CLOUDESLY, SHERRARD, AND DUCLEN'S PATENT CHAR- TER TO FORM LUTESTRING COMPANY; ALSO PARLIAMENT EXTENDING TERM AND CONFIRMING PRIVILEGE. WILLIAM AND MARY
Year: 1688

page_text: CLOUDESLY, SHERRARD, AND DUCLEN'S PATENT CHAR-
TER TO FORM LUTESTRING COMPANY; ALSO, ACT OF
PARLIAMENT EXTENDING TERM AND CONFIRMING
PRIVILEGE.
WILLIAM AND MARY, by the Grace of God, &c.
TO ALL TO WHOME THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, greeting.
WHEREAS our wellbeloved subiects, Paul Cloudesley, Peter Lekeng, and
Hilary Renew, on behalfe of themselves and severall others, have by their
humble peticon represented vnto us that they have, with great expence and
industry, attained to the new Invenčon of "MAKEING, DRESSING, AND LUSTRATE-
ING OF SILKES, CALLED PLAINE BLACK ALLAMODES, RENFORCES, AND LUTESTRINGS,"
and have already caused to be made great quantities of the said silkes, at least
equalling the manufacture of France, aswell in lustre as otherwise, for the sole
vse, exercise, and benefitt of which said Invenčon the said Paul Cloudesley,
together with William Sherard, and also Peter Buclew (who is since gone
into Paris, beyond the seas), obtained of the late King James the Second
Letters Patents, bearing date the Three-and-twentieth day of November, in
the fourth yeare of his reigne, for the terme of fourteen yeares from the day of
the date of the said Letters Patents: And whereas they have alsoe informed
vs that they are further resolved industriously to promote the said worke to the
honour and common good of this nation by imploying many thousands of poore
people, aswell in working of the said silkes as by other dependencies vpon tho
A

page_text: same, as alsoe by saveing the vast expence of money that vsed to be sent
yearly into France for the said commodities, and have humbly besought vs to
incorporate them and divers, others hereafter menconed, to mannage and carry
on the same by a joynt stock.
KNOW YEE, THEREFORE, that wee, being desirous to promote all
endeavours tending to the publick good of this our kingdome, and to encourage
soc commendable an vndertakeing, of our especiall grace, certain knowledge and
meer mocon, have given, granted, constituted, declared, and appointed, and by
these presents for vs, our heires and successors, doe give, grant, constitute,
declare, and appoint, that our right trusty and right welbeloved cousin and
councillor, Thomas Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery, the said Paul
Clowdesley, William Sherard, Peter Lekeng, and also our trusty and welbe-
loved John Blondell, Lewis Gervaize, Peter Lanze, Stephen Nogmer, Paul
Rey, John Lekeng, Peter Floyer, Thomas Blythe, Joseph Paice, Robert
Hackshaw, Edward Lloyd, William Grosvenor, Richard Cooper, and Hillary
Renew, and such others as shall be admitted into the said society, from hence-
forth be, and shall be one body corporate and politick in deed and in name,
by the name of the Royall Lutestring Company, for makeing and dressing of
allamodes, ranforces, and lutestrings in England; and them by the name of
the Royall Lutestring Company, wee doc, for the purposes aforesaid, really and
fully, for vs, our heires and successors, make, erect, ordaine, constitute, esta-
blish, confirme, and declare by these presents to be one body corporate and
politick in deed and in name for ever, for the makeing and dressing of allamodes,
ranforces, and lútestrings in England, according to the tenor of the aforesaid
Letters Patents; and that by the same name of the Royall Lustring Com-
pany, for makeing and dressing of allamodes, ranforces, and lutestrings in Eng-
land, they shall have perpetuall succession, and that they and their successors,
by the name of the Royall Lustring Company, for makeing and dressing of
allamodes, ranforces, and lutestrings in England be, and at all times hereafter
shall be, persons able and capable in law to have, purchase, receive, enioy, and
reteyne lands, rents, priviledges, liberties, franchises, and hereditaments, of
what kinde, nature, and quality soever they be, to them and their successors, and
alsoe to give, grant, alien, assigne, and dispose of lands, tenements, and heredita-
ments and to doe and execute all and singular other things, by the same name
that to them shall or may apperteyne to doe, and that they and their successors
by the name of the Royall Lustring Company for makeing and dressing of
allamodes, ranforces, and lutestrings in England, may plead and be impleaded,
answer and be answered vnto, defend and be defended in whatsoever courts

page_text: and places, and before any judges, justices, or officers of vs, our heires or
successors, in all and singular accons, pleas, suites, plaints, matters, and
demands of what kinde or quality soever they shall be in the same manner:
and forme and as fully and amply as any of our subiects of this our realmo
of England may or can soe plead or be impleaded, answered and be answered.
vnto defend and be defended, and that the said Royall Lustring Company for -
makeing and dressing of allamodes, ranforces, and lutestrings in England, and.
their successors, may have a coñion seale for the expedition of the buisiness
and affaires of the said company; and that it shall and may. be lawfull for
them and their successors the same seale from time to time at their wills and
pleasures to breake, change, alter, or make new as to them shall seeme expedient,.
and further wee will and by these presents for vs, our heires and successors,.
doe ordaine that there shall be from henceforth one of the same company to be
elected and appointed in such manner and forme as hereafter in these presents
is directed, menconed, and expressed, who shall be and be called governour of
the said company, and that there shall alsoe be from henceforth a deputy
governour and twelve assistants of the said company to be elected and
appointed in such manner and forme as hereafter in these presents is directed,
menčoned, and expressed for the mannageing and carrying on all buisinesses
and affaires belonging to the said company, and wee doc hereby nominate, make,.
and ordaine the said Thomas Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery to be the
first and present governour of the said company, to continue in the said office
of governor from the date of these presents, vntill another of the said company
in due manner be chosen and sworne into the said office according to the or-
dinances and provisions hereafter in these presents expressed and declared, if
the said Thomas Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery shall soo long live; and.
alsoe wee have assigned, named, and appointed, and by these presents for vs,
our heires and successors, wee doe assigne, nominate, constitute and make, the
said Peter Lekeng to be the first and sent deputy governour of the said:
company, to continue in the said office of deputy governor, vntill the Five-
and-twentieth day of January next ensueing the date of these our Letters
Patents, and from and after that time vntill some other fitt person shall be
duely elected and sworne into the said office of deputy governor of the
said company, if the said Peter Lekeng shall soe long live, and our further
will and pleasure is, and wee doe hereby, for vs, our heires and successors,
direct and appoint that from and after the said Five-and-twentieth day.
of January next ensueing, or the elecčon of some other fitt person into
the said office of deputy governour of the said company, the said Peter

