TRADE AND MARKETS. 149 



chasers, are provided against. Once, says the statute, a pound 

 weight of gold of Venice contained twelve ounces, and was 

 commonly sold for 33.5-. 4^., now it does not contain more than 

 seven ounces and is sold for .3. In 34, 35 Hen. VIII, cap. 7, 

 we are told that in pursuance of statute the prices of wine were 

 fixed, at maxima, Gascony and French at 8</., Malmsey, sweet 

 Romney and sack at is. the gallon, that one used to buy Gascony 

 at 4 1 3^. 4^., and French at 4 the tun of 252 gallons ; Malmsey 

 at .4, Bastard at 4 6s. 8</., and Sack and Romneys at five 

 marks the butt of 1 26 gallons, but that now Gascony has risen 

 to 7 or ^"8, French to 6, Malmsey to .5, Sack and Romneys 

 to 4 ios., and Bastard to ^5 or .5 6^. 8d., and that the 

 butts of the latter are constantly from twelve to twenty gallons 

 short. 



An attempt had been made to establish a silk manufacture 

 in London. It was in the hands of women, and these women 

 complain of the competition and frauds of Lombard merchants. 

 They are remedied by 33 Hen. VI, cap. 5. 



But the most important part of the police which was 

 exercised over trade was that by which the legislature regu- 

 lated weights and measures. Fraud was common, especially 

 in the use of the auncel, and the 'touching of the weights. 5 

 Coopers were ready to supply barrels for beer, and for packing 

 fish, and measures for corn which might allow dealers to 

 practise frauds, as common as those which it is said have 

 been committed in reputed dozens of glass wine bottles. The 

 cooper's craft is subjected to a police, and the gallons which 

 a cask of salmon, eels, white or red herrings should contain 

 are defined by statute. The manner in which salt fish should 

 be dressed and packed is laid down, and reiterated. The 

 public which listened to the statute as the sheriff read it by 

 royal order were instructed as to what all the measures in use 

 should contain, and latterly provided with the proper machinery 

 by which measures in use should be tested. 



The assize of weights, though with a definite purpose, is one 

 of the earliest laws on the statute-book. In course of time 



