Rules for assizing of bread viz. by troy-weight, or sterling, and by avoirdupoids weights : together with the rule of coequality of both weights, and the assize by a standard-weight for white, wheaten, and household loaves, assized by a certain price, rising and lowering, as the price of wheat rises and falls in the market : all three calculated exactly according to the statute Assiza panis 51.H.3. now in force in Ireland.

Some EXCEPTIONS Against a TRYAL, Demanded by the BAKERS.

BEing required to make these Three Books of Assize publick, I think it will not he amiss in this juncture of time, (that baking is slighted) for every one to consult the Sta∣tute assiza Panis, to find out whether the Bakers do it upon good Grounds, or by a Covetous Spirit, to advance their Fortunes the sooner, and to a higher Degree then is convenient for the ease of the Labouring-Men, and the Poor, considering that the en∣crease of allowance to the former, decreases the quantity of Bread that the latter should have.

An encrease of allowance is considerate in a City, a Shilling per Barrel amounting to above 100 l. per Annum, to such as bakes 40 Barrels of Corn weekly; and if the Bakers could obtain a further allowance of 2 s. per Barrel, (as they have alledged they had,) it would bring a double profit, and treble to such as Mr. Cox, who by report bakes 60 Barrels per Week.

I have acknowledg'd, and do believe, that according to the Statute, and Proclamations since published in England till the Reign of Queen Elizabeth for the encrease of their allowance from time to time, they may justly expect a further allowance, at this juncture; that an Ounce of Sterling is worth 5 s. 10 d. & the present Barrel less then the Winchester by one Gallon & 38 Cubical Inches, and that allowance, I think, may be of 2 s. per quarter.

But this allowance is to be granted by the Chief Gover∣nors & Privy-Councel, and not by the Magistrate singly; for if such Power was divolv'd to him, and Bakers should happen to be Mayors, or some other selfish Persons, they might soon enrich that Corporation and oppress the People.

For the vindicating of their leaving off baking, althô bound by their Charter, they do alledge that they cannot bake but with Loss, and therefore desires that a Tryal be made of a Quarter of mixt Wheat as they are assized by. I must acknowledge, I ever was against such Tryal; because I do not believe, that any one, can do it exactly who is not a perfect Baker; and none in En∣gland was admitted to make such Tryal, but the Kings Bakers, who durst not favour the Corporation, for fear, least some of the Trade should discover the fallacy, and make them loose their pla∣ces; But here all Bakers are engaged by their own particular Interest, and Sworn for the Good of their Corporation. What could other Persons do, that knows neither the Quality of Corn, nor what each Sort may produce; nor how it must be milled, or fifted, or sorted afterwards for the best Advantage; nor how to prepare the Dough, nor how to bake it. The profit, I think, must consist in those things, and to know the Quantity of Flower, that may be abstracted for White particularly, which brings the most profit, and takes less Weight; and how much for Wheaten; and what of the Remainder may serve for Houshold; and what further Advantage may be made by the Bran, either in selling of it, or

grinding it to mix with other courser Bread. I have an Impli∣cit Belief, that the grand Tryal on which the Statute assiza Pa∣nis was grounded, was a true and just Assize, and that therefore the Bakers had then a sufficient allowance thereby for baking: And have had further allowance to 6 s. the Quarter since; which was judged to be sufficient when granted. And here we must observe that the measures of Wheat were calculated by such Weight, as might enable the Bakers to bake with profit enough, and the Bran over and above. The Quarter of Wheat Winche∣ster measure was then fixed one with the other at 544 pounds, 4 ounces 16 penny weight Troy, or 448 pounds Avoir-du-poids, and all Assize s were calculated accordingly. I heard that the Bakers desired that a Tryal should be made of a Quarter of Wheat of the Tole-Corne, which is mixed of all sorts, and to bake it all in good Houshold Bread. But I believe it was a jest, else it should be named a Fallacy; for by such a Tryal the Bread made would not produce so much as the Corn cost. This may be easily demon∣strated by the Assize inserted in the Statute 51 H. 3. Where you will find that Houshold Bread is to weigh in its proportion as much as the Corn in toto, Example:

3 Quarters of Corn assized at 4 hundred weight a piece makes 12 hundred in toto, and if the same did cost, viz. the best 30 s. the middle 20 s. and the last 10 s. and assized by the middle price 20 s. and the Baker bound to give the like, weight in Houshold as the Corn weighs, viz. 4 hundred, which at 5 s. comes to the middle price of 20 s. If he be such a fool, as to mix the whole, and make it all Houshold, and sell it as the Assize bindeth, at the rate of the middle Corn, he cannot get a Farthing for baking, &c. And therefore such a Tryal is ridiculous.

