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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
parliament_n	army_n	city_n	london_n	3,465	5	7.2357	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65092	Two petitions of Thomas Violet of London goldsmith, to the Kings Majestie I. Seting forth the great abuses practised by the makers of gold and silver thread, wire, lace, to the great waste of the stock and treasure of the kingdome, in culling and melting down the heavy currant silver. II. One hundred & twelve several parcels of course and adulterate silver lace, ... Mr. Alexander Jackson, who is sworne assay-maker at Goldsmiths Hall, ... III. Ten several heads or branches certified by the Committee of Trade the 17th of June 1657. seting forth the several abuses in making gold and silver lace, wire, and thread; ... IV. Thomas Violet's petition to the Right Honourable, several Lords of the Privy Council, who are appointed a committee for the removing the obstructions of the mint, ...to present to your Lordships such rules, orders, and instructions for the due vending, and uttering of the said manufactures, ... for the ends expressed.	Violet, Thomas, fl. 1634-1662.	1661 (1661)	Wing V594A; ESTC R222530	22,825	26

for doing the same in the summe of fifteen hundred pounds to have this course taken We hold it very fit and necessary for the prevention of all the aforesaid abuses now put on this Commonwealth And the undertaker ought to have all encouragement in this businesse being a considerable service done to the Nation most especially to such as wear gold and silver lace All which we submit 16. June 1667. This is a true Copy of the several Votes of the Sub-Committee to whom the Petition of Mr. Thomas Violet was referred Which Votes were signed by Mr. Dunce Mr. Moody and Mr. Clark John Martin Clark to the Committee for Trade To the Right Honourable the PARLIAMENT of England c. The humble Petition of Thomas Violet Humbly Sheweth THat your Petitioner represented the 1. April 1650. unto the Parlament then sitting that daily great quantities of heavy currant Silver Coines of this Nation were melted down for the making Gold and Silver Wyer Lace Thread Ribbons Spangles c. to the great wast of the stock of the Nation by which evil practises many mischiefs cheats and damages are intruded upon this Common-wealth which ought strictly to be prevented and most especially in this conjuncture of time having war● with Spain and the springs of Silver which used to flow in to us by Trade now stopped That great quantities of Gold and Silver Thread and Lace is slightly and unduely wrought to the great deceit of those that weare the same as your Petitioner hath proved in many particulars to the late Committee of Parliament for Trade to whom that businesse was referred And they upon many daies Examination and full hearing of all parties as by their Certificate of the Committee of Trade hereunto annexed may more fully appear have certified the daily great abuses by the false and deceitful making Gold and Silver Thread and Wyer the wearers being daily cozened both in putting into their Silver Thread a slight proportion of Silver to silk whereas they should make good silver Thread to containe six ounces fine silver and two ounces of silk to one pound Venice of Silver Thread and five ounces fine silver and three ounces of silk to the slightest Silver Thread that ought to be made Now great quantities of Gold and Silver Thread and Lace is dayly sould which containes five ounces Silk to three ounces Silver and four ounces Silver to four ounces silk and many times this Silver Lace is not onely slightly and deceitfully made with a lesse proportion of silver to silk then it ought to be but also is made under sterling silver being mixed with Copper and the silk false and deceitfully dyed which makes the Lace turne black and tarnish and spoiles the Garment of all persons that weare the same assoon as any wet or aire comes to the Lace Your Petitioner the last Parliament in June anno 1657. produced Mr. Alexander Jackson the sworne Assay-Master of Goldsmiths Hall before the Committee for Trade who being examined confessed that at one time in the compasse of a few weeks he made Assay of above one hundred several parcels of Gold and Silver Lace Thread Spangles Wyer which was bought up in several Shops in London and brought to him by your Petitioner and others all which silver Manufactures was sould for good Silver and upon the Assaies every several parsel was found course and adultrate under the Standard as is attested under the hand of Mr. Alexander Jackson sworne Assay-Master for the Company of Goldsmiths which Certificate your Petitioner hath ready to be produced for your Honours view It is certified by the Committee of Trade 16. June 1657. that they find it affirmed to them by several Artists that by the slight making of Gold and Silver Thread and Lace there is above thirty thousand pounds a year wasted and spent in this Nation which by a due regulation of enjoyning all persons to put at least five ounces fine silver to the pound Venice this Treasure would all be saved in the stock of this Nation and the Lace will last four times as long as it now doth and not turne black and the silver return all to the melting Pot for great quantities of Silver Lace that is now sould the buyers are cozened