THe kynges maiestie, hauyng the principall and continuall charge of the common wealth, and tranquilitie of this realme for the whiche cause al­mightie God hath geuen to his Maiestie, power to rule: and to all his people, hath enioyned lowlines to obeye: certainly vnderstandeth, by the informacion and good aduice of his moste dere Uncle, Edwarde Duke of Somerset, Gouernor of his moste royall person and Protector of his Realmes, Dominions and Subiectes, and others of his priuey Coun­saill: That of late tyme, the prices of all maner of victuall, necessary for mannes sustenaunce, be so heigthened and raised, aboue the accustomed and reasonable values, that ther­by (except spedy remedy be prou [...]ed) very great losse and dammage, must nedes chaunce to his maiesties louyng subiectes. And therefore bothe of wisedome, wherewith his maiestie vseth to consider the state of his common wealth, and of pitie, whiche at all tymes his Maiestie conceiueth vpon the lacke and greues of his people hath by long and deliberate studie, of his saied dere Uncle, the lorde Protector, and the rest of his priuey counsaill, concluded, and finally resolued, to prouide remedy herein, the whiche (restyng vpō the former redresse, of sondrie dissordres in the whole common wealth) although it cannot be so absolute­ly and spedely had, as his maiesties moste hartie desire is: yet it is thought by his maiestie, for the present disorders, a great relief, to put in due execution, diuerse good lawes and statuter, prouided heretofore, by thaucthoritie of Parliament, in the reignes of the kynges maiesties moste noble progenitours, and espe­cially twoo pollitique good estatutes, made at Westminster, in the .xxv. yere of the reigne of his maiesties moste dere father, late deceassed, kyng Henry theight, or deined, as by thesame appereth, very pollitiquely for the redresse of these like disordres of prices, whiche at any tyme thence after might happen. Theffecte of whiche later estatute is, that the Lorde Treasorer, the Lorde Chauncellor of Englande, the lorde Pre­sident of the kynges moste honorable counsaill, the Lorde priuey Seale, the Lorde Steward, the Lorde Chamberlain, and all other Lordes of the kynges counsaill: The Treasorer and Comptroller of the kyn­ges moste honorable house, the Chaūcellor of the Duchie of Lancastre, the Iustices of either Benche, the Chauncellor, Chamberlain, vnder Treasorer, and the Barons of the kynges Exchequier, or .vii. of them at the least, whereof the Lorde Treasorer, the Lorde Chauncellor, the Lorde President of the kynges coū, saill, or the Lorde priuey Seale to bee one, should haue power and aucthoritie, from tyme to tyme (as the case should require) to set and taxe reasonable prices, of all kyndes of victualles, mencioned in thesaied act, how thei should be sold in grosse or by retayle, for relief of the kynges subiectes. And that after suche prices set and taxed, in fourme aforesaied: Proclamation should bee made in the kynges name, vnder the greate Scale of thesaied prices, in suche partes of this realme, as should be conuenient for thesame.

And it was further enacted, by thesaid estatute, that al Fermors, Owners, Broggers, and all other vi­ctualers whatsoeuer, hauyng and kepyng any of the kyndes of victualles, mencioned in thesaied acte, to thintent to sell, should sell thesame to suche, the kynges subiectes, as would buye them, at suche prices as should be set and taxed, by thesaied Proclamacion vpon the paines to be expressed, and limitted in thesaid Proclamacion, to be lost, forfeicted, and leuied to the kynges vse, in suche wise, as by thesaied Proclama­tion should be declared.

And it was further prouided, by thesaid act, that thesame act, or any thyng therin conteined, should not be hurtfull to M [...]iors Sheriefes, Bailiefes, and other officers, of Citees, Boroughes, and Tounes cor­porate, [Page]nor to any persone or persones, or bodies poilitique hauyng aucthoritie, to set prices of suche vi­ctualies, or of any of them, but that thei and euery of them, might set prices thereof, as if thesame acte had neuer been had nor made, as by thesame act, emongest other thynges, more at large it doth & maie appere.