But if the Baker keeps the 3 sorts of Corn unmixt, and draws out of the 1200, viz. 400 for Houshold, he has to 20 s. of Bread, and 300 of Wheaten, brings as much, which makes 40 s. and 200 of White produces the same, as the 400 Houshold, which makes the first cost, and these 4. 3 and 2 Hundred makes but 900, So that the Baker has 300 Weight of Flower and Bran left to himself for his Profit, and 6 s. Allowance.

I know they will Answer, that my Proposition is not certain, and that there cannot be 200 weight of White in the 1200, nor 300 of Wheaten, and therefore will insist for a Tryal, to which I have no further to reply, but that I do really believe, that it will be as difficult for a private Man, who knows not the Art of Baking, to make the best of several sorts of Corn, as to another who never understood Mettals, to mix them so as to bring them to several Standards, for the best Profit, or to judg afterwards of their Qualities, when once allayed according to Art.

And so it is with the Bakers; for when they have sorted their 3 Quarters or 1200 weight of Meal, and placed 200 for White, 300 for Wheaten, and 400 for Houshold; If they mix half a Hundred of the Wheaten to the 200 of White, and the like of the Houshold to the Wheaten, and as much of the remaining part or Fine Bran to the Houshold, who should be judg of this mixture but themselves, who are the God-Fathers of the Bread, and gives it what Name they please; as some Goldsmiths who have called Sterling a second sort of Silver, allayed with one fifth part of Cop∣per, althô the Sterling is not to bear above the 20th part of allay. All these Mixtures add allways to the profit of the Bakers.

Therefore I conclude that advantageous Tryal for the publick Good cannot reasonably be expected from them, who are Sworn for the Good of their Corporation, and naturally inclined to procure to themselves and Families, all the Advantage possible; nor that they should teach in a Day, (and for nothing) an Art they have laboured so long to learn, and discover all their Misteries at once,

to their disadvantage. But I hope, that after a serious Consi∣deration, they will seek for their right by the usual Methods that have always been observed in England and Ireland, and continue their supplying this Great City with good and wholsom Bread, according to Assize, and as they are bound by their Charter.

When I published these few Exceptions, I thought they had been sufficient for to satisfie all Persons, that there was no need at all of a Tryal; for it appears plainly enough by the Statute, and the Allowance granted to the Bakers, that they are sufficient Gainers. But none having consulted the Statute, and Mr. Cocq having prevailed for a Tryal, and for such a Tryal that by bak∣ing of a Quarter of Wheat, the Bread made of it, brought less by 4 s. 6 d, then the Corn cost, (as they reported.) I think my self obliged to enlarge a little more.

At the time that Mr. Cocq's Tryal was made, an Unfree-Baker made another of a Quarter of Wheat at the same Assize, and made of the Bread seaven Shillings six Pence more, then the Corn cost, which will be proved upon Oath if doubted of, and there∣fore no need to allow the Free-Bakers, to make any further Tryals.

Mr. Cocq made a great Noyse in the Court of Kings-Bench pretending, that these few Exceptions were all Erronious, and that I had wrong'd the Bakers. Had he mention'd, in what particular I had answered him there; for I expected their Thanks, and not their Reproaches, being that they tend generally to the Advantage of the Corporation.

I made them short, and upon general Heads, not thinking that they would oblige me to descend to Particulars and to un∣ravel their Disingenious Contrivances, for attaining their end, by a Tryal, being not willing to expose them. But Master Cocq having made his Challenge so publickly, I shall endeavour to make good my positive Assertion, That the Bakers are sufficient Gain∣ers, and that a Tryal by them is neither sure nor necessary.

I shall prove the same, first by the Statute it self, and secondly by their proceeding; Since I made publick the Book of Assize by Troy-weight:

I^mo. The Statute Assiza Panis fixes the Assize, by a Quarter of Wheat of Wine-measure, which is short of the full Weight of a Quarter of Corn; the Statute leaving the overplus to the Baker, as a benefit for baking. This is explained very clearly in the Statute, as followeth. By the Consent of the whole Realm of England, the Measure of our Lord the King was made, (That is to say,) that an English Penny called a Sterling, round and without Clipping, shall weigh 32 Wheat Corns in the Middes of the Ear, and 20 Pence do make an Ounce, and 12 Ounces one Pound, and 8 Pound do make a Gallon of Wine, and 8 Gallons of Wine do make a Lon∣don Bushel, which is the eighth part of a Quarter.

It is then plain, That the Measure used for Assize, was the Wine-Measure, but the Measure by which the Corn is sold, is another, which we call Ale or Winchester Measure; the dif∣ference is, that the Wine-Gallon contains, only 231 Cubical In∣ches, and the Ale-Gallon or Winchester contained then 282, and therefore there was 51 Cubical Inches in that Gallon, or 3246 Cubical Inches more in a Quarter of Wheat by Winchester Measure, then by the London or Wine-Measure, which is 11 Gallons and a half, and 21 Cubical Inches.

