Ordinance of 1670
The Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights came into being by virtue of the Royal Charter of 3 February 1670 but was in fact almost powerless to act until the bylaws had been approved. The regulations and actions taken in the first forty years of the Company’s life were based on the ‘Rules and Ordinances of the Wheelwrights’ Company’, officially signed and sealed on 12 October 1670. To assist the understanding of the Company’s history these bylaws, and the reason for them, are reproduced in full.
TO ALL TO WHOME THIS PRESENT Writeing shall come Sir ORLANDO BRIDGEMAN KNIGHT and BARONETT Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England Sir MATHEW HALES Knight Chiefe Justice of the Court of King’s Bench and Sir JOHN VAUGHAN Knight Chiefe Justice of the Court of Common Pleas Send Greeting.
WHEREAS in and by a certaine Act of Parliament made in the Nyneteenth yeare of the raigne of King Henry the Seaventh Itt is amongst other things Enacted that no Masters Wardens or Fellowships of Crafts or Misteries or any of them or any Rulers of Guilds or Fraternitres shall take upon them to make any acts or ordinances nor execute or use any act or ordinance by them heretofore made in disinherison or diminucion of the King’s prerogative or any other or against the Common Weale or proffitt of the King’s Subjects & liege people except the same acts or ordinances be examined and approved by the Chancellor and treasurer of England or the Chiefe Justices of either Bench or three of them or else before both the Justices of Assize in their Circuites or progresses in that Shire where such acts and ordinances be made Upon the paine of Forfeiting forty pounds for every time they doe thereunto Contrary as in the said act it doth more plainely appeare
THE Masters Wardens & Assistants of the Company of Wheelwrights of the City of London willing and desiring the said act in every behalfe to be observed and kept the twelveth day of October in the two and twentieth yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord King CHARLES the SECOND over England &c HAVE Exhibited and presented theire humble peticion unto Us with this present writeing Containeing the rules and ordinances by them ordained devised and made for the said Company and theire Successors and for the Common Weale Conservacion of the good estate of the mistery of the said Wheelewrights AND thereupon have Instantly desired Us that wee would peruse and Examine the said orders & rules & ordinances & approve the same
WHEREUPON in pursuance of the said Act of Parliament We have perused the said ordinances the Tenor whereof hereafter ensue and follow vizt.
INPRIMIS Whereas it hath pleased his said most Excellent Majesty King CHARLES
the SECOND that now is over England &c. of his especiall grace and favour by his highnes Letters patents beareing date att Westminster the third day of February in the two and twentieth yeare of his Majestyes raigne to make them a body Corporate and politique and to Consist of a Master two Wardens & eighteene Assistants & Commonalty by the name of the Master Wardens Assistants & Commonalty of the Art and Mistery of Wheelewrights of the City of London And the manner and Choyce of the said Masters Wardens & Assistants in the said letters patents are expressed and sett downe for the better order to be held amongst the said Company now Incorporated Itt is hereby ordained that the Master Wardens and Assistants now nominated and appointed by his said Majestyes lettres patents soe to bee and their successors which hereafter shall bee Chosen into the said severall & respective offices shall before they enter upon the Execucion of their said severall and respective offices Take the respective oaths hereafter appoynted by these ordinances for every of them to take respectively.
ITEM it is agreed that the second Thursday of Every month shall be the usuall and ordinary Court dayes for the Master Wardens and Assistants of this Company and upon Every of those dayes a Court to bee held att the Hall or other meeteing place of the said Company within the City of London and if occasion doe require then such Court or assembly to be oftener and att such times as by the Master and Wardens of the said Company shall bee thought fitt and cause the same to bee summoned and alsoe an assembly or generall Court or Courts the same general! Courts to be appoynted & Summoned when as often as need shall require by the appoyntment of the Master and Wardens of the said Society
And of these, foure shall bee quarter dayes the same to be held yearely, one of them upon the first Thursday of January if the same shall not happen upon New yeares day, which if soe, then upon the day Followinge, the second Court upon the first Thursday of Aprill Except such Thursday be the Thursday next before Easter day which if it bee then upon the thursday in the weeke Following, The third Court upon the first Thursday in July And the fourth upon the first Thursday in October all of the said Courts to be kept att the Common Hall or other meeting place of the said Company within the City of London.
ITEM that on every of the said quarter dayes or court dayes every person that shall with his owne consent be admitted a Freeman of the said Fellowship or Incorporacion shall then and there satisfy & pay for quarterage twelve pence in money every quarter to the Master of the said Company for the time being to the use of the said Fellowshipp and every jornyman that shall by his owne consent be admitted a Freeman of the said Company shall pay for quarterage the summe of six pence per quarter and shall perform all such other Lawfull & reasonable orders rights and dutyes to the said Fellowship as by every other Fellow of the said Company ought to be done and that every person useing the trade of a Wheelwright in the Citty of London & Five miles Compasse thereof shall become member of this Society according to His Majesties Letters patents in that behalfe required.