both in the finenesse of the silver being mixed with Copper under Sterling or paying for silver when they buy silk heavy dyed having many times a third part silk more then ought to be put into the silver Thread were it duely made according to the former Rules 1635. to 1641. The late Sub-Committee for Trade made so large a progresse into this businesse finding it to be of great concernment spent many daies to finish their Report and have certified the several frauds practised in the making all these Manufactures of Gold and Silver Wyer Thread c. And have set down Waies and Rules for the preventing the like abuses for the future Your Petitioners most humble prayer is that this High Court would be pleased to finish so good a work and perfect the Regulation of this Manufacture for the future and that a Law be made that none of the currant silver Coines be hereafter melted for the making any of these Manufactures that no Gold or Silver in Wyer or Lace be put to saile under Sterling that no Gold or Silver Thread hold or containe lesse silver then five ounces silver to be at the least Sterling upon severe penalties besides the defaceing of the Materials And that your Petitioner be commanded by the Parliament to see to the due Execution and to receive such fees and allowances as he is authorized to take by his Patent under the great Seale of England And your Petitioner shall pray c. This pretended Parliament referred this Petition to a Committee and shortly after were forced and dissolved by the Army The Rump Parliament succeeded them and promised to reforme these abuses but did nothing but promise and delay His MAJESTY returning for England upon whose blessed arival your Petitioner made this following Petition and had this gracious Reference to the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury The original Petition is in the custody of Sir Philip Warwick and followes viz. TO THE KINGS Most Excellent MAJESTY The humble Petition of Thomas Violet of London Goldsmith Humbly sheweth THat your Petitioner being commanded by your Majesties Royal Father in 1643. to bring up his gracious letter to his City of London directed to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and all other his well affected Subjects of that City which letter your Petitioner did bring up to London and was for so doing committed to the Tower by order of Parliament where he remained four yeares and for 928 dayes of that time kept close prisoner in a dismal place little better than a Dungeon in which time of confinement your Petitioner expended above 700 l. and the Parliament sequestred your Petitioner of all his estate they could finger to the value of 11000 l. and

them at your Honours feet and though they may not please the Wiredrawers yet I am sure they be for his Majesties service It is true there is twenty thousand souls in London live and have dependance on this Manufacture and that made King James and King Charles suffer this Manufacture to be made here 2. My good Lords it is worthy of consideration the great damage his Majesty sustains in the losse of his Customes the losse and prejudice of his Majesties Mint by suffering the Silver after it is imported into this Kingdome to be made into Silver Lace c. to be diverted from Coyn which would pay a duty of coynage and augment the stock of the Kingdome which is now converted into this Manufacture the valew imployed in Gold and Silver yearly is about one hundred thousand pounds a year in Gold and Silver Lace Wire c. which was it converted into Coine every year and so passed between men would drive a million for commodities a year in Trade to the great improvement of the Kingdome by Commerce and Trade 3. That upon calculation it will be found the King in point of Customes and other Profits loses above ten thousand pounds a year by suffering this Manufacture to be made in England as will appear upon calculation of his Majesties Book of Rates of his Customes 4. That at this day there is no Excise laid on this Commodity which under favour humbly submitting to your great wisdomes is a Commodity may bear an Excise as well and better than almost any thing in the Kingdome gold and silver Lace is a superfluity and it is the wearers payes the Excise not the Silkmen Wiredrawers or other Tradesmen this Trade his Majesty doth allow in favour of the poor women Spinners and other poor people that are above twenty thousand souls who only have their livelyhood from this Manufacture or else for the reasons aforesaid it would not be allowed to be wrought in England 5. Therefore my humble Petition to your Lordships is in regard your Lordships are of the Committee for the removing the obstructions of the Mint that your Lordships settle such an Excise on this Manufacture at the least two pence the Ounce being so much as his Majesty loseth in the coynage of the same to be approved and confirmed by the Parliament for and towards his Majesties losse in His Customes and in his Coynage by suffering this Manufacture to be wrought in England 6. That your Lordship would Order for the future that no inferiour persons as Servants Maids and other mechanick People shall weare gold or silver Lace it being an abuse to persons of honour men and women to have mechanick People and Servants to weare Gold and Silver Lace 7. That your Lordships would be pleased for the service