Anno quinto et sexto Eduardi Sexti Actes made in the session of this present parlament, holden vpo[n] prorogacion at Westminster, the. xxiii. daie of Ianuarie, in the fiueth yere of the reigne of our moste drad souereigne Lorde, Edward the. VI. by the grace of God, kyng of Englande, Fraunce, and Irelande, defendour of the faith, and of the Churche of Englande and Irelande, in yearth [sic] the supreme hed: and there continued and kept to the. xv. daie of Aprill, in the vi. yere of the reigne of our saied souereigne lorde, as foloweth

¶ The .vi. Chapiter. ¶ An acte for the true makyng of wol∣len clothe. (Book 6)

WHere heretofore diuers, and many goodly statu∣tes haue bene made for the true makyng of clothe within this Realme, Whiche neuerthelesse, foras∣muche as clothiers, some for lacke of knowlege, & experience, and some of extreme couetousnes do daily more, and more, study rather to make many then to make good clothes, hauyng more respecte to theire priuate commoditie and gaine, then the aduauncement of truth, and continuaunce of the cōmoditie in estima∣cion accordyng to the worthines therof, haue, and do daily, in steade of

truthe practise falshod, and in steade of substanciall makyng of clothe, do practise sleight, and slender makyng, some by mynglyng of yarnes of diuers spinnynges in one cloth, some by mynglyng felle woolle, and lambes wolle, or either of theym with fliece wolle, some by puttyng to litle stuffe, some by takyng them out of the mille, before thei be ful thic∣ked, some by ouerstretchyng them vpon the tentour, and then stopping with stocks, such brackes, as shalbe made by meanes therof, finally by vsyng so manye subtile sleightes, and vntruthes, as when the clothes so made, be put in the water, to trie them, they rise out of thesame nei∣ther in length, nor breadth, as thei ought to do, and in some place nar∣rower then some, beside suche cocklyng, bandyng, and diuers other great and notable faultes, as almost canot be thought to be true. And yet neuerthelesse, neither fearyng the Lawes in that case prouided, nor regardyng the estimation of their countrie, do not onelye procure the alneagour, to sette the Kynges seale to suche false, vntrue, and faultie cloth, but do theimselues weaue into thesame, the likenes, and simili∣tude of the Kynges highnes most noble, and imperial Croune, and also the first letter of hys name, whiche should be testimonies of truth, and not a defence of vntruthe, to great slaunder of the king our souereigne Lorde, and the shame of this Lande, and to the vtter destruction of so great and notable commoditie, as the like is not in any foreine nacion Our said souereigne Lorde the Kyng, therfore myndyng to aduaunce al truthe, and to abandonne falsehodde, and also to prouide for the con∣tinuaunce of thesaid commoditie of cloth makyng, to hys honour, and the commune profite of the realme, hathe by thaduise of the lordes and commons in this present Parlament assembled, caused, aswel diuerse honeste Clothiers, as also diuerse Drapers, Marchaunte Tailours, Clothe workers, Sheremen, and other Artificers, to whome it apper∣teineth to be examined by certein wise, discrete, and sage knightes and burgesses of this present Parlament, of suche matters as touch aswel the false, as the true makyng of clothes, by whose declaration, consent, agrement and aduise, after diuers & sondry metynges & greate delibe∣rate aduise taken in the premisses, by aucthoritie of this present parla∣ment it is enacted, as hereafter foloweth, to remaine firme, & perfecte, notwithstanding any suggestiōs herafter to be made by any clother, or clothmaker to the contrary, as thei haue in lyke cases heretofore done:

That is to say, that euery clothe, carsey, piece of frise, and cotton shal be made in suche sorte and fourme, and shal conteine in length, bredth, and weight, as is herein herafter particularly mencioned, vpō such pa∣ines, penalties, & forfeitures, as be here after expressed and appointed.

Firste that all, and euery brode Clothe, and Clothes, whiche shalbe made after thesaid feast of S. Michael Tharchaungel next comming within the Shieres of Kente and Sussex, or at the toune of Redyng, or anye of theym, or elles where of lyke makyng, as the Cloth

made there shalbe of, shal cōteine in length at the water, euery piece be∣yng through wette, betwixt. xx viij. & xxx. yardes of measure that is now customably vsed, & in breadth vij. quarters at the least within the listes by the whole length of the same clothe, the listes of the same clothes to be of lyke makyng, & assise, as thei haue here before tyme bene vsed to be made, & that euery piece of thesaid clothes beyng well scoured, thic∣ked, milled, & fully dried, shalbe in weight & weighe .xc. ł. at the leaste.