And forasmuche as cōplaint hath been made, of the enhaunsyng of prices, of thesame victualles, with­out ground or cause reasonable, in all partes of this realme: In consideracion whereof, the Lorde Trea­sorer, the Lorde Chauncellor of England, and all others requisite by thesaid estatute, haue by aucthorite of thesame act, set and taxed reasonable prices, of all kynde of victualles, mencioned in thesame acte, to be sold in forme followyng, to thintent thesame should be Proclaimed, accordyng to thesame act: That is to saie, that frō the daie of this Proclamacion made, without delaie, all and synguler persone and persones, hauyng or kepyng, any of the kindes of victualles, mēcioned in thesaid act, within this realme, to thintent to sell, shall sell thesame to suche of the kynges subiectes, as will buye them at the prices, hereafter menci­oned, that is to saie: from Midsomer to Hallowmas, euery Oxe beyng primed or well stricken, of the lar­gest bone. xxxviii. s̄. of a meaner sort. xxviii. s̄. An Oxe fat, and of the largest bone. xlv. s̄. of the meaner sort beyng fatte. xxxviii. s̄. Steres and Runtes, beyng primed or wel striken, and large of bone. xx. s̄. of a mea­ner sort. xvi. s̄. beyng fatte and of the largest bone. xxv. s̄. beeyng fat of a meaner sort. xxi. s̄. Heifurths and Kyne, beyng primed or well stricken, and large of bone. xvi. s̄. of a meaner sort, xiii. s̄. iiii. d. beyng fat and large of bone. xxii. s̄. beyng fatte and of a meaner sort. xviii. s̄. And from Hallowmas to Christmas, eue­ry Oxe beyng fat and large of bone. xlvi. s̄. viii. ð. beyng fat of a meaner sort. xxxix. s̄. viii. ð. Steres and Runtes within thesame time, beyng fat and large of bone. xxvi. s̄. viii. ð. beyng fat of a meaner sort. xxii. s̄ viii. ð. Heiforths and Kine within thesame tyme, beeyng fat and large of bone. xxii. s̄. of a meaner sort. xix s̄. And from Christmas to Shroftide, euery Oxe beyng fat and large of bone. xlviii. s̄. iiii. ð. of a meaner sort. xli. s̄. iiii. ð. Steres and Runtes within thesame tyme, beyng fat and large of bone. xxviii. s. iiii. ð. of a meaner sort. xxiiii. s̄. iiii. ð. And from sheryng tyme to Michaelmas, euery wether beyng a shere shepe, be­yng leane and large of bone. iii. s̄. of a meaner sort. ii. s̄. iiii. ð. beyng fat and large of bone. iiii. s. beeyng fat of a meaner sorte. iii. s. Ewes within thesame tyme, beeyng leane and large of bone. ii. s. beeyng leane of a meaner sort. xx d. beeyng fat & large of bone. ii. s. viii. d. beyng fat of a meaner sort. ii. s. And frō Michael­mas to Shroftide, euery wether beyng a shere shepe, beeyng leane and large of bone. iii. s. beyng leane of a meaner sort. ii. s. iiii. d. beyng fat & large of bone. iiii. s. iiii. d. beyng fat and of a meaner sort. iii. s. iiii. d.

And from Midsomet to Michaelmas the pound of swete Butter not to be sold aboue. i. d. (q)farthing. And frō Michaelmas to the Newe yeres croppe, the pound not aboue i. d. ob. Bartelled Butter of Essex, the poūd not to bee solde to any the kynges subiectes, aboue. ob. di. (q)farthing. And bartelled Butter of any other partes, to be sold to the kynges subiectes, not aboue. ob. (q)farthing. Chese of Essex, to bee sold to the kynges subiectes, frō Midsommer to Michaelmas, the pounde, not aboue. ob. Chese of other partes, not aboue. ob. di. (q)farthing. And of Essex to the kynges subiectes, frō Michaelmas, to the Newe yeres croppe, not aboue. ob. di. (q)farthing. And of any other partes, not aboue. ob. (q)farthing. Vpō pain of forfeiture for euery Oxe, Stere, Cowe, Heckfor, and Bul­locke, that should be sold by vertue of thesaid act, and this Proclamaciō, and shall not so be sold, v. f. and for euery Shepe that should be sold, by vertue of thesame act and this Proclamacion, and shall not so be solde. x. s. And for euery pounde of Butter and Chese. xii. d. And that for all and euery somme that shalbe forfeited, by vertue of thesame act, and this Proclamacion, the kyng our soueraigne Lorde, shall and maie haue his recouery and remedy, by informacion, bill, plaint, or accion of debte, in any of his highnes Cour­tes of Record. Wherefore, we consideryng the premisses, to be for the wealthe and commoditie of this our realme, will and commaunde you our Shirief, of our Countie of [...] within twoo daies next af­ter the receipt of this said Proclamacion that ye with all spede shall Proclaime the premisses, in all Mar­ket Tounes, within the saied Countie of [...] and that all maner our subiectes, shall obeye the­same, not onely vpon the paines aboue saied, but also to incurte our indignacion and displeasure.

