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TOUCHSTONE 
 
 FOR 
 
 Gold and Silver Wares. 
 
 o R, 
 
 A Manual for Goldfmiths } 
 
 AND 
 
 All other Perfons* whether Buyers, 
 Sellers, or Wearers of any manner of 
 GOLDSMITHS Work. 
 
 DISCOVERING 
 
 The Rales belonging to that Myftery, 
 and the Way and Means how to Know 
 Adulterated WARES from thofe made of the 
 True Standard Allay*, And what are the True 
 Weights appointed for weighing of the fame. 
 
 Together 
 
 With the fcveral ST A TU T E S now in 
 Force for Regulating Abufes committed in that 
 Craft. And the CHARTER cf the Goldfmiths 
 incorporation taken from the Record and truly ren- 
 i 4 red into fingiifh. 
 
 ! To which is Annexed 
 
 | The LATH’S in force again 11 Erafs Hilts, and 
 1 Brafs Buckles, &c. And Directions for Difcovering the 
 Counterfeit Coyn of this K. 1 NG D 0 M- And alfo a 
 Catalogue of the Forraign Coyiis, with the particular 
 Weights, Allay, and Value of each Coyn. 
 
 By JVM. oi London^ Goldfmith. 
 
 1 land on , Printed for John Bellinger in Cliff or ds-inn Lane- 
 .-And Thomas B a Jett at the George near Cliffords* 
 Innc in FleH'ftreet, 1677 . 
 
The Intent of the Frontifpiece. 
 
 1 St. Dunftan, The Patron of the Goldfmiths 
 
 Company. 
 
 2 The Refining Furnace. 
 
 3 The Teft with Silver refining on it. 
 
 4 The Fineing Bellows. 
 
 5 The .Man blowing or working them. 
 
 6 The Teft Mould. 
 
 7 F Wind-hole to melt Silver in without Bel- 
 
 lows. 
 
 8 F pair of Organ Bellows. 
 
 9 F Man melting or boy linger neding Silver 
 
 at them. 
 
 to F Block yvith a large Fnvil placed thereon. 
 
 1 1 Three Men Forging Plate . 
 
 1 2 The Fineing and other Goldfmiths Tools. 
 
 13 The Allay Fur nice. 
 
 14 The hffl&y-Mafier making Fffays. 
 
 1 5 His Man putting the Fjjays into the Fire. 
 
 16 The /Harden marking the Plate on the. 
 
 Fnvil . 
 
 17 His Officer holding the Plate for the Marks, 
 
 1 8 Three Goldfmiths fmall- /V orkers^t work * 
 
 1 9 ^/Goldfmiths Shop furnijhed with Plate . 
 
 20 F Goldirnhh weighing Plate. 
 
 A 2 1. Do 
 
I Do, as far as in me lyes, 
 Allow of the Printing of 
 this Book. 
 
 Fra: North. 
 
 T H E Author premifeth, That the mat- 
 ters comprized in the enfuing Treatife 
 relating to Points of Law 5 or Expofitions 
 of any the Statutes therein mentioned, are 
 not barely upon his own Opinion. But 
 therein he hath taken the Judgment and 
 Refolution of Councel Learned in the Law. 
 

 
 TO THE 
 
 Right Honourable, 
 
 Sir Jofeph ZViLliamfon Knight and 
 Baronet 5 Principal Secretary ofState 
 to CHARLES the Second, King of 
 Great Britt dn^ France & IrelwdJke. 
 and Lord Ambaffadour and Plene- 
 potentiary for the Treaty of a Ge- 
 neral Peace at JSfimmegcn. 
 
 T He fubjeffi of theenfu- 
 ing Treatiie is Gold 
 and Silver , the Orna- 
 ment and Riches of this King- 
 dome ; And the defgn there- 
 of is to mafye thofe Metals (in 
 A % . remo- 
 
The Epiftle 
 
 removing the Abufes com- 
 mitted therein J to be really 
 jo. Sir , although the Sphear 
 wherein I move in relation to 
 my hpowledg of thofe Metals, 
 hath rendred me capable to 
 maby a real and fain demon- 
 stration of the Abufes com- 
 mitted in the fame , and what 
 remedies to apply ; yet with- 
 out the favourable approbation 
 and affiance of thofe in Emi- 
 nent Places of Authority , it 
 may fail of the defgned end, 
 which is to prevent the de- 
 ceitful wording of Gold and 
 §ilver : The Conf deration of 
 
Dedicatory. 
 
 which y and for that 1 could 
 not apply my felf to any perfon 
 for the Patronage of fo Pub - 
 lique a Concern y more properly 
 than to your Honour, whofe 
 Great Wifdom and Integrity 
 to the Publique-Weal , hath 
 advanced your Honour in His 
 Majeflies Favour to Places 
 of greatefl Eminency in the 
 State : Sir, knowing his Ma- 
 kefiles Gracious Inclination y 
 and the intent of our Laws, 
 is for the fecuring his People 
 from injury j And that the 
 matter of the enfuing Difcourfe 
 may he no fmall Instrument 
 A 4 for 
 
The Epiftle 
 
 for ejfe&ing thereof in cafes 
 relating to thofe Metals, 1 am 
 emboldened to maty my hum- 
 ble Addrefs to your Honour } 
 humbly imploring your Ho- 
 nours Favourable Acceptance 
 and Countenance of thefe my 
 weal ^ Endeavours ; And that 
 you will pleafe to be Infru - 
 mental to enforce the due exe- 
 cution of the Laws in force 
 made for Regulation of the 
 wording of Gold and Silver ; 
 And where any debility pall 
 appear in thofe Laws 3 to fup- 
 ply the fame by promoting fome 
 more effectual Remedy for the 
 pre- 
 
Dedicatory. 
 
 preventing all Abufes there- 
 in , and the advancing His 
 Majefies Honour by the ho- 
 nejl Manufacturing of Gold 
 and Silver , that therein we 
 be not inferiour to other Na- 
 tions 3 which is the hearty 
 Tray errand Jhall be the earnejl 
 Endeavour of 
 
 Right Honourable,’ 
 
 ' - ; ' i 
 
 Your Honours humble 
 and devoted Servant, 
 
 W.B. 
 
c*Jf? <Ofjr> £>Ir> <&> ■eVfc'* ■ojft» 
 
 ^/i'jyi Wi v vivi vi>J y !\/^*-U V/ k \dt w^vf 
 
 c^s- c^o C*jo- C-^> OtJV> -tfyo c^> c>f*> 
 
 To the READER. 
 
 T Here having not heretofore 
 (that ever I could hear of ) 
 beenexpofed toFublique view 
 any Treatife of this kind 5 This 
 therefore may .occafion more than 
 ordinary Curiofity in Infpe&ing the 
 Particulars thereof, and perhaps di- 
 fpofe the Reader to the Confederations 
 following. 
 
 Firflo Whether the Matter of it be 
 true ? 
 
 Secondly , What jhould write me to 
 this atte?nj)t ? 
 
 Thirdly, Whether it be not againft 
 the Rules of a Myjlery thm publiquely to 
 dfcQver them ? 
 
 Fourthly, 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 i- 
 
 Fourthly, Whether it may not (in- 
 fie ad of the good propofed ) become a 
 disparagement to the Manufacture^ and 
 Jo a prejudice to the Traders therein ? 
 
 Fifthly, Whether this may not re - 
 jteit upon the Wardens of the Company fy 
 fuppofing that they do not perform their 
 Duty in fupprefjing thefe defeats ? 
 
 Ms to the Firfl. 
 
 I refer the Reader to the Statutes and 
 other Laws (for Regulating the Gold - 
 fmiths Craft) herein cited, and his own 
 obfervation, (from what is here inti- 
 mated) how the fame have been pur- 
 fued. 
 
 To the Second , 
 
 I have been moved hereunto from 
 a defire of the Publique Good, Every > 
 honeft man’s private benefit, and of 
 detecting deceit and falfliood. 
 
 To 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 To the Third. 
 
 What I have here difcovered, is not 
 the Honeft Myftery or Craft in Work- 
 ing and Fafliioning the Wares, (which 
 in all Trades is to be conceal’d ) but 
 the Publique Rules of our Laws , and 
 good Intentions of our Law-Makers 
 to prevent Deceit in the Exercife of 
 that Myftery which ill difpofed Crafts- 
 men in all Ages have been too prone to 
 contrive and pra&ice. 
 
 To the Fourth. 
 
 It cannot be fuppofed, that for the 
 offences of fome, all (liould be con- 
 demned ; Or that if fome Wares be 
 deceitful, all (liould be fo made ; For 
 I aver , That fome there be of this 
 Trade (to their honour be it fpoken) 
 that have not, nor will not in this 
 Trade of a Goldfmith vary from the 
 Rules and Principles of Law and Ho- 
 nefty, by working or felling adultera- 
 ted Gold or Silver Works, though 
 ftrongly befet with the temptations of 
 
 gains 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 gains for a more plentiful livelihood * 
 and it cannot be denyed, that a per- 
 fon brought up in a Trade to live ho- 
 neftly thereon (to fee his Neighbours 
 draw away his Cuftomers by deceit- 
 ful Wares under colour of Cheap nels, 
 or leffer profit for his work, when in- 
 deed he makes greater advantages 
 thereby) and not be enfnared to do the 
 like p-ra&ices, argues more than an or- 
 dinary integrity and conftancy. 
 
 / To the Fifth . 
 
 It is well known theWardens ofGold- 
 fmiths, London^ have and will readily 
 hear all Complaints that fhall be made 
 to them therein by any per (bn what- 
 foever, and punilh the Offenders : But 
 the Workers and Sellers in this Trade 
 being fo numerous, and the Tran.f- 
 greffors fo fubtile to conceal their de- 
 ceipt, and evade thepunilhment, that 
 the endeavours of the Wardens, as yet 
 hath been, fo ftill will be but a weak 
 remedy, unlefs the buyer or Cuftomer 
 who wears and ufes the Commodity 
 be made capable of knowing the good 
 
 Wares 
 
To the Reader, 
 
 Wares from the bad, and the true va- 
 lue of either, and how to punifh the 
 offenders, which is the intent of the 
 enfuing Difcourfe ; Wherefore cra- 
 ving the favourable ConftruCtion of 
 the Wardens and Company of the My- 
 ftery of Goldfmiths, London • And all 
 honeft Workers and Sellers of Gold- 
 fmiths Work, for this my undertaking, 
 I allure them and all my good Coun- 
 trymen, That I value not the Calum- 
 nies of fuch who fhall be difpleafed for 
 difcovering their deceitful practices ; 
 My only aym and intention in this 
 Matter being to procure an honeft Re- 
 formation in the making of Gold and 
 Silver Works, and all other Goldfmiths 
 Work whatfoever. 
 
 And having thus caft in my Mite in 
 fo juft a matter, I have difcharged my 
 Confidence, and remain a devoted Ser- 
 vant to the PubliqueGood. 
 
 W.B. 
 
The TABLE. 
 
 A. 
 
 A Bufes to the People 5 by Gold and 
 Silver JVorksjhe fever al kinds. 
 Page 1.2.65.79.80.83 
 Action lyes againfi the \ fVardens for rc- 
 fitfing to mark good Silver IVork 5 or 
 hurting the fVorks by fir iking the 
 Marks . 54 
 
 Ads of 'Parliament , 5.6.7.8.9.10.1 1. 
 
 12. 13« 14. 63.64.65. 66.67.68. 
 193 ; I 94 * 
 
 Allay in Silver 3 ^ meaning thereof. 4 
 Affay, PVorks that are to be ^jjayd. 
 
 5. 8.9*3° 
 
 -Mafler why appointed. 1 8 
 
 Affay - Mafier 3 te ^ 1 9 
 
 Aflay -Office^ where kept . 20,38 
 
 A flays, how they are made. 2 5 
 
 Allays of fifieSted Silver works ^ Directi* 
 ( * ) 0#/ 
 
The Table.' 
 
 ons how to procure them . 37. 38. 
 
 See Reports, 
 
 Affay Papers^ their Emblem . 3 8 
 
 Affay s of Gold works y how to procure and 
 
 56.57.58 
 
 Affav s may be made by the A (fay-Maller 
 of the Tower . 5 8 
 
 Affiftance of all Officers to be given to 
 the Wardens of the Goldfmiths, 
 
 67.77.78 
 
 B. 
 
 B Uckies for Belts and Girdles , com- 
 prehended under the term of Har- 
 nefsytmd to be marked with the Com- 
 pany s Marks - 5 upon penalty , 28. 
 
 '29. 30. T^ Harnefs. ' 
 
 By-Laws and Ordinances , Authority to 
 make them. 74 
 
 Buckles of Brafs or Copper^ unlawful ei- 
 ther Gilt or Silvered , , 103 ^ 106 
 
 Buckles of Brafs or Copper, covered with 
 Gold or Silver 3 furif diction of 
 
 the Wardens of the Goldfmiths to 
 punifh. 107 
 
 C Arrads and Car rafrgrains, the 
 forts defer ibed. 57. 96 
 
 Cheap» 
 
The Table, 
 
 Cheap-fide. 64* 67 
 
 Copper* bejl to Nllay Silver - 4 
 
 Conveniently, meaning thereof \ 1 7 
 Conveniently, mif apply* d, 31-95 
 Corporation ofGoldjmiths 5 tr/70 ought to 
 be the Members thereof fee Gold- 
 fnqLiths. 
 
 Corporation/^ Name or Names there - 
 
 # H-73-74-75 
 
 Charter 0/ Geldfmiths . 6 1 
 
 Counterfeiting the Mar ks^ fee Marks. 
 Coy n Counterfeited^ Directions to difco- 
 verit, ioj,toii2 
 
 Qoym for raign, their Nil ay , weight and 
 value . 1 1 4. 1 1 5 
 
 Cutlers covering Tin with Silver . 65 
 
 D. 
 
 D Ayes appointed for Touching or 
 Nfj aying the Silver Works 5 
 fetting the Company s Marks « 2 7 
 
 Deceits in Silver Works^ how difcov en- 
 able. 3 5 
 
 Deceits zzz Gold Wares how df covered. 
 See Gold Wares, 
 
 * 
 
 2 
 
 Execib 
 
The Table. 
 
 E. 
 
 XecutioiT of greapt Quantities of 
 Silver Works ^brought for the Com- 
 pany s marks ^ the inference. 28 
 
 F iling the Silver 5 will difcover its 
 Courfenefs. 35 
 
 Tiling the Silver before it be rubb'd on 
 the Stone , the reafon. 3 5 
 
 G Olcl , the Standard thereof 12.58 
 Goldfmiths, all dwelling in London 
 and Liberties thereof ought to be of 
 that Corporation . 14. 
 
 Goldfmiths Trade defer ibed^and who may 
 exercife the fa?ne . 33. 34 
 
 Gold-Works, the way of di [covering the 
 Deceits therein, and how punched*, 
 
 56-57 
 
 Gold fini ths, poor and impotent 5 how to be 
 relieved. , fee Poor* 
 
 Habita- 
 
The Table; 
 
 H. 
 
 H Abitations of the Workers to be 
 entred in a Book in the AlTay- 
 Office, 22.94 
 
 Harnefs of Silver to be Sterling ? and 
 marked with the Company's and 
 Workers marks ? upon penalty . 9.1 7. 
 
 30 
 
 Harnefs 5 what is comprehended under that 
 term . 28.29 
 
 Hilts for Swbrds and Buckles of Silver 5 
 drc. are comprehended under the 
 term of Harnefs ■> and to be marked 
 with the Company's Marks , upon pe- 
 nalty. 29.30 
 
 Hilts ofBrafs or Copper unlawful either 
 gilt or five red. 103. to 107 
 
 Hilts of Brafs or Copper covered with 
 Gold or Silver , in the Jurifdiffiion of 
 tha Wardens of the Goldfmiths to 
 puni(h . 107 
 
 L 
 
 IMprifonment one fort of punifhment 
 for offenders, 7.85 
 
 Indidmentj a Copy thereof 44 
 
 Keepers 
 
The Table. 
 
 K. 
 
 K Eepers of the Touch , See War- 
 dens. 
 
 L. 
 
 L Ead 3 nought to be mixed with Sil- 
 ver. 4 
 
 Lead to be ufed about marking the 
 Works. 52. 53 
 
 M. 
 
 M arks, Mafier Goldfmith to 
 
 to have his Mark , 
 to fet on their Works «upon penalty 5 
 
 7.9.10.13.16 
 
 Marks ^ ^ workers to be known to the 
 Surveyors or Wardens , ^0/2 penal- 
 ty. y.p. 16.21.23 
 
 Marks 0/2 Works , is £<?/? means 
 
 for difcovering the Worker 5 1 6. 
 
 24. 4P 
 
 Marks 0/* ^ Company , fever al forts , 
 
 Emblem. 1 p. 3 8 
 
 Marks of the Workers the feveral forts , 
 and how to be qualified and fet on 
 their works» 21 
 
 Marks 
 
The Table. 
 
 Marks of the Workers to he fet on all 
 farts of the Work 5 the reafon . 21. 
 
 22.50 
 
 Marks of the Company^ and Workers fhe 
 penalty of Counterfeiting them. 2 3 
 
 Marking Standard Silver 5 the omitting 
 thereof unlawful and of ill conference; 
 the reafonablenefs of the penalty for 
 fuch omiffion . 25 
 
 Marks of every Mafler Goldfmith 
 throughout England, ( except thofe in 
 the (even Touch -Tow ns) to be known 
 to the Wardens of the Goldfmiths , up- 
 on penalty . 6 . 7. 8 
 
 Mint- Matter, howpunijhable . n 
 
 Money, fee Coyn. 
 
 N. 
 
 N Ames 0^ the Workers to be entred 
 on the Table of Marks. 2 2 
 
 Name of the Corporation , Corpora- 
 tion, 
 
 O, 
 
 O B (cure Turnings and By -Lanes and 
 Streets Jthe keeping a Goldfmiths 
 S hop therein , unlawful , the reafon. 6 5 
 
 Officers 
 
The Table. 
 
 Officers, to be ay ding and ajfifling*, See 
 Affiftance. 
 
 Order of the Goldfmiths . 9 2 
 
 Ordinances to make. See By-Laws. 
 
 P. 
 
 "ORerogative of the King to be faved , 
 A 'Pag. 7 
 
 Poor and Impotent Goldfmiths 5 Zwr 
 relieved . 68. 65? 
 
 Preeept of 'the Goldfmiths^ fee Order. 
 Pretences /0 delude the wearing buyers 
 fever al mentioned and sgnfvered^ 52? 
 
 . 53 - 54 * 5 5 * 5 ^ 
 
 Pewter , nought to be mixed with Sil- 
 ver . 4 
 
 a 
 
 Ueries Anfwcred. 25.51 
 
 R. 
 
 R Eports of Silver ays ^ Dire olio ns 
 to underf and them» 39.40 
 Reports of Gold ^fjaysfow to underfund 
 them . 5 7 
 
 Rudenefs 0/YA? yffay-JIafiers Servants 3 
 how puqijhabk* 54 
 
 “Search 
 
The Table,' 
 
 S, 
 
 S Earch to be made by the Wardens or 
 Surveyors amongjl all Goldfmiths 
 4nd others , throughout England, < 5 . 
 
 8. 1 5. 27. 76*77. 8 1. 84. 87 
 Seal and perpetual Succefjion of the Com - 
 pany . 74 
 
 Silver, its Nature and U fef nine fs, 3 
 Silver, its temper of foftnefs, 4 
 
 Silver Works, all forts thereof to be of the 
 Sterling Allay, 7.8*10.14 
 
 Silver, the quantity to be detained by the 
 Wardens out of all Works they all ova 
 and mark , , 20 
 
 Silver of a Courfe Allay . the fever al pre- 
 tences for it Anfvered. 51.55 
 
 Sodder to be allowed in making the works , 
 
 9> 12 
 
 Sodder, how much to be allowed in Silver 
 Works . 3 1 . 3 2 
 
 Sterling or Standard fiver , the meaning 
 thereof ; and why fo called. 4. 5.13 
 Stones, none to befet in Gold but Natu- 
 ral, 6 
 
 Stones to be fet in their weight of Gold 
 or Silver , 6 
 
 ’ (*f) Tables 
 
The Table." 
 