Those who will make the Experience, may weigh a full Quar∣ter of Wheat in the Market, and try the Difference, adding to it the 2 Gallons and 76 Cubical Inches taken off, from the for∣mer Measure, by the late Act of Parliament.

A TABLE of the Weight and Quantity of the Quarter of Wheat, Wine-Measure, being the Rule of Assize men∣tioned in the Statute.

	Grains of Corn.	Penny Weights.	Ounces.	Pounds.	Wine-Gallons.	Bushels.	Quarter.
	32	1
	640	20	1
Pinte	7680	240	12	1
Gallon	61440	1920	96	8	1
Bushel	491522	15360	768	64	8	1
Quarter	3932160	122880	6144	512	64	8	1

This Weight being the Money-Weights, of which there are hardly so many in the whole City, as would weigh a Quarter of Wheat, it must be reduced into Avoir-du-poids Weight by the Rules of the coequality of both Weights, which you have here In∣serted, and by which you'll find that 512 Pounds Troy, is exact∣ly 406 Pounds Avoir-du-poids. And therefore the Assize is cal∣culated as if a Barrel shoud weigh only 203 Pounds, or 14 Stones and a half, and the Quarter 406 Pounds, or 29 Stones. What it weighs over and above, is a Profit to the Baker.

That Standard was never altered since, and the Assize was always made by it; but the Standard of the Corn sold in the Market, was otherwise, as we see by the Statute made here, 12 Elizabethae, The Bushel for Wheat, Rye, Meslin, Peaze, and Beans, to contain 16 Ale-Gallons, and the Bu∣shel for Malt, Oates, and Barley, 20 Ale-Gallons, and the Bushel (or half Barrel) for Bread-Corn to be received strik'd, without heap, and the Bushel of Malt is to be lay'd and

press'd down, just with the Brim of the Bushel after the ac∣customed Manner of measuring Malt.

These Measures were only established for the County of the City, and County of Dublin, County of Catherlagh, County of Lowth, the Kings County, County of Meath, County of Kil∣dare, County of Wexford, County of West-Meath, and the Queen's County. Therefore the Assize of Dublin could not be a Rule for any other Parts of the Kingdom; But now it may be so hereafter, there being but one Measure throughout the Kingdom.

This proves sufficiently, that the Dublin-Bakers cannot be Loosers by the Assize made here, our Barrel of Corn weighing more then 14 Stones and a half, which is the Weight of the Bar∣rel of Assize, establish'd by the Statute. And therefore there is no need of a new Tryal.

I shall now Inforce this by proving that according to the As∣size established by the Statute Assiza Panis they gain sufficiently.

That will be found by any of the Assizes, calculated exactly, observing the Weights of a Quarter of Wheat, which generally weighs, viz. Best 36 Stones, Worse 34 Stones, and Worst 32 Stones, whereof the MIDDLE is 34 Stones, or 476 Pounds, or 7616 Ounces Avoir-du-poids, which is 6949 Ounces 12 Penny-weight Troy.

It is indifferent what Assize is chosen for a proof, being all equal, but for the ease of those, who are not expert in this way of Calculation, and for preventing Fractions, I shall take the Assize of Bread when Wheat is sold at 27 s. a Quarter, and 6 s. allow∣ance to the Baker, which brings it to 33 s, and divide a Quarter of Wheat in three Parts, that is to say, that the Baker shall furnish 9 s. of White Bread, 9 s. of Wheaten, and 9 s. of Houshold to repay himself his first cost, and keep all the rest for his charges in baking.

Example:

By the Assize. Corn being at 27 s. the Quarter, and 6 s. allowance for baking, the Baker is to be assized at 33 s, and ac∣cording to that Assize:
	Ounces
The Penny White is to weigh 10 Ounces 5 Penny weight, and the 12 Penny 123 Ounces, and 9 Loaves of 12 Penny	1107
The Penny Wheaten 15 Ounces 7 Penny and a half, and the 12 Penny 184 Ounces and a half, and 9 Loaves of 11 Penny	1660
The Penny Houshold 20 Ounces and a half, and the 12 Penny 246 Ounces, and 9 Loaves of 12 Penny	2214
	4981

By the Weight of Corn they have 6949 Ounces 12 Penny of Wheat, Troy weight; and they are to deliver for the 27 s. they paid for the Corn, 4981 Ounces and a half only. Therefore they have 1968 Ounces and 2 Penny remaining for their charges and profit in baking, which is very near one Third Part, and there∣fore no need to allow 'em any further Tryal.

And if they be allowed eight Shillings, in stead of six, there will be less need of it.