ITEM that for every person by his owne Consent admitted into the said Fellowship makeing default of payment aforesaid and every person that shall make default of appeareance after reasonable Summons & Warninge to him given to bee att the said Courts or meetings att any time not haveing a reasonable excuse or departing from the same without leave of the said Court or Master of the said Company without some just & reasaonable cause shall Forfeit the respective summes of money hereafter following that is to say the Master or any of the Wardens not appeareing there by the houre appoynted before the Court is ended two shillings and for not comeing att all five shillings and every one of the Assistants of the said Company soe offending shall forfeite for comeing too late one shilling and for not comeing att all two shillings and sixpence and every other member by his owne consent admitted into the said Company or Fellowship as aforesaid soe sommoned or warned and not appeareing there att the houre appoynted shall forfeit one shilling and not comeing att all to the said Court or departing thence without licence before the Court be ended two shillings and if the Master or any of the Wardens or Assistants shall appeare att any of the said Courts or meetings not being decently habited and attyred he shall forfeit five shillings for every such time and every such other person admitted as aforesaid into the said Society refuseing denying or neglecting to pay his quarterage att any of the said quarter dayes or Courts after a personall demand to him or them made to pay the same shall loose and forfeit tenn shillings for every such default except the same shall bee moderated and dispensed with by a Court of Assistants of the said Company.
ITEM Such persons respectively who shall be Master and Wardens of the said Company shall respectively dureing the time of their being in the respective places or offices of Master or Warden shall use imploy and dispose all and every such summe or summes of money Rents Plate and other things and goods belonging to the said Company which they shall respectively receive bee possessed of or any way come to their respective hands or custody dureing the time of their beeing respectively Master or Wardens as shall be directed ordered and appoynted by the Court of Assistants for the time being from time to time and not otherwise and that after the Expiracion of their respective times of mastershipp or wardenshipp they shall respectively make and deliver to the use of the said Company a perfect true and full Account to and before such persons and att and by such seasonable time or times as by a Court of Assistants shall bee for such purpose nominated and appointed and after such Account soe made what shall bee found remaineing in their respective hands or custody belonging to the Company they shall respectively without dimunicion Covin or delay deliver att such time and place and to such persons and persons to the use of the said Company as by a Court of Assistants shall bee appointed.
ITEM itt is further Ordered that if any person Freeman of this Company shall be agreed upon as aforesaid to bee chosen Master or Warden of the said Company shall upon notice thereof deny refuse or neglect to take the same upon him that then he shall forfeite the summe of tenn pounds and then after there shall bee a proceeding to a new choice and eleccion of another in his place in like sort as shall bee done when any Master or Warden shall decease in the Terme of his said Office or as if such had been never soe elected
And that like proceeding shall bee had upon or against every person who shall bee chosen one of the Assistants and shall refuse or neglect to take upon him to bee of the Assistants and give his attendance as other of the Assistants doe in which case the Assistant or Assistants soe elected and refusing to hold the said Office as aforesaid shall forfeite and pay to the use of the Company the summe of Five pounds.
ITEM itt is Ordered that all persons admitted members of this Society shall make their Wheeles and other Ware Exposed to sale good well and substantiall and of good and substantiall materialls upon such paines and penaltyes as the Company or Court of Assistants may lawfully inflict upon them not exceeding Forty shillings.
ITEM itt is hereby Ordained that noe person or persons whatsoever following or useing the Trade of a Wheelewright shall presume to sett up shopp to follow the said Trade of a Wheelewright within the Citty of London or libertyes thereof or five miles compasse of the same unlesse he or they have served as an Apprentice by the space of seaven years to the said calling or trade of a Wheelewright according to the statute in that behalfe made in the Fifth year of the reigne of Queen Elizabeth of famous memory upon paine of being proceeded against for their contempt in this behalfe according to law and justice
And that noe person member of this Society shall make any dray or Coach Wheeles in any Brewers or Coachmakers house shopp or yard but onely in his owne house open shopp or yard upon the penalty of Forty shillings for every day they or any of them shall doe the contrary.
