Hi Skoosh,
You are quite correct, to become a member of one of the 14 Incorporations you have to hold a Burgess ticket. All of the Incorporations will carry out this function for the applicants and this saves them the trouble. The Burgess ticket will indicate that the person is a Burgess and Guild Brethren or Guild Sister depending on the gender of the applicant.
There are normally at least two types of membership for each of the Incorporations, Far Hand and Near Hand.
A Near Hand is a person whose parents or in-laws are or were members of the Incorporation being applied to.
A Far Hand is available for someone whose parents or in-laws were not members of the Incorporation being applied to.
Unfortunately the Maltmen do not admit female members to their Incorporation whilst all the others do.
Best wishes,
Craig R Bryce
