ANNO. FOUR Henrici octavi.   English blazon 
These be the Statutes established in diverse parliaments for the mystery of the pewterers of London, and concerning the search of pewter, brass, and untrue beams & weights, & for deceivable Hawkers, with diverse other orders & redresses to be had in the said mystery, with the renewing and confirming of the same Statutes.   

An act made the fourth year of our Sovereign Lord, King Henry the viii concerning Pewterers, and true weights and beams. the vii cap.  
FOrasmuch as a certain Act was made and established in the Parliament holden at Westminster the xix year of the reign of the last most famous King your Father Henry the vii (whom God pardon:) Concerning Pewterers and Braziers, hawking and walking about the countries, and also concerning false beams, scales and weights, with a provision for casting of fine metal and of perfect goodness, which act was made to endure to the next parliament, the tenor whereof ensueth. That where many simple and evil disposed persons of this your Realm of England, using the said crafts, daily go about this your Realm from village, from town, and from house to house, aswell in woods and forests as other places, to buy Pewter and Brass. And that knowing thieves and other pickers that steal aswell pewter & brass belonging to your highness, and under your mark, and to the Lords spiritual and temporal, as to other your subjects of this your Realm, bring such stolen vessels to them in such hid places to sell, and sell it for little or nought, and about they bring it to privy places or into corners of Cities or towns, and there sell much part of it to strangers which carry it over the Sea by stealth.  
Also the said persons so going about, and diverse other using the said crafts, use to make new vessels and to mix good metal and bad togethers, and make it nought and sell it for good stuff: where in deed the stuff and metal thereof is not worth the fourth part that it is sold for, to the great hurt, deceit, and loss of your subjects.  
Also divers persons using the said crafts have deceivable and false beams and scales, 
Nota.  that one of them will stand even with twelve pound weight at the one end, against a quarter of a pound at the other end, to the singular advantage of themself, and to the great deceit and loss of your subjects buyers and sellers with them.  
For reformation of the premises, it would please your Highness of your most abundant grace, 
The ordinance.  with the advise of your Lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, to enact and 'stablish that no person nor persons using the said craft of Pewterers and Braziers, from henceforth shall sell or change any pewter or brass, new or old, at any place or places within this your realm but only in open Fairs or Markets, or in their own dwelling houses: but if they be desired by the buyers of such wares, upon pain of forfeiture to our Sovereign Lord the King, 
Penalt x. pound.  for every such default ten pounds.  
Also by the same authority may be it established that no person nor persons of what condition or degree so ever he or they be, 
Nota.  from henceforth within the City of London and York or without, either cast or work any Pewter vessels or Brass, at any place or places, within this your Realm: but that it be as good fine metal as is the pewter and brass, cast and wrought after the perfit goodness of the same within the City of London, and by the statutes of the same aught to be, upon pain of forfeiture of all such Pewter and Brass so cast and wrought of worse Pewter or Brass than ought to be wrought in the same Cities. The one half of every such forfeiture to be to the use of your Highness, and the other half to the use of the finders thereof.  
Provided always that this forfeiture in no wise extend to brass or pewter, 
Provision.  being in the possession of any person, other than the workers of the same, or such as have the same to sell, and being of the crafts or mystery. Also that it may by the same authority be enacted and established that no manner of person or persons of what degree or condition soever he or they be, 
Nota.  from henceforth make no hollow wares of pewter. That is to say, Saltes and Pots that is made of pewter called ley metal, but that it may be after the assize of pewter ley metal wrought within the City of London. And that the makers of such wares shall mark the same with several marks of their own, 
Penalt.  to the intent that the makers of such wares shall avow the same wares by them (as is above said) to be wrought.  
And that all and every such wares not sufficiently made and wrought, and not marked in form above said, founden in the possession of the same maker or seller, to be forfeited. And if the same ware be sold, 
Penalte.  the said maker to forfeit the value of the same so unlawfully wrought and sold, the one half of the said wares or the value thereof to be to the use of your Highness, & the other half to be to the use of the finders or searchers of the same.  

