Commerce
Great Twelve City Livery Companies
The Livery Companies originally developed as guilds and were responsible for the regulation of their trades. In 1515, the Court of Aldermen of the City of London settled an order of precedence for the 48 Livery Companies then in existence, which was based on the Companies' economic or political power. The first 12 Livery Companies are known as the Great Twelve City Livery Companies. There are now one hundred and eight Livery Companies, some of recent formation, so the Order of Precedence is sometimes reviewed. However, the Merchant Taylors & Skinners have always disputed their precedence, so once a year (at Easter) they exchange sixth and seventh place, hence the phrase 'At sixes and sevens'.
