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The Office of Garbling.
That King Henry the Sixth did first give the Office of Garbling all Spices, Drugs and other Merchandizes in London, to the Lord Maior, Aldermen, and Gommonalty of the same.
That the Merchants and Grocers did devise the Laws, how the same should be Garbled for ever.
That if the common breach of Laws and Decrees be permitted, then ensueth not only the contempt of the Magistrate, but also the very ruine of that for which cause such Acts and Or∣dinances were made and advanced; a thing sutable to the subject of this matter, namely, in the fact of Garbling of Spices, Drugs, and other Merchandizes, &c. the necessity of cleansing and purifying whereof, in the time of King Henry the Sixth, was then debated; and the Office of Garbling was by the same King given to the Maior and Commonalty of this famous City of London; but in such wise notwithstanding, that it is very apparent, that as well the Mer∣chants, Owners of Spices, as the Grocers Retailers of the same City, were called to give advice for the conceiving and creating of such Acts and Ordinances therein, as might best tend to the benefit of the Merchant, the uttering and sale of the Grocer, and the goodness of the thing garbled, for the health of the People of this Realm;* 1.1 upon which Acts and Orders the Art of Garbling was pronounced and declared to consist; it being an habit of working according to right Reason, and Mechanical or Handy-craft; * 1.2the full knowledge thereof was partly gotten and attained by use at that time by Richard Hackdy, and William Aunsell, Citizens, and partly by Instruction and reason taught and shewed by the Merchants and Grocers, then being, and was left to the execution of the said Persons the Officers aforesaid; the which advice, as well of the Merchants, Grocers, and of the said Officers, are thus set forth.
The Division of Spices, Drugs. &c. into sorts, according to the qualities of the several Com∣modities; but to set down particularly, how every of these Commodities in their kind, ought to be Garbled, were a thing too tedious; and that there is no better way than the antient man∣ner of Garbling, and the just packing and putting up of the same, by men experienced and sworn for the due performance of that work and labour, as heretofore there were, but of a long time have been wholly omitted; and for the Garblers well-ordering of his Work-men, and the skilful ruling of, and governing a Company, is to begin in himself.