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"A Brief History of the Worshipful Company of Waxchandlers, London from the 13th to 17th Centuries" by Lady Kate the Candelmaker.

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NOTICE -

This article was submitted to me by the author for inclusion in this set of files, called Stefan's Florilegium.

These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

While the author will likely give permission for this work to be reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first or check for any permissions granted at the end of this file.

Thank you,

Mark S. Harris...AKA:..Stefan li Rous

stefan at florilegium.org

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A Brief History of the Worshipful Company of Waxchandlers, London from the 13th to 17th Centuries

by Lady Kate the Candelmaker

The Worshipful Company of Waxchandlers began as most guilds did during the Middle Ages as a voluntary organization bent towards the standardization of beeswax and tallow candles. In 1462, the Tallow Chandlers' Company broke off from the Waxchandlers and incorporated themselves into a separate organization [1]. The Waxchandlers themselves were granted a royal charter by Richard III in February of 1484.

The royal charter was the end result of many steps in making the guild an official body. The Mayor and Aldermen of the city of London would recognize a trade first and give it the distinction of being a Mistery [sic]. This would allow the Mayor and Aldermen to regulate particular aspects of the trade through ordinances. Several of these ordinances came to pass prior to recognition as a Mistery. The ordinances themselves were attempts to regulate the trade and keep the waxchandlers honest. In an ordinance of 1358, provision was given for action to be taken against "wykes any fat, code (cobblers wax), rosin or other manner of refuse; nor shall they use old wax and worse within, and new wax without. And that they shall not make their wykes, which they put into such manner of work, of excessive weight, so as to be selling wyke for wax to the damage, and in deceit of the common people." [2]

The secondary part in creating a guild during the Middle Ages involved the voluntary organization by those craftspeople who are in need of a guild. This was normally done through discussion and enacting of ordinances they themselves drew up. According to Richard Percival, current Clerk of the Waxchandlers Guild, the main reason they can date the guild back to the early 14th century is, "One of the Ordinances was written down on the same sheet of vellum as a copy of the Mistery ordinances of 1371. That the organization was considerably older than that is shown by a reference amending an earlier ordinance, the date of which was left blank, presumably because anyone alive could remember when the original ordinance was made." [3]

Within the guild there were several different positions one could hold. In order to operate a shop within the city of London, you first had to secure the Freedom of the City, or become a Freeman. This was obtained by training as an apprentice (servitude), inheritance (patrimony), or purchase (redemption). [4] The upper echelon of the guild were able to "take the livery", meaning they could wear a robe in the guild colors, and were considered Masters of the craft.

Apprenticeship was the standard form of training within the guild. Indeed, many documents still exist pertaining to apprenticeships. One such manuscript, dated 22 February 1597 goes into great detail as to payment due to the guild for every apprentice taken:

Take any apprentice or apprentices to serve with him or them for the space of seven years or upwards that within the first three months next after the binding of any further apprentice or apprentices that the same apprentice and apprentices to be presented before the Master and Wardens of the same company at their common hall And shall register the names and surnames of every such apprentice and apprentices in the book of presentments to be kept for that purpose, and then and there shall pay to the said Master and Wardens for the presenting every such apprentice two shillings and sixpence. [5]

Further fines were levied should the apprentices not be presented. [6] The fines would be levied should the Master not present his apprentice "within the space of twqo [sic] months next after his or their binding." [7] The fines continued to climb the longer an apprentice served without being logged into the book of presentments, culminating with, "the sum of thirteen shilling and four pence over and besides the said two shillings and six pence due to the house as aforesaid without redemption in any of the said defaults." [8] This final fine was due when the apprentice(s) were never presented to the Guild during the entirety of their term of servitude.

A place within the guild could be inherited from a father or husband who was a guild member upon their death. Women were not barred from being apprenticed, or taking apprentices, or having the freedom of the city. However, they were unable to take the livery of the company. Indeed, one of the Customs of London allowed for a widow to take on a "maid apprentice" and train them in their late husbands' craft. At the end of their indenture, they would be allowed to apply for the freedom of the city and membership within the guild. [9]

A craftsman who was well trained in another part of the world could purchase the freedom of the city and therefore be admitted to the guild. This allowed for artisans from other parts of Europe to migrate to London and still have a living without having to go through the apprenticeship again.

