The City of London has one of the strongest unbroken traditions of livery companies in the world. Over one hundred companies, some six centuries old, maintain strong, colourful, beneficial, traditional & independent lives, & many of them have beautiful halls. This book traces the history of the guilds & liveries in various countries & shows their influence on the government of the City, on which the Westminster model is based, on the actual trades, on royalty & on the history of Britain & other lands. The author compares the guilds of Britain with those of Europe & describes each of the City guilds, their history, traditions, work & influence.