ANNO QVARTO Henrici octavi.   royal coat of arms HONI SOIT QVI MALO Y PENSE 
These be the Statutes established in divers parliaments, for the mystery of the Pewterers of London, and concerning the search of pewter, brass, and untrue beams and weights, and for deceivable Hawkers, with divers other orders and redresses to be had in the said mystery, with the renewing and confirming of the same Statutes,   

¶ An act made the fourth year of our Sovereign Lord, King Henry the viii. concerning Pewterers, and true weights and Beams. the seven. chapter.  
FOR as much as a certain Act was made and established, in the parliament holden at Westminster, the nineteen. of the reign of the last most famous King, your Father, Henry the seven. (whom GOD pardon:) concerning Pewterers and Braziers, hawking and walking about the Countries, and also concerning false Beams, Scales and Weights, with a provision for casting of fine metal and of perfect goodness, which act was made to endure to the next Parliament, the tenor whereof ensueth.  
That where many simple and evil disposed persons, of this your Realm of England, using the said crafts, daily go about this your Realm, from village, from Town, and from house to house, aswell in woods and Forests, as other places, to buy Pewter and Brass. And that knowing thieves and other pickers, that steal aswell Pewter and Brass belonging to your Highness, and under your mark, and to the Lords spiritual and temporal, as to other your Subjects of this your Realm, bring such stolen vessels to them, in such hid places to sell, and sell it for little or nought, and about they bring it to privy places, or into corners of Cities or Towns, and there sell much part of it to strangers, which carry it over the Sea by stealth.  
Also, the said persons so going about, and divers other using the said crafts, use to make new vessels, and to mixed good metal and bad togethers, and make it nought and sell it for good stuff: where in deed the stuff and metal thereof, is not worth the fourth part that it is sold for, to the great hurt, deceit and loss of your Subjects.  
Nota. Also, divers persons using the said crafts, have deceivable and false Beams and Scales, that one of them will stand even with twelve pound weight at the one end, against a quarter of a pound at the other end, to the singular advantage of themselves, and to the great deceit and loss of your Subjects, buyers and sellers with them.  
The ordinance. For reformation of the premises, it would please your Highuesse, of your most abundant grace, with the advise of your Lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, to enact and 'stablish, that no person, nor persons, using the said craft of Pewterers and Braziers, from henceforth shall sell or change any Pewter or brass, new or old, at any place, or places, within this your Realm; but only in open Fairs or Markets, or in their own dwelling houses, but if they be desired by the the buyers of such wares: upon pain of forfeiture to our Sovereign Lord the King, 
Penalttie x. pound.  for every such Default, ten pounds.  
Nota. Also by the same authority, may it be established, that no person, nor persons, of what condition or degree so ever, he or they be, from henceforth (within the City of London, and York, or without,) either cast, or work any Pewter vessels, or Brass, at any place, or places, within this your Realm: but that it be as good fine metal, as is the Pewter and brass, cast and wrought after the perfect goodness of the same within the City of London, and by the statutes of the same aught to be, upon pain of forfeiture of all such Pewter and Brass so cast and wrought, of worse Pewter or Brass than ought to be wrought in the same Cities. The one half of every such forfeiture, to be to the use of your Highness, and the other half to the use of the finders thereof.  
Provision Provided always, that this forfeiture in no wise extend to brass or pewter, being in the possession of any person, other than the workers of the same, or such as have the same to sell, and being of the crafts or mystery. Nota. Also that it may by the same authority be enacted and established, that no manner of person, or persons, of what degree or condition soever, he or they be, from hence forth make no hollow wares of Pewter. That is to say, Saltes and Pots, that is made of pewter, called ley metal, but that it may be after the assize of pewter ley metal wrought within the City of London. Penalty. And that the makers of such wares, shall mark the same with several marks of their own, to the intent that the makers of such wares shall avow the same wares by them (as is abovesaid) to be wrought.  
And that all and every such wares, not sufficiently made and wrought, and not marked in form above said, founden in the possession of the same maker or seller, to be forfeited. Penalty. And if the same ware be sold, the said maker to forfeit the value of the same, so unlawfully wrought and sold, the one half of the said wares, or the value thereof, to be to the use of your Highness, and the other half to be to the use of the finders or searchers of the same.  

