly appear :
all which aunciente customes and laudable ordi-
nances have been duley perused and examined and likewise discretely
pondered, consydered and wayed by the sayd mayor, recorder and
aldermen. . . .
Who doe confirme, ratyfy and by these presents approbate,
establish and allow all and singular the ordinances aforesayd to be
good and profitable and to stand and take their effects in ; every
parte thereof; and shall be fyrmly continually confirmed, obayed,
fullfiUed and kept in every point, clause and article within the said
citty. In witness whereof, &c.
Given at the Pentice of the said citty the 26**^ day of April, in
the 6^'^ y^ of the reign of Edwd. VL [1553].
per me, William Glassor,
Maiorem cvtis Cestriae.
There hath byn 22 seales of which no wax bits remayneth.
* Further confirmations were granted 6 December, 7 Elizabeth (1565), and
30 April, 2 James I. (1605). A Harleian note states^ "the bakers' charter is
inrolled in the pentice court booke for y« yeare 1569" ; and there it remained a
standing enactment, binding the trade for a further couple of centuries.
VOL. IV.
F