Hall marks on gold & silver plate

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HALL MARKS ON PLATE.
EXPORTS FORBIDDEN.
A.D. 1 381. 5 Richard II, Stat, i, c. 2 The export of gold and
silver in any shape is forbidden (" or et argent si bien monoie vessell
plate et joialx ").*
REPEALED.
GOLDSMITHS' CHARTER.
A.D. 1392. 16 Richard II. Another charter to the Goldsmiths'
Company bearing date February 6 of this year, granted and gave
licence to the men of the said craft of goldsmiths of the City of
London to be a perpetual community or society of themselves, and
elect yearly out of themselves four wardens to oversee, rule and duly
govern the said craft and community, and every member of the same.
A.D. 1402. 4 Henry IV, c. 16. This statute further forbids any
person to carry gold or silver in money, vessel or plate out of the
kingdom without the especial licence of the king.t Repealed.
A.D. 1403. 5 Henry IV, c. 4. Item, it was ordained and established
that no person should use the craft of the multiplication of
gold or silver, and if they did so they should be guilty of felony.
Repealed.:}:
GILDING INFERIOR METALS PROHIBITED.
A.D. 1403. 5 Henry IV, c. 13. Recites, That many fraudulent
artificers do daily make locks, rings, candlesticks, etc., of copper and
latten, and the same do overgild and silver like to gold and silver, to
the great deceit, loss and hindrance of the common people, and the
wasting of gold and silver; and ordains. That no artificer, nor other
man, shall gild nor silver any such locks, rings, beads, candlestick,
harness for girdles (buckles), chalices, hilts nor pommels of swords,
powder boxes, nor covers for cups, made of copper or latten, upon
pain to forfeit to the king one hundred shillings every time, and to
make satisfaction to the party grieved for his damages; but that
(chalices always excepted) the said artificers may work ornaments
for the Church of copper and latten, and the same gild or silver, so
that always in the foot or some other part of such ornament the cop-
per and latten shall be plain, that a man may see whereof the thing
is made, for to eschew the deceit aforesaid. REPEALED.
* "The Statutes at Large," Vol. I, page 349.
t This Act is printed in Norman-French in "The Statutes at Large,"
VoL I, page 451.
t " The Statutes at Large," Vol. I, page 457.
Louis XI, King of France, in an ordinance to the goldsmiths of Tours,
January, 1470, authorises them to employ only for ecclesiastical utensils, such
as reliquaries, etc., gold and silver of base alloy, which pieces were to be inscribed
" non venundetur," to certify that they were not destined for commerce.
" The Statutes at Large," Vol. I, page 460.