A PROFITABLE AND necessarie Discourse for the meeting with the bad Garbelling of Spices vsed in these daies And against the Combination of the vvorkemen of that office contrarie vnto common good Composed by diuers Grocers of London wherein are handled such principall matters as followeth in the Table before the booke Printed at London by R. B. for Thomas Man dwelling in Pater noster Row at the signe of the Talbot To the Right Honourable Sir William Webbe Knight Lord Mayor of London and to the right Worshipfull the Aldermen of the same Cittie his brethren BEcause the complaintes of sundrye of the retayling grocers of Londō to the cheefe officers the gardians and to the first menne of that society against the fact of bad garbelling of spices betvveene them and the Marchantes hath in lieu of reformation taught manye indigneties and vvrought som indignation tovvards the cōplaināts Therefore no councell vvas better that despaire of remedie amongst them could then conceiue or bring forth then to flie to your moste godly vvisedome for suche helps therein as do beare an Anologie and proportion correspōdent to the mischiefs and diseases in the fact of garbling Or if that doo faile to follovv the saieng of the Poet Musaeus the vvhich is thus set forth It is good sometime to sound in open street The wicked works which men do thinke to hide meaning that by publishing of some smal pamphlet touching the same suche good maye ensue either the vvorkemanne to grovv better or the buier to be more vviser in the office of garbling a matter right Honorable and vvorshipfull full of rashnesse to breake open a discourse vvhereinto a man may more easilie enter then find the vvaie out againe But since that aucthoritie and povver vvhich vvorketh by operation to redresse these defectes is as yet lefte only in them vvhich are the aucthors of them vve meane in the Garbeller and vvorkemen Our vvit is such vvhich ought to vvork vvith councell and discretion to allovv and aduance this smal treatise vnder your Honors fauor and protection the effect vvherof is to shevve the abuses doone in that office vvith the right vse and motion therof vvherin your vvisdomes and Honor may be pleased to excuse our boldnesse vnder this defense that in great inconueniences great Officers haue not despised the meanest voices Then shall our duties to the cōmonvvelth be out of daunger and the same aduantaged by your vvonted affection to vvhatsoeuer concerneth common good by this our labour In the vvhich affection vve beseech the Creator of all thinges to assist your Lordship and vvorships vvith his holy spirit and to giue you the same for councel and conduction in the seruice of hir Maiestie this Cittie and to his glory and your posteritie for euer heerafter Grocers Hall in London Your most humble the Retailors Grocers London To the discreet and vertuous Readers IN discoursing with diuers worshipfull Marchants of the companie of Grocers and others vpon the practises in garbelling of spices in London a thinge to to the retaylors of such spices of no small importance aswel for that therby they are touched in honor and honestie beeing inforced as it were to put to vtterance corrupt spices as in conscience care to haue reformation for such constraints We speake our minds therein not of things doone this day yesterdny or the daie before but of things doone long since by experience and of the obseruation of the said practises and of the corruption therin daily vsed of the reformatiō now required the which many yeeres more then some scores past was conceiued and foreseen Therfore to burie the hatred growne both hetweene the seller and the buier we proposed a possible means to profit the marchant satitfie al the retaylers and to assure the buier and occupier of the goodnes of such spiees without fraud The meanes are grounded vpon the true knowledge of the nature of garbelling of spices the which is not only the true sifting of the same but the deuiding of the good from the bad and the putting of them vp in their said deuisions and vppon the due vnderstanding of the difference of garbelling vsed in time past with the time present And in that difference a iust choise is to bee made and an ordinance to bee giuen for the Garbeller to follow for the benefite of all the which our intent and meaning is with the consent of all and in fauour of thee gentle Reader to publish to the end the practises of garbelling may be garbelled we meane reformed and hir Maiestie and people of this realme bee better serued in such affaires For whose satisfaction we labour with hope crauing of thee the like vtterance of friendship towards vs and to accept our meaning if thou finde not this discourse to be quallited to thy liking Vale. The Table 1 WHy the Art of garbelling was first inuented by whom Folio 1. 2 The auntient deuisions of spices vsed in London fol. 3. 3 The abuses now vsed in the said Art there 11. 4 How the danger of those abuses extendeth aswell to the retailors Grocers as to the marchant and thereby the garbeller in danger of question of his oath taken therein 13. 