Beams & weights.  Also that it may (by the same authority) be enacted and established, that if any person or persons, hereafter using buying and selling of Pewter or brass, that hereafter occupy and deceivable or false beams, or weights, of the said wares, that every such person or persons using or occupying such deceivable & untrue beams or weights, to forfeit twenty shillings: the one half to the King, and the other half to the party that therefore shall sue by action of debt. And that in the said action, no protection nor essoin shall be allowed. And also the said party so offending, shall forteit his Beam to him that shall seize it. And if the said offender, or offenders, be not sufficient to pay the said some, or sums, by them so forfeited, that then it shall be lawful to the Mayors, Bailiffs, or other head Officers of such place, or places, where any such offenders shallbe found, to put them in the Stocks, and them so to keep till the next Market day, next adjoining, and in the Market place to put them in the Pillory all the Market time. And furthermore, that it be lawful by the said authority, 
Search.  that the Master and Wardaines of the said craft of Pewterers, within every City or Borough of this Realm, where such wardaines are. And where no such wardaines are, the head officers or governors of the same City, or Borough, to appoint certain persons most expert in the knowledge of the same to make search within the said Cities or boroughs where they dwell. And over this, the justices of peace within every shire, at the general sessions holden at Michaelmas, shall assign and appoint two certain persons, having experience therein, to make search in the premises, in every part of the shire, as well within the franchise as without, saving in Cities or boroughs where searthers be appointed by the heads or governors of the same. And that all such unlawful pewter or brass, as the said searchers shall find, the one half to the use of your Grace, and the other half to the searchers. And that in the default of the said Masters and Mardaines of the said occupations, not searching in form as is aforesaid, and whereby that any such unlawful metal is cast or made, or unlawful weights used, that then it shallbe lawful to any person, or persons, having sufficinet cunning & knowledge in the said occupations, by oversight of the Majors, Bailiffs, or head Officers of the said Cities, and boroughs, and towns, to search all the said places, and to put those said authority and act in execution, in form aforesaid. Please it therefore your Grace, and wisdoms, in so much as the said act is thought good and profitable, that it be ordained, enacted, and established, by the Lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the said act may endure for ever. 
For true mettallct workmanship.  And over, that it be enacted by the said authority, that if any untrue, or deceivable metal, or workmanship of Tin or Pewter, be founden, either in Platters, Chargers, Dishes, Saucers, Potengers, Trenchers, Basins, Flagons, Bottles, Pots, Saltsellers, Goblers, Spoons, Cruets, or Candlesticks, or in any other such wares of Tin or Pewter, where soever it be cast, made, or wrought, within this Realm or without, and brought to be sold within the same Realm. That then it shall be lawful to the Mayor of the City of London, and the Master and Wardaynes of the craft of Pewterers of the said City, for the time being, and their deputies, to have search of the same, within the city of London, and the suburbs of the same, and that in all other Cities, Boroughs, and Towns, where any Mardaines be, or shall be, the Mayors, Bailiffs, or head Officers, and Mardaines to have like authority.  
And where no Mardaynes be, than the head Officers or governors of the same Cities, Boroughs, and Towns, to appoint certain persons most expert & cunning in knowledge of the same, to make search within the said cities, Boroughs, and Towns where they dwell.  

Pewter being defective to be forfeited.  And if any such new wares, wrought of Tin and Pewter as is aforesaid, be found defective, and being in the possession of the seller, that then the same person or persons, that putteth any such new wares of pewter to sale, shall forfeit the same wares, the one half to the use of our Sovereign Lord the King, and the other half to the searchers or finders of the same.  
Provision Provided always, that this act concerning the forfeiture, be not prejudicial or hurtful to any person or persons, having grant of our Sovereign Lord the King, or of any of his noble Progenitors by his letters patents of such forfeiture, but that they and every of them shall have & enjoy the same according to their former grants and liberties.   

