arms of London  
Com' council ' tent ' in Camera Guihald ' Civitat ' LONDON, die Veneris ecimo nono die Octobr ', Anno Regni Domini & Dominae Nostrorum, WILLIELMI & MARIAE, nunc Regis & Reginae, Angliae, &c. Sexto: Coram Willielmo Ashhurst mill ', mayor ' dictae Civitat '; Salathiel lovel mill ', Servien ' ad Legem ac Recordat ' dictae Civitat '; Hamphrido edwin mill ', Richardo Levit mill ', & Willielmo Hedges mill ' & Alderman '; Necnon mayor ' parte Communiar ' dictae Civitat ' in eodem Com' council ' tunc & ibidem Assemblat '.  
An ACT of Common Council for Regulating the Company of joiners and CEILERS, London.  
WHEREAS the Company of joiners and CEILERS, is, and hath been an Ancient Brotherhood, and long since Incorporated, and Their CHARTER enrolled amongst others of the like Nature in this City: But of late years is much lessened and decayed, by reason that divers unskilful in the said Arts do daily practise and use the same, not being subject or liable to any Government, Correction or control; and for that such as are Free of other Companies, and thereby Obtaining the Freedom of the City, do use and practise the Trades of joiners, CARVERS and CEILERS, and other employments pertaining thereunto, and are not under any Regulation or Restriction either as to the Number of their Apprentices, Seasons of Timber, or Goodness of Work; whereby much Deceitful Work is daily made and exposed to Sale, within this City and Liberties thereof, to the great Injury, Fraud and Deceit of Unskilful Buyers, as well within this City and the Liberties thereof, as without.  
For Remedy and Reformation whereof, and to the intent all Freemen of this City and Liberties thereof, using the Trades and Arts aforesaid, or any of them, may from Time to come be obliged to be Free of the said Company of joiners and CEILERS, and thereby become subject to the good Laws and Ordinances of the same, and be brought under their Search, View and Regulation, whereby all Frauds, Defaults, unskilful Workmanship, and other Offences in the said Trades, Arts and Mysteries, may be discovered, corrected and punished:  
Be it therefore Enacted, Ordained and Established by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commons in this present Common-Council Assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from henceforth all and every person or persons, hereafter using or Exercising the said Trades, Arts or Mysteries of JOYNERY, CARVING and CEILING, or any of them, or other employments pertaining thereunto, within the said City and Liberties thereof, who hath or shall have Right or privilege to be made Free by Patrimony or otherwise, by virtue of his Father's Freedom in any other Company, whereof his Father was, is or shall be Free, or by Service with any Free-man of any other Company, shall( at the next Court of Assistants of the said Company of joiners and CEILERS, after Notice thereof to him given, by the Clerk or Beadle of the said Company, by Order of the Master and Wardens of the said Company for the Time being accept and take upon himself the Freedom, and be made a Free-man of the said Company of joiners and Ceilers, in like manner and form as he might or could have been in such Company whereof his Father or Master was so Free as aforesaid; Any Law, Custom or usage to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.  
And that for the Future no Person or Persons, who shall use or exercise the said Trades, Mysteries or Occupations of joining, CARVING, or CEILING, within this City or the Liberties thereof, shall be made Free of the City by Redemption in any other Company, save only of the said Company of joiners and Ceilers.  
And be it further Enacted and Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Person or Persons, using or exercising, or which shall use or exercise the Trades, Arts or Mysteries of a joiner, CARVER and CEILER, or any of them, within the City of London, or Liberties thereof, who hath already served his Apprenticeship, or shall hereafter serve his apprenticeship in the said Trade, Arts and Mysteries, or any of them, and is not yet made Free of this City; or who shall procure his Freedom by Redemption, Service or Patrimony of any other Company, than of the said Company of joiners and Ceilers, and shall exercise the said Trades, Arts or Mysteries, or any of them, not being Free of the said Company; That then all and every such Person and Persons so doing and offending, shall forfeit and pay for every such Offence, the Sum of Ten Pounds of Lawful Money of England, to be Recovered by Action of Debt, Bill or Plaint, to be Commenced and Prosecuted in the Name of the Chamberlain of the said City of London, for the time being, in Their Majesties Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen, to be holden in the Chamber of Guild-Hall of the said City of London; And that the Chamberlain of the said City for the Time being, in all Suits to be prosecuted by virtue of this present Act against any Offender, shall Recover his ordinary Costs of svit to be Expended in and about the Prosecution of the same.  
And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That one Moiety of all such Forfeitures to be recovered by Virtue of this present Act( the Costs of Suits for recovery of the same being first deducted and allowed) after recovery and receipt thereof, shall be from time to time paid into the Chamber of the said City, to the use of the Mayor, commonalty and Citizens of the said City of London; and the other Moiety to the Master, Wardens and Assistants of the said Company of joiners and Ceilers for the time being, for the use of the Poor of the said Company.  
And that in case the said Chamberlain for the time being, shall be Nonsuited; or a Verdict or Iudgment shall be given against the said Chamberlain in any such Action to be brought by virtue of this ACT, That then the Costs of such Nonsuit, Verdict or judgement, shall be paid and born by the Master, Wardens and Assistants of the Company of joiners and Ceilers for the time being; and the said Chamberlain to be fully indemnified and saved harmless, by the said Master. Wardens, and Assistants, o● and from the same: Any Law, usage or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding.  
And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Person or Persons, using or Exercising the said Trades, Arts or Mysteries of joiners, CARVERS and CEILERS, or any of them, shall from henceforth be Admitted by the Chamberlain of this City for the time being, into the Freedom or Liberties of this City in any other Company, than the said Company of joiners and Ceilers; Any Law or Custom of this City to the contrary notwithstanding.  
Goodfellow.   

Printed by S●MUEL ROYCROFT, Printer to the Honourable City of LONDON 16●4