These rules might have been certified by a Pratt, so simple and so excellent is their arrangement. But they must not be regarded as exceptional. The following form a portion of the regulations of another similar society at Exeter:-- “1. At each meeting every member shall contribute two sextaria of barley meal, and every knight one, together with his quota of honey. “2. When any member is about to go abroad, each of his fellow-members shall contribute five pence; and if any member’s house is burnt, one penny. “3. If any one should by chance neglect the stated time of meeting, his regular contribution to be doubled.” Well may Mr. Ansell say, “The guilds or social corporations of the Anglo-Saxons seem, on the whole, to have been friendly associations, made for mutual aid and contribution, to meet the pecuniary exigencies which were perpetually arising.” Nor can the reader fail to be struck with the resemblance these rules bear to those of many of the modern societies; and, as they were framed 800 years ago, the similitude is somewhat remarkable. After the Conquest guilds were established for the express promotion of religion, charity, or trade, and from these fraternities the various companies and city corporations have arisen. The following, forming a portion of the rules of St. Catherine’s Guild, seem like those of some modern fraternity:-- “If a member suffer from fire, water, robbery, or other calamity, the guild is to lend him a sum of money without interest. “If sick or infirm, through old age, he is to be supported by his guild according to his condition. “If a member falls into bad courses, he is first to be admonished, and if found to be incorrigible he is to be expelled. “Those who die poor, and cannot afford themselves burial, are to be buried at the charge of the guild.” Societies like these, established at a period when “The good old rule, the simple plan, That they should take who have the power, And they should keep who can,” was almost the law of the land, cannot fail to surprise those who believe that the past was an age of barbarism, and the present the culminating point of civilisation. It is certainly a curious truth, that that combination which has been esteemed a peculiar feature of modern times, had its antetype in societies framed when commerce and law were yet in their infancy.