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Show Old English Company It Is known that the Fishmongers' company Is very old, but as its archives ar-chives were destroyed In the great fire of London, It Is only certain through the charter granted by Edward III In 1364 that the "mystery of fishmongers had grants from the king's progenitors In ancient times." In the good old days, when Lent was kept with fish and fasting, the company saw to It that no unsound fish was sold In Billingsgate Bil-lingsgate market, and punished offenders offend-ers with the stocks. With the Income from its holdings the company supports sup-ports three large almshouses, one of which Is Jesus hospital in Bray. Here "rooms with chimneys" provide fit accommodation ac-commodation for forty old people, six of whom are to be the "most aged and poorest decayed persons of the company com-pany of fishmongers over fifty years of age." |