of his Majesty and good of all the wearers of gold and silver Lace which are the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdome to require the Company of Goldsmiths to consider of such waies and means as they can adde or alter either out of the former Regulation setled by his Majesty 1635. or out of their own knowledg and experience by any other Way or Rules and to use all speed they can therein 8. The Company of Goldsmiths have declared to me before a Court of Assistants that they know there is many abuses in this Trade and if they be required from his Majesty or your Lordships of the Privy Council they would be very ready and willing humbly to consider of such Waies for the prevention of these abuses for the future and upon your Lordships approbation ot alteration of what they shall propound that those Orders and Rules agreed upon by your Honours for the Regulating of this Trade may be recommended by his Maiesty to be confirmed by Parliament and this will be a certain way to prevent these abuses for the future when the restraints and punishments shall be setled by Act of Parliament And so as in duty bound your Petitioner shall daily pray THat after ages and all true Englishmen may see the cruel oppression I sufferd under for being faithful to his sacred Majesty King Charles the first for bringing up to London from Oxford to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London by his Majesties especial command to me 1643. this his Majesties letter which was as followeth To our Trusty and welbeloved Our Lord Mayor and Aldermen of Our City of London and all other our well affected Subjects of that Ctiy C. R. TRusty and welbeloved We great you well When we remember the many acts of grace and favour We and Our Royal Predecessours have conferred upon that our City of London and the many Examples of eminent dutie and loyalty for which that City hath been likewise famous We are willing to believe notwithstanding the great defection We have found in that place that all men are not so far degenerated from their affection to us and to the peace of the Kingdome as to desire a continuance of the miseries they now feel and therefore being informed that there is a desire in some principal persons of that City to present a Petition to us which may tend to the procuring a good understanding between Vs and that Our City whereby the peace of the whole Kingdome may be procured We have thought fit to let you know That We are ready to receive any such Petition and the persons who shall be appointed to present the same to Vs shall have a safe conduct and you shall assure all Our good Subjects of that Our City whose hearts are touched with any sense of duty to Vs or of Love to the Religion and Lawes established in the quiet and peaceable Fruition whereof they and their Ancestors have enjoyed so great Happinesse That We have neither passed any Act nor made any Profession or Protestation for the maintenance and Defence of the true protestant Religion and the liberties of the Subject which We will not most strictly and Religiously observe and for the which we will not be alwaies ready to give them any security can be desired And of these Our Gracious Letters We expect a speedy Answer from you And so We bid you farewell Given at our Court at Oxford in the 19. year of Our Reign 26. De. 1643. By his Majesties Command George Digbie Thomas Violet POSTSCRIPT LEt any true English man consider of this his Majesties gracious Letter and then remember the bloudy Tragedies that followed for the sins of the Kingdome and every honest man will say the swaying party in that Parliament in Jan. 1643. were great Tyrants and Oppressers or else they would never have kept me in a Dungeon in the Tower 928 dayes and plundered and robbed me to the value of eleven thousand pound for bringing up this Letter from the Kings Majesty from Oxford to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London but he is well kept that God keeps So I have ever just cause to say and praise God for my miraculous deliverance from those bloudy men FINIS

or ought to sware to work no Silver in any Manufacture but sterling nor no Gold in Manufacture under Crown Gold that by the Law all persons offending ought to be Indited and stand in the Pillory and be fined at the Pleasure of the Justices at the Sessions and find Sureties for their good behaviour I caused some of these offendors that made Silver Lace Wire and Thread with a Core of Copper to be set in the Pillory in Cheapside and fined at the Sessions and caused twenty men to run out of the City of London beyond seas for selling Silver Lace mixed with Copper This Sir George Sands knoweth to be true his brother being cozened here in London with a great parcel of Silver Lace mixed with Copper which he paid for as good Silver If your Majestie had not pardoned these Abuses I could set down the particular names and mark them to posterity with a black Impression of both Silkmen Wiredrawers and others with the number of about fifty Shop-keepers who sold these hundred and twelve parcels of course counterfeit Lace Spangles Thread Wire for good Silver and the year and day they did it with good witnesses to prove it which had they their due by the Law they ought to stand in the Pillory and make fine and ransome to your Majestie But I hope for their amendment yet if required