English royal blazon By the Maior. Orders set down for Blackewelhall.  blazon of the City of London, consisting of a shield bearing the cross of St. George (patron saint of England) with a sword (emblem of the martyrdom of St. Paul, patron saint of London) in the first quarter of the shield  
WHereas by Common council holden in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the city of London, before the right honourable the Lord Maior of the same city, and the right worshipful the Aldermen his brethren, and the Commons in the same common council assembled, on the ninth day of May, in the seven and thirtieth year of the reign of our late sovereign Lady queen Elizabeth. One act was made and agreed upon, the tenor whereof hereafter followeth in these words. Whereas diuers good laws, statutes, and ordinances, haue been heretofore devised and made, for the true and perfect making of clothes, and other the commodities hereafter mentioned, and for the viewing and searching of the same: And yet by reason that a great part of the clothes and commodities brought to the city of London to be sold, haue not been brought to the open Market place, or places appoynted for that purpose: But haue been bought and sold, in secret and private houses, and places, by such as haue transported and vented them, in foreign partes beyond the seas, or retailed them in their shops at home, or otherwise at their pleasure: The said clothes and other commodities neither haue been, or could bee conveniently viewed and preached, according to the true meaning of the said laws, statutes, and ordinances, and thereby as experience hath set forth, much deceitful and evil cloth, and other commodities, haue not onely been uttered, sold, and transported, from this city of London, to foreign partes out of this realm, to the great discredit of the said city and whole realm, and the commodities thereof, but also retailed and vitered within the same city, to the great offence, loss, and prejudice of many his majesties loving Subiectes, the wearers of the same. For remedy whereof: Be it enacted, ordained, and established, by the authority of this Common council, in maner and form hereafter following. That is to say, that all, and all maner of clothes, Ketsies, Frisies, rugs, bays, Cottons, and stockings, and all other commodities made of wool, or mixed with Wool, or of flare, towe, or hemp, or mixed with any of them, or of silk, crewel, or thread, or mixed with them, or any of them, and which are or shall be made, wrought, woven or knit within his majesties dominions or any the partes thereof. And also all Dowlasse, Lockeram, and linen clothes made or to be made in britain, in the partes beyond the seas, which shall be brought to this city of London, or the liberties, of the same, or to any part thereof, be it bought by foreign bargain, or to be sold at any time from and after the tenth day of june next, shall be brought to the common market place, or places thereunto appointed, in, at, or near Blackewelhall, within the said city of London, and there in the same Market place or places, or some of them, put to sale and absolutely sold, and not else where within the said city of London, or the Liberties thereof, vpon pain to loose and forfeit, all and every the cloth, clothes, wears, merchandises, and other the said commodities that shall be vented, sold or uttered, otherwise then in maner and form aforesaid, or the value thereof, Except always that all such Hampshire kerseys as hereafter shall bee bought in the Market of southwark in the county of Surrey, shall and may bee brought from thence into the city of London or liberties thereof, to the house of him or them that hath or shall so buy the same. So that such duties be paid for the hallage thereof unto the clerk of Blackewelhall, as if the same had been brought to the said Market of Blackewelhall: and except also that all such cloth and clothes, and other the commodities aforesaid, as shall at any time or times hereafter bee bought vpon any former bargains, to be made before they shall be brought unto the said city of London, and which shall bee afterwards brought to the said common market place or places, or any of them, and there presented, registered, and the duties of Market room paid, and a note in writing received from the clerk for the same duties which shall bee delivered to him or them that so bought the foresaid clothes and other commodities before they or any of them shall bee pitched or harboured in any other place or places, within the said city of London, or Liberties thereof, and also except all such cloth and clothes or other commodities aforesaid, which shalbe carried to any known Marchants house, and there laid down without his knowledge, if such merchant, or any for him shall make it known to the clerk of Blackewel hall, within three dayes next following, and then pay the duties due for the same, and cause the same to bee registered as aforesaid. And for that all and every person and persons may take knowledge of the lawful market places in the said city of London, forselling and buying of all the cloth, clothes, wears, and other commodities above specified. It is hereby notified, declared, ordained and enacted by the authority aforesaid, that Blackewelhall within the said city of London, and the rooms therein or near thereunto adjoining now or hereafter to be used a common market place or places, for the said cloth, clothes, wears, and other commodities are and shall bee the ordained, assigned and appointed Market place and places, for all foreigners to sell every of the said several cloth, clothes, wears and commodities in maner as thereunto heretofore, and now they haue been and are accustomablie used and not elsewhere. And it is also enacted, ordained, and declared, by the authority aforesaid, that from the said tenth day of june next, the lawful times for selling and buying in any of the saide-markets, or market place or places, shall be and begin weekly on every Thursday at one of the clock in the afternoon, and continue until four of the clock of the same afternoon, and on every Friday at eight of the clock in the fore-none, and continue until eleven of the clock in the same forenoon, and shal likewise begin in the afternoon of the same Friday, at one of the clock, and continue until four of the clock of the same Friday in the afternoon, and shal begin