Year: 1636

page_text: CHARLES, by the grace of God, Kinge of England, Scotland, France,
and Ireland, Defender of the Fayeth, &c., to all to whome theise psente shall
come, greeting..
WHEREAS in our princely consideračon of the necessary vse of sworde,
fanchions, skeynes, and rapyers' within our realmes and domynions, aswell
for private as for publique service, wee have found itt behoofefull in policie; of
state for our owne honnor and good of the comonwealth, that the moste vsefull
and necessary manufacture of makeing of sworde, blades, fanchions, skeynes,
and rapyer blades, by which alone whole townes and multitudes of people are
mainteyned in parte.beyond the seas, should be planted and cherished within
our realmes of England and Ireland, our owne domynions affoarding all
materialle thèrevnto belonginge as good and plentifull and rather better, cheape
then any other forraigne kingdome whatsoever, by the establishing of which so
comodious and needefull à manufacture in theise realmes not only many of our
subiect will bee sett on worke, and drawne from that habitt of idlenes, .which
is the bane of cömonwealthes, to 'bee ymployed in honeste labors, whereby to
mainteyne themselves and famylies, and doe good: to others, but alsoe.ourselfe
and: our, subiect shall for all "private and publique occasions bee furnished
att home of those moste vsefull and necessary armes and weapons att moderate
and easie prices without. depending vpon the will of others, whoe for the
Psent have power in that particuler to furnish vs and our subiect with :false
ware and att deere rates, or otherwise to disarme vs att theire will and pleasure:
And whereas our trustie and welbeloved subiecte BENIAMYNE STONE, Sword-

page_text: blade Maker, att his greate coste and charges, by his industrie, skill, and
endeavors, hath lately broughte to. pfeccon "THE ARTE, SKILL, AND SECRETT OF
TRUE FORGING, HARDENING, GRINDING, GLASING, TEMPERING, AND WORKEING BY
THE HELPE OF MILL OR MILLE OF BLADES, FANCHIONS, SKEYNES, RAPIER BLADES,
AND BLADES SERVING FOR REST OF MUSKETTE, AND ALL OTHER SORTES OF BLADES,"
and hath alsoe pvided choice and experte workemen, and. erected and sett vpp
sundry mille of diverse formes and fashions for the forging, grinding, and
glasinge of the saide blade not heretofore in knowne vse and practice within
our saide domynions :
KNOWE YEE THEREFORE, that wee, tendring our owne honnor and the
publique weale, of, our saide realmes and domynions, and, willing to give
encouragement for the settinge forward of soe good and necessary a worke as
the planting and establishing of the saide manufacture and trade within our
realmes and domynions aforesaide, att the humble suite of the saide Beniamyn
Stone, and in consideračon and recompence of the greate charge and expence
the saide Beniamyne Stone hath beene att, in, and aboute the finding out and
perfecting of the saide arte and manufacture, of our especiall grace, certayne
knowledge, and incere močon, have gyven and graunted, and by theise psente
for vs, our heires and successors, doe give and graunte vnto the saide
Beniamyne Stone, his executors, administrators, and assignes, full and sole
lycense, lybertie, power, priviledge, and authoritie, that hee and they,, and his
and theire assignes, by him and themselves, his or theire deputies, factors, or
servaunt, or any other by his or theire.alloweance and appointment, and noe
other person or psons
whatsoever, shall and may at all tymes, and from tyme to
tyme for and dureing all the terme of yeares hereafter in and by theise sente
graunted; make and worke or cause. to bee made and wrought all and all
manner of sworde blades, fanchions, skeynes, rapyer. blades, and blades serving
for rest of muskette, of any fashion or kind whatsoever within. our saide
realmes of England and. Ireland,, and the domynions of Wales, and the towne
of Barwicke, and every of them, according to the saide,way and invenčon soe
by him devised as aforesaide, and shall and may alsoe freely.putt to sale, sell,
and vtter att moderate rates any such sworde blades, fanchions, skeynes, rapyer
blades; or blades serving for reste of muskette of any sorte, fashion, or kinde
whatsoever soe made as aforesaide within. our saide realmes or 'domynion to
his or theire moste proffitt, benefitt, and advantage;. and to the intente that the
said Beniamyne Stone, his executors, administrators, and assignes, shall and
may 'enioye the full and sole: benefitt and proffitt of makeing and workeing of
the saide sworde blades, fanchions, skeynės, rapyer blades, and other the
Pmisses of any sorte, fashion, or kinde whatsoever wthin our said realmes and

