| Chap. 112. |
Weights and Measures.
and partly from the abuse of divers Corporate Towns, and other Priviledged
Places or Liberties, where they by usurped Custom (without any
good warrant of Law) have used to have, and to buy by such Measures.
And
where the Clerk of the Market for the King hath forborn or neglected
to meddle, in regard perhaps of their Corporation, Liberty, or some
other
respect. But this abuse two Justices of Peace (the one being
of the
Quorum)
may reform, sc. Two Justices of Peace of the County, where
there be no
Justices of Peace within that Corporation, &c. |
251 |
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Also the Clerk of the Market for the Kings House
may reform this in
all places within the Verge, 27 H. 8. c. 24. |
§. 17.
Clerk of
the Market |
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And yet by the words of the Statutes of 25 E.
3.
c. 10. & 34 E. 3. c. 6.
the Rents and Farms of Lords, shall be measured by such Measures as
they
were wont to be, whether it were by heaped measure, or greater measure
than the Statute appointeth. |
his Office. |
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And note, That the Clerk of the Market shall carry
with him all his
Weights and Measures signed according to the Standard of the Exchequer,
16 Rich. 2. c. 3. And the Justices of Peace may,
yea, ought, for to fit with
the Clerk of the Market at his coming into the Country, &c. |
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Sir Francis Harvey hath often delivered in
his Charge at Cambridge Assizes,
these directions, sc. That one Justice of Peace at the
least, ought to
fit with the Clerk of the Market, to see that the Kings Subjects be
not
wronged. And that the Clerk of the Market ought to have with
him his
directions out of the Exchequer. And that he may take
no Mony for any
Bills, &c, and that he ought to Seal no Bushel, or other Measures
or
Weights, but once (and not yearly as they use to do:) And that
if after
the first sealing, he shall take any thing for the sealing thereof
again, or
for the shewing thereof, &c. it is Extortion; yea, it is one of
the greatest
oppressions (saith he) for that it concerneth almost all men. |
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It was resolved Nemine contradicente by all
the Justices, M. 39 & 40
El. That if the Clerk of the Market claim Fees for examining and
seeing
any Bushels or other things before sealed, the same was a great
Extortion,
and no Fee is due unto him; therefore, for such seeing and examining
is
to no other end than to find and discover abuses in Weights and
Measures.
And those that they find false, their duty is to damn and reform
them, and
upon lawful Presentments to punish the Offenders by Americiaments,
which
belong to the King. And this agrees with the Statute of
13 R.
2. cap. 4.
And if such use hath been through Covetousness or Greediness of corrupt
Officers, that use may not make a Law. Which Case you may see
Moor
Rep. p. 523. |
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The Clerk of the Market's duty is to take Charge
of the King's Measures,
and to keep the Standard of them, that is, The Examples and Patterns of
all the Measures that ought to be throughout the Realm, as of Ells, Yards,
Quarts, Pottles, Gallons, &c. of Weights, Bushels, and such
like, and to see
that all Measures in every place be answerable to the said Standard or
Pattern,
Flet. 1. c. 8, 9. &c. And he is to have with him, when
he goeth to assay Weights
and Measures signed according to the Standard, and none other his Weights
and Measures, 16 R. 2. c. 3. |
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For the Assize of Bread, I refer you to the Books
made for the Assize
thereof, and will only set you down some short Observations therein. |
§. 18.
Bread. |
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1. All sorts of Bread ought to be weighed
by Troy weight. |
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2. Post septem dies, panis non pondereiur. |
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3. The Bakers shall not sell to any Victualler,
&c. to be retailed, but
only Thirteenth penny worth for Twelve pence, as well Mans Bread as
Horse Bread. |
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