again every Saturday, at eight of the clock in the forenoon, and shal continue until eleven of the clock in the forenoon of the same day, and that the said houres hereby appointed and limited for the beginning and ending of every of the said market times shal be known by the ringing of the market bell in Blackewel hall aforesaid appoynted for that use and purpose. This to be held and continued weekly every week through the year, from year to year,( the twelve dayes in Christmas onely excepted.) And that all and every such cloth, clothes, and other commodities before specified, as shall be there put to sale at any other time or times, then is afore limited shall be forfeited. And it is further ordained and enacted, that from and after the said tenth day of june next, no manner person or persons not being free of the said city, shall by himself, or any other for him, or by his means or practise, bargain or sell in any place or places within the Liberties of this city, out of the said assigned market place or places any of the said Clothes, kerseys, or other commodities, nor shall buy any of the same within any the said assigned Market place or places, to the intent to sell the same again in any of the said assigned Market places, or elsewhere, within the said city or liberties thereof, vpon pain to forfeit and loose for every such offence the cloath, clothes, kerseys, and other the said commodities so bought or sold, or the value thereof. And also that every person and persons being free of this city, which shall harbour or receive the said cloath, clothes, or commodities so bought or sold contrary to the tenor of this act, and the true meaning thereof, shall forfeit and loose his freedom, and not to be thereunto readmitted but by the Lord Maior, Aldermen, and Common counsel of the said city for the time being. And it is likewise hereby further enacted and ordained, that no person or persons now free, or hereafter to bee made free, of the said city, shall from and after the said tenth day of june next, sell, or cause to be sold, any cloath, clothes, kerseys, or any other the commodities aforenamed, either in his own name, or for, or in the name of any other within the said common Markets, or any of them, vpon 〈…〉 to forfeit and loose every such cloth, clothes, and other commodities so sold, or the value thereof. And to the intent to cut off the great fraud and abuse used by sundry persons being free of this city, and others by foreign buying and selling, contrary to the ancient laws, customs and liberties of the same city, and for the better finding out of the same fraudulent dealings. It is further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the clerk or Officer for the collecting of duties due for the harbouring and pitching of cloath at the said Market of Blackwell hall, and places aforesaid shall keep a Register book weekly through the whole year, of the names and surnames of the said clothmen and free men, owners of such clothes and kerseys, and other commodities, as shall be bought vpon any former bargain, before they shall be brought to the said city, and which shall be brought to the said Market place or places, according to the tenor of this act, and shal Register the true number of such clothes, kerseys,& other commodities, together with the names and surnames of the said free-men, or other buyers and sellers of the same: Vpon pain that the said officer shall for not keeping the said book truly and faithfully as afore-said, and for not giuing a note in writing, for the duties paid to him or them that shall pay the same according to the true meaning 〈…〉 and loose his said office. And if the owner of the said goods or his Carrier, be they foreigners or free, shall deny to the said officer to give the true names and surnames of the buyers and sellers, with the just number of all such clothes and kerseys, and other commodities aforesaid, so brought to the Hall aforesaid. Then it is hereby further ordained and enacted, that the said buyers and sellers whether they be free or foreigners shall haue no benefit of the exception above specified in this present Act, concerning former bargains, but shal be bound to put to sale the same cloath, clothes and commodities aforesaid in Blackewel hall Market, or in other the place or places appoynted as aforesaid, as though there had been no former bargain of the same clothes or other commodities. And for the beter reformation of the offences and abuses, purposed to be reformed and amended, by this present act or Common council, and the more ready execution of the same. It is finally enacted, ordained,& established by the authority aforesaid, that all, and all maner cloath, clothes, wears, commodities, sum and sums of money, and other things whatsoever, that shall be forfeited by virtue of this Act shal be obtained, levied, or recovered, either by seizure, or else by action of debt, bill, plaint, or information, in the name of the chamberlain of the said city, for the time being, in the kings majesties Court holden in the chamber of the Guildhall of the said city, before the Maior and Aldermen of the same, for the time being, wherein no essoign, portection, or wager of lawe shall be admitted or allowed. And that all the pains, penalties and forfeitures, to bee had or recovered by virtue of this Act, the charges of recovery deducted, shall be divided into three equal partes, whereof one third part shall bee employed to the Maior and commonalty of the same city, towards the maintenance and reparations of Blackwelhall aforesaid: One other third part to the use of the poor children of Christs hospital within the said city. And the other third part to him that will sue for the same, being a free-man.  
Now to the end that all persons whom the said Act may in any sort concern, may take knowledge thereof, and thereby may the rather avoid the danger of the penalties therein contained. The right honourable the Lord Maior of the city aforesaid, and the right worshipful the Aldermen his brethren, haue thought good by Proclamation to publish the same.  
Dated at the Guildhall of the city of London, the nine and twentieth day of November in the second year of the reign of our sovereign Lord james, by the grace of God, King of Great britain, France and Ireland, defender of the Faith. 
 God save the King.   

Printed by John w 〈…〉 ●●●ourable city of London.