page_text: Lekeng shall be and continue an assistant of the said company vntill
the Five-and-twentieth day of January, which shall be in the yeare of
our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety and six, and from that time
vntil some other fitt person shall be elected and sworne an assistant of
the said company in his stead, if he shall soe long live, and wee have
constituted, nominated, and appointed, and by these psents for vs, our
heires and successors, doe constitute, nominate, and appoint the said John
Blondell, Lewis Gervaize, Paul Clowdesley, William Sherard, Peter Lanze,
Stephen Nogmer, Paul Rey, Jolin Lekeng, Peter Floyer, Joseph Paice,
William Grosvenor, and Robert Hackshaw, to be the first and sent assistants
of the said company, the said John Blondell, Lewis Gervaize, Paul Clowdesley,
William Sherard, Peter Lanze, Stephen Nogmer, and Paul Rey to continue
in their said offices of assistants vntill the said Five-and-twentieth day of
January, which shall be in the yeare our Lord One thousand six hundred
ninety and six, and from and after that time vntill some other fitt persons
shall be duely elected and sworne into their said offices of assistants of the
said company, if they shall soe long live. And the said John Lekeng, Peter.
Floyer, Joseph Paice, William Grosvenor, and Robert Hackshaw, to continue
in their said offices of assistants vntill the Five-and-twentieth day of January
next ensueing the date hereof, and from and after that time vntill some other
fitt persons shall be duely elected and sworne into their said offices of assistants"
of the said company if they shall soe long live. And further, wee doe hereby,
for .vs, our heires and successors, give and grant vnto the said company, and
their successors, or the maior part of them, full power and authority, vpon the
said Five-and-twentieth day of January next ensueing, or within fourteen
dayes after, to elect and choose five persons out of the before-named Peter
Floyer, John Lekeng, Thomas Blyth, Joseph Paice, Robert Hackshaw,
Edward Lloyd, William Grosvenor, and Richard Cooper, who shall be and
continue assistants of the said company from the time of their eleccon vntill
the Five-and-twentieth day of January, which shall be in the yeare of our
Lord One thousand six hundred ninety and three, and from thence vntill some
other fitt person shallbe duely elected and sworne into their said offices of
assistants of the said company. And, likewise, wee doe by these presents, for
vs, our heires and successors, give and grant vnto the said company, and
their successors, or the maior part of them, (whereof the governour, and in his
absence the deputy governour, and in the absence of the governour and deputy
governour, the treasurer of the said company for the time being to be allwaies
one,) full power and authority vpon the said Five-and-twentieth day of

page_text: January which shall be in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred
ninety and three, or within fourteen dayes after, and soe yearly and every
yeare vpon every Five-and-twentieth day of January following, or within
fourteen dayes after, vntill the Five-and-twentieth day of January, which
shall be in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety and six, to
elect and choose five persons, being members of the said company, and
haveinge each of them ten shares at least in the joynt stock of the said
company, who, after they are duely sworne into their offices, shall be and
continue assistants of the said company from the time of their eleccon vntil
the Five-and-twentieth day of January then next following, and from thence
vntill some other fitt persons shall be duely elected and sworne into their said
offices of assistants of the said company. And wee have further given and
granted, and by these presents for vs, our heires and successors, doe give and
grant, to the said company and their successors, full power and authority, that
they, the said governour and company, and their successors, or the maior part
of them, (whereof the governour, and in his absence the deputy governour, and
in the absence of the governour and deputy governour the treasurer of the said
company for the time being to be one,) on the said Five-and-twentieth day of
January yearly, or within fourteen dayes after, shall and may elect and choose
out of the then assistants of the said company two fitt persons to be governour
and deputy governour of the said company, who shall continue in their said
offices for one whole yeare next following such their election, and from thence
till some other fitt persons shall be duely elected and sworn into the said offices
of governor and deputy governor of the said company. And further, wee doe
by these presents, for vs, our heires and successors, give and grant vnto the
said company and their successors, or the maior part of them for the time
being, (whereof the governour, and in his absence the deputy governour, and
in the absence of the governour and deputy governour, the treasurer of the
said company for the time being to be one) full power and authority to elect
and choose, vpon the said Five-and-twentieth day of January which shall be
in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety and six, or within
fourteen dayes after, and soe on every Five-and-twentieth day of January fol-
lowing, or within fourteen dayes after, for ever, twelve persons besides the said
governour and deputy governour of the said company, haveing ten shares apeice
at least in the joynt stock of the said company, who shall be assistants of the said
company, for one whole yeare next following such election or elecčons, and
from thence till some other fitt persons shall be duely elected and sworne in
their stead. And wee doe hereby, for vs, our heires and successors, direct and

page_text: command that noe person or persons whatsoever (except such as are before in
these psents perticularly named and constituted) shall at any time hereafter
be admitted to the office of governour, deputy governour, or assistant of the
said company who hath not ten shares at least in the joynt stock of the said
company. And our will and pleasure is, and wee doe hereby, for vs, our
heires and successors, declare and grant to the said company and and their
successors now and for the time being, that if shall happen that any of them,
the said Paul Clowdesley, William Sherard, Peter Lekeng, John Blondell;
Lewis Gervaize, Peter Lanze, Stephen Nogmer, and Paul Rey, shall dye or
leave this realme, or bee permitted to surrender his or their office or offices of
assistant or assistants of the said company at any time before the said Five-
and-twentieth day of January, One thousand six hundred ninety and six, it
shall and may be lawful for the said governour and company, and their
successors, or the maior part of them, (whereof, the governour, and in his
absence the deputy governour, and in the absence of the governour and deputy
governour, the treasurer of the said company for the time being to be one,)
to choose one or more other or others out of the afore-named John Lekeng,
Peter Floyer, William Grosvenor, Thomas Blythe, Joseph Paice, Robert
Hackshaw, Edward Lloyd, and Richard Cooper into the place or places, of him
or them soe dying, departing this kingdome, or being permitted to surrender
his or their office or offices, which said person or persons, after being duely
sworn, shall be and continue an assistant or assistants of the said company
vntil the said Five-and-twentieth day of January, One thousand six hundred
ninety and six, and from thence vntill some other person or persons shall be
duely elected and sworn in his or their stead. And wee doe hereby, for vs, our
heires' and successors, give and grant vnto the said company and their suc-
cessors, full power and authority to hold and keepe a court in some hall or
place or places within our citys of London and Westminster, or either of them,
or in any other part of this our Kingdome of England, or Dominion of Wales,
and there to assemble and meet together soe often as they shall see cause to
treat and consult concerning the affaires of the said company. And wee doe
hereby, for vs, our heires and successors, grant and declare that the said
governour, deputy governour, and assistants, or any seaven or more of them
(whereof the governour, deputy governour, or treasurer for the time being.
to be one) be and shall be called the committee of the said company, and that
it shall be lawful for the said committee, from time to time and as often as
they shall see cause, to choose and appoint a treasurer or treasurers, secre-
taries, bookkeepers, clerkes, beadles; or other vnder officers nécessary for the

page_text: service of the said company, and to constitute, ordaine, and make such and soo
many reasonable laws, orders, and ordinances as to them, or the greater
part of them being then and there present shall seeme necessary and con-
venient for the well ordering and government of the said company, and the
said laws, orders, and ordinances or any of them to alter and annull, as
the said committee shall see requisite, and to sett, impose, and inflict:
reasonable paines, punishments, and penalties, by fines and amerciaments
vpon any offender or offenders who shall transgresse, breake, or violate the
said laws, orders, or ordinances soe made as aforesaid, and to mitigate the
same as they shall finde cause, which said fines, penalties, and amerciaments
shall and may be levyed, sued for, taken, retained, and recovered by the said.
governour and company and their successors, or by their officers and servants,
from time to time to be appointed for that purpose, by distresse or accon of.
debt, or by any other lawfull waies or meanes to the vse and advantage of the.
said governor and company and their successors, without any account to be
rendred for the same to vs, our heires, or successors, all and singular which.
Jaws, constitucons, orders, and ordinances soe as aforesaid to be made, wee.
will to be duely observed and kept vnder the paines and penalties therein to be.
contained, soc alwaies as the said laws, constitucons, orders, and ordinances,
fines, and amerciaments be reasonable and not contrary or repugnant to the.
laws or statutes of this our realme; and further for vs, our heires, and suc-
cessors, wee doe grant vnto the said company and their successors, that it,
shall and may be lawful to and for the said. governour, deputy governour,.
and assistants, and their successors, or the maior part of them, (the gover-
nour, deputy governour, or treasurer being allwaies one,) so often as they shall.
think necessary to appoint sub-committees, and to suññion and call together
the officers aud members of the said company for the time being to such.
courts and committees, as well in London as in any other place or places.
within our Kingdome of England or Dominion of Wales, to treat and consult.
concerning the affaires of the said company, and to put their bylaws in execu-.
tion in any part or parts of our said dominions; and wee doe hereby. for vs,.
our heires and successors, declare our will and pleasure to be that the governour
or deputy governour for the time being doe and shall. yearly and every years.
hold and call a court, on or about the said Five-and-twentieth day of January,
in order to the election of a governour, deputy governour, and assistants in
manner and forme as is before expressed, and shall give publick notice of the same
ten daies before every such elecčon or elecčons; and wee doe-hereby alsoe for
vs, our heires and successors, grant and ordeyne that every member of the said

