Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/310

 234 ON THE ASSAY MARKS ON GOLD AND SILVER PLATE. sterling, that the keeper of the Touch shall for everything so proved forfeit the double value to the King and the party. The cities of York, Newcastle, Lincoln, Norwich, Bristow, Salisbury, and Coventry, were to have divers Touches, and no goldsmith to sell any gold or silver wares but as it is ordained in this City of London. A.D. 1477-8, 17th Edward IV., cap. 1. — It was enacted, inter alia, that no goldsmith or worker of gold or silver should Avork or put to sale any gold under the fineness of 1 8 carats, nor silver unless it be as fine as sterling. Also that no goldsmith work or set to sale harness of silver plate, or jewel of silver, from the Feast of Easter, within the City of London, or within two miles of London, before it be touched with the leopard's head crowned, such as may bear the same touch ; and also with a mark or sign of the worker of the same so wrought, upon pain of forfeiture of the double value of such silver wrought and sold to the contrary. That the mark or sign of every goldsmith be committed to the wardens of the same mystery, and if it be found that the w^arden of the Touch of the leopard's head crowned do mark or touch any harness with the leopard's head, if it be not as fine as sterling, he shall forfeit double the value of the silver; and that the craft of goldsmiths of London shall be answer- able for the non-sufiiciency of the warden. This Statute was enacted for seven years, and was afterwards re-enacted for twenty years in 1489, and again for twenty years in 1552 by 7th Edward VL A.D. 1489, 4th Henry VII., cap. 2. — It was enacted, for the amendment of money and plate of the realm, that every- thing might be reformed to the right standard ; that the finers and parters should only sell their gold and silver to the Masters of the King's Mint, at London, Calico, Canter- bury, York, and Durham. That no alloys should be made but by the goldsmiths and Masters of the King's flints. Tliat silver be made so fine that it bear 12 pennyweights of alloy in the lb. weight, and yet be as good as sterling ; and that all finers should set their marks upon it. The gold of Venice, Florence, and Gean (Genoa) to be 12 oz. to the lb. weight ; and the export of gold and silver was forbidden. A.D. 1576, 18th Elizabeth, cap. 15.— Feb. 8. In order to prevent the frauds which were then committed, it was enacted, that after the 20th April next, no goldsmith shall