Whereas Wée are giuen to vnderstand, that by the diggers & getters of Lead-Oare out of the Mynes within this Kingdome of England and the Dominion of Wales, the said Oare is carryed and conueyed vnto diuers Melting or Smelting houses, where the said Oare is melted & made into great Lumpes or péeces of Lead, commonly called Pigges or Sowes of Lead: And that diuers abuses, deceipts, fraudes, practises and deuices are there daily vsed and committed in the melting and making up of the said Sowes or Pigges of Lead, by putting therein great lumpes of Scindars & other vnprofitable stuffe, not only to the disgrace and viliflyng of that commodity, but also to the manifest wrong and preiudice aswell of Us and of the Subiects of our owne Kingdomes, as of all other Nations and Countries which buy and vse the same; For our better satisfaction wherein, wée referred the examination and consideration thereof to certaine our Commissioners. And whereas the said Commissioners haue certified in writing vnder their hands, that it appeareth aswell vpon conference with the Plombers that haue the greatest dealing in Lead, as with sundry Marchants of this our Realme, That the said Information giuen to Us is true, and that a reformation héerin is desired, and that it is a great disgrace to the Lead of this Realme in Forraign parts, that the same abuses are not reformed; and that the same abuse appeared also, not onely by approbation vpon melting of diuers Sowes and Pigges, or quantities of Lead, in which there was found extraordinary waste that was good for nothing; But also by seuerall Certificates from Marchants in Forraigne parts which haue bought of the said English-Lead, and haue certified that there is great deceipt vsed in the said Lead that cōmeth into Forraigne parts out of this our Realme of Eng­land. And that those that do melt the said Lead in Forraign parts, do alwaies find great heauy péeces of vnprofitable stuffe in the midst of the Pigges which can be put to no vse, & that oftentimes they find great stones in the middest therof, to the great losse of those that deale with the same, & for which they could neuer get restitution; the said Marchants shall be forced to giue ouer their dealing with English-Lead, vnlesse the abuses were reformed. And the said Commissioners hath likewise certified vnto Us, that forasmuch [...]eared vnto them, that there is Abuse and deceipt vsed in making vp of Lead, wherof both the Plombars & Marchants desire reformation; They hold it fit & conuenient, that some course should [...] therin, so as neither the Plombar that dealeth with the commodity at home, nor the Marchant that ventureth the same abroad in Forraigne parts, might haue cause to complaine as héertofore [...] done.

[...] hauing had consideration of the premisses, and being very desirous, & holding it in our Princely Iudgment a thing most fit, and properly belonging to our Regall Office, by the best & most spéedy [...] Wée may to preuent, subuert and extinguish fraudes & practises attempted and put in vre for vniust and priuate ends, and for particular lucre and gaine, to the generall detriment and preiudice [...] [...]mmon-wealth of this our Kingdome; attended with the disgrace & discredit of the Marchandizes of the same, and the hindrance of the trade and Traffique of our Subiects in Foraigne parts; [...] [...]th béen famous throughout all Nations. And finding no better way for the effecting therof, then by ymploying some person or persons of trust & skill, who may suruey & sée to the melting & making [...] said Lead into Pigges or Sowes of Lead before it be sent from the melting houses, or by other conuenient meanes may try & proue the goodnes & well making of the said Pigges and Sowes of Lead, [...] [...]her Lead by what name soeuer melted or made, and therupon set a Marke or Stampe on them for the better vnderstanding of the true making vp therof. Of Our certaine Knowledge & méere [...] haue willed, ordained, constituted and appointed, and by these presents, for Us, our Heires and Successors, Doe will, ordaine, constitute and appoint, that for euer héereafter there shall be an [...] [...]hich shall be, and shall be called the Office of Surueyor of Us, our Heires & Successors of Lead. And that there shall be for euer héereafter, one or more person or persons, by Us, our Heires [...] [...]ssors to be nominated & appointed, which shall be, and shall be called the Surueyor & Surueyors of Us, our Heires & Successors of Lead. Unto which Officer & Officers, Wée doe héereby [...] [...]ur Heires & Successors, giue & grant full power, and authority by himselfe or themselues, or his or their sufficient Deputy or Deputies, assigne or assignes, from time to time to repaire vnto all [...] the melting or smelting houses, which now be, or héerafter shall be, within our said Realme of England, and Dominion of Wales, or any part of them, or either of them, where Lead is, or shall [...] or made vp, and there to haue and take a diligent veiw & Suruey of all Lead so melted or made vp within our said Realme & Dominion. And also to ouersée the melting & making vp thereof. [...] [...]vise by all good waies and meanes Hée or they may, to search & try the said Pigges & Sowes, and other quantities or lumpes of Lead so to be made, and vpon approbation thereof, to be good & Mar­ [...] [...] Lead, to set a Marke or Stampe vpon it, whereby the buyer of the same Lead may be assured of the goodnes & well making vp & melting of the same. And to that end & purpose Our will & plea­ [...] [...] wée doe héerby for Us, our Heires & Successors, grant that the said Officer or Officers, shall and may haue a Seale or stampe to be vsed by him, or them, or his or their Deputy or Deputies, [...] may alter, breake, or make a new at his, and their pleasure.