 T. 
 
 T Abies for entring the Marks 5 their 
 defc rift ion^ and where kept . 2 1 
 
 Tin? nought to be mixed with Silver , 4 
 Tools ft? be ufed about the marking the 
 good 5 breaking the bad works. 2 8. 
 
 52 . 5 ! 3 
 
 Touch- 71 ?^ j 5 feven appointed be fides 
 
 London. 10.59 
 
 Towns in all places of England 5 the 
 Goldfmiths therein to obferve the 
 fame Orders as they at London. 6 * 67 
 Touch-ftones, to know the befi fort , and 
 where fold . 3 5 
 
 T ouch cn the Touch-fione , Directions to 
 make it . 36 
 
 v. 
 
 V EfTels of Silver to be ofthefinenefs 
 of Sterling. 5.7 
 
 VelTels of Silver*^ what is comprehended 
 under that name. 2 8 
 
 VelTels of Silver that are made in any 
 place throughout England, (except the 
 Seven Touch-Towns ) to be Marked by 
 the JVardens of tbe Goldfmiths with 
 
 the 
 
The Table. 
 
 the Leopard’s-Head; upon penalty, 5. 
 
 17.67.68 
 
 W. 
 
 W Ardens of the Goldfmiths to be 
 chofen yearly. 67.70 
 
 Wardens of the Goldfmiths 5 their Duty 
 and Authority, 6. 8. 9 . 1 3 . 1 5 . 1 8. 
 20.21. 27. 28. 30.31.42. 54.67. 
 70.76.77.78.84.85.87.107. 
 Wardens /zctf compelling all Stiver Hilts 
 and fiver Buckles for Belts j&c. to be 
 brought for their Marks 5 the danger y 
 
 3 l 
 
 Wardens at great trouble and charges in 
 executing their Office . 8 2 
 
 W ardens fubjecl to peril of their Bodies 5 
 and lofs of their Goods and Chattels in 
 executing their Office. 82 
 
 Wardens A 'faulted andabufed by Coun- 
 try Goldfmithsyfc. 83 
 
 Wardens to break and jpoyl all falfe Gold- 
 fmiths Works ; and all Works not 
 marked according to Law. 27. 86. 87. 
 
 88 
 
 Wardens to compel all Goldfmiths in 
 London and three miles of the ~ 
 
 itmeyo 
 
 bring 
 
The Table. 
 
 bring their W irks to the Hall to be try u 
 ed and marked^ 27.87.88 
 
 Wardens acquitted and difcharged from 
 all Hccompts to the Crown for execu- 
 ting their Office. 88 
 
 Weigher, in the Affay-Office, his duty , 
 
 20 
 
 Weights appointed for Gold and Silver 3 
 their names 5 proportions and fhapes , 
 
 95-97-9% 
 
 Weights Venice defcribed , /Zw 
 unlaw fulnefs . 99 
 
 Weights Averdupoife, difference 
 
 from^Xxoy-PVeights^ ico. i©i 
 
 W^r-/Hork of Gold and Silver is the 
 Goldfmiths Trade , 1 7*3 3 »3 4 
 
 A Touche 
 
in 
 
 
 A 
 
 T ouch-ftone 
 
 FOR 
 
 Gold and Silver W ares : 
 
 OR, 
 
 A Manual for Goldfmiths . 
 
 T Hat there bath been and is a 
 great abufe to the People of 
 this Kingdome in the Silver 
 and Gold that is wrought in- 
 to the feveral forts of Wares in life 
 amongft us 5 is no hard matter to fxia- 
 nifeft . For if there ,,\vere infpeftion 
 'B ' made 
 
3 Caucfj-ttoiic to? 60ID 
 
 ■' I 
 
 made into the Silver that is wrought 
 into Buckles for Belts, Girdles, Shooes, 
 Garters, and Juch like 5 And Hilts for 
 Swords and the pieces thereto belong- 
 ing . And all other forts of fmall work 
 both of Gold and Silver, and the value 
 thereof truly Examined, a great part 
 thereof would be found to want very 
 much of the value it ought to be of’ 
 in refped both of the Standard, and 
 the Pi ice it was fold at, whereby the 
 wearing buyer is abufed and defrau- 
 ded, and the Lawes infringed, for the 
 private benefit only of deceitful and 
 ill-minded men. Todired therefore 
 in the Difcovery of Falfe Wares, and 
 to prevent the Evils arifing thence, 
 I have framed this Difcourfe, which 
 confifts ofThree Parts ; As, 
 
 Firft, What Sih er and Gold is in its 
 own Nature, and the Sort or 
 Standard , that is or ought to be 
 in uje amongjl us. 
 
 Secondly, ^ recital of the Statutes 
 and other Lawes in force for 
 preventing the working and 
 
 felling 
 
aim SHDer l 
 
 jelling Gold and Silver fiVork^ 
 that is worfe than that Stan- 
 dard. 
 
 Thirdly, Some Notes giving light to 
 thofe Statutes 5 and directing 
 how to prevent Doceipt in Gold 
 or Silver work , and the way of 
 Redrefs for fitch Offences . 
 
 Silver is a Mineral of that Excellent 
 Nature, that when it is in the bigheft 
 degree of finenefs, it will endure melt- 
 ing a long time in extream heat, with 
 but v£ry little waft- which quality 
 is not in any other Mettal, fave Gold, 
 which (in the fineft degree) is more 
 fixt, and will endure the fire with lefs 
 waft : Wherefore Gold and Silver for 
 this excellency and their fcarcenefs* 
 and capabienels of being wrought into 
 fo many forts of Life lul and Ornamen- 
 tal things above other Mettals, is one 
 Reafon that it bears lo great a value* 
 and anfwers all things. 
 
 Our fore-fathers con H dering that 
 Silver in its fineft degree would be too 
 E 7 " loft 
 
4 ac«icfrffonefo?«olD 
 
 foftfor ufe and fervice (for the fineft 
 Silver is almoft as foft as Lead), did 
 confult to reduce or harden the Silver 
 (by allaying it with bafer Metal) to 
 fuch a degree, that it might be both 
 ferviceable in the works, and alio in 
 the wearing keep its native White- 
 nefs- And upon Experiment and due 
 Confideration, did agree that there 
 fhould be put Eighteen penny weight 
 of fine Copper into Eleven Ounces and 
 two penny weight Troy of the fineft 
 Silver , both which makes Twelve 
 Ounces or the pound Troy. And fo 
 according to that proportion for more 
 or lefs- (where it is to be obferved, 
 That either Tin, Pewter or Lead being 
 put into Gold or Silver for the allay- 
 ing thereof, or being mixt therewith, 
 renders it extream brittle, and alto- 
 gether unfit for work) which degree 
 of allay is concluded upon by the Law- 
 makers of this Kingdome, to be the 
 Standard for all Silver Money, and all 
 Silver Works, and is commonly cal* 
 led the Sterling Alky (from the Efter- 
 lings or men that came from the Eaft- 
 Country, and were the firft Contri- 
 vers 
 
auli ‘Sifter CxHareg. 
 
 vers and makers of that allay;) And 
 this is that which is meant in the Sta- 
 tute of 1 8 Blit. Cap. 1 5. by the. Ex-prei- 
 fion, (to wit) Not lefs in finenefs than 
 that of II Ounces two penny weight. 
 And for this purpofe divers Statutes 
 have been made, which I have here 
 recited verbatim as followeth. 
 
 The Statute 28 Bdw. 1. Cap. 20. 
 
 3!t is ©ibatneb,Cbif no ©oibftnitb 
 of England , no? none Otijft’*U>I»ete 
 initljm the Bingo Dominions , fljall 
 from henceforth make 0? caufe to be 
 mabe on? manner of&leffel, Refuel, 0? 
 anp other thing of $olbo| Sifter, cjc< 
 cept tt be of gmo nnb true allap, orbat 
 ig to fap) ^010 of a Certain toucfj 3 aiib 
 Sifter of the Sterling allap, "dj of 
 better at the plenfure of f)im tc toyom 
 tlje ©ojk hdongetb ; ano that none 
 too?k U)0?fe Sifter then ?@oncp ; 3 nb 
 that no mariner of G|elB»l of Sifter 
 bepactout oftlje ijanos oftfje (KHchfe» 
 000 until it be affapeo bp the tE 3 ar-- 
 sens of the Craft 5 anb further, that 
 it be OUUkeO ftith the Leopards- ipeao t 
 7 £> 3 3nb 
 
f§ aCoucbdfonefoiCom 
 
 Sim tljat tljep toojk no luo?fe Colo 
 ttjen of tbe tottclj of patio ; gnd tljat 
 tlje canteens of tbs Ccaft fljali go 
 from ®bop to ©Ijop among tbe Cold* 
 fmitijs to affap tf tljetc Coin be of tbe 
 fame touch tijat is fpofeen of befo?e: 
 aim if tljep find anp otljec tljeu of tbe 
 Cottcij afoiefaid, tbe Cold njall be fa?* 
 There feit to tije ftiitg ; C aim that none fljali 
 ZssL° f nill!ie & mgS j Ctoffes, no? locks,] 
 uu^Nmi anti that none fljali ret anp none in 
 fbMmtk! com eteept it be Batntai ; aim that 
 fesTnm Janets o? Cutters of Atones, and 
 £»^x,]Re. of Seals , fljali gibe to each tbtit 
 ioeigljt of Silbei* atm Com as near as 
 ■ ' ' tljepMiiupon tbeit JTmelitp; aimtlje 
 3letoelS of bafe Cold tuljtcl) tljep babe 
 in tbett bands, tljep fljali utter as fall 
 as tljep can ; aim from tljencefo?tb if 
 tljep bup anp of tije fame 2£lo?k, tljep 
 fljali bup it to Uio?fe upon, aim not 
 to felt again : gnu that all tbe gam 
 Colons of England tajere anp Coin* 
 flint!) be tnodliiig, fljali be £>?Beten 
 acco?otngto this Statute, as tbep of 
 London be ; a»m tijat one fljali conte 
 from eberp gma Count fo? all tbe tell* 
 jiiie tijat be smelling in tlje fame, unto 
 
 London 
 
auD @>(lber ££lares. 
 
 London, foi to be afcertaincD of their 
 Couch. 9no if anp ©olDfmitbbe at? 
 taintcD hereafter becaufe that be hath 
 Hone otljerlmfe then before is Chbatit? 
 cD/ be fljalibe pimifljeo bp impiifow 
 went anD bp ranfome at tbe Eings 
 pleafttte* 9nD notuntbffanOing all 
 tljcfe things before mentioneD, oi anp 
 point of them, 13otb tbe filing anD bts 
 Council, atm ail tbep that Uiece pic ft nt 
 at tbe matting of this aDiDwance loifi 
 anD inteno that tfje Eight anD Pie? 
 togattbc of bis Croton (bail be fabeo to 
 btm (it all tbmgs. 
 
 St.it. 3 7 ltd. 3 . Cap. 7 . 
 
 Item, 3it is acco?DcD, Chat ColD-- 
 fmitbs as toell in London as elfetuljerc 
 toitbiu the Eealm, fij.Ul ntahe all 
 manner of Oeffeis ann other C£io$ 
 of ©dber, toell ana tatofuilp of the 
 allap of gcoD ©tetling; ano ebetp 
 gaffer ©olDfmltb fftail bane a mas tt 
 bp btmfelfj anD the fame mailt (ball be 
 itnoton bp them tuljich (ball be afligneD 
 bp tbe Etng to furbep their Kloiitanb 
 Hlfap; 3nb that the faiD -©ol jfmiths 
 05 4 fft 
 
8 a Couclj-ftcne fo? ®oia 
 
 fet not tfiefc ^atkgupon tljelt £Slo?fi0 
 till tlje fain ^uruepo?0 Ijabe mace 
 tljeicaSTap 00 fljail be o?aainea bp tlje 
 t&lng ana ijis Council ; ana after t&e 
 affap maoe, tlje ©utbtpo? A) a II ret 
 tf)e 3i$tng0 fjSaili, ana aftet tlje ©olO< 
 fmitlj f!0 marls fo? io&tclj Ije toiil an* 
 finer ; ana tfiat no <S5oiafnut& take fo? 
 fiJeflel luljtte ana full fo? t&e toelgljt af 
 a pouno. (tljat 10 to lap) of tlje puce 
 of ttoo 93atfe0 of Paris toeigljt , but 
 eighteen pence a0 tljep ao at Paris : 
 This etna that notSoiafmitfj maftingiailjtte 
 frhano fi&Sel fljail nieaaie toitlj giiomg,] 
 coidfmith no? tljep that ao giia fljail meaaie to 
 M , mafic tofjite SJeffel: 9na tljep fufitef) 
 ZnTaif! fliall be fo afftgnea in eberp Cotun fljail 
 giid-] Re- make tfietc ©eatcljeg 30 oftentfme0 
 -f is a 0 fljail be £>?oalneo ; ana fo? that 
 ' J ' toljiclj fljail be fit tlje eoiafmttl)0 
 Default, tljep fljail incur tlje pain of 
 fojfetuice to tlje tiling, tlje baltie of the 
 r^etal tuhiclj (ball be fauna in aefauit. 
 
 Stat. 
 
awn Silver gtJateg- 
 Stat. 2 Hen . 6. 14. 
 
 The finenefs of Harne fs of Silver, Hnd 
 that it jhall be marked with the 
 Leopard V Head. 
 
 Item, Cfiat ito (SolDfmttI) ne? fool’ 
 feet Of sg>tiuet tOitlnn tlje Cttp Of Lon- 
 don, fell anp teoifemarfljp of ©iffeec, 
 unlefs it be as fine as the ft- 'rling ZX-; 
 
 cept the fame neen .Conner at fisc 
 malting , Uilj.clj fijall fee ailotoro w 
 
 coining ao tlje ©ODDet is neeeffary 
 
 to be tojougfet in tfeefame 5 Snstljat 
 no djinfmitl) no? lemelfer, iffej I'anp 
 otljec tljattuoifeetlj i)atnef 0 of ®iiuer, 
 fljall fet anp of tfee lame to foie tottljtn 
 tfee dtp, before tfeat it fee Ccueljen 
 fuitlj tlje touefj, ann alfo UJitfe tlje f^arfe 
 01 @>ign of tlje £Oo?feman of tlje fame, 
 upon pain of Jojfeitute of tlje Double 
 salue as afoje tsi fain : ann that the 
 SgJatfe anti Sign of efeetp <©olDfmltfj 
 fee fenoum to tlje fufarneng of tlje 
 Craft» ann if it map be fotmn tljat 
 tfee fain fiteepet of tlje Couclj, touclj 
 imp fuclj ^atnefsi toitfj tlje Leopard’s 
 
 ibean, 
 
a Cottcly Clone ft>;$olD 
 
 lj)ean, eccept ft be as fine tit allay as 
 t6e Heeling, tljat tljen the teepee of 
 the Coucij fo| ebery tljing fo p?obto 
 not as goon in allay as t&e fain Heeling, 
 fljail forfeit tlje Double baltte to tfje 
 flung, ano to tlje patty as is abobe 
 teciteb. anb alfo it is lifeetoife 
 onmco in tlje City of York, New- 
 Caftle upon Tine, Lincoln, Norwich, 
 Briftow, Salisbury anfl Coventry, 
 Chat ebery one fljall babe Dibees 
 Cottcljes accoibing to tlje ©finance 
 of tlje payors, OBayliffs, o? t®obet* 
 nottcs of tlje Came Colons ; aim tljat 
 no Colbfmitljs no; otljec calottes of 
 S>ilbee, no; teepees of the faiD Cou. 
 cljes ioftljin t&e fame Counts, fljall fet 
 to fale o; touch any ©ilbcc in otljec 
 mannee tljen is ojDaiiteD, before tmtlj* 
 in the City of London, upon pain of 
 the faiD forfeitures, aim mo;eobee, 
 Chat no Colufmitb o; otljec tfilo?feee 
 of bilbet Untfjin tlje Eealm of En- 
 gland, tubere no touch is o?Dainer>as 
 afo;e is fatb, fljall toojfe any Wilber et* 
 cept it be as fine in allay as tlje flee, 
 ling ; 3nD tljat tlje ColDfmitlj o? too?* 
 fter of the fame &ilbec fet upon tlje 
 
aim Siiuec mates. i i 
 
 fame IjtjS 99atfc o? §>ign , before be 
 fet it to fate : Sim if it be founb that 
 it is not as fine as tlje Heeling, t|at 
 then tbe footer of tbe fame (hall foj* 
 feit tbe Double baiue in manner ano 
 fojm as before is recites tottljm tbe 
 Citp of London. 3nD tfje Suffices of 
 peace, 93apojs aimlBapliffs, ano all 
 other babmg potoer as Suffices of tlje 
 peace, fljaif here enquire ano Deter# 
 mine, bp 15111 , plaint , o? in other 
 manner, all that do contrarp to the fain 
 ©finances, aim thereof to mafce Due 
 erecutiott bp their Difcretions. p^e# 
 biDeo altnaues, Chat if tbe staffer of 
 the a@int that noto is, o? Uiijichfo? the 
 time fl&aii be, offeim o? base ofifeimen 
 in bis flDffice of tlje fam t^int, that 
 then be be punilbeD atm Suff tfieD ac* 
 coming to the fo?m of the faiD Stmen* 
 tutes. 
 
3 Coucfrffone fo? ®oin 
 
 St at. 1 8 Eliz. ry. 
 
 W hereas cettafn ebil Dtfpofefs 
 •©olDfmttfjg DfeceltfuII^Ba mafce 
 anti feli Plate ana other <25oiti ana <S>iU 
 bett2Jatea to ttjc peat oefiatiDtitg of 
 bet C^ajeflte ana Oec good ©ubfeeta ; 
 JFoj Eemeop inbereof, 'Beit Cnatfen 
 bp the autho?itp of this p?efent par* 
 Itaraent, Chat no «©oiofmttb from tfje 
 Ctoentietf) cap of April nert coming 
 fijall too^ft, fell, Crcljangc, o? caufe to 
 •be brought, Com, o* ercljangeb, anp 
 Piate o? other tSoiDfmttbss Spates of 
 #OiD leisinfinenefs theft that of Twen- 
 ty two Car reds, An$} tha&he ufe no 
 Sodder, Ammel, or other ftuffings 
 whatfoever in any of their Works 
 more than is neceffary for the fini(h- 
 ing of the fame 8im that thep take 
 not abobe the rate of Ctoeiue pence fo? 
 the Ounce of ©ol8('beiiDe0 the faf&ion) 
 tnoje then the bupet map o| fljall be 
 ailotoea fo? the fame at the Ottffns €r« 
 change o? 80int, upon pain to fajfett 
 the balue of the thing fa foiC o? ercljan* 
 geo : 3nt> that from the fain Ciuen* 
 
anu &libet (Hiares?. 
 
 tietf) Jiap of April, no <©oiafmith fljall 
 make, tell uj erdjange in an? place 
 niitijin this Realm, an? Plate 02 <dou>* 
 fmitljs SXUarcgs of bilker, tefgs in fine* 
 iiefSj then that of Eleven Ounces two 
 penny weight, 1102 rake atobe the rate 
 Of Twelve pence for every pound 
 weight of Plate or Wares of Silver, 
 (OenOtQ tlje fafljion ) more then the 
 buyer (hall or may be allowed for the 
 fame at the Queens Exchange or Mint* 
 
 33 a| put to Talc, cjccljnnge c? fell an? 
 plate 02 ®olofmttlj0 fflojk of S>ll* 
 her befoje he hath let his own Mark 
 to fO inuci) thereof ag conveniently 
 ma? bear the fame, upon pant to fo 2 * 
 feit the Paine of the thing fo foia o? 
 erchaitgeo : Sim if an? $olofmtth ®all 
 make an? ^omfnutbs £®o?k 02 Plate, 
 ana the fame after the fata ^taentieth 
 an? of April, fljaii be touches, matfeeD 
 ana allotuea fo? gcoo b? the eEaroeng 
 02 Rafters of that filter?, 3 no if in 
 the fame there fljall be fotum an? 
 falfljooa 02 Deceit then the CEatbeng 
 ana .Co?po|atton of that potter? fo? 
 the time being, fljall fo?fett aim pa? 
 the balue of the thing fo ejccljangeo 
 
 01 
 
a Cottclj^one fo? <0olb 
 
 o? folD. Clje one spopetp of all tuljicD 
 ■forfeitures fljall be to tlje nfe of t&e 
 duffing ^ajelfie ; aim tlje otljet i^op* 
 etp to tlje ttfe of fuel) pactp griebeo 
 mm fuftaiiung lofss tljetbp ag toill fue 
 fo? tlje fame ttt anp Court of Eecom, 
 bp adroit, “Bill, Paint, 3!nfo?matton, 
 o| otljettuife ; tu&eretn no ClTopne , 
 Potectton, o? £2Jaget of Into (ball be 
 immittet» fo? tlje Defeimant. 
 