ITEM Whereas there are certaine persons in and about the Citty of London and Libertyes thereof and parts adjacent that doe buy Wheeles of severall Wheeleswrightes members of this Society before the same are fully finished That is to say before the boxes are putt in and Shooes putt upon the same in doeing whereof for want of knowledge in the said Art or Mistery itt being a principall part of the same they many times utterly spoyle the said goods and make the said wheeles which possibly before might be good and sufficient and fitt for sale altogether unfitt for service
Whereby gentlemen and others are not onely very much deceived in the goodnes of the Commoditye itt selfe but doe alsoe pay much the dearer for their wheeles in buying them att the second hand Itt is hereby Ordained that noe person or persons whatsoever admitted Member of this Society doe presume to sell or make any wheeles to or for any person or persons whatsoever and deliver the same unlesse itt bee to and for some Wheelwright to bee further wrought and perfected untill they bee boxed and shodd and finished fitt for use under the penalty of Forty shillings for every paire of wheeles by him or them soe sold and not finished boxed and shodd as aforesaid to bee paid to the use of this Fellowshipp.
ITEM that if att any time hereafter notice and command shall bee given to this Company to furnish His Majestyes Trayne of Waggons or Artillery with wheelwrights to attend the service thereof Thereupon this Company shall appoint fitt and able persons admitted of this Society for the said worke Iff thereupon any such Member shall refuse neglect or omitt to doe his duty therein as hee shall bee thereunto appointed by the Master Wardens and Assistants of this Company hee shall forfeite and pay to the use of this Company the summe of Five pounds over and besides such other paines and penaltyes as by His Majestye shall bee lawfully inflicted upon every such Offender in this behalfe.
ITEM noe person admitted a member of this Society shall hire receive or take or entertaine to Apprentice any person formerly Apprentice to any person of this Society without the consent of his next former Master if any such bee before his time is expired or before hee bee lawfully discharged by or from his next former Master upon paine that every person offending contrary to the true meaning of this Article shall for such offence forfeite twenty shillings and after notice to him or them soe offending given shall forfeite and pay for every month hee or they shall continue such Apprentice contrary to the true meaning of this Article the summe of Forty shillings.
ITEM that all summes of money limitted to bee imposed by these Ordinances or by vertue or force of these Ordinances by way of dutyes Forfeitures fines and penaltyes or otherwise att any time or times hereafter for any transgressions or offences contrary to any of these Ordinances or any lawfull Ordinances hereafter to bee made by this Society and which shall bee confirmed and approved according to the lawes and Statutes of this Realme shall bee by the Master Wardens Assistants recovered by Accion of Debt or levyed by distresse of the Offendors Goods by Warrant of the Court of Assistants to bee holden for this Company And shall bee and continue for ever to the use of this Fellowshipp to bee Imployed for the support and maintenance of the said Fellowshipp and to the poore and other charitable uses of this Fellowshipp and to bee paid to the Master or one of the Wardens of this Fellowshipp from time to time for the time being.
ITEM Every person that shall be admitted a Freeman of this Society shall pay for his or their Admittance thereinto to the use of the said Company thirteene shillings foure pence, to the Clerke three shillings foure pence, and to the Beadle one shilling six pence.
ITEM to the end that itt shall appeare what Oath or oathes every person or persons which shall become Master and Wardens or of the Assistants or a Freeman of this Company or Fraternity or the Clerke or Beadle shall take or enter into It is Ordered and Ordained that they shall severally and respectively take the severall Oathes here ensueing That it is to say every of them to take the oathes of Supremacye and Allegiance to and of the King’s Majestye his heires and Successors according to the lawes of this Realme as they now are or hereafter shall bee provided.
ITEM every Master and Warden agreed upon and chosen to bee Master and Warden for the succeeding yeare shall take his Oathe before the Master and both or one of the Wardens for the preceding yeare and Court of Assistants to the effect ensueing vizt
You shall bee true to our Soveraigne Lord the King and to his heires and Successors You shall Endeavour your selfe the best you can whilest you continue in this Office whereunto you are now chosen justly and indifferently to execute and cause to be executed your Office in every respect and to put in due execucion all the good and lawfull Ordinances herein expressed and conteyned as farre forth as by law you may without assesseing or punishing any person for envy hatred or malice or spareing any person for reward dread favour or affecion And all and every plate goods jewells summes of money or any other thing or things that by reason of your said Office shall come to your hands charge or custody to the use of or belonging to the said Fellowshipp you shall according to the Ordinances and direccions made touching the same yield and make a good true and plaine Accompt within convenient time after you shall bee thereunto required by the Master and Wardens of this Company for the time being Soe helpe you God.
ITEM for every one chosen from time to time to bee of the Assistants to bee taken before the Master and both or one of the Wardens and Court of Assistants to the effect ensueing vizt
You shall sweare to bee true to our Soveraigne Lord the King and to his heires and Successors You shall assist the Master and Wardens of this Company or Fellowshipp of Wheelewrights for the time being in their Oversight rule and Government of the said Company or Fellowshipp soe long as you shall continue one of the Assistants of the said Fellowshipp with your best and soundest advice and Councell and shall endeavour your selfe to the utmost of your skill and knowledge justly and indifferently to execute your said place and Office in every respect and to put in due execucion all the good and lawfull Ordinances of this Society in the Charter and booke of Ordinances expressed and conteined as farre forth as lawfully you may and shall not punish or assesse any person for hatred or malice or spare any person for love dread favour or affeccion or hope of reward Soe helpe you God.
