Parliament of England

“ PRAYEN the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, That where divers acts, statutes, and ordinances, in the times of the noble progenitors and predecessors of our now sovereign lord the King have been made, That one measure and weight should be used throughout this noble realm ; and also, That in every city, borough, and town within the said realm, upon certain and several pains in the said statutes and ordinances limited, should be a common balance, with common weights, and common measures, marked according to the estandard of the Exchequer ”

“ And that the inhabitants of all cities, boroughs, and market towns within every of the said shires, shall on this side of the feast of the nativity of Saint John Baptist next coming, make or cause to be made, common measures and weights, according to the weights and measures abovesaid, to remain within the said cities, boroughs, and market towns, and every of them ; and the same weights and measures to be viewed, examined, printed, signed, and marked by the mayor, bailiff, or other head officer, in whose possession the aforesaid standard shall remain ”

“ Be it also ordained by authority aforesaid, That the justices of peace abovesaid have authority to make like process against all persons found as is abovesaid defective, and for such fines and amerciaments as upon them shall be assessed, as if they were indicted afore them for breaking of the King's peace. ”