And furthermore the kynges Maiestie of his aucthoritie & power royal, straightly that geth & cōmaun­deth all maner his Iustices of Peace, Shirifes, Maiors and Bailifes of any tounes corporate, or any [Page]othe [...] ministers to be assigned or appointed by any two Iustices of Peace of the sayd countie, if any the market or markettes within thesame countie shall lacke wherwithall to furnishe the marketies, for the relief of his louyng subiectes, that then they shal foresee & prouide that the owners, Grasiers, Drouers, Farmors, Broggers, or any other of any kynde of estate or degree whatsoeuer, nere adioynyng, hauyng suche store of any kynde of the aforesayd victual, that he may spare part of his sayd store, be it lene or fat (ouer and besides the store necessary for the maintenaunce of his houshold, the allowaunce whereof must be made, in respecte of his accustomed expences, and the tyme of an other vsual prouision) towarde the futniture of the market, shall by thappointment, and ordre of the sayd Iustices, and other officers aboue named, bryng to the market and markettes suche nombre and quantitie of the sayd victuals, and at suche tyme and tymes, as they shall thinke the cause and necessite requyreth, and the same shall sell there accor­dyng to the prices by the sayd Iustices to be rated, as for an example, where the markettes cannot be ser­ [...]ed with sufficient quantitie of Motton, so that in default thereof the people happe to haue ouermuche lacke, then in that and like cases, the kynges Maiesties will and cōmaundement is, that the sayd Iusti­ces of euery countie, and officers aboue named, vpon the certain knowledge of that lacke shall compell all and euery suche person and persones, as shall haue nigh to the sayd market tounes, the nomber of v. C. here Shepe, for euery hundreth of the same v. C. and aboue, to send to the market so lackyng, at the most 1. of the best and fattest shepe of that sort, to be sold from tyme to tyme, and at the prices to be rated by the sayd Iustices and other officers, and if lesse lacke, then lesse in nōber, vpon like paine aforesayd, for euery shepe not so brought to the market. Furthermore because the prices of the Bieffes and Mottons hereto adioyned, be but the prices of Bieffes and Mottons aliue and solde in grosse and not by retaile, as the Boucher vseth to do: His Maiestie notwithstandyng the tenor of this Proclamacion, lieenseth the Bou­cher in suche cases where he shal buy of those prices so to sell aboue the sayd price, as it shalbe thought & ordered by the sayd Iustices, and officers aboue named accordyng to the lawes & estatutes of the realme mete, for a conuenient gaine towarde his liuyng. And so in all cases the same to be obserued vpon paines expressed in sondry estatutes for the same.

Prouided that notwithstādyng any article or clause aboue mencioned, euery Boucher beyng no Gra­sier hauyng bought, and in his possession any maner cattell aboue the prices herein contained, before the tyme of this Proclamacion, shal haue licence and full libertie, to make sale of any suche cartell so bought of those prices accordyng to the rate and ꝓporcion of the price he paied or then became debtor for, with­out any couyn, by the space of viii. dayes after the Proclamacion shalbe proclaymed, in the next market toune to his dwellyng place, or to the place where he shall that sell, and after those viii. dayes, then to re­maine subiect to the whole tenor of the Proclamacion. And herein the kynges Maiestie to whom onely vnder God appertaineth auengement, punishement, and redresse of his peoples offences whatsoeuer the same be, most straightly chargeth, and vpon the pain of his highnes extreme indignacion, commaundeth al maner of people to seke the redresse & amendement of any maner offence against y^e tenor of this Procla­macion, or any other estatute or lawes, only by order of his Maiesties lawes, wout force, ryot, manasse, vnlawfull assembles, or any other disturbance of peace. And on the contrary if any subiect of what degre or estate soeuer he be, shall contrarywise, and vnlawfully, that is to say, otherwise then by complaint or order of lawe, seke, begyn, or enterprise to redresse, his owne cause, or the cause of any other, be the same ne­uer so iust: Then his Maiestie asserteneth and letteth the same to knowe, that without any maner fauor, or grace to be hoped vpon, he and euery of them, so offendyng, shall surely feele, by extreme punishement the kynges highnes vtter indignacion, and in suche case no extremitie to be spared, but to be taken and accepted, not onely as vnkynde, vnnatural, vnlouyng and disobedient subiectes: But also as high trap­tors and rebellors against the kynges Maiesties owne royall person, his croune, state, and dignitie: Da­ted at Richmont the second of Iuly, the third yere of the reigne of kyng Edward the. VI.

God saue the Kyng.