Note 766 — Chapter XIV

The composition of 1415 decided that each craft in the city was yearly to choose two masters, whose names were to be presented for the mayor’s consent, and who were to take their oaths before him. The Monday after the mayor’s “riding” these masters were to make good and true search in their crafts and to present all offenders before the mayor for judgement; and half the fines were given to the sheriffs, half to the masters of the crafts. The mayor had to accept the presentment of the “masters”; he could not make search either himself or by any of the town officers; only if a craft refused to be searched or to elect masters the mayor might himself appoint two masters and order the search. If the masters concealed any notable default they were to be punished by the advice of the mayor and more sufficient men of the same craft. (Town Close Evidences, 41, 42.)