A PROFITABLE AND necessary Discourse, for the meeting with the bad Garbelling of Spices, used in these days. And against the Combination of the workmen of that office, contrary unto common good. Composed by divers Grocers of London, wherein are handled such principal matters, as followeth in the Table, before the book.  
Printed at London, by R. B. for Thomas Man, dwelling in Pater noster Row at the sign of the Talbot.   

To the Right Honourable Sir William Webbe Knight, Lord Mayor of London, and to the right Worshipful the Aldermen of the same City his brethren.  
BEcause the complaints of sundry of the retailing grocers of London, to the chief officers the guardians, and to the first men of that society, against the fact of bad garbling of spices, between them and the Merchants, hath in am of reformation taught many indigneties and wrought some indignation towards the complainants. Therefore no council was better (that despair of remedy amongst them, could then conceive or bring forth) then to fly to your most godly wisdom for such helps therein, as do bear an Anology and proportion correspondent to the mischiefs and diseases in the fact of garbling. Or if that do fail to follow the saying of the Poet Musaeus, the which is thus set forth: 
It is good sometime to sound in open street  
The wicked works which men do think to hide.  meaning that by publishing of some small pamphlet touching the same, such good may ensue, either the workemanne to grow better, or the buyer to be more wiser, in the office of garbling (a matter right Honourable and worshipful, full of rashness to break open a discourse, whereinto a man may more easily enter, then find the way out again.) But since that authority and power (which worketh by operation) to redress these defects, is as yet left, only in them which are the authors of them, we mean in the Garbeller and workmen. Our wit is such (which ought to work with council and discretion) to allow and advance this small treatise under your honours favour and protection, the effect whereof is to show the abuses done in that office, with the right use and motion thereof: wherein your wisdoms and Honour may be pleased, to excuse our boldness under this defence, that in great inconveniences, great Officers have not despised the meanest voices. Then shall our duties to the commonwealth be out of danger, and the same advantaged by your wont affection, to whatsoever concerneth common good, & by this our labour. In the which affection we beseech the Creator of all things, to assist your Lordship and worships with his holy spirit, and to give you the same for council and conduction in the service of her Majesty, this City, and to his glory, and your posterity for ever hereafter. Grocer's Hall in London.  
Your most humble the Retailors Grocers. London.   

To the discreet and virtuous Readers.  
IN discoursing with divers worshipful Merchants of the company of Grocers and others, upon the practices in garbling of spices in London, a thing to to the retaylors of such spices of no small importance: aswell for that thereby they are touched in honour and honesty, being enforced as it were to put to utterance corrupt spices, as in conscience & care to have reformation for such constraints: We speak our minds therein; not of things done this day; yesterdny, or the day before: but of things done long since by experience, and of the observation of the said practices, and of the corruption therein daily used, & of the reformation now required (the which many years more than some scores past was conceived and foreseen.) Therefore to bury the hatred grown, both between the seller and the buyer, we proposed a possible means to profit the merchant, satitfie all the retailers, and to assure the buyer and occupier of the goodness of such spiees without fraud. The means are grounded upon the true knowledge of the nature of garbling of spices, the which is not only the true sifting of the same, but the dividing of the good from the bad, and the putting of them up in their said divisions, and upon the due understanding of the difference of garbling used in time past, with the time present. And in that difference a just choice is to be made, and an ordinance to be given, for the Garbeller to follow, for the benefit of all, the which our intent and meaning is, with the consent of all, and in favour of thee gentle Reader to publish, to the end, the practices of garbling may be garbelled (we mean reform) and her Majesty and people of this realm be better served in such affairs. For whose satisfaction, we labour with hope, craving of thee the like utterance of friendship towards us, and to accept our meaning, if thou find not this discourse to be quallited to thy liking.  
Vale.   


The Table.  
1 WHy the Art of garbling was first invented & by whom. Folio. 1.  
2 The ancient divisions of spices used in London, fol. 3.  
3 The abuses now used in the said Art there. 11.  
4 How the danger of those abuses, extendeth aswell to the retailors Grocers, as to the merchant, and thereby the garbler in danger of question of his oath taken therein. 13.  
5 The abuses of the workmen, and the necessity of reformation thereof, and for whose sake it is to be done, fol. 17. and 19  
6 Who may reform these abuses in London, and the manner how to reform them, 23.  
7 The manner of true garbling, 31.  
8 The rate set and allowed by the magistrates, for the garbler to receive in his office, 71.  
9 The rate by himself advanced, and received, 71.  
10 The orders necessary to be made and kept, between the chief garbler, and his workmen, fol. 50.  
11 The brief abstract of the Acts of Common Council, made in London for garbling, in Anno xviii. of king Henry the eight, and in Anno. second of king Edward the sixth fol. 63.  
12 The oath thereupon appointed, for the said Garbeller. fol. 87    

Reformation for Garbelling.  

1 Herein is showed that king Henry the sixth did first give the office of Garbelling of spices in London, to the Mayor and Commonalty of the same.  
2 That the Merchants and Retailors Grocers, did devise the laws how the same should be garbelled for ever.  
3 What Garbelling is.  
Chap. 1.  
IF the care which the Ancient Romans had, to perform the judgement and decrees of their lawmakers be well weighed and observed: amongst the rest of great respect and honour, the obedience of Fabius Maximus to the ordinances of his son, is to be admired: who being a Magistrate and in place of judgement, and seeing his father a far off coming towards him on horse back (a thing forbidden amongst the Romans) he commanded his father to set foot on ground, the which the father obeyed, and embracing his son, made greater account of him, then if he had done otherwise. And on the other side, one Vestius was put to death because he arose not when the Tribune of the people passed before him, the which he with obedience and patience endured. And divers Citizens of Rome were disfranchised for breathing and yawning a little to loud, in the presence of the Censors: whereat they nothing repined. This we set forth, for that it should be remembered, that if the common breach of laws & decrees be permitted, then ensueth not only the contempt of the Magistrate, but also the very ruin of that, for whose cause such ordinances were advanced: a thing befallen to the subject of this matter now in hand; namely in the fact of Garbelling of spices. The necessity of cleansing and purifying whereof, in the time of the reign of king Henry the sixth was then debated, and the office of Garbelling was by the same king given to the Lord Maior & Commonalty of this 
The office of Garbelling was by K. henry the vi. first given to the Lord mayor and commonalty of london.  famous City of London, but in such wise, notwithstanding, that it is very apparent, that aswell the merchants owners of such spices, as the Grocer's retaylors of the same City, were called to give advice for the conceiving & creating of such ordinances therein, as might best tend to the benefit of the Merchant, the utterance and sale of the Grocer, and the goodness of the thing garbelled for the health of the people of this realm: upon the which ordinances the Art of garbling was pronounced to consist, it being an habit of working according to right, reason, and mechanical or a handicraft, the full knowledge whereof was partly gotten by use, at that time by Richard Hackdie and William 
Hackdie & Aunsell, first garbellers after the said gift.  Aunsell Citizens, and partly by instructions and reason, taught & showed by the merchants and Grocers then being, and was left to the execution of the said persons the officers aforesaid, the which advises, aswell of the said Merchants, Grocers, and of the said officers, are thus set forth.   

1 The divisions of Spices by the said parties, are particularly set down.  
2 The same to be at no time altered.  
Chap. 2.  
FOrsomuch as every thing hath his natural, proper and inward corruption, of which it is eaten and at the last consumeth 
Every thing hath his natural corruption, whereof at the last it is consumed.  and beginneth to spread itself in the best part to mar all, as rottenness in spices is their proper evil. And for that also, the same spices are also subject (as all other things are) to accidents, and thereby also may be destroyed before their natural overthrow, as bruises, water, dust, and age in spices. Therefore for the avoiding and curing of such natural corruption when it happeneth, & thoroughly to meet with all such hurtful accidents to such spices, being aliments and nutriments to restore and preserve the health of man, or to prevent some infirmity and diseases, ready to overthrow their good estate: We (say they as skilful physicians, preventing diseases and labouring in foreseen mischiefs, according to the causes whereon the effects of such corruption do depend) have ordained these divisions to be observed in the setting forth those spices, with their qualities by way of garbling and first of:  

Nutmegs.  
The operation whereof we mean not to set forth, being no part of our charge: only for the dividing of the good from the bad, we hold it necessary that they be divided into three sorts.  
The first & the best we call case nutmegs, the which are smooth, weighty, fair, & fullof oil.  
The second sort we call Bale, the which are also fair and great but somewhat wrinkled, and here and there oil in them, and declining to corruption.  
The third and last sort we term Rompes, so termed being wrinkled, bruised, ill coloured, and do want their oil, and thereby are become dry or rotten. The which sorts to be so severally put up.   

Pepper.  
If the same by some accident shall receive wet, or otherwise be evil conditioned: we think it meet to be sorted by itself and to be kept from the dry. Both which to be garbelled and cleansed from the dust and corrupt pepper, and to be uttered in one sort, in such manner as the same doth arise from the place it came, and notwithdrawing the head sort of pepper from the small.   

Maces and Cinnamon.  
We hold it best to garble and cleanse them into three sorts, to wit: Large, middle & petit.   

Ginger, Gauls, Rise and Erreus.  
That the same shall pass into two sorts, (viz) Large and petit.   

Cloves, Grains, Woormseed, Aniseed, Comminseed, Dates, Senie, and all other things garbellable.  
We likewise think it best to garble and cleanse them into one good sort from the dust and garbels, according to the nature of the thing itself.    

1 The proof that those divisions were by them so appointed to be made and kept.  
2 That the L. Maior and commonalty by two several acts of Common counsel have allowed the same.  
3 That the Garbeller thereby is excluded to make laws by himself therein, or to alter the same.  
4 That the common people have received the same as a custom, and do in every fair and market, procure troubles for putting spices to sale, garbelled to the contrary.  
Chap. 3.  
FOr the approving of which divisions, besides the ancient remembrance thereof, left with Master Blaze Saunders late garbellor, the same may plainly appear in this. That in Flaunders, Merchants before then, and long since, brought from Antwerp, Brudges and Roan, their Nutmegs and other spices in such condition and sorts as is beforesaid, with a seal of the figure of the right hand upon every vessel or bag of case nutmegs and other spices in such condition and sorts as is aforesaid. And on their bail Nutmegs, a hand with a bar overthwart, and the other sort without mark. And in such sorts the same were bought and sold, as by an act of Common council, holden by your predecessors it may appear in Anno. 4. of K. Henry the viii. To the which divisions, the Merchant, Retailor, and Garbeller (say they) shall hold themselves contented without alteration; unless there shall be cause of correction of those sorts, upon search of them by the Garbellor in London: as also by another act of Common counsel made in An. 18. of K. Henry the eight, it is set forth: the which may appear at the end of this present discourse. The filth and dust of which said spices, were held unwholesome and not vendible but to be rejected as unserviceable: your predecessors then were moved with those reasons, to allow and confirm those divisions as reasonable and full of equity between the merchant and the retailors, and were desirous that the same should also remain and abide, for the avoiding of deceit or loss of the common people, who have in such measure noted and felt the benefit of the said divisions, that now in open fairs and places corporate, they do daily procure the spices sorted to the contrary, to be seized on as goods forfeited, and not garbelled as they ought to be; to the great trouble of the retaylors, and notable detriment. Upon these and such like beginnings, and by the acts of Common council ensuing, the fact of garbling 

Covetousness doth work confusion of all right.  
The fact of garbling a bond of unity between the merchant and the grocers.   hath had continuance, until now of late that covetousness or ignorance in the principal officer, hath bred the change and overthrow of the politic devise of this Art. These our predecessors also thought the fact of garbling (as is before appointed) to be a bond of great unity, for the retailors with the merchants, and of no less service for the Commonwealth: and in that sense, they all (by the humble petition of the garbler) agreed, that it should be enacted by a common council therefore especially made, that he might visit the garbling of Antwerp and Brudges, only to refine if need were, but not to alter their said divisions: and that the Merchants and retailors should not afterwards alter their sorts of garbelled spices, but put the same to sale, in such wise as the same spices were garbelled (in such manner as is by the premises justly to be inferred) and not before they were so garbelled or refined, upon a penalty therein expressed; and to be accounted as an enemy to that form, appointed therein for common good, as we before have remembered, for the observation of which indifferency, 
There is but one way to goodness.  the said officer taketh his corporal oath. And forsomuch as the fact of garbling cannot be good, but after one sort, but to the evil it may be many ways done: as to hit a white, there is but one way, but to miss it there are many ways. We say as commonly it is said, that that thing is rightly done, which is done to the order and institution of good policy. And for such we esteem those divisions to be, and that they are the only way of clean garbling, for the 
The Merchant feeleth the heart by the garbellers presence in his house.  common wealth, whereon that art dependeth, and for whose sake the Merchant is contented to make the Garbeller the master of his merchandise for the time, (the inconveniences whereof he best feeleth, but least knoweth) and the retailer is appointed his instrument to put the same to sale, according to the divisions so made bought and sold, whereby it is made very apparent to your wisdoms, that the sovereignty of that and every other good order, is the sure foundation thereof, with the union and bond of all the particulars, for whose cause the same was conceived, made and advanced, and herein as in all other cases, if every man should have no other respect but to his own, their unity would soon be dissolved.   