ITEM the Clerke of this Company or Fellowshipp shall take the oath in manner aforesaid and the effect ensueing vizt
You shall bee true to our Soveraigne Lord the King and to his heires and Successors and to the Master Wardens and Fellowshipp of this Society and all the Commandements of the Master and Wardens being lawfull and honest touching the affaires and business of this Fellowshipp belonging to your Office to your power as farre forth as lawfully you may you shall doe and Execute true Entryes of all things belonging to your Office you shall make without any partiallity favour or affeccion lucre or gaMe Envy hatred or malice whatsoever you shall not knowingly and willingly doe and committ anything that may be hurtfull or prejudiciall to the said Master Wardens and fellowshipp but shall honestly justly and truely execute your office of Clerkeshipp in all things apperteining to the same as the Clerke of the said Master Wardens and Fellowshipp of this Society ought to doe soe long as you shall continue and be in the same office according to your best skill power and ability without any partiallity Soe helpe you God.
ITEM every one which shall bee att a Court of Assistants chosen and allowed to be a Beadle of this Company or Fellowshipp and Society shall take his oath in manner aforesaid and to the effect ensueing vizt
You shall be true to our Soveraigne Lord the King’s Majestye and to his heires and Successors and obedient shall bee to the Master and Wardens of this Fellowshipp for the time being their Commandements lawfull and honest touching the affaires and busines of this Company to the uttermost of your power willingly you shall doe as farre as lawfully you may and generally you shall justly and truely doe and execute all & everything and things apperteineing to the said office of Beadle as the Beadle of the said Master Wardens and Fellowshipp ought to doe to the uttermost of your knowledge skill power and ability soe long as you shall continue in the said office without partiality Soe helpe you God.
ITEM every one that shall hereafter bee received to bee a Freeman or member of this Company shall take his oath in the manner aforesaid and to the effect heere Ensueing vizt
You shall sweare to bee true to our Soveraigne Lord the King’s Majesty and to his heires & Successors and att all times obedient to the Master and Wardens of this Fellowshipp and Society and their Successors after them in all honest and lawfull things touching the affaires and busines of this Fellowshipp If you shall knowe any manner of meeteing Conspiracyes plotts or devises against the King’s Majesty his heires or Successors you shall to the uttermost of your power hinder the same and speedily disclose the same to the Master or one of the Wardens of this Society and this City of London & Fellowshipp of Wheelewrights you shall keepe harmless as much as in you lyeth and as by law you may Soe helpe you God.
AND LASTLY it is hereby ordained and appointed that these ordinances be openly read once in every yeare att a quarter Court of Assistants to bee holden before the Master Wardens and Assistants of this Society or the major part of them on the first Thursday in Aprill every yeare Successively to the end that no member of this Society may pretend Ignorance of the same WHICH said ordinances in manner and forme before specifyed att the request of the said Master Wardens & Assistants of the aforesaid Mistery of Wheelewrights by Authority of the aforemencioned Act of Parliament Wee the said Lord Keeper and Chiefe Justices of either Bench aforesaid have Examined
AND the same ordinances as farre as wee lawfully may in order to Exempt the said Company from the penalty of the said Statute in that Case made and provided Wee doe by these presents approve
In WITNESSE Whereof Wee have hereunto Subscribed our names and put our Scales.
L.S. L.S. L.S.
