Certain Reasons why Tanned Leather ought not to be bought and sold again in this Kingdom of England not wrought and converted into made Ware, nor in any other place than open and public Fairs and Markets by the Law appointed.  
FIrst, Because the Law made in the first year of King James against the said Offence is still in force, and was made (no doubt) to prevent many great evils and mischiefs that might arise thereby; and amongst others such as are herein after mentioned.  
2. Because the said offence tends greatly to the deceit and abuse of the King's Subjects in general, for that thereby much Leather insufficiently tanned hath been and may be put into, and vented in Wares made of Leather, whereby the King's Subjects have been, are, and may be greatly deceived and injured.  
1. In the price they pay for such Ware, it being not worth half so much as they give for it, because it will not do half the service as that which is good.  
2. In their health, for that Boots and Shoes made of such Leather cannot but take in wet; whereby many have and may get cold and sickness, to their great grief and loss (yea, and to the peril of their lives) especial to such as are of weakly constitutions.  
3. The oftener Leather is bought and sold before it is made into Ware, the dearer the King's Subjects must pay for the fame in Ware.  
Secondly, This Offence tends very much to the hurt and damage of all Arrificers that work and convert Tanned Leather into made Ware.  
1. For that hereby Leather hath been, is, and will be (if not prevented,) engrossed and regretted, so that they that work and convert it into Ware have been, are, and will be forced to buy it at ●econd and third hand; whereas the Law provides they should buy it at the first hand of Tanners in open Fairs and Markets, after it hath been there lawfully searched and sealed.  
2. By means of this Offence of selling Tanned Leather so contrary to the Law, Artificers that convert Leather into made Ware (especially Shoemakers) have been, and may be cheated by those they employ in making their Ware; for that Leather being sold ●n private places, Journeymen Shoemakers have oftentimes bought bad and insufficient Leather, and put into their Master's Wares instead of their Masters good Leather, selling and using their Master's good Leather to their own advantage, so cheating both their Master and his Customer that buyeth such Ware, thereby also ruining their Master's Trade, which abuse (was not) nor could be so frequently committed, till Leather was sold in private places so contrary to the Law.  
3. By means of selling Tanned Leather in private places contrary to the Law many persons that keep no open Shops do buy bad and offal-Leather, and make Ware thereof selling the same not in any open Shop, Fair or Market, but do carry them up and down to private houses, thereby evading the penalty for bad Ware, deceiving those they sell to, and spoiling the Trade of such as sell good Ware in open Shops and Markets.  
4. By means of this Offence Artificers that convert Leather into Ware (especially Shooemokers) have been raised much in the prices for making of their Ware, which must needs make them dearer to the Buyers.  
Thirdly, By this evil practice of selling Tanned Leather so contrary to Law, open Fairs and Markets appointed for selling of Tanned Leather are greatly lessened and decayed, and in great danger to be quite lost and ruined (if not timely prevented) and the necessary and useful Trade of Tanning much impoverished and discouraged.  
1. For first, by the frequency of selling Tanned Leather in Shops and private places, there is brought little more than half so much Leather to many open Fairs and Markets (especially to the Morket of Leaden-Hall London) as commonly was accustomed before.  
And of some sort of Leather not one part of ●●urty is brought to the open Fairs and Markets, but carried from Tanners Yards to their houses and shops that sell the same again; being also never searched and sealed, nor sold in the Markets, as the Law requires.  
2. Hereby Artificers and converters of good Leather into Ware cannot have good Leather of that sort for their Money in the Markets, but are forced to buy such as they can get of them that engross it, at the second or third hand.  
3. Hereby many Artificers being kept from buying in the Markets, divers Tanners who tan good Leather and sell it in the Markets are ofttimes forced to lay up or carry home some sorts of good Leather for want of Chapmen to buy it.  
4. By this means several persons that buy tanned Leather to sell again to them that work and convert it into made ware, do ofttimes agree together to buy that Leather that comes to the Markets at such low rates as they please themselves (knowing that Artificers that should buy it in the Markets) are so engaged to them, that they cannot or dare not buy any but of them in their houses and shops, and that the Tanners must sell it them at such low rates, or carry it back again many miles to their great charge and loss; and having thus gotten and engrossed it into their hands do enhance the price to those that buy it of them again.  
Objection. If tanned Leather may not be sold but in open Fairs and weekly Markets, how shall the poorer sort of Artificers, that work and convert Leather into Ware be supplied with such quantities as they need and are able to pay for?  
Answer. 

First, No doubt but this matter was well weighed and considered by the King and Parliament that made the Law against the said Offence; and if there had been a necessity of selling Leather otherwise than in open Fairs and Markets, they would not have made a Law against it; but did (no doubt) upon experience of the evil consequences thereof make the aforesaid Law against it.  
2. Since the making of the said Law, and before this evil practice hath been used, it cannot be denied but is well known that the poorer sort of Artificers were supplied in open Fairs and weekly-Markets with such quantities as they needed and could pay for.   

For first, divers Tanners in all open Fairs and Markets cut many Hides of Leather into several pieces selling it in pieces there, each piece being searched and sealed to prevent deceit, as the Law requires; and so some do still, and others would if such Artificers did come to buy it in the Markets.  
2. In Leaden Hall London is appointed two Markets weekly for selling of tanned Leather whereby all may be supplied.  
3. It is altogether unreasonable that the conveniency of a few should be an occasion of so great loss and damage to the whole Kingdom in general.  
4. The Law provides that no Wares made of tanned Leather should be exposed to sale by any but in their open shops, Fairs and Markets, that such Ware may be liable to be searched, whether well made and of good Leather, and if any cannot keep an open shop, they may make new Ware for such as do, or mend old work as many do.  
5. Neither is it just or reasonable that any Interlopers and Engrossers should get away the profit and livelihood of the Tanners, and such as work and convert tanned Leather into Ware, nor yet enhance the prices of such Ware to the damage of the King's Subjects by their engrossing and regrating of Leather.  
Lastly, This evil practice hath already discouraged and much hindered the livelihood of such as tan Leather well and sell it in the Markets according to Law, and encouraged only both such Tanners and Engrossers that deceive the King's Subjects so contrary to Law.    
FINIS.