Beams and weights.  Also that it may by the same authority be enacted and established, that if any person or persons hereafter using buying and selling of pewter or brass, that hereafter occupy any deceable or false beams or weights of the said wares, that every such person or persons using or occupying such deceivable & untrue beams or weights, to forfeit twenty shillings. The one half to the King, and the other half to the party that therefore shall sue by action of det. And that in the said action no protection nor essoin shall be allowed. And also the said party so offending shall forfeit his Beam to him that shall seize it. And if the said offender or offenders be not sufficient to pay the said somme or sommes by them so forfeited, that then it shallbe lawful to the Mayres, Bailiffs, or other head Officers of such place or places where any such offenders shallbe found, to put them in the Stocks, and them so to keep till the next Market day next adjoining, and in the Market place to put them in the Pillory all the Market time. 
Search.  And furthermore that it be lawful by the said authority, that the Master and wardens of the said craft of Pewterers within every City or Borough of this Realm where such wardaynes are. And where no such wardains are, the head officers or governors of the same City or Borough to appoint certain persons most expert in knowledge of the same, to make search within the said Cities or boroughs where they dwell. And over this the justices of peace, within every Shire at the general sessions holden at Mighelmas shall assign and appoint two certain persons having experience therein, to make search in the premises in every part of the Shire aswell within the franchise as without, saving in Cities or boroughs where searchers be appointed by the heads or governors of the same. And that all such unlawful pewter or brass, as the said searchers shall find, the one half to the use of your Grace, and the other half to the searchers. And that in the default of the said Masters and wardens of the said occupations not searching in form as is aforesaid, and whereby that any such unlawful metal is cast or made, or unlawful weights used, that then it shallbe lawful to any person or persons having sufficient cunning & knowledge in the said occupations by oversight of the Maires, Bailiffs, or head Officers of the said Cities and Boroughs and towns, to search all the said places, and to put those said authority and act in execution, in form aforesaid. Please it therefore your Grace and wisdoms in so much as the said act is thought good and profitable, that it be ordained, enacted, and established by the Lords, spiritual and temporal, and the commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the said act may endure for ever. And over that be it enacted by the said authority, 
For true metal and work manship.  that if any untrue or deceivable metal or workmanship of Tin or pewter, be founden either in Platters, Chargers, Dishes, Saucers, Potengers, Trenchers, Basins, Flagons, Bottles, Pots, Saltsellers, Goblets, Spoons, Cruets, or candlesticks, or in any other such wares of tin or Pewter, wheresoever it be cast, made or wrought within this Realm or without, and brought to be sold within the same Realm. That then it shallbe lawful to the More of the City of London, and the Master and Wardaynes of the craft of Pewterers of the said City for the time being, and their deputies, to have search of the same within the City of London and the Subbarbes of the same, and that in all other Cities, Boroughs and Towns where any Wardaines be or shallbe, the Maires, Bailiffs, or head Officers and Wardaines to have like authority.  
And where no wardaines be, than the head Officers or governors of the same Cities, Boroughs, and Towns to appoint certain persons most expert and cunning in knowledge of the same, to make search within the said cities, Boroughs, and Towns where they dwell.  
And if any such new wares wrought of Tin and Pewter as is aforesaid be found defective, 
Pewter being defective to be forfeited.  and being in the possession of the seller, that then the same person or persons that putteth any such new wares of pewter to sale shall forfeit the same wares, the one half to the use of our Sovereign Lord the King, and the other half to the searchers or finders of the same.  
Provided always that this act concerning the forfeiture be not prejudicial nor hurtful to any person or persons having grant of our Sovereign Lord the King, 
Provision.  or of any of his noble Progenitors by his letters patents of such forfeiture, but that they & every of them shall have and enjoy the same according to their former grants and liberties.  