And that al, & euery white clothe & clothes, whiche shalbe made with in the citie of Worcester, cōmonly called long worcesters, & al lyke clo∣thes of lyke makyng, made within the citie of Couentrie, or els where after thesaid feast, shal cōteine in length being wette as is aforesaid be∣twixt .xxix. & .xxxi. yardes the piece, & to euery yarde one ynche of the stā∣darde, & shalbe of the breadth aboue specified, through out, & by al the lēgth of the whole cloth, & listed, as hath bene accustomed, & beyng wel scoured, thicked, milled, & fully dried, shall weighe .iiij. score .iiij. ł. the piece at the least. And that al coloured clothes made in thesaid cities of Couentrie and Worcester, or els where, of lyke makyng, aftre thesaid feast, shal conteine and be of lyke length, and breadthe as is last afore mencioned, and be listed as is aforesaid, and beyng well scoured, thic∣ked, and fully dried, shal weighe .iiij. score ł. the piece at the leaste.

And that al, & euery white clothe & clothes, commonly called shorte Worcesters, whiche shalbe made within thesaid citie, or countie, or els where, of the same sorte, aftre thesaid feast, shal cōteine in length, beyng wette, betwixt .xxiij. & .xxv. yardes, yarde and ynche of the rule, & shalbe of the breadth as is aforesaid, through out, and by al the whole clothe, and listed accordyng to the auncient custome, and beyng well scoured, thicked, and fully dried, shal weighe .iij. score ł. the piece at the least.

And that al coloured long clothes, whiche aftre thesaid feaste shalbe made within the shieres of Suffolke, Norfolke, & Essex, or any of them or els where of lyke sorte, shal conteine in length, wette as is aforesaid, betwixt .xxviij. & .xxx. yardes, yarde and ynche of the rule, and shalbe in breadth .vij. quarters of the yarde within the listes at the least, through out, and by all the whole clothe, & listed as hath bene accustomed, and beyng wel scoured, thicked, milled, & fully dried, shal weighe .iiij. score ł. the piece at the least. And that al and euery shorte clothe, and clothes coloured, whiche aftre thesaid feast shalbe made within thesaid shieres last remembred, or any of them, or els where of lyke sorte, shal conteine wette as is aforesaid, betwixt .xxiij. & .xxv. yardes, yarde and ynche of the rule, and shalbe in breadth, as last is remembred, through out, & by the whole clothe, & listed as is aforesaid, and beyng fully scoured, thicked, milled, and fully dried, shal weighe .iij. score .iiii. ł. the piece at the least.

And that al. & euery coloured cloth, & clothes which aftre thesaid feast shalbe made within thesaid shieres, last remembred, or els where of like sortes, cōmonly called handy warpes, of what lēgth thei shal happē to be, shalbe in breadth out of the water, through out, and by al the whole

clothe, as is last remembred, & listed as thei haue bene accustomed, & be∣yng wel scoured, thicked, milled, & fully dried, euery yarde of euery such clothe, shal weighe .iii. ł at the least. And that al whites, whiche aftre thesaid feast shalbe made in thesaid shieres, or els wher, as cockesal whites glainsfordes, & other, beyng handwarpes, of what lengthes soeuer thei shalbe, shal cōteine in breadth as is afore remembred, & be listed as is a∣foresaid, & beyng wel scoured, thicked, milled, & fully dried shal weighe by the yarde .iii. ł at the least, of such measure as hath bene before vsed.

And that al whites & reddes whiche aftre thesaid feaste shalbe made in the shieres, or counties of Wilteshere, Glocestre, & Somerset, or any of thē, or els wher of lyke making, & al other whites, which shalbe made in any other partes of the Realme, & not afore remembred, shal conteine in length, beyng through wette, betwixt .xxvi. & .xxviii. yardes, & shalbe vii. quarters of the yarde in breadth within the listes at the least, & listed accordyng to the aunciēt custome, & being wel scoured, thicked, milled, & fully dried, shal weighe euery piece .lxiiii. ł. being white, & .iii. score being coloured at the least. And that al brode plunkets, azures, blewes, & other coloured clothe, whiche aftre thesaid feaste shalbe made within thesaid shieres of wilteshere, glocestre, or somerset, or els where of like making, shal conteine beyng wette as is aforesaid, betwixt .xxv. & .xxvii. yardes, yarde & ynche of the rule, & shalbe .vii. quarters of a yarde within the li∣stes at the least, & listed accordyng to the aunciēt custome, & beyng well scoured, thicked, milled, & fully dried, shal weighe .iii. score .viii. ł. y^e piece at the least. And that al carseis called Ordemaris, shal cōteine in lēgth betwixt .xvii. & .xviii. yardes, yarde & ynche as is aforesaid, & beyng wel scoured, thicked, milled, dressed, & fully dried, shal weighe .xx. ł. at the least.

