GUILDS (Sax. gildan, to pay). Guilds were originally associations of the inhabitants of particular towns, for promoting the common interest of the fraternity. They are said to be of Saxon origin, but unquestionably similar institutions existed at a very early period among the southern nations of Europe, where they were known by the name of confraternities. In England guilds were in use during the Saxon rule, and several records are preserved of the purposes of these institutions. The Saxon guilds appear to have resembled our modern friendly societies. On cendition of a certain payment, the members were entitled to relief in case of sickness, and to protection from violence. At a later period guilds were of two kinds, religious and secular. Both classes retained, as a general rule, the principle of mutual relief to themembers in sickness; but the former were established for the performance of works of charity, and for the regular observance of certain religions services; while the main object of the latter was the advancement of the commercial interests of the fraternity.' In order to the establishment of a guild. religious as well as secular, it was necessary that it should receive the sanction of the sovereign; and in the reign of Henry II. several guilds were subjected to heavy fines, as having been established without that authority. In London there were a large number of religious guilds. In the reign of Richard II. a guild to the honor of St. George the martyr, consisting of an alderman, master, brothers, and sisters, was established in Nor wich; and here, it may be observed in passing, that the term alderman was a name for a chief officer or governor in a guild, whence it was extended to an officer of a burgh on the extension of guilds, as noticed below. It having been an orderly virtuous society for the space of 30 years from its erection, king Henry V. confirmed it lay letters-patent under the great seal, made it perpetual, and granted it certain privileges and immunities (Madox, Firma Burge). In like manner guilds were formed in Bristol, Exeter, and other large towns. These guilds, through the munificence of individuals, by degrees amassed considerable wealth. By Henry VIII. the property and revenues of these religious guilds were seized and perpetually vested in the crown.
The most important branch of this subject is that of the secular guilds, or, as they were styled in the s. of Europe, confraternities. 'These institutions were the germ of
the modern burghs or municipal corporations. They consisted originally of the mem bers of some particular trade, united for the purposes of mutual assistance in sickness, and for maintaining the interests of the trade. Thus we have the guild of goldsmiths. of, weavers, of cordwainers, of pattern-makers, of spectacle-makers, etc., the names of which are preserved to the present day. Every trade had its separate guild, of which it was necessary that a man should be a member before lie was•allowe% to practice the particular craft. As trade increased in importance, the influence and power of the guilds increased in proportion, until at length the towns or united guilds claimed from tie sovereign special rights and privileges—quod habeant gildammercatoriam. The town of Southampton received a charter confirming their liberties as early as Henry II. Liver pool was made a gilda mercatoria by Henry III. In the reign of Henry VI., the title used was cornmunia perpetua, or corporata, which phrase has continued to he used in the modern corporations. This title of communia appears to have been borrowed from tin; continent, where, under the title of communities, the towns at a very early period obtained charters declaring their independence, and bestowing on them extensive privi leges.—See Robertson's diaries V., and Madox. Firma Burgi.
The exclusive privileges of English and Scottish guilds or corporations are now abol ished, as being contrary to public policy; and these associations exist only for mutual beneficiary purposes. Thus, in various boroughs in England, a custom had long pre vailed, and by-laws had been made, to the effect that no person, not being free of the borough or of certain of these guilds, should keep a shop for merchandise, or exercise certain trades within the borough; but since 1835, when the municipal corporation reform act (5 and 6 Will., IV. c. 76. s. 14) passed, every lawful occupation is free, not withstanding any such custom or by-laws. The exclusive privilege of trading in Scotch burghs was abolished by the statute 9 and 10 Viet. 17. For the functions of the dean of guild in Scotch burghs, see DEAN OF Gump.