page_text: domynions dureing all the terme of yeares hereafter menconed, accordinge to
lis saide invencon by him soe pfected as aforesaide, our will and pleasure is
and wee doe by theise psente of our further especiall grace, certayne know-
ledge, and mecre močon, of and by our prerogative royall, for vs, our heires
and successors, straightly charge and comaund all and every person and
persons, of what estate, degree, or condicon soever hee or they or any of
them bee, that none of them other then the saide Beniamyne Stone, his
executors, administrators, and assignes, or his or theire deputies, factors,
servaunt, or others by him or them to be named and appointed, doe att any
tyme dureing the saide terme by theise psente graunted, attempte, Psume, or
goc aboute directly or indirectly to make or worke any sworde blades, fanchions,
skeynes, rapyer blades, or other the Pmisses of any sorte, kinde, or fashione
whatsoever, or any manner of the saide tempered or comixed stuffe or mettall
to the same belongeing, by him, the saide Beniamyne Stone, soe invented as
aforesaide, within any our saide realmes of England and Ireland, or the
domynions of Wales, dureing the saide terme hereafter in theise psente
graunted, nor shall ymitate, counterfeite, or strike the nowe marke or stampe
of the saide Beniamyne Stone, called The Bunch of Grapes, by him nowe
vsed and stamped vpon all manner of blades made or to bee made by him, his
executors or assignes, dureing the saide terme, vpon payne of forfeyture of all.
such blades, and tempered or comixed stuffe or mettle as shall bee soe found,
made, or wrought, contrary to the true intent and meaning of theise sente, as
alsoe vpon such further paynes; penalties, and punishment as by the lawes
and statutes of this realme, or by our prerogative royall, can or may bec
inflicted on them for breach or contempt of our royall comaundement in that
behalfe; to have, hould, vse, exercise, and enioye all the saide licences, powers,
libties, priviledges, and authorities vnto the saide Beniamyne Stone, his
executors, administrators, and assignes, from the date of theise psente vnto the
end of the terme and for and durcing the whole terme of fourteene yeares
from thence nexte ensueing, and fully to bee compleate and ended, yeilding and
payeing therefore yearely to vs, our héires and successors, att the receipte of our
Exchequer att Westminster, the yearely rente of fortie shillinge of lawfull money
of England, att the Feaste of Sainte Michaell the Archangell only, and alsoe
further yeilding and payeing vnto vs, our heires and successors, att the receipte
of our Exchequer aforesaide, att the saide feaste yearely, from and after such
tyme as the saide arte and mistery shall bee soe pfected and settled within our
realmes and domynions aforesaide by the saide Beniamyne Stone, his executors
and assignes, as theire shall happen to bee a cessacon or decay of importing from
beyonde seas into our saile realmes or domynion aforesaide of the saide blades as

page_text: aforesaide, such and soe much yearely rente or some of money as shall appeare to
have beene aunswered to vs, our heires or successors, for and in respecte of our
customes, subsidies, and other duties due vppon the saide blades soe imported
as aforesaide in any one yeare for the space of seaven yeares laste paste
'before such cessacon of importacon as aforesaide, according to a medm to bee
thereof indifferently made and caste vpp in that behalfe. And wee doe further
by theise presente, for vs, our heires and successors, give and graunte vnto
the said Beniamyne Stone, his executors, administrators, and assignes, and
every of them, full power and authoritie that hee and they, his and theire
deputies, servaunte, or factors, or any others, by his or theire nõiacon and
appointment, shall and may from tyme to tyme dureing the saide terme
in theise sente graunted, with the assistance of a constable, tithingman, or
headboroughe, or other lawfull officer of any place or places. whatsoever
respectively within our saide realmes of England and Ireland, and the domynion
of Wales and towne of Barwicke, or any of them, aswell within libties as
without, att their will and pleasures, att reasonable and convenient tymes, goe
and enter into any house, warehouse, workehouse, shopp, yard, or other place
or places whatsoever by him or them or any of them suspected, and there
search and see if any sworde blades, fanchions, skeynes, rapyer blades, or other
the misses of any sorte, fashion, or kinde whatsoever, shall bee made or
wroughte within our owne saide domynions by any person or persons, contrary
to the true intente and meaning of theise psente, and the said sworde blades,
fanchions, skeynes, rapyer blades, and other the misses of what sorte,
fashion, or kinde.soever so made as aforesaide, as alsoe all such mixed or
tempered stuffe or mettall Ppared to make such blades, shall and may for and
in the name of vs, our heires or successors, seize and take as forfeyted, the same
seizures to bee and remayne to vs, our heires and successors; and further, of
our more especiall grace, certayne knowledge, and meere močon, wee doe by
theise psente, for vs, our heires and successors, straightly charge and comaund as
well all and every iustice of peace, maiors, sheriffe, constables, bayliffe, head-
boroughes, and all other officers and ministers of vs, our heires and successors,
of and within every cittie, borroughe, towne, or place, aswell within liberties
as without, within either of our saide realmes of England and Ireland, and
the domynion of Wales and towne of Barwicke, that they and every of
them shall from tyme to tyme, dureing the saide terme by theise psente
graunted, bee ayding and assisting to the said Beniamyne Stone, his executors,
administrators, and assignes, and his and theire factors, deputies, and servante,
such as hee, or they shall therevnto name and appointed in the executon of
all and singuler the Pmisses, accordinge to the true intente and meaning of