An Act concerning Pewterers, made in the xxv. year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, King Henry the eight, in the minth Chapter.  
Petition. IN their most lamentable wise shown, and piteously complain unto the Kings most royal Majesty, & to this most high Court of Parliament, the Kings most humble poor and obeisant subjects, the Master, wardaines, & poor fellowship of the craft & mystery of Pewterers, as well of the City of London, as of all other places within this Realm of England, that where the said craft or mystery, before this time hath been one of the best handicrafts within this Realm, which hath not only grown and contiwed by mean of divers good acts and statutes made for the true exercise of the same, whereof one was made in the xir. year of the Kings most renowned Father, whose soul God pardon. And one other was made in the fourth year of the Kings most victerious reign, concerning the crafts of Pewterers and Braziers, of & for the true making, mixting and selling of good and true pewter, and brazen vessels. And also for exercising and using of true weights and beams, to be occupied by the sellers of any such pewter or brazen vessels, within this Realm, so that none of the King's Subjects, nor any other person, should (by any sale of any false mixed brazen and pewter vessel, or any untrue weights) be deceived, as by the said statutes more plainly doth appear.  
Which good Statutes duly put in execution, hath caused the said craft to increase and multiply, to the great profit and utility of a great number of the King's Subjects, and the commodity of pewter vessel much to be had in reputation, in all strange Regions and Countries, until now of late, divers evil disposed persons, being the King's Subjects borne, which have been apprentices and brought up, in the exercise of the said craft of Pewterers, have now of late, for their singular lucre, repaired into strange Regions and Countries, and there do exercise the said craft of Pewterers, teaching strangers (not only the cunning of mixting and forging of all manner of Pewter vessel) but also do teach all things belonging to the said craft of Pewterers. By means whereof, there is not only brought (daily into this Realm) out of strange Regions to be sold, great number of things made of Pewter, untruly mixed, and made of Tin, where with the King's Subectes be daihe deceived, and the people of strange Countries greatly instructed, in the cunning of the said craft of Pewterers, in such wise that thereby not only a great number and quantity of pewter vessel, and other things of pewter, made in divers sorts and fashions, amounting to a great value, which was daily and continually wont to be carried and conveyed out of this Realm, by Merchants, into strange Regions and Countries, and there to be sold and vended. Whereby the commodity of Tin made into Pewter vessel, which hath been had in great estimation, as things very necessary and commodious, & the king's customs thereby much advanced, is now like utterly to cease and decay, and not to be esteemed as here tofore hath been but also the said craft of Pewterers, which at this day setteth and keepeth in work and occupation, a great number of people, shallbe be utterly undone. And a great multitude of the King's natural subjects, thereby fall into idleness, to the great impoverishment of this Realm, if speedy remedy for the redress of the premises be not provided.  
In tender consideration whereof, and for reformation of the premises, 
Any manner of Pewter wrought out of this Realm to be forfeited.  it may please your highness, by the assent of the Lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, to ordain and enact, that no person or persons hereafter, at any time now inhabiting, or which hereafter shall inhabit within this Realm shall buy, or otherwise take by exchange for other wares, any wares made, or hereafter to be made out of this Realm, 
Search & seizure.  of Tin, or mixed with Tin, as Platters, Dishes, Saucers, Pots, Basyns, Ewers, Flagons, Goblets, Salt, Saltsellers, Spoons, or any other thing made of Tin or Pewter as aforesaid, whatsoever it be, upon pain of forfeiture of the same ware, in whose hands soever it may be found or taken: and also, lawful money currant in this Realm to the value thereof. The one half of the same forfeiture to be to the use of the King's Highness, and the other half to the use of the finders of the same.  
Penalty. And furthermore be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the Master & wardaines of the said craft of Pewterers, as well within the City of London, as within every other City, Borough, and Town of this Realm where such wardaines be. And where no such wardaynes be, to the head Officer or governor, head Officers or governors of the same City, Borough, or town, for the time being, to appoint divers persons most expert in knowledge of the same, to make search and seizure, and to take into their hands and possession all such wares as hereafter shall be brought contrary to the true intent and effect of this present Act, in whose soever hands or possessions any such shall be found.  

Prentices or journeymen strangers borne.  And also be it enacted by the authority abovesaid, that no person or persons, occupying the said craft or occupation of Pewterers, within this Realm, shall set on work, or retain in his or their service, any person or persons, to be his or their Apprentice or journeyman, being stranger borne out of this Realm, upon pain to forfeit for every such Apprentice and journeyman, ten pounds sterling. 
Strangers shall not work pewter within the Realm.  And that no stranger, borne out of this Realm, shall occupy, exercise, or use from the feast of Penticost, next coming, the said craft of Pewterers, nor work any manner of vessel or other ware aforesaid to be made of Tin or Pewter, within any place or places of this Realm, upon pain of forfeiture of ten pounds sterling: and also, upon pain of forfeiture of the same Pewter or Tin so wrought, in whose hands soever it may be taken or found.  