An Act concerning Pewterers, made in the xxv. year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, King Henry the eight, in the ninth Chapter.  
IN their most lamentable wise shown, 
Petition.  and piteously complain unto the kings most royal Majesty, and to this most high Court of parliament, the Kings most humble poor, & obeisant subjects, the Master, wardaines, & poor fellowship of the craft & mystery of Pewterers, as well of the City of London, as of all other places within this Realm of England, that where the said craft or mystery before this time hath been one of the best handicrafts within this Realm, which hath not only grown & continued by mean of diverse good acts & statutes made for the true exercise of the same, whereof one was made in the xix year of the Kings most renowned Father, whose soul God pardon. And one other was made in the fourth year of the Kings most victorious reign, concerning the crafts of Pewterers & Braziers, of and for the true making, mixting, and selling of good & true pewter, and brazen vessels. And also for exercising and using of true weights and beams to be occupied by the sellers of any such pewter or brazen vessels within this Realm, so that none of the kings Subjects, nor any other person should by any sale of any false mixed brazen and pewter vessel, or any untrue weights be deceived, as by the said statutes more plainly doth appear.  
Which good Statutes duly put in execution, hath caused the said craft to increase and multiply, to the great profit and utility of a great number of the King's subjects, & the commodity of pewter vessel much to be had in reputation in all strange Regions and Countries, until now of late diverse evil disposed persons, being the kings Subjects borne, which have been apprentices and brought up in the exercise of the said craft of pewterers, have now of late for their singular lucre repaired into strange regions and countries, and there do exercise the said craft of Pewterers, teaching strangers (not only the cunning of mixtinge and forging of all manner of pewter vessel) but also do teach all things belonging to the said craft of Pewterers. By mean whereof there is not only brought (daily into this Realm) out of strange Regions to be sold, great number of things made of pewter untruly mixed and made of Tin, wherewith the kings subjects be daily deceived, and the people of strange countries greatly instructed in the cunning of the said craft of pewterers, in such wise the thereby not only a great number & quantity of pewter vessel, & other things of pewter made in diverse sorts and fashions, amounting to a great value, which was daily and continually wont to be carried & conveyed out of this Realm by Merchants into strange regions and countries, and there to be sold and vended. Whereby the commodity of Tin made into pewter vessel, which hath been had in great estimation, as things very necessary and commodious, & the kings customs thereby much advanced, is now like utterly to cease and decay, and not to be esteemed as heretofore hath been, but also the said craft of Pewterers, which at this day setteth and keepeth in work and occupation a great number of people, shallbe utterly undone. And a great multitude of the King's natural Subjects thereby fall into idleness, to the great impoverishment of this Realm, if speedy remedy for the redress of the premises be not provided.  
In tender consideration whereof, and for reformation of the premises, 
Any manner of pewter wrought out of this Realm to be forfeited.  it may please your highness, by the assent of the Lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, to ordain and enact, that no person or persons hereafter, at any time now inhabiting, or which hereafter shall inhabit within this Realm shall buy or otherwise take by exchange for other wares, any wares made, or hereafter to be made out of this Realm of Tin, or mixed with Tin, as Platters, 
Search & seizure.  Dishes, Saucers, Pots, Basins, Ewers, Flagons, Goblets, Salt, Saltsellers, Spoons, or any other thing made of Tin or Pewter as aforesaid, whatsoever it be, upon pain of forfeiture of the same ware, in whose hands soever it may be found or taken: and also lawful money currant in this Realm to the value thereof. The one half of the same forfeiture to be to the use of the kings highness, and the other half to the use of the finders of the same.  