5 The abuses of the workmen and the necessity of reformation thereof and for whose sake it is to be doone fol. 17. and 19. 6 Who may reforme these abuses in London and the manner how to reforme them 23. 7 The manner of true garbelling 31. 8 The rate set and allowed by the maiestrates for the garbeller to receiue in his office 71. 9 The rate by himselfe aduanced and receiued 71. 10 The orders necessarie to bee made and kept betweene the chiefe garbeller and his workmen fol. 50. 11 The briefe abstracte of the Actes of Common Councell made in London for garbelling in Anno xviii of king Henry the eight and in Anno. second of king Edward the sixt fol. 63. 12 The othe therevpon appointed for the said Garbeller fol. 87 Reformation for Garbelling 1 Heerein is shewed that king Henry the sixt did first giue the office of Garbelling of spices in London to the Maior and Cominaltie of the same 2 That the Marchants and Retailors Grocers did deuise the lawes howe the same should be garbelled for euer 3 What Garbelling is Chap. 1. IF the care which the Antient Romanes hadde to performe the iudgement and decrees of their law-makers be well weighed and obserued amongest the rest of great respect and honor the obedience of Fabius Maximus to the ordinances of his sonne is to be admired who beeing a Maiestrate and in place of iudgement and seeing his father a farre off comming towards him on horsse backe a thing forbidden amongst the Romanes he commanded his father to set foote on ground the which the father obeied and embracing his sonne made greater account of him then if he had doone otherwise And on the other side one Vestius was put to death because he arose not when the Tribune
councell assembled and by the aucthoritie of the same That the said bill shall be entered and ingrossed of record for a good profitable law act and ordinance at all times heerafter firmelie and inuiolablie to be obserued obeied and kept in euery point according to the tenor true meaning and effect of the same vpon the seuerall paines and penalties therein mentioned and conteyned the tenor of which bill heereafter ensueth WHere by the Acte of Common councell holden in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the cittie of London the xx of Februarie 1526. in the xviii yeere of the raigne of our late Soueraigne Lord of most worthie memorye Kinge Henrye the eight before sir Thomas Seimer knight then Lord Mayor of the said cittie and the Aldermen of the same it was amongest other things enacted established by the said L. mayor aldermen cōmons in the same cōmon councell then assembled and by the authority of the same that all kindes of sortes of spices drugges and marchandize speciallie recited perticularlie expressed within the same acte wheresoeuer they were garbled as well those that are marked with the right hande of Antwerp Brudges and Roane as all other marked or vnmarked all other which of right ought and of long time then past according to good and antient lawes and ordinanances in that behalfe made and prouided had beene accustomed to be garbelled within the said Citty and the liberties thereof by the common garbeller of spices of the same citty therevnto lawfullie appointed by the Lord Mayor of the said Cittie for the time being before that the same spices drugges and marchandise or anye parcell thereof were or should be put to sale vttered or sold and that the garbell fusses and dust taken garbelled and clensed out of the said spices drugs wares and marchandize should be brought and conueied by the same garbeller to the Guildhall aforesaid to be from thence conueied and transported within a certeine tyme limited by the said Act of Common councell made the xx day of Februarie in the said xviii yeere of the said late king into the partes beyond the seas and otherwise be disposed vpon certeine paines and penalties in the same Acte mentioned and expressed as by the same Act it doth and may more fullie appeer vpon record By the which said act of common councell or yet by any other like acte concerning the garbelling and clensing of the said spices drugs marchandize hitherto made and prouided there is not any certein time limited or appointed within which the owners and possessors of such spices drugs and marchandize hetherto made and prouided there is not anye certeine time limitted or appointed within which the owners possessors of such spices drugs and marchandize keeping the same longe in theyr custodie and possession doo many times by couert secret and fraudulent waies and meanes vtter and sell the same before that it bee seene searched garbelled or clensed by the said common garbeller or his deputie or deputies to the no little losse dammage and perrill of all the buiers and occupiers thereof for remedie and reformation whereof Bee it ordered established and enacted by this present common councel by the aucthoritie of the same That the same former Acte of common councel made the saide xviii yeere of the reigne of our late soueraigne