Naming the Honourable Artillery Company

In 1668 Richard Elton described this organization as the "Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company of London. This was probably one of the first times that particular label was applied to this organization. The following table lists the various names by which the organization was called before that time (during the period we are interested in.)

Note: "Artillery" at this time refers to anything that shoots including muskets. "Infantry" is a later French adaptation introduced around the begining of the seventeenth century.

Date	Authority	Designation
1537	Royal Charter	Maisters and Rulers and Cominalitie of the Fraternitie or Guylde of Artillary of Longbowes, Crossbowes and Handegonnes
1538	Lease of the Old Artillery Ground	ditto
1544	Accounts of Roger Highme, Collector of the rents to King Henry VIII	Masters and Governors of the Gunners
1550	Letters Patent of King Edward VI	Masters, Governors, Commonalty, Fraternity or Guild of the Mystery of Long-bows, Cross-bows and hand-guns
1551	Augmentation Office Accounts	Masters & Governors of the Gunners
1587	Roll of Thomas Lant	Cyttizens of London practised in Armes
1588	John Stow	Captaines of the Artillery Garden
1612	Order in Council	Companie of Cittizens of the Military Yarde
1613	Court of Aldermen	Societie practising Armes in the Artillery Garden
1616	Order in Council	Societie of Armes, Cittizens of London
1616	Richard Niccols	London's Artillery London's Hopeful Infantrie
1617	Sermon by Thomas Adams	Societie of Armes practising in the Artillerie Garden
1622	Order in Council	Divers Cittizens of London exercising Armes in the Teazel Ground or Artillery Garden
1623	Sermon by Thomas Sutton, D.D.	Gentlemen of Artillery Garden [I discovered Sutton also used the term, "The Much Honoured Societie of Gentlemen, that exercise Armes in the Artillery Garden Neer London". Duncan.]
1629	John Bingham	Martiall Company exercising Arms in the Artillery Ground
1632	Order in Council	Companie of the Artillery Yarde Company of the Artillery Gardens
1632	Royal Warrant	Voluntary Company of the Artillery Garden
1634	Order in Council	Companie of the Artillery Garden
1634	Secretary of State	Military Company of the City of London
1639	William Barriffe	Gentlemen of the Artillery Garden
1647	William Barriffe	Ancient and Worthy Society exercising Armes in the Artillery Garden

---

Walker, G. Goold. The Honourable Artillery Company 1537 - 1947. Aldershot, Gale and Polden Ltd, 1954. [ page 24]