[...]d further, Wée doe héerby for Us, our Heires and Successors, giue power & authority vnto to said Officer and Officers so as aforesaid to be nominated & appointed, by himselfe or themselues, [...] their Deputy or Deputies, to doe any other lawfull acts tending to the reformation of the abuses, practices & deceipts aforesaid, according to our true intent & meaning in these presents expressed. [...] the end that such persons as shall héerafter offend in any the premisses, may be left without excuse, and receiue some condigne punishment for such their offences, Wée doe by these presents also for [...] Heires & Successors, straightly charge, prohibite and forbid all, and all manner of persons whatsoeuer, that they or any of them doe not at any time or times héerafter attempt or presume to take [...] way any Lead from, or out of any melting or smelting house within this our Realme of England, or the Dominion of Wales, or any part of them or either of them, before y ^e same Lead be duly tri­ [...]hed & Sealed by the said Officer of Officers, or his or their assignes, Deputies or seruants, or some or one of them, who for that purpose at all times conuenient shall attend the same, vpon paine [...] [...]ture of all such Lead so taken, or carryed away from the said melting or smelting houses contrary to the true meaning of these presents, and also vpon paine of our heauy indignation & displeasure, [...] further paines, penalties, punishments, and ymprisonments, as by any of the Lawes or Statutes of this Realme can or may be inflicted vpon the offenders héerin for their contempt or disobedi­ [...] [...]heaking or contemning this our Royall Commandement.

[...] for the better helpe and assissance of the said Officer & Officers, and his & their assignes, Deputies & seruants in this seruice, for the better discouery of the fraudes and abuses aforesaid, Wée doe [...] Us, our Heires & Successors, giue full power & authority vnto the said Officer and Officers, and his and their assignes, Deputies, and seruants, or any of them, from time to time, and at all [...] [...]rafter at his and their & euery or any of their will and pleasure, aswell by night as by day, to goe on Boord, view, and search, and suruey euery Ship, vessell or bottome ryding or lying or lying within [...], Hauen or Créeke of this Realme of England, or the Dominion of Wales, or any part thereof, and by day time with the assistance of a Constable, or other Officer, to goe and enter into any [...] Uawlt, Ware-house, shop, or other place, to sée if there shall be any Lead taken or carryed from the melting or smelting houses aforesaid, before the same hath béene veiwed, weighed, tried and [...] according to the true meaning of these presents; and there in due & lawfull maner to seize, take & carry away all such Lead as hée or they, or any of them shall find to be so taken & carryed from the [...] houses vnweighed and vnmarked, contrary to our pleasure héerein expressed, The moitie or one halfe of all which forfeitures, wée doe for Us, our Heires and Successors, giue and grant to the [...] [...]ficer and Officers, and his & their Deputies and assignes: And the other moytie thereof, wée will shall be reserued & answered to the vse of Us, our Heires and Successors.

[...] because the well managing of this busines tendeth to the great benefit of all persons that shall be occasioned to vse any of the said Lead, & that the same cannot be vndergone without great & dayly [...] for the maintenance of fit and able Deputies, Ministers, and other persons to attend the execution of the seruice incident to the aforesaid Office; Wée doe héerby for Us, our Heires & Successors, [...]e & ordaine, that it shall and may be lawfull for, and also giue power & authority vnto the said Officer and Officers, from time to time héerafter by himselfe, or themselues, or his or their assgnes [...]s or seruants, to aske, demand, receiue & take of euery Owner and Owners, Maker & Makers vp of Lead, for the viewing, surueying, trying & marking of euery Hundred waight of Lead at any [...] [...]rafter to be melted and made vp within this our Kingdome of England, and the Dominion of Wales, or either of them, and which by the said Officer or Officers, or their, or any of their assignes, [...]es, & seruants, or some, or any of them shal be viewed, surueyed, weighed & marked according to the true meaning of these presents, the Sum of Two pence of currant money of England, which said [...] Two pence vpon euery Hundred waight of the said Lead, Our pleasure likewise is, shall be taken, receiued and paid at the melting or smelting houses before the said Lead be sold, vttered or dis­ [...] out of the same; And that the said Two pence vpon euery Hundred waight of the said Lead appointed to be receiued & taken as aforesaid, be for euer héerafter vnited & annexed to the said Office [...] or duty to be taken and receiued for the surueying, viewing, trying & marking the said Lead; And that the said fée or duty be taken & receiued by the said Officer or Officers, or his or their depu­ [...] [...] [...]ssignes in manner aforesaid, without the let or contradiction of Us, our Heires or Successors, or any of our, or their Officers or Ministers, or other persons whatsoeuer.

[...] for the better effecting of Our will & pleasure héerin, KNOW, yée, that wée reposing assured trust & cofidence in the vnderstanding, fidelity & circumspection of our wel-beloued Henry Bell Es­ [...] of Our especiall Grace and certaine knowledge, and méere motion, haue giuen and granted, and by these presents for Us, our Heires & Successors, Wée doe giue & grant vnto the said Henry Bell, [...] assignes the foresaid Office of Surueyor, of Us, our Heires & Successors of Lead, with the appurtenances, And him the said Henry Bell, and his assignes, the Surueyor & Surueyors of Us, our [...]ant Successors of Lead, to doe, performe, and execute all and singular the premisses by the Officer or Officers aforesaid, according to the true meaning héereof to be performed, Wée doe for Us, [...] [...]ires and Successors, make, ordaine, create and constitute, by these presents.

[...] haue and to hold the said Office, together with all and singular the powers, priuiledges, Fées, duties, forfeitures, and premisses to the said Henry Bell, and his assignes, by himselfe, or themselues [...] their sufficient Deputy or Deputies, for and during the tearme, and vnto the full end & tearme of Thirty and One yéeres from the day of the Date of these presents, next ensuing, and fully to bée [...] and ended.