Pewterers Act 1512
(4 Hen. 8) C A P. VII.
'TO the King our Sovereign Lord, and the honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons, in this present Parliament assembled: Forasmuch as a certain Act was made and established in the Parliament holden atWestminster the Nineteenth Year of the Reign of the late most famous King your Father, Henry the Seventh (whom God pardon) concerning Pewterers and Brasiers hawking and walking about the Countries, and also concerning false Beams, Scales, and Weights, with a Provision for casting of fine Metal, and of perfect Goodness; which Act was made to endure to the next Parliament, the Tenor whereof hereafter ensueth:
II The Tenor of the Statute of 19 H. 7. c. 6. concerning Pewterers.
'II. That where many simple and evil-disposed Persons of this your Realm ofEngland (using the said Crafts) daily go about this your Realm from Village, from Town, and from House to House, as well in Woods and Forests, as other Places, to buy Pewter and Brass, (2) and that knowing Thieves, and other Pickers, that steal as well Pewter and Brass belonging to your Highness, and under your Mark, and to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, as to other your Subjects of this your Realm, bring such stolen Vessels unto them in such hid Places to sell, and sell it for little or nought, and about they bring it to privy Places, or into Corners of Cities or Towns, and there sell much Part of it to Strangers, the which carry it over the Sea by Stealth; (3) also the said Persons (so going about) and divers other using the said Crafts, use to make new Vessels, and to mix good Metal and bad together, and make it nought, and sell it for good Stuff, where indeed the Stuff and Metal thereof is not worth the Fourth Part that it is sold for, to the great Hurt, Deceit, and Loss of your Subjects; also divers Persons using the said Crafts, have deceivable and untrue Beams and Scales, that one of them will stand even with Twelve Pounds Weight at the one End, against a Quarter of a Pound at the other End, to the singular Advantage of themselves, and to the great Deceit and Loss of your Subjects, Buyers and Sellers with them:' (4) For Reformation of the Premisses, it would please your Highnessof your most abundant Grace, with the Advice of your Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by Authority of the same, to enact and establish, That no Person or Persons, using the said Crafts of Pewterers and Brasiers, from henceforth shall sell or change any Pewter or Brass, new or old, at any Place or Places within this your Realm, but only in open Fairs or Markets, or in their own Dwelling-houses, but if they be desired by the said Buyers of such Wares, upon...
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