Standard of Silver Plate, etc. Act 1696

VIII.

From 25th March 1697, no Silver Plate to be of less Fineness than 11 oz. 10 dwt. to a Pound Troy, except Silver Wire, &c. not markable.; Plate how to be marked.; Penalty.; Goldsmiths Company allowing Plate for good contrary to this Act,; Penalty.

And whereas it may reasonably be suspected that part of the Silver Coins of this Realme hath been by Persons regarding their owne private Gain more then the publick Good molten and converted into Vessells of Silver or other manufactured Plate which Crime hath been the more easily perpetrated by them in regard the Goldsmiths or others Workers of Plate by the former Laws and Statutes of this Realme are not obliged to make their Plate of finer Silver then the Sterling or Standard ordained for the Moneys of this Realme Be it therefore enacted by the Authority aforesaid That from and after the Five and twentieth Day of March One thousand six hundred ninety seven no Goldsmith Silversmith or other Person whatsoever shall work or make or cause to be wrought or made any Silver Vessell Plate or Manufacture of Silver lesse in Fineness than that of Eleven Ounces and Ten penny Weight of fine Silver in every Pound Troy nor putt to sale exchange or sell any Silver Vessells Plate or Manufacture of Silver made after the said Five and twentieth Day of March (unlesse it be Silver Wyre or such things as in respect of their smallnesse are not capable of receiving a Mark) until such time as such Vessell Plate or manufactured Silver shall be marked as followeth (that is to say) with the Workers Mark to be expressed by the Two first Letters of his Sirname the Marks of the Mystery or Craft of the Goldsmiths which instead of the Leopards Head and the Lyon shall for this Plate be the Figure of a Lyons Head erased and the Figure of a Woman co[m]monly called Britannia and a distinct variable Mark to be used by the Warden of the said Mystery to denote the Yeare in which such Plate is made upon paine that all [X1 such] Silver Vessells Plate or other manufactured Silver which shall be made exposed to sale sold or exchanged contrary to this Act or the Value, thereof shall be forfeited the one halfe thereof to the King and the other halfe thereof to such Person or Persons that will seize or sue for the same to be recovered by Action Bill Suit or Information in any Court of Record wherein no Essoigne Protection Wager of Law or more then one Imparlance shall be admitted and if any Silversmith Goldsmith or other Person shall after the said Five and twentieth Day of March make any Silver Vessells Plate or manufactured Silver contrary to this Act and the same shall be touched marked or allowed for good by the Wardens or Masters of the said Mystery or those authorized or imployed by them for the essaying and marking of Plate and if in the same there shall be found any Falshood or Deceit then the Wardens and Corporation of that Mystery for the time being shall forfeit and pay the Value of the Plate so deceitfully marked the one halfe thereof to the King and the other halfe to any Person or Persons that shall buy the same and be grieved thereby to be recovered as aforesaid Any thing in this or any former Act or Acts of Parliament contained or any other Order or Provision heretofore made to the contrary notwithstanding.

Editorial Information

X1 O. omits.