Orld Bridgemen Mathew Hales John Vaughan
Lord Keeper C. J. of the King’s Bench C. J. of the Common Pleas
Ordinance of 1714
ORDERS RULES ACTS and ORDINANCES Ordinances made 22 Oct. 1713 declared devised and made by WILLIAM DAY Master and NATHANIEL GOODWIN and THOMAS WEST Wardens and the Assistants and Commonalty of the Art and Mistery of WHEEL WRIGHTS of the City of London at a COURT holden by them at PLAISTERER’S HALL in Addle Street London the Twenty second day of October in the year of our Lord One Thousand and Seven hundred and Thirteen And in the Twelfth year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lady ANNE Queen of Brittain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith &c. for the well Government of the said COMPANY and TRADE
sealed 1 April 1714
allowed 3 April 1714
FIRST It is ORDAINED that the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company and their Successors for ever shall and may at all times hereafter at their Wills and Pleasure by the appointment of the Master and Wardens of the said Company for the time being upon due Summons Congregate and Assemble themselves together and keep Courts at their Common Hall or other convenient place of meeting within the City of London or Liberties thereof and they or the greatest part of them whereof the Master and one of the Wardens shall be two shall be and be called a COURT of ASSISTANTS as well for the better Ordering Ruling and Governing of the said Company and the Members thereof and all others that use practice and Exercise the said Trade of a Wheelwright within the Cities of London and Wesminster or within Five Miles any ways distant from the same as for Correction Redresse and Reformacion of abuses which may be committed touching the said Trade of a Wheelwright or any part thereof
AND also shall and may yearly and every year keep Four Quarterly Courts upon such days as are hereinafter mencioned (vizt) One of them upon the first Thursday in January if the same shall not happen upon New Year’s Day But if the same shall so happen Then upon the Thursday following The second Quarterly Court day upon the first Thursday in April Except it be the Thursday before Easter which if it be Then on the Thursday in the week following The Third Quarterly Court upon the first Thursday in July And the Fourth Quarterly Court upon the first Thursday after the Twenty ninth day of September Unto which Courts it shall and may be lawfull for the Master and Wardens to Summons by their Beadle or other Officer all the Members of the said Company To the intent they may then and there hear the Orders of the said Company that all who are concerned to obey the same may be left inexcusable And if any Member of the said Company refuse or neglect to appear at any such Court or Meeting (being duly Summoned and not having a reasonable Excuse) every such person shall forfeit and pay to the Master and Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company Three shillings and four pence of lawfull money of Great Brittain for every such default.
ITEM It is Ordained and declared That the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company of Wheelwrights for the time being and their Successors for ever shall and may on the first Thursday after the Nine and Twentieth day of September yearly Assemble and meet together And shall and may Elect and Choose one Master out of the Wardens or Assistants of the said Company who have served the office of Warden And two Wardens out of the Assistants of the said Company for the then next ensuing year and untill others shall be Elected and sworn into the same respective Places according to Direccions and Limittacions of the Charter to them granted bearing the date at Westminster the Third day of February in the Twenty second year of the Reign of King Charles the Second Which said persons so Elected and chosen shall upon due notice thereof appear at a Court to be held within Fourteen days then next And then and there shall take the Oath hereby appointed according to the direccions of the Charter of the said Company And also on that day at their own Costs and charges make and provide a competent and sufficient Dinner for the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company
And each and every person or persons so Elected Master or Warden that shall refuse or neglect to appear at such Court and take upon him such Office respectively not having a reasonable excuse for such his neglect or refusall or shall fail to make such Dinner or pay his proportion of the charges of the same shall forfeit and pay to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company the Sum of Ten pounds of lawfull money of Great Brittain.
ALSO It is Ordained and declared That the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company shall and may from time to time as occasion shall require Elect and choose able and sufficient persons of the Company not exceeding Eighteen at any one time to be Assistants to the said Master and Wardens of the said Company according to the direccions and Limitacions of the said Charter And every person and persons so Elected shall upon due notice to him given appear at the next Court of Assistants to be held for the said Company and then and there take the Oath in these presents appointed for that purpose before the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company or any Five of them
And upon his Admission to the said Place shall for the better support of the said Company pay to the Master of the said Company for the use of the said Company the sum of Ten pounds and to the Clerk for administring the Oath Two shillings and Sixpence and to the Beadle one shilling And if any persons or persons so Elected and chosen an Assistant shall after due notice given him neglect or refuse to appear and to take upon him or them the same place as is aforesaid and make such payments as aforesaid not having a reasonable Excuse for such his neglect or refusall such person or persons so neglecting or refusing shall forfeit and pay to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company the full Sum of Twenty pounds of lawfull money of Great Brittain.
AND also It is Ordained that within Twenty days after the Election or Admission of a new Master and Wardens the last Master and Wardens and every of them respectively shall (upon due notice given them of the time and place appointed them for that purpose and not having a reasonable Excuse for not doing the same) give a true and perfect Account in writing unto such persons as shall be appointed Auditors for that purpose by the Court of Assistants or the major part of them assembled of for and concerning all moneys Plate Goods Writings and other things that shall have come to his or their hands or Custody belonging to the said Company
And shall upon Auditing such Account pay and deliver the same moneys Plate Goods Chattells Writings and other things remaining in his or their hands to the Master of the Company for the time being for the use of the said Company upon pain that every person and persons refusing or neglecting so to do not having a reasonable Excuse for such his refusall or neglect shall forfeit and pay to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company the Sum of Five pounds of lawfull money of Great Brittain for every week that he or they shall detain any of the premisses in his or their hands or Custody.
