An abstract of the grievances of the Master, Wardens and Commonalty of the Cutlers, Paynter-stainers, and Bookbinders of the City of London, and consequently of all England concerning the Patent or Charter of sole making of Gold and Silver Foliat and the Proclamation prohibiting the importation of any into this Kingdom, contained likewise in brief in a Petition exhibited into the Commons house of Parliament. viz.  
THat Gold and Silver Foliat hath for the most part been heretofore imported into this kingdom from the part beyond the Seas, and so free for all men to buy the same where they pleased.  
About September 1619, certain persons skilled in the mystery of Gold beating, being in all under thirty in number, and all or most of them incorporated into some, of the Companies of the City of London, combining and confederating themselves together, did for their own private lucre and gain by the means and furtherance of one Doctor Eglesham one of his Majesty's Physicians and Sir Henry Bretton Knight, obtained from the King's Majesty a Charter for a Corporation unto themselves, for the sole making of Gold and Silver Foliat, and a Proclamation Prohibiting the importation of any into this kingdom.  
And moreover, that the said Company of Goldbeaters for procuring the said Charter or Corporation, did promise and covenant to pay and allow out of their said Corporation unto the said Doctor Eglesham 200 lib. per annum, during life, and to Sir Henry Bretton 50 lib. per annum besides other yearly charges amounting unto in all 300 lib. per annum. or there about.  

The grievances therefore arising thereby do subsist of these particulars following.  
First that by this means, the Petitioners have ever since been enforced to buy, and take the said Foliat of the new erected Corporation of Goldbeaters and no where else.  
That they are enforced to give higher rates and prices then heretofore they were wont to pay, viz. they now exact and make your Suppliants the Cutlers pay 15 s. for so much Gold Foliat which before the erecting of the said Corporation they paid but 12 s. and 30 s. for so much Silver Foliat that they did usually buy for 20 s. & for your suppliants the Painters they make them pay 21 s. for their Gold Foliat, for the which before they did pay but 18 s. and yet the size lesser, and 11 s. for the Silver Foliat, the which they bought for 7 s. 6 d. and your Suppliants the Book Binder's pay 9 s. for so much Gold Foliat as heretofore they did usually buy for 8 s.  
That there are but six of the said Gold beaters which they call Wardens, which have all set gains thereof, and they confine the sail of the said Foliat to one place which they call their Hall, whither they tie all the rest of the said Goldbeaters to bring their Foliat, and constreynes the petitioners to come and buy, yea they have so combined and confederated themselves together, that they have caused themselves to be bound to each other by obligations in great sums of money, not to vent or sell any to your Suppliants at lower rates. And moreover have caused the rest of them being the said Foliat makers, to take several corporal oaths, not to sell any else where or to any of your Suppliants.  
That sinnce the obtaining of the said Corporation and proclamation, they made the same more thinner and deceiptfuller than the same was made before, so as the same doth sooner decay and fade in wearing, to the great discredit of your Suppliants, the workmen that use the same. And a damage and displeasing to the King's Majesty, the Nobility and Gentry, which needeth or shall need the use of guilding for adorning of their houses, Arms, Books, and other things.  
Whereas one Spencer a Goldbeater a poor man using his trade in secret places for fear of them for the getting of his living, The said Goldbeaters did chase him from place to place, and at last came forceably upon him, took away his tools, caused him to be arrested and cast in prison and there laid 4000 lib. Action upon him, and when as they did perceive some of your Suppliants to endeavour to relieve him and help him out of Prison, The said company of Goldbeaters together with one Norton the Clerk of their Hall did exhibit a long bill of 46 sheets of paper into his Majesty's Court of Star-chamber in the late Atturnney general his name for molestation sake only against some of your Suppliants and their wives, and put them to almost 20 lib. costs to answer the same, and withal gave out speeches that they would undo your Suppliants.  
The said Goldbeaters do spend and consume of the proper Coins or Bullion of this kingdom, in making of the said Foliat 3 or 4 thousand lib per annum. by estimation to the prejudice of the Common wealth in diminishing so much of his Bullion which would be turned into Coin.  
That if the said Charter and Proclammation were removed and taken away, there would be sufficient quantities of Gold and Silver Foliat imported into this Realm, from foreign parts for commodities sent from hence, to serve all his Majesty Dominions for all kind of uses, for ornaments, without diminishing any the Coins or Bullions of this Realm whatsoever, so as the Common wealth shall not be in this kind damnified, nor the trade of so many thousands of poor artificers of this kingdom that do get their liuings thereby impaired.  
Whereas the Goldbeaters do allege that the Foliat heretofore imported out of the Low Countries was base Gold, and made deceitfully. Your Suppliants which have used the same will maintain and aver, that the same was as good as any they make now a days, and fare better cheap.  
Whereas your Suppliants have complained unto them for selling their said stuff at such dear rates, and for making the same so thin, they have answered that your Suppliants, were better be content, for if they did find fault therewith, they should pay more for the same.  
Whereas the said Goldbeaters did complain for want of means to live upon, by their said trade, before the obtaining of the said Patent it is certainly known that they do now allow and pay out of their said Corporation 300 lib. or upwards per annum, to the said Doctor Eglesham, Sir Henry Bretton, the Clerk, and Beadle of their Hall, and otherwise, all which is merely exacted and raised out of the prices, & by the falsities of the said stuff, to the great damage of your Suppliants, and his Majesty's subjects. And yet by reason thereof the said workman's maintenance never a whit bettered.  
And lastlie the said Charter or Corporation is in the nature of a Monopoly, and is obnoxious to the Common wealth, in consuming his Coin and Bullion and enhancing the price of the said Foliat as aforesaid, and do tend to the undoing or hurt of many thousand of the poor Artificers in this land, of Cutlers, Painter's Stainers, and Bookbinder's, and to all others using this art of gilding, and is beneficial to none, but to the said Doctor Eglesham, Sir Henry Breton, the six Wardens of the Goldbeaters and the said Norton their Clerk for any thing your petitioners know, perceive or can discern.  
Wherefore they humbly pray the same may be called in and dissolved.