Hall marks on gold & silver plate

xxviii INTRODUCTION.
In 1601, it is noted that there was a "Latten spoon stamped
v/ith a mark nearly resembling the touch."*
The complaints were not always from the Goldsmiths' Com-
pany, for we read that in December, 161 5, one Round, a goldsmith,
who worked as a spoon maker, had transgressed, and sold to free
brothers of the Pewterers' Company, all of whom were forbidden
to buy from him.
A little later the Goldsmiths' Company again took exception
to the proceedings of the Pewterers, and the following entry appears
in the minutes of the former Company for 1635 :
"
Mention of pewter marked like silver. Petition to be sent to
the Lords of the Council pointing out the impolicy of allowing
pewterers to stamp pewter with <strong>marks</strong> in imitation of those placed
upon goldsmiths' and silversmiths' work."t
Next year another entry alluding to " Mention of pewter with
silver <strong>marks</strong> thereon. "+
The outcome of the petition to the Lords of the Council seems
to have been that on March 17, 1636, an order from the Lord Mayor
and the Court of Aldermen, concerning the striking of the <strong>marks</strong>
proper to the goldsmith, was read to the Pewterers' Company and
ordered to be observed.
Although the Pewterers, as a Company, professed obedience
to this, as to other orders, it does not appear that the Pewterers, as
individuals, paid the slightest attention to them.
At the Court of the Goldsmiths' Company, held on July 20,
1638, it was recorded that :
"
The Wardens consider the abuse of a pewterer in Holborn,
named Brockelsby, who places four <strong>marks</strong> on his pewter in resemblance
of this Company's stamps upon silver. One of the Wardens
of the Pewterers' Company is sent for, and the clerk reads to him
the letter from the Lords of the Council to Sir Christopher Clith-
erowe, late Lord Mayor, and the order of the Court of Aldermen in
that behalf, and he acknowledges the act of Brockelsby to be a
great abuse.
"
The Wardens desire the W^arden of the Pewterers' Company
to inform his brother Wardens of the facts of the case, and to put
the Order into execution to which ;
he immediately consents.
"
Subsequently the Master and Wardens of the Pewterers' Company
go with the Wardens of this Company to Brockelsby's shop in
Holborn, but nnd there no pewter marked like silver; they discover,
however, two pounsons which are struck double to resemble the
silver stamps. In Brockelsby's absence from the shop, the Wardens
of the Pewterers' Company take the pounsons, and give them to the
Wardens of this Company, who bring them to the <strong>Hall</strong> ; and the
Wardens of the Pewterers' Company promise to punish the offender
at their next Court, and to endeavour a reformation in the general
trade."l|
* Ibid., Vol. I, p. 100.
t I&jV., Vol. I, p. 168.
I Ibid., Vol. I, p. 169.
II Ibid., Vol. I, p. 183.