Never mind the merchant guilds won't stand a royal presence, the palace is ruins, now.

The merchant guild welcome no nameless man, but for a sword and a bow there is always a ready market.

This period, organised merchant guilds exerted considerable power and influence.

The city's increasingly wealthy merchant guilds established headquarters - guildhalls - on the square.

They were usually members of a merchant guild.

Around 1200 Paris had a powerful merchant guild and four or more trade and craft organizations.

The merchant guild was initially an organization of this kind.

During the 11th century, merchant guilds were formed in many towns.

Then in 1340, permission was given to found a merchant guild to protect and enforce these privileges.

Reading has had some degree of local government autonomy since 1253, when the local merchant guild was granted a royal charter.