Page:The statutes of Wales (1908).djvu/295

A.D. 1623-4] they be mixed as aforesaid, or shall shrink above half a yard in twelve yards of length or weigh less than fourteen ounces the yard or hold not full three quarters of a yard broad, as by the same Statute appeareth"; which Proviso in the construction of divers persons doth not preserve such as make or sell coarse Welsh Cottons from the penalty and danger of not adding or affixing a Seal to contain the length breadth or weight of the said Cottons, which affixion of a seal is needless when there is no length breadth or weight prescribed for them: And moreover for that in all antecedent Ages the said Cottons being commonly used for Linings were never seized as forfeited for want of the Seal of the makers put unto them, nor used to be searched or tried by water, but only by the buyer: Be it therefore enacted by our Sovereign Lord the King and by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same, That from henceforth no person or persons shall incur any penalty for want of any Content Seal to contain the breadth length or weight of any Welsh Cottons; and that no Welsh Cottons shall at any time or times hereafter be searched or tried in the Water by any person or persons other than by the buyer thereof; upon pain to forfeit for every such Offence by the party who shall make any such search or trial contrary to the intent of this Statute, Five pounds of lawful money of England; the one moiety thereof to the King's Majesty his Heirs and Successors, the other moiety to the party grieved, to be recovered by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information, wherein no Essoign Protection or Wager of Law shall be allowed.

A.D. 1623-4]

Whereas the Trade of making Cloths Cottons Frizes Linings and Plains within the Principality and Dominion of  is and hath been of long Continuance, in the using and exercising whereof many Thousands of the poorer Sort of the Inhabitants there in precedent Ages have been set on work in Spinning Carding Weaving Frilling Cottoning and Shering (whereby they (having free Liberty to sell them to whom and where they would), not only relieved and maintained themselves and their Families in good Sort, but also grew to such Wealth and Means of Living as they were