The quality of wares and the prices asked for them were supervised, and
fair dealing was enforced, by officers. Sometimes, as at Oxford, these
were specially appointed for the discharge of their duties. In London
they were the masters or wardens of the crafts, otherwise the
associations of members of one trade. When many of the crafts had
developed into the livery companies the officials of the latter
inherited the inspectorial functions of the wardens.
1393. Ordinance by the mayor and aldermen of London as to markets of
West Cheap and Cornhill.
... That the masters or those assigned thereto of each trade of which
the wares are brought to the said markets shall have power, together
with the beadle of the ward or other officer thereto assigned, to
survey, assay and stop all false and defective wares, in the markets
aforesaid or elsewhere exposed for sale, and to present the same to the
chamberlain to be there adjudged upon as to whether they are
forfeitable or not; and further to arrest to the use of the said
chamber all other things and wares in hostels or other places exposed
for sale against the form.... Of the which forfeitures so by the said
masters, or others thereto assigned, taken and adjudged as forfeited,
the said masters or persons thereto assigned shall have one third part
for their trouble.
Riley, _Memorials of London_, 532.
1556. _Of the clerks of the market of Oxford and of the fixing of
prices._
The clerks of the market should be chosen of such as have experience of
the prices which, for necessity or convenience, pertain to food and
clothing, and of such as have knowledge, power and will faithfully and
diligently to fill the office enjoined on them. Especially it behoves
them to see that no fraud is committed as regards the measures and
weights and quality of all foodstuffs and of all things which belong to
clothing, and to observe the statutes and ordinances issued in this
behoof; and since, for the most part, among these commodities, high
prices greatly flourish, the clerk should summon to his aid the
presidents of colleges and such others of the university as he knows to
be fit for the business, and should consult with them as to what course
can be taken to render the prices lower.
Oxford Hist. Soc., _Collectanea_, II. 104.
1468. The assize[11] of a tallowchandler is that he selleth salt,
oatmeal, soap and other divers chaffer, that his weights and measures
be assized[12] and sealed and true beam. For when he buyeth a pound of
tallow for an halfpenny, he shall sell a pound of candle for a penny,
that is a farthing for the wick and the wax and another farthing for
the workmanship. And right as tallow higheth and loweth, so he for to
sell his candle. And if his stuff be not good, or any he lack of his
weight, or any he sell not after the price of tallow, he to be amerced,
the first time twelvepence, the second time twentypence, the third time
fortypence, and to forfeit all that is forfeitable; and he to be judged
according to the form of statutes.
Printed in Strype's edition of Stow's _Cal. of Close_, Book V. 344.
[11] Regulation.
[12] According to regulation.
1327. John de Causton, citizen of London, has shown the king, by
petition before him and his council, that John Dergayn, the late king's
ulnager, in the eighth year of his reign, took five pieces of John's
striped cloth of Gaunt (Ghent) outside his shop in Boston Fair,
asserting that they were not of the assize, and that they were
therefore forfeited to the late king, and delivered to Ralph de Stokes,
then keeper of the king's wardrobe, and that it was afterward found, by
enquiry made by the said king's order before the treasurer and barons
of the Exchequer, that the cloth was of the assize and ought not thus
to be forfeited, and that the cloth was worth 22-1/2 marks; ... and he
has prayed the king to cause that sum to be allowed to him.
_Cal. of Close_, 1327-30, 86.
1366. On the 14th day of October ... John Edmond of Esthamme (East
Ham), cornmonger, of the county of Essex, was brought before John
Lovekyn, mayor, and the aldermen at the Guildhall, for that he had
exposed for sale at Grascherche (Gracechurch) one quarter of oats in a
sack, and had put a bushel of good oats at the mouth of the sack, all
the rest therein being corn of worse quality and of no value, in deceit
of the common people.
Being questioned as to which falsity, how he would acquit himself
thereof, the same John did not gainsay the same. Therefore it was
adjudged that he should have the punishment of the pillory, to stand
upon the same for one hour of the day.
Riley, _Memorials of London_, 333.
1363. On the 9th day of the month of November ... William Cokke of Hees
(Hayes) was taken because that on the same day he, the same William,
carrying a sample of wheat in his hand, in the market within Newgate in
London followed one William, servant of Robert de la Launde, goldsmith,
who wanted to buy wheat, from sack to sack, and said that such wheat as
that he would not be able to buy at a lower price than 21 pence;
whereas on the same day and at that hour the same servant could have
bought such wheat for 21 pence.
Upon which the same William Cokke being questioned, before the mayor,
recorder, and certain of the aldermen, he acknowledged that he had done
this to enhance the price of wheat, to the prejudice of all the people.
It was therefore awarded by the said mayor and aldermen that the said
William Cokke should have the punishment of the pillory.
Riley, _Memorials of London_, 314.
1362-90.
To Wye and to Wychestre I went to the faire,
With many menere marchandise as my Maistre me hight,[13]
Ne had the grace of guile ygo[14] amonge my ware,
It had be unsolde this sevene yeare, so me god helpe!
_The Vision of Piers the Plowman_, Lines 205 _et seq._
[13] Told.
[14] Gone.