Acts Of Parliament Relating To Craftsmen.

othes that they shall not sell their victuals but at certayne pryces : Or if any artificers , woorkemen or labourers do conspire couenaunt or promise together , or make any othes that they shall not make or do their woorkes but at a certayne pryce ancl rate , or shall not enterprise or-take vpon theim to finishe that another hath begon , or shall do but a certayne woorke in a day , or shall

not woorke but at certaine honres and tymes , that then euery person so conspiryng , couenautyug , swearyng or offendyng beyng lawfull y conuict therof by witnesse , confession or otherwyse , shall forfait for the first offence X . pound to the Kynges highnes , and if he haue sufficient to paye thesame , and do also paye thesame within VI . dayes nexte after his conuiccion , or elles shall suffer for the first offence XX . dayes imprisonment , ancl shall onely haue bread and water for his sustinaunce . And for the seconde offence shall forfait XX .

pound to the kyng , if he haue sufficient to paye thesame , and do paye thesame within VI . dayes next after his conuiccion , or elles shal suffer for the second offence punishement of the Pylloury . Ancl for the third offence shall forfaite XL . pound to the kyng , if he haue sufficient to paye thesame , and also do paye thesame within VI . dayes next after his conuiccion , or els shall sit on the Pilloury ancl lose one of his eares , and also shall at all tymes after that , be taken as a man infamousand his saiyngesdepositions or othe not to be

, , credited at any tyme in any matters of iudgement . And if it fortune any suelie eonspiracie , couenaunt or promise to be had and made by any societie , brotherhead or company of any craft , mystery or occupation of the victailers aboue mentioned with the presence or cosent of the more part of them , that then immediatly vpon snche act of conspiracy , couenaunt or promise had or made oner and besydes the particuler punishement before bthis act appointed

y for the offender , their corporation shalbe dissoluedto al intentes , constructions and purposes . And it is further ordayned and enacted "b y thauctoritie aforesayd , that all and synguler Justices of Assyse , Justices of Peace , Maiors , Bailieffes and Stewardes of Letes , at all & euery their sessions , Letes ancl courtes , shall haue full power ancl aucthoritie to inquire , heare and . determine all and singuler

offences committed against this statute , and to punishe or cause to be punished the offender accordyng to the tenouv of this statute . AND it is ordained ancl enacted b y the aucthoritie aforesayd that no person or persones shall at any tyme after the first day of April nexte comyng , interrupt , deny , let or disturbe any Free Mason , Rough Mason , Carpeter , Bricklayer , Playsterer . Joyner , Hardhewer , Sawier , Tyler Pauier , Glasier ,

Lymeburner , Brickmaker , Tylemaker , Plummer , or labourer , borne in this realme , or made Denizen , to worke in any of the sayd craftes in any Citie , Borough , or tonne corporate , with any person or persons that will retaine him or them , albeit thesayd person & persons so retained , or any of them do not inhabite or dwel in the citie , Borough or tonne corporate where he or they shall woorke , nor be free of thesame Citie , Borough or tonne , any statute , lawe

, ordinaunce ,. or other thyng whatsoeuer had or made to the contrary in any wise notwithstandyng : and that vpon paine of forfaiture of V . pound for euery interruption or disturbaunce done contrary to this statute , the one moyte of euery suche forfaiture to be to the kyng , and the other moyte thereof to be to him or them that will sue for thesame in any of the kynges courtes of Recorde , by bill , plaint , action of debt or information , wherein no wager of lawe , essoyne , nor protection shall be allowed .

In the acts passed at a Parliament " holden vpon prorogation at Westminster the iiij . dale of Nouember , in the third yere of the reigue of , & e . & e . Edward the VI . & c . [ 1549 ] continued and kept to the first dale of Februarij , in the iiij . yere of oure saied souereigne lorde , as foloweth . " [ 1549-50 ] . Printed t > 7 Richard Grafton , Febraary , 1549 . Folio xxiij .