Chapter XIV: Appendix: B

REGULATIONS OF THE HEAUMERS, 21 EDWARD III, 1347

City of London Letter Book F, fol. cxlii

The Points of the Articles touching the trade of Helmetry
accepted by Geffrey de Wychingham, Mayor, and the Aldermen at the
suit and request of the folks of the said trade:--

In the first place that no one of the said trade shall follow or keep seld of the trade aforesaid within the franchise of the City of London until he shall have properly bought his freedom, according to the usages of the said City, on pain of losing his wares.

Also forasmuch as heretofore some persons coming in who are strangers have intermeddled and still do intermeddle in the making of helmetry, whereas they do not know the trade, by reason whereof many great men and others of the realm have been slain through their default, to the great scandal of the said trade: It is ordained that no person shall from henceforth intermeddle with or work at helmetry if he be not proved to be a good, proper, and sufficient workman by the Wardens of the said trade on pain of forfeiture to the use of the Chamber.

Also that three or four if need be of the best workmen of the said trade shall be chosen and sworn to rule the trade well and properly as is befitting for security and safety of the great men and others of the realm, and for the honour and profit of the said City and of the workers of the said trade.

Also that no apprentice shall be received by any master of the said trade for less than seven years; and that without collusion or fraud on paying to the said Chamber 100 shillings.

Also that no one of the said trade or other person of the Franchise shall set any stranger to work who is of the said trade if he be not a proper and lawful person, and one for whom the master will answer as to his good behaviour, on pain of paying to the said Chamber 20 shillings.

Also that no apprentice of the said trade who shall be indebted to his master in any sum of money at the end of his term shall serve henceforth any other person than his own master, nor shall he depart from such service or be into the service of another person in any way received until he shall have fully given satisfaction for his debt to his master. And he who shall receive in any other manner the servant or apprentice of another person shall pay to the said Chamber 20 shillings.

Also that helmetry and other arms forged by the hammer which are brought from the parts without this land beyond the seas, or from any other place unto the said City for sale, shall not from henceforth be in any way offered for sale privily or openly until they have been properly assayed by the aforesaid Wardens and marked with their mark, on pain of forfeiting such helmetry and arms to the said Chamber as shall be so offered for sale.

Also that each one of the makers aforesaid shall have his own mark and sign, and that no one of them shall counterfeit the sign or mark of another on pain of losing his freedom until he shall have bought the same back again and made satisfaction to him whose sign he shall have so counterfeited, and further he shall pay to the Chamber 40 shillings.

Wardens of the same trade chosen and sworn,
ROBERT DE SHIRWODE,
RICHARD BRIDDE,
THOMAS CANOUN.