lord K. Henry the viii concerning the garbelling of spices drugs and marchandise shall stande continue and remaine in full strength force and effect adding and adioyning therevnto that if anye person or persons at any time heereafter do retaine or keep or cause to be kept in his or their possession or in the possession of any other person or persons any manner of bag chest vessell or remnant of any of the saide spices drugs or marchandise what marke or seale soeuer they are or any of them shall haue or beare vpon thē and do not cause the same to be dulie garbelled or sealed by the said common garbeller or his sufficient deputie or deputies within the space of 4. months after the bringing of the same marchandise into the said citty or the liberties therof Almonds Rise and dates alwaies excepted that then all and euery such person or persons hauing or keeping in form aforesaid any parte or parcell thereof as it shal please the owners of the same to reserue keepe for his or their own proper expenses in his or their own houses being vnder the waight of one quarter of a hundred vngarbeled and vnclensed contrary to the tenor and effect of this present Acte and ordinance shall forfeit and pay or cause to be paid for euery bag chest vessell remnant and parcell of all the said spices drugs and marchandize except before excepted so beeing vngarbled and kept by the space of foure monethes xxvi s. 8. d. in the name of a paine And further be it enacted by the aucthoritie aforesaid that if any chest vessell bagge parcel or remnant of Almonds Rise and Dates bee now or heereafter shall be in forme aforesaide kept or reserued by the owner or owners keeper or keepers of the same not garbled clensed by the saide garbeller his lawfull deputie or deputies within halfe a yeer next after the bringing of the same Almonds Rise and Dates into the said Cittie or liberties thereof That then euery such person persons shall forfeite and paie for euerie such chest vessell and bagge remnant and parcell of Almondes Rise and Dates so kepte vngarbled other then suche as shall be kept for his or their owne necessary vse and expences within their own houshold contrarie to the tenor and effect of this present act and ordinances xxvi s. 8. d. in the name of a paine Prouided alwaies and bee it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that this present act nor any thing therein contained do not in anie wise stretch or extend to the hurt damage or greefe of any person or personnes for not garbelling or cleansing of anye of the saide kinde of spices drugs and marchandise which nowe are and do remaine in the custodie and possession of any person or persons of the said Cittie or the liberties of the same within the seuerall times before limitted and appointed for the same so alwaies that all and euery such person and persons now hauing as is aforesaid any of the said sortes of spices drugges and marchandize within the said cittie or the liberties therof doo cause the same and euery part and parcell thereof excepte as is before excepted to be garbelled and clensed by the said Common garbeller or his sufficient deputie or deputies within foure moneths now next ensuing without fraud or further delaie Prouided also and bee it enacted by the aucthoritie aforesaid that if any person or persons at any time or times heereafter doo vtter or sell or cause to be sold or put to sale or conuey out of the said cittie any bag chest vessell parcell or remnant of the said spices drugges or
of the peple passed before him the which he with obedience and patience endured And diuers Citizens of Rome were disfranchised for breathing and yawning a little to lowd in the presence of the Censors wherat they nothing repined This we set foorth for that it should be remembred that if the common breach of lawes decrees be permitted then ensueth not onelie the contempt of the Maiestrate but also the very ruine of that for whose cause such ordinances were aduanced a thinge befallen to the subiect of this matter now in hand namelie in the fact of Garbelling of spices The necessitie of clensing and purifieng whereof in the time of the raigne of king Henry the sixt was then debated and the office of Garbelling was by the same kinge giuen to the Lord Maior Cominaltie of this famous Citie of London but in such wise notwithstanding that it is verie apparant that aswell the Marchantes owners of such spices as the Grocers retaylors of the same Cittie were called to giue aduice for the conceiuing creating of such ordinances therein as might best tend to the benefit of the Marchant the vtterance and sale of the Grocer and the goodnes of the thing garbelled for the health of the people of this realme vpon the which ordinances the Art of garbelling was pronounced to consist it being an habite of working according to right reason and mechanicall or a handicraft the full knowledge whereof was partlie gotten by vse at that time by Richard Hackdie and William Aunsell Citizens and partly by instructions and reason taught shewed by