ents.

This brief sketch of the nature and origin of guilds, may suffice to
introduce more particularly the history of the great Guild of St. George,
the most important of all the fraternities that existed in this city, and
from being connected with the municipal body from an early date,
intimately associated with the history of the Guildhall. The following
copious account of the company, with the copy of one of the charters
granted to them, is extracted from the papers of the Norfolk and Norwich
Archaeological Society.

COPY OF CHARTER.

"Henry, by the grace of God, (King) of England, France, and lord of
Ireland, &c., to whom these present letters shall come greeting:

"Know ye that, whereas we have understood a certain Fraternity, and
Gild of the glorious martyr St. George, in our city of Norwich, for
thirty years past, and more, continually have been, and are, still
honestly governed, and the brethren and sisters of the Gylde
aforesaid, for the same time have found a chaplain duly celebrating
divine service in the Cathedral church of the said city, and diverse
and great cost for the worship of God, and the same glorious martyr,
have made and do purpose to do more, if we should vouchsafe to assist
them in the behalf. Wee, in consideration of the premises, and for
the augmentation of the same of our people, to the said glorious
martyr, do, for us, our heirs (as much as in us lye), accept, ratify,
and confirm the said Fraternity and Gylde, and we have granted that
the said Fraternity and Gylde be perpetually a community in time
succession for ever. And that the Fraternity and Gylde aforesaid
have the name of the Gylde of Saint George in Norwich, for ever. And
that the brethren and sisters aforesaid, and their successors yearly
by themselves, at their will choose and create one alderman and two
masters successively, and make honest and reasonable ordinances and
constitutions to the better government of the said Fraternity and
Gylde.

"Also cloath themselves with one suit of cloaths, and yearly make a
feast for eating and drinking, in a convenient place within the said
city, to be by them assigned.

"And also the aldermen and masters, brethren and sisters of the
Fraternity and Gylde aforesaid, and their successors, be able and
capable persons to purchase land, tenements,