tire on the Goldsmiths in Stubbes'
Anatomy of Abuses, written in the time of Queen Elizabeth, showing
that the tricks of the trade had come to full development by that
time, and that the public was being aroused on the subject. Stubbes
explains how the goldsmith's shops are decked with chains and rings,
"wonderful richly." Then he goes on to say: "They will make you any
monster or article whatsoever of gold, silver, or what you will. Is
there no deceit in these goodlye shows? Yes, too many; if you will
buy a chain of gold, a ring, or any kind of plate, besides that you
shall pay almost half more than it is worth... you shall also perhaps
have that gold which is naught, or else at least mixed with drossie
rubbage.... But this happeneth very seldom by reason of good orders,
and constitutions made for the punishment of them that offend in
this kind of deceit, and therefore they seldom offend therein,
though now and then they chance to stumble in the dark!"

Fynes Moryson, a traveller who died in 1614, says that "the goldsmiths'
shops in London... are exceedingly richly furnished continually
with gold, with silver plate, and with jewels.... I never see any
such daily show, anything so sumptuous, in any place in the world,
as in London." He admits that in Florence and Paris the similar
shops are very rich upon special occasions; but it is the steady
state of the market in London to which he has reference.

The Company of Goldsmiths in Dublin held quite a prominent social
position in the community. In 1649, a great festival and pageant
took place, in which the goldsmiths and visiting craftsmen from
other corporations took part.

Henry III. set himself to enrich and beautify the shrine of his
patron saint, Edward the Confessor, and with this end in view he
made various extravagant demands: for instance, at one time he
ordered all the gold in London to be detailed to this object, and
at another, he had gold rings and brooches purchased to the value
of six hundred marks. The shrine was of gold, and, according to
Matthew Paris, enriched with jewels. It was commenced in 1241.
In 1244 the queen presented an image of the Virgin with a ruby
and an emerald. Jewels were purchased from time to time,--a great
cameo in 1251, and in 1255 many gems of great value. The son of
ado the Goldsmith, Edward, was the "king's beloved clerk," and was
made "keeper of the shrine." Most of the little statuettes were
described as having stones set so