The writer having so far completed the task he has set himself, and briefly chronicled some of the most interesting facts connected with his ancient Company, thinks it but right to say that what he has now printed is only a small portion of a larger history, which some time hence he intends to produce for the benefit of the public at large, if his life is spared to undertake the work. Having been honoured by his brother freemen, as already stated in the last chapter, he determined to prove he was not unmindful of his duty, or the rights and privileges of his brethren, whatever some persons may think to the contrary. He has, therefore, ventured to print as succinct an account of their history as it is possible to give in a small compass, and Herbert’s “History,” and the “Some Account” of his old friend John Nicholl being either out of print or too expensive, probably the present will do as a temporary substitute for the members until another is ready for publication. T. C. NOBLE, Warden of the Yeomanry, 1888-1889. [Illustration: THE DEVIL GIVES ST. DUNSTAN A MORNING CALL. ST. DUNSTAN COMPELS THE “EVIL ONE” TO SIGN A TREATY OF PEACE.] APPENDIX. THE BLACKSMITHS’ COMPANY. The advance of technical education, the inauguration of another trades exhibition promoted by a City Company, and that Company the ancient Blacksmiths’ Guild, must be our excuse for placing upon record some account of its history from the earliest date known about it as a fraternity. Of the origin of Guilds we have already had occasion to speak in our history of the Ironmongers. Mr. Nicholl, the historian of that Company, gives us some interesting facts in his notes, and we cannot do better than quote his preliminary words:—