[see ASSAY sb.] The master of an assay-house; an officer appointed to assay coin, gold and silver plate, etc.
1647. Haward, Crown Rev., 22. Assay Master: Fee, 100m.
1662. Petty, Taxes & Contrib., 26. Reports of the ablest Saymasters.
1692. Luttrell, Brief Rel., II. 623. Sir John Brattle, essay master of the mint, is dead.
1701. Lond. Gaz., No. 3714/1. An Act for appointing Wardens and Assay-Masters, for Assaying Wrought Plate.
1784. C. Burney, in Parr’s Wks. (1828), VII. 394. You, who are my Assay Master, and separate my dross from the sterling ore.
