HISTORY OF KIN 7 G HENRY VII. 387 



mixt with any other thread. But it was not of 

 stuffs of whole piece, for that the realm had of them 

 no manufacture in use at that time, but of knit silk, 

 or texture of silk ; as ribbons, laces, cauls, points, 

 and girdles, &c. which the people of England could 

 then well skill to make. This law pointed at a true 

 principle ; &quot; That where foreign materials are but 

 &quot; superfluities, foreign manufactures should be pro- 

 &quot; hibited.&quot; For that will either banish the super 

 fluity, or gain the manufacture. 



There was a law also of resumption of patents 

 of gaols, and the reannexing of them to the sheriff- 

 wicks ; privileged officers being no less an inter 

 ruption of justice, than privileged places. 



There was likewise a law to restrain the by-laws, 

 or ordinances of corporations, which many times 

 were against the prerogative of the king, the common 

 law of the realm, and the liberty of the subject, 

 being fraternities in evil. It was therefore provided, 

 that they should not be put in execution, without 

 the allowance of the chancellor, treasurer, and the 

 two chief justices, or three of them, or of the two 

 justices of circuit where the corporation was. 



Another law was, in effect, to bring in the silver 

 of the realm to the mint, in making all clipped, 

 minished, or impaired coins of silver, not to be 

 current in payments ; without giving any remedy of 

 weight, but with an exception only of reasonable 

 wearing, which was as nothing in respect of the un 

 certainty ; and so, upon the matter, to set the mint 