ALSO It is Ordained that every year yearly the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company for the time being shall and may Elect and Choose Three fit persons of the said Company (who have not served the Office of Steward or paid a fine for not serving the same) to be and to have and bear the Title and Office of Stewards of the said Company who shall for the honor of the said Company at their the said Stewards’ own costs and charges make and provide Two competent and sufficient Dinners one of which shall be called the Steward’s Dinner And shall be provided and kept on the day that the Lord Mayor shall be sworn at Westminster and shall be for the Master Wardens and Assistants and such of the said Company as shall be called to attend them upon that occasion And the other Dinner shall be yearly provided as aforesaid and kept on the day of Election of new Master and Wardens And shall be for the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company
And every person so Elected Steward and having due notice of the same That shall refuse to hold and Execute the same place or fail to make such Dinners or pay his proporcion of the charges of the same not having a reasonable Excuse for such his neglect or refusall shall forfeit and pay to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company the Sum of Twenty pounds of lawfull money of Great Brittain.
ALSO It is Ordained that no Bill Bond Lease or other Writing shall pass under the Common Seale of the said Company but by order of the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company for the time being or the major part of them and in a Court of Assistants And every person to whose Custody the same Seale shall be intrusted who shall permit the same to be used in any other manner shall for every offence Forfeit and pay to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company the Sum of One hundred pounds of lawfull mony of Great Brittain and the Damages which the said Company shall sustain by such setting to of the Seal and shall be disabled to hold any place or Office in the said Company after.
ALSO It is Ordained That the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company for the time being shall and may from time to time Elect and Choose such persons of the Yeomandry of the said Company as they shall think fit to attend the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company as Ushers at such times as the said Company shall be Summoned to attend the Lord Mayor of London for the Honour and Grandeur of the said City on the day that he is sworn at Westminster or upon any other solemn occasion And if any person being so Elected shall refuse or neglect to attend and perform the said Service not having a reasonable Excuse for such his refusall or neglect every such person so offending shall forfeit and pay to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company the Sum of Thirty shillings of lawfull money of Great Brittain.
ALSO It is Ordered and Ordained That all the Members of the said Company shall upon Summons by the Beadle or other Officer attend on every Quarter Court Day that shall be held by or for the said Company And shall then and there pay unto the Under Warden of the said Company for the time being or such other person as shall be appointed to receive the same by the Court of Assistants or the major part of them for and in the name of Quarteridge money the respective sums of mony following (that is to say) The Master Wardens Assistants and all other Members of the said Company shall pay every one the Sum of Twelve pence a Quarter (Except such who are or shall be Working Journeymen) and such Working Journeymen to pay Six pence a Quarter and no more so long as they shall be Working Journeymen only towards the support of the said Company.
ALSO It is Ordained and Ordered That from henceforth it shall not be lawfull for any person or persons of the said Company to have and keep more Apprentices at one time than is hereafter limitted (that is to say) the Master and Wardens and such who have been Master or Wardens may have and keep Two Apprentices at one time and no more And all other the Assistants of the said Company may have and keep two Apprentices at one time and no more. And all other persons Members of the said Company that is or shall have been five years made Free may have and keep one Apprentice at one time and no more And that every person that shall do contrary shall forfeit and pay to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company such reasonable Fine as the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company or the Major part of them shall think fit not exceeding the Sum of Five pounds.
ALSO It is Ordained and Ordered that no Member of the said Company shall take any Apprentice or Apprentices but such as shall be presented to the Master and one of the Wardens of the said Company and bound by the Clerk of the said Company to a Free Wheelwright of the said Company And every Master taking and binding such Apprentice shall pay to the Master or Wardens of the said Company for the use of the said Company Two shillings and Six pence upon pain that every person that shall refuse so to do or do bind any Apprentice in any other manner shall pay and forfeit to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company the Sum of Forty shillings of lawfull money of Great Brittain.
ALSO It is Ordained that it shall not be lawfull for any Member of the said Company to assign over his said Apprentice or to accept the Assignment of the Apprentice of any other without the leave and consent of the Master and one of the Wardens of the said Company for the time being upon pain that every person that shall do the contrary shall forfeit and pay to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company the sum of Five pounds of lawfull money of Great Brittain.
ALSO It is Ordained and Ordered that all and every person and persons that shall hereafter be admitted into the Freedom of the said Company shall pay to the Master or Wardens for the use of the said Company the sum of Thirteen shillings and Four pence of lawfull money of Great Brittain And to the Clerk Three shillings and Four pence And to the Beadle one shilling and sixpence of like lawfull money.
It is Ordained and Ordered That no person or persons whatsoever Members of this Company do for the future presume to make any Wheel or Wheels but of good and Sound Timber and Substantiall Materialls upon pain of Forfeiting to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company the Sum of Twenty shillings for every Offence.
ALSO It is Ordained that no person or persons whatsoever being Members of the said Company shall make any Dray Cart or Coach Wheeles in any Brewers or Coachmakers or Woodmongers House Shop or Yard upon pain of Forfeiting to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company the Sum of Forty shillings a day for every day he shall do or Act contrary.
