A true declaration of the state of the Manufacture of gold and silver Thread, from the beginning of the making thereof here in England, until this present.  
AFter many trials for the making of gold and silver Thread, time at last made discovery thereof according to the manner of Milan in Italy, where it is thought to be one of the most beneficial mysteries in that Nation, consisting of so many parts, employing by computation 40000 persons, wherewith they have heretofore served Christendom, and thereby enriched themselves.  
Henry the 4. of France, a Prince as well provident in peace as war, had such a sense thereof, that besides his princely patronage, he gave 60000. French Crowns to help their proceed, which by his untimely death came not to perfection.  
The laudable practice hereof, together with apparent hopes of benefit, both to the undertakers and the State, (the commodity not being worth in the Materials the one moiety it was usually sold for, leaving the rest behind where it was made) was a just motive to undertake the same, whereby the profit might rather accrue to ourselves, then to foreign Nations, viz. that which usually cost 5 s. 6. d. is not worth above 2 s. 8 d. or thereabouts the rest being gained by the Manufacture, and therefore was set on foot the 8. year of the King.  
The labour was difficult, dangerous, and so chargeable to be effected, that the adventure required a time of privilege, to recompense the Industry of those that undertook the same; wherefore it pleased his Majesty at the suit of the late Lord Io. Harrington the elder, and the Countess of Bedford, to grant a Patent for the sole exercise thereof for a time.  
In the passing of which Patent, 3. especial things presented themselves to the consideration of the State, which were referred to the examination of the Lord Treasurer Salisbury and others. First, whether it had been a former Trade here or no. Secondly, the consumption of Bullion. And lastly, his Majesty's Customs.  
For the First, by report of Goldsmiths, Imbrotherers and Silkemen, it was not found to be any former Trade.  
For the consumption of Bullion, it was supposed that the benefit of the Trade far overuallued that consumption.  
For the maintaining of his Majesty's Customs, the Pattentees gave securety, and paid accordingly.  
This Patent continuing under these examinations and trials almost one whole year past the 9 year of the King, with approbation, and so continued until the 13. without opposition, by which time persons employed, who were many, and of several qualities, coming to some reasonable perfection, by chargeable experience to the Pattentees, were for a greater recompense enticed, and employed by strangers and others in corners, having by this time found out cavils against the Kings Grant, for want of words which being heard at a Council Table, was over ruled, and a new Patent granted with more ample words, the better to express his Majesty's pleasure, and a Proclamation published to this effect, which gave a present show of remedy, but fell out otherwise: for that this Trade coming to a further view of perfection, certain Gold-wierdrawers for purls, plates, oes, spangles, etc. being free of the Goldsmith's Company, laid a title or claim thereto as a part of their Trade, and although before the Lord Chancellor Ellesmere, and others of his Majesty's Privy Council and Commissioners they were heard, and determined not to intermeddle, they ceased not to continue either to make the commodity, or to prepare the Materials in drawn wire, to sell to poor people of a desperate condition, who venting the same daily to Silkemen and Lace-makers for present ready money, were forced to sell their labours so cheap, as urged their necessities to seek for new several fraudulent devices for benefit, which hath since daily increased. So this mischief increasing, and the error in believing in the valliditie of the Kings Grant, and not considering the great benefit of the meanest subjects liberty, enforced us to seek new ways of remedy, by executing of warrants and Commissions, wherein they either exceeding, or not proceeding with that discretion and judgement as was requisite, drew on many several complaints to the last Parliament, who conceiving them just aggrievances both in matter and manner, the Patent by his Majesty 〈…〉 was condemned, but the Manifacture itself by reason of the Parliaments sudden dissolution left unregulated, by which means the abuses no ways diminishing, but rather increasing, and the inconveniences of the great waist of Bullion more plainly appearing: his Majesty with the Lords and others of his Privy Council taking it into their consideration, upon mature deliberation, thought the most present remedy was utterly to suppress the said Trades, and all unlawful melting and fining of gold and silver, according to a Statute in the reign of Henry the 7, and other Statutes both formerly and since to that effect. But this prohibition by his Majesty and the Lords was so fare from taking any effect either in the Finers obedience, who are the main offenders, or in the inferior workers, by reason of continual buyers and receivers of the commodity, as it grew up to a far higher inconvenience than ever, and was impossible to reform by suppression, the multitude being so great of inferior necessitated people: the consideration hereof moved his Majesty and the Lords to compassionate the cause, and upon the humble petition of divers conformable persons then in exercise of the said Manufacture, a Charter of Incorporation was granted upon these ensuing propositions.  