Chap. 4.  
1. The griefs of the Retailors grocers.  
2. What it is they do require of the Lord Maior and Aldermen.  
But to resume & to continue the speech by us already begun, of the abuse of this art. We say, that injury is offered to those goods of Merchants, and by the sale of those goods, to the honour and person of the seller: the which injury is not done by force, for force may be repelled by force, but by fraud, and by this fraud an injustice passeth to all, the which is to be removed by reformation. And herein we are not called to do, but to demand justice, the which we require, even no further, then that those laws of your predecessors, made as touching the fact of Garbelling may be kept and obeyed by those workmen, who are parties thereunto: the which belongeth to your offices to see performed. And under this obedience, is contained 
The garbler is not to make laws at his pleasure, nor to place nor displace any without consent of the l. maior  that moderation which the officer in this Art of garbling, aught to observe, namely, that he must not of his own motion direct such manner of Garbelling as himself pleaseth, nor abuse the manner of garbling first used; nor by the same abuse, take upon him any part of the magistrates office, in judging and making forfeit what he liketh. It is for the commonwealths sake (whom he may thank) that he cometh into the merchants doors: & therefore it is meet for him to speak, say, and do all things for the preservation thereof by his faculty, as it was first appointed by your predecessors, who were as you are, armed with power, to enforce his obedience to these their ordinances, or to punish the contrary, or to remove him. But forsomuch as covetousness, wherewith a man being surprised, shall want knowledge how to command himself, may entice him to fall from all ancient orders, and to practise strange divisions, as well of spices, as of profit and honesty, the which are never separated in matters of good quality; for nothing is just nor profitable if not honest: and 
Nothing is profitable that is not honest  he that maketh a division of them, by setting forth and separating his actions in this wise, saying; this deed is honest, but that deed is profitable for me, he cannot be without fraud: but will rend a sunder all equity ordained by public power. Therefore we have set forth the abuses now offered, and wherein the ancient divisions are not observed, and how these divisions now used, bringeth detriment to the Merchant and loss to the retaylors, as we have taken in hand, being the second point by us set down in the premises of this discourse, and to show wherein the ancient order is observed though corruptly, and why the garbler of late sued to have his manner of garbling, with further authority to be allowed to him, by act of Common council.   

Chap. 5.  
1 The particular abuses of the Garbeller in this office, aswell in the cleansing and dividing of spices, as in the putting up of the same.  
2 By those abuses, he will convert great benefit either to the Merchant or to the retailer at his pleasure▪ the which could not happen, if the ancient orders were kept.  

Hast makes waist.  ANd first in Nutmegs, for expedition and haste (the first point of his gain) though it make waste to all others. He would and oftentimes doth draw them into one sort, casting out some of the Rompes, and by that one sort he may upon occasion of bribes, displeasure or ignorance, convert the same sometimes to the benefit of the Marchante, and otherwhiles to the grocer retailor, as is hereafter declared: but to whomsoever it is, the common people have the harm thereby, and the retailor is very often discredited: and by these means, contentions are, may be, and have been moved, between the merchant, seller, and buyer. For by this workmanship this fraud is maintained: 
Nutmegs falsely packed up.  that on the top of his vessel or bag, there are bestowed nutmegs of fair condition, and in the bottom or a foot downwards, there are found Nutmegs not so good, by vi. viii. and xii. pence in the pound: And to the contrary when he list, the worst are laid uppermost, and in such sort, that the retailer must make sale thereof upon forfeiture of the same; a thing which could not happen by the ancient divisions, for thereby the best are set forth by itself, by the name of case, being such as is aforesaid, full of oil, fair and of good perfection, and more permanent and lasting than others, and is known by his mark. The next sort being called bail, is not half so oily as the case, but declining and apt to corruption, and are not to be put up among the best, for that it will disgrace them speedily, and in short time change into a Rompe: the which matter common and daily experience proveth, the which by a man skilful, and a cunning Garbeller may easily be drawn from the best, but not by the unskilful; so that the remainder being rompes are left to themselves. The which we wish, for that the same is a spice of choice and prize, that the garbling and putting up thereof, were committed to men of better judgement and skill, as by the garbellers own petition it is required, and not to those who now are artificers therein, for that they know not how, or maliciously will not divide the same as they ought to be, being a matter of great importance and of regard. Hereby and by the sequel, you may see the abuses, and easily discern the differences of his garbling to one sort (the which is no garbling, but a practice tending to abuses as is hereafter proved) & the ancient divisions, & herewithal you may 
The merchant doth forfeit his wares by the manner of garbling now used.  note the danger (if we may call it a danger) that by this practice of the dividing of Nutmegs into one sort, the merchant and the retailer present and to come hereafter, may and do incur by the said Act of common council, made An. 18. of king Henry the viii, the said division being contrary to the ancient custom: for where it is said, that no merchant nor other, do sell in gross or retail within the City of London, any manner of spices before it be garbelled, tried, and made clean by the officer, as of old time accustomed: whereby it may or shall evidently appear to the buyers thereof, to be good perfect, clean and wholesome, upon pain of forfeiture of the same spices so sold. The which matter is not nor can be performed in this one sort of dividing; but to make it a danger (as we take it) the garbler hath humbly besought 
The practice of the garbler is to entrap the Merchant.  your honour and worships of late, to give him power by order and act of common council, to seize upon all such wares and spices, as are made forfeitable by the same act, and other acts since made, the which authority (he saith) is wanting in the same Acts. This being considered, we cannot sufficiently marvel, what hath moved him to enter into so preposterous a course; for from this abuse in nutmegs, he hath fallen further to abuse the ancient sort and manner of garbling of  

Pepper.  
The wet and dry pepper are to us the retaylors sold and mingled together, and in that sort by him garbelled, nay rather ungarbelled; but the same in that wise, we are enjoined to put to sale, whereby we are hindered and the people deceived, and the Merchants still in danger of the statutes before mentioned, and the head or greatest pepper of both wet and dry are taken apart, & mingled with other sorts, from whence it was not taken, and in brief he maketh divisions therein as himself list, and contrary to the ancient order, the which was, as is aforesaid, but in one sort the dry pepper by itself▪ without substracting the greatest from the same, and the wet pepper by itself, the difference being noted by the seal thereon, the which was well known to our predecessors. But hereby the common people are much abused, being constrained to buy the small from the great, and the wet with the dry: the one tainted and corrupted with salt water, and unwholesome and altered in colour, and the best thereby made worse.   

Maces and Cinnamon.  
He observeth the ancient order of dividing them into three sorts, but in such wise, that by the packing and putting up of the same, no such indifferency is used, but that by his oath he may be called in question therein.   

Ginger, Gauls, Rise and Erreus.  
He likewise observeth the ancient manner of passing them into two sorts.   

Cloves, Grains, Woormseed, Aniseed, Comminseed, Dates, Senie, and all other things garbellable.  
He sorteth them into one sort, from the dust and garbels but corruptly: the rather for that in all he reserveth this power to himself, to disgvize the Merchant or the retailer, for by separating the great from the small, he may lay the one or the other so upwards or downwards that if his favour be not bought, nor craved, he may convert the benefit which way himself listeth, either to the merchant or to the retailer. And forsomuch as the substance of our grief consisteth in the understanding of these abuses and imperfections, therefore we may with more safety, and without the imputation of curiosity enter thereinto; otherwise we might be thought curious, in seeking after other men's faults (a matter from which wise men will divert and quench the same) for as sometime, it is good to cease to inquire after lawful things, as an exercise and practise of justice: so it is likewise expedient, sometime to leave untaken that which a man may lawfully take, whereby to restrain the desire of unlawful taking. But by 
Profitable adversaries to the Garbeller.  this our curiosity, we wish to be more profitable to the adversary of our good then to ourselves, by showing him of what he is to beware, and what to correct. And first to prove these abuses to be such in this workman, whom we have regarded as the principal body (the which being infected, the members his ministers cannot do their duty.) We say, that albeit he promiseth, that he will well and lawfully behave himself in the office of Garbelling, without any partiality, taking reasonably; and that after he hath packed up the goods by him garbelled, he will set thereon a mark, that the common wayer may take knowledge thereof: yet in these matters, and in many other things appertaining to that office, he departeth from his said promise in behaving himself, as in this Chapter following it appeareth.    

Chap. 6.  
1 Whereas the principal Garbeller useth divers practices, tending to the slander of the office, therefore herein are set forth some of the same practices  
2 The proofs thereof are set forth by a petition of the workmen of the said office, which remaineth with the body of this society.  
FOrsomuch as the Garbeller affirmeth, that this manner of garbling is a lawful manner of garbling: therein we (as our predecessors did) do not repute it lawful garbling, to put wet and dry pepper together: a thing by him used.  
Item, To give licence to any man to buy spices garbellable, and to licence one and not another, to carry the same hither and thither ungarbelled, under his passing seal, is not lawful; a matter very notorious and entertaineth suspicion of much evil.  
Item, to arrest some merchants, and not other some for keeping their goods ungarbelled, longer than the Act of Common council appointeth, is (so far as he can allow) partiality.  
Item, To take money of merchants before their goods be garbelled, and to take more money of one then of another for garbling of like commodity, is partiality: likewise to take more money, then by the act of common council is limited, is unlawful.  
Item, To garble Nutmegs into case & bail according to the ancient custom in one place, and not in another, is partiality.  
Item, By skill and policy, to hinder the sale of merchants in their goods, requireth disfranchisement, the which may arise, by putting Nutmegs into one sort together in one place, and to hinder the sale of the like in another place, he will divide them into two sorts, wherein the retailer, so long as he may find them so divided, will never look to him with one sort: and hereby oftentimes, the Merchant is constrained to regarbell them. But to wade further into these or other particularities of his proceed were too tedious; & are not herein for divers good causes to be discovered: by these it is evident, that the Art of garbling is not lawfully used, but by him unlawfully abused, and the skilful ruling or governing of a company is to begin in himself: but the head being such, let us behold the proceedings of his ministers.   