And al carseis, called sortyng carseis, which aftre thesaid feast shalbe made in any parte of this the kynges maiesties realme of Englād, shal conteine in lengthe at the water, betwixt .xvii. & .xviii. yardes, yarde and ynche as is aforesaid, & beyng wel scoured, thicked, milled, dressed, and fully dried, ready to be shewed, shal weighe .xxiii. ł. the piece at the least.

And that al Deuōshere carseis, called douseines, whiche shalbe made aftre thesaid feast, shal cōteine in lēgth at the water, betwene .xii. & .xiii. yardes, yarde & ynche of the rule, & being wel scoured, thicked, milled, & fully dried, shal weighe .xiiii. ł. the piece at the least. And that al & euery brode clothe, & clothes, called Taunton clothes, bridge waters, & other clothes, whiche shalbe made aftre thesaid feast in Taunton, bridge wa∣ter, or in other places of lyke sorte, shal conteine at the water in lengthe betwixt .xii. & .xiii. yardes, yarde & ynche of the rule, and in breadth .vii. quarters of a yarde, & euery narowe clothe made aftre thesaid feaste in thesaid townes, or els where of lyke sortes, shal conteine in the water in lengthe, betwixt .xxiii. & .xxv. yardes, yarde & ynche as is aforesaid, & in breadth one yarde of like measure, & euery suche cloth both brode, & na∣rowe, being wel scoured, thicked, milled, & fully dried, shal weighe. xxxiiii ł. the piece at the least. And that al clothes named checke carsey, & strai∣tes,

whiche shalbe made aftre thesaid feast, shal cōteine beyng wette, be∣twixt .xvii. & .xviii. yardes, with the ynches as is aforesaid, & in breadth one yarde at the least, at the water, and beyng wel scoured, thicked, mil∣led, and fully dried, shal weighe .xxiiii. ł. the piece at the least.

And that al & euery Walshe cotton, & cottons, whiche aftre thesaid feast shalbe made, & wrought ready to be solde for a whole piece, shall not be stretched on the tētour, nor otherwise aboue a naile of a yarde in breadth, & shalbe in length .xxxii. goades in the water at the most, and in breadth .iii. quarters of a yarde, at the water at the least, & beyng so ful∣ly wrought, euery whole piece therof shal weighe .xlvi. ł. at the least, & euery haulfe piece of Walshe cotton, beyng fulle wrought as is afore∣said, shal cōteine in length, weighte, and breadth, aftre the same rate.

And that all Walshe frises, whiche aftre the feaste aforesaid shalbe made & wrought within the shieres of Cardegan, Carmarden, & Pem∣broke, or any of them, or els where of like making, ready to be solde for a whole piece, shal conteine in length at the water .xxxvi. yardes, at the most, yarde & ynche of the rule, & in breadthe .iii. quarters of a yarde, & beyng so fully wrought, shal weighe euery whole piece. xl viii. ł. at the least, & euery haulfe piece of Walshe frises, beyng fully wrought as a∣foresaid, shal conteine in length, breadth, & weight aftre the same rate.

And that al & euery Northerne clothes, which aftre thesaid feast shal be made, shal conteine betwene .xxiii. & .xxv. yardes in length, yarde and ynche of the rule, & in breadth, beyng through wette .vii. quatters of a yarde within the listes at the least, & beyng wel scoured, thicked, milled & fully dried, shal weighe .lxvi. ł. the piece at the least, and euery haulfe piece, called douseines, made aftre thesaid feast, shal conteine in length, betwixt .xii. and .xiii. yardes of measure aforesaid, and, vii. quarters of a yarde in breadthe, as afore, within the listes, and beyng well scoured, thicked, milled, and fully dried, shal weighe .xxxiii. ł. at the least.

