Mercer Chronicle

INTRODUCTION. XIX
" This is the first of all the 12 companies, taking place of
all others, and are very numerous and rich; they take no
quarterage of those made free thereof, and puhlic feasts are
at the charge of the whole society. I do not find that they are
limited to any number of apprentices. Their arms are gules,
a demy virgin, with her hair dishevelled, crowned, issuing out
and within an orb of clouds, all proper. This company is
patronized by the blessed Virgin, and of it there have been
several kings, princes, and nobility, and 98 lord mayors." Hall,
Cheapside. 15
In summing up the above statements, we venture to state
that the term Mercer is the more ancient, the term Merchant
of later origin ; which latter, being Norman-English, has sup-
planted the older term, the meaning of which, however, is "well
preserved even in Herbert, whose facte and reasonings would
seem to militate. " Mercers and shop-keepers," quotes he ;
" many eminent members," he states, " who, though called
Mercers, are well known to have been Merchants." The
term mercer, we think, comes from the Netherlands, that of
merchant from France, and being the language of the dominant
race in England, has supplanted the term mercer, anciently
used in England, still more so in Scotland. To revert to
antiquity. Mex means, a price, or rather equivalent ; mercis,
of a price ; mercium, prices of things sold or bartered, i.e.,
merceries, or, as now called, merchandise. Thus we find
Tacitus, in speaking of the ancient Germans, saying : —
" Interiores simplicius et antiquius permutatione mercium
utuntur." — Germania, vol. iv. Valpy, Londini, 1812. In
French we have ouvrage, a work ; ouvrier, a workman. In
this word mercium, mercery, or merchandise, drop the Latin
termination, adding er, and you have mercier, English,
Mercer, the dealer in merchandise.
15 Herbert's History, p. 226.
16 See also remarks in "Herbert's Hist." at p. 231, 302, 303, and 480 in
the volumes presented to the " Linen Hall Library," Belfast, by Colonel
E. S. Mercer, which prove the general origin and after division into
special callings of commercial enterprize.