ALSO It is Ordained that no person or persons whatsoever being Members of this Company shall presume to sell or make any Wheeles to or for any person or persons whatsoever and deliver the same (unless it be for some Wheelwright to be further wrought and perfected) untill they be boxed and Shod and finished fit for use upon pain of forfeiting to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company the Sum of Forty shillings for every pair of Wheeles that shall be sold or delivered and not finished Boxed and Shod as aforesaid.
ALSO It is Ordained and Ordered that no person or persons being a Member of the said Company shall intice procure receive or take into his her or their service the Apprentice of any other Member of the said Company And if any Member shall retain and keep in his service the Apprentice of any other Member without the consent of his Master after notice to him given Shall forfeit and pay to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company the Sum of Forty shillings a Week for every Week he or they shall so retain and keep such Servant or Apprentice after such notice as aforesaid.
ALSO It is Ordained that it shall and may be lawfull for the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company or the major part of them at all times hereafter at their Court of Assistants to Admit and take into their Company any person or persons to be made free of the said Company by way of Redempcion according to the Directions and Limittacions of the said Charter And that the Master and Wardens and Court of Assistants shall receive and take of every such person and persons which shall by them be admitted accepted or received such like Fees and Duties as of late time have been used to be paid and received upon such Admittance for the use of the said Company.
ALSO It is Ordained that no Member of the said Company shall malitiously disparage or undervalue another Member in his Work or Trade nor shall any such person revile any other member or use any sinister or unlawfull means to obtain another member’s Customer upon pain that every person that shall do to the contrary shall forfeit and pay to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company the Sum of Forty shillings of lawfull money of Great Brittain.
ALSO It is Ordained and Ordered that the Master Wardens and Assistants for the time being or the major part of them in a Court of Assistants shall and may according to their discretions mitigate or wholly remit any Fine or penalty imposed or set upon any Members of the said Company for breach of any Ordinance or otherwise howsoever.
ALSO It is Ordained and Ordered that no person or persons whatsoever Members of the said Company do hereafter make any Wheel or Wheeles for any Carr or Cart Dishing beyond the Face of the Wheel Nave And that the Sweep of the said Wheeles exceed not Eight inches and Nine inches in depth and not above Six inches and an half in thicknesse And that no Axle Tree of any such Carr exceed three foot Ten inches under the Body of the Cart upon pain of forfeiting to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company the sum of Twenty shillings for every Offence.
ALSO It is Ordained that the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company or any three or more of them whereof the Master or one of the Wardens to be always one shall and may in the daytime enter into any Shop House Workhouse or room or place whatsoever of all and every person and persons Members of the said Company there to search and try the wares workmanship and materialls used or wrought by any Wheelwright whether the same be fit for use or not and shall endeavour to find out all deceipts used and practiced in the said Trade according to the direccions and limittacions of the said Charter And all such as shall be found offenders to be dealth withall according to Law
And if upon any such Search there shall found any Insufficient wares Materialls or other deceipts That the person so offending shall forfeit and pay to the Master Wardens and Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company such Fines as shall be reasonably sett upon him or them by a Court of Assistants of the said Company the same not exceeding Twenty shillings of lawfull mony of Great Brittain And if any person or persons members of the said Company shall resist or be contumacious to the said Searchers or shall not permit or suffer them to make such Search as aforesaid That then every such person so offending shall forfeit and pay to the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company the Sum of Five pounds of lawfull money of Great Brittain
AND for the more regular recovery of the several’ penalties Forfeitures and Sums of money by the severall orders aforesaid imposed sett appointed or limitted to be paid
IT IS further ORDERED That the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the said Company for the time being shall and may Sue for the same in any of her Majesties Courts held within the City of London by Accion of Debt in the name of the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the Art and Mistery of Wheelwrights of the City of London according to the direccions and limittacions of the said Charter And the same when recovered shall be to the use of the said Company.