page_text: company haveing tenn shares or more in the ioynt stock may deliver or send
his vote in writeing whensoever he shall have due and timely notice of such
elecčon or elecčons, and that all votes in every election of a governour, deputy
governour, and assistants shall be delivered or sent in writeing, and shall be
perused and examined in open court, the governour or deputy governour and
maior part of the assistants being present, and that noe persons shall be
admitted to vote who hath not tenn shares in the joynt stock of the said com-
pany, and noe person to have more then one vote for all the shares he hath in
the said joynt stock; and whenever there shall happen equality of votes in
election of any officers or members of the said company, the said governour, and
in his absence the deputy governour, for the time being shall have the casting
vote; and that noe person shall be admitted into any office belonging to the
said company vntill he hath first taken in open court before the governour,
deputy governour, or treasurer of the said company, the oathes appointed by Act
of Parliament in the first yeare of our reigne, entituled "An Act for the abro-
gateing the Oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance and appointing other Oathes,"
and also an oath for the due execution of his or their office or offices, and
trust and faithfull observance of the laws, constitučons, orders, and ordinances
of the said company, to which governour, deputy governour, or treasurer for the
time being, wee doe hereby, for vs, our heires and successors, give full power
and authority to administer such oathes accordingly; and further our will and
pleasure is that every person who being duely elected into the said office of
governour, deputy governour, or assistant of the said company shall within fourteen
dayes after his elecčon refuse to take upon him the office or place whereunto
he shall be elected as aforesaid, or to take any or either of the said oathes soe
ordered and appointed to be taken by the governour, deputy governour, or
assistants, shall forfeit and pay to the governour and company and their succes-
sors such fines and amerciaments as by the laws aforesaid shall be directed,
Jymitted, and appointed, and other person and persons shall be chosen and elected
into his or their place or places. And further, wee doe, for vs, our heires and
successors, give and grant vnto the said company and their successors, or the
maior part of them in court assembled, full power and authority to remove and
displace any governour, deputy governour, assistant, or other officer of the said
company for misdemeanour or any reasonable cause, and to elect others in the
place or places of the person or persons soe removed, and that as often as it shall
happen the governour or deputy governour, or any of the assistants of the said
company for the time being shall dye or shall be permitted by the governour,
deputy governour, and maior part of the assistants in open court to surrender

page_text: his or their office or offices, and that there shall happen to be any vacancy of
a governour, deputy governour, or assistant of the said company, that it shall
and may be lawfull to and for all such persons who have tenn shares in the said
jont stock, timely notice being given them by the governour or deputy governour
of such death or vacancy, to choose and elect into his or their place or places
some other person or persons of the said company for governour, deputy
governour, or assistant by the methods, manner, and lymittačons berein-before
appointed, menconed, and expressed, the said governour, deputy governour, or
assistant to continue in his or their office or offices till the Five-and-twentieth
day of January then next following his or their eleccon, and till some other person
or persons shall be elected and sworne into his or their office or offices, he or
they haveing first in open court taken the oathes appointed to be taken by the
governour, deputy governour, and assistants before their admittance into their
respective offices, and in manner as aforesaid. And of our more abundant
grace and favour to the said governour and company, wee doe hereby declare
our will and pleasure to be that if it shall happen that any of the persons
herein-before particularly named, or who shall hereafter become members of
the said company, who hath promised and agreed, or shall promise or agree
by writeing vnder his or their hand or hands, to adventure or pay in any suñic
or suñies of money towards the joynt stock of the said company, and shall not
within tenn dayes next after warning given to him or them, bring in and.
deliver to the treasurer appointed by the company such sume or sumes of
money as shall have been expressed or sett downe in writeing, and subscribed
by the said person or persons, that then and at all times after it shall and may
be lawful to and for the said governour and company, or the maior part of.
them sent (whereof the said governour or deputy governour to be one) at any.
of their generall courts or assemblies to remove and disfranchise such person
or persons from and out of the said corporacon and company so refuseing to
pay or answer his or their subscripcon money. And further, our will and
pleasure is, and wee doe alsoe hereby ordain that the said Thomas Earle of
Pembroke and Montgomery, herein-before named to be the governour of the
said company, shall take his corporall oath before the said Peter Lekeng,
John Blondell, and Lewis Gervaize, or any two of them, and the aforesaid
severall persons herein-before named be the present deputy governour and
assistants of the said company shall take their corporall oathes before the
present governour of the said company in such manner and forme as by the
governour and company, or the greater part of them in any publick court
to be held for the said company shall be lawfully and reasonably sett

page_text: downe and devised, to whome severally and respectively wee doe hereby for
vs, our heires and successors, give full power and authority to administer the
said oathes to the said officers accordingly; and wee doe further hereby for vs,
our heires and successors, will, authorize, and command all and singular our
judges, justices of the peace, mayors, sherriff's, bayliffs, constables, headboroughs,
and all other the officers and ministers whatsoever of vs, our heires and suc-
cessors, now and for the time being within this our Kingdome of England and
Dominion of Wales, that they and every of them respectively be from time to
time in their severall and respective offices favouring, aiding, furthering, help-
ing, and assisting vnto the said governour and company; and their successors,
their agents and servants, in all things according to our will and pleasure!
lierein-before declared; and of our further especiall grace, certaine knowledge,
and meere močon for the carrying on and promoteing the interest of the com-
pany aforesaid, wee have given and granted, and by these presents, for vs,-our
leires, and successors, doc give and grant vnto the said company and their
successors, that they, the said governour and company and their successors,
shall and may be hereafter persons able and capable in law to have, and wee
doe by these presents, for vs, our heires and successors, grant that they shall
and may
have full, free, and lawfull lycence, power, and authority to take,
have, purchase, receive, enioy, and possesse to them and their successors, for
ever, any mannors, lordshipps, messuages, mills, waters, streames, rents, services,
reverčons, lands, mynes, tennements, and other hereditaments whatsoever, sce as
the same mannors, lordshipps, mills, waters, streames, rents, services, revercons,
lands, tennements, and other hereditaments, doe not exceed the yearly value of
one thousand pounds above all charges and reprizes, and alsoe goods and
chattells of what value, nature, or kinde soever, and alsoe to give, grant, alien,
assigne, and dispose of mannors, lordshipps, messuages, mills, waters, streames,
rents, services, reverčons, lands, tennements, hereditaments, goods, chattells,
liberties, priviledges, franchizes and jurisdiccons; and alsoe to doe and
execute all other lawful acts and things whatsoever by the name aforesaid:
And further, wee have given and granted, and by these presents, for vs, our
beires and successors, doe give and grant vnto all and every subiect and subiects
whatsoever of vs, our heires and successors, especiall lycence, power, and
authority to give, grant, sell, and alien vnto the said governour and company,
and their successors, any mannors, lordshipps, messuages, mills, waters,
streames, rents, services, reverčons, lands, tennements, or hereditaments what-
soever, soe as the same doe not exceed the clear yearly vallue of one thousand
pounds above all charges and reprizes whatsoever, and alsoe-goods and chattells