 From which Statutes it is to be ob- 
 ferved , That no manner of Silver 
 Work whatfoever made, fold or ex- 
 changed in any place within this 
 Realm, is to be worfe than the afore- 
 faid Standard or Sterling allay. 
 
 Arid for the better obferving thefe 
 Rules, the perfons ufing that Myftery 
 in and about the City of London have 
 been and are Incorporated by the 
 Name of the Wardens and Company 
 of the Myftery of Goldfmiths of the 
 City of London , and all that exercife 
 that Myftery in the faid City and Li- 
 berties thereof , ought to be of that 
 Company ; though many there are of 
 
ano Witter Celares?» 
 
 that Myftery who (through miftake or 
 defign) are Free of other Companies, 
 which yet hinders not but that they 
 are to all intents and purpoles in re- 
 fpeft of their Works, as much under 
 the power of the faid Company, as 
 their own proper Members are- The 
 Wardens thereof (I mean the Com- 
 pany of Goldfmiths) are by the firft 
 recited Statute and their Charter, Au- 
 thorifed to fearch amongft all the 
 Goldfmiths, and all others Trading in 
 Gold and Silver Work in any place 
 within this Realm, And to allay their 
 Gold and Silver Work, and to break 
 and deface all they do find of worfe 
 allay than is appointed by the afore 
 recited Statutes - And to fine the Of- 
 fenders to the value of the Offence : 
 Which large and copious Authority 
 is known to have been put in practice ; 
 And for the Readers further know- 
 ledge of all the Power and Authority 
 to them given, I refer him to the In- 
 rolment of the Patent now remaining 
 ofRecordintheChappelof the Rolls, 
 a true Copy of which faithfully ren- 
 dred into Englilh, is hereunto annexed. 
 
 And 
 
1 6 a Coticf>eane fo| 
 
 For the more eafie dilcovering the 
 Workers and Sellers of unlawful Gold 
 or Silver Work, the Statutes afore- 
 faid do appoint. That every Mafter 
 Worker in Goldfmiths Work with- 
 in this Realm, (hall have his proper 
 Mark, and the fame Marks {hall fet on 
 their Works, before it be fet to Tale. 
 
 And that all fuch Workers Marks 
 (in the City of London and Three miles 
 compafs of the fame) to be known to 
 thofe afligned by the King to Survey 
 their Work and Allay, that is, the 
 Wardens of the Goldfmiths, And all 
 other Workers Marks in the feveral 
 places where Touches be ordained, to 
 be known to thofe appointed there to 
 Survey their work and allay , upon 
 the fame penalty as is appointed for 
 working or felling courfe Silver-work, 
 (that is) to forfeit the value of the Sil- 
 ver work not marked with the Wor- 
 ker’s Mark, or marked with a Mark not 
 fo made known 3 although the Silver he 
 of the fine nefs of Sterling. 
 
 And by reafon that under the gene- 
 ral 
 
mm Wilber u \ aresh 
 
 ral term (of any Goldfmith's IVork) men- 
 tion’d in the Stat. of 18 JSliz , . 15» is 
 comprehended all Wier-work and 
 Lace of Gold and Silver, which can- 
 not be marked with the workers Marks 
 (to anfwer the intent of the Law,) 
 therefore our Law-Makers have put 
 in this Provifoin the faid Stat. 1 8 £liz. 
 15. (viz) to let the workers Mark to 
 fomuch of his Work as will conveni- 
 ently bear the fame ; but for all other 
 Goldfmiths work, it will bear the 
 Workers Mark with as much convent- 
 ency as with reafdn can be defired. 
 
 And for all Silver Work that is of 
 themoft Eminent account (of which 
 are all forts comprehended under the 
 Names of /^ejjels and Harnefs that are 
 made in and about the City of London y 
 and within three miles of the fame) 
 thefe are not to be left unto or recei» 
 ved upon the Credit and Reputation 
 of the Maker thereof, by having only 
 his Mark thereto » But the Credit arid 
 Reputation of the Company by their 
 fetting their Marks to the fame, who 
 are fiirely the molt likely to continue, 
 C and 
 
8 a Cottcfhfiont fo i ©did 
 
 and aloft able to make fatisfa&ion m 
 eale of defed 5 a$ is appointed by the 
 laid Statutes, when the Worker and 
 Seiler may be dead, or by feveral ways 
 diiabled to make recompence to the 
 parties wronged. 
 
 The Company of Goldfmiths con- 
 fidering that their Wardens are by 
 their Charter and the Statutes afore» 
 laid, appointed to Survey, Affay and 
 Mark the Silver- work ? and that thefe 
 Officers are yearly chofen according 
 to their Ufage out of their Members 
 of the Afliftants, in courfe as they re- 
 ceived their Admittance into thofe 
 Places ; And that fueh Choice fome- 
 times falls upon them that are either 
 of other Trades, or not Skill’d in that 
 Curious Art of making Affays of Gold 
 and Silver, and confequently unable 
 to make a true Report of the Good- 
 nefs thereof, or elfe the neceffary At- 
 tendance therein being too great a 
 Burden for the Wardens • Therefore 
 they have appointed an Affay-Mafter, 
 called by them their Deputy-Warden, 
 allowing him a confiderable Yearly 
 
 §aljary, 
 
anD ©fltoet SLlate0* 19 
 
 Sailary, and who takes an Oath to 
 this eifeft, (viz.) to perform that Of- 
 fice Faithfully according to the beft 
 of his Skilly that is, to make true a flay 
 of all Gold and Silver brought to their 
 Office for that purpofe, and elfewhere 
 as the Wardens and Company {hall ap- 
 point, and give a true Report of the 
 goodnefs or badnefs of the lame. 
 
 They have alfo caufed to be made 
 (according to the aforefaid Statutes 
 ,and their Charter) Punchions of Steel, 
 and marks at the end of them, both 
 great and Imall of thefe ieveral lores 
 following, (that is) the Leopard s Head 
 Crowned , the LyortJnd a Letter , (a true 
 Emblem of which Marks are expref- 
 fed in the Copper Cut following) 
 which Letter is changed Alphabeti- 
 cally every Year . the reafon of change- 
 ing thereof is, (as I conceive) for that" 
 by the afore recited Statutes it is Pro- 
 vided, That if any Silver Work that 
 is worfe than Sterling be marked with 
 the Companies Marks, the Wardens 
 and Corporation for the time being 
 (hail make reeompence to. the party 
 C 2 • grieved, 
 
3 o a Cottc^fione fo? ® olo 
 
 grieved j fo that if any fuch default 
 jhould happen , they can tell by the 
 Letter on the Work in what Year it 
 was Allayed and marked, and thereby 
 know which of their own Officers 
 deceived them, and from them obtain 
 over, arecompence. Thefe Marks are 
 every Year made New for the ufe of 
 the New Wardens ; and although the 
 Allaying isreferr’d to the Affay-Ma- 
 fter, yet the Touch-Wardens looks to 
 the Striking the Marks. 
 
 They have alo made in a part of 
 their Hall, a place called by them their 
 A '[[ay-Office , &s is before mentioned, 
 wherein is a Sworn Weigher,his Duty 
 is to weigh all Silver Work into the 
 Office, and enter the fame into a Book 
 for that purpofe . And alfo to weigh 
 it out again to the Owner, (only four 
 Grains out of every Twelve Ounces 
 that is marked, is according to their 
 Antient Cuftome to be detained and 
 kept for a re-affaying once in every 
 Year all the Silver Works they have 
 pafled for good the year foregoing. 
 
 In 
 
ana ©tlher ULUtm 
 
 In this Office is likewife kept for 
 Fublique View a Table or Tables ar- 
 tificially made in Columns (that is to 
 fay ) one Column of hardened Lead, 
 another of Parchment or Velom, and 
 feveral of the fame forts ; In the Lead 
 Columns are ftruck or entred the 
 Workers Marks, {which are generally 
 the two firf Letters of their Chriflian 
 and Sirnames) and right againft them 
 in the Parchment or Velom Columns 
 are writ and entred the Owners 
 Names ; This is that which is meant 
 in the before recited Statutes, by the 
 Expreffion of making the Workers Mark 
 known to the Survey ers, or Wardens of 
 the Craft : Which laid Wardens Duty 
 is to fee that the Marks be plain, and 
 of a fit Size, and not one like another. 
 And to require the thus Entring the 
 faid Marks, Andalfo the letting them 
 clear and vifible on all Gold and Silver 
 work, not only on every Work, but 
 alfo on every part thereof that is 
 wrought apart, and afterwards Sod- 
 dered or made faft thereto in finifhing 
 •the fame. 
 
 - C 3 
 
 Tie 
 
a ^oucl>(fone fo i ®ow 
 
 The reafon for fetting the Worker’s 
 Mark on every part of the Work , is to 
 take away all colour of excufe from 
 this maker of falfe work, who might 
 otherwife craftily pretend that the 
 part marked by him was good Silver 
 or Gold, and (the unmarked part be- 
 ing bad) that the bad was added by 
 fome body elfe fince the Plate went 
 put of his hand. 
 
 Every Worker aforefaid is not only 
 obliged to enter his Mark on the Table 
 aforefaid, But according to the Com- 
 panies By-Law for that purpofe, is at 
 the fame time to enter in a Book (kept 
 for that purpofe in the slfay-Office) the 
 place of his habitation ; and if he re- 
 move to any other place, then to en- 
 ter the lame alfo in the Book afore- 
 faid,, fo that their habitations may be 
 always known to the Wardens of the 
 Craft. 
 
 The Reafon is, for that if at any time 
 any Gold or Silver Wares be found to 
 be of worfe Allay then they (hould be, 
 the Worker (by his Mark let thereon) 
 
 although 
 
anti StTber COatm 
 
 although he may not be known, to the 
 party grieved, yet by application to 
 the Company, and by their comparing 
 the Mark on the Work, to the Marks 
 on their Table, may thereby be pre- 
 fentiy difcovered. 
 
 Every Worker dwelling in the City 
 of London and Three miles cornpafs of 
 the fame City, and alio thole in other 
 places whofe Marks are not fo made 
 known, according to the afbrefaid 
 Statutes , fuch Marks are deemed no 
 Marks , and the making and felling 
 Gold or Silver work whereon fuch 
 fraudulent Marks are fet, is as punifh- 
 able as the, working and felling Gold 
 or Silver work that is worle than Stan- 
 dard as aforefaid. 
 
 And if the Companies Mafks 5 or the 
 Workers Marks that are made known 
 to the Survey ers or Wardens as •Tore- 
 faid, (liould be counterfeited on any 
 Gold or Silver work, by any ways or 
 means whatfoever, the Counterfeiter 
 thereof is punilh^ble for every fuch 
 offence, by Indi&ment, and Fine to the 
 C 4 . ,Ki.n& 
 
a Coucfpfiotte foi'©am. 
 
 King, and fometimes (as the Offence 
 may be circumftantiated) by the Pil- 
 lory - after which the Company or 
 Party whofe Marks are Counterfeited, 
 may bring their A&ion againft the 
 Offender, and recover the damage 
 fufiained. 
 
 Our Law -Makers (as I conceive) did 
 think the thus fetting the Marks on 
 the Work, to be the iecureft way to 
 prevent Fraud in this kind • for if it 
 would not deter from the working 
 and felling Courfe Silver and Gold 
 Wares, yet would it be a Cure way to 
 find out the Offenders, and to have 
 the injured righted : But if the Marks 
 might be omitted, and the work fliould 
 pals but into a third Owner’s hands. 
 For the moft part it would be impofii- 
 ble to difcern one man’s Work from 
 another, by reafon that divers workers 
 make all forts of Work-in (hape fo 
 peer alike. 
 
ants ititor gaiareg* 
 
 It is queried by forne , Whether the 
 omitting to murk Silver Work 
 that is Sterlings be punifhable by 
 Law 3 it being no fofitive deceit ? 
 
 To which I anfwer. 
 
 That where a Statute commands a 
 thing to be done, if the fame be omit- 
 ted 3 it is a contempt of that Law 3 
 and puniihable - efpecially in this cafe 
 where it may be confidered, That al- 
 though it be notadireft deceit, yet to 
 omit the marking good Silver work, 
 isofill example, and opens a door to 
 deceit : for the permitting a worker 
 to omit the fetting his Mark or the 
 Companies Marks on his good work, 
 is to encourage him at another time 
 to work Courfe Gold or Silver, fince 
 by fuch omiflion the Maker and Seller 
 thereof will thereby remain undifc©- 
 vered, and fo avoid making fatisfadi- 
 on for his deceipt. 
 
 For the Difcovery of falfe Gold and 
 Silver from that which is good, and 
 to know the true value thereof, the 
 
 manner 
 
28 
 
 3 Couclj fimte fo? ©olti 
 
 manner is this : The Aflay-Mafter puts 
 a fmall quantity of the Silver upon 
 tryal in the fire, and then taking the 
 fame out again , he with his exa 6t 
 Scales that will turn with the weight 
 of the hundredth part of a Grain, com- 
 putes and reports the goodnefsor the 
 badnefs of the Gold or Silver. 
 
 In this Office are kept the Tools to 
 ftrike the Companies Marks , which 
 ought to be done clear and vifible on 
 fuch Work that is Standard . and 
 what is worfe ought to be broken and 
 defaced, whereby Thoufands of Oun- 
 ces of defe&ive Silver yearly receives 
 execution • whence it may be inferred, 
 That if fo many pieces of Plate and 
 Silver Work (that are brought to re- 
 ceive the Companies Marks) be bro- 
 ken and defaced, which were not fu- 
 fpe&ed by the Owner, thenfurely the 
 Silver VVork never defigned to be 
 brought to be Affayed and Marked, 
 much more deferves to be fo ferved. 
 
 The faid Company hath now ap- 
 pointed only Three dayes in every 
 
ano CftlnrcsJ. 
 
 Week, (to wit) Tuefdayes , Thurfdtyes, 
 and Saturday es, (formerly every work- 
 ing day) to alfay and mark the Silver 
 Work ; And all perfons workers in 
 Gold and Silver Works in the City of 
 London , and Three miles of the lame 
 City, are now (as by Law they ought 
 to be) allowed to receive the Compa- 
 nies Marks on their Work ; and in 
 cafe of the Workers negled therein, 
 the Wardens are to inforce the fame 
 by going often on their Search, and 
 break and deface all Gold and Silver 
 Works finifli’d and expofed to fale 
 (among all Workers or Traders there- 
 in) that are not marked according to 
 Law : Or at leaftwife where the Sil- 
 ver is Sterling, to Fine the Offender 
 for fuch his unlawful negled. 
 
 In the afore recited Statute of the 
 2 8 £d. i . Cap. 20. it isEna&ed, CljOt 
 
 no matinee of (geffd of gflbet tsepart 
 out of tlje (mho of the saio?feets 3 un* 
 ttl it he aflapeb bp tie ffiHamiaf of 
 tie Craft ; Stab further, C|at it be 
 matkeb JOitl t|e Leopards- (peao. And 
 in the afore recited Statute of the 
 
 2d. 
 
t 8 9 €oucf>tf one fo? ®om 
 
 2d. of Henry the 6th, Chap, 14. it is 
 Ena&ed, C&Pt IIP HO? Jiefel* 
 
 diet, no? anpotljei:t6attoP^ctij|)at‘ 
 nefs of ®iiber, fljaii fet anp af tbe 
 fame to fale tmt&w tfje dtp of Lon- 
 don, before t&at ft be dmtjeb tmtb 
 tbe Couch, aim aifo with tfje #atfe o? 
 *8>ijp bftfje ££lo$mmioft&e fam^ 
 
 For the underftanding of which, it 
 is to be known. That all manner of 
 Silver Work made to hold any liquid 
 or other matter, is to be comprehend- 
 ed under and called by the general 
 nameofV«effels, although in the parti- 
 culars, they are called by feveral other 
 names ; As the Coyn of this Kingdom 
 is called by the general term of Mo^ 
 ney . but in the particular parts there- 
 of are called by feveral other names, 
 as, Pence, Shill ings,&c. 
 
 Under the title or term of Harnefi 
 (in the faid Statute) is included all 
 kind of Furniture for defence of Man 
 * and Horfes againft the Enemy, as 
 Swords, Buckles for Belts, Girdles, and 
 fuch like ; and alfo all other manner 
 
bud ©ittei- ULlmss. 
 
 of wearing Inftruments for Warr- 
 which term of Harnefs , (in the fame 
 fignification as we take it, by the Opi- 
 nion of the beft Expofitors) is men- 
 tioned 2 Chron.9. 24. Jer. 46.4. £xod. 
 13. 18. 
 
 And that Hilts for Swords are com- 
 prehended under the term of Harnefs, 
 as well as Buckles for Belts or Girdles, 
 which may be collected by the Statutes 
 j Hen. 4. 13. 3 £d.$. 4. uRich.^.iz. 
 And 5 £liz. 7. thole Buckles are there 
 called Harnefs, they being a material 
 part of Girdles or Belts, and neceflary 
 to compleat the fame for Martial Acti- 
 ons whereunto they are properly de- 
 figned . And a Girdle or Belt being of 
 no ufe to that end without a Sword 
 to be worn in the fame, and the Hilt 
 being the chief defenfive part of that 
 Weapon, the fame muft confequently 
 be included under the term of Har- 
 nefs. 
 
 Which granted , it muft be con- 
 cluded , That all Hilts of Silver, and 
 Buckles of Silver for Girdles or Belts, 
 &c. (being comprehended under the 
 
 term 
 
a SDoucIjffcnc fo| ©oiti 
 
 term of Harnefs ) are by the recited 
 Statute of a. Hen. 6 . Cap. 14. to be 
 toucljeu tmtlj tije Coticlj, (that is) Af- 
 fay’d and Marked by the Wardens of 
 theGoldfmiths. 
 
 Note, Their fo doing was antientiy 
 called the Touch ; and the Wardens 
 that are to make the Allays and mark 
 the Silver, are now called the Touch- 
 / Wardens . 
 
 By all which ’tis manifeft, That all 
 Silver Hilts for Swords , and Silver 
 Buckles for Girdles or Belts, are not 
 only to be of the finenefs of Sterling, 
 but alfo Allay’d and Marked by the 
 Wardens of the Goldfmiths before 
 they be expofed to fale, upon pain of 
 forfeiting double the value thereof. 
 
 From which I infer, (that the afore 
 recited Statutes pofitively appointing 
 all Veffels and Harnefs of Silver to be 
 marked with the Companies Marks) 
 The Wardens would have done well, 
 if ( as touching Veffels and Harnefs) 
 they had omitted thefe Ambiguous 
 words in their late Precept ( hereafter 
 
 inferted) 
 
51 
 
 ana Sn'iaec Warn* 
 
 inferted) {viz,.) (f tf)£ fe(OC£iO$S hull 
 
 contiementip bear tlje feme ^ when in 
 truth all the faid Works can and muff 
 bear the fame. 
 
