searcher

1) An office in medieval guilds, who checked for offences against guild ordinances.

The office of ‘searcher’ was already established in the medieval guilds. In York in 1477 the cutlers’ guild ordered that whatsomever he be of the said craft that will not obbey his serchiours … shall forfett xijd to the chambre. It became a traditional custom too among the Sheffield cutlers whose ordinances in 1565 included an obligation to be yerelie … searched by xii men of the said crafte.

places York Sheffield
dates 1477 1565

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