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Notwithstanding therefore the chain of disastrous calamities, which almost swept the town from the face of the country in the reign of Henry 3rd, it must at this time have regained much of its original consequence. Ancient records of this, the twelfth century, mention Todenham Hall in Wisbech, the seat of the family of Todenham; but nothing is left but the record to indicate such a mansion ever having been in this part. bridge had also before this period been erected over the river, as in 1326, the Bishop of Ely obtained a grant of a tax on all saleable goods going into the town for the purpose of repairing the bridge, but the most considerable local event was the foundation of the Guild of the Holy Trinity, whose subsequent importance to the town calls for some slight investigation, we shall therefore preface its foundation in 1379, with a few remarks on the nature and origin of these precursors of the Corporations of England.

CHAPTER IV.

The Guild of the Holy Trinity.

THE HE first introduction of Guilds into this country seems to have been owing to that secret pride, which leads man to associate only with those of his own rank and consequence in life, the clubs and benefit associations of the present day being only an amplification of these ancient institutions. They were of various kinds, in most trading towns descending from the highest to the lowest grade of society. Lynn it is said had no less than thirty-one Guilds, Wisbech does not appear to have ever possessed more than eight besides the Holy Trinity, to which they were all subordinate. Some of them were large trading companies, holding considerable possessions in houses, land, and mercantile property, they were formed for the mutual benefit of their respective members, and were calculated to advance the interests of the individuals who composed them.*

* Richards.

Of their origin little is known, and much surmised. Many think them to be derived from the Anglo Saxons, and others suppose that Monks were the earliest Guild brethren. Camden informs us that the origin of Guilds and fraternities is said to be from the Saxon law, by which neighbours entered into an association, and became bound for each other, to bring forth him who had committed any crime, or make satisfaction to the injured party; for which purpose they raised a sum of money among themselves, and put it into a common stock. They flourished, says the same author, long before any formal licenses were granted them. Turner, in his History of the Anglo Saxons, attributes their origin to that people, and thinks the object of their union to be that every family should pay a penny annually at Easter and on the death of a member one additional penny for the welfare of the soul of the dead, which was to be expended in purposes of religion, burial, &c. Priests were to sing masses, for their living friends and for the dead. The same author also remarks that there were also Guilds or fraternities for carrying on commerce, even thus early; and that they seem on the whole to be friendly associations, made for mutual aid and contribution, to meet the pecuniary exigences which were perpetually arising, from burials, legal exactions, penal mulcts, or other payments or compensations. That much good fellowship was connected with them, cannot be doubted. The fines of their own imposition imply that the materials of conviviality were not forgotten. He thinks that on the whole they might very justly be termed Anglo-Saxon clubs.

The Wisbech Guild, to which of course our chief

attention is directed, was apparently of a religious description, and named; The Guild or Fraternity of the Holy Trinity in Wysbech. Its affairs were regulated by a certain number of officers, varying from six to eighteen, of whom the head was named Alderman. They assembled yearly, at the time of the feast of the Holy Trinity, to elect their officers and were then called an Inquisition. The register of their proceedings, which has been preserved, names their first officers six in number, viz. An Alderman, two Scabini, a Clerk, a Dean, and an Hostiliarius. The Scabini were stewards to the Guild, and had the charge of its property, the Dean appears to have been a kind of auditor of the accounts, and a part of his office was to warn the Alderman and brethren to have their accounts ready at the election: the last named, Hostiliarius, was a steward of a lower grade than the Scabini, whose office it was to assist in the entertainment of strangers.

The register of this ancient fraternity is in the possession of the Corporation of Wisbech. It is written. in Latin, the prevalent and familiar language with the learned of those days, which confirms the respectability as well as the antiquity of the association. We have availed ourselves of a translation by Col: Watson, of some portion of this document as it affords many quaint traces of the Guild and is illustrative at the same time of its economy and expenditure.

Memorandum that here begins the Book of the Accountants of the Brotherhood of the Holy Trinity.

The account of Adam Reynald, the chaplain, Simon

Pokedych, Adam Mareys, Gilbert Grout, the skyvens* of the Guild of the Holy Trinity of Wysbech, from Sunday on the feast of the Holy Trinity, in the 2d year of king Richard II. after the conquest, to the same Sunday in the 3d year of king Richard II. for one whole year: Imprimis, in a tenth received for the chaplain. Also in the sum of £4. 5s. 8d. received of the brotherhood of the said fraternity, from the feast of Saint Michael, in the third year of the reign of Richard II. to the feast of Saint Michael next following except the pence which were received for ten novices, for the third time from the nativity of Saint John the Baptist next following:-Sum, £4. 98. Also in the sum of 26s. 8d. received of sixty-four brethren of the said fraternity, for the purchase of an image of the Holy Trinity-Sum, £1. 68. 8d. Also in the sum of 46s. 8d. received of fourteen novices, viz. John Tyd, John Austin, senior, John Hillary, William Fyscher, John Austyn, junior, John Curteys, Martin Mylys, John Barbour, Richard Barbour, John Cuckope, Peter Hurry, Peter Veck, Henry Barker, and William Dunham, of each of them 38. 4d. :-Sum, £2. 6s. 8d. Also in the sum of £5. 11s. 8d. received of sixty-seven brethren of the aforesaid fraternity, viz. of each of them 20d. :Sum, £5. 11s. 8d. Total sum, £13. 14s.

Expended. First, they account in a payment made

* Scabini, Scavini, or Skyvens, were the guardians, governors, or stewards, and had the charge of the goods and effects of the guild. They were two, and sometimes four in number; seniors going off yearly, when two others were chosen. They were sworn, when they received the chattels of the house, to employ the same faithfully to the good of the guild.