Chap. 7.  
1 divers notable abuses done by the workmen under the said garbler.  
2 They can deceive both Merchant and grocer, and their leader also.  
3 The Merchants may save 2000 pounds yearly, if the ancient manner of garbling were observed.  
NOt long since, a merchant had a commodity wherein the workmen garbellers laboured, by the space of xiiii. days: the which commodity, for that it was bought or at the least agreed for, before the garbling thereof, by certain retailors, the Merchant promised his reward to these ministers, the retaylors also promised their reward, to have the same well and duly garbelled: but secretly and underhand, one of the said ministers required of one of the retaylors xx. shillings, promising therefore to leave good garble, if he bought the same garble: the 
The deceiver is deceived.  retailer made his countenance to gratify this friendship, but he would not part with any of the money required, until he saw this promise to succeed; in this hope these garbellers laboured to make good garble until the end, and the retailer made haste to buy this garbel at a good prize, hoping to have had store of good stuff in the same; and also to retain his promised reward: the which by delays these garbellers suspected. And thereupon one of them maketh suit to the merchant that he might buy the said garble, he had his answer, that he came not in time, it was sold to the retailer: to this the said workman and his consorts gave countenance of their good liking, but withal to cover their abuse, and to revenge the breach of the retailers' promise, one of them closeth with the Merchant, and saith: Sir you promised us a reward to take pains in this commodity, for the true garbling thereof, the which is performed on our part, but if you will give us xx. s. the garble shall be again cast over, and thereby we doubt not, but to profit you very much. Why saith the Merchant, my masters you know my mind, they that pleasure me, to them I will not be ungrateful.  
Hear 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by regarbling of the garble, the merchant saved v. pound, or more in money; their reward was given, and the garble is packed up, the which the retailer with some gladness and cost received, knowing nothing of the regarbling thereof, and in am of his reward, giveth few and cheap words of thanks to the Garbellors; who commending the same in derision, leaveth the same to his further and gentle consideration. By this (being one of the least of their bad practices) your Lordship and worships may see the undue regard, the said Garbeller and workmen do bear in these affairs to their duties, the rather for that there is as yet, no good law appointed to hold them thereunto: by these also we inform ourselves (and so some of us have 
This loss may be compared to the Echo which cannot be found but yet is sensibly heard & known.  heard it delivered, by the mouth of some of those ministers) that the merchants in this city (if reformation were herein had by an expert garbler) might save 2000 pounds yearly, whereof in this wise they are deceitfully defrauded, besides the harms the retailer and the common people do sustain by their bad practices, a great impiety in the sufferance thereof, the rather for that under the colour of garbling, for the health and wealth of the people, the proper owner of such goods, doth receive abuse within his own doors. Truly the question why every such proprietary of such goods, may not cleanse the same, aswell as to have an officer thereof, hath weighty reasons on both sides, but it is out of our purpose to dispute thereof.  
And for further proof of the second point of our determination; the which is, that the divisions now used, are contrary to the causes, for the which the said Act was conceived. We say as is beforesaid, That by the impunity of these offences; and from thence many shifts and sleights are ranged and derived, the which by the weakness and ignorance of the principal garbler, is fostered in the members his workmen, chiefly by the small account which is made of the accomplishment of the ancient manner of garbling, the which being misregarded, these members (good fellows, right Honourable, that will make you to believe that flies do carry pyke-staves, in those countries from whence these spices do come) are comforted, contrary to the form and fashion of this Art, in the reach of the said principal officer, and before his face, strangely and notably to defraud him of his duty, and corrupt their whole affairs, to the prejudice of the retaylors, but chiefly of the Merchants; & amongst many others, this one we think meet to have it remembered for his avail.  
A Merchant hath a commodity of Cloves, Maces, Wormseed, or such like to be garbelled, the quantity is weighed, or otherwise known to this head garbler, and found to be some 600. pound weight, it being cleansed, the good of some one of these commodities, ariseth to 300. or 400. pound weight, from which quantity, these members being confederates with the merchants man (who maketh it no sin to deceive the deceiver) withdraweth the third or half, having ready the like weight of old garble. Now this head garbler, for the levying of his duty, revisiteth the weight aforesaid; then to disguise him, they will thrust the old and new garble together to hold weight, and thereby measure and levy his duty, according to the good remaining: and the rest of his duty is good prize to them, in which overreach, the sealer likewise in his office is as handsomely disguised: the manner how is unfit here to be set down.   

Chap. 8.  
1 The notable and intolerable devices of these workmen, to beguile the Merchant.  
2 The means how to reform them.  
THese inconveniences as is most apparent, may well be prevented, by following the ancient manner of Garbelling, associating the same with the petitions ensuing, all tending to one uniform order in garbling, to the benefit of all: for by dissorting of the said spices from the ancient divisions; the said workmen in this office, to the great prejudice of all parties, take liberty to pack the commodity up very corruptly, and will give such secret marks, either by a knot made on the third, in the bag made up, or by 
A bad practice of the workmen against the merchant.  a spot of Ink, that being confederate with another of their friends, who shall come to buy the same of the merchant, may thereby know how much or how deep, the best sort do lie under the second, or worst sort, the which is laid upon purpose upon the top of the bag, & hereby a man of their intelligence, shall take up the best commodity, and leave the worst to the retailer; yea and pay less for the same, then for the remainder: the merchant believing that he holdeth the best sorts still, by reason that the best of his commodities is laid uppermost. Wherein we inform ourselves, that the merchant loseth v. pound in the hundredth weight, by their differences in garbling and putting up of the same. The loss runneth not to the benefit of the retaylors, but by the bad handling thereof, his loss likewise ensueth. Besides we take that regarbling is intolerable, and falleth out as evil to the retailor, as filching of the best falleth out to the Merchant, albeit the weight be made up by a little old garbel, bought of purpose (a matter if it be often used, for the merchant to look unto) all which considered, with many more wherein every one of us have a sufficient feeling thereof in himself by his own harm. We say that the principal officer, may think that these abuses are contrary to the meaning of the first erection of garbling, and that the good of the Commonwealth herein, is the law of this 
Note.  Art: and that he nor his, can commit a fault, nor yet rest from their duties without the hurt of those, whose health and benefit is chiefly considered in this art, the which is but a division of the good from the bad spices, and not to hinder the merchants sale or his distribution thereof, or the retailers' detriment by sleights and practices of their own inventions, and further if he had reason of the alteration of any of these ancient ordinances; if these were evil established, and could obtain such as are agreeing with themselves: yet in reason he is to bring, aswell the Merchant as the retailer, in heart and mind to help the estate thereof, and he is not of his own motion, to intermeddle in the reformation thereof, it being not his private affairs: and they all are to show it to the superior, whom we know and take you to be, whose hands are unbound, to dispose and to order these affairs, being more public than private.  
But to grow brief in this matter alleged, and to set forth some resolutions in such questions as may arise herein. And first, where it is by some merchants; Ignorant in the quality of garble and spices (the which sometime falleth 
Question.  into their hands that expect not for them) alleged, that if the ancient divisions should be used, that then they should sell the best, and be constrained to keep the other sorts: as in Nutmegs if they be divided into case and bail; the case may be sold and the Bail shall remain; And therefore they like the same to be done into one sort. Hereunto we say, and will amend his account in this manner: That if the said marchante have three bags 
Answer.  of Nutmegs of some 600. weight, first suppose that all the rompes be taken out, and that the rest do way 400. weight, being made into one sort, worth to be sold at v. shillings the pound, it ariseth to the some of 100 pound, the which if afterwards they be divided into case and bail, the case doth arise to 250 pound 
The merchant doth not know many times what he doth sell.  weight, being worth six shillings the pound, amounteth to 75. pound, and 150. weight of bail remaining, being worth iiii. shillings the pound, ariseth to 30. pound, the whole sum being 105. pound. So that it appeareth, that the merchants gain is greater by these divisions, then by one sort. And it cannot be denied, but the retailer shall know better hereby what he buyeth then otherwise: and the Merchant what he selleth, being disguise as is aforesaid, and 
Note.  as is hereafter set forth. And thus much the officer herein could tell the Merchant; with this, that he findeth upon the sight of the nutmegs, now sent from beyond the seas, that their factors in those parts care not, if the best sort of Nutmegs be picked out from the second sort, the which they account will serve well enough in London, to draw into one sort; but he commendeth and coloureth these evils with a commendable title of expedition, in that one sort is quickly done: wherein his gain is singular, as thus.  
He appointeth three men, being hired at xii. pence the day a piece, to garble the said 600. weight of nurmegs into one sort, he taketh as his due xvi. shillings. These three men can draw those into that sort in half a day, and do receive xviii. pence for their labour, so his gain is clear xiiii. shillings vi. pence, the which if they were duly garbelled would ask three days work, the labour whereof ariseth to nine. s. wherein it plainly appeareth, that by passing this 600. weight into one sort, he gaineth xiiii. shillings six pence, in half a day, and by keeping the ancient 
The good of the commonwealth is the law of true garbling.  divisions, he gaineth but six shil. in three days, the which is the cause of his expedition: without care either to the welfare of the Merchant, retailer, or to the people into whose hands the same do pass. But we refer it to your Honourable consideration, to judge what gain this expedition bringeth in six days, when he hath xiiii. shillings six pence, in a forenoon. The which being by his workmen well noted for recreation sake, and to try the judgement of the said principal garbler for a Dilemma in this expedition, they will sometime get a heap of small stones and lay them by their work, and themselves will play the good fellows and let all alone: wherewith if any discontentment do grow by the master garbler for expedition, than they do show these stones, and ask him if that be no labour to pick them out, and thereby these poor men sometime do gain a days labour or two. Wherein for that these workmen have of themselves found out and required certain orders to be kept among themselves, and accordingly have made their request to the said officer, the which is correspondent to the matter by us required, therefore we have caused the same their orders to be herein set forth, to the end, that the said chief garbler may be enjoined to allow thereof, as a mean and for a principal correction of their former abuses and conversation, by the repetition whereof, these persons our friends will be angered (as is very like.)  
But it is not material, so that they be bettered, 
Anger better to be tolerated than vice.  and for that purpose, we are their friends, and anger is better to be tolerated then vice, or such inconveniences as are aforesaid. But forsomuch as reprehension will breed but small reformation herein: we for that we know that your intent is to embrace the cause that runneth to the avail of the commonwealth, and to suppress the contrary, do sue to your lordship, that by way of your decree, confirmed by Act of Common council, it may be perpetually and irrevokeablie ordained, that the ancient and first ordinances aforesaid, may be observed and kept, and all other exercise of Garbelling to be abolished. And that insomuch as the said workmen therein, are fallen from their true labour, and by negligence of their governor, do falsify their works, to the hurt of many, partly for want of a reasonable sallerie, the which may be redressed, if the orders by themselves contrived and herein set forth may be granted, being such in our opinions, as do tend to public profit, aswell as to the private gain of the said office. That the same their ordinances may likewise be ratified with this.  

