WHere as at the parliament holden vpon prorogacion at Westminster the .xv. daye of Ianuary in the .xxv. yere of the Reigne of our most deare father of famous memorye kyng Henry theight, it was ordeined and enacted by auctoritie of the same parliament, that the lord Chauncellor of England, The lorde Tresorer, The lorde President of the kynges most honorable counsaill, The lorde Priuie seale, The lord Stuard, The lord Chamberlaine, and all other Lordes of the kynges counsaill, The Tresorer and Comptroller of the kynges moste hono­rable House The Chauncellor of the Duchie of Lancaster, The kynges Iustices of either Benche, The Chauncellor, Chamberlains, vnder Tresorer and Barones of the kynges exchequer, or vii. of them at the leste, Wherof the lord Chauncellor, The lord Tresoret, The lord President of the kynges Counsail, or the lorde Priuie Seale to be one, shulde haue power and auctoritie from tyme to time as the cause shulde requier to set and taxe resonable prises of al kyndes of Chese, Butter, Capones, Hennes, Chekines and other kyndes of Victualles necessary for mennes sustenaunce mencioned in the said acte, Howe they shulde be solde in grosse or by retayle for relief of the kynges subiectes, And that after suche prices sette and taxed in forme aforesaid, Proclamacion shulde be made in the kynges name vnder the great Seale of thesaid prices in suche parties of this Realme as shuld be conuenient for the same. And it was further enacted by thesaid estatute that all Farmores, owners, Broggers & all other victuallers whatsoeuer, ha­uyng or kepyng any of the kyndes of victualles mencioned in thesayd acte, to thentent to sell, shuld sell thesame to such the kinges subiectes as wil bye them, at suche prices as shuld be set and taxed by thesaid proclamaciō, apon y^e peines to be expressed & limitted in thesaid proclamaciō, to be lost, forfaited & Leuied to the kynges vse, in suche wise as by the said proclamacion shulde be declared. And further by thesame acte it was prouided that thesame acte or any thyng therin conteined shulde not be hurtfull to Maiors Shiriffes, Bailiefes or other officers of Cities, Boroughes or tounes corporate, nor to any person or per­sones or bodies politique hauyng auctoritie to set prices of suche victualles, or of any of theim, but that they and euery of theim might set prices therof, as if that acte had neuer ben had or made. And it was also enacted by thesame acte, that no person or persons oneles it wer by licens vnder the kynges great Seal, fromthensforth shuld carie or conuey or cause to be caried or conueied any corne, Beoffes, Muttons, Ve­ales, Porkes or any other of the victualles aforsaid to any the parties beyonde the sea, excepte onely for the victuallyng of the towne of Calice, Guisnes, Hammes and the matches of thesame. And excepte for victuallyng of Masters, Mariners & marchaūtes Shippes passyng the seas. And also excepte barel­led Butter and meale to be caried to the parties of Iseland as hath ben accustomed, vpon payne of for­faityng of the value of the thyng conueied and caried into the parties of beyond the sea contrarie to the­same acte: Thone halfe thereof to thuse of our said souereigne lorde the kyng, and thoder half to the par­tie that will sue for thesame by bill, plaint, writt or informacion in any of the kynges Courtes of recorde. In whiche suites the defendant shall not wage his Lawe, nor any proteccion or essoine for hym shalbe al­lowed, as by thesame acte more at large it may and dothe appere.

