NEWS from the GOLDSMITHS OR A TRIAL OF Gold and Silver: ADVERTISING All Buyers and Wearers of Goldsmith's Wares, of the great Adulterations of Gold and Silver (with other Defrauds) which are practised by some Dishonest Goldsmiths.  
DISCOVERING The greatness of the Cheat, and easiness of the Remedy; with Advice how to Buy Gold and Silver Wares, that you may not be Cheated: Fitted for the Use of the Country as well as the City.  
Published for the public Good, and not for private Lucre; to provoke the Goldsmiths, to reform the Adulterating Smiths, and not to dispariage the Goldsmith's Trade.  
By W. T. Goldsmith.  
With Allowance.  
LONDON, Printed for the Author, MDCLXXVIII.   

AN ADVERTISEMENT.  
ANd for the Readers better Information, I refer him to another Treatise, entitled, A Touchstone for Gold and Silver Wares; directing how to know Adulterated and Unlawful Goldsmith's Wares, and greatness of the Cheat therein; and how to punish the Offenders, and recover recompense to the party wronged: which is of great use to every Buyer of Plate, and all Buyers and Wearers of Silver Hilts, Buckles, and all other kind of Goldsmith's Work: Printed for John Bellenger in Cliffords-Inn-Lane, and Thomas Basset, at the George near Cliffords-Inn in Fleetstreet, 1677. Price bound 1 s. 6 d.   

A TRIAL OF Gold and Silver, &.  
WHilst some to promote their own private Interest are defrauding the whole Nation; I to promote the Nations Interest, am venturing my little All.  
For the Adulterating of Gold and Silver, brings in so great Gain to the Practisers of that Deceit, that some of them have threatened the Ruin of any one that shall seek to hinder their Adulterating Trade; which is now so strongly beset by some Honest Goldsmiths, that it hath made Adulterating Goldsmiths desperate. But let not the Honest Goldsmiths be discouraged from prosecuting their designed and intended Reformation, by any of their Threats, or any of their Contemptious Names, which they call you: for it is better for you to be called Informers (which in this case is creditable and praiseworthy) for discovering these Defrauds, than to be farther Guilty of the Nations Wrong, by concealing it: And though you who have formerly Adulterated Gold and Silver, but now abhor it, are upbraided with your former Practices; if you hold your Resolution to make Satisfaction to your Customers, whom you have wronged by these Wares; you will evidence yourselves to be Honest Men: notwithstanding those who still practice that wicked Art, brand you with your former Practices, because they would hold on theirs: Although they have no such matter of Fact to lay to my Charge, since I have finished my Apprenticeship; yet I must share in their Reproaches, revilings, Gensures, Slanders, Scoffs and Scorns; which I have had a portion of already, for not joining with others in Adulterating Gold and Silver; and shall doubtless have a greater share now, when I labour to prevent others from going on in that Practice.  
Let the abused Stranger therefore understand, That there is a certain Standard for Gold and Silver, according to which Standard the Coins of this Kingdom (both Gold and Silver) are made: and as good as that Standard, all Plate and Small Wares in Gold and Silver is to be made (by Plate and Small Wares, I intent all sorts of Gold and Silver Wares whatsoever; the Small as well as the Great) and that there may be no Defraud used by making any Gold and Silver Work worse than the Standard, there is a very easy and sure way appointed by Law for the regulating of those Wares; the understanding of which may be of signal benefit to all who buy and wear any sorts of Gold and Silver Wares whatsoever: the end and design of this Sheet, is therefore to discover it.  
As for London and the places adjacent, the Company of Goldsmiths hath the oversight of those Wares, and the trial of them committed to them; and therefore three days in the Week, there is trial made of any Workman's Wares (whose Name and Mark is inrouled in their Assay Office) and whatsoever Works they try and find Standard, is marked with these marks following: First, The Workman's Mark which made the Wares (which is usually the two first Letters of his Christian and Sir Name; and every Workman's Mark differs from others) the second is a Leopard's Head Crowned, the third is a Lion, the fourth is a single Letter (the Letter which is used this present year being (V) and whatsoever Plate or Small Wares, have these Marks on them, is not to be questioned but that it is Sterlin or Standard (that is as good as Money.)  
