392 - A. D. 1636/ 



in refped to the whale fifhery, under pain of forfeiting, &c. [Fadera, 

 r.xx, pp. 15, 16.] 



King Charles again regulated the clock-reel or reel-ftaff for woollen 

 yarn, by enjoining one uniform diraenfion for it. He alfo enjoined, 

 that there be only one weight and one meafure for every commodity 

 to be bought or fold throughout the kingdom, and that his clerk of the 

 market for his houfehold fliould have the overfeeing and examination 

 of all weights and meafures ; for v/hich confideration the king hereby 

 appoints certain fees to be paid to him *. [Ftxde?-a, V. xx, p. 41.] 



A connniflion was illued for inquiring into and preventing encroach- 

 ments on the river Thames by ladders, flairs, trap-doors, &c. from 

 whence rubbifh and dirt were ufually thrown into it, to the great de- 

 triment of its navigation. Alfo another for compounding with fuch as 

 had been guilty of importing, felling, or ufing, a talfe dying wood called 

 logwood, blockv.'ood, or Campefea wood (Campechy wood), contrary to 

 two llatutes of the 23d and 39th of Queen Elizabeth ; and for punilh- 

 ing fuch as fhould hereafter be found guilty in this refpect. [Ftsedera, 

 r. XX, /./). 47, 52.]_ 



In a new commiffion for levying fliip-money, the qviotas payable by 

 London, Middlefex, and Northumberland, were fomewhat lightened, and 

 thofe of Cumberland and Weftmoreland a little enlarged. IFa^dera, 

 V. XX, pp. s<^, 74-] 



In the fame year King Charles granted a patent to the Lord Mal- 

 travers and Sir Francis Crane for the fole coinage of copper or brafs 

 farthings ; and, purfuant to an order of the flar-chamber, of the year 

 1634, it was now provided, that the faid brafs farthings fliould not be 

 forced upon poor labourers in payment, they having formerly been 

 compelled to take all or moil of their wages in fuch farthings from de- 

 flgning men, who had bought up great quantities of them at a low rate. 

 Silver (fays Rufliworth) was fo fcarce and gold fo plenty at this time, 

 that when cattle were fold in Smithfield, they commonly bargained to 

 be paid in filver and not in gold, infomuch that twopence or more was 

 ufually given for exchanging a twenty Ihilling piece into lilver, although 

 the gold was full weight. 



The king appointed commiflioners to compound with the tranfgref- 

 fors of the laws made againft deftroyers of timber trees and woods in 

 melting and forging iron. [Fo'dera, V. xx, p. 68.] 



The king ilTued a monopolizing proclamation, that none fhould buy 

 any ballad out of the river Thames but a perfon appointed by him for 

 that purpofe. And having already monopolized all the faltpetre and 



* Tliis antient officer had formerly great power, this daj nothing has been efFeftually done for re- 



which was generally abiiftd, to the great oppreflion ducing all merchandize to one weight or meafure, 



of the fubjeft, whcrcfor that ofHcc is long fince fo obvioufly convenient throughout Great Bntai|» 



juaiy in difufe. It is fomewhat flrange that to and Irdaud. 4 