 Therefore I conclude. That if the 
 Wardens of the Goldfmiths fhall be 
 remifs in compelling all Workers of 
 Veffels, and all Workers of Hilts for 
 Swords, Buckles* and other Harnefs of 
 Silver in the City of London y and three 
 miles off the fame, to bring the fame 
 Works to receive their Marks as a fore - 
 faid, it will be great Imprudence in 
 them to lay themfelves byfuch neg- 
 lefts open to the Law, when fo finall 
 induftry will prevent it. 
 
 In the Statute of the 2d. of Henry 
 the 6th, Chap. 14. it is Ena&ed, That 
 Sodder (hall be allowed for the making 
 up all Silver Wares(to wit) fo tttuef} ft# 
 neceff m fo? foojknn; t&e feme. For 
 the Explaining this word (J^CCeflfetJ^) 
 fee the Statute of 1 15. there- 
 
 by the fame quantity of Sodder is ap- 
 pointed again & furtner Enaded,That 
 
 HQ ®>pes too?fe in fine* 
 
52 
 
 9 Coucfrflotte fo? €>olts 
 nef£S then that of deficit SDttnces ttua 
 
 pcnitp tuetght j This is to be under- 
 ftood of all the parts thereof, befides 
 the Sodder 5 for when all the Work is 
 melted together, (that is) the foddered 
 places with the reft, it will be worfe 
 then that Allay , by fo much as the 
 Sodder is worfe than Standard . there- 
 fore the fame Statutes though darkly, 
 yet by a neceflary Implication, limits 
 the quantity of Sodder that (hall be 
 allowed for all Wares to a penny- 
 worth in the Ounce, or a four penny 
 weight in the Pound, by this Claufe, 
 
 no? take abofie the rate of tfoelfie pence 
 fo?efierp pounb fiiergbt (that is, one 
 pennyworth in every ounce) Of Piate 
 emulates afgulfier Defines the fafljton, 
 mo?e then the buyer fljall o? map be 
 altofoen fo? the fame at the ©ueens 
 C.rchange o? (pint. (That is) 
 
 If any Silver Work being melted, 
 (with the Sodder thereof together) 
 and it be more than the value of one 
 pennyworth in the Ounce, or four 
 penny weight in the PoundTroy worfq 
 than Sterling, it is not to be allowed. 
 
 And 
 
ana &iim traces* 
 
 And therefore if fuch have only 
 the Makers mark thereon, the maker 
 incurs the penalty of paying the value 
 of the whole work ; and if the fame be 
 allowed and marked by the Company-, 
 they are to make fatisfa&ion to the 
 party grieved. 
 
 In the Statutes afore recited, the 
 term, Gddfmith , is frequently ufed, for 
 the underitanding whereof it is to be 
 known, that the working of Gold or 
 Silver either by a private workman, or 
 by the Matter Shop-keeper , or his 
 delivering out Gold or Silver to his 
 Servants, or Workmen to be wrought 
 into any fort of Work or Ware, either 
 by Melting . , Filing or Hammerings or 
 every of them, is, or may ( according 
 to antient ufage, and the intent of the 
 afore recited Statutes) be deemed and 
 taken to be the Trade of the Gold* 
 fmiths . 
 
 And every Perfon having ferved 
 Seven Years Apprentilhip, or as an Ap- 
 prentice ( to any Perfon that did before 
 and during the faid term follow the 
 D faid 
 
9 Coucfcffone (4 s©ol3 
 
 faid Trade as aforefiid ) is and may 
 properly be called a Goldfmith , and 
 inch perfjns and their Apprentices 
 ( and none other) may lawfully follow 
 or exercife the fame ; Stat. 5 Eliz.chap. 
 5 - 
 
 Every worker of Gold or Silver 
 -Wares.* asaforefaid , is by the intent of 
 the Law zGoldfmith^hich appears by 
 the faid Statute 18 Eltz . 15. which 
 principally aimed at the reforming the 
 abule of making and felling deceitful 
 Gold and Silver work. For if the Ma- 
 kers of that Statute did not intend and 
 conclude all workers of Gold and Sil- 
 verwares as aforefaid 5 to be Goldfmith s y 
 and all W orkers andRetailers of deceit- 
 ful Gold and Silverwares to be there- 
 by puniftiable, that Statute ( which is 
 the laft made in that cafe ) would be 
 ineffectual, and the abufe it intended to 
 reform , would notwithftanding re- 
 tnaine. 
 
 To conclude, if anyPerfon hath bought 
 or received (of any worker or feller of 
 Silver work) any kind of Silver wares 
 fufpefted to be deceitful, the fame 
 
 deceipt 
 
ana mmz$> 
 
 3 $ 
 
 deceipt maybe known without doing 
 prejudice to the work, by rubbing the 
 Plate in fome place leaft in fight, with 
 a File of indifferent finenefs- and if it 
 be worfethen Starling it will appear 
 Yellowifh, or elfe file it a little, and rub 
 the Place filed on ji cleane Touch- 
 ftone, and clofeby it rub the edge of & 
 good Half-Crown-piece or fuch like 
 thick money, and the difference, if any, 
 will appear. 
 
 The reafon that I diredt the fi- 
 ling the Work is this (to wit) that 
 the Artificial boiling of courfe Silver 
 work, will fo eat or dilfolve the Allay 
 that is on the furface or outfide there- 
 of, that unlefs it be filed as abovefaid, 
 it will Touch on the Touch-ftone fix 
 pence or eight pence in the ounce bet- 
 ter then it is. 
 
 Note further^ That to know a good 
 Touch-ftone, you muft obferve, That 
 the bell fort are very black, and of a f 6UC ^ 
 fine grain, polifhed very fmooth, and ftones axt 
 without any fpungy or grain-holes 
 And near the hardnefs of a Flint, but Iron-mong - 
 yet with fuch a (harp cutting greet, ers ,a Vo ~ 
 
 D 
 
 , fter-Lan^ 
 
 that zotdm 
 
3 6 a Couelpltone fa? <S5ai& 
 
 that it will cut or wear the Silver or 
 Gold when rubbed thereon, 
 
 The way to make a true Touch on 
 the Touch-ftone.is thus* When your 
 Touch-ftone is very clean, w hich if 
 foul or foily, it may be taken off, by 
 wetting it, and then rubbing it dry 
 with a clean Woollen Cloth ; or if 
 fill’d with Touches of Gold or Silver, 
 &c. it may be taken offby rubbing the 
 Touch-ftone with a pumice-ftone in 
 water, and it will make it very clean • 
 then (your Silver being filed as above- 
 feid) rub it fteadily and very hard on 
 the ftone, not fpreading your Touch 
 above a quarter of an inch long, and 
 no broader than the thicknefs of a 
 Five-fhilling-piece of Silver; And fo 
 continue rubbing it until the place of 
 the ftone whereon you rub, be like the 
 Metal it felf : And when every fort is 
 rubbed on , that you intend at that 
 * time, wet all the touch t places with 
 your Tongue, and it will (hew it felf in 
 its owrn countenance. 
 
 If 
 
ana mmg* ^7 
 
 If it appear by thefe wayes to be 
 worfethan Standerd, you may carry 
 or fend it to the Goldfmiths ^fiay-Of- 
 fee aforefaid , and upon your defire, 
 the Officers there will make an affay 
 of the fame, and give you a true re- 
 port of the value thereof in writing, 
 and return the Ware(and Silver taken 
 off for the Allay) to you again, no more 
 defaced than what is done by the fcra- 
 ping of the Silver for the affay. 
 
 But if you are minded to keep the 
 matter more concealed, you may -ar- 
 tificially cut orfcrape between iS or 
 24 grains from forne one part, or from 
 all the parts of the work (except the 
 foddered places) (for lefs in weight 
 than between 1$ and 24 grains is not 
 fufficient for an affay) Then in a piece 
 of paper of about 6 inches long, and 
 4 inches broad, At the one end write 
 down the Owners name, and the day 
 of the Month and Year ; and at the 
 Other end put the cuttings or fcrapings 
 of Silver in a fold, turning in the cor- 
 ners once, to prevent the Ihedding the 
 Silver, and fo fold up all the paper to 
 
1 8 a Coucfettpnc ioi ©PVB 
 
 the name fo Written, on the top as 
 aforefaid. The manner and form for 
 folding up the faid Paper, and of the 
 Alfay -Matter's Entry of his report in 
 jfuch Paper, is here prefented by a Cop- 
 per Cut. 
 
 Here place the Copper Cut. 
 
 Then carry or fend it to the Gold- 
 fmiths AiTay- Office as aforefaid(which 
 is now on the South part of their Hall 
 in Fofter-Lane ^London) on any of the 
 Aflay-days aforefaid, before the hour 
 of p in the morning, and leave it with 
 the Aflay-Mafter or his Servant, and 
 at 4 of the Clock in the Afternoon the 
 fame day it will be done • and by call- 
 ing there for the Aflay, by the name in 
 the Paper, it will be delivered, upon 
 the payment of z d , which is the accu- 
 ftomed Fee for the making of an Af- 
 fay. 
 
 In which Paper the Affay Matter 
 
 will 
 
cAnAfsay paper open without 
 J l the A/say Ji (pier's report. 
 
 coin ^fsay paper open of silver 
 ) w t AjfsayM yteK report 
 * ftr.is t: 8 d oh: in the ounce worse 
 G thenjiandard jilver. 
 
 n An Ad ay paper open of 1 } old 
 » \ ml* the A/s ay Ma/ters report 
 7 j m is 20.1 r in the ounce worse 
 G then ftandard Gold . 
 
 .4 \ An. fs ay paper folded vp. 
 
 [The Company of 'Goldsmith’s 
 $ \ titlarks ‘fd heina y letter for this 
 v year idjd . 
 
 
'X 
 
 
emu aflfiec ULlms. 
 
 will enter his report thereof in writing 
 in manner following, 
 
 If it be Sterling or Standard, ? e 
 he will write S^ # 
 
 If it be a half-penny 
 weight worfe, he ^ JVorfe oh . 
 will write — - — - 
 
 If it be a penny weight 
 worfe, he will write 
 
 dm, 
 
 \fVorfe j 
 
 If it be a penny weight p dwt, 
 and half worfe, he> IVarfe j oh, 
 will write,— -j 
 
 If it be Two penny p dm. 
 weight worfe, he > JVorfe ij 
 will write,— — 
 
 And fo proceeding higher. 
 
 If it be Ten penny 7 dwt. 
 
 weight worfe, h e>^ or f c Cs 
 will writey— — -j 
 
0 CeuctMhme fo? «Scia 
 
 If it be Ten penny 1 drvt. 
 
 weight and a half I .To ob . 
 
 wode 3 he will . r J 
 write, — j 
 
 dm . 
 
 If it be Eleven pen- 7 00 ! 1 
 
 ny weight worfe 
 he will write,* — S 
 
 If it be Eleven 1 
 
 dm. 
 
 SSSSSE 
 
 he will write, j 
 And fo proceeding higher. 
 
 ob. 
 
 
 Ifitbean Ounce 1 
 worfe he will S W or f e j 
 write, j 
 
 If it be an Ounce" 1 Jtp 
 and a halfpenny \pfr or r e , 0 b. 
 
 weight worfe, he j* 
 will write, — — j 
 
 If 
 
anti Stiver Glares. 
 
 If it be anOun.1 /g^ dwt. 
 
 and 9 penny I * 
 
 - weight worfe j PVorfe j 
 he will write, J 
 
 If it be an 1 
 Ounce & j 
 i9 penny 
 wt.worle J 
 he will 
 write, — 
 
 •#> 
 
 dwt. 
 
 
 Note, That 
 \_dwt] fig- 
 nifies penny 
 weight. 
 
 fignifies 
 Ounce . 
 
 And fo proceeding higher according 
 as he finds the Silver courfer,and with 
 Numeral Letters letting down what 
 *tis worfe then Starling or Standard. 
 
 And it mult be obferved , what- See more 
 ever weight he fetsdown, it is to be^ f x ^P les 5 
 accounted fo much in every pound or of silver, 
 twelve Ounces Troy, and comes to this and the va - 
 effect ( viz ) that for every twenty ^up/in 
 penny weight, or ounce Troy, that tis rbe cata- 
 reported worfe than Standard, you J?§ ue . of 
 muft account lix pence, and io propor- coyns, at i 
 tionable for more or lefs ; for fo much the latter 
 it will coft for every ounce of fuch ^ m 
 courfe Silver to make it of Starling 
 goodnefs, or to change it for Starling. 
 
 When 
 
aCoucfiffcnefo? ®oia 
 
 When you have fodone, and your 
 Silver being found and reported worfe 
 then Starling , you may make your 
 complaint to the Matter Warden of 
 the Goldfmiths, he will caufe the of- 
 fender (living in or abou tLondon)to be 
 Summoned to appear at the next 
 Court of the faid Company, and upon 
 evidence of theFadi, the Wardens will 
 (being obliged thereto by Law) pro- 
 cure you recompence, and punifh the 
 offender- they having promifed fo to 
 do in their late Precept hereafter in- 
 ferted. 
 
 If you diflike that way of proceed- 
 ing, you may go by way of Adtion of 
 Debt, Bill, Plaint, or Information, at 
 the fuit of the party grieved, who may 
 fue in any of the Courts of Record at 
 PFeftmwfter) and thereby recover the 
 value of the whole deceitful or aduh 
 terated Wares, together with his 
 charges, according to the faid Statute 
 of 1 8 £Hz. 
 
 There are alfo other ways of pro- 
 ceeding in thefe cafes , as the afore 
 mentioned Statutes do plainly diredh 
 
 And 
 
anu &i\Wt 22late& 
 
 4 3 
 
 And that tbs perfons agrieved may 
 he the betterfincouraged to proceed 
 for their recompence,and to puniih the 
 offenders, I have here inferred a true 
 Coppy of an Indi&ment in Latin, and 
 the fame rendred into Englifh, taken 
 out of the Original (now remaining of 
 Record in the Crom-Office ) that was 
 preferred ( in Trinity Term, in the 28 
 year of the Reign of King Charles the 
 Second &c . ) before the Grand-Jury of 
 Enqueft ( attending the Kings-Bench 
 Court at JVeflmwfier ) againft a Per- 
 fon-offender in the premiffes ; which 
 Bill (being drawn up, and this way of 
 proceeding contrived by the advice of 
 feveral Counfel learned in the Law ) 
 may ferve ( with fome little variations* 
 as occalion may be) for a good pre- 
 fident in the like Cafes* 
 
 Per 
 
44 
 
 a Coirctj 2one for^olt! 
 
 Perjad' Trin xxviij. 
 
 Car’ Secundi Regis. 
 
 Midd’ IT. TuJc $ SDfia 
 J Kege fiipec 
 ©actm fuum p^efen- 
 tant qo’ A. B, nag tie 
 patoclj’ See M. tit 
 Com' fib’ aurifabac 
 qtu cbucaj fait in site 
 auctfabpjjum ac gtres 
 annog $ amplius jam 
 uit’eiapg eanDcm at* 
 temapubparocifpjea’ 
 in Com’ pjetiict’ erec< 
 cuit ac g totum them 
 tempus tb’m fait Itbcc 
 ijomo aurifa* 
 6?omCt\)itat' London’ 
 ac quamplurtma filafa 
 $ af res e,t argento 
 confect’ p?etejctu arti'0 
 fae p?ed tb’m fecit $8« 
 eri caufabtt acatberg 
 Iigei 0 PictiDni Efgfi 
 nunc tbtDcm «Henbioit 
 f (Uenbitioni erpofait 
 
 Midd’ff. npHe Jury 
 X fer our 
 Soveraign Lord the 
 King upon their Oath 
 do preient, That A.B. 
 late of the Parifh of 
 St .Martin in theFields 
 in the County afore- 
 faid, Goldihaith, who 
 was brought up in the 
 Trade of aGoldfmith. 
 And for three years 
 and more now laft 
 paft hathexercifed the 
 fame Trade within the 
 Parilh aforefaid in the 
 County afore laid, And 
 for all that time there, 
 was a Freeman of the 
 Myftery ofGoklfmiths 
 of the City of London , 
 And there by colour 
 of his faid Trade made 
 and caufed to be made 
 
 ac 
 
cnb ©fiber Clares. 45 
 
 ac qb’ them A.B. bene 
 fctuts qo’ cmnta aiafa 
 q ai’ res er argento 
 confer $ g Ijomtnes 
 99taetiiauctfab20jum 
 Cibitat London’ ben* 
 bitiont erpotf et erpm 
 nenti' infra Cibitafpti 
 $ altbt orbent fieri 
 unbequaq? [ Anglice 
 wholly] be bono ® be- 
 to argento concojbafi 
 cum ©tanbarb’ Patiat 
 bicri Domini EegiS et 
 aut benbitionem eo* 
 tunbem bebeaut affai« 
 ari [Anglice be allay- 
 ed] flt fignart [Anglice 
 marked] Cttm Sinfigtl 
 [Anglice the mark] 
 
 Capitis Parbi [an* 
 
 glite boc the Leopards 
 Head]pec Cuffofi S&U 
 flerii aurifab?o?ft €U 
 
 bitaf London’ £Q,Uib 9 
 
 Cufiati Infigtt iir ab 
 fignanti flMa $ al res 
 be auro $ argento 
 
 very many Veffels and 
 other things of Silver, 
 and there fold and ex- 
 pofed to fale to divers 
 liegePeople of our laid 
 Soveraign Lord the 
 King that now is;And 
 that the faid s4.B. well 
 knowing that all Vef- 
 fels and other things 
 made of Silver 5 and 
 expofed and fet to fale 
 by men of the Myftery 
 of Goldfmiths of the 
 City of London within 
 the City aforefaid and 
 elfewhere, ought to 
 be made wholly of 
 good and trueSilver a- 
 greeing with the Stan- 
 dard of the Exche- 
 quer of our fifid Sove- 
 raign Lord the King ; 
 And ought before the 
 fale thereof to be af- 
 fayed and marked by 
 the Wardens of the 
 Myftery ofGoldfmiths 
 Com 
 
4(5 a Coutfj«ffone foj ®oia 
 
 €anc0?i>aftea(ti©tait’ 
 uacS pjecicta confect 
 ante eojunaem Xjchd^ 
 coiiem fcBtttlme ere- 
 Dituc IDem tonieit 
 A. B. f jciflens pcrfoita 
 male $ mfjotteffe Bif* 
 politionis ac macin'* 
 nans nequit $ fratmi* 
 lent mteiiDens Itgeos 
 $ Cubnif Dicti Domini 
 EegiS nunc falfa MU 
 cite Deceptive cailtBe 
 $ fubDole Decipere $ 
 Beftauoace $ leges lju= 
 jus Eegnt ingf fub* 
 ftertece Wcefimo p?p 
 mo Die 3iaimari} '9nno 
 Eegnt Domini noftct 
 Caroli ©CCUtlDi Dei 
 •Statia ©coe 
 
 iFcanc $ Ipifietfi Er* 
 giS JFtDei Defenfoiis 
 9 Cv fijicefimofeptimo 
 qpuD patocl/ ©ce M. 
 fit Com pieD feragmg 
 fibul* cfnirulat C3it* 
 fllife COlf DOCfif draw 
 
 of the City of Lon&ort 
 with the mark of the 
 Zeopards Head; which 
 Wardens are lawfully 
 entrufted with the 
 Mark to mark VeiTels 
 and other things made 
 of Gold and Silver 
 agreeing with the 
 Standard aforefaid be- 
 fore the fale thereof: 
 Neverthelefs the faid 
 si.B. being a perfon of 
 an evil and diihoneft 
 difpofition, and evilly 
 devifing and fraudu- 
 lently intending the 
 Liege People and Sub- 
 jects of our faid. Sove- 
 reign Lord the King 
 that now is, falfly, un- 
 lawfully, deceitful !y, 
 craftily and fubtiliy to 
 deceive and defraud, 
 and to fubvert the 
 Laws of this Kingdom 
 o$Englwd,On the one 
 and twentieth day of 
 Girdle 
 
ana S>iibet States* 47 
 
 Girdle Buckles] $ CCtO 
 filuif Calceat coif 
 Shooe Buckles Do till» 
 puro ? Piito^t Rigento 
 quam octet efife De at- 
 genf nue concojDail 
 cum ^tanDacfi pbitto 
 tsiDeft cctontctm De# 
 rat in qualibet (Uncia 
 itiDe (Uiltojum quam 
 9rgenf cum ffnuDatfi 
 pieDtcto concojDiin fal- 
 fo fcauDulenf $ feienf 
 confecf $ fabricabit 
 9c ilia fic confeci: 1 
 fabjicaf ante aliquam 
 Uffaiaconcmfeufigua- 
 conem eo^uiiDem pec 
 Cuffotf C^ittetii 9uti- 
 fab?omm€lDitaf Lon- 
 don’ p?efi feu eo^ttnt 
 alterius poffea fcilicet 
 Deo hiceftmoppmo Die 
 aamtarif 9nno regni 
 Ufcti Domini Eegis 
 nunc Dicefimofeptimo 
 fupjaDicto aptiD pa- 
 toci/fancteM.m Com 
 