AND forasmuch as by the said Charter Oaths of Office are enjoyned to be Administred to the Master Wardens Assistants and Freemen of the said Company and to the Clerk and Beadle for the time being But no form of the said Oaths is therein sP ecifyed IT IS further ORDERED that the severall hereafter following shall be accordingly Administred by the Master and Wardens and Assistants of the said Company or such of them as by the said Charter are Authorized and Impowered to Administer the same in the form and words herein set down and expressed
THE OATH to be taken by the Master of the Company of Wheelwrights London
YOU shall Swear that you will be good and true to our Soveraign Lady Queen ANNE and to her Heires and lawfull Successors That you will be faithfull and True to the Company of Wheelwrights And that you as Master of the said Company will keep maintain and Execute and cause to be kept maintained and Executed and observed all the lawfull Ordinances and Orders of the said Company And of all Goods Plate Writings Sum and Sums of mony and all and every other thing and things whatsoever in any wise belonging to the said Company which shall come into your hands or possession you shall render a good true and faithfull Account to the best of your skill and knowledge
SO HELP YOU GOD
THE OATH to be taken by the Wardens of the said Company
YOU and every of you shall swear that you will be good and true to our Soveraign Lady Queen ANNE and to her Heirs and lawfull Successors That you will be faithfull and true to the Company of Wheelwrights And that you will as Wardens of the said Company to the best of your skill so far as you lawfully may observe and keep all the good lawfull and laudable Acts and Ordinances of the said Company now made or hereafter to be made You shall to your best Endeavours receive or cause to be received to the use of the said Company all Fines and Amerciaments imposed on any Offenders by the Orders and By-Laws of this Company And of all Goods Plate Writings Sum and Sums of money and every other thing and things whatsoever in any wise belonging to the said Company which come to your hands and possession you shall render a good and true faithfull Account
SO HELP YOU GOD
THE OATH to be taken by every Assistant of the said Company
YOU shall Swear that you will be good and true to our Soveraign Lady Queen ANNE and to her Heirs and lawfull Successors That you will be faithfull and true to the Company of Wheelwrights You shall in all things relating to the said Company deal justly and indifferently without partiality And all the lawfull Councill and Secrets of this Company and the Trade Art or Mistery thereof you shall faithfully and truly keep You shall readily attend the Master and Wardens upon Summons by their Beadle or other Officers unlesse you shall be reasonably hindred
SO HELP YOU GOD
THE OATH to be taken by every person to be made Free of the said Company
YOU shall Swear that you will be good and true to our Soveraign Lady Queen ANNE and to her Heirs and lawfull Sucessors and in all matters and things lawfull and reasonable relating to the said Company You shall be obedient to the Master Wardens Assistants and Governors of this Company for the time being and their Successors and shall readily appear upon all Summons by their Beadle or other Officer (Except you have sufficient cause to be absent) All the Lawfull Acts Ordinances and Orders made or to be made for the Weale Rule and good Government of the said Company you shall to your Power observe and keep or else forthwith pay such Fines and Penaltys as you shall according to the said Ordinances forfeit by reason of your disobedience and breaking the same You shall not do any wrong to any Member of this Company in relation to the said Trade but shall behave your self in your said Trade well and honestly
SO HELP YOU GOD
THE OATH to be taken by the Clerk of the said Company
YOU shall Swear that you will be good and true to our Soveraign Lady Queen ANNE and to her Heirs and lawfull Successors and in all matters and things lawfull and reasonable relating to the said Company YOU shall be Obedient to the Master and Wardens of this Company for the time being and their Successors And the Commandments of the Master and Wardens being lawfull and honest you shall do and Execute True Entrys of all things belonging to your Office you shall make without any partiality favour or affection for Lucre or GaMe Envy Hatred or Malice You shall not knowingly and willingly do or Comitt anything that may be hurtfull or prejudiciall to the said Master and Wardens and Company but shall truly Execute your Office of Clerk in all things appertaining to the same as you ought to do so long as you shall continue in the said Office according to your best Skill power and Knowledge
SO HELP YOU GOD
THE OATH to be taken by the Beadle of the said Company
YOU shall Swear that you will be good and true to our Soveraign Lady Queen ANNE and to her Heirs and lawfull Successors You shall be obedient to the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company for the time being and their Successors in all matters and things lawfull concerning your Place and Office of Beadle You shall lawfully warn to all Courts and Meetings all and every person and persons as you shall be by them appointed and give and return true Account of their Answers if you shall be thereunto required without spareing any for fear favour or affection reward or hope of gaine And as much as in you lyeth you shall behave your self well and orderly so long as you shall continue in your Office of Beadle
SO HELP YOU GOD
Sealed with the Common Seal of the Company 1st April 1714
FOR the more Solemn Declaracion and Ratificacion of all which Orders Rules Acts and Ordinances WEE the said Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the Art and Mistery of the Wheelwrights of the City of London have hereunto affixed our Common Seal in a Court of Assistants held at Plaisterers Hall in Addle Street London the First day of Aprill Thirteenth year of our said Soveraign Lady Queen
ANNE ANNOQUE DOMINI 1714
Approved by the Lord Chancellor and the Chief Justices under the Statute of 19 Henry VII c.7
3rd April 1714
We have seen and perused these By-Laws and do approve allow & confirm the same Given under our Hands & Seals this Third day of April 1714
L.S. L.S. L.S. L.S.
Company’s Seal Simon Lord Harcourt L.C. Sir Thomas Parker Kt Court of Queen’s Bench Lord Trevor C. J. Court of Common Pleas