1 THis Bill vtterly prohibiteth , not onely the importation into this Realme of all Logwood alias Blockwood , Saint Martins wood , and Campecha wood , and all mixtures to dye withall , thereof or therewith made ; but also the buying , selling , vsing , dying with , occupying and keeping the same : vpon paine of forfeiture of 40 pounds , whereof a third part to the King , another third to the poore of the Parish , and another third to the Informer ; besides such corporall punishment as by the Statute of 39. Eliz. is to bee inflicted on such as vse Logwood in dying , Penalty . viz. To bee set on the Pillory all the market time , one or more dayes , at the discretion of the Magistrate .

Reasons . 1 The former Lawes extend not to the prohibition of the importation , and Logwood being licenced to be imported , Dyers will secretly get and vse the same , which cannot bee preuented , vnlesse the importation be vtterly prohibited . 2 These woods are all of one or like deceitfull nature and qualitie , yet of different names , deuised to defeate the Lawes , which extend only to Logwood alias Blockwood . 3 Notwithstanding all the Art and cunning that can be vsed in the mixture of these woods , yet the colours therewith all dyed , are very false and deceitfull . 4 By the prohibition of the importation of these woods , his Maiesties Customes will exceedingly increase : for by the booke of Rates no Custome is paid for Logwood ( the King not tollerating the importation ) and euery Tunne of these woods spent in dying , saueth the spending of ten Tunnes of woad , or the value of so much in Indico , for which Custome is paid , so that it is manifest , that by the licence granted for importation of fiftie Tunne of Logwood yearly ( if vnder colour thereof no more be brought in , as it is to be doubted the contrary ) yet the King loseth yearly the benefit of the Custome of 500. Tunnes of woad , or of the value thereof in Indico . 5 By the vse of these woods the Subiect is deceiued , the art of dying both at home and abroad much scandalized , and the ancient Trade of clothing in this Realme greatly decayed .

2 This Bill authoriseth all persons by warrant of the Major or head Officer of any Citie or Towne corporate , or of two Iustices of peace of the Countie , to search in all suspected places for the said woods and stuffe to die withall , and finding the same , to seize and deliuer to the said Majors , &c. who are to cause the same to be speedily burned .

Reasons . 1 Vnlesse they bee so authorised , they cannot finde where the same woods shall be hidden . 2 Vnlesse the woods may be speedily burned , the keeping of them may proue very hurtfull .

3 This Bill authoriseth any person by like warrant , to search for Clothes deceitfully dyed .

Reasons . Which being found , the punishment for the same is prouided by former Statutes .

4 This Bill authoriseth the Wardens of the company of Diers in London , to make the like search in all places in London and the Liberties , and within three miles thereof .

Reasons . Otherwise many Dyers in those places , not free of the Company of Dyers , will not permit such search to be made .

5 This Bill forbiddeth all persons vsing dying in London and the Liberties , or within three miles thereof , to woad any Clothes or Stuffes of a lighter or lesser woad then the stalls or samples shal be of , which shal be deliuered to them by order of the Wardens & Assistants of the company of Dyers in London , Penalty . on paine to forfeit fiue pounds for euery peece of broad-cloth , & fiftie shillings for euery peece of other cloth or stuffe so insufficiently woaded , which forfeitures , as aforesaid , are to the King , to the Poore , and to the Informer .

Reasons . The Free-men of the Company of Dyers in London , are by their Ordinances strictly bound to obserue this good order ; but many persons in those places vsing dying , some free of other companies , and some strangers , not being bound to performe this order , doe daily commit many notable deceits to the abuse of the Subiect , and scandall of the Art or mysterie of Dying .

6 This Bill appointeth the Wardens and Assistants of the company of Dyers in London , within ten dayes after Midsommer , yearely to nominate , at the least foure persons expert in dying , which shall bee Searchers for woaded colours , which Searchers are to be sworne before the Lord Major and Aldermen in London , for the due execution of their office : and the Wardens and comminalty of Dyers , Penalty . for neglect of such yearly nomination to forfeit twenty pounds to the King and Informer .

Reasons . This Company best knowing who are most expert in that Art , are fittest to haue the nomination of the said Searchers .

7 This Bill authoriseth the said Searchers so named , and sworn to search in al places within the limits aforesaid , where dying is vsed , all clothes and stuffes woaded before they shall bee turned out of the woad into other colours , and shall seale such clothes and stuffes which they shall find well and truely woaded with seales of lead , stamped with such seuerall stamps for seuerall colours , as are prouided for that purpose by the Wardens of the companie of Dyers : and such clothes and stuffes which the Searchers shall find or suspect to bee insufficiently woaded , to bring the same to the Dyers Hall in London , there by a court of Assistants to be adiudged whether the same shal be sufficiently woaded or not , and then to be redeliuered to the Dyer from whom the same was taken .

Reasons . 1 By sight of the clothes and stuffes in the woad , expert pe●sons may the better discerne whether they are sufficiently woaded for th●●●lours appointed for them , or not . 2 The like seale is appointed by diuers Statutes for diuers things , to the end that the Subiect might not be deceiued . 3 The Free-men of the Companie of Dyers vsing dying , haue many yeares past obserued this good order , which for preuention of deceit is also necessarie to bee done by all others vsing dying , though not free of their Companie . 4 Sometimes the deceit may bee so much shadowed by Art that the Searchers may bee doubtfull thereof , in which cases the triall thereof cannot more easily be made then by a court of Assistants of that Companie .

8 This Bill imposeth a forfeiture of 20 pounds to the King and Informer , vpon euery person which shal not suffer search to be made , according to the tenor of this Act.

Reasons . Diuers presentiments there are of the like , as 3. Ed. 6. c. 2. & 4. & 5. Ph. & M. cap. 5.

9 This Bill alloweth ( towards the prouision of seales and lead , and recompence of Searchers ) ob . to bee taken for the sealing of euery peece of cloth and stuffe well woaded , and that for non payment thereof , the Wardens of the Company of Dyers may distraine : The taking of which ob. cannot bee termed a Monopoly , for these reasons , viz.

Reasons . 1 The same is taken of the Dyer only , who therefore doth not in any wise enhance his prices of dying , and therefore not preiudiciall to the common-wealth in generall . 2 It is doubtful whether ● ob . vpon the peece wil defray the charge for lead , seales , & searchers . 3 If the profit should surmount the charge , yet the ouerplus being reserued to the Company of Dyers , is there to lye in stocke for the discharge of all extraordinarie payments and taxations , which otherwise are to be leuyed vpon euery particular person by the Pole , which stocke being so maintayned , euery member of that Company is partaker of the benefit thereof , and therefore not to be thought vnnecessarie to be paid . 4 Presidents there are diuers of receits vpon sealing , as by Statute of 5. Ed. 6. c. 6. for sealing of cloth well dressed &c. 35. Eliz cap. 10. for searching and marking of Carsies , 1. Ia. cap. 22. for sealing of leather , &c.

10 This Bill also imposeth a forfeiture of 20 pounds to the King and Informer , vpon euery Major , Iustice of peace , head Officer , Constable , &c. which shall bee negligent in the due execution of this Act , for so much as appertayneth to them .

Reasons . This is not vnnecessarie , because the life of the Law is in the execution thereof .

All former Lawes not repealed , made for preuention of deceits in dying and against vsing of Logwood , for so much as are not repugnant to this Act , to stand in force , this Act notwithstanding .