The historian of the antiquities of Paris, Henry Sauval, enumerated no fewer than fifteen hundred and fifty-one trade associations in the capital alone in the middle of the seventeenth century.  It must be remarked, however, that the societies of artisans were much subdivided owing to the simple fact that each craft could only practise its own special work.  Thus, in Boileau’s book, we find four different corporations of patenotriers, or makers of chaplets, six of hatters, six of weavers, &c.

Besides these societies of artisans, there were in Paris a few privileged corporations, which occupied a more important position, and were known under the name of Corps des Marchands.  Their number at first frequently varied, but finally it was settled at six, and they were termed les Six Corps.  They comprised the drapers, which always took precedence of the five others, the grocers, the mercers, the furriers, the hatters, and the goldsmiths.  These five for a long time disputed the question of precedence, and finally they decided the matter by lot, as they were not able to agree in any other way.

[Illustration:  Fig. 205.—­Seal of the Corporation of Carpenters of St. Trond (Belgium)—­From an Impression preserved in the Archives of that Town (1481).]

[Illustration:  Fig. 206.—­Seal of the Corporation of Shoemakers of St. Trond, from a Map of 1481, preserved in the Archives of that Town.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 207.—­Seal of the Corporation of Wool-weavers of Hasselt (Belgium), from a Parchment Title-deed of June 25, 1574.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 208.—­Seal of the Corporation of Clothworkers of Bruges (1356).—­From an Impression preserved in the Archives of that Town.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 209.—­Seal of the Corporation of Fullers of St. Trond (about 1350).—­From an Impression preserved in the Archives of that Town.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 210.—­Seal of the Corporation of Joiners of Bruges (1356).—­From an Impression preserved in the Archives of that Town.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 211.—­Token of the Corporation of Carpenters of Maestricht.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 212.—­Token of the Corporation of Carpenters of Antwerp.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 213.—­Funeral Token of the Corporation of Carpenters of Maestricht.]

Trades.

Fac-simile of Engravings on Wood, designed and engraved by J. Amman, in the Sixteenth Century.

[Illustration:  Fig. 214.—­Cloth-worker.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 215.—­Tailor.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 216.—­Hatter.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 217.—­Dyer.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 218.—­Druggist]

[Illustration:  Fig. 219.—­Barber]

[Illustration:  Fig. 220.—­Goldsmith]

[Illustration:  Fig. 221.—­Goldbeater]

[Illustration:  Fig. 222.—­Pin and Needle Maker.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 223.—­Clasp-maker.]