He requireth to use men of skill, but he will unskilfully use them.  That none do work, inthe said office, but able men and such as have skill, as the Garbeller himself, by his petition requireth, and to be by your Honourable assent first allowed.  
And further, for that the envy of their doings hath exposed and made the Retaylor; subject to many mislikinges with the people, who do buy the said spices (for an ease in this evil) it may also please you, to give your assent for the publication and confirmation of these ordinances also ensuing; whereby neither the Merchants, Retaylors, nor Grocers, being Chapmen abroad, nor common people may re-enter into any fear, to be abused by the enterprises of these needy workmen, being no Winterlinges nor colde-hanlers, of and in the Art of garbling: wherein as we have 
The remedies in the●… evils.  noted the mischief, so we have found out the remedy, by this necessary path, being accompanied with the ancient order, the which hitherto hath been broken up and disturbed, by the mysse-regarde of the first and chief Garbeller, whose practice hath been and is (more & more) under sundry pretences to abase the credit and authority of those ancient divisions of spices, and to gain partakers to overthrow all that stand in his way, by him taken to overreach the absolute power of handling the said office in London, to him given by your honours predecessors, as he doth by his garbling in other places, by force of her majesties letters patents to his own purposes: and hath endeavoured to possess them diversly and their favours, to the end aforesaid, and hath presumed to make laws in some cases, and in other cases he craveth the same to be established by an act of common council. And that also it may be ordained that his ministers and workmen under him, may take their oath to observe the same to their uttermost, the which for that they be not contrary nor prejudicial to the order of the ancient manner of garbling, but only do tend to this end, that we may have and receive our spices duly divided and so packed up, or else that we may compass our remedy, if those ancient divisions should be falsified or corrupted.  
We therefore have particularly set forth the true uniformity in garbling of every spice in his kind, for the more better and plain directing of the said workmen, and all other therein. And that in case in the execution of these ordinances and labour, the said principal officer shall not receive a sufficient fee, upon every thing garbelled, that then his duty may be increased, according to such judgement as himself heretofore hath required; especially, if the amendment of his rate in the things required as to little, may not be defaulcked out of things, that he doth garble, for which he hath too much, as is hereafter declared.   

Chap. 9  
1 The true manner of Garbelling of every particular spice, and of their divisions.  
2 That by the marks herein set forth, every sort may be known with the party who put them up, and the time.  
3 The which manner of Garbelling the Grocers do sue, to have confirmed, and expressly set forth, by act of common council.  
PEpper of all Spices ought to be garbelled in the self-same nature it first came in, whether case, calico, half bar wet or dry, the Garbeller ought not to alter the quality thereof, for fear of deceit; and to garble it well, it ought to be thus handled by a workman of skill. First the dust must be sifted through a siue, that aught to have such holes, that not only the dust but also the gravel must go through: that being done, it ought also to pass through another sieve, of such holes that they may be all equal, to the end that the stalks of the said pepper, may be seperatcd from the good pepper: that being done, there remaineth then nothing, but that the garbler do fan out all the light pepper, from the said good pepper. And forsomuch as it is impossible for the garbler (if he respect expedition) so to fan, but that he shall throw out much small, hard, wrinkled pepper that is good, Therefore he ought to regarble the said light pepper again. And that which he findeth to be sound, although it be small, yet he ought to put the same into the good pepper, and so to mingle it, that he deceive neither the merchant, nor Grocer, for in such a case as this is, many times it resteth in the disposition of the Garbeller, to please or displease as is before recited. If he should mingle upon the top, or within a little from the top it would hinder the sale of the pepper, peradventure two pence in a pound: again if it be mingled in the midst, or in the bottom, so far from the sight of the Grocer, that he is not able to discern the same, then is he hindered many times two pence in a pound. And therefore to prevent this fault and such like in many other spices, which may be so garbled and mingled together, that the one or the other shall be mightily deceived. We therefore have thought it good, to devise a mark for the workman, that doth garble and put up merchants spices: that when he hath made up his work, the same mark with his name, may be set upon the top of the bag, or other vessel; showing thereby the division and sort therein contained, and the goodness thereof (notwithstanding the seal of the garbler to be used at his pleasure) the which mark may pass with Bonus, melior, optimus, according to the thing garbelled, as thus for an example.  
✚ HORTON. the 26 of March Ano 1592.  
Pepper. bo.  
✚ HUXSLEY. the 2 of April Ano 1592.  
Pepper. me.  
✚ NEALE the 7. of july. Anno. 1592.  
Pepper op.  
✚ HAMBLETON the 16 of September Anᵒ 1592.  
Maces bo.  
✚ DENSHEIRE the 8 of December Anon 1592.  
Maces. me.  
✚ WRIGHT the 12 of October Anno 1592.  
Maces op.  
✚ NUTTINGE the 30 of August Anᵒ 1592.  
cinnamon bo.  
✚ FREEMAN the 3 of june Anno 1592.  
cinnamon me.  
✚ BOMER the 9 of may Anno 1592.  
cinnamon. op.  

A fit remedy hereby if the retailer or merchant be at any time deceived.  The which marks may be printed in paper, and every of the said workmen to carry his own mark.  

Cloves.  
Are a sweet spice, and profitable to garble, 
The small clove as good as the great.  and in them there is no great cunning to be showed by the workmen, but to garble them clean, by picking them upon a Table, and after that the dust is sifted out, the small clove is as good as the biggest, and therefore there can come no great hurt to the Merchant or grocer, if the smallest be put either in the top, bottom or midst: only this there resteth upon the skill of the sworn garbler, to certify by his mark whether they be wet or dry, that is so put up.   

Maces.  
Are a spice that ought to be divided by the Garbeller, into three several divisions, viz: large, middle, and petit, and to perform this matter, he ought to have a sieve of a reasonable 
These sives and such like are to be provided by a man of judgement & skill, that hath been trained up in garbling  scantling to sift the middle from the large, and likewise a sieve fit for the purpose to take the dust from the petit. This being done, the shells, nuts, feminine Maces, and such like stuff being taken out, their resteth a kind of honesty in the sworn garbler, that putteth them up into the Barrel, bag, or hogeshed, to see whether the large maces be all of one like goodness, if the one half or part of them be brighter than the other, by twelve pence or two shillings in the pound, and if two sorts of maces be mingled together in the merchants house before the garbler do come unto the owner thereof, or otherwise by himself at the request of the merchant: then in such cases as this is, he ought to put on his mark according to the goodness thereof. This course being once taken, it will little prevail the merchant to deceive the Grocer, by putting on bright Maces upon the top of his vessel; again, by a true mark the merchant shall be relieved although they do appear worst in sight, upon the view of the grocer.   

Cinnamon.  
Also is a spice to be divided into three several sorts, viz: Large, middle, and petit, in this kind of Spice there is no great skill to be used, only this: that the Garbeller that shall garble it, aught to see that amongst the large Cinnamon, 
Cinnamon black, having taken salt water loseth his substance, & otherwise it may be good.  there be no middle Cinnamon, viz: Cinnamon unpiped, neither yet any great gouty sticks or otherwise black, which if he find any, he ought to break them in pieces, and to put every stick in his right place, the middle cinnamon which shall come from the large, aught to be so handled, that the garbler deal not partially between the marchante and the grocer; their aught nothing to be taken from that sort, but so much petit as will pass through a ginger sieve, that being done, the dust with the straws are to be taken from it, by fanning by a workman of skill. And forsomuch as there are divers sorts of Cinnamon of sundry goodness, therefore the skilful Garbeller, aught to have this special regard, that is, that he after the garbling of any such sort, do set on a just and true mark, aswell profitable to the merchant as to the Grocer.   

Nutmegs.  
Are a spice that are to be divided into three sorts, viz. Case, Bail, and Rompes: and without a garbler of judgement and skill have the handling thereof, they cannot be truly garbelled as they ought to be, for the benefit of the Merchant, and all those that shall buy them. And therefore to perform this true garbling, they must be sorted and divided out, every one from the other according to their goodness, the case nutmegs must be full of oil, the bail nutmegs likewise must contain so much oil in him, that if he be forced between the finger & the thumb, and will not hold, he is then to be cast among the Rompes: and for expedition, the workman must sift the dust and pieces from the Rompes and other nutmegs before they divide them, and that workman that taketh the charge of their making up, aught to set a just and a true mark upon the top of the bag, answerable to their goodness; to the end that the Grocer may know what he buyeth, and with out this order be followed, the merchant shall not justly know what he selleth, nor the Grocer what he buyeth.   

Ginger.  
Likewise, is a spice that is to be divided into two sorts, viz. large and petit: in this spice there is no great skill to be used, considering now the manner of his garbling. Ginger garbelled at Antwerp, or otherwise ungarbled from by south: the manner of dividing is all one, for by a sieve appointed for the purpose ginger is sifted, at the will and pleasure of him that taketh the sieve in hand, and assoon falleth the good through as 
Note.  the bad, and thereby it lieth in the power of the garbler, to please or displease whom he will for a reward. In this kind of spice there is no certainty in garbling; for one while the sieve is too great, and another while too little, but between too great and too little, it cannot be truly garbelled: but after the manner of his garbling, the one sort being taken from the other, with a few stones or straws or other filth therein contained, it is become clean, good, & wholesome for man's body.  
But the manner to handle the same, is to sift out the dust and lay the ginger upon a table and to pick the same by hand, viz: the large from the small, and every race of Ginger be it great or 
The true garbling of ginger, is to pick it by hand upon a table.  small having substance in it, is to be termed large: and contrariwise, every race being long or broad wanting substance, is to be accounted of as petit. This course in garbling of ginger, by a sworn garbler being performed, the merchant shall benefit more than heretofore he hath done, by five pound uphon the hundredth, as hath been proved. And the retailing grocer shall be no more deceived; and the garbler shall have his fee (no doubt) answerable to his pains taking.   

Gauls.  
Gauls are a commodity for another manner of purpose then for man's sustenance, they serve for Dyer's, and otherwise to be used, yet notwithstanding therc is under a pretenced colour of dividing, some care had for the garbling of them, but not in such manner & form as they ought to be; expedition in the garbler is the overthrow of the ancient divisions, as it may appear in the dividing of these Gauls & other spices. These are divided into two sorts, but in such manner and order, that it resteth in the disposition of the Garbeller whom he will please or displease, no uniformity in the garbling of them is used at any time; but according to the smallness of the gall, so is there a sieve appointed, nay rather we should have said according to the greatness of the owner of them, so is friendship offered. But now to speak of their true manner of garbling, there ought to be a sieve appointed for the purpose, and the skilful sworn garbler ought to have the handling thereof, to sift and divide as the sieve will give him leave: this being done, there resteth then nothing, but to take out the stones, sticks, oak apples, and such like, and then they are clean.   

Rise.  
Rise is a grain good for man's body, and is to be divided into two sorts, viz, large and petite. This commodity hath need of an honest, skilful, and a sworn garbler, to sift and fan, and otherwise to sort and divide the bad Rise from the good, with such judgement and skill, that all the good and sweet Rise may be known from the bad and musty, and that by the mark he shall set on, and without a just and a true mark, all men may be deceived. For the rise many times may and are oily, musty, 
Corrupted rice.  and full of worms. There is no way better to reform what hath been amissc in the garbling of this Rise, than first to appoint a sieve of a true scantling, to the end to sort and divide as is abovesaid.   

Annyseedes.  
Are a commodity that for the most part come filthy and full of dust and had need of skilful garbellers, otherwise through the foulness of the work, there passeth many good seeds through their sieve which are many times left among the bad to the great loss and hindrance of the grocer. To set forth the manner of their divisions as they ought to be, is first to sift them clean from the stalks and other filth: that being done there resteth behind the greatest labour which must be performed by fanning. And for that the labour thereto belonging is painful to the workmen, and nothing gainful; therefore they do many times neglect their duties. But to prevent this mischief, there is no way better than to give such reasonable allowance as they may justly live by their labour: that being done, the merchant shall have no good seeds left in his garble, neither the grocer bad seeds left in his good. And forsomuch as Anniseedes come many times evilly coloured, and musty, therefore the sworn Garbeller ought to make known the goodness, and cleanness of the seeds by his mark set thereon as aforesaid; otherwise the retaylors' Grocers may be deceived.   