And that all clothe, commonly called Pennistones, or forest whites, which shalbe made aftre the feast aforesaid, shal conteine in length, be∣yng wette, betwixt .xij. & .xiij. yardes, yarde & ynche as aforesaid, and in breadth .vi. quarters, & an halfe quarter out of the water, at the least, & beyng wel scoured, thicked, milled, & fully dried, shal weighe xxviii. ł. the piece at the least. And that al & euery cottons, called Manchestre, Lan∣castre shiere, and Chestshiere, cottons, whiche shalbe made aftre thesaid feast, fulle wrought to the sale, shalbe in length .xxii. goades, & conteine in breadth .iii. quarters of a yarde in the water, & shal weighe .xxx. ł. the piece at the least. And that al clothes called Māchestre ruggues, other∣wise named Māchestre frises, whiche shalbe made aftre thesaid feast, & fulle wrought to sale, shal cōteine in lēgth xxxvi. yardes, & in breadth. iij quarters of a yarde, cōming out of the water, & shal not be stretched on the taintour, nor otherwise, aboue a naile of a yarde in breadth, & being so fully wrought, & wel dried, shal weighe euery piece xl viii. ł. at y^e least.

And be it further enacted, that all, & euery person, & persons, whiche

aftre thesaid feast of S. Michael Tharchaungel nexte commyng shal make, or cause to be made any of the seueral kindes of brode clothes a∣boue rehersed, of any shorter, or longer measure, then is aboue specified & appoincted for euery countrie, or seueral kynde of clothes to be made, or make any suche cloth, or clothes of lesse breadth, or weight, being wel skowred, thicked, milled, & fully dried, then as is aboue specified, & ap∣pointed for euery seueral countrie, or kindes of clothes, & shal putte the same to sale, shal forfeicte, & lose for euery suche defaulte of euery cloth solde, or offred to be solde, in length or breadth .xl. s̄. & for euery pounde weight, whiche any clothe so made, and solde, or offred to be solde, shal lacke, excedyng not aboue .iiii. ł. in weight, shal also forfeicte .ij. s̄. for e∣uery pounde, the same forfeicture to go to the fynder therof. And that if any suche clothe lacke aboue .iiii. ł. weight, of the seuerall weightes a∣boue mencioned, that euery owner therof shal then forfeicte .xl. s̄. for e∣uery suche clothe so lackyng of his weighte, as is aforesaid.

Prouided alwaies, that if any brode clothe shal excede the seuerall lengthe before appointed for euery country, or kynde of makyng, by meanes of the finesse, or the good, perfecte, and stuffie makyng of the same clothe, that then the maker therof shall not encurre any losse, or penaltie for the ouerlength of any suche fyne clothe. Any thyng herein to the contrarie in any wyse, notwithstandyng.

And be it further enacted, that al & euery person, or persons, which af∣tre thesaid feast shal make, or cause to be made any of the seueral kyn∣des of carseis, narowe clothes, streightes, douseines, frises, or cottons aboue mencioned, whiche shal not be made in suche maner, & fourme, as is aboue said, nor conteine & haue in length, breadth, & weight seuerally appointed, & limited as is aboue specified, shal lose & forfeicte for euery piece of cloth called streight, or dousein, & for euery piece of narow cloth carsey, frise, or cotton, so to be made, & solde, or offred to be solde .xx. s̄.

And be it further enacted, that frō & aftre thesaid feast, no person, or persons, shal put any heare, flockes, or any yarne made of lābes wolle, in to any cloth, carsey, frise, or cottō, so made & sold, or offred to be sold, vpō paine to forfeicte euery such cloth, carsey, frises, & cottō, wherin any such yarne, heare, or flockes shalbe put, or y^e value of such cloth, carseis, or frise

And be it further enacted, that if at any tyme, aftre thesaid feast, any clothe through the defaulte, or negligence of the carders, spynners, or weauers, or any of them, shal, or do proue, either pursy, boudy, squally by warpe, or woufe, or els shal happen to be euill burled, or wasted in the mille, or els through the defaulte, or negligence of the mil man, or o∣therwise to be ful of holes, mille brackes, or to be holy, that thē the seale of the alnegour shal not be fixed, or set to any suche clothe, any law, sta∣tute, or vsage, to the contrarie in any wyse, notwithstādyng, but the ac∣customable fees, and allowaunces of the alnegour shal neuertheles be paid, vpō paine of forfeicture of suche whole cloth, or the value therof.