Penalte.  And furthermore be it enacted, that it shall be lawful to the Master and wardens of the said craft of Pewterers, as well within the City of London, as within every other City, Borough, & Town of this Realm where such wardaines be. And where no such wardaines be, to the head Officer or governor, head Officers or governors of the same City, Borough, or town for the time being to appoint diverse persons most expert in knowledge of the same, to make search and seizure, and to take into their hands and possession all such wares as hereafter shall be brought contrary to the true intent and effect of this present Act, in whose soever hands or possession any such shallbe found.  
And also be it enacted by the authority abovesaid, 
Prentices or journey men strangers borne.  that no person nor persons occupying the said craft or occupation of Pewterers, within this Realm shall set on work or retain in his or their service any person or persons to be his or their Apprentice, or journey man being stranger borne out of this Realm, upon pain to forfeit for every such Apprentice and journeyman ten pounds sterling. 
Strangers shall not work pewter within the realm  And that no stranger borne out of this Realm shall occupy, exercise, or use from the feast of Pentecost next coming, the said craft of Pewterers, nor work any manner of vessel or other ware aforesaid to be made of Tin or Pewter, within any place or places of this Realm, upon pain of forfeiture of ten pounds sterling. And also upon pain of forfeiture of the same pewter or tin so wrought, in whose hands soever it may be taken or found.  
And also be it enacted by authority aforesaid, 
Exercise beyond Sea.  that no person nor persons being borne within this Realm, occupying or exercising the said craft of Pewterers, shall at any time hereafter resort to any strange Regions or Countries, there to use, teach, or exercise the said craft of Pewterers upon pain to lose the Privilege & benefit of an Englishman. And if in case any of the kings Subjects, at this present time being dwelling in any strange Country or Region, and there occupying the said craft of Pewterers do not repair into this Realm within three Months next after request & warning to him be given, by writing sealed with the common seal of the Wardaines of the said craft, within the said City of London, and here in this Realm continually from henceforth dwell & inhabit that then & from henceforth he shall be taken & reputed as no Englishman, but shall stand & be from henceforth out of the King's protection.  
And forasmuch as sundry evil disposed persons which commonly be called hawkers, 
Hawkers  by authority of the kings letters patents or placard, do not only go about from place to place within this Realm, using buying and selling of brass and pewter. And by colour and pretence of the same Licences and Placardes, use unlawful and deceivable weights and Beams, but also do use to sell both Pewter and Brass, which is not good, nor truly, nor lawfully mixed nor wrought, to the great deceit of the King's true liege people contrary to the form and effect of the said good Act and Statute made in the said fourth year of the Kings most noble reign. Be it therefore enacted by authority of this present Parliament, that all such licences and placardes heretofore had, made, or granted to any such person or persons contrary to the true meaning, form, and effect of this Statute shallbe from henceforth by authority of this present parliament clearly void and of none effect. And where as in the said act of parliament (concerning the craft of Pewterers & Braziers) made in the said fourth year, for diverse causes and considerations in the same contained, among other things it is expressed that no person or persons using the said craft of Pewterers or Braziers should from henceforth sell or change any pewter or brass, new or old, at any place or places within this Realm, but only in open Fairs or Markets, or in their own dwelling houses, but if they were desired by the buyers of such wares, upon pain of forfeiture for every such default ten pounds.  
Forasmuch as the same forfeiture is to the only use of the King's highness, 
Hawkers  and that any party searching or finding the same is not entitled to have any benefit thereby, it hath not been known that any person or persons have taken any pain to insearch or make any inquire thereof. By reason whereof diverse & many evil disposed persons using buying and selling both of Brass & Pewter and not regarding the said good act, nor the said penalty, daily go about from Village to village, Town and town, and from house to house, to sell such Pewter and Brass, which is not good. And also use deceivable weights and Beams as they did before the making of the said act to the great hurt and deceit of the King's true liege people and Subjects. 
Penalty for hawkers.  Wherefore be it enacted by the authority abovesaid, that aswell the moiety of the said forfeiture of ten pounds limited in the said statute made in the said fourth year, as also the moiety of all other forfeitures before expressed, and every of them be and shall be to the use of the kings highness, his Heirs and Successors, and the other moiety of the same forfeitures and every of them to the use of him or them, that shall seize, find or present the said forfeitures or any of them, or that shall sue for the same in any competent Court or Courts, within this Realm by action of debt, bill, plaint or information, wherein the defendant shall in no wise be admitted to wage his law, or any protection or essoin to any person or persons which shallbe impeached to have offended contrary to the form and effect of this Statute, shallbe allowable. This act to endure to the last day of the next parliament.   

The annotations of the confirmations and renovations of the aforesaid Statutes.  

Confirmation.  ANd it is to be noted that the said last act was renewed in the parliament holden at Westminster the viii day of june, in the xxviii year of our said Sovereign Lord, to and among other acts. And that all clauses, articles, and provisions therein contained to stand in their force and strength, to the last day of the next parliament. And also the said act was renewed again in the parliament holden at Westminster the xxviii of April, in the xxxi year of our said Sovereign Lord, amongst other acts, as is aforesaid. etc.   

