HIS MAIESTIE intending the aduancement of the natiue Commodities of this Realme , and the preuention of diuers deceipts , commonly vsed in the making of Soape , with forreigne and vnsweete Materials , and of the excessiue rates in the Sale of ill Soapes at the pleasure of the Soape-boylers , being no Body Politique , nor gouerned by any good Orders , and resoluing to make that Manufacture of Soape and Pot-ashes , a worke of His owne people , did by his Highnesse Letters Patents vnder the great Seale of England , bearing date at Westminster the twentieth day of Ianuary last past , incorporate diuers persons in the sayd Letters Patents mentioned , by the name of Gouernours , Assistants , and Fellowes of the Societie of Soapers , within the Citie of Westminster , in the County of Middlesex , and did thereby grant , that it might be lawfull to and for them and their Successours , to vse and exercise the Art and Mystery of Extracting , Boyling , Imbibing , Burning , and Melting Pott-Ashes , or Pitt-Ashes , and of Sode , Berillia , and Soape-Ashes , out of the Materials growing in his Maiesties owne Kingdomes , and of making all sorts of Soapes , both hard and soft , with the said Pot-Ashes , Sope-Ashes , Sode , and Berillia , and other Materials of this Kingdome , and selling the sayd Soapes and Ashes .

And for the auoiding of fraudes and deceipts in the vse and exercise of the aforesaid Arts and Mysteries , His Maiestie did thereby giue power to the sayd Gouernour , Assistants , and Fellowes of the sayd Society , to choose yeerely foure skilfull persons out of the said Society , by themselues , or their deputies , for whom they would answere , to ouersee all Workes Workemen , and others vsing the said Artes and Mysteries within this Realme of England , and Dominion of Wales , or of any the said Commodities to be imported from any forreigne parts into this Realme of England , or Dominion of Wales , and to search and trie by the best meanes they could , whether the Soape were sweet and well boyled , and whether the foresaid things were rightly wrought , And the fraudes and deceits which they should finde , to cause to be amended , according to their discretions and the Lawes and Customes of this Kingdome of England , and strictly to inhibite on His Maiesties behalfe , all workemen in the Mysterie aforesaid whom his Maiestie likewise did by the same Letters Patents forbid that none of them should put to sale within this Realme , or the Dominion of Wales , any Soape or other the premises before the Ouerseers or their Deputies should haue ouerseene the same , and should haue marked it for good .

And that after such inhibition if any Sope should be put to sale and found defectiue , or deceitfull , to arrest the same , and in publike place ( declaring such deceits , and defects , to all that would bee present ) to destroy the same ; To which foure men , or any two of them , or their Deputies , His Maiesty did giue power and authority to execute all and singular the premisses , and to punish the gainesayers , and rebellers , if any should bee found , as by the said Letters Patents ( amongst other things ) more at large appeareth .

And the Gouernour , Assistants , and Fellowes of the said Society , did by Indenture sealed with their Common Seale , made betweene His Maiestie of the one part , and them of the other part ( amongst other things ) couenant to erect , and maintaine , as many workes , and to prouide such Materials , as after the first yeere from the date of the said Letters Patents , they might make fiue thousand Tonne of good Soape , for his Maiesties vse , and a further proportion if neede should require , and that the Sope to bee by them made , should euery way bee as good as the Soape contained in one Firkin signed with the marke of the said Gouernour , Assistants , and Fellowes , whereof an Assay and tryall was made , which was deliuered into the hands of Francis Coningesby Esquire , to bee safely kept vntill an other Firkinne of Soape for an Assay should bee there deliuered by the said Gouernour , Assistants , and Fellowes , and therewith to make triall of such Soape as should bee afterwards in like maner made , and that at the end of euery quarter of a yeere , or within one moneth after each quarter , they should deliuer one Firkin of Soape of like goodnesse , and that the Best sweet Soape should not bee sold ouer and aboue the rate of three pence the pound .

In which Indenture , His Maiesty did Couenant to cause a Proclamation to be set foorth for the further declaration of his intentions , aswell for the better maintenance and strengthening of diuers Licences , Liberties , Powers , Priuiledges , and Authorities granted vnto the said Societie , as for the prohibiting of the making and sale of vnsweet Sope , and of importing the same , and also that no Sope should bee put to sale before it were Assayed and tried by lawfull men to that purpose authorised and appointed by the said Letters Patents , and Indenture amongst diuers other things therein contained , more at large appeareth .

And for the better effecting thereof , His Maiestie did by His Letters Patents erect an Office for keeping of the Paternes , and making of the Assay of Soapes to bee made by the Gouernour , Assistants and Fellowes of the Society of Soapers of Westminster , and appointed the said Francis Coningesbie , to be the first Assay-Master , to make Assayes of the Soapes to be made by them for his Maiesties vse , and also to be an Assistant to the said Corporation , for the search of all Soapes to be made by others , when they should require him , for discouering of deceipts and frauds in the making thereof , if any should be : And that the said Francis Coningesbie should take Oath for the true execution of the said Office , before he should be admitted to the execution of the said Office , as by the said Letters Patents more at large it doeth appeare .

His Maiestie therfore , to the end that all his louing Subiects may take notice of his Princely care herein , doeth straightly charge and command aswell the said Gouernour , Assistants and Fellowes of the said Societie , as all others that shall hereafter make any Soapes , that they vse no other Oyle in making of their Soapes , but Oliue Oyle , and Rape Oyle , as hath beene long sithence decreed by the Maior and Aldermen of London , that by that meanes the Soape may bee sweet , good , and seruiceable , according to the Paternes deliuered vp vnto the said Francis Coningesby , And also strictly inhibiteth , that no person or persons import , or cause to bee imported or brought into this Realme or Dominion of Wales , any vnsweet or vnseruiceable Soapes : And also that none presume to put to sale , or vent any Soapes , Pot-ashes , Soape-ashes , Berillia , or Sode , of what nature soeuer , before they shall bee assayed and tryed by the Searchers to be assigned and yeerely to bee chosen by the said Gouernour , Assistants , and Fellowes , and the Assay-Master for the time being , or some of them , and by them or him found to be good , vsefull and seruiceable , and so marked by them or their Deputies , with the marke appointed for that purpose , being the flowre di'luce , if any such Officers shall reside in the Townes , where such putting to Sale thereof shall bee and being required , will search and trie the same without Fee or Sallarie : Charging and commanding aswell the Gouernour , Assistants , and Fellowes of the said Societie , as all other Soape-makers , Soape-boylers , or sellers of Soape , Soape-Ashes , Pott-Ashes , Berillia , or Sode , aswell within places exempted , and in Franchises , as elsewhere , to permit and suffer the said foure persons , and the sayd Francis Coningesby , and his Deputie or Deputies , and all other Assay-Masters hereafter to be chosen to assay , trie , and marke all and euery their Soapes , Sope-Ashes , Pot-Ashes , Berillia , and Sode , either made within this Realme , or the Dominion of Wales , or imported into the same from any forreigne parts , without any manner of interruption , contradiction , or deniall , as they tender Our pleasure , and will auoyd the contrary at their vttermost perils .

Willing also and requiring all Maiors , Sheriffes , Bayliffes , Iustices of Peace , Constables , Headboroughs , and all other his Maiesties Officers and Ministers whatsoeuer , whom it shall concerne , that they and euery of them from time to time be ayding , helping , and assisting vnto the sayd foure persons , their Deputies , and the said Francis Coningesby , and his Deputies , and all other Assay-Masters , and their Deputies , which hereafter shall bee chosen into that place in the due execution of all and singular the premisses , as they will answere the contrary at their perils .