the marchants and Grocers then being and was left to the execution of the said persons the officers aforsaid the which aduises aswel of the said Marchants Grocers and of the saide officers are thus sette foorth 1 The deuisions of Spices by the sayde parties are particularlie set downe 2 The same to be at no time altered Chap. 2. FOrsomuch as euery thing hath his natural proper and inward corruption of which it is eaten and at the last consumeth and beginneth to spread it self in the best part to mar all as rottenesse in spices is their proper euill And for that also the same spices are also subiecte as all other thinges are to accidents and thereby also may be destroied before their naturall ouerthrow as bruses water dust and age in spices Therfore for the auoiding and curing of such naturall corruption when it hapneth thorowly to meet with all such hurtfull accidents to such spices being aliments and nutrimentes to restore and preserue the health of man or to preuent some infirmitie and diseases ready to ouerthrow their good estate We say they as skilfull physitions preuenting diseases and labouring in forseene mischiefs according to the causes wheron the effects of such corruption doo depend haue ordained these deuisions to be obserued in the setting forth those spices with their qualities by way of garbelling and first of Nutmegges The operation whereof we meane not to set foorth being no part of our charge onely for the deuiding of the good from the badde wee holde it necessarie that they bee deuided into three sorts The first the best we cal case nutmegs the which are smooth waightie faire fullof oile The second sort we call Bale the which are also faire and great but somewhat wrinkled and heere and there oile in them and declining to corruption The third and last sort we terme Rompes so termed being wrinkled brused ill coloured and do want their oile and therby are become drie or rotten The which sorts to be so seuerallie put vp Pepper If the same by some accident shall receiue wet or otherwise be euill conditioned wee thinke it meete to be sorted by it selfe and to be kept from the drie Both which to be garbelled and clensed from the dust and corrupt pepper and to be vttered in one sort in such manner as the same dooth arise from the place it came and notwithdrawing the head sort of pepper from the small Maces and Cynamon We holde it best to garbell and clense them into three sorts to wit Lardge middle petit Ginger Gaules Rise and Erreus That the same shal passe into two sorts viz Lardge and petit Cloues Graines Woormseed Anniseed Comminseed Dates Senie and all other things garbellable We likewise think it best to garble and clense them into one good sort from the dust and garbels according to the nature of the thing it self 1 The proofe that those deuisions were by thē so appointed to be made and kept 2 That the L. Maior and comminalty by two seuerall acts of Common counsell haue allowed the same 3 That the Garbeller therby is excluded to make lawes by himself therein or to alter the same 4 That the common people haue receiued the same as a custome and doo in euery faire and market procure troubles for putting spices to sale garbelled to the contrarie Chap. 3. FOr the approouing of which Deuisions besides the antient remembrance therof lefte with Maister Blaze Saunders late garbellor the same may plainelie appeere in this That in Flaunders Marchantes before then and long since brought from Antwerp Brudges and Roane their Nutmegs and other spices in such condition and sorts as is beforesaid with a seale of the figure of the right hand vppon euery vessell or bagge of case nutmegs and other spices in such condition and sortes as is aforesaid And on their baile Nutmegs a hand with a barre ouerthwart and the other sort without marke And in such sorts the same were bought and sold as by an acte of Common councell holden by your predecessors it may appeare in Anno. 4. of K. Henry the viii To the which deuisions the Marchant Retailor and Garbeller say they shall hold themselues contented without alteration vnlesse there shall bee cause of correction of those sorts vppon search of them by the Garbellor in London as also by another act of Common counsell made in An. 18. of K. Henry the eight it is set foorth the which may appeare at the end of this present discourse The filth and dust of which said spices were helde vnwholsome and not vendible but to be reiected as vnseruiceable your predecessors then were mooued with those reasons to allowe and confirme those deuisions as reasonable and full of equitie betweene the marchant and the retailors and were desirous that the same shuld also remaine and abide for the auoiding of deceipt or losse of the common people who haue in such measure noted and felt the benefite of the said deuisions that now in open faires and places corporate they doo daielie procure the spices sorted to the contrarie to be seysed on as goodes forfeited and not garbelled as they ought to bee to the great trouble of the retaylors and notable detriment Vppon these and such like beginnings and by the acts of Common councell ensuing the facte of garbelling hath had continuance vntill now of late that