Exercise beyond Sea.  And also, be it enacted by authority aforesaid, that no person nor persons, being borne within this Realm, occupying or excercising the said craft of Pewterers, shall at any time here alter resort to any strange Regions or Countries, there to use, teach or exercise the said craft of Pewterers, upon pain to lose the privilege and benefit of an Englishman. And if in case any of the King's Subjects at this present time, being dwelling in any strange Country or Region, and there occupying the said craft of Pewteters, do not repair into this Realm, within three months next after request and warning to him be given, by writing sealed with the common seal of the Wardaynes of the said craft, within the said City of London, and here in this Realm continually from henceforth dwel● inhabit, that then & from henceforth he shallbe taken & reputed as no Englishman, but shall stand & be from henceforth out of the King's protection.  

Hawkers.  And forasmuch as sundry evil disposed persons which commonly be called Hawkers, by authority of the King's letters patents or placard, do not only go about from place to place, within this Realm, using buying and selling of brass and pewter. And by colour and pretence of the same licenses and Placardes, use unlawful and deceiveable Weights and Beams, but also do use to sell both pewter and brass, which is not good, nor truly, nor lawfully mixed nor wrought, to the great deceit of the King's true liege people, contrary to the form and effect of the said good Act and Statute made in the said fourth year of the Kings most noble reign. Be it therefore enacted by authority of this present Parliament, that all such licences and placardes heretofore had, made, or granted to any such person or persons, contrary to the true meaning, form, and effect of this Statute shallbe from henceforth by authority of this present Parliament, clearly void and of none effect. And where as in the said act of Parliament, (concerning the craft of Pewterers & Braziers) made in the said fourth year, for divers causes and considerations in the same contained, among other things, it is expressed that no person, or persons, using the said craft of Pewterers or Braziers should from henceforth fill or change any Pewter or brass, new or old, at any place or places within this Realm, but only in open Fairs and Markets, or in their stone dwelling houses, but if they were desired by the buyers of such wares, upon pain of forfeiture for every such default, ten pounds.  
Hawkers. For as much as the same forfeiture is to the only use of the King's highness, & that any party searching or finding the same, is not entitled to have any benefit thereby, it hath not been known that any person, or persons, have taken any pain to insearch or make any inquiry thereof. By reason whereof, divers and many evil disposed persons, using buying and selling both of brass and pewter, and not regarding the said good act, nor the said penalty, daily go about from village to village, Town & town, and from house to house, to sell such pewter and brass, which is not good. And also use deceivable weights and Beams as they did before the making of the said act, to the great hurt and deceit of the King's true liege people and Subjects. 
Penalty for Hawkers.  Wherefore be it enacted by the authority abovesaid, that as well the moiety of the said forfeiture of ten pounds, limited in the said statute made in the said fourth year, as also the moiety of all other forfeitures before expressed, and every of them be and shall be to the use of the King's highness, his Heirs and Successors: and the other moiety of the same forfeitures, and every of them, to the use of him, or them, that shall seize, find, or present the said forfeitures, or any of them, or that shall sue for the same in any competent Court or Courts, within this Realm by action of debt, bill, plaint or information, wherein the defendant shall in no wise be admitted to wage his law, or any protection or essoin to any person or persons, which shallbe impeached to have offended contrary to the form and effect of this Statute, shall be allowable. This act to endure to the last day of the next Parliament.  

❧ The annotations of the confirmations and renovations of the aforesaid Statutes.  
Confirmation. ANd it is to be noted that the said last act was revewed in the Parliament holden at Westminster, the viii. day of june, in the xxviii. year of our said Sovereign Lord, to and among other acts. And that all causes, articles, & provisions therein contained, to stand in their force and strength, to the last day of the next Parliament. And also, the said act was renewed again in the parliament holden at Westminster the xviij. of April, in the xxj. year of our said Sovereign Lord, amongst other acts, as is aforesaid. etc.    