Wormeseedes.  
Is a drug that is much used for many purposes, this commodity had as much need of a skilful garbler as the Nutmegs, and in some respects more needful, for Nutmegs are to be divided by hand upon a table, and do require but a little labour in respect of hard working, only this, there is great judgement and skill to be used in their divisions: for wormseed after that it is sifted, is to be made clean by fanning, and that by much labour and pains taking. Of all commodities that are to be garbelled, the workman deserveth not his money better than in this, if he garble as he ought to do. That garbler that shall handle this drug ought to be skilful and just, otherwise the merchants, Grocers, and people shall be all deceived, the Merchant in respect of the good seeds left among the bad; and the grocer & the rest, by the garbel which they buy among the good. But to prevent the same, it lieth in the power of a skilful garbler to remedy at his pleasure, if he may have tools and fee answerable to his skill and pains. And here is a thing to be remembered, to the said workmen and others, that whereas there is always as much and more good seeds left in the garble of wormseeds then bad seeds 
More good seeds left in the garbel, them bad seeds in the good.  in the good, and yet many times there are found the fourth part garbel, when they have done with the best in such cases as this is: we wish with all our hearts, that the merchant might have the garble which we receive among the good, and we the good seeds which are to be found among the garble, the which mischief must be avoided as is before said, and not else.   

Greines, Almonds, Dates, Seenie, Comminseed, Turmerick, and such like.  
They are to be garbelled in all fidelity for the avoiding of deceit. But to set down particularly how every of these commodities in their kind ought to be garbelled, were a thing too tedious. But for that there is no better way than the ancient manner of Garbelling of spices, and the just packing or putting up of the same in such manner as is aforesaid, the which may the better be performed, if your Honour and Worships do make choice of some honest man, skilful in that Art and action, to revisit and survey these works and workmen, and to put up the same as is before remembered. Therefore we pray your Lordship, that these causes may receive due hearing, the rather for that we are informed that the Clerk of her majesties spicery have herein found out the faults, and do search after convenient remedies, as is fit.    

Chap. 10.  
1 The garbellers fee and duty is set forth.  
2 His notable gain by the labour of three men.  
3 His exaction is intolerable, in that he will not be contented with the small rates in spices, where his labour is great.  
forsomuch as it may be made known to all persons what the Garbellors' duty is, the same at large is expressed in an act of common council hereunto added upon purpose, and the rather that it may also appear to all, the exaction done by the garbler in exceeding the same without warrant. And for that he is not satisfied with the ancient rates, nor with his own exactions therein, but still practiseth to have a higher rate, it being probable that he by the easy labour of three men in the week, may by the wages he now receiveth, gain clearly five pound and upwards, all his charges borne. Therefore we have particularly set forth some part of his labours, with divers reasons, proving that he hath small cause to find himself aggrieved, or to be tedious to the merchant about his allowances, or to sue for higher rates, esteeming it a matter of more indifferency, that the merchants might rebate the price of those things wherein the garbler his labour is little, and his gain great, and to add the same to such, as his pains are great and his gains very small. And for proof hereof we say as his workmen in their book to him promised to perform, the which for that purpose we have also hereunto annexed: That in  

Pepper.  
By the labour of three men he will garble in one day viii. bags of pepper from by south, weighing about xx. C. at vi. d. the hundredth after the magistrates rate, ariseth to x. s. But his extraordinary rate is two. s. upon 
By exacting upon pepper, gained his men's wages, and xii. pence more than his due.  every bag, amounteth to 16, s, out of which some he doth now allow his men for their workmanship, 7, d, ob, upon every bag, the which ariseth to v, s so that his clear gain is 11, s, by the day, 11. s.   

Cloves.  
He will garble by the labour of three men C, li, weight in one day, his rate which is allowed is too, d, for the pound, the which ariseth to 16, s, 8, d out of which some he alloweth his workmen three farthings for the pound, the which ariseth to 6, s, and his proper gains de claro is, 10 s. 8. d   

Maces.  
Likewise by the labour of three men he will garbel in one day 4, C, weight his rate allowed is 2, s, 8, d, the which ariseth to 10. s. 8. d 
By maces, his men's wages gained extraordinary.  But his extraordinary rate is 4, s, upon every C, weight, groweth to 16. s out of the which rate he doth allow his men 16, pence, upon the C, the which is 5, s, 4, d, so his gains de claro is, 10. s. 8. d   

Cinnamon.  
Also by the labour of 3. men he will garble in one day x, C, weight of Cinnamon, the maiestraies rate is 16, d, the C, and thereby his due ariseth to 13. s. 4. d But by his extraordinary rate he receiveth 2, s, 8, d, upon every C. weight 
By Cinnamon gained his men's wages, and 5. s. over.  the which arriseth to 26, s, 8, d, out of which some, he alloweth his men x, d, upon every C, weight, the which is 8, s, 4, d, and so he gaineth, 18. s. 4. d   

Nutmegs.  

By Nutmegs gained 5. shil▪ more than the ancient allowance, besides the overplus of his men's wages.  Three men will garble in a day of this spice 6, C, weight and upwards, at xii. pence the C, being the old rate ariseth to vi, s, for his due, 6. s. But by his extraordinary rate he taketh 2, s, 8, d, upon the C, whereby he raiseth his dne to 16, shil, out of which some his men have x, pence upon the hundredth weight. And so his gains is clearly, 11. s.   

Ginger.  

By ginger gained his men's wages, and 9 pence more than his due.  Ginger also by the labour of his three men he will garble thirty, C, weight, receiving for it 6, pence upon the C, after the maiestrats rate amounteth to 15. s. His extraordinary rate is 9, d, upon the C, weight ariseth to 22, s, 6, d, out of which sum he alloweth his men for workmanship 2, d, ob. upon the C weight, ariseth to 6, s, 8, d, so his gains de claro is, 15. s. 9 d   

Gauls.  
By the like labour of three men he will garble in one day 40 C, weight of Gauls at six pence the C, after the magistrates rate, ariseth to, 20. s. But by his extraordinary rate he doth receive upon every C. weight, viii. d. the which ariseth to 26. s. 8. d. out of which sum he alloweth his men for workmanship 3. d. upon the 100 weight, groweth to x. s. so his gains is de claro, 16 s. 8. d   

Rise.  
In this also by the like labour for one days work will arise for 40. C. weight at 6. d. the hundredth being the magistrates rate, 20. s. But his extraordinary rate, is 8. d. upon the C. out of which he alloweth his men three pence upon the C. the which is x. s. And his gain is, 16. s. 8. d   

Annyseedes.  
In these are great labour, yet three men will garble ten C. weight at 6. pence the C. in one day, the which after the magistrates rate is 5. s. His extraordinary rate is viii. d. upon the C. of which the workmen have three pence upon the C. the which is two s. vi d, and his gain is, 4. s. 2 d.   

Woormeseed.  
These are always very fowl, yet by the labour of three men, 100 weight, may be garbelled in one day: the due rate is two pence upon the pound, the which ariseth to 16. s. 8. d Out of which some he alloweth his men three farthings upon the pound the which ariseth to six shillings three pence, and so he gaineth, 10. s. 5. d Grains, Senie.  Almonds. Comminseed.  Dates, Turmerick.  In these commodities and such like, which are not so profitable, but more painful to be cleansed then many of the rest, yet be they never so fowl, by the labour of three men, in one day he doth gain all charges borne, above 4. s.    

Chap. 11.  
1 That the garbellers petition for reformation to your honour, may be conferred herewith.  
2 The garble need not to be taken from the possession of the Merchant, if these ordinances be confirmed.  
3 The manner how these ordinances may be briefed, and brought into the form of law and acts of common council.  
Finally, forsomuch as for want of better judgement, the principal garbellor, by sundry petitions laboureth to your Lordship: and we, that the garbel and dust might be packed, conveyed and disposed, according to his constitutions: and wholly to be drawn from the possession of the Merchant. Whereby it is to be inferred, that he accuseth and condemneth the merchant and others, to have dubbed and falsified the labour of his workmen, by mixing the same with the thing garbelled. And for his countenance therein, produceth the words of the Acts of Common council before recited, the which we take to be frivolous and not indifferent, yet very sufficient to make the said garbler maisterfull, and a ready mean to hide and colour his own follies, making the same his proposition and subject to talk of. Therefore, and for the preventing of that poor help, we have the rather advanced these old ordinances as aforesaid to be indifferent, and to qualify that point of the said Act, in yielding up the said garble and dust to the chamberlain, or to any other. For if by your wisdoms it shall be enacted, that this manner of garbling before recited, shall be observed: and that such marks be set and made upon every sorts, as is herein set forth; Then no abuse can or may arise but it may be known, by whom the same cometh, whereby remedy may be had accordingly, neither can any garble or dust, be employed or used as the garbler surmiseth against the Merchant and others. And therefore not necessary for him to part therewith to the garbler or to any other: but more requisite to be from them detained.  
And now for an end herein, these short ways and manner of garbling, which we have remembered and set forth being observed, will bring us all to an agreement, the which being denied or misregarded, these our petitions and reasons being once made known, the curses of those that shall suffer detriment in these affairs, we know cannot light upon us, but upon the Authors of such offences. And forsomuch 
Every member doth carry help to maintain the body according to his proportion.  as the body is preserved, by reason of that proportion, which every member beareth towards it: so it is to be conceived, that in this mystery of the Grocery, being compounded of the merchant, warehouse men, and the retaylors, each member should carry the same and like reason of proportion, for the sustentation thereof, the which cannot be had without the unity aforesaid. The which thing undoubtedly will come to pass, if these ordinances may be by your wisdoms with the grave advise of the councillors and commonalty of this famous City, ratified and reduced into form of law. Whereby every party to this exercise, may be constrained to walk in his vocation. Wherein 
All aught to live for the service of their prince & country.  we do assure ourselves, that you do care, to direct your will and works to the service of god, the Queen's majesty and this our country, for whose service we all do live.  
FINIS.    

Hear ensueth the petition and orders, required of the workmen in garbling of the principal garbler, for the dissolving of such complaints as were moved against them (as they pretend) the which for that the same do contain many things worthy to be regarded: therefore we have added the same to this discourse, as very pertinent thereto.  
IT may please your worship to be informed, that forsomuch as it hath pleased you to advise us the company of workmen to your office of garbling, to assemble together, and to set down such matter, as might show the ways & means how to remove the controversies, which are oftentimes stirred against us, and moved amongst ourselves, and how your Worship may reap more gain by our common accord, than heretofore you have done. Therefore we have briefly set down in articles, the matters of our requests, wherein if it shall please you, to answer us in that mutual care and consideration, by uniting and preferring us, whereby our common gains may be multiplied: then we shall not only think ourselves men altogether of miserable fortune, to have led our lives in that exercise and office, whereby such dissension and preposterous orders are maintained, the which may be eased and redressed, without hindrance or prejudice unto your office, but also we shall be enforced to seek our remedy, and complain to the City, or to her Majesty and Council, for that we shall hold the denial hereof, & your meaning thereby to be suspected, and purposed to hold us in debate and controversy one with another. The which may and will be avoided, in form following;  
Inprimis, Omitting to move your worship, for the obtaining of any privileges for your workmen or office (albeit the like is used, towards the workmen of the mint by reason of that office) and laying aside such benefit as doth appertain to your office, by not garbling divers things, which by virtue of your grant, are to be by us garbled. And for avoiding of innovation or alteration of any matter to your office appertaining, we only beseech your wor. to grant unto us this rate and price, the which we have set down in certain, upon such things as are usually garbled by us, the allowing whereof, will not draw you into so great charge, we working according to the same rate, as our working now doth at xii. pence the day, as is hereafter proved.  