 January , in the Se- 
 ven and twentieth 
 year of the Reign of 
 our Soveraign Lord 
 Charles the Second? by 
 the Grace of God 
 of Fngland, Scotland 
 France and Ireland 
 King, Defender of the 
 Faith, 'dre. at the Parifh 
 of St. Martin in the 
 Fields in the County 
 aforelaid, falfely, frau- 
 dulently, and know- 
 ingly, did make and fa- 
 ihion Threefcore draw 
 Girdle Buckles, and 
 eight Shooe Buckles 
 of impure and bafer 
 Silver than it ought 
 to be, not agreeing 
 with the Silver of the 
 Standard aforefaid , 
 that is to fay, Eighteen 
 pence in every Ounce 
 thereof worfer than 
 the Silver agreeing 
 with the Standard a- 
 PieS 
 
43 a Coucf>0one fo| ®oia 
 
 p?eDtc 0 tit tc0 rjc ar- 
 gento unttequatB con- 
 fert De bono $ hero 
 argento conco^an eft 
 
 S)tmiDarDp2eDictofa!- 
 fo tliictte fccccptme $ 
 frauDttienJ fiettoftioiu 
 etpolutt ac tsibrri it- 
 geisi m'at Dotimu &r- 
 gt '0 tunic Joe pjcofatig 
 ignof oDttmcf lluoem 
 beuDtcont etpofttit ? 
 benOiDit tit contempt' 
 tuett Domini Eeg is! 
 nunc legumcR tnmim 
 ao grabs Dampmim * 
 mamfeftam oecepco- 
 tiern Itgeojum pjetiict 
 qttt fmiuftnom fibula# 
 cmgttlar § fibttf €ai- 
 ceaf tmtv 3n malum 
 €remplum omnium 
 altorum in confifi cafu 
 Helmqtfen ac contra 
 pacem net Dili Ecgi# 
 mine Cojon .$ Diguf 
 tat fUa>?c> 
 
 forefaid . And thofe 
 things lb made and 
 fafhioned before any 
 affay or mark of the 
 fame by the Wardens 
 oftheMyftery ofGold- 
 fmiths of the City of 
 London aforefaid , or 
 either of them, After- 
 wards, that is to fay, 
 on the fame One and 
 twentieth day of Ja- 
 nuary, in the aforqlaid 
 Seven and twentieth 
 year of the Riign of 
 our faid Soveraign the 
 King that now is, at 
 the Parifh of St. Mar- 
 tin in the Fields in the 
 County aforefaid, ;.s 
 things made wholly 
 of good and true Sil- 
 ver agreeing with the 
 Standard aforefaid , 
 falfdy, unlawfully , 
 deceitfully, and frau- 
 dulently expofed to 
 fale - And then and 
 
49 
 
 anii @ifhri: U8att& 
 
 there expofed to fale and fold to divers 
 Liege People of our faid Soveraign 
 Lord the King that now is, unknown 
 to the Jury aforefaid, In contempt of 
 our faid Soveraign Lord the King that 
 now is, and of his Laws, To the great 
 damage and manifeft deceit of the faid 
 Liege People who bought the faid 
 draw-Girdles-Buckles , and Shooe- 
 Buckles , to the evil Example of all 
 others offending in the like cafe, 
 Againft the Peace of our faid Sove- 
 raign Lord the King that now is, his 
 Crown and Dignity. 
 
 And fince thefe Dire&ions are fo 
 plain, ’tis pity but he fhould be cheat- 
 ed that will not ufe them for preven- 
 tion, or to get recompence when de- 
 ceived. 
 
 And my further Advice is , That 
 every perfon be careful to buy no Sil- 
 ver Work but what is marked as the 
 Laws require • and if that proves 
 naught, recompence is eafily had. ei- 
 ther of the Company (if marked with 
 their Marks, which (by reafonof the 
 » E - care 
 
50 
 
 $ €oucl>ffane fo i ®olti 
 
 care taken therein) are not fet on Sil- 
 ver, worfe than Standard, in the com- 
 pafs of my Experience,) or the Maker 
 or Seller by his Mark will be eafily 
 found out whereby to obtain recom- 
 pence of him. 
 
 And in cafe of hafte, where the 
 Buyer cannot ftay for the Companies 
 Marks, I advife him to take care that 
 he know the Workman to be able and 
 honeft ? andhis Mark upon every part 
 of the Work that is wrought afunder, 
 and afterwards foddered together as 
 aforefaid. 
 
 It is queried by fame , Whether it be 
 lawful for a Goldfmith to work 
 Gold or Silver 5 that is worfe than 
 Standard , if it be brought by the per- 
 fon , that is to receive it again , when 
 wrought up into Wares . or to work 
 it when ’ tis befpoke fo to be^ by the 
 per fon that will receive it when fo 
 made up f 
 
 To 
 
ana dflter Mmfr 
 
 To which I anfwer by way of Cau> 
 tion and Advice, 
 
 That it is pofitively againft the 
 the Laws afore recited to work Silver 
 or Gold, that is worfe than Standard* 
 into any fort of Work under any pre- 
 tence or colour whatfoever . and all 
 fuch Wares be utterly unlawful, al- 
 though the Worker do receive courfe 
 Silver to work for another, or receive 
 but the juft value thereof * yet if it be 
 fold or bartered to others, and happen 
 to be queftioned, both the Maker and 
 Seller will beliable.and may be pimifh- 
 ed as the Laws appoint* 
 
 The beft Excufe that can be made in 
 thefe cafes is, That fuch courfe Work 
 is for the bringers or befpeakers own 
 wearing : If that be true, the danger is 
 the lefs, becaufe the Worker lyes open 
 only to one ; But his Wifdome would 
 be the greater, not to lay himfelf open 
 to any. 
 
 Upon what is here deckfedL It is 
 
 E 2 ' hoped 
 
a Coucfrifcme fo? 
 
 hoped no perfon will fufter themfelves 
 to be deluded with the pretences of 
 the Seller of unmarked and fufpe&ed 
 Silver Work, (z iz.) 
 
 That the Work will not bear the 
 Marks as before is mentioned ; for 9 tis 
 manifeft and well known by great ex- 
 perience, That all Silver Works com- 
 prehended under the name of Fefiel^ 
 and under the name of Harnefs, (Hilts 
 for Swords and Buckles being inclu- 
 ded under that denomination) will 
 bear the Marks appointed with as 
 much conveniency as need to be defi- 
 red,for the Veflels are generally mark- 
 ed with the bigger Marks aforefaid 
 without exception; and for Silver 
 Hilts and Buckles, (wherein the diffi- 
 culty is fuppofed to lie ) they have 
 fmallMarks made on purpofe for them, 
 and the Work being firft marked by 
 the Worker with marks of Ink thus 
 (o) on every place where the Work- 
 man thinks it moft convenient to bear 
 the Companies Marks ; And the hol- 
 low Work being filled with Lead, 
 (which is afterwards to be melted out 
 
 again) 
 
5 
 
 anti Snl&et UU tegh 
 
 again) the Wardens will, or may, fome 
 on the Anvil, and fome on other Lead 
 which is put into a Vice for that pur- 
 pofe 5 ftrike their Marks on thofe pla- 
 ces, both of wrought and plain Work, 
 without defacing or hurting the 
 fame. 
 
 Nor need any perfon be deluded by 
 pretence that the Workmen have not 
 timeto get it marked at Goldfmiths 
 Hall 5 when if the Work be carried to 
 the Office on any of the Affay dayes 
 aforefaid, before the hour of Nine in 
 the Morning, they may (if it be good 
 Silver) have it out ready marked at 4. 
 of the Clock in the Afternoon the 
 fame day. 
 
 Or by pretence that the Work will 
 be fo abufed by the ftriking thereon 
 the Companies Marks, that it cannot 
 be finifhed Workman-like ; which in- 
 deed is one principal Excufe for not 
 bringing their Work to receive the 
 Companies Marks. 
 
 Neither let the fuppofition that the 
 E 3 Servants 
 
aCoucl>floitefo? ®olu 
 
 Servants of the Company's Officers 
 will abufe the Bringer or Owner of 
 the Work either in word or demea- 
 nour (though lome have heretofore 
 been too rude and malipert) deter any 
 from bringing their Works for the 
 Company’s Marks • for certain it is, 
 the Wardens will not allow but fe« 
 verely reprehend their Officers and 
 Servants that {hall abufe any perfon or 
 Work w 7 hatioever. 
 
 And if the Wardens refufe to fet 
 their Marks, or not fet them as they 
 ought ; or if they (or their Officers or 
 Servants) fhall do any damage to the 
 Work by ftriking the marksman A&ion 
 well lyes againft them • and they are 
 befides by Law otherwife puniftiable 
 and compellable to ftrike their Marks 
 as Workman-like on the Work, as 
 the Maker ftrikes his own mark there- 
 on* 
 
 Nor let the Buyer fuffer himfelf to 
 be deluded at any time upon pretence 
 that Standard Gold or Silver is too 
 foft, and not fo ferviceable as that 
 which is courfer : Fof that pretence is 
 
smD Si [JOer iftlaim 
 
 vain, and 5 tis well known by great ex- 
 perience 5 That both Gold and Sil- 
 ver of the Standard goodnels well 
 wrought, into any forts of Wares., is 
 in every refpedt better and more fer- 
 viceable than a courfer allay, which 
 moft times by reafonof the adultera- 
 tion, is found in the wearing not onely 
 of a braffy complexion, but very brit- 
 tle and rotten. 
 
 Neither let the pretence of the Sel- 
 ler of adulterated Wares delude you, 
 (viz.) That he abates as much in the 
 faftiion as the Silver is allayd worfe 
 than Standard ; when 5 tis well known, 
 that moft times for every 6 idle abates 
 in the fafliion of fuch courfe Silver 
 Work, he gains i s. 6 d. or a s t or more 
 by the allay in fuch Work. 
 
 Or by his promife, That he will at 
 any time allow five {hillings the Ounce 
 for the filver again, though it be bro- 
 ken to pieces: For by experience it is 
 evident. That very few SilverWares 
 come again to be fold to the fame 
 hand, many being either kept to poft e : 
 E 4 - • rityj 
 
56 
 
 a Ccucf>ftQne fo i 
 
 rity , or transferred by gift ; and if 
 neceffity induce a fale, it is moft com- 
 moniy in fome place remote from the 
 place where it was bought, and then 
 they muft take what they can get for 
 it; which (if unmarked Wares) will 
 not be more than ’tis worth. 
 
 I have made but little mention of 
 GoldWarespmd of the provifion made, 
 to prevent deceit therein, becaufe 
 Gold Wares are much lefs common 
 than Silver Wares, I (hall therefore 
 only propofe, That by the fame ways 
 and method, by which you make dif- 
 covery of the goodnefs or badnefs of 
 Silver, you may alfo make difeovery 
 of the goodnds or badnefs of Gold, 
 £ind recover recompence if wronged, 
 and puniih the Offenders • only with 
 this difference, (viz,.) That as the 
 whiteft Silver is the beft, fo the Gold 
 of the deepeft yellow is the beft ; and 
 the more the Gold inclining to a red 
 or a pale yellow , S tis fp much the 
 pourfer. 
 
 And as the Affay-Mafter in his re- 
 ports 
 
81*6 ©tibce Silare 
 
 ports of the goodnefs of Silver fets it 
 down by half-penny weights , and 
 pennyweights, and Ounces Troy, fo 
 in his report of a Gold affay he fets it 
 down by Carrads and Carrad-grains* 
 and half- grains. 
 
 For the underhand ing of which 
 you are to know, That five of the 
 Troy grains makes a Carred-grain ? 
 and four of fuch Carred- grains makes 
 one Carred, and twenty and four of 
 fuch Carreds, makes one Ounce Troy. 
 
 So that if Standard Gold be worth 
 four pound the Ounce, for every car- 
 red he fets down ’tis worfe, you muft 
 account that in the Ounce Troy *tis 
 worfe by fo many times 3^8^. And 
 for every grain he fets down ’tis worfe, 
 you muft account it worfe by fo ma- 
 ny times 1 1 d . in the Ounce Troy. And 
 for every demy or half grain, 5 d . ob . 
 for fo much it will coft to make it of 
 Standard goodnefs, or to change it for 
 Standard. 
 
 The manner 
 
 of the Paper for a Gold 
 
58 3 &0UClj46!te fo? 0tf(D 
 
 allay, and the Allay -Matters report 
 thereof is alio expreffed in the Cop- 
 per Cutt aforefaid. 
 
 And further you are to know,That 
 twenty and two of the aforefaid Car- 
 reds of the finelt Gold, and two Car- 
 reds of fine Copper and Silver equal 
 parts, makes an Ounce of Gold of the 
 allay, appointed (by the Stat. of 1 8 of 
 £Uz. 15. afore cited) to be the Stan- 
 dard for all Gold Wares, (worle 
 than which allay no Wares areto be 
 made, upon the penalty therein men- 
 tioned.) 
 
 And that 1 2 grains Troy is enough 
 for making an affay of Gold. 
 
 But if any lhall be dif-fatisfyed with 
 the alfayings and reports of the Alfay- 
 Mafter of Goldfmiths Hall, may have 
 alfayes made by His Majeltie’s fworn 
 Affay-Mafter of his Mint in the Tower 
 of London. 
 
 Concerning Silver Work, made re- 
 mote from Lornlm , I lhall only infert, 
 
 that 
 
59 
 
 ema &i \ set ©Uat£& 
 
 that it is to be obferved, That by the 
 firft recited Statute, all the Goldhniths 
 in England, were appointed to bring 
 all their Silver Work (comprehended 
 under the name of Veffels) to London, 
 to be there affayed and marked with 
 the Leopards Head ; but the compel- 
 ling thereof, under fuch great penal- 
 ties as are therein mentioned, were 
 found to be a grievance : Therefore 
 by the Statute of 2 Hen . 6. 14. for the 
 better conveniency of the Goldfmiths 
 remote from London , Seven places are 
 appointed wherein fuch Work {hall 
 be affayed and marked, (viz.) 
 
 Tork'y Nerve afile upon Tine , Lincoln * 
 Norwich , Brifiow , Salisbury , and Co- 
 ventry. 
 
 And as the Wardens of the Gold- 
 jfiniths, London^ are to affay and mark 
 the Silver Work that is made in and 
 about London 5 and three miles of the 
 fame, or to procure an Artift to do the 
 fame, (for which they muff anfwer) 
 fo, in every one of the aforefaid Seven 
 feveral plages, the Chief Magiftr ate or 
 
 Gover- 
 
6o a Coucfj 2one fo? ©oID 
 
 Governour is to affay and mark the 
 Silver Work that is made therein, or 
 jto procure an Artift to do the fame* 
 (for which they rauft alfo anfwer .) 
 
 > ■ And in like manner as every Mafter- 
 worker inGoidfmzthsYJ orks in London^ 
 and 3. miles compafs of the fame, are to 
 make their Marks known to the War- 
 dens of the Goldfmiths , fo every Ma- 
 fter-Worker in Gold and Silver in eve- 
 ry of the faid Seven Places , are to 
 make their Marks known to the Sur- 
 veyors there (that is) to the Chief Ma- 
 giftrate of fuch Place : But what the 
 particular Marks that the relpe&ive 
 chief Governours of thefe Seven fe- 
 veral Places fet on the Silver work, I 
 can give no certain accompt thereof. 
 
 But this I can alfert, That by rea- 
 fon the Marks of thofe Places are little 
 known* they bear as little credit, and 
 therefore the Goldfmiths in remote pla- 
 ces do frequently fend up their Silver 
 work to receive the London Touch. 
 
anu 'SilUec taiaccsf. 
 
 6 1 
 
 Here followeth theGoldjmitbs 
 
 CHARTER truly rendred into 
 £nglijh from the Copy thereof taken 
 from the Record now remaining in 
 the Chappel of the Rolls, under the 
 Title Confirmation, Part the fe- 
 cond , Number the fourth ^Confirmed 
 in the fecond Tear of King James. 
 
 HE KING to all whom&c. 
 
 fendeth Greeting. We have per- 
 ufed and feen the Letters Patents of 
 Confirmation of our MoftDear Sifter 
 the Lady Elizabeth late Queen of 
 England , made in thefe words, Eliza- 
 beth by the Grace of God of England. y 
 France and Ireland. , Queen, Defender 
 of the Faith, &c. To all to whom thefe 
 prefcnt Letters Patents (hall come 5 
 Greeting. 
 
 We have perufed the Letters Pa- 
 tents of Confirmation of the Lady 
 Mary late Queen of England f) ur Moft 
 
 Dear 
 
62 SI Cottcfrifone fo? ®olO 
 
 Dear Sifter , made in thefe words, 
 Mary by the Grace of God of England^ 
 France and Ireland , Queen, Detender 
 of the Faith, and on Earth over the 
 English and Irijh Church the Supream 
 Head, To all to whom thefe prefents 
 fhall come. Greeting. 
 
 ’ We have perufed the Letters Patents 
 of Confirmation of Our Dear Brother 
 Edward the Sixth, late King of England . , 
 made in thefe words, Edward the Sixth 
 by the Grace of God of England^France 
 and Ireland , King, Defender of the 
 Faith, and on Earth oyer the Enghjh 
 and Zrifo Church, Supream Head, To 
 all to whom thefe prefent Letters fhall 
 come, Greeting. 
 
 We have perufed the Letters Pa- 
 tents of Confirmation of our Moft 
 Dear Father, Henry the Eighth, Late 
 King of England of Famous Memory, 
 made in thefe words, Henry by the 
 Grace of God King of England and 
 France , and Lord of Ireland , To all to 
 whom thefe prefent Letters fhall come. 
 Greeting. 
 
 We 
 
anti Sutter SHateg. 6 3 
 
 We have perilled the Letters Pa- 
 tents of Confirmation of our Moft 
 Dear Father Henry the Seventh, Late 
 King of England, of Famous Memory, 
 made in thefe words, Henry by the 
 Grace of God King of England and 
 France , and Lord of Ireland , To all 
 to whom thefe prefent Letters fliall 
 come, Greeting. 
 
 Know Ye, That We have pefufed 
 the Letters Patents of Edward the 
 Fourth, Late King of England , made 
 in thefe words, Edward by the Grace 
 of God King of England and France , 
 Lord of Ireland, To all to whom thefe 
 prefent Letters lhall come, Greeting. 
 
