I R  DIEV ET MON DROIT. HONI · SOIT · QVI · MAL · Y · PENSE  royal blazon surmounted by a crown and flanked by the English lion, Tudor rose, and Irish harp on one side and the Scottish unicorn, thistle, and French fleur-de-lis on the other  
The Copy of the King's majesties Letters Patents, concerning the reformation of the Abuses used in melting and making up of Lead, And the Sealing of the same.  
JAMES, By the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, & Ireland; Defender of the Faith, etc. To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting.  
Whereas We are given to understand, that by the diggers & getters of Lead-Oare out of the Ours within this Kingdom of England and the Dominion of Wales, the said Oar is carried and conveyed unto divers Melting or Smelting houses, where the said Oar is melted & made into great Lumps or pieces of Lead, commonly called Pigs or Sows of Lead: And that divers abuses, deceits, frauds, practices and devices are there daily used and committed in the melting and making up of the said Sows or Pigs of Lead, by putting therein great lumps of Scindars & other unprofitable stuff, not only to the disgrace and vilifling of that commodity, but also to the manifest wrong and prejudice aswell of Us and of the Subjects of our own Kingdoms, as of all other Nations and Countries which buy and use the same; For our better satisfaction wherein, we referred the examination and consideration thereof to certain our Commissioners. And whereas the said Commissioners have certified in writing under their hands, that it appeareth aswell upon conference with the Plombers that have the greatest dealing in Lead, as with sundry Merchants of this our Realm, That the said Information given to Us is true, and that a reformation herein is desired, and that it is a great disgrace to the Lead of this Realm in Foreign parts, that the same abuses are not reform; and that the same abuse appeared also, not only by approbation upon melting of divers Sows and Pigs, or quantities of Lead, in which there was found extraordinary waste that was good for nothing; But also by several Certificates from Merchants in Foreign parts which have bought of the said English-Lead, and have certified that there is great deceit used in the said Lead that cometh into Foreign parts out of this our Realm of England. And that those that do melt the said Lead in Foreign parts, do always find great heavy pieces of unprofitable stuff in the midst of the Pigs which can be put to no use, & that oftentimes they find great stones in the midst thereof, to the great loss of those that deal with the same, & for which they could never get restitution; the said Merchants shall be forced to give over their dealing with English-Lead, unless the abuses were reform. And the said Commissioners hath likewise certified unto Us, that forasmuch ●●●eared unto them, that there is Abuse and deceit used in making up of Lead, whereof both the Plombars & Merchants desire reformation; They hold it fit & convenient, that some course should 〈◊〉 therein, so as neither the Plombar that dealeth with the commodity at home, nor the Merchant that ventureth the same abroad in Foreign parts, might have cause to complain as heretofore 〈◊〉 done.  
〈◊〉 having had consideration of the premises, and being very desirous, & holding it in our Princely judgement a thing most fit, and properly belonging to our Regal Office, by the best & most speedy 〈◊〉 We may to prevent, subvert and extinguish frauds & practices attempted and put in ure for unjust and private ends, and for particular lucre and gain, to the general detriment and prejudice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commonwealth of this our Kingdom; attended with the disgrace & discredit of the merchandises of the same, and the hindrance of the trade and Traffic of our Subjects in Foreign parts; 〈◊〉 ●●th been famous throughout all Nations. And finding no better way for the effecting thereof, then by ymploying some person or persons of trust & skill, who may survey & see to the melting & making 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 said Led into Pigs or Sows of Lead before it be sent from the melting houses, or by other convenient means may try & prove the goodness & well making of the said Pigs and Sows of Lead, 〈◊〉 ●●her Led by what name soever melted or made, and thereupon set a Mark or Stamp on them for the better understanding of the true making up thereof. Of Our certain Knowledge & mere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have willed, ordained, constituted and appointed, and by these presents, for Us, our Heirs and Successors, Do will, ordain, constitute and appoint, that for ever hereafter there shall be an 〈◊〉 ●hich shall be, and shall be called the Office of Surveyor of Us, our Heirs & Successors of Lead. And that there shall be for ever hereafter, one or more person or persons, by Us, our Heirs 〈◊〉 ●●●●●ssors to be nominated & appointed, which shall be, and shall be called the Surveyor & Surveyors of Us, our Heirs & Successors of Lead. Unto which Officer & Officers, We do hereby 〈◊〉 ●ur Heirs & Successors, give & grant full power, and authority by himself or themselves, or his or their sufficient Deputy or Deputies, assign or assigns, from time to time to repair unto all 〈◊〉 the melting or smelting houses, which now be, or hereafter shall be, within our said Realm of England, and Dominion of Wales, or any part of them, or either of them, where Lead is, or shall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or made up, and there to have and take a diligent view & Survey of all Lead so melted or made up within our said Realm & Dominion. And also to oversee the melting & making up thereof. 〈…〉 ●●vise by all good ways and means He or they may, to search & try the said Pigs & Sows, and other quantities or lumps of Lead so to be made, and upon approbation thereof, to be good & Mar … 〈◊〉 Led, to set a Mark or Stamp upon it, whereby the buyer of the same Lead may be assured of the goodness & well making up & melting of the same. And to that end & purpose Our will & plea●●●● 〈◊〉 we do hereby for Us, our Heirs & Successors, grant that the said Officer or Officers, shall and may have a Seal or stamp to be used by him, or them, or his or their Deputy or Deputies, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may alter, break, or make a new at his, and their pleasure.  
