with perpetual succession, and enjoined them to choose two wardens every year, who might sue and be sued, &c. and that when the general plays should be performed, they should play the ancient one of the society, called "the Deliverance of the Children of Ifrael out of the Thraldom, Bondage, and Servitude of King Pharoh," on pain of forfeiting twenty shillings for absence: that no stranger or alien born should be taken apprentice, or fet to work, on pain of fix fhillings and eightpence; and that apprentices should ferve seven years; that no corn should be ground on Sundays; that each miller in the counties of Northumberland, or Durham, who brought corn from Newcastle market, should pay them an acknowledgment of fixpence per annum, and two fhillings and fixpence every time he should be found in the wheat or malt market before two o'clock in the afternoon on market days, unless to fetch away the corn which his customers had bought there; and that no fuch foreign millers should buy corn there, under a penalty of two shillings and fixpence for each default.

April 8th, 1672, a fingular order occurs in the books of this fraternity, " that if any brother should attend the burial of another with a black hat, he should be fined fixpence for every fuch default."

12. Curriers, Feltmakers, and Armourers.

The affociation of these three branches of business, was conftituted by an ordinary dated September 20, 1546. They were enjoined to go together in proceffion at the feaft of Corpus Chrifti, bear the charges of the lights, pageants, and play, and be there at the hour affigned them, on pain of forfeiting a pound of wax. It further enjoined that none born out of the king's dominion should work with them, unless he were denizen, or for urgent causes to be admitted by the mayor and justices of peace, on pain of paying forty pounds fterling; that they should not work on holidays, or on Saturdays longer than five o'clock of the afternoon, on pain of forfeiting a pound of wax; that each brother should be sworn on admiffion'; and that the armourers, curriers, and hatters, should not interfere in each other's occupations.

A. D. 1719, this society made a fingular and very ridiculous order, " that no quaker should be taken ap. prentice, on pain of forfeiting one hundred pounds."

13. Colliers, Paviors, and carriage-men.

The ordinary of this united fraternity dated July 30, 1656, appears to have been a mutual agreement figned and fealed by themselves, to remain in force till they should obtain one under the authority of the magistrates of Newcastle. It ordered that no stranger, not having duly served an apprenticeship to their calling, should be set to work, on pain of forfeiting the sum of forty shillings; that any brother working a day's work privately, should forfeit fix shillings and eightpence for each default; and that they should choose a warden yearly, on the feaft of St. Mark, who should keep the books of the fraternity, and do all other offices belonging to a steward, as in other companies.

14 Slaters.

The records of this society inform us that their ancient ordinary was dated March 12, 1451. By this they were enjoined to go together in a livery, yearly,

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at the feast of Corpus Chrifti, and play their parts at their own expence; that no apprentice should ferve less than seven years, nor a fecond to be taken till the first had ferved fix; that no brother should take a Scotfman apprentice: that if any brother had taken a flate quarry, or any places to cover with flates, none should undermine him, under a penalty of thirteen shillings and fourpence; that none should work upon St. Catherine's day, on pain of forfeiting a pound of wax. An order was added December 28, 1460, that no brother should take less than fix shillings and eightpence, for handling a rood of flate coverings.

Another ordinary, dated September 28, 1579, cited an agreement between the flaters and bricklayers, and incorporated the societies with perpetual fucceffion, enjoined them to choose two wardens annually, who might fue and be fued, make by-laws, &c. that at the general Corpus Christi plays, they should perform "the Offering of Ifaac by Abraham:" that they should make ovens, chimney-tops, funnels, and all works of tile or brick, which was claimed by the wallers, to whom they were to pay an annual acknowledgment of three shillings and fourpence. It further ordered, that the flaters should do no kind of work with black mortar or clay, on pain of ten shillings for each default. By mutual agreement, the annual acknowledgment of three shillings and fourpence was afterwards given up February 23, 1597.

Another ordinary of this fociety, dated March 16, 1677, feparated them from the company of wallers, bricklayers, and dawbers, alias plaisterers; and made them in deed and name a fellowship, by the name of flaters and tilers; ordering them to meet yearly on

St.

St. Catherine's day, and choose two wardens, who might fue and be sued, &c. to pay to the wallers three shillings and fourpence yearly on St. Catherine's day; to work no kind of black mortar, or clay, but to make ovens and chimneys, or funnels.

November 11, 1654, this fraternity agreed to meet with the coopers in the Manors; they affemble with them at present on the Sand-hill.

15. Glaziers, Plumbers, Pewterers, & Painters.

By the first ordinary anno 1536, goldsmiths were incorporated with the glaziers, &c. as above. The goldsmiths were separated from them anno 1717. Their ordinary required them to go together on the feast of Corpus Christi, and maintain their play of

the three Kings of Coleyn;" to have four wardens, one goldsmith, one plumber, one glazier, and one pewterer or painter; to be sworn on admiffion; not to interfere with each other's occupations: that no Scotsman born should be taken apprentice, or fuffered to work in Newcastle.

They had their hall in Morden-Tower granted them in the mayoralty of Sir Peter Riddell, anno 1619.

Among other regulations it was enacted that none of the fellowship should lend his diamond, except to a free-brother, a glazier, on pain of forfeiting fix fhillings and eightpence.

OTHER COMPANIES NOT OF THE FIFTEEN BY-TRADES.

We shall only notice the most material circumstances respecting these.

Goldsmiths.

Goldsmiths.

They were formerly incorporated anno 1536 by an ordinary with the glaziers, &c. as mentioned before. They were feparated from them anno 1717. At so remote a period as A. D. 1249, the reigning king Henry III commanded the bailiffs and good men of Newcastle to choose four of the most prudent and trusty men of their town for the office of moneyers there; and other four like persons for keeping the king's mints in that town; also two fit and prudent goldsmiths to be assayers of the money to be made there.

An afsay master was appointed to this society in the year 1702, which office is now held by Mr. Robert Pinkney.

Waits, or Musicians.

This fociety seems, by quotations from their original charter, which is lost, to have been in greater reputation, than in more modern times. The exifting ordinary, dated September 18, 1677, appointed them a fellowship with perpetual fucceffion; that none should teach music without licence from the mayor; that no stranger should be fuffered to play at weddings or feafts, unless allowed by the mayor, under a penalty of fix fhillings and eightpence; that no fiddler, piper, dancer upon ropes, or others that pretended to skill in mufic, or that went about with motions or showes," should practise in Newcastle, without licence from the mayor, on pain of forfeiting ten shillings; that at marriages where mutic should be chosen, the waits should be preferred; and if any other musicians, who had the may