WHere in the Parlyament holden in the .xxvii. yere of the reigne of oure moste noble Progenytor kynge Edward the thirde, it was enacted and ordeyned amonge other thynges, that all wolpackers and wynders of wolles, should be sworne & take a corporal othe before the Mayre and Constables of the Staple of Westminster, for the tyme beynge, truly and Iustely to wynde and packe all the wolles wythin thys Realme, by force of which estatute and by the good ordinaunces made in y^e sayd estaple, the feloweshippe of wole wynders, otherwyse called wollmen haue euer syns Iustely and truly wounde and packed all suche wolles as they haue medled wyth thro­ughoute thys Realme, vnto nowe of late dyuerse and many persones contrary to the sayd Estatute ta­kyng vpon theim to be wollewynders in many places of thys Realme, neither beyng sworne nor expert in wyndyng and foldyng of wolles, of which some of theim be Taillors, weauers, Cordewayners, Bar­bors, Husbondemen, and other artifycers, haue gone about and daily doe go aboute throughoute thys Realme, in many places, and practyse theim selfes in wyndynge and foldynge of the sayd wolles by the procurement and meanes of the owners and breders of the sayde wolles, and doo wynde vp and dyscey­tefully put in to the sayde Fleeys of wolle, Sande, stones, Duste, Pitche, Tarre, Claye, Yron, Leadd, double markes, shurlockes, dounge, Lāmswolle, and other deceyueable thynges, not onely to the greate slaunder of thys Realme, But also to the slaunder of the marchauntes of the saide Estaple, and lykewyse also to the great hynderaunce and disceite of the sayd marchauntes as also to the great losse & preiudyce of the kynges subiectes vsing the feate or crafte of Clothmakynge within this realme: For reformacion and redresse wherof, the kynges most Royal Maiesty by thaduice of his most honorable coūsail, streight­ly chargeth and commaundeth that no maner of person or persones whatsoeuer he or thei be at any time hereafter goo about, or take vpon hym or theim to wynde or Folde any maner of wolles in any countrey where any end wolles are acustomed to be wrought, had or vsed for the marchaunte of the Staple, or the Clothier, before he or thei shalbe admytted & allowed by the Masters & wardens of the company, and felowshippe of the wolmen of the Cytie of Londō or one of theim for the tyme being, to thētent that he or they shalbe expert and haue knoweledge in the sayd crafte or mysterye, for the true wyndyng and folding of wolles. And that euery person, or persons so allowed and admytted for an able and lawful workeman or workemen by the sayd master and wardeyns or one of theim for the tyme being of the sayd companye or felowshippe of wolmen shal haue a testimonyal, or certificat of his allowaunce and admyttaunce vn­der the Seale of the Mayre of the Staple of Westminster, for the tyme beyng and that none of the sayd persons so allowed and admitted, or that shalbe so allowed & admytted shall go about or take vpon him or theim to wynde, or folde any wolles before he or thei haue taken a corporall othe before the said mayre for the tyme beyng, that he or thei shal truly and Iustely without deceyte, wynde or ffolde all and syngu­ler suche wolle, or wolles as he or they shall take vpon hym or theim to wynde or ffolde, without leauing, or puttyng wythin any flece, or Fleces, any maner Clokketes, Lockes, Hyndershankes, Tailes, was­shelockes, Stones, Sande, Dust, Cummer, or doble markes, or any wolle, or wolles, of worse nature, or growynge, then the same Fleece is, or any other fylth to be left vpon the breeche of any fleece, or fleeces whereby any suche fleece, or fleeces may be empayred, or made weightyet, or mynyshe, or take awaye any parte, or porcion of the goodnes of any of the same fleeces to thentent to deceyue the buyers, ne shall vse [Page] any other deceyte crafte, fraude, or gyle therein vpō payne of imprysonment by the space of tenne Dayes, and to be set vpon the pyllotye in the nexte markette towne wyth a fleece of wolle hangyng aboute hys necke. And his Maiesty by thassēt aforesaid, further straightly chargeth & commaundeth that no grower, breeder, brogar, or gatherer of any wolles wythin any of his graces counties shall at any tyme hereafter set a worke any wollefolder, or wollewynder to folde or wynde his or their wolle or wolles, vnlesse y^e said wollefolder, or wollwinder, bring with him or them a testimonial or certificat vnder the Seale of the said mayre of the Staple of Westminster for the tyme beyng, testyfieng hym or theim to be sworne and ad­mytted for an hable workeman to ffolde and wynde wolles vpon lyke payne and paynes as are and bee aboue expressed. And forasmuche as it is perceiued and certenly knowen, that dyuerse couetous persons nowe of late of their gready and vnsaciable myndes, not beyng contented ne satisfyed wyth such increase of wolles of their shepe, as God hathe geuen theim, but contrary to al godlynes and honestie haue a­bused thesaid gifte of god, in lettinge their said sheepe remaine vnshorne and vnclipte by the space of thre weekes or a moneth, after their saide wasshing and driyng againe of thee same, before they wyll sheere or clyppe theim, to thentent their sayd wolles mought be the weightyer, partely by meanes of their Sweat­yng and partely also through other Fylth whiche dothe encrease by reason of their long dyfferryng the Shearyng and clippyng of the same, aswell to thempairyng of the same wolles, as also to the shameful deceyte of the sayd Marchauntes of the sayd Estaple and the clothyers of this Realme biyng or work­yng of the same. Wherevpō, for thaduoydyng and eschuyng aswell of that crafte and disceyte as al other abouenamed in tyme to come, the kynges moste royall maiestie wyth thassent aforesayd, straightly char­geth and commaundeth that fromhensforthe no grower or breeder of wolles whatsoeuer he or they bee shall permyte or suffer his or their shepe beyng washed and dried agayne ready to be shorne to go aboue fiue or sixe dayes vnshorne, or vnclipte, vpon paine of forfeture for euery hundred of the same Shepe, so remainyng vnclipte as is aboue specifyed forty shillinges, or vnder or aboue an hundred after the same rate, to be payde to oure soueraigne Lorde the kynge in his Exchequer at Westminster. And further hys maiestie by thassent aforsayd streightly chargeth & commaundeth al and euery Iustice of peace, Maires, Sheryffes, Baylyffes and all other Officers and Ministers, that they and euery of theym cause euerye such offender, or offenders to be punished for such offence or offences according as is afore expressed and declared, & that whatsoeuer Iustice of peace, mayre, Sheriffe, Baylyfe, or other officer do refuse to punishe any person or personnes so to hym or theim presented accordyng to this present ordynaunce, and his or their faultes duely knowen and proued, shal forfeite to the kynges maiestie our Soueraigne Lord twen­ty poundes, to be payde in his hyghnes Exchecquet, and further to incurre hys graces high displeasure.

God saue the King.