vicessimo septimo die Februarii An. Regni Regis Henrici Octaui xviii in presentia Adermen Thome Seymer Mil Maioris Iohannis Baker Recordatoris Gulihelm Butler Millit Thome Exmew Millit Iohannis mundi Millit Thome Bauldry Millit Iohannis Allin Millit Iacobi Spencer Michaelis English Iohannis Rudstone Radulphi Doder Iohannis Hardy Christopheri Ascue Stephani Peacock Nicholai Lambert Vicecomites ciuit eiusd c. AT this Common councell the Garbeller of spices exhibited a bill concerning the garbelling of certain spices other things which then there was openly red and well vnderstood and therevpon agreed and granted that it shoulde bee entered of recorde as it is and so to bee continued adding therevnto this cause of prouiso Prouided alwaies that all such bagges of pepper being of the waight of two C. or aboue that ought to be garbelled and beeing marked with the marke of the hand of Antwerpe vpon the opening thereof by the garbeller or his deputie be found well and truely garbelled and no refuse or garbel in effect therin found aboue the waight of one pound and a halfe that then and so often the saide garbeller or his deputie shall nothing aske or require by reason of his said office of the owner of any of the said bags for opening of the same And if any thinge bee misordered by the said Garbeller or his deputy by reason of any partialitie or othetwise in executing of the saide office that then the reformation thereof and also the penalties to be laid vpon the garbeller or his deputie to be doone from time to time by the good discretions of the maior and Aldermen for the time beeing c. To the right Honorable Lord the lord Mayor of this Cittie of London and the Worshipfull Aldermen his brethren and to the descreet commons of this present Common counsell assembled IN full humble wise sheweth vnto your good Lordship and masterships your Suppliant Citizen Robert Cooper garbeller That whereas by Act of Common councell holden the xvii day of September in the 4. yeere of the raigne of our most dread Soueraigne Lord that nowe is K. Henry the eight it was enacted That all manner of spices drugges and other marchandize after that time to be brought and conueyed from the parts of Flaunders into this realme of Englande marked with the marke of Antwerp or Brudges called the right hand should not by the Garbeller be garbelled heere forsomuch as it was then supposed that all manner of spices drugs and other marchandize that did bring the saide marke verye trulie garbelled and clensed by colour whereof diuers sundry marchants sithence that time hitherto haue vsed to bring and conuey and yet daiely doo from the said parts into this Realme and Cittie of London great substance of spices drugges and other marchandize bearing the said mark of the hand and the same heere put to sale with spices drugs marchandize notwithstanding the said marking being heere found ful of dust fusses filthes and other garbell not onelye to the great deceite and losse of the Kinges liege people of all degrees eating and vsing the same in meates and drinkes and otherwise and besides that manie great complaintes rumors and exclamations haue therevpon ensued by a great number of personnes which haue founde themselues agreeued in that behalfe Wherefore it hath pleased my L. Maior and my masters his Brethren knowing the kings most high plesure in that behalfe at a court of Aldermen to admit authorise your saide suppliant vnto the saide office of garbelling giuing him in commandment to garbel and clense al maner of spices drugs and marchandise which ought to be garbelled aswell those that be marked with the said marke of the right hand as all other vnmarked or otherwise marked according to which authoritie and commandment your said supp and officer hath taken vpon him to garbell and hath garbelled amongst other all such diuers sundry spices drugs other marchandise marked with the said marke of the right hande and foūd in them great quantities of dust filth and garbell which he hath heer in Guildhal redy to be shewed Pleseth it therfore your good Land masterships the said deceipts and other the premises tenderlye considered to inact ordeine and stablish nowe at this Common councel by the authoritie of the same that your said suppliant and Garbeller and all other succeeding in that roome within this Cittie may and shal haue all power and authoritie from henceforth duelie truelye and indifferentlie from time to time to garbell and clense all manner of spices drugs and other marchandize the particular names whereof heereafter ensue as well such and as many of them as bee marked with the marke of the said hande as all other beeing otherwise marked or vnmarked That is to say Pepper Ginger Cloues Maces Nutmegges Woormseed Galingall Goome Setwall Cynamon Long pepper Spignard Graines Cominseeds Anniseeds Frankinsence Senie Cassiae Fistula Almonds