But there being several sorts of Small Wares, both in Gold and Silver, which cannot be Assayed and Marked at Goldsmiths-Hall, after it is finished; it is therefore sold with the private Workman's Mark: And to prevent Defrauds in this, All Workers in Gold and Silver, in London and its Suburbs, are required by Law to make known their Marks, to the Wardens of the Company of Goldsmiths, That one Workman may not strike a Mark that is like another Workman's; and that any persons which have Wares marked with the Workman's Marks only, may by addressing themselves to the Company of Goldsmiths (at their Hall in Foster-lane) find out the Makers of their Wares; and if the Wares which they have marked, be found worse than Standard; the Company of Goldsmiths will procure the aggrieved party Recompense, and punish the Workman. The Reader cannot but be satisfied of the excellency of this way of warranting Silver: but I shall show you how it's neglected to the Publicks great wrong. Although the Wardens of the Company of Goldsmiths, have power to search any Goldsmith's Shops and Houses, and carry away any Works which they shall make choice of to try them, whether they be Standard or not, and to fine the Owners, if they find them worse than Standard: yet the Workers and Sellers of Gold and Silver Wares, being so numerous, and dispersed in their Dwellings to all parts of the City and Subhurbs; it is not easy that all their Small Wares can be found out, by the Wardens of the Company to be tried; they being sold therefore upon the bare Workman's or Shopkeepers Credit, and they having the marking of these Wares themselves; there are these Evils that do follow it,  
1. Some of their Wares are not marked at all, though they may very well bear marking (whereby they are forfeited though they be Standard.) 2. Some of their Wares are marked with private marks, which are not inroulled at Goldsmiths-Hall: For some of them who have a Mark inroulled at Goldsmiths-Hall, will have another Mark not inroulled; which Mark they will set upon Adulterated Wares; and this Counterfeit Mark shall be so like the inroulled Mark, that it will not be known to be the unlawful Mark, by any that doth not know what Marks are inroulled, and what are not; for there is only this difference, As if PB, one over the other, is the Mark inroulled at Goldsmiths-Hall; then B P (one by the other) may be the Counterfeit Mark; or as if S, be the inroulled Mark, than I S, may be the Counterfeit Mark: or any other way, according to the private Workman's Device: So that these Marks cannot be known by the Common People, which are inroulled and which are not; neither can the Company of Goldsmiths, find out the Makers of bad Wares, by such Marks as are not inroulled in their Hall, except some of their Servants providentially know them. The great loss which comes to the Nation hereupon, I shall discover, which take as followeth. The Workmen therefore and Shopkeepers, which have no more honesty; agree together to make their Gold and Silver Wares, as much worse than Standard as they please; which in Gold Wares, such as Rings, Chains, Corral-Sockets, Bells, Bodkins; and almost all other small Wares in Gold, is worse than Standard, some 5 s. in the Ounce, some 10. s. in the Ounce, some 15 s. in the Ounce, some 1 l. in the Ounce, some 2 l. in the Ounce; which is half in half. And I may go on farther, for they do not stop there, but according to their own wills and pleasures, go on in their Adulterating Defrauds, as if there was neither Law nor Judges to punish them, but there is both; and that which is wanting, is chiefly Prosecutors. Now the greatness of which Adulterating Cheat, I shall show you in one Example of a Ring, about the usual or most common coursness: I find a Burial Ring by the Assay worse than Standard two Carracts, one Grain and three Quarters, which is in one Ounce 8 s. 11 d. 1 q. and it may be two-hundred of these Rings have been bought (or may hereafter be) by one party; which two hundred Rings may weigh twenty five Ounces, and the Buyer payeth 4 l. an Ounce (besides the making or fashion) which is the price of Standard: now reckon for the 25 Ounces (which is the supposed weight of the two hundred Rings) so many times 8. s. 11 d. 1 q. which the one Ring is worse than Standard; and it amounteth to 11 l. 3 s. 5. d. 1 q. so that if one party in one parcel of Burial Rings, be cheated so great a sum; what is the whole Nation cheated in Adulterated Wares? In Silver their practice is no better, for in most sorts of Small Wares (which would fill my sheet too innumerate) such as Boxes, Bodkins, Buttons, Buckles, Clasps, Corral-Sockets, or Garnishes, Chains, etc. is the like Adulteration used: the usual price they take for these is 5 s. the Ounce besides the making (or fashion) when upon the Assay, I have seldom found any more worth than 4 s. the Ounce, and some worth but 3 s. 6 d. the Ounce, some worth but 3 s. some worth but 2 s. 6 d. the Ounce, some worth but 2 s. and some no better than Brass Money; so that as some Brass Money is better than others, so is some Goldsmith's Wares. And as if these Adulterating of Gold and Silver were not enough, these Adulterating Goldsmiths, have farther added, to put clean Copper or Brass Clappers, into their Silver Bells, and Brass Wire into their Coral Sockets; and that no small quantity, sometimes half an Ounce, sometimes three quarters of an Ounce, or more, or less; as the Coral Socket will contain. Now the Reader may say to me, you have shown us our loss, but how shall we be helped; in which case I refer him to the Company of Goldsmiths, London; where any Adulterated Wares may be tried; and if you can evidence of whom you bought your Wares, the Company will procure you satisfaction, and punish the Goldsmith which wronged you; and this without your trouble or charge: But the Adulterating of Gold or Silver Wares, forfeits double their worth; and therefore any aggrieved party may proceed against the Goldsmith which has wronged him, by Action, Bill, Plaint, Information, or otherwise, wherein no Essoyn, Protection, or Wager of Law, shall be admitted for the Defendant. Stat. 18 Eliz. 15.  
And now, O my Country Men, who are greatly imposed upon and wronged, by dishonest Goldsmiths, and Traders in their Works, both in City and Country; you are to be advertised: That in the City of York, New castle upon Tine, Lincoln, Norwich, Bristol, Salisbury, and Coventry; it is ordained by the Stat. 2 Hen. 6.14. that every one shall have divers Touches, according to the Ordinance of the Mayors, Bailiffs, or Governors of the same Towns; and the Goldsmiths, in these Towns are to be ordered in the same manner as in London. And moreover, If any Goldsmith within the Realm of England; in any place where no Touch-Town is, shall make or sell worse Silver and Gold Wares than Money, or omit to mark it; they are answerable for it (as those in London) To conclude, I advise all Buyers and Wearers of Gold and Silver, both in City or Country; to see that their Plate have the London Touch, which is before described: and for such things as cannot have them; to take Bills under the Goldsmith's Hands, they buy off, that it is Standard Gold, and Sterling Silver.  
And that I may persuade these Adulterating Goldsmiths to reform, I thought good farther to add, That two Workmen of the Trade, upon their Deathbeds, had nothing lay more upon their Consciences, and broke their Soul's Peace, than the Adulterating of Gold and Silver; though they did it for the Goldsmiths, who would have such Work and not Standard.  
FINIS.