And forasmuche as diuers & sondry great complaintes of inhaūsing of y^e prices of victualles, necessary [Page] for mans sustenaunce, & inespeciall of Corne, Graine. Butter, & these be had & made not only to the kinges most excellēt maieste, but also to his most honorable Counsailors, by reason that diuerse his subiectes, & o­thers vpō their insatiable couetousnes, minding & purposing of their peruers mindes to make gret derth & scarcitie, more thē necessite requireth of corne, grain, beoffes, muttons, veales, porkes, butter, chese, & other victualles, necessary for mannes sustenance, not onely by vnlauful engrossing, forstalling and regrating of thesame, but also by vnlawfull transporting and conueiyng the same victualles and other the premi­sses into sundry parties beyond the seas, contrary to thesaid statute, and contrary to the kinges maiestes Lawes and Proclamations, in that behalfe had and made, and to the greate hurt and perill of the cōmō welth of this his realme: VVHERVPON the kinges most excellent maieste hauing a vigilāt & merciful eie & respect towards his louing subiects, and willing and straightly charging his said subiects and others fromhencefurth to enterprise no suche offences, contrary to his Lawes, Statutes or Proclamations v­pon the peines and forfaitures conteined in thesame, and vpon his high indignatiō and displeasure, hath according to the tenour of the said acte willed and required his honorable Counsalors named in the sayd acte to setfurthe reasonable prices of all kinde of Corne, Grayne, Butter and Chese, according to the te­nour of the said acte. In consideracion whereof, the lord Chancelour of England, The Lord Threasorer of Englond, the Lord President of the kinges most honorable Counsail, The Lord Priuie Seale, The lord Chamberlein, & al other limited & appoincted by thesaid act for taxing & setting the prises of al kind of victualles mencioned in the said acte, haue by aucthoritie of the said act, set & taxed reasonable prises of all kinde of Greine, mencioned in the saide acte to be solde in forme following, That is to say, that from the feast of all Sainctes next ensuing without delay all and singuler persone and persons, hauing or ke­ping any of the kindes of Grain, Butter or chese within this realme to the entent to sell, shal sell thesame to such of the Kinges Subiectes as will bie them at the prices hereafter mencioned, or vndre, and not a­boue, that is to say, white Wheate of the best sorte, cleane and swete and not tailed, for xiii s̄. iiii d. the quarter and not aboue, and White Wheate of the second sorte, and redde Wheate of the best sorte, cleane Swete and not Tailed, for xi.s̄. the Quarter, and not aboue, and Graye Wheate of the best sorte, cleane Swete, and not Tailed, for .x.s̄. the quarter, and not aboue. And all other Wheate aswell White, Redde and Graye of the meanest sorte not cleane or tailed, for viii.s̄ the quarter, and not aboue. And that Malt cleane, swete and of the best sorte, shalbe sold for .x s̄. the Quarter, and not aboue, and Malt of the second sorte for viii.s̄. the quarter, and not aboue. And Rie of the best, cleanest, and swetest sort, for .vii.s̄. the quarter, and not aboue. And Rie of the second sorte for vi.s̄. the quarter, and not aboue. And Barly of the best sorte, cleane and swete, for .ix s̄. the quarter, and not aboue, and Barly of the second sort for .vii.s̄. the quarter, and not aboue. Beanes or Pease of the best sort, cleane, and swete for .v s̄. the quarter, and not aboue. And Beanes or Pease, of the second sort, for .iii.s̄. viii.d the quarter & not aboue. Otes of the best sorte, cleane, and swete for .iiii.s̄. the quarter, and not aboue, accompting.viii. Busshelles to the quarter.

Prouided alwaies that in what place or countie soeuer within this the kinges Realm of England or other his graces dominions, the Measure or Reysure shall fortune to be more or lesse then is aboue ex­pressed, that then the prices shalbe likewise taxed, limited and appointed according to .viii. Galones to euery Busshel of land measure, and not otherwise.

And that from thesaid feast of al Seintes, the pound of swete butter not to be sold aboue .i.d.ob. and barrelled Butter, of Essex, the pound, not to be sold to any the kinges Subiects, aboue. ob.di (quam). and bar­relled Butter of any other partes not to be sold to the kinges Subiectes aboue. ob, (quam). And Cheese of Es­sex to be sold to the kinges Subiectes from Hallowmes nexte til the newe yeres Croppe. for. ob di. (quam). and not aboue. And chese of other parties not aboue. ob. (quam). And in case any persone or persones, by himselfe or by any other by his assent or procuremēt shal sel or attempt to sel, any kind of Grain, Butter, or Chese aboue the prices aforesaid contrary to thesaid act, and this proclamation, that then the offendor or offen­dours in that behaulf, shal forfete & lose to the kyng .xiii.s̄. iiii d. for euery Busshel of any kind of the cor­ne or graines before mencioned to be sold, contrary to the tenoure and effect of this proclamation, and v­pon [Page] peine of forfeiture of .ii.s. for euery. l. of Butter or Chese, to be sold contrary to the tenour and effect of this proclamation, The motte of y^e which forfeitures. the kinges maiesties pleasure is, that the first pre­sentor or approuer that will sue for the same, shall haue thesame moietie of his highnes gifte, And that for all and euery suche forfeiture the king our souereigne Lorde shall and maie haue his recouery and remedy by informacion, bill, plaint or accion of debte in any of his highnes courtes of Recorde, in whiche sute no essoin, protection, ne wager of lawe shalbe allowed.