 We have perufed the Letters Patents 
 of Edward the Third, Late King of 
 England , Our Progenitor, made in 
 thefe words : 
 
 Edward fcp tfje <§5*ace Of 3500 Bttllg 
 Of England, lto?0 Of Ireland, 0110 Dube 
 Of Aquitaine, Co Oil to UifiOlll tfjefg 
 
 pjefent Letters fijall come, greeting. 
 
 ©ut £flelbeloUe0 t5e Goldfmiths of 
 
9€ctich*ttoite for Cola 
 
 SDttt Citp Of London bp tljeit Pctfticn 
 ejchibiteb to fils aitD Out Couitcel in 
 £Dur parliament hoiben at Weftmin- 
 fter alter tlje Jfeafi of the purification 
 ofSDur Laopinff paft, babe fljetun, 
 
 Chat tbhereas no pribate ferebant 
 no? ©tranget heretofore tuere tuont to 
 brfitfi into this JLano anp Q9onep Coin’ 
 cD, but Plate of ©fiber to ejrcljange for 
 £Dut Copn, 
 
 anDtljut itfjao been aifo ©rbaincD, 
 fitljatnii tljofetDljo tuere of tlje Gold- 
 I'miths Ccaoe tuere to fit in their fijops 
 in the fptgl>©tceet of Cheap, aitD that 
 no Wilber in Plate, nor Slelfel of fiDolti 
 or ©fiber ought to be foio in the dtp 
 Of London, etcept at £>tlt Exchange, 
 or ill Cheapfide among tlje Goldfmiths, 
 anD that publicklp, to the enb the pet» 
 fons of the fata Ctane might Inform 
 tljemfelbes tuhetheu the ©diet came 
 Hatufuilp bp filth filefiei or not. 
 
 ■But that netu of late the fain StfJer» 
 chants astuell Prfbate as ©ttangets, 
 do bring from fortaign Countries into 
 
 this 
 
65 
 
 an» @>il®ec 2Ba.re& 
 
 thies Nation Counterfeit Sterling, 
 tutjctcof tlje potui® 13 not ujojtlj abobe 
 fifteen @ols of t&e cijljr Heeling, ano 
 of t&t3 £J9onep none can tinctu tlje true 
 «Halite, but bp melting it oofun. 
 
 3n® alfo t&at manp of the fata Craac 
 of «OiafmitOs fee ep Sltopo in oblcure 
 turnings, and by-Lanes and Streets, 
 
 an® ®o Dttp Sfelleis of $oi® atta £>ic 
 ®er fecretly, iustljotit enquiring tf fuclj 
 OefieI fuere ficlno? lafnfttilp come bp, 
 an® immeoiatelp melting \t aofuit, ao 
 make tt into piate an® fell it to f9a> 
 Cijant3 Ccabing bcpen® ®za, tfjat it 
 map be ejtpojtea , an® fo tfjcp make 
 falfe Ollo^k of (Sol® an® ©;IUer> n3 
 ISjaceiet®, iLockcto, dXmgs ah® otfjer 
 3Setuel3 ; in fuljich tbep fct <S!af3 of 
 ®t®et3 Coiouro, Counterfeiting right 
 fione3,ana put moje §Hap in tlj: fiibcr 
 tljan thep oughtAuhidj tij» p feli to furij 
 ae ijabe no elidi m fucij things* 
 
 8i1® tlm the Cutlers ill tl’S-t 2B0?k= 
 fjOtlfes cover Tin with Silver 10 Ulfatii^ 
 
 IpanafnrtDfiicf) .fieig&t, that the lame 
 cannot be Difcmte® an® f.beee® from 
 
 JT • tiJ2 
 
3 Coucfcflone fo? €oid 
 
 tlje Cm, anD bp tljat means tljcp fell 
 tlje cm fa coheres fa? fine $© liber, to 
 tlje great Damage a::D Dtcetpt of Cls 
 area Due People. 
 
 CE Hereupon tlje faiD ColDfmltljs 
 &abe#etirionco CIS, CljatCEe tooulD 
 be.plcafcD to npplp cciibeiuent remeop 
 
 tljcreim 
 
 SnD 22le being bulling to pjebent 
 tlje faiD €Dil, Do bp oiid UUtlj tlje Sf# 
 Cent of tlje lo*Ds spiritual anD Cem- 
 popi, anD tlje Commons of Due 
 Realm fcj tlje Common profit of CIS 
 aim Due People, Mill aim grant foj 
 fo? CIS, anD Due fpelrs, 
 
 Cljat Ijencefojtlj no Merchant tU 
 tljer pjtbate o? Ifranger, fljall bung 
 into tijis laitD anp fo?t of t^onep, 
 But onlp piate of fine Sulber, no? 
 tljat anp ®olD o? Wilber brought bp 
 <SolDfmltljs, o? anp plate of ©ilbec 
 be folD to tlje ^ercljant to fell again, 
 anD to be carn'eD out of tlje RtngDom 
 “But fljall be folD at Due faiD Ex- 
 change, o? opeuip among tlje falD^oiD» 
 
anb ©iiter <E£iate& 
 
 Cmitfiss fpj pjibate ufe oneip. 
 
 8nii t|at none tijat pieteim to be of 
 t&e fame Crane fljafl keep aitp ©ijop 
 Put in Cheapfide, tijat it map be feeu 
 tijat tfjetc CLio$ be goon anb rigijt, 
 
 aim tijat t&ofe of tfje faib Crane 
 map bp berate of tbefe patents elect 
 ijaneft, lawful aim fuffictent men bee 
 pkilieb in t&e fato Crane, to enquire of 
 flje matter# afojefato ; aim tijat tfjep 
 fo cljofen rtiap upon one cernfitetatiQii 
 of tljefam 'Craft reform toijat tetters 
 tljepfljail firm fljeteiii, ano thereupon 
 inflict one punlfljmcnt upon tijc ©fteu* 
 Decs, anb that bp t&c ijelp aim afl> 
 fiance of tte^ppo^ aim ©ijcriffsifoc- 
 cafioiitev 
 
 aim tijat in an Craning Citieo aim 
 CotbnS tii EnglancI ibljtte Coltniiutljs 
 refiteifljefame ©lamarae be obfetteb 
 as in London, aim tijat ane o? tara' of 
 eterp fwV Citpoi Cetott fo| tfje reft 
 of tijat' Crate fljaii coitte to London to 
 beqfcjttamebof tijelr Coiidjof Coif* 
 anoiltte Wjate sBfimpof a pun# 
 jf 2 - dan 
 
63 
 
 a co«ci>flOHc foj -©oia 
 
 cfjton toitft a Leopard’s Sinat) maifects 
 upon tljac (HibjU m of antient time it 
 ijao been ©itiameo, In SBitmffe 
 Mjeteof OLie babe caufeO tljefe 2?ut 
 ILtttecg to be matte }0at£iitft ©ibi it 
 nt Weftminfter tljC CljhTlf tf) D;1J> Of 
 March, in tlje Jfitfl pear of (Due Ktign. 
 
 We have alfo perufed the Letters 
 Patents of Richard the Second after 
 the Conqucfl, late King of England , 
 made in thefe words, Richard by the 
 Grace of God King of England and 
 France , and Lord of Ireland , To all to 
 whom thefe prefents (hall come, greet- 
 ing. Know Ye, 
 
 That whereas Edward our Grand- 
 father late King of England , at the 
 Suit of the Goldfmiths of our City of 
 London fuggefting to him, How that 
 many pertons of that Trade by Fire 
 and the fmoke of Quickfilver, had loft 
 their fight , and that others of them 
 by their working in that Trade, be- 
 came fo Crazed and Infirm, That they 
 were difabled to fubfift, but by Relief 
 from others. 
 
 And that divers of the (aid City 
 
 Com- 
 
anti %ilba tf&ms. 
 
 Compaffionating ' the Condition of 
 fuch, were difpofed to give and grant 
 divers Tenements and Rents in the 
 faid City to the value of Twenty 
 pounds per Annum to the Company 
 of the faid Craft , towards the main- 
 tenance of the faid Blind, Weak, and 
 Infirm; And aifo of a Chaplain to 
 Celebrate Mafs amongft them every 
 day for the Souls of all the Faithful 
 departed, according to the Ordinance 
 in that behalf to be made, Did by his 
 Letters Patents for the Confideration 
 of a Fine of Ten Marks, for himfelf 
 and his Heirs, as much as in him lay, 
 grant and give Licence to the Men of 
 the Community aforefaid, that they 
 may purchafe Tenements and Rents 
 in the fame C.ty of the value of Twen- 
 ty pounds per Annum and not above 
 of the Men of that City, for relief and 
 maintenance of fuch blind and infirm, 
 and of fuch Chaplain as aforefaid, to^ 
 hold to them and their Succelfors of 
 the faid Society for ever, for the pur- 
 pofes aforefaid. The Statute qf Mort- 
 mtine or any other Statute or Ordi- 
 nance to the contrary thereof not- 
 F 3 ; withftanding^ 
 
withdandipg - b as in and by the faid 
 Letters Patents more fully and at large 
 it may appear.^ 
 
 And forafmuchas the Men of the 
 laid Myftery have humbly Petitioned 
 Os, That forafmuch as Our Grand- 
 fathers faid Letters Patents are not 
 nor can be put in execution for want 
 of Naming .Perfons capable therein. 
 That We would Gratioufiy provide 
 feme remedy for them in this behalf. 
 W e taking the Premises into Confide- 
 ration, of Our efpecial Grace, and for 
 the Confideratiori of Twenty Marks 
 by them paid unto Us in Our Ham- 
 per, 
 
 Have for U$ and Our Heirs : granted 
 and given Licence to the men of the 
 faid Craft, That from henceforth they 
 be a perpetual Community or Society 
 of themfelves. 
 
 And that the faid Society or Com- 
 pany may for ever yearly filed out of 
 themfelves four Wardens to overfee, 
 rule and duly govern the faid Craft* 
 
ana BtWev Mates?* 
 
 and Community, and every Member 
 of the fame. 
 
 And further. We have according 
 to Our Authority in this behalf gran- 
 ted and given Licence for Us and Our 
 Heirs to the lame Wardens and Com- 
 pany, That they may purchafe and 
 have to them and their Succeffors, 
 Tenements and Rents, with their Ap- 
 purtenances, \v ithin the laid City and 
 Suburbs thereof to the value of Twen- 
 ty pounds per anmtm^ for the mainte- 
 nance of the blind, weak and infirm 
 Men of the Company aforefaid, and of 
 a Chaplain to Celebrate Mafs amongft 
 the Laid infirm, every day, for the Souls 
 of all the Faithful departed, for ever, 
 according to fuch Ordinance, As the 
 fame Wardens and Company lhall 
 make in this behalf, (the laid Statute, 
 or the Statute in that cafe made in 
 Our laft Parliament at IVefiminfter , 
 notwithftanding,) or notwithftanding 
 that the faid Tenements and Rents be 
 held of Us in Free Burgage, fo that it 
 be found by Inquifition thereupon du- 
 ly had and returned into our Chancery^ 
 F 4 that 
 
a &mtly $om fa? 
 
 that fueh purchafe may be made with- 
 put any damage or prejudice to Us 
 and Our Heirs, of any other perfon 
 whatfoever. In witnefs whereof We 
 have caufed -thefe our Letters to be 
 made Patents, IVitnefs Our Self at 
 IVwchefler the Sixth day of February^ 
 in the Sixteenth Year of Our Reign. 
 
 And We ratifying and allowing the 
 faid Letters Patents, and all and every 
 thing therein contained, do for Us 
 and Our Heirs according to Our 
 Power in that behalf Approve and 
 Confirm the fame, and do by thefe pre- 
 fents grant and Confirm the fame unto 
 Our Welbeloyed the now Wardens 
 and Company of the faid Craft and 
 their Succeffors for ever. 
 
 And of Our further Grace in this 
 behalf. We for Us and Our Heirs,have 
 granted to the fame Wardens and 
 Company, That notwithftanding they 
 or their PredecelTors have not hither- 
 to upon any occafion in any fort ufed 
 the Liberties in the faid Letters Pa- 
 tents contained 3 Yet henceforth it 
 
 . fliall 
 
73 
 
 mtts %iMt CSJaitsf* 
 
 fliali be Lawful for them and their 
 Succelfors to Ufe and Enjoy the faid 
 Liberties and every of them., without 
 #ny Let or Impediment by or from Us 
 or Our Heirs, or any of Ourjuftices, 
 Efcheators , Mayors , Sheriffs , Bay- 
 liffs, or other Our Minifters where- 
 foever. 
 
 And We have further granted, and 
 by thefe prefents do for Us and Our 
 Heirs Grant to the faid now Wardens 
 and Company of the Craft aforefaid. 
 That they and their Succeflors be a 
 Corporation or Body Incorporate , 
 confifting and called by the Names of 
 Wardens and Company, and be per- 
 fons able and capable in Law to pur- 
 chafe and take Lands and Tenements, 
 Rents and other Poffeffions whatfo- 
 ever , for ever in FeeTImple of aqy 
 perfons whomfoever that (hall be wil- 
 ling to Give, Devife, or Affign the 
 fame to them. 
 
 Co fjllhe tints to (jolts the fame to 
 the faid Wardens and Company of 
 the faid Craft , and their Succelfors 
 for ever. ' And 
 
74 9 Cati£f>ff0tie foj @oltJ 
 
 i 
 
 And that they may and (hall have 
 perpetual Succeffion and a Common 
 Seal for the Affairs of their faid My< 
 ftery. 
 
 And that they may by the name of 
 the Wardens and Company of the 
 Myftery of Goldfmiths of the City of 
 London Implead and be Impleaded in 
 any Court and place whatfoe.ver, be- 
 fore any Judges whomfoever, in any 
 A&ions, Suits.* Plaints, Demands and 
 Pleas as well real as perfonal or mixt 
 of what nature or kind foever they 
 be. 
 
 And that the faid Wardens and 
 Company and their Succeffors, may 
 from time to time as often as they (hall 
 judge it expedient, make good and 
 realohable By-Laws and Ordinances 
 for the better regulating the faid My- 
 ftery, 
 
 We have alfo granted, and by thefe 
 preients do grant to the faid now 
 Wardens and Company and their Suc- 
 ceffors, That they may have and hold 
 
ans uim$* 
 
 to them and their Succeffors for ever, 
 all and lingular the Lands, Tenements, 
 Rents, Reverfions and Services here- 
 tofore given 5 granted or devifed to 
 the Wardens of the Myftery aforefaid, 
 or to the Wardens or Guardians and 
 Company of the Myftery aforefaid,by 
 the Name of the Wardens and Com- 
 pany of the faid Myftery, or by the 
 names of the Company of the faid 
 Myftery^ or by what other Name fo~ 
 ever or heretofore in any manner pur- 
 chafed by the Wardens and Company 
 of the faid Myftery, or by the Com- 
 pany of the faid Myftery, without Im- 
 peachment, Difturbance or Let by or 
 from Us or Our Heirs, or by or from 
 Our Juftices, Sheriffs, Efcheators, or 
 other the Officers and Minifters of Us 
 pr Our Heirs whomfoever. 
 
 And We do hereby ratifie and con- 
 firm all and every the fame Lands and 
 Tenements, Rents, Reverfions, and 
 Services to the faid now Wardens and 
 Company, and their Succeffors, 
 
 And for the Credit .of the Men of 
 
 the 
 
76 
 
 3 CoucWcme foi <0oio 
 
 the faid Craft dwelling and refiding 
 in the faid City for the time being, and 
 for the preventing and avoiding the 
 damage and lofs which do or may daily 
 happen and arife as well to Us as to 
 any Our Liege People, for want of a 
 due and provident Care in regulating 
 certain of Our Subjects and others 
 Ufing and Exercifing the faid Trade,' 
 without any regard to the Credit of the 
 faid Company, And alio for the pre- 
 venting and taking away Subtleties 
 and Deceipts practifed in the faid Trade , 
 
 We have further granted, and by 
 thefe Prefents do grant to the faid now 
 Wardens and Company and their Suc- 
 ceffors for Qver, That the Wardens of 
 the faid Myftery for the time being 
 lhall and may for ever have thefearch , 
 infection^ tryal and regulation of all 
 forts of Gold and Silver wrought or 
 to be wrought, and to be expofed to 
 fale within the City of London and the 
 Suburbs thereof, and in all Fairs and 
 Markets, and all Cities, Towns and 
 Boroughs, and all other places what- 
 soever throughout Our Kingdom of £n- 
 
77 
 
 tina Biivtt ZMmg. 
 
 gland -, and alfofhall and may have power 
 to pmijh and correft all defeats that 
 ihail be found in the working of Gold 
 and Silver* 
 
 And to that end, if need be, to call 
 to their afliftance the Mayor and She- 
 riff's of the faid City, and the Mayors 
 and Bayliffs or other Officers what- 
 ever in any Fairs, Markets, Cities, Bo- 
 roughs and Towns, and other places 
 out of the faid City where any fuch 
 Search or Tryal (hall happen to be 
 made. 
 
 And that the Wardens of the faid 
 Myftery for the time being fhall and 
 may have full Power and Authority 
 for ever by themfel ves or any of them, 
 duly to fearchandtry all and Angular 
 the premiffes, and alfo all manner of 
 Work touching and concerning the 
 faid Craft,found or being in the hands 
 of the Goldfmiths, or any other whom- 
 foever felling* making or working any 
 Wares or Works pertaining to or con» 
 cerning the faid Myftery, as well with- 
 in Our faid City of London and the 
 
 Suburbs 
 
a Coac lyMm fo? 0 oid 
 
 Suburbs thereof, as elfewhere out of 
 the faid City in all Fairs, Markets, Ci- 
 ties, Boroughs and Towns, and other 
 places whatfoever throughout Our 
 Realm of England, ; And alio by them- 
 felves or any of them to break all fuch 
 deceitful Works and Wares of Gold 
 and Silver of what fort foever 5 if 
 any fuch they fhall find to be made, 
 wrought and expofed to fale in deceipt 
 of Our People. 
 
 Aud alfo according to their difere- 
 tion and as often as they fhall fee it ne- 
 celTary to punifh and correft the Ma- 
 kers, Sellers and Workers of the fame 
 Works according to their demeritsffiy 
 the afiiftance (if need be) ofOurMay- 
 ors, Sheriffs, Bayliffs, Reeves, and other 
 fuch like Officers, 
 
 We alfo will and grant, and ftri&ly 
 Charge and Command, That all Bay- 
 lifts, Reeves, and other Officers what- 
 foever in Fairs, Markets, Cities, Bo- 
 roughs, Towns and other places where 
 fuch Search fhall happen to be made, 
 be ready to Ayd and Affift the faid 
 
 Wardens 
 
79 
 
 Wardens and every of them making 
 iiich Search as aforefaid, in the execu- 
 tion of the premiffes, and that in all 
 things according to their Duty. 3Itt 
 toitnefg whereof We have caufed 
 thefe Our Letters to be made Patents. 
 Cfflttncfe Our Self at Leicefter the 
 Thirtieth day of May in the Second 
 Year of Our Reign. 
 
 And now We ratifying and appro» 
 ving the faid Letters Patents, and all. 
 things therein contained, do for Us 
 and Our Heirs according to Our Au- 
 thority therein, allow the fame, and 
 by thefe prefents do ratifie, grant and 
 confirm the fame to our Welbeloved 
 the now Wardens and Company of 
 the Myftery aforefaid and their Sue- 
 ceffors. 
 
 And further. We being certainly 
 informed that divers perfons both Na- 
 tives and Aliens, exercifing the faid 
 Trade in divers parts of this Kingdom, 
 ftudying and contriving their own 
 difbonejl Gain , and purpofing by va- 
 rious ways to deceive and endamage 
 
a Coucl>ftonefo? <S5olD 
 
 the reft of our Subje&s, do work and 
 expofe to fale Gold and Silver cunning- 
 ly and deceitfully wrought and debajed 
 more than the Standard allovoes., contra- 
 ry to the Ordinances in that behalf 
 made. 
 
