Mercer Chronicle

INTRODUCTION. XVl'i
they were brought over by the Lombard merchants, or whether
they were fabricated by the London silkwomen ; but it is certain
that for a considerable time before, the Mercers' Company, in
consequence of the adoption of a distinct line of traffic by those
called Merchant Adventurers, had become a mixed body of
merchants and shopkeepers. This is alluded to in the incor-
poration charter, which states — ' the impoverishment of several
men of the mystery often by misfortunes of the sea,' and the
wish of the fraternity to make some provision for such, to be
the reason of the king's grant ; and the fact further appears in
their many eminent members before and after that period,
who, though called Mercers, are well known to have been
merchants." 13
" Taubman, in his 'Pageant of London's Jubilee,' 1C86, at-
tempts ingeniously enough, in his address to the Mercers, to
account for their ranking as the first company, and that they
adopted as such the Virgin for their conuzance. ' As London
has the precedency of all other cities in England, so have you
the priority of all the companies of London, being the first
that was founded a society in the reign of King Richard the
Second. Twas then as an emblem of antiquity, having
obtained the maidenhead of all charters and corporations,
you were endowed with that honourable hieroglyphic of
primitive innocence, the Virgin for your coat, to whose mag-
nificent state in your triumphal chariot you have this year
so highly contributed.' Unfortunately, the poet's compliment,
like most similar ebullitions of fancy, wants authority. The
Mercers, we have seen, were not the first incorporated company,
though they are at present first in rank, for the goldsmiths,
merchant tailors and skinners, were as fully incorporated long-
before them. Elkanah Settle, on the inauguration as mayor
of Sir William Gore in 1701, more authentically comments on
the company's ancient union of mercer and merchant. 'As
you precede the whole city in honour, so you lead in mag-
13 Herbert's History, pp. 231-2.