And be it further enacted, that if any clothier, or clothemaker do aftre

thesaid feast, put any clothe, or carsey to sale, before he shal haue paied to the alnegour, or his deputie, the accustomable fee, or agre for thesa∣ine, as he, she, or they, haue bene accustomed, shall lose, and forfeicte for euery default .xx. s̄.

And be it further enacted, that no persō, or persons, English, denizē, alien, or straunger, shal aftre thesaid feaste cary, or transporte, or cause to be caried, or transported, into any of the partes beyond the sea, any cloth, carsey, frise, or cotton of y^e seueral sortes aboue recited, onles the kinges seale, or alnegours seale of this Realme, and the Seale of the owner, or maker of the cloth (declaryng therin the lēgth, of the cloth as it shalbe in the water) be set vpon euery such cloth, vpō pain to forfeict euery suche clothe lackyng thesame seales, or any of them, or the value therof.

And be it further enacted by thaucthoritie aforesaid, that no draper matchaunt tailour, clothworker, or other persō, which shal retaile any of the clothes, or carseis, frises, rugges, or cottons, of the seuerall ma∣kynges aforesaid, shal aftre thesaid feast put to sale, any of the clothes afore mencioned, wherunto the alneagour shal haue set to the kynges seale & y^e owner his seale, til such time, as he or thei haue made trial, as¦wel by the water, as by the weight, & measure, whether thei, & eueri of them shalbe made according to the purporte, and true meaning of this acte, or no. And if any persone, or persones, shal finde any defectiue, or faultie cloth, in lēgth, waight, or measure, made cōtrary to thordre a∣foresaid, y^e thē he, or thei shal present euery suche clothe to euery Maior Bailife, or other hed officer, or hed officers of euery citie, Boroughe, or towne corporate, or to two Iustices of peace next adioynyng oute of a citie, Boroughe, or toune corporate, where such cloth shalbe foūd faul∣tie as is aforesaide, to thentent thesame cloth may be cut into .iii. equal partes, & pieces. The one piece therof to be forfeited to our souereigne lorde the kyng, an other piece to be to y^e presēter therof, & the third part residue to suche person, or persons, as it shal then be presented to, vpon paine that euery suche person, as shal not so serche euery of the clothes carseis, cottōs, or frises aforsaid, so by him to be bought, & solde, & shal not seise, & presēt such cloth, or clothes, as he, or thei shal find defectiue as is aforesaid, shall forfeict, & lose the doble value of euery such cloth.

And be it further enacted that euery clothier, or other persone what soeuer, which so shal sel any suche faultie carsey, cotton, or frise, where vnto the alnegour, & the owner, shal haue set to ther Seales, & shall so be seased, as is aforesaide, shall within .xiiii. daies nexte aftre requeste made by writtyng, message, or otherwise, by such person, which shal so buy suche cloth, make paiment of suche sōmes of money as he receiued for the same, or shal otherwise satisfie, discharge, and acquite him for so muche money as he shall, or shoulde haue receiued for the same, vpon paine of forfaicture to the partie greued for euery non paiment, or not acquict al as is aforesaid the double value of the money so receiued, or

to be receiued, thesame to be recouered by bill, plainte, action of debte, or otherwise, in any of the kynges Maiesties courtes of recorde, wher∣in no essoine, protection, or wager of law shalbe admitted, or allowed.

And for the further auoidyng of muche vntruth practised by stret∣chyng of clothes, be it enacted that no person, or persons, shal after thesaide feaste, straine, or stretche, or cause to be strained, or stretched, any clothe, aboue one yarde in lengthe, and one haulfe quarter in breadthe, vpon paine to forfeict for euery suche default .v. ł.

And be it further enacted, that no persone, whiche shal after thesaid feast kepe, haue, vse, or occupie any taintour, shall haue, vse, or occupie, any wrynche, rope, or ryng with thesame tentour, or shal vse any other engine vnlawefully to straine, or stretche, any clothe, or clothes, vpon paine that euery offendour that shal vse, or occupie anye tentour, or o∣ther engine to the contrary, shall forfeict .xx. ł.