Pepper the bag, 8 d.  
or else by the hundred weight, 4 d  
Cloves the C, 6 s. 8 d  
Maces the C, 18 d.  
Wormseede the hundred, 6 s. 8 d  
Nutmegs divided into case, bail, & romps, the hundred, 2 s.  
Cinnamon the C. 12, d  
Grains the C, 4, d  
Rise the C, 3, d  
Anniseedes the C, 6, d  
Comminseed the C, 6, d  
Turmerick the C, 3, d  
Gauls the C, 3, d  
Senie the C, 2. s, 6, d  
Nutmegs the hundred, the rompes being only taken out, 12, d  
Cassia fistula the C, 12, d  
Colianders the C, 3, d  
Gum arabeck the C, 3, d  
bayberries the C, 2, d  
Dates the C, 4, d  
Orchall the C, 6, d  
Mastic the C, 4, d  
Frankincense the C. 6, d  
Orris the C, 3, d  
staves acre the C, 3, d  
Gallingall the C, 6, d  
Setwall the C, 6, d  
Long pepper the C, 6, d  
Spignard the C, 12, d  
Ginger the C, 4, d   
But for such sorts of wares as are perished, wet rotten or worm eaten, wherein much labour is to be bestowed, we except the rate set down.  

The proof of the gain hereby.  
The gains which shall or may redound to you, by the labour of all your workmen now employed, and by their labourer's associate, by allowing of the said rates required, ariseth unto in the year, above one hundredth pounds, more than you do now receive by their work (allowing but xii. pence to each workman and viii. pence to every labourer per diem) if they do work all the year; or rateably for the time of their work, as by this example it may appear.  
Three workmen and their labourer, being allowed the wages of iii. s. 8, d. do garble six bags of pepper, for the which your duty is xii, s. & your clear gains 8, s, 4, d, by the day, the which in the week, your charges defaulked is, 2. li. x. s But these four being allowed 8, pence upon the bag, will garble eight bags by the day, for the which they shall receive v. s. 4 pence, and your due thereby is clear gains 10. s. 8 d, the which in the week your charges defaulcked is, three pound 4. s. and so your gain is more in the week, by 14. s. then it was before 3. li. 4. s  
Thus it appeareth that your workmen shall multiply your gain, and better their wages, viz: to every workman six pence, and to the labourer two pence by the day, more than they before received, so that the labourer shall have x, d, & the workmen 18, d, a piece, by the day.  
Also that it may appear to you, that the gain growing hereby ariseth not to so much by your allowing of this rate, for in this allowance of 8 pence upon the bag of pepper, ariseth but to 4 pence more, than was paid for working of the same at xii, d, the day, as that it must be performed by our diligence and sore labour, wherein it may be you will demand of us, why we should not accomplish that labour for you, upon that wages of twelve pence the day, as we would and offer to do, if the rate of viii. pence upon the bag were allowed unto us.  
Thereunto our answer is, that the first & chiefest fault is in yourself, for that when some store of work is in hand, you do appoint us (your workmen) in such companies, that being some of us placed where a months work is; will lengthen and make the same six weeks, by reason, that they know that the works of the rest of the companies by you appointed, will so soon be done, that they shall have no business therein, and hereby some do work, and some do play, & divers other further mischiefs do arise, the which matter must be redressed in form hereafter expressed, with your favourable assent or otherwise by some further authority.  
The second fault is, that some of these companies so by you appointed, by imbecility can do no better, and oftentimes you do join with us new comers, whose works are cast upon the others necks, and the last and chiefest cause is for that men of judgement and skill, can not have such tools, as they in truth ought to have for expedition, the which they will provide, if accord be made as is decent.  
And forsomuch as these mischiefs & faults have produced other inconveniences, aswell to you as to us, viz: for that yourself is thereby grown into disfavour with divers merchants and grocers, and for your ease or fantasy, you give out hard words against us, whom nevertheless you do employ; Whereby also often times we are grudged at and disdained, the which we as no● looking to the ground of these imperfections, whereby to seek for better remedy, thinking ourselves abused, return the same again.  
For the bettering and avoiding of which inconveniences, we have agreed amongst ourselves, (if you shall please to yield to the said rate required) how to live by our work, in love and concord together, and by what companies, and in what sort. Whereby not only these discords may be dissolved, but your gain shall be performed to the uttermost, and yourself quieted; to our good report, and your own profit, and for the commodity of all those whose business we shall take in hand.   

Our agreement being nine workmen with eight Labourers now employed, whose number are not to be increased, will handle all the business as is declared in this manner following.  
The nine Workmen.  
Horton. Hambleton. Huxsley.  
Nutting. Neale. Wright.  
Boomer. Freeman. Denshire  
The eight Labourers.  
Archer. Warner. Phillip's. air.  
Harrison. Chadwicke. Smith. Morris.  
If the work shall lie in one place, than thus.  


Horton.  
Huxsley.  
Hambleton.  
Freeman.  
Denshire.  
Boomer.  
Neale.  
wright.  
Nutting  
Archer.    
If the work fall out in two places, than these shall work.  
Horton. Huxsley. Nutting wright. Boomer  
Neale. Hambleton Denshire. Freeman. Archer.  
If in three places, than thus.  
Huxsley. Horton. Nutting. Harrison.  
Hambleton. Wright. Boomer. Archer.  
Neale. Denshire. Freeman. air.  
If the work shall lie in four places, than thus.  
Horton. Huxsley. Nutting. Harrison.  
Wright. Hambleton. Boomer. air.  
Neale. Warner. Smith. air.  
Freeman. Denshire. Chadwicke. Phillip's.  
Our agreement further is, that the rate we require being allowed, the overplus of the money levied by the said rate, more than twelve pence the day, by any companies that labour, shall be equally divided amongst them that labour not.  
Our agreement further is, that if the workmen in one place may be dispatched by three or four, or fewer, that then those that shall work, to be elected by consent of all the rest, who shall give an account to the rest, of their work, and value thereof.  
Also we agree that one man shall be named and appointed by us of our said company, not only to travel and to see how and where our work shall fall out, but also we agree that every of the said companies which shall be dispersed, shall be placed and appointed to their work, by the said person so to be nominated amongst us, who shall oversee our works in all places.  
Item, we agree that a book shall be made and kept by him, in the which the some and particulars of our work shall be set down, as well for the preservation of your duty, as for many necessary causes to ourselves appertaining about our own gain.  
Item, we agree every morning in the time of work, to repair to your house, for your direction notwithstanding, and to inform you of the premises; the which if you can advise to better, or shall discern any fault, then to give directions accordingly.  
The which matters and agreements considered, it will plainly appear, that the same tendeth not to our own gain so much, as to the credit of the office, our quiet, and your great avail. And for proof also hereof if need shall be, we can and will produce a certificate, request, and petition of the best & expertest merchants, and Grocers in London, testifying and desiring that the same may so proceed, for divers reasons by them used, not to be rejected, they finding themselves aggrieved, and do surmise;  
1 first, that by reason of our small wages many of us do better the same, by embezzling of their commodities.  
2 Item, That we do prolong our work, upon purpose to be always occupied, and thereby do trouble their houses longer than reason, to grieve them and to annoy their affairs.  
3 Item, That there is no overseer in that work, so that the Grocers affirm, that many things are badly handled, and the merchants do impute it to us, but the Grocers do allege that we are bribed, to amend our small wages.  
Therefore, and to avoid all surmises by merchants and Grocers, we have further thought it good, to accept it by an oath from the Lord mayor, if these our requests be allowed and confirmed by authority. And the rather, not only to show our true and plain meaning in your affairs, but chiefly to draw from you all suspicion, and objections, which you for want thereof may in any wise conceive against these our said requests howsoever. And upon the said oath taken, we require to have in our several bonds, to you made, for our true and good dealing, it being sufficient to pass our oaths in this behalf, without any bond or other writing.   

The Oath we mean to take.  
YOu shall swear that you shall well and honestly behave yourself in the office and action of Garbelling, within the City of London, without stealing, imbeazelling, or unlawfullle, or unhonestly conveying away any part of such spices as are left to your charges, in any merchants house, or elsewhere.  
You shall as much as in you shall lie, garble and cleanse all manner of spices, drugs, and merchandise justly, truly, and indifferently, according to your skill and judgement, without respect of any person or persons whosoever.  
And in these & in all other things, that to the office of garbling appertaineth, during the time of your work, you shall well and truly behave yourself, so God shall help you.  
Furthermore our conclusion and request is, that you may be pleased to yield to our said desires: and that if hereunto you can object any thing to the contrary, it may also please you, to set down in writing, and that with speed, your said objections, to the end that we may answer the same: otherwise we trust you will pardon us, if we do sue for the censure of the Lord Mayor to be given in our said requests, it being more convenient to allow of the said rates, then either to retain six men to work, & three Labourers at a certain fee by the year, and to bind them to execute all the said work, or otherwise to allow xviii. pence by the day, for every days work to the workmen, the rather, for that the rest will not be dismissed, it being their exercise, nor they will not willingly subject themselves to be appointed to any places of work, otherwise then by their own accord and assent, as before is described, and as they have agreed upon, to the which agreement, they do subscibe their names, and do require to have it ratified and confirmed by your worship, to whom the office appertaineth as we think. In witness whereof, we have caused this to be made, and by us under written the xiiii. day of October, in Anno. 1590.  
Subscribed. 

Thomas Horton, grow.  
john Freeman, grocer.  
john Neale.  
William Hambleton, gr.  
Thomas wright.  
Richard Huxsley.  
john Nutting.  
john Boomer.  
Robert Warner, grocer.  
john Harrison, grocer.  
john Devonshire, Grocer.      

Hear ensueth the Acts of Common Council before remembered, made in Anno xviii. of King Henry the eight: and in Anno the second of King Edward the sixth, concerning the Garbelling of spices, drugs, and Merchandise, in London.  
Commune Consilium tent▪ apud Guildhall Civitatis London, vicessimo septimo, die Februarii, An. Regni Regis Henrici Octavi, xviii. in presentia.  


Adermen.  
Thome Seymer, Mil▪ Maioris.  
johannis Baker, Recordatoris.  
Gulihelm. Butler. Millit.  
Thome Exmew. Millit.  
johannis mundi. Millit.  
Thome Bauldry. Millit.  
johannis Allin. Millit.  
jacobi Spencer.  
Michaelis English.  
johannis Rudstone.  
Radulphi Doder.  
johannis Hardy.  
Christopheri Ascue.  
Stephani Peacock, & Nicholai Lambert, Vicecomites civit. eiusd. etc.    
AT this Common council the Garbeller of spices exhibited a bill, concerning the garbling of certain spices, & other things which then & there was openly red and well understood, and thereupon agreed and granted, that it should be entered of record as it is, and so to be continued, adding thereunto this cause of proviso.  
Provided always that all such bags of pepper being of the weight of two C. or above, that aught to be garbelled, and being marked with the mark of the hand of Antwerp, upon the opening thereof, by the garbler or his deputy, be found well and truly garbelled, and no refuse or garbel in effect therein found, above the weight of one pound and a half; that then and so often the said garbler or his deputy, shall nothing ask or require, by reason of his said office, of the owner of any of the said bags, for opening of the same. And if any thing be misordered by the said Garbeller or his deputy, by reason of any partiality, or othetwise in executing 
The garbler or his deputy to be punished for not performing their duty.  of the said office: that then the reformation thereof, and also the penalties to be laid upon the garbler or his deputy, to be done from time to time, by the good discretions of the mayor and Aldermen for the time being, etc.  

