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Oct. 1.
Westminster. |
60. William Lord Knollys to Sir Thos. Lake. Cause a privy
seal to be drawn for 6,000l. to Sir Henry Cock, cofferer of the
household, towards defraying the charges of the Prince's household
for the half year beginning 1 Oct. 1608. [¼ page, damaged.] |
Oct. 10.
Westminster. |
61. Warrant to Lord Stanhope, treasurer of the chamber, to pay
4d. a day and 40s. yearly for a livery to Henry Barry, appointed
mole taker at St. James' park and gardens, and at Westminster,
Greenwich, Richmond, Hampton, Court, &c. [1 page, copy, certified
by J. Lambert.] |
| [Oct. 21.] |
62. Statement by —— [to Council ?]. The substance of the
former petition, viz.: 1. A term of 31 years to be granted them at
100l. rent. 2. The sole venting and making of the fixing stuff,
and the dyeing and finishing of true wearing colours in logwood,
non obstante any law, so as they be finished with the fixing stuff
according to prescription. 3. A peculiar leaden mark. 4. Such
dyers as shall use truth to be freed from further tax. |
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Upon this the Council sent letters to the Lord Mayor and
Recorder, requiring them, to call the dyers and drapers before them,
and after examining them, to certify what they found. They
certified. 1. That the dyers disclaimed the use of any logwood,
yet the contrary was proved. 2. A performance by the petitioners
of what was contained in the petition. 3. That logwood bettered
the dyeing, and that much good to the Commonwealth would result
therefrom, if it be provided that the patent shall continue no longer
than the contents of the petition are performed. |
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We now ask, 1st. Liberty for the sole making and finding of the
fixing stuff to such dyers as dye with logwood, and will be deputed
assignees to use the said stuff herewith, according to the following
prescriptions; upon good grounds of woad or madder or both, to
take 18d. for a broad cloth or bay, and 9d. a narrow cloth, kersey,
say, cotton, or stuff, in lieu of finding the fixing stuff which shall
make the colours permanent, and to answer the moiety hereof upon
account to His Majesty. |
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2. If this course is not pursued, the dyers would after a while
reject any grant that could be made; for men of art, after sometime
using the said stuff, will find out the way of making it, and so not
only frustrate our hopes, but so enable themselves that it will be
very hard to detect those using logwood. |
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To have deputies with liberty to enter, view, and try all colours
suspected to be dyed in logwood, and if such cloths, &c. be perfectly
dyed, according to the grant desired, to annex a peculiar seal of
lead, whereon shall be imprinted the word logwood; and if the cloths
be found otherwise than is prescribed, to seize them to His Majesty's
use, and rent off one of the lists, and one moiety thereof to be given
those that seize and approve the same. |
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Lastly, that order be taken in the King's Bench and Exchequer,
that no composition be made for offences contrary to the laws, and
that no informer be permitted to defraud the true meaning hereof,
for 31 years. |
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Our further reasons are, 1. The dyers denied that they used logwood, yet the contrary was found by cloths shown under their seals;
and they also with like impudency presisted before the commissioners
for suits. |
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2. They enter in their books fustic instead of logwood, and more
is so entered in one month than there is in the Customs' books in a
year. |
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3. At the relation of one Hunt, an informer, almost all the Dyers'
Company are, with their consent, informed against in the Exchequer,
by which combination the suits are renewed and continued from
term to term, every one of the dyers paying Hunt 4l. as an annual
rent; and for further proof, Hunt offered to some of the Dyers'
Company the like kindness, alleging they should pay him no more
quarterly than the Masters of the company did, which was 20s. a
quarter, which they did. |
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4. The Dyers' Company would have given way to any request in
the petition but one, that is the seal, which we craved privilege for,
to notify the truth of our intention; but the dyers will not condescend to any seal, as they would be abridged of their daily
deceits, and prejudice the merchants, drapers, and all others that
buy false coloured cloths to transport. If such a seal should
be, every man may by the seals discern the difference, and so
not be over-reached in the goodness of the dye and price as they
have been; but if the dyers desist the use of logwood, which
many will do, as their falsehoods will be discovered, it would
advantage His Majesty much more in his customs, by the importation of madder, woad, cochineal, &c. [1 sheet. See Calendar,
21 Oct. 1608.] |