And be it also enacted by like aucthoritie, that if any marchaūt shal by any meanes transporte, or cary ouer into the partes beyond the sea any cloth, carsey, frise, or cotton, which shalbe found defectiue, or faul∣tie, either in length, bredth, or weight, or els shal haue any of the faul∣tes aforesaid, that then the marchaunt, or other person, whiche shall so transport thesame, shal retourne againe thesame clothe, so founde de∣fectiue, into England, at the costes & charges of the clothier, or clothe∣maker, that sold thesame clothe, thesame costes, & thinges to be recoue∣red against suche clothemaker, or clothier by actiō of debt, bill, plaint, or enformation in any of the kynges courtes, any promise, or bargaine to the contrary notwithstandyng: Vpon pain that euery marchaūt, or other person, whiche shal not so returne suche faulty, or defectiue cloth (if through misfortune, by tēpest, pirates, or enemies he be not letted) shal forfeit and lose the value of the cloth so shipped, & trāsported & not retourned as is aforesaid. Thone moitie therof to the kyng, & thother moitie to hym that wil sue for the same by action of debt, vil, plaint, or enformation, in whiche actions no essome, protection, nor wager of Lawe shalbe admitted for the defendaunt.

And to the entente that it maye bee perfectlye knowen, whi∣che clothes are perfectlye dressed, died, and pressed with the colde Presse, withoute fraude, couine, and deceipte, aswelle within the citie of London, as els where, and haue sufficient workmanshippe: Be it further enacted, that aswel the Maiour of the citie of London, and Aldermen, or the mooste parte of them, for the tyme beyng, as all, and euery other Maiour, Balifie, and other head officer, or officers of euery citie, Borough, or toune corporate, within this realme, shal haue ful power and aucthoritie, by vertue of this acte, to nominate, depute, and appoincte from tyme to tyme, as occasion shall serue, and shall so from tyme to tyme, nominate, depute, and appoinct, two, or mo honest discrete, and expert persones, which shal from time to time vpon their othes, view, and serche, al & euery clothe, and clothes, that shalbe dres∣sed,

died, or pressed with the colde presse, within euery suche citie, bo∣rough, towne corporate, or porte towne, & viewe, & searche whether the same cloth, or clothes be wel, & sufficiētly dressed, & pressed with the colde presse, without puttyng therto flockes, sollace, chalke, flower, or any o∣ther deceiptful thyng, & also whether thesame shalbe wel & substantial∣ly died with good, & perfecte colours without any deceiueable thyng, or whether it shalbe stretched, or strained any more thē is aboue speci∣fied: & shal haue ful power & aucthoritie by vertue of this acte to entre into al & euery persons house, or houses, where thei shal thynke mete, to searche, & to seise al, & euery suche cloth, & clothes, as thei shal fynde de∣fectiue in the premisses, as forfeicted in whose hādes soeuer thei shalbe founde. The moietie of whiche forfeicture shalbe to the vse of our So∣uereigne lord the king, & thother moietie to the vse of the Maiour, & cō∣munaltie of the city of Londō, or to the vse of euery city, borough, town corporate, porte towne, or market towne, where the same shalbe seised.

And be it further enacted that euery person, or persons, in whose hā∣des, or possession suche defectiue, or faultie clothe, either by euill, or de∣ceiueable dyeng, dressyng, or pressyng as is aforesaid, shalbe founde, & seased as is aforesaid, shall haue his, her, or their remedie by action of Debte, Bille, Plainte, enformacion, or otherwise in any of the Kynges Maiesties courtes of recorde, wherin no essoine, protectiō, or wager of lawe shalbe admitted, or allowed for the defendaunt against al, & euery suche person, or persons, by whose defaultes, or negligence suche clothe shal so be founde faultie, and shal therby recouer all suche costes, los∣ses, and damages as he shal susteine by occasion therof.

And be it further enacted by thesame aucthoritie, that aswel thesaid Maiour of the citie of London, as euery other Maiour, bailife, porte rieue, or other head officer of euery citie, boroughe, towne corporate, or porte towne, shal on thisside thesaid feast, cause to be prepared a seale of leade, wherin aswel the armes, as the name of euery suche citie, borough towne corporate, or porte towne shalbe grauē, which thesame searchers shal cause to be fixed to euery cloth that thei shal finde aftre thesaid feast wel & sufficiently dressed, died, & pressed with the colde presse without a∣ny of the disceiptes aforesaid, & shal haue for their paines, & trauailes therin to be takē, by the owner therof for the sealing of euery cloth .ij. d.

And be it further enacted that if any searcher, or searchers so to be ap¦pointed, do aftre thesaid feast find any of the clothes being coloured, or died, so made aftre thesaid feast, either cockly, pursy, boudy, squally, or ro wie, or euil burled, or wasted in y^e mille, or ful of holes, or breakes, y^e then the same searcher, or searchers shal besides y^e seale of y^e citie, borough, or towne corporate, where thesame cloth shalbe foūde, put another seale of leade at euery end of thesaid cloth, wherin shalbe grauē y^e lettre F. & shal also set a marke in y^e list right against such place, wher any of y^e faultes aforesaid shalbe, with the printe of a lettre, or marke of an inche cōpasse

at the least, wherby euery buier may wel know what, & where y^e fault is.

