AN ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE Garbling Office Of the CITY Of LONDON. To all MERCHANTS and others whom it may Concern, 1679.  
WHEREAS the said Office is grounded upon several Acts of Parliament, and hath been found to be very useful for preventing many abuses in the Sale of Corrupt and mingled Spices, Drugs and other merchandises, and consequently for the Safety of His Majesties Person and Subjects, who daily use the same both in their Food and physic; and also for preventing many Controversies between the Buyers and Sellers: Yet notwithstanding of late, contrary to the true meaning of the said Acts, the Buyers and Sellers of these Commodities, have fallen upon new Devices in their private Bargains for their private gain, by their Clandestine practise of Covering and Concealing Freemen and foreigners Goods, hindering and preventing the Garbler appointed by the City from the due Execution of the said Office according to his Oath at his Admittance.  
THerefore these are to give Notice and Advertisement to all Merchants and Importers of Goods whatsoever, that they do not sell nor deliver any Spices, drugs, wears or merchandises Garblable, until they be first sufficiently Garbled and Cleansed, and Sealed with the Seal of the said Office, under the Penalties mentioned in the Act of Parliament, which is the Forfeiture of the whole Goods so Sold; and that all Transgressors and offenders herein will be Impartially and without Respect of Persons, proceeded against according to Law in his Majesties Court of Exchequer.  
And to you Gentlemen that are Shop-keepers and Ware-house-keepers, Retailers and Consumptioners whatsoever, of the said Goods Garblable; Ye are to take notice that ye do not Cover nor Conceal Freemen nor foreigners Goods, to the damage and hindrance of the due Execution of the said Office, according to ancient Custom, least those that are found to do so, be found guilty of the breach of their Oaths as Freemen. The said Office belonging to the City and is a part of her Immunities which every Freeman is Sworn to preserve.  
And this is to give the like Warning to some of you that exercise in the way of brokers, by experience being found to be guilty of this also, in that for Facilitateing the bargain to your own gain, you suffer the Merchant to slip into the breach of a known Law, by not discovering to the Seller the truth of his Danger.  
In Fine, it is purposed to call upon all such persons as have goods in their Shops, Cellars or Warehouses, that the same may be Garbled, which if denied and found Ungarbled, the Person so Transgressing will be proceeded against according to the true meaning of the Act for Garbling. And that hereafter none may pled Ignorance, it hath been thought fit to give this Friendly Advertisement.  
The Office is kept at the House of Mr. James Donalson in Rood-Lane, where there are fit Persons, and well qualified, to attend the said Work; and are upon their Oaths to deal justly and uprightly between man and man.