These associations were called Gilden, and in the Latin of the times Gildonia.

To give a notion of the importance of this prohibition to the whole of Europe, it is only necessary to state that the most ancient corporations (all which had preceded and engendered the most valuable municipal rights) were nothing more than gilden.

The gilden stood their ground, and within a century after the death of Charlemagne, all Flanders was covered with corporate towns.

In 1300, the chiefs of the gilden, or trades, were more powerful than the nobles.

In summers day, when Phoebus fairly shone, I saw a Bull as white as driven snowe, With gilden hornes embowed like the moone, In a fresh flowring meadow lying lowe: Up to his eares the verdant grasse did growe, And the gay floures did offer to be eaten; But he with fatnes so did overflows, That he all wallowed in the weedes downe beaten, Ne car'd with them his daintie lips to sweeten:

Henry and the Gilden Mine.

Henry and the Gilden Mine.