●●d further, We do hereby for Us, our Heirs and Successors, give power & authority unto to said Officer and Officers so as aforesaid to be nominated & appointed, by himself or themselves, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Deputy or Deputies, to do any other lawful acts tending to the reformation of the abuses, practices & deceits aforesaid, according to our true intent & meaning in these presents expressed. 〈◊〉 the end that such persons as shall hereafter offend in any the premises, may be left without excuse, and receive some condign punishment for such their offences, We do by these presents also for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heirs & Successors, straightly charge, prohibit and forbid all, and all manner of persons whatsoever, that they or any of them do not at any time or times hereafter attempt or presume to take 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 way any Lead from, or out of any melting or smelting house within this our Realm of England, or the Dominion of Wales, or any part of them or either of them, before the same Led be duly tri … head & Sealed by the said Officer of Officers, or his or their assigns, Deputies or servants, or some or one of them, who for that purpose at all times convenient shall attend the same, upon pain 〈◊〉 ●●●●●●ture of all such Led so taken, or carried away from the said melting or smelting houses contrary to the true meaning of these presents, and also upon pain of our heavy indignation & displeasure, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 further pains, penalties, punishments, and ymprisonments, as by any of the Laws or Statutes of this Realm can or may be inflicted upon the offenders herein for their contempt or disobedi●●●●●heaking or contemning this our Royal Commandment.  
〈◊〉 for the better help and assissance of the said Officer & Officers, and his & their assigns, Deputies & servants in this service, for the better discovery of the frauds and abuses aforesaid, We do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Us, our Heirs & Successors, give full power & authority unto the said Officer and Officers, and his and their assigns, Deputies, and servants, or any of them, from time to time, and at all 〈◊〉 ingrafter at his and their & every or any of their will and pleasure, aswell by night as by day, to go on Board, view, and search, and survey every Ship, vessel or bottom riding or lying or lying within 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Haven or creek of this Realm of England, or the Dominion of Wales, or any part thereof, and by day time with the assistance of a Constable, or other Officer, to go and enter into any 〈◊〉 Uawlt, Warehouse, shop, or other place, to see if there shall be any Led taken or carried from the melting or smelting houses aforesaid, before the same hath been viewed, weighed, tried and 〈◊〉 according to the true meaning of these presents; and there in due & lawful manner to seize, take & carry away all such Lead as he or they, or any of them shall find to be so taken & carried from the 〈◊〉 houses unweighed and unmarked, contrary to our pleasure herein expressed, The moiety or one half of all which forfeitures, we do for Us, our Heirs and Successors, give and grant to the 〈◊〉 ●ficer and Officers, and his & their Deputies and assigns: And the other moiety thereof, we will shall be reserved & answered to the use of Us, our Heirs and Successors.  
〈◊〉 because the well managing of this business tendeth to the great benefit of all persons that shall be occasioned to use any of the said Lead, & that the same cannot be undergone without great & daily 〈◊〉 for the maintenance of fit and able Deputies, Ministers, and other persons to attend the execution of the service incident to the aforesaid Office; We do hereby for Us, our Heirs & Successors, … e & ordain, that it shall and may be lawful for, and also give power & authority unto the said Officer and Officers, from time to time hereafter by himself, or themselves, or his or their assgnes … s or servants, to ask, demand, receive & take of every Owner and Owners, Maker & Makers up of Lead, for the viewing, surveying, trying & marking of every Hundred weight of Lead at any 〈◊〉 ingrafter to be melted and made up within this our Kingdom of England, and the Dominion of Wales, or either of them, and which by the said Officer or Officers, or their, or any of their assigns, … es, & servants, or some, or any of them shall be viewed, surveyed, weighed & marked according to the true meaning of these presents, the Sum of Two pence of currant money of England, which said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Two pence upon every Hundred weight of the said Lead, Our pleasure likewise is, shall be taken, received and paid at the melting or smelting houses before the said Lead be sold, uttered or dis … out of the same; And that the said Two pence upon every Hundred weight of the said Led appointed to be received & taken as aforesaid, be for ever hereafter united & annexed to the said Office 〈◊〉 or duty to be taken and received for the surveying, viewing, trying & marking the said Lead; And that the said fee or duty be taken & received by the said Officer or Officers, or his or their depu●●●● 〈◊〉 assigns in manner aforesaid, without the let or contradiction of Us, our Heirs or Successors, or any of our, or their Officers or Ministers, or other persons whatsoever.  
〈◊〉 for the better effecting of Our will & pleasure herein, KNOW, ye, that we reposing assured trust & cofidence in the understanding, fidelity & circumspection of our well-beloved Henry Bell Es●●●●● of Our especial Grace and certain knowledge, and mere motion, have given and granted, and by these presents for Us, our Heirs & Successors, We do give & grant unto the said Henry Bell, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 assigns the foresaid Office of Surveyor, of Us, our Heirs & Successors of Lead, with the appurtenances, And him the said Henry Bell, and his assigns, the Surveyor & Surveyors of Us, our … of't Successors of Lead, to do, perform, and execute all and singular the premises by the Officer or Officers aforesaid, according to the true meaning hereof to be performed, We do for Us, 〈◊〉 ●●ires and Successors, make, ordain, create and constitute, by these presents.  
〈◊〉 have and to hold the said Office, together with all and singular the powers, privileges, Fees, duties, forfeitures, and premises to the said Henry Bell, and his assigns, by himself, or themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their sufficient Deputy or Deputies, for and during the term, and unto the full end & term of Thirty and One years from the day of the Date of these presents, next ensuing, and fully to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and ended.