To the right Honourable Lord, the lord Mayor of this City of London, and the Worshipful Aldermen, his brethren, and to the descreet commons, of this present Common counsel assembled.  
IN full humble wise showeth unto your good Lordship and masterships, your Suppliant & Citizen Robert Cooper garbler. That whereas by Act of Common council, holden the xvii. day of September, in the 4. year of the reign of our most dread Sovereign Lord that now is, K. Henry the eight, it was enacted, That all manner of spices, drugs, and other merchandise, after that time to be brought and conveyed from the parts of Flaunders, into this realm of England, marked with the mark of Antwerp, or Brudges, called the right hand, should not by the Garbeller be garbelled here; forsomuch as it was then supposed, that all manner of spices, drugs, and other merchandise, that did bring the said mark very truly garbelled and cleansed: by colour whereof, divers & sundry merchants, sithence that time hitherto, have used to bring and convey, and yet daily do, from the said parts into this Realm and City of London, great substance of spices, drugs, and other merchandise, bearing the said mark of the hand, and the same here put to sale, with spices, drugs, & merchandise, notwithstanding the said marking, being here found full of dust, fusses, filths, and other garble not only to the great deceit and loss of the kings liege people, of all degrees, eating and using the same in meats and drinks, and otherwise, and besides that many great complaints, rumours, and exclamations, have thereupon ensued, by a great number of persons which have found themselves aggrieved in that behalf. Wherefore it hath pleased my L. Mayor and my masters his Brethren, knowing the kings most high pleasure in that behalf, at a court of Aldermen, to admit & authorize your said suppliant unto the said office of garbling, giving him in commandment, to garbel and cleanse all manner of spices, drugs, and merchandise, which ought to be garbelled, aswell those that be marked with the said mark of the right hand, as all other unmarked or otherwise marked, according to which authority and commandment, your said sup. and officer hath taken upon him to garble and hath garbelled amongst other, all such divers & sundry spices, drugs, & other merchandise marked with the said mark of the right hand, and found in them great quantities of dust, filth, and garble, which he hath here in Guildhall ready to be showed. pleaseth it therefore your good Land masterships, the said deceits and other the premises tenderly considered, to enact, ordain, and 'stablish, now at this Common council, & by the authority of the same, that your said suppliant and Garbeller, and all other succeeding in that room, within this City, may and shall have all power and authority from henceforth duly, truly, and indifferently, from time to time, to garble and cleanse all manner of spices, drugs, and other merchandise, the particular names whereof hereafter ensue, as well such, and as many of them as be marked with the mark of the said hand, as all other being otherwise marked or unmarked. That is to say.  
Pepper, Ginger, Cloves, Maces, Nutmegs, Woormseed, galangal, Goome, Setwall, Cinnamon, Long pepper, Spignard, Grains, Cominseeds, aniseeds, Frankincense, Senie, Cassiae Fistula, Almonds, Morriswax, Gauls, Coliandersced, Bayberries, Dates, Rise, Mastic, Turmerick, Orris, Stavesacre, Orchall, and Littmus.  
And moreover to enact and stablish that no merchant or merchants, Freeman, or foreigner, inhabiting within this City or suburbs of the same, nee any merchant stranger, from henceforth, take upon him or them, nor any other for them, or in their names, or in the name of any of them, to utter or sell, engross or retail, within this City of London, any manner spices, drugs, or other merchandise aforenamed, before that it be garbelled, tried, and made clean, by the said garbler or his deputy or deputies, for the time being, and sealed with the seal of the said office, as of old time accustomed, whereby it shall or may evidently appear to the buyers thereof, good, clean, perfect, and wholesome, as well for man's body, as otherwise to be used, upon forfeiture of losing of all such spices, drugs, and other merchandise, so sold ungarbelled, and unclensed, or to the value thereof, to the use of the Commonalty of the City, and for every hundred weight or bags of Spices, drugs, or other merchandise, bought and sold, contrary to this ordinance, the seller and buyer thereof, shall forfeit and pay at every time that they so offend forty shillings equally between them to be borne and paid, and the same money to be divided into three parts, (that is to say) the one part thereof to the use of the Mayor and commonalty of this City. The secònd part to the wardens and fellowship of Grocers, and the third part to the taker, that first shall take, and seize any such spices, drugs, or other merchandise bought, or sold, contrary to this ordinance. And moreover be it enacted and established by the authority of this Common council, that it shall be lawful for every person or persons, upon due proof thereof made, if any forfeit or forfeitures, as doth appear above rehearsed, for to be recovered against every manner of person or persons so offending by action of debt, and that it shall not be lawful for the party defendant, in no wise to wage the law, whereby the party plaintiff, shall or may lose his suit, nor yet no protection allowed in that behalf.  
Provided always in that behalf, and be it further enacted, that the Garbeller his deputy and deputies for the time being, shall take, bear, and carry away, and towards him or them to retain all manner of garble and garbels, as dust, fusses, and other filth, that he or they at any time hereafter shall happen to garble, try and cleanse, out of all and every manner drugs and other merchandise, to the intent and purpose, that no person shall eftsoons put, mix, or intermeddle the said garble into or with any manner of spices, drugs, or other merchandise, in avoiding and eschewing the great slander and rebukes, that by occasion of such intermeddling might grow and redound unto your said officer, his deputy or deputies, being thereof guiltless and innocent. And that the owner of all such dust, fusses, and other filth, shall find and provide a bag or bags, to bestow and put in the same garbelles and other filth, and thereof shall take the just and true weight, the said Garbeller his deputy or deputies, shall mark upon the said bag or bags, and thereon the owner shall set on his seal, and the said bag or bags so weighed, marked, and sealed, the said Garbeller his deputy or deputies, for the time being, shall immediately at the costs of the said owner, carry and convey to the Guildhall in London, there to remain in sure keeping, under the keys of the said Garbeller and of the controller of the chamber of London, unto such time as the owner of every such garble and garbels, shall make and deliver unto one of the said two officers, or to their deputies a bill obligatory, wherein they shall stand bound unto the chamberlain of London for the time being, in such some of money as by one of the said two officers shall be thought good and reasonable, that the same owner shall convey, or cause to be conveyed the said garble and garbelles unto the parts of beyond the seas, by a certain day to be limited, by the said two officers or one of them, and that the owner thereof shall pay for housroome and keeping of every such bag, one half penny every week, as long and by all the time that he shall suffer any such bag to lie and remain.  
Provided also that if the owner or owners of any such bag or bags of garble, suffer the same to be and continue in the said Guildhall, over and above the space of nine months, that then the said bag or bags with the garble to be and remain there still as goods forfeited and confiscate to the use of the commonalty of the City of London, And that the Mayor of the same city for the time being within a month than next ensuing shall appoint and provide for the sure conveying thereof unto the parts of beyond the seas, there to be sold to the most advantage and the money coming of the sale to be delivered to the chamberlain of London for the time being, to the use of the common weal of the said City, and all such garble, dust, fusses, and other filth, which is tried and cleansed as is aforesaid, and being of no value nor substance, shall be conveyed into Cheap, or into some other convenient place, within this City at the pleasure and commandment of the Mayor, for the time being, and there to be openly burnt in the sight of the people, so that they may well see and perceive the good order and justice truly executed in that behalf.   

The Rates and prizes what the garbler shall take for garbling all manner of Spices, and other things that ought to be garbelled, rated, and prised, the xiii. of August, Anno 1526. by the wardens of the grocers in london, and the sociates, as hereafter doth ensue.  
The rate of the Magistrates. The exaction of the garbler. Pepper from by south the C. 6, d. xii. d. Pepper and Ginger with the mark of Antwerp or Brudges, if it need to be garbled the C. 4. d 6. d Cloves not clean that need to be picked by hand, the pound is 2. d.  The rate of the Magistrates. The exaction of the garbler. Mases not garbled, the C. weight, 2. ●, 8. d. 4. s. Wormseed the li. 2. d  Nutmegs the hundred, 12. d 2. s. 8. d Gallingall the C, x, d.  Setwall the C, 12, d  Cinnamon the C. 16, d 2. s. 8, d Long pepper the C, 16, d  Spignard the C, 2, s.  Grains the C, 6, d 8. d Almonds the C, 6, d 8. d Rise the C, 4, d 8. d Anniseedes the C, 6, d 12. d Comminseed the C, 6, d 8. d Gauls the C, 6, d 8. d Moreswax the C, 4, d  Senie the C, 3. s, 4, d 4 s. Cassia fistula the C, 2, s.  Colianders seed the C, 5, d 8, d Gum arabeck the C, 4, d 8. d bayberries the C, 2, d 4. d Dates the C, 6, d 12, d Turmerick the C, 4, d 8, d Orchall the C, 6, d  Litmus the C, 3, d  Mastic the C, 6, d  Frankincense the C. 12, d  Orris the C, 6, d 8. d staves acre the C, 6, d 8. d  
But all manner of wares wet with water, rotten or bruised wherein there is much labour, and long time, that then, as the merchant and the officer can agree for the doing thereof, and if they cannot agree, that then the wardens of the Grocers for the time being, to be indifferent judges between them.   

