WHereas the Kings most Excellent Majestie , for the better regulation and government of the Art of Weaving of Silks and Stuffs within the Kingdome , and for reformation of the manifold abuses represented to His Majestie by the Mercers of London , to be practised in that Trade by sundry persons , as well His Majesties naturall born Subjects , as Denizens and Strangers , in the working of Tishews , Plushes , and other broad Silks , and Stuffs of forrain , or part forrain Materials , by intermixing of base Materials with fine Silk , and by mixture of Worsted and Threed with Grogeran Yarn , and by making the said Silks and Stuffs sleightly , and lesse in breadth , then formerly they were made , to the common deceit and damage of His Majesties Subjects ; Hath been pleased by Letters Patents under the great Seal of England , bearing date the fourth day of Iuly last past , to enlarge the ancient Guild of Weavers of London in their Iurisdiction and Government , and hath extended the same over all persons , using the Art of Weaving of forrain , or part forrain Materials , thorowout the whole Realm of England , and Dominion of Wales , wherein His Majestie having made sundry good provisions against those common falsities , hath thought fit ( by the advice of His Privie Councell ) to make publike declaration thereof , to the end that all His Subjects , and others , having knowledge of the same , may conform themselves accordingl And therefore His Majestie in pursuance of the said Letters Patents , doth hereby strait charge and command , That no person or persons whatsoever , from , and after the Feast of the Birth of Our Lord God next coming , shall Make or Weave within His Majesties Realm of England , or Dominion of Wales , or import into the same from forrain parts to be sold , or put to sale , any Tishews , Gold or Silver Stuffs , Tustafaties , Plushes , Velvets , Damasks , wrought Grogerans , Stitcht Taffaties , Garters , Ribands , Laces , or other Silks or Stuffs whatsoever , made of Silk , intermixed with Cotton , Threed , Worsted , Copper , Grogeran Yarn made of Hair , or other such like Materials , ( except Silk Mohair , Barratine , Silk Rash , Silk Say , Loomwork , Fuguretta , a Stuffe called Black and White , and Statute Lace ) Nor from and after the said Feast of the Birth of Our Lord God , shall Make or Weave within His Majesties Realm or Dominion aforesaid , or import into the same from forrain parts to be vended or put to sale , any Tishews , Plushes , Tuftafaties , or other Silk Stuffs whatsoever intermixed with spun Silk , made of waste or knittings of Silk , or of heavy died Silk , nor shall sell or put to sale any Silk Stuffs whatsoever by weight , but by just and lawfull measure onely : And that no person or persons whatsoever , from and after the eighteenth day of May next coming , shall Make or Weave , or import from forrain parts into His Majesties said Realm or Dominion , any Silks or Stuffs , made of Silk , or part Silk , or of other forrain , or part forrain Materials whatsoever , or any kinde of Gold or Silver Stuffs to be vended or put to sale , of lesser breadth then half a yard nail and half nail within the two Lists , and the same to be made of one equall goodnesse ( as neer as may be ) thorowout the whole peece ; ( saving that Grogerans , Chamlets , and Mohairs made in Turkie , and Tiffanies , Cipres , and Loomworks made here , or imported hither , may be still Made and Woven of such breadths as now or heretofore they have been usually made ) Vpon pain of the forfeiture to His Majestie of all such Silks or Stuffs as shall be so mixed , sold by weight , or made lesse in breadth , contrary to His Majesties Royall will and pleasure herein declared .

And for the more due and just execution of the Premisses , His Majestie by His said Letters Patents , hath authorized the Bailiffs , Wardens , and Assistants of the Weavers of London , from time to time to appoint meet persons skilfull in the said Art of Weaving , to view and search all Silks and Stuffs of what breadth soever made , of forrain , or part forrain Materials , by any person or persons in England or Wales ; and upon due triall had of the said Manufactures ( they being found of just breadths , and made of right and unfalsified Materials , and being truly Wrought and Woven , to Seal with the severall Stamps or Seals hereafter named , appointed for that purpose , ( which His Majestie commands that none presume to counterfeit : ) all such Stuffs ( above a quarter of a yard broad ) as they shall finde good and Merchantable , and to reject and forbear to Seal the contrary , but to seize and take them into their custody to be defaced or destroyed , and the Makers thereof to be further punished according to their offences .

Wherefore His Majestie doth hereby further straitly charge and command , that all Tishews , Gold or Silver Stuffs , and all other Silks and Stuffs ( above one quarter of a yard broad ) to be made of forrain , or part forrain Materials , within the Cities of London and Westminster , or within five miles of either of them , after the Feast day of All Saints next ensuing , shall be brought to the common Hall of the said Company of Weavers within the City of London , to be there Viewed , Searched , and Sealed by the sworn Officer or Officers appointed , and to be appointed in that behalf , without any Fee to be taken for the same ; And that all such other of the said Stuffs as shall be Made , or Wrought in any other parts or places of the Realm of England or Dominion of Wales , above the distance of five miles from the said Cities , or either of them , shall be in like manner after the said Feast day of All Saints next ensuing , Viewed , Searched , and Sealed , in such meet places , and by such persons , as for that end and purpose by the said Company of Weavers shall be appointed , without any Fee to be taken for the same .