page_text: of what nature or value soever; and wee doe bereby for vs, our heires and
successors, give and grant vnto the said governour and company, and their
successors, full power and authority to 'make and rayse a joynt stock of any
value. whatsoever, and the same joynt stock to order, mannage, and carry on
from time to time for the purposes aforesaid, and to receive the benefitt and
advantage of the same, to the vse of them the said governour and company
and their successors, according to such shares and proporcons as they or any
of them have or shall have therein, and the same joynt stock to augment aud
encrease, or reduce and diminish from time to time, as they the said governour
and company and their successors shall finde most fitting and convenient:
Provided alwaies, that these presents, or anything herein contayned, shall not
extend, or be construed to extend, to discharge any of the covenants or pro-
visoes conteined in the before-menconed Letters Patents granted to the said
Paul Clowdesley, William Sherard, and Peter Bucleu, for the sole vse and
benefitt of the said Invention of makeing, lustrateing, and dressing of allamodes,
ranforces, and lutestrings for the terme of fourteen yeares, but that the same
shall be and continue in as full force to all intents and purposes as if these
presents had never been had or made, anything herein-before conteyned to the
contrary notwithstanding: Provided alsoe, that this our grant or anything
herein contained shall not extend or be construed to extend to the granting
the governour and company, the sole exercise and benefitt of the aforesaid
Invention for any longer time then the remainder of the said terme of
fourteen yeares, but after the expiration of that terme all persons who other-
wise might work the same may have full liberty soe to doe, anything herein-
before contained to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided likewise, that
nothing herein contained shall be preiudicall to the corporation of weavers,
London, and that all persons, their apprentices, and servants, that shall at any
time bereafter weave any of the said allamodes, ranforces, and lutestrings,
within the lymitts of the charter of the said company shall from time to time
be bound apprentices or members of the said corporačon, according to the
purport of their ordinances, and subiect to the government and regulation of
the said corporacon of weavers. And, lastly, wee have granted, and by these
presents for vs, our heires and successors, doe grant vnto the said company and
their successors, that these our Letters Patents, or the enrollment thereof, shall
be and by all things good, firme, valid, sufficient, and effectuall in the law
according to the true intent and meaning thereof, and shall be taken, construed,
and adiulged in the most favourable and beneficiall sence, for the best advan-
tage of the said governour and company and their successors, aswell in all

page_text: Courts of Record as elsewhere, and by all and singular the officers and ministers
whatsoever of vs, our heires and successors, in this our Kingdome of England
and Dominion of Wales, any defects or incertainties in these presents con-
teyned, or any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever to the contrary in any wise
notwithstanding.

page_text: ACT FOR EXTENDING TERM AND CONFIRMING PRIVILEGE.
AN ACT for the better Encouragement of the Royal Lustring Company,
and the more effectual preventing the fraudulent Importation of
Lustrings and Alamodes.
WHEREAS the manufacture of black lustrings and alamodes, set up by the
Royal Lustring Company, hath been very advantageous and beneficial to this
Kingdom, by employing great numbers of the poor, and preventing the ex-
portation of our coin for purchasing of those commodities in foreign parts:
And whereas, notwithstanding the several laws made for the encouragement
of the said manufacture, and for the preventing the importation of such foreign
silks without paying the duties charged thereon, great quantities of the said
foreign silks have been brought into this kingdom without paying any duty or
custom for the same, by means whereof the said Royal Lustring Company
have been very much discouraged in the carrying on the said manufacture:
For remedy whereof, and that the said company may have all due encourage-
ment to enable them to proceed in so good an undertaking, be it enacted, and
it is hereby enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the
advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this
present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that from
and after the First day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand six
hundred and ninety-eight, no foreign silks called or known by the name of
alamodes or lustings shall be imported or brought into any port or place
whatsoever within the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, or Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, other than the Port of London only; and that notice
shall be given to the commissioners or chief managers of the customs in the
said Port of London for the time being, of the quality and quantity, with the
marks, numbers, and package of all such silks intended to be imported, with
the name of the importer, and the name of the ship, and her burthen, and the
name of the master or commander on which they are to be laden, and the
place or port where the same are to be shipped or taken on board, and a
licence shall be taken under the hands of the Commissioners or chief managers
of the customs in the said Port of London for the time being, or any three of
them, for the lading and importing of the same as aforesaid, which licence
they are hereby authorized and required to grant without any fee or reward, or
any other charge to the persons demanding the same.
II. And for the better preventing the fraudulent importation of such silks
without paying the duties which are or shall be due and payable for the same,
be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the commissioners or chief

page_text: managers of the customs in the said Port of London for the time being, shall
and are hereby authorized and required, from time to time, to mark and seal,
or cause to be marked and scaled, all such alamodes and lustrings which
shall, from and after the said First day of July, be imported according to the
directions of this Act, and to keep, or cause to be kept, an entry or registry
thereof in the custom house in the said Port of London, in a book to be
provided for that purpose only, which said entry or registry shall be made
without any fee or reward, before the said goods be delivered out of the custom
house warehouse: And in case any of the said silks shall be imported or
brought into any port or place whatsoever within this realm, other than the Port
of London, or shall be imported without such notice first given, and licence
taken out as aforesaid, and the duties paid for the same, or shall not be so
sealed and marked as aforesaid, such silks, or the full value thereof, shall be
forfeited; and all such silks which shall be seized and forfeited by virtue of
this or any former Act shall be sold and exported, and the same rules and
methods shall be observed in the selling and exporting thereof as are mentioned
and contained in an Act made in the eighth and ninth years of the reign of
His present Majesty, intituled "An Act for the further Encouragement of the
Manufacture of Lustrings and Alamodes within this Realm."
III. And for the better preventing the importation of the same, in relation
to silks therein directed to be exported, and all and every person and persons
whatsoever who shall import, bring, or convey, or cause or procure to be
imported, brought, or conveyed into the Kingdom of England, Dominion of
Wales, or Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, any alamodes or lustrings, contrary
to the true intent and meaning of this Act, or who shall knowingly receive or
take the same into his, her, or their house, warehouse, custody, or possession,
or shall sell, barter, or offer to sale, or cause to be sold or bartered, or offered
to sale any such foreign silks so fraudulently imported, and all and every their
aiders, abettors, and assistants knowing thereof, shall forfeit and lose the sum
of five hundred pounds:
IV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that if any com-
mission or warrant officer, or other person who now is, or hereafter shall be,
in the service of His Majesty, His heirs or successors, and shall have the
command or charge of any ship or vessel whatsoever, shall import, bring, send,..
or convey, or cause, procure, or suffer to be imported, brought, sent, or con-
veyed, or take or load on board, any alamodes or lustrings, in order to be
imported into this kingdom, or shall unship, or suffer to be unshipped into any
barge, hoy, boat, or other vessel, any such silks, knowing thereof, he shall,
over and above the forfeitures and penalties to which he is liable by this or any
"