I do not mention the great Profit they have by baking Meslin, Rye, and Crutchlo-Bread, at what Weight they please, because I hope they will be brought under Assize.

Nor the benefit they have by baking Twice the Quan∣tity of Wheat in Week-Days, then is sold in Market-Days, where the Price is inhansed by them:

This was proved before the Committee of the Honourable House of Commons: For all the Corn lodged at Mr. Cossarts, and in the Malt-House at Dolphins-Barn, was bought for less then 40 s. a Quarter, but the first was baked when the Assize was at 58 s, and if the other was kept longer, they got more, the Assize having risen continually since, and indeed the Quantities of Corn has been multiplied since in that Place and in others; but this may be prevented.

Nor the benefit they have by the overplus in Measure, which they get from the Country-men, because it is properly a gift to them.

Nor their Ingrossing of Corn in the Country, because they advance Money for it, and run the hazard of a change.

Yet all these are advantages to the Rich Free-Baker, which the poor Unfree, or Foreigner has not, and yet gains so sufficiently, that he is content.

Therefore I conclude, that the Free-Bakers must of necessity gain more, and that no Tryal ought to be allow'd them.

2^do. Considering their Contrivances for obtaining a Tryal to be made with the Assistance of the Master and Wardens of the Corporation. I do not think that it ought to be allowed them.

As soon as I had laid down the Rod, they prevailed, that Meslin-Bread should not be assized, which has continued to this Day, and by which means they have been great Gainers, and therefore had no need to complain or to desire a Tryal.

They at the same time contrived to have such an Assize, for Foreigners, (or Unfree-Bakers,) as could not but destroy them, having no Allowance granted them, but on the contrary bound to allow 3 Pound weight of Bread in a 12. Penny Loaf of Houshold Bread, more then the Freemen, so that they could not bake without Loosing all their Labour and Charges in baking.

This made several Unfree-Bakers join together, to seek for relief, and at last the most considerable among them, were admitted by the Corporation to bake at their Assize. Then they joined toge∣ther but this severe Assize continuing afterwards from Mich. 1697 to Mich. 1698, all the poor Unfree-Bakers were forced to leave off, and some to go away, and others to apply to other sorts of live∣lyhood, or to serve as Journey-men, and this they endeavour'd to continue still, but were prevented, when this was made known to our present Magistrate.

At that juncture of time, they rejected to take the Assize from the Magistrate, pretending they would bake no longer, and accordingly shut up their Shops, left off buying of Corn themselves, but yet imployed their Millers, and others to buy for 'em, and bak∣ed privately for whom they pleased, and at what Assize they thought fit. And perhaps would have continued to this Day, had not some few Persons taken upon them to bake, and prove that they had Profit enough by baking at the Assize and Allowance, given by the Magistrates. And this seems to be a sufficient Reason that a Tryal should not be granted to be made by them.

Their harrassing at the same time, those few new Bakers, seizing their Bread, when no Assize was proclaimed by the Ma∣gistrate, and Bread only made for the present Supply, of those they would not serve with Bread, and of a sufficient Assize for that time.

The 7 Twelf Penny Loaves they restored, wanting but 6 Oun∣ces after being kept 15 Days, proves sufficiently their design of forcing for a subtil Tryal to gain an extraordinary Allowance to the Prejudice of the Poor, and for that Reason none should be granted to them.

The very Contrivance of making Mr. Cocq a grand Jury∣man to procure a Tryal by his earnest Solicitations to his Brethren, &c. was sufficient for denying him such Request.

I must in this place mark, that they had no right at that

time to seize any Bread at all, much less in a House; for no Bread ought to be seized, but what is exposed for sale in Shops, or in the Market, or such as has been sold for Bread of Assize, and proves light.

The Magistrate himself, or Grand Juries, cannot in justice seize Bread under the Weight of Assize, if kept by the Baker, by Reason of a mistake of his Servants, in making the same too light, and he has (no doubt) Liberty to acquaint the Magistrate, and the Jury of the Mistake, and to demand Liberty to sell the same at an Under-rate, according to that of Assize; and such a Licence can∣not be denied: but if he should sell at a higher Rate, he is indi∣table by the Magistrate, and subject to the Pillory.

I could enlarge more for the preventing of the Tryal they so earnestly desire, but I think it is sufficient to say, that when they saw, that the Government, and the City, were pleased to encou∣rage the Unfree-Bakers, who were beginning to bake; they of themselves fell to work again, which they would never have done, had they been so great Loosers, as they pretended, and were sure that none could bake at the Assize allowed by the Statute, but on the contrary would have suffered the Unfree-Bakers to go on, and ruin themselves, by baking at that Assize, to support their Asser∣tion. Therefore I conclude, that there is no Reason to grant 'em any further Tryal.