"Emporium, with the liberties, is under a twofold division,
the one regarding the national, and the other the urban or city
government. It is divided, in regard of the national government,
into three tribes, and in respect of the urban into twenty six,
which for distinction's sake are called wards, being contained
under three tribes but unequally; wherefore the first tribe
containing ten wards is called scazon, the second containing
eight metoche, and the third containing as many telicouta, the
bearing of which names in mind concerns the better understanding
of the government.
"Every ward has her wardmote, court, or inquest, consisting
of all that are of the clothing or liveries of companies residing
within the same.
"Such are of the livery or clothing as have attained to the
dignity to wear gowns and parti-colored hoods or tippets,
according to the rules and ancient customs of their respective
companies.
"A company is a brotherhood of tradesmen professing the same
art, governed according to their charter by a master and wardens.
Of these there be about sixty, whereof twelve are of greater
dignity than the rest, that is to say, the mercers, grocers,
drapers, fishmongers, goldsmiths, skinners, merchant-tailors,
haberdashers, salters, ironmongers, vintners, clothworkers,
which, with most of the rest, have common halls, divers of them
being of ancient and magnificent structure, wherein they have
frequent meetings, at the summons of their master or wardens, for
the managing and regulation of their respective trades and
mysteries.
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