page_text: other Act, be ipso facto rendred incapable of serving His Majesty, Ilis heirs
and successors, either by sea or land, or of having or receiving any benefit
or advantage which he shall or may be entitled to by virtue of such service;
and if any seaman, mariner, or other person or persons whatsoever, belonging
or which shall belong to any ship or vessel, shall discover any alamodes or
lustrings which shall be imported, brought, sent, or conveyed in any ship or
vessel whatsoever into this kingdom, or which shall be unshipped into any
barge, hoy, boat, or other vessel, either at sea, or in any harbour, creek, or
bay in this kingdom, in order to be imported, contrary to the true intent and
meaning of this Act, such person or persons making such discovery shall
(over and above such part of the forfeitures and advantages to which he or
they shall be entitled by virtue of this Act) be immediately discharged from
bis or their service on board such ship or vessel, if he or they shall desire the
same; and the captain or master of such ship or vessel shall immediately give.
him or them a ticket or tickets, certificate or certificates, which shall intitle
him or them to all the wages due to him or them, for his or their service on:
board such ship or vessel.
.some.
V. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that if any person,
or persons whatsoever shall alter, counterfeit, or misapply any or either of the
seals or marks now used, or which shall or may be used, at the custom house,.
for the sealing and marking alamodes and lustrings, according to the directions
in this or any other Act, or which now are or shall be used by the said Royal.
Lustring Company for the marking and sealing the goods made, or which shall
be made, by them, the offender and offenders, and all and every their aiders,
abettors, and assistants, shall for every such offence forfeit and lose the sum of:
five hundred pounds, and shall be adjudged to stand in the pillory in s
public place for the space of two hours; and all and every person and persons.
who shall buy or sell, or have in his, her, or their custody or possession, any:
alamodes or lustrings, which are or shall be sealed or marked with a coun-
terfeit seal or mark, or which shall have any seal or mark used or to be used.
at the Custom House, or by the Royal Lustring Company, thereunto affixed or:
put, which hath not been affixed and put thereto at the custom house, or by.
the said company, knowing thereof, and not discovering the same, shall forfeit,
the goods so sealed or marked, and also the sum of one hundred pounds. And:
for the better discovering and seizing of the said silks so fraudulently imported,,
or not sealed and marked according to the directions in this Act, or which;
shall be sealed or marked with any counterfeit seal or mark, as aforesaid, it.
shall and may be lawful to and for any person or persons whatsoever, authorized
by writ of assistance under the seal of His Majesty's Court of Exchequer, or

page_text: with a constable or other publick officer inhabiting near unto the place, with
a warrant from a justice of peace, and in the daytime, to enter and go into any
house, shop, cellar, warehouse, or room, or other place whatsoever, to search
for and seize any alamodes or lustrings imported contrary to this or any other
Act, or not scaled and marked as aforesaid, or which shall be sealed or marked
with any counterfeit seal or mark; and, in case of resistance, to break open
doors, chests, trunks, and other package whatsoever, there to seize, and from
thence to bring to His Majesty's warehouse any of the said silks so fraudulently
imported, or not sealed and marked, as aforesaid; and every justice of the
peace is hereby impowered and required to grant such warrant to any credible
person or persons making oath that he or they have reason to suspect or
believe that there are some of the said silks so fraudulently imported, or not
sealed and marked, as aforesaid, or which are sealed or marked with some
counterfeit seal or mark, in the place or places where he or they intend to
search; and if any question, dispute, or doubt shall arise, whether any such
silks, as aforesaid, imported, found, seized, received, sold, bartered, or offered
to sale or barter, as aforesaid, or any part thereof, were made or manufactured
in parts beyond the seas, or whether the same were imported contrary to the
true intent and meaning of this Act, the proof shall be incumbent only upon
the importer, claimer, owner, proprietor, seller, barterer, or such person or
persons in whose hands or custody the said silks shall be found respectively,
and not upon the informer, seizer, or prosecutor.
VI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all officers
belonging to the customs, and all sheriffs; mayors, bailiffs, constables, and
other officers, shall be aiding and assisting in the effectual execution of this
Act: And that if any officer or person of or belonging to the customs, shall
willingly or knowingly connive at the fraudulent importation, delivering,
receiving, buying, or selling of any alamodes or lustrings, contrary to the true
meaning of this Act; or if such officer, or any informer, or other person or
persons, shall take upon him or them to seize any the said silks, or prosecute
any person or persons, upon or by virtue or by means of this Act, or any other
Act, and shall, by fraud or collusion, desist or delay the prosecution to con-
demnation of the said silks, or any part thereof, after seizure or stay of the
same, or the prosecution of any person or persons, for any offence against this
or any other Act relating to the fraudulent importation of such silks, or the
not sealing and marking such silks imported; he or they so desisting or delay-
ing shall forfeit and lose the sum of five hundred pounds, and be incapable of
holding any office or employment under His Majesty, His heirs and
successors.

page_text: VII. Provided always, and be it hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid,
that for the more effectual prosecution of the offences and offenders against
this Act, all and every person and persons whatsoever that shall be convicted
for any offence against this Act, or any other law relating to alamodes or
lustrings, and shall afterwards offend a second or any more time or times, such
person or persons (after conviction) shall, so often as he or they shall so
offend, forfeit and pay double the sum inflicted or imposed by this Act.
VIII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all and
every person and persons who shall be guilty of any offence or offences con-
trary to the true intent and meaning of this Act, or any other Act relating to
alamodes or lustrings, shall and may be prosecuted for any such offence or
offences in any action, suit, or information, and thereupon a capias in the first
process, specifying the sum of the penalties sued for, shall and may issue; and
such person or persons shall be obliged to give good and sufficient bail and
security by natural-born subjects, persons naturalized, or denizens, to the
officer serving or executing the writ or process on or against him, her, or
them, to appear in the court, out of which such writ or process shall issue at
the day of the return of such writ or process, to answer such suit or prosecu-
tion, and shall, at the time of such appearance, give sufficient bail or security
by such persons as aforesaid, in the said court, to answer and pay all the for-
feitures and penalties incurred for such offence or offences, in case he, she, or
they shall be convict thereof, or to yield his, her, or their bodies to prison.
IX. And for the encouragement and better enabling all such (whether
officers of the customs or others) that shall effectually put this Act in execu-
tion, it is hereby further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all the
penalties and forfeitures hereby or by any former law relating to alamodes or
lustrings given or imposed, or which shall arise or accrue in respect thereof, or
for the importing, conveying, delivering, receiving, buying, or selling of any
alamodes or lustrings, shall be distributed and divided in manner following,
(that is to say,) two third parts thereof to His Majesty, His heirs and suc-
cessors, and the remaining third part to such person or persons as shall seize
or sue for the same; the charge of which suit and prosecution shall be born by
His Majesty, His heirs and successors, out of His Majesty's part of the said
.forfeitures and penalties, any law, statute, custom, or usage to the contrary
notwithstanding; and further, that it shall and may be lawful for any person
or persons to sue for and prosecute, and to recover the forfeitures and penalties
inflicted or imposed by this present. Act, or by any other Act relating to
alamodes or lustrings, by action of debt, bill, plaint or information, in any of
His Majesty's Courts of Record at Westminster, wherein no essoin, protection,