 And Counterfeit-ftones (which are 
 of no value, cunningly fet in fuch kind 
 of Gold and Silver) do daily fell for 
 true Jewels at great rates to divers of 
 Our Subjects (not underftanding the 
 fame) as well in places priviledged, as 
 in Fairs , Markets and other places 
 within Our Cities and Burroughs of 
 this Our Kingdom of England, and nei- 
 ther fear nor doubt to be punilhed or 
 call’d in queftion for the fame. 
 
 And the reafon is, for that due 
 fearch or any due puniflhment is fel- 
 dome executed upon Offenders in that 
 Myfteryout of the City aforefaid. 
 
 And although the Wardens of that 
 Myftery in the faidCity for the time 
 being^have (by vertue and power of 
 the aforefaid Letters Patents in form 
 
 afore- 
 
aim sflsec SHnitjj. gj 
 
 aforefaid granted to them and their 
 Succeflors (had the fearch, infpedion* 
 tryal and regulation of the Gold and 
 Silver fo wrought and to be wrought 
 and expofed to Sale, And power by 
 themfelves or any of them , to fearch 
 and try (continually from the aforefaid 
 30th day of May in the faid Second 
 year of the late King Edward the 
 Fourth hitherto by vertue of his faid 
 Letters Patents to them in that behalf 
 made) all fuch kind of deceitful and 
 fraudulent Works and Wares made 
 and to be made of the Gold and Silver 
 aforefaid of any kind whatfoever. 
 
 And the faults and deceipts in thofe 
 Works deceitfully and fubtilly contri- 
 ved or to be contrived by the Work- 
 men and contrivers thereof, to punifli 
 and corred, as alfo to execute and 
 perform fuch other things as they 
 ought to do by vertue of the aforefaid 
 Letters Patents of the faid late King 
 Edward the Fourth ; 
 
 Neverthelefs as We are informed. 
 
 That notwithftanding the aforefaid 
 
 G ' War j ‘ 
 
a C.oi!ef>fionefPji©ol5 
 
 gardens of the laid Myftery for the 
 time being havei(ever iince the afore- 
 laid Grants to them and the Company 
 of the faid Myftery in form afore» 
 laid made) been at great trouble and 
 charges (as well at their own proper 
 Cofts, as at the Cofts of the faid Com- 
 pany) to put in execution their Au- 
 thority of fearching, infpeding and 
 trying fuch kind of Gold and Silver 
 (as is before mentioned) and the de- 
 feds therein, fo wrought and put to 
 fale by the Workmen of the faid Trade 
 in divers of the Cities , Burroughs, 
 Fairs, Markets and other places of this 
 Our Kingdom, for the cdmmon ufe of 
 Us and of all Our good Subjects. 
 
 Yet they have received very little 
 or no profit thereby, but rather have 
 been fubied oftentimes not onely to 
 pains and perils of their bodies, but 
 alfo to the lofs of their Goods and 
 Chattels by reafon and occafion of 
 their fearching, trying, and putting in 
 execution their Authority aforefaid, 
 in punifhing and correding the defeds 
 of Work upon proof thereof made 
 unto them, ~ ; By 
 
By means whereof the faid War- 
 dens of late in regard of the great 
 menaces and affaults which they have 
 received from thofe Workmen and 
 Tradefmenof that Myftery (that de- 
 ceiptfully fell fuchGold and Silver in 
 the Countrey) and their Accomplices 
 and Adherents , could not execute 
 their faid Authority any where with- 
 in Our Kingdom of England, except 
 within Our faid City of London and 
 the Suburbs thereof* 
 
 So that the faid fearch, tryal and 
 execution of the faid Authority cea- 
 fing,very many frauds, deceipts, works 
 unskilfully made of Gold and Silver, 
 and of counterfeiting of Jewels in 
 Works of Gold and Silver and other- 
 wife, aTe daily divers way es increafed 
 in the Myftery aforefaid,by the Work- 
 men of the faid Trade in every part of 
 this Our Kingdom, to the great lofs 
 and detriment of Us and all Our Liege 
 People^ 
 
 And We being willing (all the de- 
 oeiptful Uifufficieht and unlawful 
 
 Q % Works 
 
§4 
 
 a Coucfcflone fo ? ®oi& 
 
 Works and Wares of Gold and Silver 
 Jewels and Stones, Pearl or Coral, or 
 luch like, in the Trade aforefaid un- 
 fufficiently and unlawfully made and 
 Counterfeited ufed to be put to fale) 
 to abolifh and punilhin all things as it 
 ought to be. Of Our certain knowledg 
 and meer motion. Have given and 
 granted for Us and Our Heirs (as much 
 as in Us lyes) to the aforefaid Wardens 
 and Company of the Myftery afore- 
 faid and their Succeffors, 
 
 That they the faid Wardens and 
 their Succeffors, and every of them 
 for the time being, {hall have for ever 
 full Power and Authority over all and 
 Angular the Defe&s, Offences, Faults 
 and Deceipts made and attempted or 
 committed contrary to the Ordinan- 
 ces of the Myftery aiorefaid in all their 
 fearches and tryals of Gold and Silver, 
 or of Wares, Jewels, Stones, Pearl, 
 Coral, or of any other Jewels or Coun- 
 terfeit Stones whatfoever wrought or 
 fet in Gold or Silver, as in Neck-laces, 
 Lockets, Rings or Bracelets, or other- 
 wife howfoever wrought or fet, with- 
 
m SMet utate& 
 
 in this Our Kingdom of England. 
 wheresoever, againft the Workmen or 
 Owners of any of the faid premiffes ex- 
 poling them to fale. 
 
 And all and every the perfons of or 
 ■ufing the faid Myftery whatfoever lo 
 deceiptfully working, having, or ex- 
 pofing to fale the premiffes aforeiaid, 
 (upon due proof made), {hall be by the 
 faid Wardens for the time being com- 
 mitted to the next Gaol or Pruon, 
 therein to be puniftied by Impruon- 
 ment of their Bodies according to the 
 nature of their Offences, and out of 
 the faids Gaols orPrifons to be deli- 
 vered at the difcretions of the laid 
 Wardens or any ofthem ; Or be pu- 
 nifhed by Pines to be fet and impoled 
 upon fuch Delinquents, equal to their 
 Offences, Faults and Receipts, as by 
 the found Difcretions of the (aid War- 
 dens or any ofthem for the time be- 
 ing, fhall be efteemed juft andrealon- 
 able, and in that behalf convenient. 
 
 We all'o grant for Us and Our I leirs 
 to the faid Wardens and Company 
 
 G 3 . and 
 
aCoii£fi*fione fo? ©Dio 
 
 and their Shcceipfo&y That ! whenfo- 
 ever, whereloty^r 3 abd as often as any 
 Wares of Gold and Silver or Pearl, 
 or of any. Counterfeit Stones Whatfo- 
 ever deceitfully wrought or fet in the 
 nitiire of jewels or Pearl inGold or Sil- 
 ver y which by Allays thereof are of lefs 
 value and mote debas’d in the work- 
 ing of the fa, id Gold arid Silvei* than of 
 right it ought to be Wrought, (that is 
 to jay) not being of the value of Ster- 
 ling of Standard, ( according to the 
 Ordinances and Statutes of Us and 
 Our Progenitors or Predeceffors late 
 Kings and Queen of £ngland'\ti this 
 behalf made) that fhall be found any 
 where as well within any of Oiit Li- 
 berties as without ; 
 
 Or any Wares "of Gold or Silver 
 made within this Kingdom by any Na- 
 tive or Forraign Workmen & Tradef- 
 men of the Craft aforefaid wherefo- 
 ever that fhall be fold or expofed to 
 fale (not being try ed^approved and marked 
 4s they ought to be) according to the 
 form of the Ordinances and Statutes 
 aforefaid, that then the faid Wardens 
 
anu Sifter M mg* 
 
 for the time being, or two of them, 
 (hall have power and Authority all 
 and every fuch Wares of Gold and. 
 Sil ver, Counterfeit Stones and Pearls, 
 and other Stones whatfoever (fo de- 
 ceiptfully or unlawfully wrought and 
 expoled to fale wherefoever they fhall 
 be found) to arreft, feife, and to break 
 and fpoyl them, fo that Our People 
 may not be any more deceived there- 
 by. 
 
 And that in all and every the 
 Searches of the faid Wardens and 
 their Succeffors for the time being, of 
 or in the premiffes from time to time 
 in whatfoever places within Three 
 Miles in and about the aforefaid' City 
 of London, where any the faid Work- 
 men Or Tradef men r of the faid Craft 
 fhall happen to remain, work, or in- 
 habitable (aid Wardens or any of them 
 for the time being fhall caufe to be 
 brought Alt manner of Works and 
 Wares of Gold and Silver aforefaid, or 
 what Jewels and Precious Stones fo- 
 ever (let in Gold and Silver) are there 
 Wrought or to be wrought, to the 
 G $ Conv 
 
88 9 Concfcffone fo? <S5olo 
 
 Common-Hall of the Wardens and 
 Company of the faid Myftery being 
 in the aforefaid City of London where- 
 in the Common Standard or Aflife of 
 Gold and Silver (according to the Or- 
 dinances in that behalf made) is kept, 
 there to be tryed and allayed, And to 
 be reformed if defers lliall be any 
 manner of wayes found therein; and 
 after they fhall be fo reformed, to .be 
 there then affirmed for good, and 
 (lamped with their Marks which they 
 ufe for that purpofe. 
 
 And all defective Works whatfo- 
 ever deceiptfully wrought as well of 
 or in Gold as Silver , Counterfeit 
 Stones put for Jewels therein and 
 (balfly made, (or found to be of a worfe 
 Allay than it ought to be) (hall there 
 (according to their difcretions) be ut- 
 terly condemned ; Without Accompt 
 or any other charge or Anfwer to Us 
 or any of Our Heirs for the premiffes 
 or any of them to be rendred, made 
 or paid for ever ; In rvitnefs whereof 
 We have caufed thefe Our Letters to 
 be made Patents : IVitnefs Our Self 
 
anu &imt C2Iate& $g 
 
 at fVejlminfier the Third day of Fe- 
 bruary^ in the Twentieth Year of Our 
 Reign, 
 
 Now We Ratifying and Approving 
 the faid Letters Patents, and ail things 
 therein contained , Do for Us and Our 
 Heirs (as much as in Us lyes) allow the 
 the fame, and by thefe prefents do Ra- 
 tifie, Grant and Confirm the fame to 
 Our Welbeloved the now Wardens 
 and Company of the Myftery afore- 
 faid. In mtnefs whereof We have 
 caufed thefe our Letters to be made 
 Patents 5 fVitnefs Our Self at IVeft- 
 minfter the Sixteenth day of March 
 the Firft Year of Our Reign. 
 
 Now We Ratifying and Approving 
 the faid Letters Patents and all things 
 therein contained, Do for Us and Our 
 Heirs, as much as in Us lyes, allow 
 the fame, and by thefe prefents do Ra- 
 tifie, Grant and Confirm the fame to 
 Our Welbeloved the now Wardens 
 and Company of the Myftery afore- 
 faid; In mtnefs whereof We have 
 caufe$ thefe Our Letters to be made 
 
 Patents, 
 
 / 
 
9o K a €otiel>tfcme foi ©oia 
 
 Patents, Witnefs Our Sdf at JVeflmn - 
 ft& the Sixth day of Jane in theFirft 
 Year of Our Reign. 
 
 Now We Ratifying and Approving 
 the (aid Letters Patents and all things 
 therein contained. Do for Us and Our 
 Heirs as much as in Us lyes, allow the 
 iame, and by thefe prefen ts do ratifie, 
 grant and confirm the fame to Our 
 Wdlbeloved the ndw Wardens and 
 Company of the Myftery aforefaid. 
 In witnefs whereof We have caufed 
 thefe Our Letters to be made Patents, 
 HCttmfs Our Self at Weftminfter the 
 Fifth day of December , in the Firft year 
 of Our Reign. 
 
 Now We Ratifying and Approving 
 the faid Letters Patents and all things 
 therein contained. Do for Us and Our 
 Heirs, as much as in Us lyes, allow the 
 fame, and by thefe prefents do ratifie., 
 grant and confirm the fame td Our 
 •Welbeloved the now Wardens and 
 Company of the Myftery aforefaid • 
 In witnefs whereof We have caufed 
 thefe Our Letters to be made Patents. 
 
 mi 
 
aito 8>iiuet Places. 
 
 Witnefs Our Self at fVeflminfler the 
 Third day of January , in the Third 
 Year of Oar Reign. 
 
 Now We Ratifying and Approving 
 the faid Letters Patents, aqdalkhirigs 
 therein contained, l|6 'foriis and0ur 
 Heirs, as touch as in UIs lyfes,\all<3wlthe 
 lame, and by thefeppefents do Radfie, 
 (jfartt and Confirm the fame to Our 
 Wei beloved the ' now. Wardens and 
 Company of the, Myftery, afprefaid. 
 In rcttnefs whereof, &i: : 
 
 Ring at Wejlminjler the Thirti&fh day 
 of March , in the Second Year of the 
 Reign of King James over EnglantlfeG. 
 
9 2 
 
 aCouc&*ffonefo?®oia 
 
 
 The Goldlmiths O e d e r 
 lately made and let forth 
 for Prevention and Re- 
 dreli of the great Abufes 
 committed in the leveral 
 Wares aforementioned. 
 
 Goldjmitbs-Hall the 23. day 
 of February, 1675. 
 
 W hereas complaint fjat& 
 been mane to tlje fLlatoeno of 
 tlje Company of Goldfmiths, 
 London, Cljat DiiKCS fmall cajojfeg, 
 a0TBucfelegfo?'!SE!t0j @>ilbct 
 anti tbe pieces* thereto belonging . imtlj 
 5ibet0 otfjet fmall Sliareg botlj of 
 
 £010 j 
 
anti ©fiber iUHates. 
 
 <©oia am] ©ilbet, ace frequently 
 brought ana put to fate bp ethers 
 ©oitiftnttljs ana others , bwjfe tljan 
 ©tanaaro, to the abufe of pis CtfJaje» 
 fftejs gooa Subjects, ana great Sifcte* 
 ait of tljat Manufacture ; ana tfjat 
 there ate alfo Bibers pieces of ©tlbec 
 piate foia,not being alfapeb at Gold- 
 fmiths-Hall, ana fo not matbea tuith 
 t&e Leopard’s Head CtOtnneO, 03 bp 
 Labi the fame ougljt to be : 3no toljete- 
 as tlje cmatBens of tfjc faia Company 
 to p?ebent the fata ftattas, ijabe fo?- 
 nietlp requirea all petfons to forbear 
 putting to faleanp aaultetate smares 
 either of ®oia o? ©fiber, but that they 
 caufe tlje fame fo?thbiith to be aefaceBs 
 ana that as foell pate-biojkers as 
 fmalMuo?kers fljottia caufe tljeit refpe= 
 ctibe Marks to be brought to Gold- 
 fmiths-Hall, f there flrifee tlje fame III 
 a Cable kept in the affap^fftce; ana 
 Itlteuiire enter tbeic J3ameg ana places 
 of habitations in a 'Bcok there kept 
 fo? that putpofe, biherebp the perfons 
 ana their marks might be knoton unto 
 the muataetts of the faia Company, 
 tohich habing not hitherto been amp 
 
 obfftbea* 
 
94 aCoucb-fionefoaColD 
 
 ebfetbcD,. Cfjefe ace therefore to g£Ue 
 JSatice to, and to requite again all 
 tljofe toljo erercife tf)e faiD 3rt o? 99p> 
 fterp of Goldfmiths in o? about tfic 
 CitieO Of London anD Weftminfter, 
 and tfjc ©Uburbo. of t&e fame, Cfjat 
 t&ep fo?t&foit& repair to Goldfmiths- 
 Hall, ana tijere Grilse tljeir 93arfeo in 
 a Cable appointed fo? tljat purpofe, 
 andlilsetnife enter tljeir taameo, toitb 
 t(je placeo of tljeir tefpeaibe rnuell* 
 ingo, in a TSaob remaining in tlje Af- 
 fay-Office tijere t 2nd t&at ao toell tije 
 another ao©f)op Is^perjand all otljero 
 footing anD CraDing in tSeld o? ©tL 
 Her 23Jareo, of toljat bind o? qualttp 
 foebet tijep be, fojbeat putting tofale 
 anp of t(je faio C|lo?bo, not being a- 
 gr^able to ©tannatd, that io to fap, 
 (Sold not lefo in fmenefo tljen ttoo ano 
 tfyentp Carracto, 2nd ©fiber not lefo 
 in finenefo tljen eleben SDunceo tlao 
 pennp nieigfjt ; 2nd tljat no perfon o| 
 perfono Do from ljencefo?tlj put to faie 
 anp of tlje fain taiareo eitljer fmail o? 
 great, before tlje SfiJpilsmanO Snarls be 
 firucfe tljereon, 2nd tlje fame iflfepep 
 3£ Goldfmiths-Hill, and tijere 0 pp? 0 - 
 
95 
 
 ana ^tlhet cajnces?* 
 
 tea fo? ©tanaata, bp (hiking thereon 
 tl)Z Lyon ana Leopard’s Head CcoU»n« 
 ED, o? one of them, if the faid Works 
 will conveniently bear the fame : StaD 
 
 hereof all perfons concernea are aefi* 
 tea to take notice, ana Demean tbem- 
 felhes acco^atnglp: othettoifetheC2Jar* 
 Dens toil! make it their Care to pro- 
 cure them to be piocnaea againft ac* 
 coding to lain. 
 
 Touching the feveral Weights now 
 in ufe, for the buying and felling of 
 Gold and Silver and pretious Stones, 
 The Reader may Obferve, 
 
 That no other Weights are (by our 
 Lawes ) to be ufed in weighing Gold 
 and Silver , but thofe called by the 
 name of Troy Weights, of which 
 
 2 4 grains makes a penny weight,’ or 
 the weight of an old Sterling pen- 
 ny, (which now goes for three 
 pence.) 
 
 20 pennyweight makes one ounce." 
 
 i 2 Ounces make a pound. 
 
 The 
 
3 Couclpffatte fo| ®oI9 
 
 The compounding thefe Weights 
 (being uled in Affaying of Gold, and 
 computing the Standard of Gold) are 
 called by the nam zGurratts, of which 
 
 5 of the aforefaid grains makes a 
 
 Carrad-grain ; a demy-grain is 
 half of fuch a grain. 
 
 4 of fuch Carrad-graias,make one 
 Carrad. 
 
 24 of fuch Carrads make an Ounce 
 Troy. 
 
 There be othor forts of Carrads com- 
 pounded of Troy grains, thus j 
 
 7 i i •• r X l-'i * t • v , ->• > i •• ; J . '‘Vj . V i 
 
 : -. .{■?_/ /7 " ‘ *■ • ' * ■ 
 
 4 grains makes a Carrad. 
 
 6 of fuch Carrads makes a penny 
 
 weight. 
 
 j 20 of fuchCarrads makes anOunce 
 Troy; Thefe are only ufed to 
 weigh Diamonds and Pearls. 
 
 That all perfons may know the dif- 
 ference 
 
anti Sifter £Oate& 97 
 
 ference of Troy Weights from others, 
 they are to obferve that thefe Weights 
 are made in the (liapes, and of the Me^ 
 tal, and marked as hereafter is men- 
 tioned ; (viz.) 
 
