DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57079#0076
6o THE EARLY HISTORY OF
of its being formed. For subsequent years
it was laid down that any one might apply
within one year of his reaching his twenty-
sixth birthday or the expiration of his appren-
ticeship—whichever event came first—and on
payment of the entrance fee of £25 might be
admitted. But if any one applied after this
term, that is to say beyond a year from the
end of his apprenticeship or his twenty-sixth
birthday, the entrance fee was to be double.
The company was not to refuse admittance
without reasonable excuse to any person
duly qualified, who was willing to pay the
entrance fee. No doubt this clause was in-
serted in order to prevent jealousy or personal
feeling from excluding any one. Further-
more, the sons of freemen of the company
and such of their apprentices, as had been
engaged in the Levant trade for a space of
three years, might be admitted on payment
of 20 shillings only. But of those appren-
tices of freemen who had not been so employed
only one might be admitted once in every
seven years 48 and he too was to pay only
48 In the Minutes os the meetings of the court for
November 6, 1614, Richard Coxe is admitted a member
of the company under this clause.
of its being formed. For subsequent years
it was laid down that any one might apply
within one year of his reaching his twenty-
sixth birthday or the expiration of his appren-
ticeship—whichever event came first—and on
payment of the entrance fee of £25 might be
admitted. But if any one applied after this
term, that is to say beyond a year from the
end of his apprenticeship or his twenty-sixth
birthday, the entrance fee was to be double.
The company was not to refuse admittance
without reasonable excuse to any person
duly qualified, who was willing to pay the
entrance fee. No doubt this clause was in-
serted in order to prevent jealousy or personal
feeling from excluding any one. Further-
more, the sons of freemen of the company
and such of their apprentices, as had been
engaged in the Levant trade for a space of
three years, might be admitted on payment
of 20 shillings only. But of those appren-
tices of freemen who had not been so employed
only one might be admitted once in every
seven years 48 and he too was to pay only
48 In the Minutes os the meetings of the court for
November 6, 1614, Richard Coxe is admitted a member
of the company under this clause.