Morriswax Gawles Coliandersced Bayberries Dates Rise Masticke Turmerick Orris Stauesacre Orchall and Littmus And moreouer to enact and stablishe that no marchant or marchants Freeman or foriner inhabiting within this Cittie or suburbs of the same nee anye marchant stranger from hencefoorth take vpon him or them nor any other for them or in their names or in the name of any of them to vtter or sell ingrose or retayle within this Cittie of London any manner spices drugs or other marchandize aforenamed before that it bee garbelled tried and made cleane by the saide garbeller or his deputie or deputies for the time being and sealed with the seale of the said office as of olde time accustomed whereby it shall or may euidentlie appeer to the buiers thereof good cleane perfect and wholesome as well for mans bodie as otherwise to be vsed vpon forfeiture of losing of all such spices drugs and other marchandize so sould vngarbelled and vnclensed or to the value therof to the vse of the Comminaltie of the Cittie and for euery hundred waight or bags of Spices drugs or other marchandize bought and sold contrarie to this ordinance the seller and buier thereof shall forfeit and pay at euery time that they so offend forty shillings equallie betweene them to be borne and paied and the same money to bee deuided into three partes that is to say the one part thereof to the vse of the Mayor and comminaltie of this Cittie The secònd part to the wardens and fellowship of Grocers and the thirde parte to the taker that first shall take and seize any such spices drugs or other marchandize bought or sold contrarie to this ordinance And moreouer be it enacted and established by the authoritie of this Common councell that it shall be lawfull for euery person or persons vpon due proofe therof made if any forfeit or forfeitures as dooth appeere aboue rehearsed for to bee recouered againste euery manner of person or persons so offending by action of debt and that it shall not
bee lawfull for the partie defendant in no wise to wage the lawe wherby the partie plaintife shall or may loase his sute nor yet no protection allowed in that behalfe Prouided alwaies in that behalfe and bee it further enacted that the Garbeller his deputie and deputies for the time being shall take beare and carrie awaye and towardes him or them to reteine all manner of garbell and garbels as dust fusses and other filth that hee or they at any time heereafter shall happen to garbell trie and clense out of all and euery manner drugs and other marchandize to the intent and purpose that no person shall eftsoones put mix or intermeddle the said garbell into or with any manner of spices drugs or other marchandize in auoiding and eschewing the great slaunder and rebukes that by occasion of such intermedling might growe and redound vnto your saide officer his deputie or deputies beeing thereof giltlesse and innocent And that the owner of all such dust fusses and other filthe shall finde and prouide a bagge or bagges to bestowe and put in the same garbelles and other filthe and thereof shall take the iuste and true waight the saide Garbeller his deputie or deputies shall marke vpon the said bagge or bagges and theron the owner shall set on his seale and the sayd bagge or bagges so waied marked and sealed the said Garbeller his deputie or deputies for the time beeing shall immediatlie at the costes of the saide owner carrie and conuey to the Guildhall in London there to remaine in sure keeping vnder the keyes of the saide Garbeller and of the controller of the chamber of London vnto suche time as the owner of euerye such garbell and garbels shall make and deliuer vnto one of the said two officers or to their deputies a bill obligatorie wherein they shall stand bounde vnto the chamberlaine of London for the time being in such somme of monie as by one of the said two officers shall be thoght good and reasonable that the same owner shal conuey or cause to bee conueyed the saide garbell and garbelles vnto the parts of beyond the seas by a certaine daye to bee limitted by the saide two officers or one of them and that the owner thereof shall pay for housroome and keping of euery such bagge one halfe pennie euery weeke as longe and by all the time thar hee shall suffer any such bagge to lie and remaine Prouided also that if the owner or owners of anye such bagge or bagges of garbell suffer the same to be and continue in the saide Guild-hall ouer and aboue the space of nine moneths that then the said bagge or bagges with the garbell to be and remaine there still as goodes forfeited and confiscate to the vse of the comminaltie of the Cittie of London And that the Maior of the same citty for the time being within a moneth then next ensuing shal appoint and prouide for the sure conueieng thereof vnto the partes of beyond the seas ther to be sold to the most aduantage and the money comminge of the sale to be deliuered to the chamberlaine of London for the time being to the vse of the common weale of the said Cittie and all suche