Silkwomen and throwsters of London Commons of parliament The silkwomen and throwsters...

Petitioners

Silkwomen and throwsters of London

Addressees

Commons of parliament

Nature of request

The silkwomen and throwsters of London state that, whereas they previously had a monopoly of worked silk in the land, Lombards and other foreigners have recently started bringing in various articles of worked silk, and bring unworked silk only of the worst quality. They ask the commons to ask the king to ordain by authority of parliament that any such goods brought in, with the exception of Genoese 'corses', be forfeit, and any Lombard or other person who contravenes this order pay £20 - half to the king's household, and half to the person who sues for this. And also that it should be lawful to any of the King's lieges to sue an action of debt on this matter, and that the Mayor of London should be able to appoint two to four suitable people to make searches for contraventions of this, and to report to the Mayor and Aldermen concerning it.

Nature of endorsement

Let it be sent to the Lords (on face).It is to be done as is desired, to begin to take effect from the feast of Easter next, and to last for the five years following (on dorse).

Places mentioned

London

Geene (Genoa), [Italy]

People mentioned

Lombard merchants

A near-identical petition on the same subject is SC 8/29/1411