I 48 3 
!HI. An Inquiry to ^fhow^ what was the ancient Engli£ti 
Weight and Meafure according to the Laws or Statutes^ 
^rior to the Reign of Henry the Seventh, 
Redde, Nov. 24,'r ^ Conqueror, by his char- 
V V ter, confirmed to the Englifli all their 
ancient laws, with fuch additions or alterations as he made 
therein, to their advantage. The 57th claufe of that 
charter is, De menfuris et ponderibus, Et quod babeant 
per univeifum regnu 7 n^ menfuras fideliffimas etjignatas^ 
et ponder a Jideliffima et fi gnat a ft cut boni prdedecejfores 
Jiatuerunf y From this claufe it feems clear, that 
king WILLIAM ordained, fealed ftandards both of weights 
and meafures, to be made, fuch as his predeceflTor king 
EDWARD had ordained. Neither weights or meafures are 
here deferibed particularly ; but the fubfequent fiatutes 
^define them more plainly. And the Chronicon Pretiofujn 
tells us, that from hiflrorians it appears, the Conqueror 
determined what the weight of the flerling penny, or 
penny weight, fhould be, to weigh 3 2 grains dry wheat. 
Confequently the ftandard penny weight was made equal 
to the weight of 3 2 grains wheat. Succeeding kings 
confirmed william’s charter; and even the great charter 
granted by king John., is only to explain and reftore the 
ancient 