An act concerning Pewterers made in the xxxiij. year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King Henry the viii. Chap. iiij.  

Recital of the Statute made the thirty. year  WHere at the parliament begun at London the third day of November, in the xxj. year of the reign of the King our Sovereign Lord, and from thence adjourned to Westminster, and there holden, and from that time continued by divers progenitors, unto the xv. day of january, the xxv. year of his most noble reign, it was ordained and established by the assent of the King's Majesty, his Lords spiritual & temporal, and the commons in the said parliament then assembled, and by the authority of the same, that no person, or persons, from that time than inhabiting, or which after that time should inhabit within this Realm, should buy, or otherwise take by exchange for other wares, any manner wears made, or hereafter to be made out of this Realm, of Tin, or mixed with Tin, as Platters, Dishes, saucers, Pots, Basins, Ewers, Flagons, goblets, Saltes, Saltsellers, Spoons, or any other thing made of Tin or pewter as aforesaid, whatsoever it were, upon pain of forfeiture of the same wares, in whose hands soever it might be found or taken, and also lawful money currant in this Realm, to the full value thereof, the one half of the same forfeiture to be to the use of the King's highness, and the other half to be to the use of the finders of the same. And further it was enacted, that it should be lawful to the Master and Wardaines of the Pewterers, as well within the City of London, as within every other City, Borough, or Town within this Realm where such Wardaines were, and where no such Wardaynes were, to the head Officer or governor, head Officers or governors of the same City, Borough, or Town for the time being, to appoint divers persons, most expert in knowledge of the same, to make search and seizure and to take into their hands and possessession, all such wares as thereafter should be brought, contrary to the true intent and effect of the said act, in whose soever hands or possessions any such hold be found. And it was also enacted by the authority above said, that no person, or persons, occupying the said craft or occupation of Pewterers, within this Realm, should set on work, or retain in his or their service, any person, or persons, to be his or their apprentice, or journeyman stranger borne out of this Realm, upon pain to forfeit for every such Apprentice and journeyman, ten pounds sterling: And that no stranger, borne out of this Realm, should occupy, exercise, or use, from the feast of Penticost than next coming, the said craft of Pewterers, nor work any manner of vessels, nor other ware aforesaid, to be made of Tin or Pewter, within any place or places of this Realm, upon pain of forfeiture of ten pounds sterling: and also, upon pain of forfeiture of the same pewter or Tin, so wrought, in whose hands soever it should be found or taken. And it was further enacted by the said authority, that no person, or persons, being borne within this Realm, then occupying or exercising the said craft of Pewterers, should from thenceforth resort into any strange Regions or Countries, there to use, teach, or exercise the said craft of Pewterers, upon pain to lose the Privilege and benefit of an Englishman.  
And if in case any of the King's Subjects, at that time being, dwelling in any strange Country or Region, and there occupying the said craft of Pewterers, did not repair into this Realm, within three months next after request & warning to him to be given, by writing sealed with the common seal of the Wardaines of the said craft, within the said City of London, and here in this Realm continually (from thenceforth) dwell and inhabit, that then and from henceforth he should be reputed and taken as no Englishman, but should stand and be from henceforth out of the King's protection.  
And it was than further enacted, that where sundry evil disposed persons, which commonly were called hawkers, by authority of the King's Letters patents, or Placarde, did not only go about from place to place, within this Realm, using buying and selling of brass and pewter, and by colour and pretence of the same licenses or Placardes, did not only use unlawful & deceivable weights and beams, but also did use to sell both Brass and Pewter which was not good, nor truly or lawfully mixed or wrought, to the great deceit of the King's true liege people, contrary to the form and effect of a good and laudable act and statute, made in the fourth year of the Kings said most noble reign, that all such licences & placards, afore that time had made or granted to any such person, or persons, contrary to the true meaning, form, and effect of the said statute, should be from thenceforth by the authority of the said Parliament, clearly void and of none effect. And where as in the said act of Parliament (concerning the said craft of Pewterers & Braziers) made in the said fourth year, for divers causes and considerations in the same act contained, amongst other things, it was expressed, that no person or persons, using the said craft of Pewterrrs or Braziers, should from henceforth sell or change any pewter or Brass, new or old, at