And be it further enacted that if any of the seachers aforesaid shall sette the seale of any citie, borough, towne corporate, or porte towne, to any coloured clothe, whiche shal not be sufficiently dressed, died, pressed & wrought, as is aforesaid, that then the Maiour & cōmunaltie, or bai∣lifes, or cōmunaltie, or other corporacion of the towneshippe by what∣soeuer name or names thei shalbe encorporated where suche cloth shal so be sealed, shal forfeicte & lose the whole value of the clothe so seased.

And be it further enacted by the aucthoritie aforesaid, that yf any of the searchers aforesaid, aftre thesaid feast do set to the seale of the citie, borough, or towne corporate within the limites of their searche to any clothe whiche shalbe cockely, pursey, baudie, squallie, rewie, euil butled wasted in the mille or ful of holes, as is aforesaid, and not sette at eue∣ry ende of thesaid clothes one seale with the lettre F. as is aforesaid, & also declare by the listes as is aforesaid, what, and where the faultes of the clothe be: that then the Maiour and communaltie, or other the cor∣poracion of euery suche borough, citie, or towne corporate, where suche searcher shalbe appointed, shal forfeicte, and lose for euery suche omis∣sion, or not settyng to of any suche seale as is aforesaid .v. ł.

And be it further enacted that no person, or persons whatsoeuer thei be, whiche cōmunely vse to retaile clothe, or carsey, shall put to sale, in grosse, or by retaile to any maner of person, any maner of clothe whiche shalbe made aftre thesaid feast, beyng dressed, died, & pressed as is afore said, excepte there be fixed therunto at euery ende of the same clothe, the seale of suche citie, borough, or towne corporate, where the same clothe shalbe so died, dressed, & pressed, or the seueral seale of euery suche citie, borough, or towne corporate, where it shalbe died, dressed, or pressed, to remaine at the laste ende of euery of thesaid clothe, whiche shalbe solde duryng, & by al the tyme, that any piece, or rēnaumt of suche cloth is to be solde, vpō paine of forfeicture the whole value of suche whole cloth.

And be it further enacted, that euery Maiour, Bailife, or other head officer of any Citie, Borough, or towne corporate, in whiche any suche clothe, or clothes aftre thesaid feast shalbe made, died, dressed, or pressed with the colde presse as is aforesaid, whiche doeth not, or shal not aftre thesaid feast of S. Michael nominate & appoint from tyme to tyme so many searchers as shalbe requisite to viewe and searche clothes vpon their othes as is aforesaid, shal lose, & forfeicte for euery default .x. ł.

And be it further enacted that if any of thesaid searchers so to be ap∣pointed by the Maiour beyng a fre man of thesaid citie, or by the Ma∣iour, Bailife, or other head officer of any Citie, Boroughe, or Towne corporate as is aforesaid, hauyng no reasonable excuse, do refuse to take vpon hym to be a searcher, and do not vse the office of a searcher, as is aforesaid shal forfeicte & lose for euery suche refusal, and not exe∣cutyng of his office so to hym appointed .v. ł. The one haulfe therof to

be to the kyng our souereigne lorde, and thother half, to the vse of the communaltie of euery citie, borough, or towne corporate, where he shal so be assigned, and to remayne in warde till suche tyme, as he hath ma∣de paiment of thesaid forfeicture, or otherwise put in sufficient bondes for the satisfaction of thesame. And forasmuche as there be now in this time many false, and deceiuable colours made, in diuers places of this realme, wherby many of the kynges louyng subiectes are deciued,

Be it enacted, that from and after thesayd feaste of sainct Michael Tharchaungel next commyng, no persone, or persones, shal put to sale by retayle within this realme, any clothe, or clothes, whiche shalbe ma∣de after thesaid feaste, of any other coloure, or coloures, then is hereaf∣ter expressed, that is to saie, Skarlet, redde, Crymosen, murrey, Violet, puke, broun, blew, blackes, grenes, yellowes, blewes, Orenge tawney, cusset, marble gray, sad, newe colour, Azure, watchet, Shepes coloure, Lion colour, Mottley, or yron gray, vpon paine that euery persone of∣fendyng to the contrary, shall lose and forfeicte the valew of the cloth solde by retayle, whiche shalbe of any other coloure.

