310 FRAUDS IN GOLD AND SILVER. CHAP. XI. 



fraudulently sold for those metals. To prevent 

 such frauds, and also to prevent the use or waste 

 of too much gold and silver as the preamble re- 

 cites, the act of the fifth Henry the 4th, cap. 13, 

 was passed, which enacts " that no artificer or 

 other man shall henceforth gild or silver any 

 locks, rings, beads, candlesticks, harness of gir- 

 dles, chalices, hilts, nor pummels of swords, nor 

 covers for cups made of copper or latten, upon 

 pain to forfeit to the king one hundred shillings; 

 but that the said artificers may work (chalices 

 excepted) ornaments for the church of copper 

 and latten, and gild or silver the same ; so that 

 always on the foot or some other part the copper 

 or the latten shall be plain, to the intent that 

 a man may see whereof the thing is made for to 

 eschew the deceit thereof." 



We conclude therefore, that during the period 

 in question, there could be but little consump- 

 tion of the gold and silver which composed the 

 money ; or of that used as utensils or ornaments 

 in an unmixed state ; but that, up to passing 

 the act quoted in the year 1403, there must 

 have been a considerable quantity consumed by 

 gilding and plating on the inferior metals. 



