Worshipful Company of Scriveners

One of the Livery Companies of the City of London. It is ranked at 44.

Its motto is Littera Scripta Manet (the Written Word Remains).

It is also known as the Mysterie of Writers of the Court Letter.

The Company had been responsible for setting qualifications and regulations for scrivener notaries since its foundation in 1373.


 * 1617 It secured a Royal Charter from King James I.
 * 1801, Parliament passed the Public Notaries Act, under which only members of the Company could become scrivener notaries.
 * The historical privilege of scrivener notaries was abolished by the Access to Justice Act 1999, since when any public notary may practice in the City of London and surrounding area. Nonetheless, the Company still retains the power to set standards and qualifications for London's scrivener notaries.

Historically, scrivener notaries were the only notaries public permitted to practice in the City of London, the liberties of Westminster, The Borough (Southwark), and the area within three miles of the City.

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