I can produce to your Majesties most Honourable Privy Councel their Names with witnesse At the Sub-Committee of Parliament appointed to take into consideration the several petitions of the Refiners of gold and silver the Gold Wyer drawers the Hand-Spinners with the Charie and Spindle and the Wheel spinners and of Thomas Violet of London Goldsmith for the due regulation of the Manufactures of Gold and Silver wyer and thread purle oaes plated wyer spangles and Copper wyer and thread c. to prevent the former abuses practised in the said Manufactures and to prohibit the culling and melting down the currant Silver coynes of this Nation for the future VVE have called before us the Petitioners and have several dayes heard this businesse and upon consideration had we do offer as followeth 1. Forasmuch as it appeared unto us that several great abuses have been and are daily committed in the culling and melting down of the currant silver coynes of this Nation It is therefore offered as our opinion that his and the Parliament take strict order by Proclamation or otherwise to restrain the melting down of the currant coines of this Nation for the making of these Manufactures or any other manufacture whatsoever We have had presented unto us four Proclamations two of them in the time of the late King James his Reign and the other two in the time of the late King Charles which Proclamations we have perused and do find in all of them that the melting down of any of the currant Coines of this Nation is forbidden upon strict penalties to be laid and inflicted upon the offenders 2. It is also our opinion that it would be good and benificial to this Commonwealth if his and the Parliament would be pleased to take order to prevent the daily abuses practised by Artists in the making of these manufactures aforesaid And for the discovering of these frauds for the time to come And for that end and purpose to appoint a sworn Surveyor with a Seal for the sealing of all gold and silver thred and copper thred and to appoint punchion irons to be made to mark all gold and silver wyer that shall be imployed or spent in any the said manufactures And the Surveyor Assayer or Sealer to put in good security to his in the Exchequer in the sum of 1500 l. to warrant all the manufactures sealed surveyed and marked to be good silver and gold according to the standard and well and duely made the silver and gold thred to contain five ounces Troy to a pound weight Venice which is Eight Ounces Troy and one fifth part And that no gold or silver wyer or thread shall be hereafter made and sold under sterling or before the said gold and silver thread or wyer be viewed and sealed or stamped upon pain of forfeiture of the same to his And that strict order and command be given that no person or persons do counterfeit the aforesaid Seal or stamps which are to be appointed by his or the Parliament The late King to prevent the aforesaid abuses in the eleventh year of his reign by Proclamation appointed the Rose crowned to be the seal for sealing this manufacture of gold and silver thred and for the copper gift and silvered thred the seal appointed was the Lion crowned 3. We offer it as our opinion that all gold and silver thread which shall be hereafter made shall hold a due proportion of silver to silk viz. no gold or silver thread be for the time to come made under five ounces Troy of sterling silver to a pound weight Venice upon pain of forfeiture of all the aforesaid manufactures which shall not be wrought according to the aforesaid rule But every work-master and other persons whomsoever are allowed to put in as much more silver as he or they please And this rule being duely observed will prevent all slight making of gold and silver thread which will save the State in the Bullion of this Nation many thousand pounds a year which is now brushed and blown away and comes to nothing 4. We offer it as our opinion that the Office of Surveyor Sealer or Assayer may be in one person to be responsable to the Common-wealth for all abuses in sealing sleight and adulterate silver thread or marking course silver Wyer under Sterling to avoid putting and posting off one from another the abuses when they are found either of course silver wyer or of course gold or silver thread made under Sterling or not justly made with five ounces of silver Troy weight to a pound Venice That so the office being in one person all persons wronged may know certainly where and to whom they may come for their remedy for all silver thread that is sealed or silver wyer marked or stamped in the office which shall be found course and adulterate or under Sterling the officer to be bound to make it good and pay the damage 5. That the Sealers or Surveyers shall cause all the silver imployed for these manufactures to be duely assayed in the Barr or Ingot or in the hanck of wyer and that true Registers and Entries be kept of the same both of the quantity and finenesse of every bar of silver or hanck of Wyer disgrossed for these manufactures And that the State may have a just account what silver is spent in this manufacture yearly to that end all Barrs and Disgrossing Irons be brought to one place as the late King by his Proclamation settled this manufacture in the eleventh year of his reign 6. That all gold and silver thread shall be made up in skeynes and not on