 The Grain Weights are made of pie^ 
 ees of thin Brafs, commonly called Lat- 
 tin-Brafs 5 and are cut, near Square, and 
 proportioned from half a grain to fix 
 grains* and fo many grains that each 
 piece contains, it is marked with the 
 like number of round Marks thus (o) 
 
 And alfo on every piece is ( or (hould 
 be) fet the letter G with a Coronet at 
 the head of it, thus (]£) 
 
 The next Weights above them, are 
 the penny Weights, which are made 
 of thick fquare pieces of Brafs, pro» 
 portioned from a half-penny weight, 
 to a five penny weighty and not ufiu 
 ally higher . And fo many penny- 
 weight that each piece contains is 
 made or marked thereon , fo many 
 round marks thus (o) as abovefaid ; 
 and alf© is or fhould be fet the Lyon on 
 every piece, 
 
 H The 
 
98 
 
 3 CoucWons fo? ^oiu 
 
 The next above them is the Ounce- 
 Weights, they are alfo of Brafs, and 
 made round in pefts, (that is to fay) to 
 fall or ftand one within another, And 
 are proportioned from a drachm to 
 32 Ounces, and fometimes to 64 Oun- 
 ces , (viz,,) the leaft is a 
 t Adrachm Troy, is one f drachm ; the next half a 
 
 grains Ishcteenclf fnofi quarter of an ounce, the 
 drachms make an ounce next a quarter of an ounce- 
 
 Troy : Half a quarter of, t ] le next half an ounce, the 
 an Ounce rs two penny ? 
 
 weight and 12 grains, next an ounce • the next 
 
 two ounces, and fo every 
 one double the weight of the next 
 leffer, and every one from an ounce 
 upwards, are marked with numeral 
 letters of fuch number, as the pieces 
 contains Ounces, and alfo every 
 Weight marked with two letters y 
 made thus (TJ) for Troy, and are 
 or (hould be marked with the Lyon 
 and Leopard's Head Crowned. 
 
 The next Weights above them are 
 Hafhioned like a Bell, and are called 
 Belt JVetghts , and are proportioned 
 from one pound or 12 Ounces Troy, 
 to 3 2 pounds, and fometimes higher, 
 
 every 
 
anti Snifter 221a te^ 
 
 every one being double the weight of 
 the next leffer, as before of the ounce 
 Weights, and are or (hould be marked 
 with the fame Marks. 
 
 The Standard of thefe Weights is 
 kept in the Tower of London^ and alfo 
 in the Goldfmiths-Hall^ and the Offi- 
 cers there and none other {hould have 
 the Siting or Gauging of them- but 
 that being accounted too chargeable, 
 the feveral Weight-makers in and 
 about London do ufuaily Size and 
 Gauge thefe Weights themfelves, ac- 
 cording to the aforelaid Standard,and 
 do fet Marks on them fomething re- 
 fembling the right- but by what au- 
 thority they fo do, I leave to the con- 
 fideration of thole immediately con- 
 cerned therein. 
 
 There are other forts of Weights, 
 by forne ufed amongft us, called by 
 the name of Fenice- Weights, and are 
 made in nefts of the fatrie falhion, as 
 the nefts oiTroj Ounpes are, and eve- 
 ryone double the Weight of the next 
 H 2 SelfeY, 
 
GO 
 
 a €otic(>flone fo? ^ofs 
 
 leffer-, but very much differing from 
 the Troy Weights thus, (vie.) as the 
 Troy Ounce contains Twenty penny 
 weights, fo the Venice Ounce con- 
 tains but Thirteen penny weight and 
 a half : But there being no Law 
 for thefe Venice Weights amongfl: us, 
 only the Sellers of Gold and Silver 
 Lace (but without any warrant or 
 authority fo to do) do too often for 
 their private lucre, ufe the fame. 
 But what I have before mentioned of 
 them , is fufficient to prevent their 
 being ufed inftead of the Troy 
 weights. 
 
 There are alfo other forts of weights 
 (by our Law) in ufe amongfl: us, cal- 
 led by the name of stverdupois (the 
 leffer fort of them) are made ofBrafs, 
 and fliaped round and flat, and every 
 one double the weight of the next 
 Idler, and are or ought to be Sized 
 and Marked at Guild-Hall , London , 
 
 (w here the Standard of thofe Weights 
 is kept, w ith feveral Marks, {'viz.) the 
 City Arms in a Shield, the Dagger, 
 
 the II 
 
anti &il&et UKatess. 
 
 the Letter A for Averdupois, a Flower- 
 de-luce, and the Effigies of a Velfel or 
 Ewer. Thefe Weights differ from 
 the Troy Weights thus, (viz.) that 
 as the Troy Ounce contains 20 penny 
 weight, fo the Ounce A verdupois con- 
 tains but 18 penny weight; and as 
 the pound Troy contains T wefve Oun- 
 ces, fo the pound A verdupois con- 
 tains Sixteen Ounces ; But thefe not 
 being for the weighing Gold and Sil- 
 ver, what I have mentioned of them, 
 isfufficientto diftinguilh them from 
 the Troy Weights. 
 
 H j Po$fcript* 
 
 IOI 
 
io? 3 Eaucl>Scnc foi @oU» 
 
 Poftfcript to the Reader. 
 
 T Hat my good intent for 
 preventing fraud not 
 onely in cafes where Mafsy 
 Gold and Silver are ufed, but 
 alfo in other Worlds made or 
 pretended to be made thereof 
 may tafy the better effeB, I 
 fall give you another Statute 
 fill in force, made as well to 
 fupprep and prevent the gild- 
 ing and filvenng of Copper 
 md Brafs Worlds, and the de- 
 ceit 
 
ana ©tlfiet enares. ioj 
 
 ceit therein nfed, as the waft- 
 ing the Gold and Silver of 
 this Nation , (viz.) 
 
 Stat. 5 .Hen. 4. 13. 
 
 I Tem. sitfjereas man? frattoulent 
 artificers imagining to oecefPe tije 
 common people, no sail? malts 
 locks, Rfngs^Beaas, CanaictttcliS, 
 ipatnefs fo? ©iroies , Cpffts, CljaU:- 
 ces ana ©U)o?a*pummef 0 , potuaer- 
 'BoreS , ana Cofiers fa? Cups, of 
 Copper, ana of JLattin, ana tije fiime 
 oper <55utlt ana ©finer, Kite to «Sola 0 ? 
 ©tlPer ; ana tije fame fell ana put fit 
 gage to man? 90eit not papmg full 
 knotolecr thereof fo? urtjole «Sola ana 
 toljoie ©UPer, to tije great aeceft, lofs 
 nnafiinoetance of tije common people* 
 
 3no tije toafifng of tfje ®oio ana ©it* 
 
 Per, Jit is €>?aainea ana CfePlffljea, 
 Ctjat no artificer no? otfier man taijat* 
 fotPetlje fie from Ijencefojtij fljail gslD 
 no? filPer an? fuel) locks , Rings, 
 IJeaos > Conalefitcks, ^acnefs fo? 
 
 4 0fcaies ? 
 
io 4 3 Coticfcffone fo? (©old 
 
 ©it’dleg, Cljallices, fptltg, no? pum# 
 llielg fO? S>tUO?d0 , POtDBEt^OJCCS, 
 no? Coberg fo? Cups ttiaoe of ^op- 
 pec o? Lattin upon pain to fd?feit to 
 t&e Sing £>ne imnb?ed fijilllngg , at 
 eberp time tljatlje fljall be found suit# 
 tp, and to make fatigfactton to tlje 
 pattp griebeo fo? Ijig damages ; T6ut 
 t&at (Chalices altoapeg ercepted) the 
 faid artificers map ioo?k o? caufe to be 
 brought £P?nametitg fo? tfje Churchof 
 Copper and Lattin , 2nd tl>c fame 
 Cilt o? «nlber, fo that altoapes in tfje 
 fmt, o? in feme otljet patt of eberp fucb 
 £D?nameitt fo to be made, the Copper 
 and the Lattin fljall be plain, to tlje tit* 
 tent that a man map fee tofteceof tfje 
 thing ig made) fo? to efcljeto tlje deceit 
 afo?efaid. 
 
 By which Statute the Guilding or 
 Silvering any Locks , Rings, Beads, 
 Candlefticks, Harnefs (that is, the 
 Buckles) for Girdles, Chalices, Hilts, 
 Pummels for Swords, Pouder-Boxes 
 and Covers for Cups made of Copper 
 or Lattin (to wit, BrafsJ is pofitively 
 forbid, uppn the penalty of 5 1. for 
 
miti &imt VtiXmfr icy 
 
 every offence. And one reafon there- 
 of appears to be this. That filch work- 
 ing of Copper or Lattin, and Cover- 
 ing the fame with Gold or Silver, is 
 not only a great wafting of the Gold 
 and Silver, but the occafion of a great 
 fraud, by making fuch Wares to be 
 in appearance of the value of whole 
 Gold and Silver, when indeed they 
 are in the fubftance thereof but drols 
 and Counterfeit. And no doubt but 
 fome perfons at this day ( as well as 
 when that Statute was made) are or 
 maybe deceived by fuch faife Coun- 
 terfeit Works, and perhaps (when it 
 is too late) experience the old Pro- 
 verb to be true, That all is not Gold that 
 gltfters y 
 
 And it is not to be doubted, but 
 that the Makers of that Statute were 
 well informed that Copper or Brafs 
 may be wrought into very many forts 
 of Work wherein Gold or Silver may 
 be wrought. And becaufe much de- 
 ceit was then ufed in the working of 
 Buckles, and in Hilts and Pummels for 
 Swords, &c. as well as of Later times. 
 
1 06 
 
 aC0t!Cl>ff0i!£f0? 
 
 fuch fevere penalties were laid on the 
 Workers of fuch falfe Wares, purpofe- 
 ly to fupprefs all Counterfeit and de- 
 ceitful Work . 
 
 Such Works being not only a wrong 
 to the Wearer by doing little or no 
 Service, (by reafon of its brittlenefs, 
 and its Kankering& ftinking quality, 
 and foon lofing its Gold or Silver Co- 
 lour) but alfo to the workers af whole 
 Gold and whole Silver Works, who 
 are much hindered and damnified in 
 their Trades, by reafon fuch falfe 
 Works are made to refemble their true 
 or right Works, and fold and worn 
 inftead thereof. 
 
 Therefore it may be reafonably con- 
 ceived ., that the Workers of whole 
 Gold and whole Silver Works are in- 
 tended by the faid Statute, parties grie- 
 ved as well as the Wearer, and (hail 
 recover fatisfa&ion from the Offen- 
 ders. 
 
 And I am well affured , that the 
 prolecuticn of the offenders againft 
 
 this 
 
107 
 
 ana ©tiaec uwz&> 
 
 this Statute ( which may be done by 
 Pill, Plaint or Information) belongeth 
 to the Wardens and Company of Gold - 
 fmiths 5 London. , as well as the private 
 agrieved party. 
 
 And the Makers and Workers of 
 fuch Counterfeit Works arefubjeded 
 to the Wardens and Companies pow- 
 er to Corred and Punifli in as full and 
 ample manner as fuch Workers who 
 cover Tin with Silver mentioned in 
 their Charter. 
 
 I Will further add fomethingthat may 
 be ufeful to them that know it not, to 
 prevent their being deceived with the 
 Counterfeit Coyn , , that ( notwithfianding 
 the great Care ufed by our Governors to 
 prevent it) is continually made and vended 
 among jl us . Wherefore they are to Ob- 
 ferve 3 
 
 * / 1 < 
 
 Firft, That there is one fort of un- 
 lawful Money, that is made fo, (of the 
 
 lawful 
 
1 08 9 €oucI>ffonc fo? ®olo 
 
 lawful Coyn) by Clipping or Filing, 
 or both, or otherwise lightening or 
 impairing the fame. 
 
 Secondly, There is another fort of 
 unlawful Counterfeit Money , made 
 with the mixture of a little Silver and 
 other bafer Metal, which by artificial 
 working, boyiing and finiihing, will 
 be made much like in Countenance, 
 and near as palfable as good Money, 
 
 Thirdly, There is another fort of 
 unlawful Money, made of folid Cop- 
 per or Bral’s, and covered or cafed over 
 (on the flat parts as thick as paper, and 
 on the edges near as thick as a fix 
 pence j with good Silver, and is com- 
 monly as paflable as the other. 
 
 Fourthly, There is another fort of 
 Counterfeit Money made only of fine 
 hardened Tin, which comes near ( at 
 firfl: making) to the colour of good 
 Silver Money. 
 
ana Snifter <&latm ' 109 
 
 knowing of thefe ( one from 
 another and all) from the Lawful Coyn , 
 further , 
 
 Of the Firft, The good Silver Coyn 
 that is dipt, filed or leflened, although 
 thereby made unlawful, yet accord- 
 ing as it is more or lefs by thefe ways 
 abufed, the people do receive or re- 
 fufe it, as they can agree. 
 
 Of the Second, This fort, although 
 when artificially finilht, it much re- 
 fembles the proper Silver Coyn. yet 
 it cannot be fo cunningly done, but it 
 may be difcovered by its different 
 afped from the good . if that give 
 caufe of fufpition, rub either the edge 
 or fiat part of it upon a dry board that 
 hath gravelly or gritty matter on it,, 
 as the ftep of a ftair, or fuch like ; or 
 elfe when the furface or out-part of 
 the edge is a little rubb’d off 7 , rub it on 
 a good clean Touch-ftone, as afore is 
 ndire&ed; And if itbeialfe, you will 
 thereby difcover it : Or elfe take a 
 Goldfmith’s Graver made (harp, and 
 enter it in fome part. of the flat of the 
 
 Money 
 
io 9 Coucfj (tone fo i 
 
 Money as if you begun to engrave it* 
 and in that hole or entrance (by view* 
 ing it in the light ) if bad, it will ap- 
 pear in its yellowifli colour. 
 
 Of the Third. This fort is alwayes 
 different from the good Silver Money 
 thus, (to wit) as the good Silver Mo* 
 ney hath frequently ( I mean the old 
 Money) fmail cracks on the edges 
 thereof, which is made by the forging 
 it ; fo this fort of Counterfeit Moneb- 
 is generally fmooth on the edges with- 
 out fuch Cracks ; and as the good Mo- 
 ney will (being let fall or thrown flat 
 on a folid Board) ring fhrillifh ; fo this 
 fort of bad Money, by reafon its Cafe 
 of Silver cannot be fo united to its 
 body of Brafs or Copper, but it will 
 (if let fall or thrown as aforefaid)found 
 like Lead, where thefe figns give caufe 
 of fufpition, the ufe of a Graver, as 
 aforefaid, will plainly difcover it. 
 
 Of the Fourth. This fort is eafily 
 difcovered thus, (that is to fay) it can- 
 not be avoided but its countenance 
 will look much duller or darker than 
 
 the 
 
lit 
 
 ants Ssttoet Salaces?* 
 
 * 
 
 the good Money ; and if you bite it, 
 you may make greater impreflions 
 thereon with your teeth than on the 
 good Coyn, for it is (offer, and much 
 eafier to be bent (either between the 
 teeth, or in fome Chink [or Joynt of 
 boards) then good Money, 
 
 There may be other forts of Coun- 
 terfeit Silver Money, and other ways 
 to difcover the fame. But to enlarge 
 thisDifcourfeon the Critick-Niceties 
 of what is, or may be obferveable 
 therein, and the Laws in force con- 
 cerning the fame, would not onely 
 fwell this, but be matter for another 
 Volume; Therefore I will only add. 
 That Ingenuous perfons , being well 
 acquainted with the Particulars of the 
 foregoing' Treatife , and thefe plain 
 Rules here laid down, And by their 
 care to ob ferve nicely, the proportion, 
 ft amp, countenance , and wearing , of the 
 good Money ? will eafily difcern its 
 difference from the Counterfeit. And 
 as the Counterfeiting , Clipping , Round- 
 ing, PVa[bing, Filing, Impairing , Dimi - 
 . nifhing, Falfifying, Scaling or Lighten - 
 
1 12 
 
 3 CottcfjdJone Fo| vSddIO 
 
 ing ^ for wicked lucre fake) the proper 
 Money or Coy ns of this Realm,is High 
 Treafon, by thefe Statutes, (to wit) 
 25 Ed. 3.2. and 5 El. 11. and 18 ELi. 
 And the ailors of thefe Crimes, their 
 Counfellers, Confenters , or Ayders 
 therein, to be puniflied accordingly ; 
 So the counterfeiting the Sterling or 
 Standard Gold or Silver of this Realm, 
 in any Works or Wares whatfoever, 
 both the working, felling, expofing to 
 fale, exchanging or bartering thereof, 
 is feverely puniihable, as is afore made 
 manifeft : And it may be faid of the 
 unlawful Money, as of the unlawful 
 Gold and Silver Works, That if the 
 People would (as they may) be lo In- 
 genuous to know and refufe them, the 
 maker of either would foon defift 
 from fuch unlawful Imployments. 
 
 Here 
 
ana StHiet (Kaategf, 
 
 Here followeth a Catalogue 
 
 of the Names of the feveral For- 
 raign Silver Coyns that are brought 
 into this Kingdom, as Bulloin, with 
 the particular weight of each Coyn, 
 And their particular Allay and Va- 
 lue, according to the aforefaid Stan- 
 dard of ii 2 dwti accounting 
 the fame at 5 s. the Ounce Troy* 
 
 Being very ufeful for all Workers in 
 Silver, or Traders in the faid Mo- 
 neys, for their ready knowing the 
 worth of evety of them, without 
 being at the trouble or charge of 
 making Affays thereof 
 
 1 
 
 Holland 
 
114 
 
 a CoucfMfforrc fo? ®olo 
 
 Holland Dollar — 1 
 
 Lyon Dollar — 
 
 Duckjtoon of Flanders 
 Rix-Dollar of the- Empire 
 Mexico Real — - 
 
 Sevil Real ■ - — 
 
 Old Car decu •— « 
 
 French Lewis * 
 
 Double Milrez ofV ortugal 
 Single Milrez of Portugal 
 Sf* Mark, of Venice 
 Double Dutch Styver — * 
 Crofs Dollar — — 
 
 Zealand Dollar - — - 
 Old Philip Dollar — — — 
 FerdinandoP^//^)’ 1623 
 Prince iff Orange Dollar *f z 4 
 JjeopoUus Dollar 1624 
 Rodolphus Dollar 160J 
 Maximilian Dollar 1616 
 Danijh Dollar 1620 
 
 Portugal Jeflon ■ 
 
 fhe Quarter of a new 2 j 
 French Lewis 5 \ 
 
 Is in 
 weight 
 
 
 dwt. 
 
 r- 
 
 00 
 
 18 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 17 
 
 
 01 
 
 00 
 
 22 
 
 00 
 
 18 
 
 15 
 
 00 
 
 17 
 
 12 
 
 00 
 
 17 
 
 12 
 
 00 06 3 I 
 
 00 17 11 
 
 00 14 
 
 00 07 
 00 10 4 
 
 op 01 o 
 00 18 00 
 
 13 00 
 2 o 
 18 
 18 
 18 
 18 
 18 
 
 *3 
 05 
 
 00 
 
 01 
 00 
 00 
 00 
 00 
 00 
 00 
 00 
 
 I 00 04 
 
 :i 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 
ana 8>iU)et States?» 
 
 1 15 
 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is better 
 is worfe 
 isftandard 
 is better 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 is worfe 
 
 dm. 
 
 CO 10 
 
 2 3 
 
 oo 04 
 oo oy 
 
 oo oi 
 oo oi 
 ©o oo 
 oo oi 
 oo oi 
 
 00 Oi 
 
 04' 06 
 
 OO 12 
 
 02 
 
 OI 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 12 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 4 
 
 13 
 
 CO OI 
 
 00 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 I 
 
 sT 
 
 I 
 
 T 
 
 00 
 
 I 
 
 ~z 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 a 
 
 00 
 
 I 
 
 Y 
 
 00 
 
 GO 
 
 l 
 
 r* Is valued at 
 
 s. d* 
 
 1 4 4 
 
 3 4 i 
 5 4 
 
 4 5i 
 4 4 i 
 4 4? 
 
 4 4i 
 3 
 
 P 
 
 
 2 4 
 
 3 
 o 
 
 4 3 
 4 3 I 
 4 3 i 
 4 4 
 
 44 1 
 2 
 
 2 f 
 
 s 1 
 J 1 
 
 FINIS, 
 
2^15 
 
 
 WEGOTVCtNM