rks they have passed the preceding
year. There are also, he says, a table, or tables, in columns, one
whereof is of hardened lead, and the other of vellum or parchment (the
lead columns having the worker's initials struck in them, and the other
the owner's names); and the seeing that these marks are right, and
plainly impressed on the gold and silver work, is one of the warden's
peculiar duties. The manner of marking the assay is thus:--The assay
master puts a small quantity of the silver upon trial in the fire, and
then, taking it out again, he, with his exact scales _that will turn
with the weight of the hundredth_ part of a grain, computes and reports
the goodness or badness of the gold and silver.

The allowance of four grains to the pound, Malcolm states to have been
continued till after 1725; for gold watch-cases, from one to four, one
shilling; and all above, threepence each; and in proportion for other
articles of the same metal. "The assay office," he adds, "seems,
however, to have been a losing concern with the Company, their receipts
for six years, to 1725, being L1,615 13s. 11-1/2d., and the payments,
L2,074 3s. 8d."

The ancient goldsmiths seem to have wisely blended pleasure with profit,
and to have feasted right royally: one of their dinner bills runs
thus:--

EXPENSES OF ST. DUNSTAN'S FEAST.
1473 (12 _Edward IV._).
L s. d.

To eight minstrels in manner accustomed 2 13 8
Ten bonnets for ditto 0 6 8
Their dinner 0 3 4
Two hogsheads of wine 2 10 0
One barrel of Muscadell 0 6 6
Red wine, 17 qrts. and 3 galls 0 11 10
Four barrels of good ale 0 17 4
Two ditto of 2dy halfpenny 0 6 0
In spice bread 0 16 8
In other bread 0 10 10
In comfits and spice (36 articles) 5 17 6
Poultry, including 12 capons at 8d. 2 16 11
Pigeons at 1-1/2d., and 12 more geese, at 7d. each.

With "butchery," "fishmongery," and "miscellaneous articles," the total
amount of the feast was L26 17s. 7d.

A supper bill which occurs in the 11th of Henry VIII. only amounts to L5
18s. 6d., and it enumerates the following among the provisions:--Bread,
two bushels of meal, a ki