page_text: privilege or wager of law shall be allowed, nor more than one imparlance; and
that all and every person and persons that shall seize or stay any of the said
silks, or prosecute any of the offences or offenders against this or any other
Act relating to alamodes or lustrings, may lay his or their information or action,
and try the same in such place or places, and use such and the like method
and course of proceedings in prosecuting and condemning of the said silks as
are, have been, or may be used in or about the seizing, condemning, or pro-
secuting of any goods or commodities for- nonpayment of customs or other
duties, or any person or persons for offending against any of the laws or statutes
relating to the customs.
X. And for the avoiding of fraud and delay in prosecuting to condemnation
such silks seized as aforesaid, by entring vexatious claims thereto, be it further
enacted, 'that before any person or persons shall be admitted to enter a claim
to any of the said silks, he, she, or they shall be obliged to give good and suf-
ficient security by recognizance, to be entred into before one of the barons of
the Court of Exchequer, or some judge of the court where such claim shall be
entred, to answer and pay the penalties and forfeitures incurred by virtue of
this Act, with full costs of suit, if upon a trial or other determination in law a
verdict shall pass or judgment shall be entred for the plaintiff; and in case
default shall be in giving such security within the time limited by the rules of
the court for entring claims, then the said goods shall be adjudged forfeited,
and judginent entred accordingly.
XI. And for the preventing of disputes touching this Act, be it further
enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the same and every clause and thing
therein contained shall be deemed, adjudged, and taken to be a general law;
and that it shall and may be lawful to shew or set forth the same, or any
clause thereof in pleading, and that the same and all and every clause therein
contained shall be construed most largely and beneficially for the advantage of
the prosecutor, and for the preventing of all the mischiefs and abuses herein
provided against; and further, that if any person or persons shall be sued,
molested, or prosecuted for any thing done by virtue and in pursuance of this
Act, such person and persons shall and may plead the general issue, and give
this Act and the special matter in evidence; and if afterwards a verdict shall
pass for the defendant or defendants, or the plaintiff shall discontinue his
action or be nonsuited, or judgment shall be given against him upon demurrer
or otherwise, then such defendant or defendants shall have treble costs to him
or them awarded against such plaintiff.
XII. Provided always, that all information, actions, and suits to be brought
by any informer for any offence against this Act shall be brought and com-

page_text: menced within two years after the offence committed, any former Act to the
contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.
XIII. And whereas the King's most Excellent Majesty, together with the
lato Queen (of blessed memory) by their Letters Patents or Charter under
the Great Seal of England, bearing date the Fifteenth of October, in the fourth
year of their said Majesties reign, reciting or taking notice, that several
persons therein named did obtain the late King James the Second's Letters
Patents, bearing date the Three-and-twentieth day of November, in the fourth
year of His reign, for the sole use, exercise, and benefit of a new Invention of
making, dressing, and lustrating of silks called plain black alamodes, ren-
forcez, and lustrings, for the term of fourteen years from the day of the date
of the said Letters Patents, their said Majesties did, for the encouraging so
commendable an undertaking, give, grant, constitute, declare, and appoint
Thomas Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, and several other persons in the
said Charter mentioned and contained, and such others as should be admitted
into their society, to be from thenceforth one body corporate and politick, in
deed and in name, by the name of the Royal Lustring Company, for making
and dressing of alamodes, renforcez, and lustrings in England, and by that
name to have perpetual succession; and divers and sundry privileges, liberties,
powers, and authorities, with other matters and things in the said charter of
incorporation mentioned and expressed, were thereby granted to and vested in
the said company, and their successors, in such sort, manner, and form as in
and by the said Charter or Letters Patents, or inrolments thereof, is mentioned
and expressed, and as thereby it niore fully appears: And forasmuch as the
said company bave with great labour and charges brought the said manu-
facture to perfection, but by reason of the fraudulent importation of alamodes
and lustrings by divers persons, more regarding their own interest than the
welfare of England, their duty to the King and obedience to the laws of the
land, the said company have not enjoyed the benefit and advantage intended
them in and by the said charter, but wasted their time and stock in contesting
with many difficulties and obstructions which they have met with since the
granting thereof: And it appearing that the said manufacture cannot be so
well carried on and secured to this kingdom by any other means, as by
establishing a company to carry on the same; be it therefore enacted by the
authority aforesaid, that the aforesaid company, and their successors, shall and
may at all times from henceforth stand, continue, and be a body politick and
corporate in deed and in name, by the name of the Royal Lustring Company;
and that the said company, and their successors, shall and may have, do, use,
exercise, and enjoy all and singular the liberties, privileges, powers, authori-

page_text: ties, matters and things in the said Letters Patents or charter of incorporation
mentioned to be granted to them, as amply, fully and largely to all intents,
constructions, and purposes, as if the same were word for word recited and set
down at large in this present Act.
XIV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the said
Royal Lustring Company, and their successors, shall and may have and enjoy
the sole use, exercise, and benefit of making, dressing, and lustrating of plain
black alamodes, renforcez, and lustrings, within the Kingdom of England,
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, for and during the.
term of fourteen years, to be reckoned and accounted from the Four-and-
twentieth day of June, One thousand six hundred and ninety-eight, and from
thence to the end of the next sessions of Parliament; any thing in the said
Letters Patents made and granted by the said late King James, or in the said
Letters Patents or charter of incorporation, made and granted by His present
Majesty and the said late Queen, or any law or statute to the contrary thereof
in any wise notwithstanding.
XV. And whereas the said Royal Lustring Company have seventeen bails
of fine Italian thrown silk in Amsterdam, which were brought thither over
land before the conclusion of the peace, and were designed to be imported into
this kingdom, to be used in the manufacture of alamodes and lustrings; but
by reason of several difficulties and obstructions which the said company have
met with in the said manufacture, the said silk could not be imported within
the time limited by law for the importation thereof; be it therefore enacted
by the authority aforesaid, that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said
company to import into this kingdom the aforesaid seventeen bails of silk, at
any time before the Twenty-ninth day of September next, they paying the
duties to His Majesty, which by law are to be paid for the same, any law or
statute to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

page_text: JAMES THE SECOND, by the grace of God, &c., to all to whom these
Psente shall come, greeting.
WHEREAS our trusty and welbeloved subiecte PAUL CLOWDESLY, WILLIAM
SHERARD, and PETER DUCLEN, have by their humble peticon repsented vnto vs,
that whereas severall black plaine sorte of silke, called by the name of
alamodes, ranforcees, and lutestringe, have been made at Lyons, in France,
onely, and from thence this kingdom and other parte have been furnished
therewith; that they or some of them had with great industry and charge
found out and attained to the knowledg of making, dressing, and lustrateing
the same in this our realme, and have humbly prayed vs to grant vnto them
our Letters Patente for the sole vse and benefitt thereof, during the terme of
fourteen yeares, according to the Statute in that case .pvided.
KNOW YEE, THEREFORE, that wee, being willing to cherish and en-
courage all lawdable endeavours and designes of such our subjecte as have
by their industry found out vsefull and pfitable arte, misteryes, and invenĉons,
and that they, the said Paul Clowdesly, William Sherard, and Peter Duclen,
may accordingly reape some fruite and benefitt of their labour and charge in
and concerning the misses, of our especiall grace, certaine knowledg, and
meere močon, have given and granted, and by these psente, for vs, our heires
and successors, do give and grant, vnto the said Paul Clowdesly, William
Sherard, and Peter Duclen, their executors, administrators, and assignes,
especiall lycence, and full and sole power, priviledg, and authority, that they,
or any of them, by him and themselves, and by his and their deputies, ser-

