Pewter was introduced into Britain around the 2nd century A.D. by the Romans. Through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, tin, lead and copper continued to be England's major export, second only to wool. Pewters domestic use started with caldrons employed for boiling the meat at the coronation of Edward I. In 1290, Edward I had over 300 pewter dishes, salts, and platters. He seems to have had no silver plate at all. From the fourteenth century pewter manufacture grew rapidly and almost every market town of any size would have a pewterer in its craft guild. "The Worshipful Company of Pewterers" of London dates back to 1348 in the reign of Edward III. In 1474 the London Pewterers 'purchased' from King Edward IV a royal charter for the legal control of pewter manufacture. By Act of Parliament in 1503 all pewter manufacturers were required to strike their maker's mark on their wares. This was to enable identification to be made when checks were carried out at local fairs, London pewterers recorded their marks on thick flat plates kept at Pewterers Hall, where they can still be seen.