garbell dust fusses and other filth which is tried and clensed as is aforesaid and beeing of no value nor substance shall bee conueied into Cheape or into some other conuenient place within this Cittie at the pleasure and commandement of the Mayor for the time being and there to be openly burnt in the sight of the people so that they maye well see and perceiue the good order and iustice truelie executed in that behalfe The Rates and prises what the garbeller shall take for garbelling all manner of Spices and other things that ought to be garbelled rated and prised the xiii of August Anno 1526. by the wardens of the grocers in london and the sociates as heereafter dooth ensue The rate of the Maiestrates The exaction of the garbeller Pepper from by south the C. 6 d. xii d. Pepper and Ginger with the marke of Antwerp or Brudges if it need to bee garbled the C. 4. d 6. d Cloues not cleane that need to be picked by hand the pound is 2. d.  The rate of the Maiestrates The exaction of the garbeller Mases not garbled the C. waight 2. ◠8. d. 4. s. Wormeseed the li. 2. d  Nutmegs the hundred 12. d 2. s. 8. d Gallingall the C x d.  Setwall the C 12 d  Synamon the C. 16 d 2. s. 8 d Long pepper the C 16 d  Spignard the C 2 s.  Graines the C 6 d 8. d Almonds the C 6 d 8. d Ryse the C 4 d 8. d Anniseedes the C 6 d 12. d Comminseed the C 6 d 8. d Gawles the C 6 d 8. d Moreswax the C 4 d  Senie the C 3. s 4 d 4 s. Cassia fistula the C 2 s.  Colianders seed the C 5 d 8 d Gum arabeck the C 4 d 8. d Bayberies the C 2 d 4. d Dates the C 6 d 12 d Turmerick the C 4 d 8 d Orchall the C 6 d  Litmus the C 3 d  Mastick the C 6 d  Frankensence the C. 12 d  Orris the C 6 d 8. d Staues acre the C 6 d 8. d But all manner of wares wet with water rotten or brused wherein there is much labor and long time that then as the marchant and the officer can agree for the dooing thereof and if they cannot agree that then the wardens of the Grocers for the time beeing to bee indifferent iudges betweene them Commune Consilium tent apud Guildhall Ciuitatis London desimo septimo die Iunii Anno. Regni Edwardi Sexti secundo Coram Iohanne Gresham Mil. Maioris Adermen Robarto Brooke Ar. Recordatoris Randolpho Warren Millit Gulihelmo laxton Martino Bowes Iohanne Tolis  Iohanne Wilford  Andrea Iud.  Georgio Barne  Gulielmo Locke  Augustino Hinde  Richardo Turke  Henriccho goodier  Iohanne lyon  Iohanne ambert  Gulihelmo garrerd  Thome White Robarto Chartsey Vicecomites ciuit eiusd c. Ac maiore parte Comunitatis Comūis consilii ciuitatis predict existente ALso at this court a bill was deuised and drawne by the learned councell of this Cittie by the commandement and assente of the Lorde Mayor and Aldermen of the same cittie for and concerning the garbelling and cleansing of all such spices drugs wares and marchandise as heeretofore haue vsed or ought to be garbelled or clensed within the said cittie and the lyberties thereof was redde and by the commons presentlie assembled wel and ripelie conceiued and vnderstand and because the same and the matter therin contained vnto them to be good consonant vnto reason and profitable for the common-weale for all our said souereigne lord the kings subiects It was therefore ordained enacted and established by the said lord maior and Aldermen and commons in the said
marchandize being of the cleere value of x. pound and vpwards before they or any of them shall be garbled and sealed by the common garbeller or by his deputie or deputies as is aforesaid contrarie to the tenor true meaning and effect of this present act or of the saide former act That then euery such offender and offenders shall forfeit for euery such bag chest vessell parcell and remnant of the spices drugs and Marchandize ten pound sterling and not aboue and for euerye bagge chest vessell parcell or remnant of spices drugges and Marchandize being vnder the vallue of ten pound to forfaite such paine and penaltie for the same as is conteined in the saide former Act mentioned or conteined to the contrarye notwithstanding And further be it ordained and enacted by the said aucthoritie That if anye person or persons at any time heereafter do mingle or mix or intermeddle any manner of kind part or parcell of garbell or garbels of the spices drugges or Marchandize aforesaid to the cleane spices drugs or marchandize after that the same spices drugs marchandise or any of them haue beene clensed and garbelled by the common garbeller or by his deputie or deputies to the intent to deceiue any of the kinges liedge people therewith that then euery such offender offenders shall cleerelie lose and forfeit al such spices drugges and marchandise so mixed or mingled and forty shillinges more for euerie such offence to the vses and intents heervnder expressed Prouided also and be it enacted by the aucthoritie aforesaid That if anie maner of person or persons at any time heereafter doo conuey or bring or cause to bee conueyed or to bee brought to the said Cittie or the liberties therof any manner of garbell or garbels of anie