page_text: vante, agente, and workmen, and such others only as they, the said Paul
Clowdesley, William Sherrard, and Peter Duclen, their executors, administra-
tors, or assignes, shall agree with, shall and may, from time to time and at all
times hereafter during the space of fourteen yeares next ensucing the date of
these psente, at his and their own pper coste and charges, erect, vsc, teach,
excise, and put in practice, within and throughout our whole Kingdome of
England, Dominion of Wales, and Towne of Berwick-vpon-Tweed, the said
newe Invencon of making, dressing, and lustrateing the said silke, called black
plain, alamodes, ranforcees, and lutestringe, such as are commonly used for
women's hood and scarfe, and soe by them or some of them contrived and
found out as aforesaid; and also shall and may receive, take, and enioy all the
-benefitte,-pfitte, comodities,-and-advantages-of-and-by the said new Inventon
to be had. made, acquired, or gotten, to their owne pper benefitt, vse and vses,
except as hereafter is excepted; to have, hold, vse, excise, and enioy the said
lycence, powers, priviledges, and authorities, and all and singular other the
Pisses by these sente granted or menconed to be granted vnto the said
Paul Clowdesly, William Sherrard, and Peter Duclen, their executors, admi-
nistrators, and assignes, in all and every the places aforesaid, for and during
and vnto the full end and terme of fourteen yeares from the day of the date of
these sente next ensueing, and fully to be compleat and ended according to
the Statute in that case made and pvided; and to the end that the said Paul
Clowdesly, William Sherrard, and Peter Duelen, their exccutors, adminis-
trators, and assignes, may the better enioy the full and whole benefitt, and the
sole vse and excise of their said new Invencon, wee do by these psente, for vs,
our heires and successors, streightly charge, require, and command all and every
pson and psons, bodies politique and corporate, of what quality, degree, name,
or condičon soever they be, within our said Kingdome of England, Dominion of
Wales, or Towne of Berwick-vpon-Tweed, that neither they nor any of them,
during the said terme of fourteen yeares hereby granted, either directly or
indirectly, do vse, excise, or put in practice the said new Invenčon, nor do nor
shall counterfeit, imitate, or resemble the said new Invenĉon by making any
other sort of plain silke then what have heretofore been made by the weavers
of our said Kingdome of England, without the lycence, consent, or agreement
of the said Paul Clowdesly, William Sherrard, and Peter Duclen, their execu-
tors, administrators, or assignes, in writeing vnder their hande and scales first
had and obteyned in that behalfe, vnder such paines and penalties as can or
may be inflicted on the offender and offenders therein for the contempt of this
our royall comand; and further, to be answerable to the said Paul Clowdesly,
William Sherrard, and Peter Duclen, their executors, administrators, and

page_text: assignes, according to the vtmost rigour of the law for their damages thereby
susteyned. And further, wee do by these sente, for vs, our heires and
successors, give and grant vnto the said Paul Clowdesly, William Sherrard,
and Peter Duclen, their executors, administrators, and assignes, full power
and authority that they, and every of them, their and every of their deputies,
agente, and servante, from time to time during the said terme, having first
obteyned a warrant in that behalfe from the Lord Cheife Justice of our Court
of King Bench for the time being, with the assistance of a constable or other
lawful officer, at convenient times in the day, may enter into any place or
places within our Kingdome of England, Dominion of Wales, or Towne of
Berwick-vpon-Tweed, aswell within liberties as without, where there shall be
cause of suspicon (excepting within the lymitte of the charters granted to the
Company of Weavers, London), for the finding and discovering of all such
pson or psons as shall make, imitate, counterfeit, resemble, or vse the said new
Invencon, or cause the same to be made, imitated, counterfeited, resembled,
or vsed; and shall and may in like manner, with such warrant as aforesaid,
and in company with one of the bayliffe or wardens of the said Company of
Weavers, London, for the time being, or such other pson as shall be by the.
said bayliffe and wardens from time to time therevnto authorized and ap-
pointed, at convenient times in the day, enter into any place or places within
the said lymitte of the said Companyes charters, where there shall be iust
cause of suspicon, for discovering and finding out of all or any such psons as
shall vse, counterfeit, resemble, or imitate the said new Invenĉon as aforesaid,
that soe the offender or offenders may be peceded against and punished
according to the vtmost rigor of the law; the said Paul Clowdesly, William
Sherard, and Peter Duclen, their executors, administrators, and assignes, from
time to time giving due notice of such searches to be from time to time made
in the places last menconed to the said bayliffe and wardens of the said
Company for the time being, some or one of them. And our royall will and.
pleasure is, that all and every the aforesaid deputies, servante, agente, and-
workmen, or any other psons whatsoever, who shall at any tyme during the-
said terme of fourteen yeares, by virtue of these our Letters Patente, excise-
or weave the said black plain, alamodes, ranforcees, lutestringe, silk, or any of
them, within London, and twenty miles distance of the said citty, shall be such.
persons onely as have lawfully served as apprentices to the said art of weaving,
and as shall from time to time be members of the said Corporacon of Weavers,
London. Provided always, and our will and pleasure is, and the said Paul
Clowdesly, William Sherard, and Peter Duelen, for themselves, their execu-
tors, administrators, and assignes, do covenant and promise to and with vs,

page_text: our heires and successors, in manner following, (that is to say.) that they, the-
said Paul Clowdesly, William Sherard, and Peter Duclen, their executors,
administrators, agente, servante, or assignes, or some of them, shall and will,
once in every three moneths during the effect and continuance in force of
this our grant, make and give, vpon their or some of their oath or oaths
to be taken before one or more of the Barons of our Exchequer for
the time being, true and just account to the best and vtmost of their
respective knowledges and beleifes vnto such pson or psons as by vs, our
heires or successors, or by the Commissioners of our Treasury now being, or the
High Treasurer or Comissioners of the Treasury for the time being of vs, our
heires or successors, shall be by writeing in that behalfe appointed. of the
number and length of the respective peices of silke aforesaid, made, lustrated,
and dressed from time to time by them, the said Paul Clowdesly, William
Sherard, and Peter Duelen, their executors, administrators, and assignes, or
their agent, workmen, or servante, by virtue of these our Letters Patente,
and of the number of looms and of the severall persons names who shall from
time to time in pursuance of this our grant be employed in making, lustrateing,
and dressing of the said silke, with the respective places of their abodes; and
further, that they, the said Paul Clowdesly, William Sherard, and Peter
Duelen, their executors, administrators, and assignes, or some of them, shall
and will, once in every three moneths during the effect and continuance in
force of this our grant, well and truely pay or cause to be paid for the vse of
vs, our heires and successors, vnto to such pson or psons as by vs, our heires
or successors, or the Commissioners of our Treasury now being, or by the
High Treasurer or Commissioners of the Treasury for the time being of vs,
our heires and successors, shall be by writeing in that behalfe appoynted, the
sum of two shillinge of lawfull money of England for each piece of the said
silk, not exceeding the length of sixty clle, which shall be made, lustrated,
or dressed as aforesaid by them, the said Paul Clowdesly, William Sherard,
and Peter Duclen, their executors, administrators, or assignes, or theire agent (
or workmen, by force or vertue of these our Letters Patente, and so ppor-
Conably for any peice above sixty elle long; and our will and pleasure is and
weo do hereby grant that the account and account so to be made as afore-
said and the duplicates thereof, signed by the pson or psons to be appointed as
aforesaid (who are hereby required from time to time to signe the said dupli-
cates accordingly), shall be from time to time finall and conclusive to vs, our
heires and successors, without further examinacon in our Court of Excheq, or
elsewhere, or otherwise howsoever, and also that the receipt and receipt(
vnder the hand of such pson or psons so to be appointed as aforesaid, shall