Commune Consilium tent. apud Guildhall Civitatis London, desimo septimo, die junii, Anno. Regni Edwardi Sexti, secundo, Coram.  
johann Gresham, Mil. Maioris. Adermen. Robarto Brooke, Ar. Recordatoris Randolpho Warren. Millit. Gulihelmo laxton. Martino Bowes. johann Tolis.  johann Wilford.  Andrea jud.  Georgio Barn.  Gulielmo Locke.  Augustino Hind.  Richardo Turk.  Henriccho goodier.  johann lion.  johann ambert,  Gulihelmo garrerd.  Thome White & Robarto Chartsey. Vicecomites civit. eiusd. etc. Ac maiore part Comunitatis, Comunis consilii civitatis predict. existent.  
ALso at this court a bill was devised and drawn, by the learned council of this City, by the commandment and assent of the Lord Mayor, and Aldermen of the same city, for and concerning the garbling and cleansing of all such spices, drugs, wares and merchandise, as heretofore have used or ought to be garbelled or cleansed, within the said city and the liberties thereof, was red and by the commons presently assembled, well and ripely conceived and understand, and because the same and the matter therein contained, unto them to be good consonant unto reason, and profitable for the commonweal, for all our said sovereign lord the king's subjects. It was therefore ordained, enacted, and established, by the said lord maior and Aldermen, and commons in the said council assembled, and by the authority of the same. That the said bill shall be entered and engrossed of record, for a good & profitable law, act, and ordinance at all times hereafter, firmly and inviolably to be observed, obeyed, and kept in every point, according to the tenor, true meaning, and effect of the same; upon the several pains and penalties therein mentioned and contained, the tenor of which bill hereafter ensueth.  
WHere by the Act of Common council, holden in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the city of London, the xx. of February 1526. in the xviii. year of the reign of our late Sovereign Lord, of most worthy memory King henry the eight, before sir Thomas Seimer knight, then Lord Mayor of the said city, and the Aldermen of the same, it was amongst other things enacted & established, by the said L. mayor aldermen & commons, in the same common council then assembled, and by the authority of the same, that all kinds of sorts of spices, drugs, and merchandise specially recited & particularly expressed, within the same act wheresoever they were garbled, as well those that are marked with the right hand of Antwerp, Brudges, and Roan, as all other marked or unmarked, & all other which of right aught and of long time then past, according to good and ancient laws and ordinanances, in that behalf made and provided, had been accustomed to be garbelled within the said City, and the liberties thereof, by the common garbler of spices, of the same city, thereunto lawfully appointed, by the Lord Mayor of the said City, for the time being, before that the same spices, drugs, and merchandise, or any parcel thereof, were or should be put to sale, uttered, or sold, and that the garble, fusses, and dust taken, garbelled, and cleansed, out of the said spices, drugs, wares, and merchandise, should be brought and conveyed by the same garbler to the Guildhall aforesaid, to be from thence conveyed and transported within a certain time limited, by the said Act of Common council, made the xx. day of February, in the said xviii. year of the said late king, into the parts beyond the seas, and otherwise be disposed upon certain pains and penalties, in the same Act mentioned and expressed, as by the same Act it doth and may more fully appear upon record: By the which said act of common council, or yet by any other like act concerning the garbling and cleansing of the said spices, drugs, & merchandise, hitherto made and provided, there is not any certain time limited or appointed, within which the owners and possessors of such spices, drugs, and merchandise, hitherto made and provided, there is not any certain time limited or appointed, within which the owners & possessors of such spices, drugs, and merchandise, keeping the same long in their custody and possession, do many times by covert, secret, and fraudulent ways and means, utter and sell the same, before that it be seen, searched, garbelled or cleansed, by the said common garbler, or his deputy or deputies, to the no little loss, damage, and peril, of all the buyers and occupiers thereof, for remedy and reformation whereof:  
Be it ordered, established, and enacted, by this present common council, & by the authority of the same, That the same former Act of common council, made the said xviii. year of the reign of our late sovereign lord K. Henry the viii▪ concerning the garbling of spices, drugs, and merchandise, shall stand, continue, and remain, in full strength, force, and effect; adding and adjoining thereunto, that if any person or persons at any time hereafter, do retain or keep, or cause to be kept, in his or their possession, or in the possession of any other person or persons▪ any manner of bag, chest, vessel, or remnant of any of the said spices, drugs, or merchandise, what mark or seal soever they are, or any of them shall have or bear upon them, and do not cause the same to be duly garbelled or sealed, by the said common garbler, or his sufficient deputy or deputies, within the space of 4. months after the bringing of the same merchandise, into the said city or the liberties thereof, Almonds, Rise, and dates, always excepted, that then all and every such person or persons, having or keeping in form aforesaid, any part or parcel thereof, as it shall please the owners of the same to reserve & keep for his or their own proper expenses, in his or their own houses, being under the weight of one quarter of a hundred ungarbeled, and unclensed, contrary to the tenor and effect of this present Act and ordinance, shall forfeit and pay or cause to be paid, for every bag, chest, vessel, remnant, and parcel, of all the said spices, drugs, and merchandise, except before excepted, so being ungarbled, and kept by the space of four months, xxvi. s. 8. d. in the name of a pain.  
And further be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that if any chest▪ vessel, bag, parcel or remnant of Almonds, Rise, and Dates, be now or hereafter shall be in form aforesaid, kept, or reserved, by the owner or owners, keeper or keepers of the same, not garbled & cleansed, by the said garbler his lawful deputy or deputies, within half a year next after the bringing of the same Almonds, Rise, and Dates, into the said City, or liberties thereof, That then every such person & persons▪ shall forfeit and pay for every such chest, vessel, and bag, remnant, and parcel of Almonds, Rise, and Dates so kept ungarbled, other than such as shall be kept for his or their own necessary use and expenses, within their own household, contrary to the tenor and effect of this present act, and ordinances, xxvi. s. 8. d. in the name of a pain.  
Provided always, and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that this present act nor any thing therein contained, do not in any wise stretch or extend, to the hurt, damage, or grief of any person or persons, for not garbling or cleansing, of any of the said kind of spices, drugs, and merchandise, which now are and do remain in the custody, and possession of any person or persons, of the said City or the liberties of the same, within the several times before limited and appointed, for the same, so always that all and every such person and persons, now having as is aforesaid, any of the said sorts of spices, drugs, and merchandise, within the said city, or the liberties thereof, do cause the same, and every part and parcel thereof (except as is before excepted) to be garbelled and cleansed by the said Common garbler or his sufficient deputy or deputies, within four months now next ensuing, without fraud or further delay.  
Provided also, and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that if any person or persons at any time or times hereafter, do utter or sell or cause to be sold, or put to sale, or convey out of the said city, any bag, chest, vessel, parcel, or remnant, of the said spices, drugs, or merchandise, being of the clear value of x. pound, and upwards, before they or any of them shall be garbled, and sealed by the common garbler, or by his deputy or deputies, as is aforesaid, contrary to the tenor, true meaning, and effect of this present act, or of the said former act, That then every such offender; and offenders, shall forfeit for every such bag, chest, vessel, parcel, and remnant, of the spices, drugs, and Merchandise, ten pound sterling, and not above, and for every bag, chest, vessel, parcel, or remnant of spices, drugs, and Merchandise, being under the value of ten pound, to forfeit such pain and penalty for the same, as is contained in the said former Act, mentioned or contained, to the contrary notwithstanding.  
And further be it ordained, and enacted, by the said authority, That if any person or persons, at any time hereafter, do mingle or mix, or intermeddle any manner of kind, part or parcel of garble or garbels of the spices, drugs, or Merchandise aforesaid, to the clean spices, drugs, or merchandise, after that the same spices, drugs, & merchandise, or any of them have been cleansed and garbelled by the common garbler, or by his deputy or deputies, to the intent to deceive any of the kings liege people therewith, that then every such offender, & offenders, shall clearly lose and forfeit, all such spices, drugs, and merchandise, so mixed or mingled, and forty shillings more, for every such offence, to the uses and intents heerunder expressed.  
Provided also and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid; That if any manner of person or persons, at any time hereafter, do convey or bring, or cause to be conveyed or to be brought, to the said City or the liberties thereof, any manner of garble or garbels, of any of the said spices, drugs, or Merchandise, by it self, from any of the parts of beyond the seas, to the intent to utter or fell the same within the said City or liberties thereof, That all & every person or persons so offending, shall forfeit and lose all the said garble and garbels, and also ten pound sterling, for every time so doing, and to be employed and divided as hereafter shall be declared.  
Provided also and be it enacted, that all and every the forfeitures, pains and penalties, aswell of spices, drugs, and merchandise, as of the sums of money above mentioned and expressed within this present Act, or within the said former Act, before, in and by this present act, or within the said former act before remembered & confirmed, shall at all times from hence forward be recovered by action of debt, bill, plaint, or information to be commenced, within any of our said Sovereign Lord the kings Courts within the said City of London, in the name of the Chamberlain of the same City of London for the time being, wherein none essoigne or wager of law shall be admitted, and shall be employed, distributed and bestowed, as hereafter is and shall be appointed and declared, That is to say, the one moiety or half deal of every fuch pain, penalty, and forfeiture, to be to the use of the taker and presenter of the offender and offenders, and the other moiety to be and remain to the use of the poor, for the time being, maintained and relieved in the new Hospital in West-smithfielde in the suburbs of the said city. And also provided, and be it enacted, that it shallbe lawful at all times hereafter, to and for the Lord Maior and aldermen of the of the said city for the time being, to cause by their discretions, all such garble of the said spices, drugs and merchandise, as at any time hereafter shall be brought unto the guildhall aforesaid, according to the tenor, form, and effect of the said former act, made in the 18. year of the reign of our said late King, which may be lawfully and conveniently conveyed and put to any good and reasonable use and occupation to be retained, uttered, sold, and spent by itself, within the said city, and elsewhere within the realm of England, any thing within the same former act, or any other act or ordinance mentioned or contained to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding.  
And also, be it enacted and ordained by the authority aforesaid, that in case any person or persons at any time hereafter, do, or shall refuse or deny truly to content or pay to the said garbler for the time being, or to his sufficient deputy or deputies, by the laws and ordinances afore remembered shall be due and belong, as it hath been accustomed for the garbling and sealing of any of the said spices, drugs, and merchandise: when, and assoon as the same shall be so garbelled & sealed: that then it shallbe lawful for the said Garbeller, his deputy, or deputies, immediately to pluck of and to take away every such seal, so by him or them before put to the same spices, drugs, and merchandise, & that then and from thenceforth the said spices, drugs, and merchandise, and every parcel thereof, shall be taken, deemed, and adjudged, as not garbelled, cleansed or sealed, but remain and stand under the danger and penalty above in this present act mentioned and expressed, any thing in the same act comprised to the contrary notwithstanding.  
Provided also, and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that if at any time hereafter, any of the said spices, drugs, wares, or merchandise, which ought to be garbelled and cleansed as is aforesaid, be found so full of stones, so wet with water, rotten, bruised, worm eaten, or otherwise full of filthiness and unclean, that they cannot be garbled and cleansed, as is aforesaid, in such reasonable and convenient time and space, as other drugs, spices, and merchandise of like kinds and sorts for the most part may be, That then it shall be in the election of the said Garbeller his deputy or deputies, for the time being, to have the fee therefore used and accustomed, or else to have and take for every such person as shall work about every such Garbelling, for every whole days work, after the rate of viii. d. by the day.   

The oath of the common Garbeller.  
YOu shall swear that you shall well and lawfully behave you in the office of Garbeller, within the city of London, without any favour or partiality showing to any person, taking reasonably for your labour.  
And all the powder or order within the Bales, and of merchandise by you to be garbelled, wholly ye shall bring or deliver to the Chamberlain of this City, for the time being, to the intent that the said powder or order after that, shall not be mingled in any such merchandise.  
And after that you have garbled any bale or merchandise, you shall mark and sign the same bale by you garbled, with a mark to the intent that the Common weigher may have knowledge thereof. And in this and in all other things, that to the office of Garbeller appertaineth, you shall well and truly behave yourself, as God you help.   
FINIS.   

An Appendix declaring, that forsomuch as the request of the authors, do lie dispersed in this book, and lest it should seem to carry abroad, an unserviceable mention of matters therein: therefore they, for a careful refining thereof, have collected as ready (for such Commissioners as may be appointed, or if any such hap to be) for the due examination of the necessity of their said petitions, the contents of the said book, and the brief of such things, as they do sue to have reform, and to have passed to an Act of Common council in London, the rather, for that these presence may bear the better credit, by a conference with such commission, whereby the same Art of Garbelling, may be endued with the life of some law, for the benefit of the Commonwealth.  

The brief Contents of the Book.  
INprimis, they show that King Henry the sixth, did give the office of garbling of spices, to the Lord Mayor and Commonalty of London for ever, to the end that the spices brought into this realm, should be made clean, and the corrupt to be divided from the good, for the health and good of the subjects of this Realm.  
That thereupon the merchants owners of such spices, & the Grocer's retaylors, of the same did at a meeting for that purpose, concord and agree upon the manner of cleansing of such spices, and also of the sorts that every kind of such spice should be divided and made into.  
That by force of this agreement, certain Acts were made by the said Lord Mayor and Commonalty, whereby the Merchants are enjoined not to sell any spice, before the same be garbelled: and the Retaylors' Grocers are enjoined, not to alter nor mix the said sorts of spices, so made and garbelled, upon pain of forfeiture of the said spices.   

The ground of the Abuses.  
FOrsomuch as in the said acts, the said manner of garbling of the said spice, so then agreed upon, nor the said sorts likewise, that the same spices should be divided and made into, were not expressed in the said Acts, nor sufficiently recorded in any court, Therefore the Garbeller under the Lord Mayor, garbelleth the said spices as it pleaseth him: and the retaylors' grocers by force of the said acts, are enforced to put the same to sale in such manner, as the said Garbellers do handle them, and in such sort:  
That her majesty is deceived in the goodness and price of the said spice, to a great value in the year.  
The merchant and owners before their faces are defrauded and deluded, with their own goods.  
The Retaylors are discredited, and their spice in markets and fairs are made forfeit, by reason of their corruption, and are in the said book at large expressed.  
The price is nothing abated.  
And all the people are deceived.   

The conclusion of the book, and the matters therein required, to be enacted and to be for ever observed, if it shall be so thought requisite by the Committees appointed.  
THat the ancient manner of garbling of spices before agreed upon, may be observed, and all others to be rejected.  
That the said ancient divisions of such spices, may be also kept, and the same so divided, to be severally put up.  
That none do work but men of skill, in that office, as is in the ninth Chapter of the said book set forth, and the same persons to be nominated and elected, by the company of Grocers, out of the decayed brethren of that company, as often as such place shall fall void, with one of that company, to survey the orderly putting up, of the said divisions with their marks.  
That the rates for the common garbler be reexamined, and made equal to his pain.  
That the orders devised and set forth, by the workmen in that office, and in the book expressed, may be examined, and so much thereof allowed them, as tendeth for the better preservation of the said goods, and their concord in working in merchants houses.