of the said spices drugges or Marchandise by it selfe from any of the partes of beyond the seas to the intent to vtter or fell the same within the said Cittie or liberties therof That all euery person or persons so offending shall forfeit and lose all the said garbell and garbels and also ten pound sterling for euery time so dooing and to be employed and deuided as heereafter shal be declared Prouided also and be it enacted that all and euery the forfeitures paines and penalties aswel of spices drugges and marchandize as of the sommes of money aboue mentioned and expressed within this present Acte or within the said former Act before in and by this present act or within the said former act before remembred confirmed shall at all times from hense forwarde bee recouered by action of debt bill plaint or information to be commensed within any of our said Soueraigne Lord the Kinges Courts within the said Citty of London in the name of the Chamberlaine of the same Citty of London for the time being wherein none essoigne or wager of law shal be admitted and shall be emploied distributed and bestowed as heereafter is and shall be appointed and declared That is to say the one moitie or halfe deale of euery fuch paine penaltie and forfeiture to be to the vse of the taker and presenter of the offender and offenders and the other moitie to be and remaine to the vse of the poore for the time being maintained and relieued in the new Hospitall in West-smithfielde in the suburbs of the said citty And also prouided and be it enacted that it shalbe lawfull at all times hereafter to and for the Lord Maior and aldermen of the of the said cittie for the time beeing to cause by their discretions all such garbell of the said spices drugs and marchandize as at anie time herafter shall be brought vnto the Guild-hall aforesaid according to the tenor forme and effect of the said former act made in the 18. yeare of the raigne of our said late King which may be lawfullie and conueniently conueied and put to anie good and reasonable vse and occupation to bee retained vttered solde and spent by it selfe vvithin the said cittie and elsewhere within the realme of England anie thing vvithin the same former act or anie other act or ordinance mentioned or contained to the contrarie in aniwise notvvithstanding And also be it enacted and ordained by the aucthoritie aforesaid that in case anie person or persons at anie time hereafter doe or shal refuse or deny trulie to content or pay to the said garbeller for the time being or to his sufficient deputie or deputies by the lavves and ordinances afore remembred shall be due and belong as it hath beene accustomed for the garbelling and sealing of anie of the said spices drugs and marchandize vvhen and assoone as the same shall be so garbelled sealed that then it shalbe lawfull for the said Garbeller his deputie or deputies immediatlie to plucke of and to take away euery such seale so by him or them before put to the same spices drugs and marchandize that then and from thensefoorth the said spices drugs and marchandise and euery parcel therof shall be taken deemed and adiudged as not garbelled clensed or sealed but remaine and stande vnder the danger and penaltie aboue in this present act mentioned and expressed anie thing in the same act comprised to the contrary notwithstanding Prouided also and bee it enacted by the aucthoritie aforesaid that if at any time heerafter any of the said spices drugs wares or marchandise which ought to be garbelled and cleansed as is aforesaid be found so full of stones so wet with water rotten brused worme eaten or otherwise full of filthines and vncleane that they cannot be garbled and clensed as is aforesaid in suche reasonable and conuenient time and space as other drugs spices and marchandise of like kinds and sortes for the most part may bee That then it shall be in the ellection of the saide Garbeller his deputie or deputies for the time being to haue the fee therefore vsed and accustomed or else to haue and take for euery such person as shall worke about euery such Garbelling for euery whole daies worke after the rate of viii d. by the daie The oath of the common Garbeller YOu shall sweare that you shall well and lawefullie behaue you in the office of Garbeller within the cittie of London without any fauor or partialitie shewing to anie person taking reasonablie for your labour And all the powder or order within the Bales and of marchandize by you to be garbelled wholelie yee shall bringe or deliuer to the Chamberlaine of this Cittie for the time beeing to the intent that the said powder or order after that shal not be mingled in any such marchandize And after that you haue garbled any bale or marchandize you shall marke and signe the same bale by you garbled with a marke to the intent that the Common weigher may haue knowledge thereof And in this and in all other thinges that to the office of Garbeller apperteineth you shall well and truelie behaue your selfe as God you helpe FINIS An Appendix declaring