And His Majestie doth also straitly charge and command , that no person or persons whatsoever , from and after the said Feast day of All Saints next coming , shall Buy , Sell , or expose to sale any peece or parcell of Tishews , Gold and Silver Stuffes , or other Silks or Stuffs ( above a quarter of a yard broad ) made of forrain , or part forrain Materials , before the same shall be Sealed , as aforesaid , upon pain of the losse and forfeiture of the same Silks or Stuffs so sold or put to sale , before they shall be so Sealed . And for reforming a great abuse now used in the making of Ribands and Laces , by the help of an Engine called a great Loom , wherein one person alone will make as much work ( though in a false and deceitfull manner ) as ten persons can do in single Looms in the like time , to the hinderance and undoing of many of His Majesties people of the said Trade ; His Majestie therefore doth charge and command , That no person or persons whatsoever , from and after the Feast of the Birth of Our Lord God next coming , shall work in , use , or exercise any such Frame or Engine , called A great Loom , or any other Frame or Engine , wherein there shall be made or wrought any more Laces or Ribands of any sort then only one at one and the same time , upon pain of His Majesties heavy displeasure , and such punishments as shall be meet to be inflicted upon the Offenders for their contempts herein : And that no person or persons , shall privately , or by way of Hawking , carry any Silks , or Stuffs , Garters , Ribands , Laces , or other Manufactures made of forrain , or part forrain Materials , broad or narrow , to private mens houses , or Innes , within the Cities of London & Westminster , or the Suburbs or Liberties of the same , to vend or put to sale , nor shall proffer the same to sale to people as they passe in the Streets , upon pain of the losse and forfeiture of all such Manufactures as shall be so offered to sale , by the way of Hawking , as aforesaid .

And for the better effecting of His Majesties Royall intentions in the Premisses , His Majestie doth expresly will , require , and command , That all such persons as now do , or hereafter shall use the Trade of Weaving within London and Southwark , and the Liberties thereof , being , or which shall be free of other Companies of London , and not of the Guild of Weavers , shall according to severall Orders of the Court of Lord Maior and Aldermen of the City of London , which by Acts of State were after confirmed , be forthwith and from time to time translated to the said Company of Weavers , and be and continue subject to their lawfull Ordinances . And as concerning the present Tradesmen and Artificers in the Art of Weaving , of forrain , or part forrain Materials , His Majestie hath by His said Letters Patents ordained and declared , That the said Bailiffs , Wardens , and Assistants shall and may receive and admit into the said Corporation to exercise the said Trade , such competent number of fit persons , as to them in their discretions shall seem meet and convenient , being naturall born Subjects , Denizens , or Strangers , who have exercised the said Trade here one whole yeer at the least , before the date of the said Letters Patents , and are conformable to the Laws of the Realm , and Constitutions of the Church of England : And that from and after two yeers next following , they shall not admit into the said Corporation , any persons to exercise the said Trade of Weaving of forrain , or part forrain Materials , unlesse he or they have served seven yeers to the said Trade , within the said Corporation . And to this His Majesties declaration of His Royall will and pleasur the Premisses ( tending to the common good of His Subjects ) His Majestie requireth all due conformity of all such whom it shall concern , upon pain of His Majesties high displeasure , and as they will answer for their neglects or contempts herein . And to the end that it may be certainly known what Silks or Stuffs made in forrain parts , shall from time to time be imported into the Kingdom , And whether the same shall be made and wrought of their true breadths , and right Materials , according to His Majesties directions for those that shall be made here , His Majesties pleasure is to appoint a speciall Officer for Searching and Sealing of all such Silks and Stuffs , as from the said Feast of All Saints next shall be imported into the Realm of England and Dominion of Wales from forrain parts .

And His Majestie doth therefore straitly charge and command , That every Merchant and other person and persons whatsoever , which shall after the said Feast of All Saints next , import , or bring , or cause to be imported , or brought into this His Majesties Realm , or Dominion of Wales , any Tishews , Gold or Silver Stuffs , Velvets , Sattins , Plushes , Damasks , or other Stuffs whatsoever , do cause the same to be viewed and Sealed by the said Officer or His Deputy , before such time as the said Stuffs , or any of them , shall be put to sale , upon pain of the seizure and forfeiture of the same , and such other penalties and punishments as shall be meet to be inflicted for their contempts herein . And His Majestie being informed of a great deceit now used in the mixing of Worsted with Grogeran Yarn in Tamets , Parragons , and other like Stuffs , doth therefore hereby further charge and command , That from and after the Feast of the Birth of Our Lord God next coming , no person or persons whatsoever , shall Make or Weave within the Realm of England , or Dominion of Wales , nor shall import into the same from forrain parts , any Tamets , Parragons , or other Stuffs made of Grogeran Yarn , wherin there shall be Woven or mixed any Worsted whatsoever , upon pain of the seizure and forfeiture of the same , and such other penalties and punishments as shall be meet to be inflicted for their contempts herein . And His Majestie doth likewise will and require all Iustices of Peace , Maiors , Sheriffs , Bailiffs , Constables , Headboroughs , Tithingmen , and other His Officers and Ministers to whom it shall appertain , That they and every of them from time to time hereafter , without excuse or delay , be favouring , aiding , and assisting to the said Company of Weavers of London , their Deputies and Searchers , in the due execution of all or any the Premisses when they shall be thereunto required , as they will answer the contrary at their perils .