page_text: be from time to time good and sufficient discharges in law to them, the said
Paul Clowdesly, William Sherard, and Peter Duclen, and every of them, their
and every of their executors and administrators, against vs, our heires and
successors, for all such sume and suññes of money as shall be conteyned in
such receipt, and without any further or other account, charge, or demand
to be made or given to or by vs, our heires or successors, of or for any of
the said silk or mony due or payable to vs, our heires or successors, for
the same, any lawe, custome, vsage, charge in our Court of Exchequer or
elsewhere, or other matter or thing whatsoever, to the contrary in any wise
notwithstanding. And the said Paul Clowdesly, William Sherard, and Peter
Duelen do further covenant with vs, by these psente, that they or some of
them, their or some of their executors, administrators, and assignes, shall
forthwith deliver vnto vs such an account in writing of the whole mistery
of lustrating or dressing the said silke, so that a master weaver may on
pvsall of the said account be able effectually to dresse and lustrate any the
silk afore-menconed (yet not to do the same during the continuance in force
of this our grant contrary to the purport or effect thereof). And the said
Peter Duelen doth by these sente covenant, promise, and grant to and
with vs, our heires and successors, that he, the said Peter Duclen, shall
and will forthwith teach and fully instruct the Psent wife of him, the said
Peter Duclen, being an English woman, in the said art or Invenčon, and shall
and will also bring vp and instruct one or more of his children borne in
England in the excise and practice thereof; and that he, the said Peter Duclen,
shall in like manner discover and shew vnto the said Paul Clowdesly and
William Sherard, his partners, his vtmost knowledge and skill in the said art,
luvenčon, or manufacture which he hath not yet disclosed to them, and shall
and will so instruct them therein as to make them pfect and absolute masters
of the said art, manufacture, or Invenĉon for the better advantage, practiceing,
and exciseing of the same, in case they or either of them be yet deficient in
any thing relateing therevnto; and the said Paul Clowdesly, William Sherard,
and Peter Duelen, for themselves, their executors, administrators, and
assignes, do further covenant and promise to and with vs, our heires and suc-
cessors, by these sente, that they, the said Paul Clowdesly, William Sherard,
and Peter Duclen, their executors, administrators, or assignes, or some of
them, shall and will, at the expiracon of seaven yeares next ensueing the date
of these our Letters Patente, take and entertaine three persons, being our
natural borne subiects, to be their apprentices to the said art or mistery for
the terme of seaven yeares at the least, and shall and will, in like manner, at
the end of tenn yeares next ensucing the date of these pseute, take and

page_text: entertaine, three other psons, being also our naturall borne subiecte, for the
terme of scaven yeares at the least, to be apprentices to the said art or mis-
tery, and shall and will, from time to time dureing the said respective termes
of seaven yeares at the least, well and pfeetly teach, instruct, and bring vp the
said severall apprentices in the knowledge and excise of the said art, mistery,
or Invencon, so as to make them absolute masters of the same: Provided
always, that if at any time dureing the continuance of this our grant in force
it shall happen that any of our subiccts or any forreigners (except such psons
as have learned the said art from the said Paul Clowdesly, William Sherard,
and Peter Duelen, theire executors, administrators, or assigues, or some of
them), shall sent him and themselves to vs or vnto the Commissioners of our
Treasury now being, or the Treasurer or Commissioners of the Treasury of vs, our
heires or successors for the time being, and that on a full hearing of both parties
before vs, our heires or successors, such pson or psons Psenting him or them-
selves as aforesaid, shall make it appeare that he or they are masters of the
whole art of makeing, lustrateing, and dressing the said lutestringe, ranforcees,
and alamodes, and shall pduce one or more peice or peices of the said silke by
him or them made, lustrated, and dressed to the same perfeccon with any of the
said respective silke made, lustrated, and dressed by the said Paul Clowdesly,
William Sherard, and Peter Duclen, their executors, administrators, agente,
or assignes, or any of them, and that such other pson or psons aforsd did not
learne or were not instructed in the said art from or by the said Paul
Clowdesly, William Sherard, and Peter Duclen, their executors, adminis-
trators, agente, servante, or assignes, or any of them, that they, the said Paul
Clowdesly, William Sherard, and Peter Duelen, their executors, adminis-
trators, and assignes, shall and will readily take in and employ such pson or
psons in the said worke or manufacture, vpon such termes and vnder such
condicons and restricčons as on a hearing of the partyes of both sides,
wee, our heires or successors, shall think fitt to direct and appoint, any
thing herein-before conteyned to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.
And further, wee do by these sente, for vs, our heires. and successors, will,
authorize, require and coñand all and singular our justices of the peace,
mayors, sheriffe, bayliffe, constables, headboroughs, and all other officers and
ministers whatsoever of vs, our heires and successors, now and for the time
being whom it may concerne, that they and every of them respectively be
from time to time during the terme hereby granted, in their respective offices,
according to their and every of their best skill and endeavours, ayding,
helping, and assisting vuto the said Paul Clowdesly, William Sherard; and
Peter Duelen, their executors, administrators, and assignes, deputycs, agente,

page_text: and servante, in and by all thing in and about the accomplishment of our
royall will and pleasure, herein-before declared, and in the execučon of the
several powers and privileges hereby granted, as aforesaid. And moreover,
wee do by these psente, for vs, our heires and successors, will and command,
that our said respective officers and ministers, before menconed, or any of
them, do not, nor shall at any time hereafter during the terme hereby granted,
in any wise molest, trouble, or hinder the said Paul Clowdesly, William Sherard,
and Peter Duclen, their executors, administrators, or assignes, their lawfull
deputyes, agente, or servante, in or about the vse or excise of the aforesaid
Invenčon, or any part thereof, or any thing relateing thereto Provided also,
and these our Letters Patente are and shall be vpon this condičon, that if at
any time during the said terme of fourteen yeares hereby granted it shall be
made appeare to vs, our heires or successors, or any six or more of our or their
Privy Councill, that this our grant is contrary to law, or piudiciall or incon-
venient to our subiecte in generall, or that the Invencen before menconed is
not a new Invenčon as to the publick vse and excise of the same within this
our realme, and not invented and found out by the said Paul Clowdesly,
William Sherard, and Peter Duclen, or some of them, as aforesaid, then vpon
significacon and declaracon of such iudice or inconveniency to be made by
vs, our heires and successors, vnder our or their signet or privy seale, or by
the Lord or others of our or theire Privy Councill, or any six or more of them,
vnder their bande, these our Letiers Patente shall forthwith cease, determine,
and be ytterly void to all intente and purposes, any thing herein-before con-
teyned to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided alsoe, that these our Letters
Patente, or any thing herein conteyned, shall not extend or be construed to
extend to give priviledge vnto the said Paul Clowdesly, William Sherard, and
Peter Duclen, theire executors, administrators, or assignes, to imitate any
invencon or worke whatsoever which hath been heretofore invented or found
out by any other of our subiecte whatsoever and publickly excised within our
kingdome or dominion aforesaid, or either of them, to whom wee have already
granted our like Letters Patent of priviledge for the sole excise and benefitt
thereof, it being our will and pleasure that the said Paul Clowdesly, William
Sherard, and Peter Duclen, their executors, administrators, and assignes, and
all and singular other pson and psons to whom wee have already granted our
like Letters Patente, shall distinctly vse and practice their severall Invencons
by them respectively found out, according to the true meaning of such our
Letters Patent and of these psente. And lastly, wee do hereby, for vs, our
heires and successors, grant vnto the said Paul Clowdesly, William Sherard,
and Peter Duelen, their executors, administrators, and assignes, that these our

page_text: Letters Patente, or the inrollment thereof, shall be and continue in and by all
thing good, valid, firme, and effectuall in the lawe, according to the true
meaneing of the same, notwithstanding the not full and certaine describing or
menconing of the said Invencon, art, or manufacture, or of the materialle,
ways, or meanes of making, vseing, or exciseing of the same, or of the certaine
vse or benefitt thereof, or any other defect, incertainety, or impfeccon in these
sent, or any act, statute, provision, proclamacon, or restriccon heretofore had,
made, or pvided, or to be hereafter had, made, or pvided, or any other matter,
cause, or thing whatsoever, to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.
In witnesse, &c. Witnesse ourselfe at Westñi, the Three-and-twentieth
day of November.
By Writt of Privy Seale.