page_text: theise sente, for his and theire moste benefitt and advantage, vpon payne
of our indignacon and displeasure, and vider such paynes, penalties, and
punishment as by the lawes and statutes of our saide realmes, or by our
prerogative royall, can, or may, bee inflicted vpon them, or any of them, for
their negligence or contempte in that behalfe; and further, of our more
especiall grace, certayne knowledge, and meere močon, for vs, otir heires and
successors, wee doe theise sent require, authorize, charge, and comaund
aswell the Lord Chancellor and Lord Keeper of our Greate Seȧle of England
for the tyme beeing, and the Lord Chancellor and Keeper of our Greate Scale
of England for the tyme beeing, as alsoe the Chauncellor of the Dutchie of
Lancaster for the tyme beeing, and every of them respectively, that they and
every of them respectively doe make or cause to bee made vnto the saide
Beniamyne Stone, his executors, administrators, and assignes, such and soe
many Lřes Pattente; duplicates, costate, and exemplificacons vnder the severall
greate seales of our saide realmes of England and Ireland, and either of them,
and the seale of our saide Dutchie or County Palatyne of Lancaster, of and
cončning all and singuler or any the graunte, guifte, authorities, libties, and
other thing in theise psente conteyned, to bee had, taken, executed, and
performed in our saide realmes of England and Ireland, and the domynion of
Wales, and every of them, as hec or they or any of them shall require; and
theise psente, or the inrollment thereof, shall bee to them and every of them
a sufficient warrant and discharge in that behalfe; without any further or
other warrant from vs, our heires or successors, to bee in that behalfe had or
pcured; and alsoe of our more especiall grace, certayne knowledge, and
meere mocon, wee doe, for vs, our heires and successors, graunte unto the
said Beniamyne Stone, his executors, administrators, and assignes, that theise
Psente; or the inrollment of the same, shall stand and bee, and shall bee con-
strued and taken to bee good, firme, effectuall, and sufficient in the lawe, to and
for all the intent and purposes before menčoned, and shalbee adiudged most
strongly againste vs, our heires or successors, and moste availeably and bene-
ficially to and for the saide Beniamyne Stone, his executors, administrators,
and assignes, in all our courte of iustice in either of our saide realmes of England
and Ireland, or elsewhere, without any other or further confirmacons, licences,
or tolleračons from vs, our heires or successors hereafter in any wise to bee
procured or obteyned, notwithstandinge the not particuler or not exacte de-
scribeing of the said arte, skill, way or invenĉon of makeing or workeing the
said sworde blades, skeynes, rapier blades, and other the pmisses of any sorte,
fashion, or kind whatsoever, and notwithstanding the not particuler descripcon
of the mille, instrumente, tooles, engynes, or devices belonging or to be vsed

page_text: in the tempering, workeing, makeing, or grinding of the saide blades, or any
former graunte, prohibicon, or restrainte, or any other thing, cause, or matter
whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding: Provided alwaies
that if the saide yearely rente of fortie shilling hereby reserved as aforesaide
shall happen to bee behinde and vnpaied in parte or in all by the space of one
and thirtie dayes nexte after the saide feaste in which the same ought to bee
paied as aforesaide, or if the saide Beniamyne Stone, his executors, adminis-
trators, or assignes, shall not inroll or cause to bee inrolled this our sent
graunte before the Clarke of the Pipe for the tyme beeing within sixe
moneths after the date hereof, that then the saide Beniamyne Stone, his
executors, administrators, or assignes, shall forfeyte and pay vnto vs, our
beires, and successors, aswell the some of sixe shillinge eighte pence, noie pene,
for every moneth in which the saide rente shall bee behind nexte after the saide
feaste of payment as aforesaide, as alsoe the some of sixe shilling eighte pence,
nōie pene, for every sixe moneths default of the inrollment of theise psente
before the saide Clarke of the Pipe for the tyme beeing as aforesaide; provided
alsoe, and our will and pleasure is, that if att any tyme dureing the saide terme of
fourteene yeares, if itt shall appeare vito vs, our heires or successors, or vnto the
Lord and others of our Privie Councell of vs, our heires and successors, that this
graunt is contry to our lawes, or in any sorte mischeevous or inconvenient to
the state, then, vpon significačon and declaračon to bee made by vs, our heires
or successors, vnder our signett or privie seale, or from the Lorde and others
of the Privie Councell, or sixe or more of them, of such Piudice and incon-
venience, theise our Lřes Pattente shall forthwith cease, determyne, and bec
vtterlie voide, and wee doe hereby graunte, for vs, our heires and successors,
that theise our Lies Patente, or the irollment thereof, shall bee firme, good,
and effectuall, according to the true meaning of the same, although expresse
mencon, &c.
In witnes. &c. Witnes our selfe at Westin, the Nineth day of July.