For the regulating of the gold and silver thread business, and to give a remedy to the inconveniences, (aswell by consumption of Bullion thereby, as by other uses of the like nature arising) besides the loss that may be of his Majesty's Customs by that to be made here, your Lordship's humble petitioners undertaking the said Manufacture, humbly desire consideration and allowance of the propositions following. viz.  
1. To have a Corporation, and allowance of power convenient to examine, find out, and punish the abuses aswell in others, as those of the same Company, practising the unlawful melting and fining of gold or silver, for the making of gold or silver thread, and drawing of wire for that or any other use whatsoever, as for purls, plates, oes, spangles, for damasking and inlaying wire, for wire for cloth of gold and silver, and such like: and to have power to make laws and orders amongst themselves as in that case is usual, and to suppress all others that are not allowed to be of the same Company.  
2. That one place only be appointed and authorized, and that within the Tower of London, or in the Hall of the said Company, whether all such silver ought to be brought, to be prepared or made fit to be sold for the making of gold or silver wire for all the aforesaid uses, that the quantety may appear what is yearly expended.  
3. That a Standard be appointed of the finesse of Sterling money, with the remedy of two penny weight.  
4. That his Majesty's sworn Officer or Officers keep a true account of all such silver or gold brought in, and delivered out for any of these uses, and to make and keep an Assay of the true finesse and goodness.  
5. That in case of discovering any person making base or counterfeit silver for thread, or any of the other uses, to the abuse of his Majesty's subjects, and in contempt of his Majesty's Proclamation: they humbly desire punishment of the offenders in the Starchamber for example to others.   

And the better to effect this.  
6. That his Majesty may be pleased to grant Proclamation against all other Finers than in the Tower or Hall of the said Company, and to prohibit all the making, venting, buying or selling of gold and silver thread made here unsealed, and all such wire made here, for any of the aforesaid uses: and to prohibit the preparing of all or any manner of materials, and things for the making of gold and silver thread, other than such as is to serve to the end of this Corporation.   

Which propositions on his Majesty's behalf being performed, they shall be enabled, and do on their behalves promise the performance of these ensuing Articles.  
1. To give security to his Majesty, to be taken by the Lord Treasurer and Chancellor, for the time being to make appear by substantial proof, the good effect in the performance, that after one six months first allowed them for provision and store, they will yearly bring in before hand so much Bullion from foreign parts to the Tower of London, and convert the same into the Currant coin of the kingdom, as shall be expended on those uses, for which a true and exact account is to be kept.  
2. That each person of the Corporation will give bond to his Majesty's use, and at his admittance into the Company shall take oath not to use or buy any silver at all for any of the uses aforesaid, but that which he shall buy in the Tower of London.  
3. They do further offer to pay his Majesty, in consideration of the loss of custom that may arise by the said Manufactures and otherwise, six pence upon every ounce of gold and silver wire they shall have occsion to use for any of the aforesaid uses, and to pay four pence for the Seal upon every Mark or pound of thread.  
4. They do not desire to prohibit any foreign commodity of that nature, being brought in by way of trade, except it shall prove base or counterfeit, than the same to be forfeited.  
5. And they farther humbly desire, that upon performance of the premises at the expiration of the time limited, and giving new bonds, their old bonds may be delivered unto them again.  
These Letters Patents of Incorporation had beginning in june last, with power to make orders according to the usual course of that kind, wherein were incorporated near to the number of 100 persons, as principals to employ others, who were thereby prescribed to enter bond of 100 l. a piece to his Majesty, and beside to take oath.  
All which whole number, (except one deceitful old woman, and one that was her Servant) took the same oath accordingly, and three other by their example refused to enter into bond, rather jesting with an oath, then adventuring to be bound to that they had already sworn to: these being obstinate in their own ways, intending fraud from the beginning, and neither expecting duty to his Majesty or the Laws, or conveniences of the weal public, practising by sinister ways and secret undiscernible courses by all possible means to bring all back into confusion, that they might again return to the course of unlawful melting and fining of gold and silver, to be converted to any of the forbidden uses, by whose former and latter example all other irregular persons are encouraged presumptuously and confidently to follow their ways, inconsiderately presuming of that liberty that neither the laws of the Kingdom, nor conveniency of State can any ways tolerate.   

The effect of this, presents to consideration 4. principal points.  
First, the unorderly consumption and waste of Bullion without account, to the hindrance and prevention of the increase of the coin of this Kingdom: and this comes first from unlawful finers, who melting down great quantities of coin and bullion, to enrich themselves thereby, disperse and dispose it to all persons, which may be aswell transported as used here on these prohibited uses, and these examples invite and encourage all these disorderly persons.  
And these secret finers, are ordinary receivers of stolen plate from any person whatsoever.  
2. The falsification of the commodity by these disordered persons, either by embasing the quality thereof in several kinds, or in not giving the due proportion of quantity thereunto, in the overflight working of the commodity.  
3. Prejudice to his Majesty in those duties that are to him acknowledged by way of recompense, for the loss of customs of that was usually brought from foreign parts.  
4. The inequality of justice to such as have duly served in a lawful way of trade, when aswell foreigners and strangers expelled their own Country, appropriate to themselves both the benefit of natural borne subjects, and of free men, to the nursery of lewd idle and dishonest servants, who untimely make themselves free men from their Master's service without consent. Whereas on the contrary, true account being kept of the Bullion, it will be a great means for the daily employment of his Majesty's Mint, prevent all falsities: gave Caesar his due, and distribute equal justice to such as either serve or purchase their trades by redemption: and the Commodities better, and better cheap than ever.