24 Antiquity and Early 



" For the Saddlers 1 The King to the Mayor and 



of the > Sheriffs of London, Greeting. 



City of London. J Whereas lately the Girdlers of 



our City of London by their 

 petition exhibited before us and our Council in our 

 Parliament at Westminster, held after the Feast of the 

 Purification of the Blessed Mary, in the first year of our 

 reign of England, showed forth to us that whereas it 

 had been anciently ordered and used in the City afore- 

 said, that none of the said Mystery should cause girdles 

 of silk, wool, leather, or linen thread to be adorned with 

 baser metal than brass, battery, iron or steel ; and if any 

 work be found ornamented with baser metal that work 

 should be burnt. And because the said Mystery in the 

 City aforesaid then stood greatly damaged and defamed 

 because certain men of that Mystery, dwelling without 

 the City aforesaid, have made those girdles of false 

 work, such as lead, pewter, and tin, and other base 

 material by which the people of our said City and realm 

 have been deceived to the damage of the same, and 

 scandal of the men of the aforesaid Mystery. The said 

 Girdlers have besought us that we would approve the 

 ordinance and grant abovesaid, and further grant that 

 the ordinance and custom aforesaid in the City aforesaid 

 and elsewhere throughout our whole realm may be for 

 ever firmly observed. And we, for avoiding such decep- 

 tions and damages, and for the common good of our 

 people, willing to incline to the supplication aforesaid, 

 have by our letters patent accepted and approved the 

 ordinance and custom aforesaid. Willing and granting 

 for us and our heirs that the same ordinance and grant 

 may be observed and maintained in the City aforesaid 

 and elsewhere, throughout our whole realm, forever ; and 

 that in the same City and every other city, borough, and 

 good town of the same realm, where such workmen be, 

 one or two upright and faithful men of that Mystery 