An act concerning Pewterers made in the xxxiii year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King Henry the eight Chap. iiij.  

Recital of the statute made the thirty. year.  WHere at the parliament begun at London the third day of November, in the xxi year of the reign of the King our Sovereign Lord, and from thence adjourned to Westminster and there holden, and from that time continued by diverse prorogations unto the xu day of january the xxv year of his most noble reign, it was ordained and established by the assent of the King's Majesty, his Lords spiritual & temporal, and the commons in the said parliament then assembled, and by the authority of the same, that no person or persons, from that time than inhabiting, or which after that time should inhabit within this Realm should buy, or otherwise take by exchange for other wares, any manner wears made, or hereafter to be made out of this Realm, of Tin, or mixed with Tin, as Platters, Dishes, saucers, Pots, Basins, Ewers, Flagons, goblets, Saltes, Saltsellers, Spoons, or any other thing made of Tin or Pewter as aforesaid, whatsoever it were, upon pain of forfeiture of the same wares, in whose hands soever it might be found or taken, & also lawful money currant in this Realm to the full value thereof, the one half of the same forfeiture to be to the use of the kings highness, and the other half to be to the use of the finders of the same: And further it was enacted, that it should be lawful to the Master and wardens of the Pewterers, as well within the City of London, as within every other City, Borough, or Town within this Realm where such wardaines were, & where no such wardaines were, to the head Officer or governor, head Officers or governors of the same City, Borough, or town for the time being, to appoint diverse persons, most expert in knowledge of the same, to make search and seizure, and to take into their hands and possession all such wares as thereafter should be brought contrary to the true intent and effect of the said act, in whose soever hands or possessions any such should be found. And it was also enacted by the authority abovesaid, that no person or persons occupying the said craft or occupation of Pewterers within this Realm should set on work, or retain in his or their service any person or persons to be his or their Apprentice, or journeyman stranger borne out of this Realm, upon pain to forfeit for every such Apprentice and journeyman ten pounds sterling: And that no stranger borne out of this Realm should occupy, exercise, or use, from the feast of Pentecost than next coming, the said craft of Pewterers, nor work any manner of vessels or other ware aforesaid, to be made of Tin or Pewter, within any place or places of this Realm, upon pain of forfeiture of ten pounds sterling: And also upon pain of forfeiture of the same pewter or Tin so wrought, in whose hands soever it should be found or taken: And it was further enacted by the said authority that no person or persons being borne within this Realm, than occupying or exercising the said craft of Pewterers, should from thenceforth resort into any strange Regions or Countries, there to use, teach, or exercise the said craft of Pewterers upon pain to lose the Privilege & benefit of an Englishman.  
And if in case any of the kings Subjects, at that time being dwelling in any strange Country or Region, & there occupying the said craft of pewterers, did not repair into this Realm with in three months next after request & warning to him to be given, by writing sealed with the common seal of the Wardaines of the said craft within the said City of London, and here in this Realm continually from thenceforth dwell & inhabit that then & from henceforth he should be reputed & taken as no Englishman, but should stand and be from henceforth out of the kings protection.  
And it was than further enacted, that where sundry evil disposed persons, which commonly were called hawkers, by authority of the Kings letters patents or placard, did not only go about from place to place within this Realm, using buying and selling of brass and pewter, and by colour and pretence of the same Licences or Placards, did not only use unlawful & deceivable weights and Beams, but also did use to sell both Brass and Pewter, which was not good, nor truly or lawfully mixed or wrought, to the great deceit of the kings true liege people contrary to the form and effect of a good and laudable Act and Statute made in the fourth year of the Kings said most noble reign, that all such licences & placardes afore that time had made or granted to any such person or persons contrary to the true meaning, form, and effect of the said statute, should be from thenceforth by the authority of the said parliament clearly void and of none effect. And where as in the said act of parliament (concerning the said craft of Pewterers and Braziers) made in the said fourth year, for diverse causes and considerations in the same act contained, amongst other things it was expressed, that no person or persons, using the said craft of Pewterers or Braziers should from henceforth sell or change any pewter or brass, new or old, at