any place or places within this Realm, but only in open Fairs and Markets, or in their own dwelling houses, but if they were desired by the buyers of such wares, upon pain of forfeiture for every such default ten pounds. And so than the same forfeiture was to the only use of the King's highness, and the party searching or finding the same was not entitled to have any benefit thereby: it was not known that any person or persons had taken any pains to insearch or make any inquiry thereof. By reason whereof divers & many evil disposed persons than using buying and selling as well of brass as pewter, and not regarding the said good act, nor the said penalty, went daily about from Village to Village, Town to Town, and from house to house, to sell such pewter and brass, which was not good, and also used deceivable weights and Beams, as they did before the making of the said act, to the great hurt and deceit of the kings true liege people and Subjects. Wherefore it was enacted by the authority of the said Parliament, that aswell the moiety of the said forfeiture of ten pounds limited in the said statute made in the said fourth year, as also the moiety of all other forfeitures and penalties, expressed and specified in the said acts, and every of them should be to the use of the King's Highness, his Heirs and Successors, and the other moiety of the same forfeitures and penalties, and every of them, to the use of him or them that would seize, find, or present the same forfeitures, or any of them, or that would sue for the same in any competent Court or Courts within this Realm, by action of debt, bill, plaint or information wherein the defendant should in no wise be admitted to wage his law, or any protection or essoin to any person or persons which should be impeached to have offended, contrary to the form and effect of this Statute, should be allowable, as in the said act more plainly appeareth, which act was appointed to endure only to the end of the next Parliament, than next following, & which act was afterward renewed in the Parliament holden at Westminster, in the xxviij. year of the reign of our said Sovereign Lord, to endure until the end of the next Parliament than next following: And which act was also renewed at the Parliament holden at Westminster, in the xxxj. and xxxii. years of our said Sovereign Lords reign to endure until the last day of the next parliament than next ensuing: Confirmation. Prayen therefore in this present Parliament our said Sovereign Lords true and obedient Subjects, the Pewterers of this his said Realm, & other the true commons of the same, because the same act is beneficial and necessary for the commonwealth of this Realm: That it may be enacted by the King our said Sovereign Lord, the Lords spiritual & temporal, and the commons in the present Parliament assembled, and by authority of the same, for as much as the same act, and every thing therein contained, is good and beneficial to the Commonwealth of this Realm, that all and every the said acts and statutes, and all & every article, sentence, and clause comprised in the same, may from henceforth stand and abide in as full strength and effect, for evermore from henceforth to endure, according to the purport, tenor and effect of the same act and acts, as though the said articles, sentences, and clauses, were specially limited, recited, or declared in this present act. 
Wares made & brought from beyond the Sea.  And that no person, ne persons, from henceforth buy or take by exchange, or otherwise take into or within this Realm, to the intent to sell any such things or wares, above rehearsed, made or to be made out of this Realm, upon pain of like forfeitures & penalties, as are and were expressed in the said several acts, the same penalties and forfeitures to be levied as is afore expressed.  

Master and Wardaines shall not be let to search.  And that it may be further enacted by authority aforesaid, that if any person, or persons, do unlawfully withstand, interrupt, disturb, or let the Master and Wardaines, or their deputies of the said craft of Pewterers, for the time being, or the head Officer or governor, head Officers or governors of Cities, Towns, & Boroughs, within this Realm, wherein no such Master and Wardaines are, or shallbe, or any of them, in searching, seizing, and taking into their hands and possessions such wares as shall happen to be bought, or brought into this Realm contrary to the purport and effect of the said statute, made in the said xxv. year of the reign of our said Sovereign Lord, that then every such person, and persons, so offending, in letting, disturbing, or withstanding the said seizure, or taking of such wares as is aforesaid, shall lose and forfeit for every time so doing, the sum of five pounds sterling, the one half whereof, shallbe to the King's use, and the other half to him or them that will or shall sue for the same, by action of debt, writ, bill, plaint, or information in any the King's Courts of record, in which action or suit, no Protection, Privilege, nor wager of law, shall be allowed nor admitted.  
God save the Queen. 

Thomas Wood Master.  
William Mayor Wardens.  
Walter Hill. Wardens.     

AT LONDON Printed. Anno Domini. 1593.