St. Margaret's in Friday-street. Sir Rowland Heyward served the rest of his Time, which was six Weeks.

The present Master and Wardens of this Company are, Mr. James Hulbert, Primer Warden, or Master, elected at Midsummer 1718. This Gentleman is about erecting a fair Almshouse adjoining to the Company's Hospital at Newington, with an Endowment for 20 Freemen of the said Company. The Care whereof, after his Death, he leaves by his Will to the Fishmongers.

The other Wardens are, Mr. Charles Loringe, Mr. Roger Hazard, Mr. William Procter, Mr. Samuel Sheafe, Mr. Nathaniel Micklethwaite.

THE GOLDSMITHS were incorporated and confirmed in the sixteenth Year of King Richard II. [The Arms ancient: the Crest and Supporters were added and granted by Robert Cooke, Clarencieux, Anno Dom. 1571, [13 Regin' Eliz' Approved and entred at a Visitation made by Sir Henry St. George, Anno 1634.

The ancient Mutiny in the City between the Goldsmiths and the Fishmongers, for Precedency, would not be appeased: The Discord remaining, a Proclamation was made by the Maior and Aldermen, by their own Authority, without any other Warrant, that the Rebels should return to Peace; and that none should receive them under pain of Forfeiture of Life. And Note, That some of them were Bannifiati, i.e. Banished, and expelled the City, and deprived of their Freedom, because they would not render themselves to Peace.

In the Year 1574, one William Sutton discovered and informed the Lord Treasurer of several Frauds used by many of the Goldsmiths in those times; being employed to search their Shops for unduly wrought Silver and Gold Plate. Who took away a great deal such, and sealed it up. And there were several Men sworn before Sir Rowland Hayward, Maior; who were ready to shew, by whom, and when these Deceits were done. The Abuses in Gold Wares were such, that many in buying were wronged five Shillings in the Ounce; in some Wares eight Shillings; in some thirteen Shillings; and in some Wares more. The Abuses in Silver Wares were, when the Loss to the Buyer ought not to have been six Pence, it had been three Shillings in some things; in some five Shillings; in some six Shillings; and in some more. And this appeared by the Warden of the Goldsmiths Books, wherein the Faults of the deceitful Workers, Sellers, and Putters to Sale were registred. And also many Biliments, Chains, Tablets, Buttons, and such like, which were commonly worn, or to be shewed, made this also appear. And the Finers also, who proved the same true by their Wast in Fining. And this said Plate, that for its Deficiency was taken and sealed up, was examined before Secretary Smith, who was well studied in the Quality and Nature of Metals: and he was able to satisfie all Persons, that there was not one Piece but was against the Laws of the Realm, the Ordinance of the House, and their own Oaths.

Many had devised Works, wherein they had bestowed Copper, Lattin, Sother, and such like things, whereby the Buyers might be deceived. These Deceits were practised from the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign to this time, when it was thus complained of.

Out of this Company of Goldsmiths once a Year a Jury is taken, consisting of 24 Persons. Who go up to the Court; and then in the Presence of the Lords of the Council, some Pieces of every sort of Money coined the foregoing Year, and that had been taken out of the Mint, is exactly assayed and weighed. Which Pieces were taken at adventures out of the said Mint, and kept under several Locks by several Persons till this time. And hereby special Care is taken, that the English Coin want neither Purity nor Weight.

The Hall of this Company escaped in part the great Fire, being a fair Structure of smoothed Brick, with a spacious Quadrangle paved with Free-Stone; situate in Foster Lane near St. John Zachary's. Here remain the Pictures of Sir Martin Bowes and Sir Hugh Willoughbie, both of this Company, great Benefactors to it, and sometimes Lord Maiors of London. The latter a Man never to be forgotten, for bringing in the New River Water into the City. For the Rents whereof he gave then 30l. a Year to this Company; which are now worth to them near 300l. a Year.

This Company obtained Charters from divers Kings and Queens of this Realm. First, Edward the Third, upon the Suit of the Goldsmiths of London, suggesting to him how that many Persons of that Trade, by Fire and the Smoak of Quick-silver, had lost their Sight; and that others of them, by their working in that Trade, became so crazed and infirm, that they were disabled, but by Relief from others; and that divers of the said City, compassionating the Condition of such, were disposed to give and grant divers Tenements and Rents in the City, to the Value of 20l. per Ann. to the Company of the said Craft, towards the Maintenance of the said Blind, Weak and Infirm, and also of a Chappel to celebrate Mass among them every day, for the Souls of all the Faithful departed, according to an Ordinance in that behalf to be made; Did by his Letters Patents, for the Consideration of a Fine of ten Marks, for himself and his Heirs, grant and give license to the Men of the Community aforesaid, that they might purchase Tenements and Rents in the same City of the said value, for the Purposes aforesaid, the Statute of Mortmain, or any other Statute to the contrariwise.

But for want of naming Persons capable in this Grant of King Edward III. the Company again petitioned K. Richard II. importing as much. And the King yielded to their Petition, as followeth.

The said King Richard II. granted the same Company, in consideration of twenty Marks by them paid, License, "That from henceforth they might be a perpetual Community or Society of themselves: And that they might for ever yearly elect out of themselves four Wardens to oversee, cross, rule, and duly govern the said Craft and Community, and every Member. And further, That they might purchase, and have to themselves and their Successors, Tenements and "