thumb|Stained glass to the Company of Carmen, Guildhall, London (detail)

The Worshipful Company of Carmen is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London, whose origins date back to 1517.

Carmen, or drivers of carts, caused upset in 1481. The King conscripted carts to carry his wine allowing rural carters to force food prices up. By offering to provide the King's carriage and clean the streets the Fellowship of Carmen was established in 1517 with authority to control the cartage trade. Carmen organised themselves into a fraternity and plied for hire. However, this was contested by the Woodmongers' Company, who owned more carts. The Carmen turned to Christ's Hospital, who were short of cash at the time. However, by 1597 the Carmen had fallen out with Christ's Hospital, the Woodmongers asserted their control again, and absorbed the Carmen in 1605. Its motto is Scite, Cite, Certo, Latin for Skilfully, Swiftly, Surely. It was granted a livery in 1848; there would not be another new livery company until the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, formed in 1932.

References

Sources

  • Bennett E. (1952) The Worshipful Company of Carmen of London. A short history, London: Simpkin Marshall
  • Birch, Clive (1999) Carr and Carmen, an illustrated record, London: Baron Books (2nd edition due 2018)
  • The Carmen's Company