And be it further enacted, that no persone, or persones, after thesaid feaste of saincte Michaell Tharchaungell, shall presse any kynde of clothe, with the whote presse, or in any other kynd of deceiuable maner, but only with the cold presse, as is aboue specified, vpon payne of for∣feicture of the whole clothe so pressed contrary to the meanyng of this statute, or the valewe thereof.

And be it further enacted, that if any persone, or persones, but suche as are appoincted, assigned, and permitted, by this acte, do at any time after thesaid feast, counterfecte, sette to, or take away frō any of the clo∣thes, Carseis, frisys, rugges, or cottons aforesaide, any of the seales so to be fixed, as is aboue recited, that then euery persone so offendyng, shall for the firste offence (beyng therof duely conuicted, by verdicte of xij. men, by two sufficient witnesses, or by confession of the partie) for∣feicte, and lose .x. ł. and for the seconde offence (beyng likewise therof cō∣uicted) shall sitte on the pillourie, and lose, & forfeicte, to our souereigne lorde the Kyng, all suche his goodes and cattalles (his debtes beyng duely & truly payde, without fraude or couine) as he had, or shall haue at the tyme of his conuiction.

And be it further enacted, that if betwene the first day of May next commyng, and the feaste of saincte Michael Tharchaungel, then next commyng, any persone, or persones, whiche nowe dothe vse the arte or mistery of drapyng, or cloth makyng, shall geue ouer drapyng or cloth makyng, excepte he be licenced so to do, by thre iustices of peace, at the leaste, of the citie, countie, borough, or toune corporate, where he dwel∣leth, vpon some reasonable cause shewed vnto thesaid iustices, shall ne∣uer after take vpon hym to make, or cause to be made, any kynde of cloth or carsey, to sel thesame agayne, vpon payne of forfeicture of eue∣ry

suche clothe or carsey that he shall so sell.

And be it further enacted, that all and euery article, clause, or senten∣ce, in any acte of parlament heretofore made, concernyng makyng, dy∣eng, dressyng, pressyng, serchyng, or sealyng, of any of the kyndes of clothes, brode or narrowe, white or coloured carseis, frises, rugges or cottons, heretofore in this acte mencioned, and beyng repugnaunt, or contrariant to any article or sentence in this statute, shall fro the feaste of sainct Michaell Tharchaungell next, be vtterly voyde, and of none effecte. And to thentent, that all suche clothes as shalbe made within this realme, or any other the kynges dominiōs, after thesaid feast, shal be the better knowen frō the other clothes made before thesame tyme:

Be it therefore enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayde, that from af∣ter the sayde feaste, the letter. E. crouned, shall not be wrought into the clothe, for, and by the space of two yeres then next ensuyng, vpon paine of forfeicture of twenty. s̄. for euery clothe or carsey, wherein thesayde letter. E. shall so be wrought, the moytie of all whiche forfeicture and of all other forfeictures before expressed, and not otherwise appoincted by this present Acte, shall be to the kyng our souereigne lorde, and the other moytie, to hym or them that will sue for thesame, by accion of debte, detinewe, bil, playnte, or informacion, in any of the kynges cour∣tes of recorde, wherein no wager of lawe, essoyne, or protection shalbe admitted nor allowed for the defendaunt.

Prouided also, and be it enacted by thaucthoritie abouesayde, that it shall not be lawfull to any persone, or persones, at any tyme after the feaste of saincte Michaell Tharchaungell next commyng, to boyle or cause to be boyled, any kynde of wolles, to be conuerted into any kind of brode clothe, or Carsey, with any kynde of galles, tyndes, barkes of trees, or sawe dust, vpon payne to forfeicte all suche wolle, or the va∣lue thereof, to be recouered, and had in suche fourme and sorte, as in the foresaide acte is limited and expressed.

Prouided alwaies, that this acte or any thyng therein conteyned, shal not in any wise extende to any clothe or clothes, made in the toune of Tauestocke, in the countie of Deuonshiere, or els where within the sayde countie, commonly called Tauestocke clothes, but that it shalbe lawfull to all and euery enhabitauntes of thesaid toune, or ma∣kers of thesayd clothes, commonly called Tauestockes, to make and sell thesame with the accustomed seale, as they haue heretofore bene accustomed, any thyng in this acte to the contrary, in any wyse notwith∣standyng.