any place or places within this Realm, but only in open Fairs or Markets, or in their own dwelling houses, but if they were desired by the buyers of such wares, upon pain of forfeiture for every such default ten pounds. And so than the same forfeiture was to the only use of the Kings highness, and the party searching or finding the same was not entitled to have any benefit thereby: it was not known that any person or persons had taken any pains to insearch or make any inquire thereof. By reason whereof diverse & many evil disposed persons than using buying and selling as well of Brass as Pewter, and not regarding the said good act, nor the said penalty, went daily about from Village to village, Town to town, and from house to house, to sell such Pewter and Brass, which was not good, and also used deceivable weights and Beams, as they did before the making of the said act to the great hurt and deceit of the Kings true liege people and Subjects. Wherefore it was enacted by the authority of the said Parliament, that aswell the moiety of the said forfeiture of ten pounds limited in the said statute made in the said fourth year, as also the moiety of all other forfeitures and penalties, expressed and specified in the said acts, and every of them should be to the use of the kings highness, his Heirs and Successors, and the other moiety of the same forfeitures and penalties and every of them to the use of him, or them that would seize, find or present the same forfeitures or any of them, or that would sue for the same in any competent Court or Courts within this Realm by action of debt, bill, plaint or information wherein the defendant should in no wise be admitted to wage his law, or any protection or essoin to any person or persons which should be impeached to have offended contrary to the form and effect of this Statute, should be allowable, as in the said act more plainly appeareth, which act was appointed to endure only to the end of the next parliament than next following, and which act was after renewed in the Parliament holden at Westminster, in the xxviii year of the reign of our said Sovereign Lord, to endure until the end of the next Parliament than next following: And which act was also renewed at the parliament holden at Westminster, in the xxxi. and xxxii years of our said Sovereign Lords reign to endure until the last day of the next Parliament than next ensuing: 
Confirmation.  Prayen therefore in this present parliament our said Sovereign Lords true & obedient Subjects, the Pewterers of this his said Realm, & other the true commons of the same, because the same act is beneficial and necessary for the common wealth of this Realm: That it may be enacted by the King our said Sovereign Lord, the Lords spiritual and temporal, & the commons in the present Parliament assembled, and by authority of the same forasmuch as the same, act and every thing therein contained, is good and beneficial to the common wealth of this Realm, that all and every the said acts and statutes, and all and every, article sentence and clause comprised in the same, may from henceforth stand & abide in as full strength and effect for evermore from henceforth to endure, according to the purport, tenor and effect of the same act & acts, as though the said articles sentences & clauses were specially limited recited or declared in this present act. 
Wares made & brought from beyond the Sea.  And that no person ne persons from henceforth buy or take by exchange, or otherwise take into or within this Realm, to the intent to sell any such things or wares above rehearsed, made or to be made out of this Realm upon pain of like forfeitures and penalties, as are and were expressed in the said several acts, the same penalties and forfeitures to be levied as is afore expressed.  

Master & wardens shall not be let to search.  And that it may be further enacted by authority aforesaid, that if any person or persons do unlawfully withstand, interrupt, disturb, or let the Master and wardens, or their deputies of the said craft of Pewterers for the time being, or the head Officer or governor, head Officers or governors of Cities, Towns & Boroughs within this Realm, wherein no such Master and wardens are or shallbe, or any of them in searching, seizing, and taking into their hands and possessions such wares as shall happen to be bought or brought into this Realm contrary to the purport and effect of the said statute, made in the said xxv year of the reign of our said Sovereign Lord, that then every such person and persons so offending, in letting disturbing or withstanding the said seizure or taking of such wares as is aforesaid, shall lose and forfeit for every time so doing the sum of five pounds sterling, the one half whereof, shallbe to the Kings use, and the other half to him or them that will or shall sue for the same, by action of debt, writ, bill, plaint, or information in any the kings Courts of record, in which action or suit no Protection, Privilege nor wager of law shallbe allowed nor admitted.   
God save the Queen. 

Thomas Elyot Master.  


Thomas Nogey.  
Thomas Hawk.   Wardens.     

Londini excudebat Guilielmus How.