Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/308

232 ON THE ASSAY MARKS ON GOLD AND SILVER PLATE. the King and his council, they should set thereon the King's mark, and then the worker his mark, for which he will answer. That no goldsmith take for silver work but 18d. for the lb. of 2 marks, as in Paris. That no worker in silver should meddle with gilding, and no gilder work in silver. A.D. 1379, 2nd Richard II., No. 30. — In the Rolls of Parliament of this date are found the following ordinances : — " Because the gold and silver which is worked by goldsmiths in England is oftentimes found less fine than it ought to be, because the goldsmiths are themselves the judges, be it ordained henceforth that each goldsmith should have his own mark upon his work ; and that the Assay of the touch be to the Mayors and Governors of the Cities and Boroughs, with the aid of the Master of the Mint, if there be one, putting the mark of the City or Borough where it is assa^'Cd." " Item : it is ordained that each goldsmith of England have his own mark for himself; and if any vessel which is made be found within the realm after the Nativity of St. John next coming, not marked with the mark of the goldsmith who made it, or if it be of worse alloy than sterling, then the same goldsmith shall pay to the party complaining double the value of the same vessel, and be imprisoned, and pay a fine, according to the quantity and quality of the trespass. And our Lord the King shall appoint whom it shall please him to make the Assay, as well in London as elsewhere, as often as it shall be neces- sary ; and after the Assay made to mark the said work with another mark, thereto appointed by our Lord the King. And it is assented that this ordinance shall commence at the said Feast of St. John, and shall last till the next Parliament, to try in the meantime if it be profitable or not." These ordinances are not found in the " Statutes of the Realm," and therefore seem to have been only provisional, and were not confirmed or enacted when Parhament assem- bled. A.D. 1381, 5th Richard IL, cap. 2.— Ordains, "That for the great mischief which the realm suff'ereth, for that gold and silver, as well in mone^, vessel, plate, and jewels, as otlierwise by exchangers, is carried out of the realm, so that in eflcct there is none thereof left, the King enjoins all