Those who were chosen to wear the livery of the guild were those who not only controlled the craft by writing ordinances, but were those who were financially responsible for paying for the luxuries of the guild. The construction of meeting halls, cost of banquets, maintaining such treasures the guild may own, and any financial burden from the Crown itself came from their pockets. [10] Considering the potential cost outlay, many were not as eager to take up the honor as others were. In 1536, Henry VIII required equipped men to deal with an uprising of Roman Catholics. While the uprising collapsed early in 1537, the cost to outfit a pair of men-at-arms had been, for the large part, already spent.

The Charges for the two men that shuld have gone in to the North parties

Ffirst payd for a horse xlvijd

Itm payd to Mr Hull the Costes & Charges of his horse xs

For ij Sadylles & Bridelles wt all thynges therto xs

For the same horsemete iiijs

For the Suyuge [sic] of the same ij horsis xiijd

For meate & drynke for the same ij men for iiij days & a half iiijs

For ix yeardes of white Cotton at vijd the yeard vsiijd

For Red Cloth & the making of the same ij Cottes xvijd

For ij Gerkyns ijs

For ij mens harnesis xxvjs viijd

For ij Swerdes & ij Gerdylles vjs

For ij daggars ijs viijd

For ij payer of Bottes vs iiijd

For ij payer of Sporis xd

For ij dossen of poynttes iiijd

For ij Cappis & ij hates ijs viijd

For a bowe ijs

For a Sheff of Arrowes iijs

For a Byll ijs

For Bowe strynges ijd

To them for ther prest mony (recruitment bounty) xiijs

To the same men when that they cam home agene xxs

Summa of the Charges for the ij men viijli ixs ijd. [11]

The Company was first granted Arms on 3 February 1485 which were "Azure upon a chevron argent three roses gules seeded or between three royal mortars gold." [12] The crest itself, "Upon a wreath of flowers a maiden in a surcoat of cloth of gold lined/furred with ermine kneeling among divers flowers proper making in her hand a garland of the same flowers Mantelled azure double ermine." [13]

In 1530, supporters for the Arms were granted, "The unicorns argent gorged with a garland of various flowers proper, the horn wreathed or and gules." [14] The final touch, the motto "Truth is the Light", was granted in 1634. [15]

File written by Adobe Photoshop® 5.0

Footnotes

[1] The Wax Chandlers of London By John Dummelow p. 22

[2] Waxchandlers Ordinance of 1358

[3] Richard Percival, Clerk of the Guild, via email dated 5/17/2007

[4] The Wax Chandlers of London By John Dummelow - introduction

[5] Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers, Transcripts from manuscript 9496, folio 18, dated 22 February 1597

[6] Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers, Transcripts from manuscript 9496, folio 18, dated 22 February 1597

[7] Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers, Transcripts from manuscript 9496, folio 18, dated 22 February 1597

[8] Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers, Transcripts from manuscript 9496, folio 18, dated 22 February 1597

[9] Richard Percival, Clerk of the Guild, via email dated 5/17/2007

[10] The Wax Chandlers of London By John Dummelow, p. 6

[11] The Wax Chandlers of London By John Dummelow, p. 42

[12] Email attachment from Richard Percival, Clerk of the Guild, showing photograph of the Arms and history of the device

[13] Email attachment from Richard Percival, Clerk of the Guild, showing photograph of the Arms and history of the device

[14] Email attachment from Richard Percival, Clerk of the Guild, showing photograph of the Arms and history of the device

[15] Email attachment from Richard Percival, Clerk of the Guild, showing photograph of the Arms and history of the device

Lady Kate the Candelmaker

Kingdom of An Tir

Barony of Glymm Mere

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Copyright 2009 by Kate Collins, 414 V PL SE. Auburn, WA 98002. <ocoileain2 at msn.com>. Permission is granted for republication, provided the author is credited. Addresses change, but a reasonable attempt should be made to ensure that the author is notified of the publication and if possible receives a copy.

If this article is reprinted in a publication, I would appreciate a notice in the publication that you found this article in the Florilegium. I would also appreciate an email to myself, so that I can track which articles are being reprinted. Thanks. -Stefan.