Page:Ruffhead - The Statutes at Large - vol 2.djvu/96

58 afterward been put to be shorne, and afore be not fully wette; and many of the seid Clothes, after they ben fully wette and sorne, ben set upon Tentours, and drawen out in Leyngh and Brede, that is to say, some of the same Clothes being but of the Lenght of xxiiii. Yardys, ben drawen out into Lenght of xxx Yerdis, and in Brede from vii. Quarters unto the Brede of ii. Yerdys; the which Clothes so shorn er they be wette, or Ells drawen in Leyngh or in Brede, as it is aforeseid, after that they receyve any wette they most of werry necessite shrynk; and also the Clothmakers, and other of your seid Realm, oftyn Times when they make any course Clothes, and also the Sellers of such course Clothes, being bare of Threde, usen for to powder and cast Flokkys of fynner Cloth upon the same course Clothes, to the Intent to make the same Cloth to appere fyne and good; and also the seid Clothmakers and other put and cast Chalke upon white-Clothes, to the Intent to make the same Clothes to appere better then they ben: And moreover great quantitie of Wolls ben had out of this your seid Roialme by Straungiers, and other, in Caraks, Gallies, and Shippies, which ben sorted the better from the worse, barbed and clakked, and thereof is made moche Lokkys and Refuse, of the which the Refuse in Substaunce is left within this your said Roialme, and thereof moche course Cloth is made within the same Realme, and so the fine Wolls ben hadd out of this your said Realme by the seid Strayngiers, and the course Wolls and Refus}e here left, by Reason whereof there canne be no Substance of fine Drapery made within this your seid Royalme, to the great Loss of your said Highness in your Custume, in paying less Custume for the Lokkys then for the hole wollyn Flesse, and also to the greate Hurt and Decay of all your seid Realm, in enpayryng of the seid Drapery. Also, most gracious Sovereign Lord, Dyers within mony Cities, Burghes, and Townes of this your seid Realm of England, usen to dye great quantity, as well of fyne Clothes, as of course Clothes, with Orchell and Corke brought from beyond the Sea, called Jarccork, the Colours made with the which Orchell and Cork ben so diseyvable, that the same Colours may in no wise abide, but faden away to the great Hurt of all them that were or occupy any such Cloth so deceyvably dyed. Also the seid Dyers usen to dye many Clothes of divers Colours, and upon the Lists of the same Clothes festen and sowe greate Risshes, called Bullrisshes, toth'entent to make the same Clothes to appere of on Colowre, and the Listes of another Coloure wher thrugh the Byers of the seid Clothes can ne may unneth understand but that the same Clothes ben died out of Wolle, to the great Hurt of you, most dred Sovereign Lord, and of all your true Subgietts which shall were or occupy the same Clothes, and by Occasion of the which imperfite and untrewe making, dying, and deceyvable Delyng, Merchauntes of strange Contrez, which hath used to bye Clothes made and died in this your seid Realm, unneth derr bye eny of the seid Clothes, to the greate Rebuke and Dishonour of the same Realm, and Hurte of your Highnes}s, and of all your seid Realm, whereupon, but if the rather a Remedy be provided by your most noble Grace, of werry likelyhode consequently shall ensue the Destruction of Drapery of all this your seid Realm, which God defend.' For the avoiding whereof our said Sovereign Lord the King, by the Advice and Assent of the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and at the Request of the Commons in the said Parliament assembled, and by Authority of the same, hath ordained, establiihed, and enacted, That no Person whatsoever he be, Cloth-maker or other, shall sell, nor put to Sale, after the Feast of S. Michael the Archangel next ensuing, any Manner Woollen Cloths, called Broad Cloths, unless the same be before fully watered.

II. And that every whole Woollen Cloth, and also broad Cloth, which shall be made in this Realm of England, after the said Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel next coming, after that it be fully watered ready to Sale, shall hold and contain in Length Twenty four Yards, and to every Yard an Inch, containing the Breadth of a Man's Thomb, to be measured by the Creft of the same Cloth, and also it shall hold and contain in Breadth Two Yards within the Lifts, by the whole Length of the same.

III. Also that every half Cloth of the said whole Cloths to be made after the said Feast, after his full watearing ready to Sale, shall hold and contain Twelve Yards in Length at the least, with the Inches aforesaid, to be measured by the Crest, and Two Yards in Breadth within the Lists; (2) so that always the same half Cloth do not exceed the Length of Sixteen Yards, upon Pain of cutting the whole Cloth in Three Pieces, and of cutting the half Cloth in Two Pieces;  (3) and also to lose for every whole Cloth ''vi. s. viii.d. and for every half Cloth iii. s. iv.d.'' made, sold, or put to Sale after the said Feast, not full watered, or made after the said Feast not keeping their Measure above ordained; (4) and if the said whole Cloth be longer in the Offender;- Measure than the said Twenty four Yards, and the Inches aforesaid, and the half Cloth of the same be longer than Twelve Yards, with the said Inches, that then the Buyer of the same whole Cloth shall pay for asmuch as it doth exceed in the Measure of Twenty four Yards, and the Buyer of the same half Cloth to pay for as much as it doth exceed Twelve Yards; so that always the said half Cloth do not pass the Length of Sixteen Yards, as above is said.

IV. Also that all Manner Clothes called Streits, to be made after the said Feast, after their full watering end Breadth of ready to Sale, shall hold and contain Twelve Yards in Length, and the Inches after the Measure aforesaid, and in Breadth One Yard within the Lifts, and throughout the Length of the same, upon Pain of cutting of the said Streit in Two Pieces, and also to lose for the same Streit ''xx. d.''

V. Also that every Cloth called Kersey, to be made and put to Sale after the faid Feaft, after the full watering ready to be put to Sale, shall hold and contain in Length Eighteen Yards, and the Inches as is aforesaid, and in Breadth One' Yard and a Nail at the least, within the Lifts, upon Pain of cutting of the said Kersey in Two Pieces, and to lose for the same Kersey ''iii. s. iv.d.'' (2) all the said Pains, Forfeitures, and Losses to run upon the Sellers of the said Cloths, which, shall be made contrary to this Act; (3) and that every of the said whole Cloths, half Cloths, Streits, and Kerseys, be perfectly and duly made throughout from one End to the other.

VII. Also before the said Feast, Seals shall be provided and ordained by the Treasurer of England, to be printed in Lead, having the King's Arms. of England on the one Side, and on the other Side the Arms, Sign, or Token of every City, Borough, or Town within the Realm of England, where the Cloth is made,