blazon or coat of arms of the City of London Commune Concilium tentum in Camera Guildhald, civit. London, tertio die Octobris, Anno Regni Domini nostri jacobi, Dei gratia, Angliae, Franciae,& Hiberniae, Regis fidei defensoris, &c. vicesimo,& Scotiae quinquagesimo sexto. Coram Edwardo Barkham Milite, Maiore civitat. London, Petro Proby Maiore electo eiusdem civitatis, Heneagio Finch Armigero, Recordatore civitat. predict. Thoma Bennet milite, Thoma low milite, Willielmo Cokaine milite, Martino Lumley, Willielmo Gore, Cutberto Hacket, Richardo hernia, Ricardo dean, jacobo Cambell, Edwardo Allen, Roberto Ducie, Georgio Whitmore& Nicholao. Rainton Aldermannis ac than Hodges Aldermanno,& Humfrido Hamford milite& Aldermanno dicte civitat. Nec non Maiore parte Communiariorum eiusdem civit. existent, assemblat. &c.  
WHereas Blackwell-Hall anciently hath been, and is a Common Market place, principally instituted and ordained for Clothiers, thither to bring, pitch, put to sale, and sell their Clothes, and the clothier by himself or his household seruant heretofore, hath used to make his own sales to the Merchant or Draper, to his profit and good content. But now of late diuers persons haue cunningly interposed themselves to deal as Factors and Brokers between the Merchant, Draper, and Clothier in the said market, and by their indirect means working as well vpon the Buyer as vpon the Seller, do either much advance or debase the price and value of the Cloth, so brought to the said market at their pleasure, to the great prejudice and greeuance of both Merchant, Draper, and clothier: of which abuse, practise, and ill dealing of Factors and brokers, the Clothyers of the city of Worcester, under the Common seal of that city, and the Clothyers of the town of Redding in the county of Berks, haue grievously complained and petitioned to the Court of Lord Maior and Aldermen, for some redress therein.  
For reformation whereof, Bee it therefore enacted by the Right Honourable the Lord Maior, the Aldermen his Brethren, and the Commons in this present Common council assembled, and by the authority of the same, That from and after the Feast of All-Saints next coming, no person or persons, shall deal or intermeddle in the said Market place of Black-well-hall as a Common Broker or Factor, for or between the clothier, the Merchant, or Draper, or for or between the Merchant and Draper, for any Worcester or Redding Clothes, or other Clothes made in either of the Counties of Worcester or Berks; or take vpon him to sell any Clothes of either of the said makings, other then the Clothyers of the said Counties, or their own household seruants.  
And if any person shall offend, contrary to this Act, he shall forfeit and loose the sum of five pounds for every Cloth so sold, contrary to the intent of this act, the one half to bee employed to the use of the poor Children harboured in Christs hospital, and the other half to him that shall first give Information of the said offence, to the chamberlain of the said city for the time being.  
Which pain, penalty, and sum of money to be forfeited by virtue of this Act, shall bee recovered by and in the name of the chamberlain of this city for the time being in the kings majesties Court holden before the Lord Maior and Aldermen of the city of London, in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the said city, by Action, Bill, or Information, wherein no essoign, Protection, or Wager of Law, shall be admitted or allowed for the Defendant. And if the suite shall pass for the plaintiff, he shall recover against the said Defendant, his ordinary Costs of suite. And after the recovery had, the forfeiture so recovered, to be employed according to the true intent and meaning of this Act. And if the svit shall pass against the plaintiff, the defendant shall recover his ordinary costs against the plaintiff.  
❧ God save the King. ❧   

London Printed by William jaggard, Printer to the Honourable city of London.