Charles II, 1662: An Act to prevent the Inconvenience arising by melting the Silver Coyn of this Realm.

Recital of 9 E. III. st. 2. c. 3.

17 Ric. II. c. 1. and that the said Statutes are eluded.; Melting the Current Silver Money of the Realm; Penalty.; and if Offender be a Freeman of any Corporation, to be disfranchised; and if not a Freeman, then Imprisonment.

WHEREAS by an Act made in the Ninth yeare of King Edward the Third It is enacted that no sterling Halfe penny or Farthing shall be moulten to make Vessel or any other thing by Goldsmiths or any other upon pain of forfeiture of the moneys so molten Whereas by one other Statute made in the Seaventeenth yeare of King Richard the Second It was further enacted that no Groats or Halfe groats shall be moulten by any man to make Vessel or other thing thereof upon the same pain And whereas divers persons do elude the said Statutes as wel Goldsmiths as others by melting Silver Coyns of this Realm above the value of Groats to the great diminishing of the Silver Coyn of this Realm and the hindrance of the commerce of the same Bee it therefore enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual & Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by Authority of the same That no person or persons whatsoever shall after the Twentieth day of December One thousand six hundred sixty two wilfully melt or cause to be melted any of the Curent Silver money of this Realm upon pain not onely of forfeiture of the same but alsoe of the double value of any such Coyn so melted the one halfe to His Majestie His Heires and Successors the other halfe to the Informers whoe shal sue for the same upon Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information in any of His Majesties Courts at Westminster in which no Essoign Wager of Law or protection shall be allowed And moreover that the said person or persons offending contrary to the Tenor of this Act (if hee or they be a Freeman or Freemen or priviledged person or persons of any City or Corporation within this Kingdome of England) shall upon legal conviction for the same be forthwith disfranchised and made uncapable of exerciseing the Trade of a Goldsmith or any other Mistery by vertue of the Priviledges of the City or Corporac[i]on of which he or they are members And if the said person or persons offending and convict as aforesaid shall not bee a Freeman or Freemen or priviledged person or persons of any City or Corporation as aforesaid then hee or they shall suffer imprisonment without bail or mainprize for the space of six moneths next ensueing his or theire conviction as aforesaid.