Worshipful Company of Carmen
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The Worshipful Company of Carmen is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. Carmen, or drivers of carts, organised into a fraternity in 1517. However, they were not empowered to regulate themselves, that task being done by the Woodmongers' Company. The Carmen separated and formed their own fellowship in 1668, but were unsuccessful in gaining the power to regulate carmen, until the Woodmongers became defunct in 1746. The Carmen did not acquire a Royal Charter until 1946.
Now carts have been rendered obsolete by cars, the Carmen remain as a charitable and ceremonial institution. The Carmen participate in the ceremony of Cart Marking, which originated in the rule that no cart could ply for hire unless licensed by the Carmen. Presently, the ceremony involves cars, rather than carts, and involves those who wish to voluntarily take part, regardless of whether they wish to ply for hire or not.
The Carmen's Company ranks seventy-seventh in the order of precedence for Livery Companies. Its motto is Scite, Cite, Certo Latin for Skilfully, Swiftly, Surely.
External link
- The Carmen's Company (http://www.thecarmen.co.uk/)