The constitution of the livery companies usually embraces (I) the court, which includes the master and wardens, and is the executive and administrative body (2) the livery or middle class, being the body from which the court is recruited; and (3) the general body of freemen, from which the livery is recruited. Some companies admit women as freemen. The freedom is obtained either by patrimony (by any person over 21 years of age born in lawful wedlock after the ad mission of his father to the freedom), by servitude (by bona fide apprenticeship to a freeman of the company) or by redemption which is in some cases wisely allowed only where an ancestor in the male line has had the freedom which his descendants have omitted to or been unable to acquire. Purchase is still regarded as rather disreputable. Admission to many of the companies is subject to the payment of considerable fees. Gift of the freedom is a recognized mode of expressing admiration for high public service. A royal commission was appointed in 188o to inquire into all the livery companies, into the circumstances and dates of their foundation, the objects for which they were founded, and how far those objects were being carried into effect. A very valuable Report and Appendix (4 vols. 1884) was published, con taining, inter alia, information on the constitution and powers of the governing bodies, the mode of admission of members of the companies, the mode of appointment, duties and salaries and other emoluments of the servants of the companies, the property of, or held in trust for the companies, its value, situation and description. The companies generally very freely made returns
to the commission. The commission estimated the annual income of the companies to be from £750,000 to £800,000, about £200,000 of that amount being trust income, the balance cor porate income; but these figures are now obsolete. No accounts are published, though the commission of 188o recommended that this should be done.
In addition to the Report referred to above the following works may be consulted: Chronicle of London from io8g to 1483 (ed. Sir N. H. Nicolas and E. Tyrrel, 1827) ; W. Herbert, History of the Twelve Great Livery Companies (1837) ; Munimenta Gildhallae Londiniensis, in Rolls Series (ed. H. T. Riley, 4 vols. 1859-62) ; H. T. Riley, Memorials of London and London Life (1868) ; J. Toulmin Smith, English Gilds (published by Early English Text Society) , with essay by L. Brentano (187o) ; C. Gross, The Gild Merchant (2 vols. 189o) ; W. C. Hazlitt, The Livery Companies of the City of London (1892), contains a précis of the Royal Commission; P. H. Ditchfield, The City Companies of London (1904) ; J. C. Thornley and G. W. Hastings, The Guilds of the City of London and their Livery men 0910 ; G. Unwin, The Gilds and Companies of London (2nd ed. 1925). Rev. A. H. Johnson, The History of the Worshipful Company of the Drapers of London, 5 vols. 1914-22. Histories of the companies have in several cases been prepared for private circulation among their members.