AND to thentent this proclamacion may be put in good execution, the kinges maiesties pleasure by thaduise aforsaid is, y^t the Iustices of the Peace in euery Shire shall with all conuenient spede after this proclamation made, deuide them selues, into hundredes, Rapes, and Wapentakes, according as hereto­fore in other his highnes affaires they haue done, And that iii. or two of them at the least within the limi­tes of their deuision, shall with all diligence repaire to all Farmes, Barnes, Stackes, Garners Sellers, Sollers, Loftes, Wykes, Daties, Graunges and other houses within the precinct or limites of their saide deuision, and there shal, by al the waies and meanes they can, view, serch and trie out by their good discrecions what quantitie of kindes of Corne, Graine, Butter and Chese, euery person & persons haue within the precinct of thesame their deuisiō, and after the certeinty therof (as nere as yt can) be kno­wen vnto them, thei shall allotte, appoint and allowe to the owner of thesaid Corne, Graine, Butter, and Chese, so by them founde in Barnes, Stackes, Garners, Granges, Wykes, Daryes, Loftes, Sellers, Solers and other houses, sufficient and competent Graine, Butter and Chese, for the finding and main­tenance of his or their houses and family, vntil the xx. day of Septembre now next comming and also for necessary sede corne to be emploied on his or their groūd, farme or farmes, to be sowē before the .xx. day of Iune now next comming, And for y^e ouerplus of the said corne, Grain, Butter and Chese, found in Barnes Stackes and other houses aforesaid, thesaid Iustices shal by vertue herof haue aucthoritie to charge and commaund in our name and behalf vpon peine of inprisonment the saide owner & owners, to bring to the markettes next adioyning such porciō of thesame ouerplus as they thesaid Iustices shal think me­te & requisite. And in suche sort as by their discresions shalbe thought mete & conuenient, there to be sold according to the rate of prices, before limited by this proclamation. And his highnes pleasure also is, that the Iustices, so viewing, and seing the premisses as before, shal after the viewe takē by their writing, sig­nifie vnto the chief officer or officers of the market or Marketes, faire or faires, the iust proportion of all suche kinde of Grayne, as they shall so apoint to thesame, & also what kind of Graine it is, to thentent the same may be sold accordingly.

Prouided alwaies, that incase eny of thesaid owners do sell suche porcion or part of the porcion of the Corne, Grain, Butter or Chese as he or they shalbe so apointed to bring to the Market, to eny his neigh­bors being householders or cōmon laborers, hauing not competent, Graine, Butter nor Chese, for his or their familie & for the only Sustenance and maintenance of himself, his house & familie, that then thesame owner and owners shalbe discharged from the bringing of thesaid porciō to the next Market so to his neighbor sold in forme aforesaid.

AND incase eny Fermor or Fermours, owner or owners, shall refuse or do not bring to the merkettes his or their Corne, Graine, Butter or Chese according to theffect of this proclamation, or as he or they shalbe appointed by thesaid Iustices, That then euery such offendor, shal for euery such default, suffer imprisonment during the kinges pleasure. And if it shal happen any variance or dought to arise for the goodnes or basenes of any of the kindes of graines aforesaid, Then thesame shalbe tried and finally iud­ged by any two iustices of y^e peace, within thesame shire, or by the Maior, Bailief, or other hed officer with the two constables, or one of them of the toune, parish, village, Fayer or Market, where the saide Graine shalbe put to sale or offered to be sold.

AND furthermore the kinges maiestie, of his Aucthoritie & power royal, straightly chargeth & commaū ­deth al & singuler his subiects of what estate or degre so euer he or they be, y^t they ne any of thē from hens­furth, [Page] transport Ship or carie, ouer the Seas, out of this his highnes Realme of England or any other his Graces dominions perteining to thesame, or into the Realme of Scotlande, or elles where into any other forein Realmes, or contries, willingly there to make port sale, of eny Wheat, Malt, Rie. Barly, pease Beanes, Ootes, Mustardsede or any other kind of Graine, or the meales of eny of thesame or any Bief­fes, Muttons, Veales, Chese, Butter, Tallow, Candle, Beere, Ale, Bread, Bisket, Lether, Salt Hides, Wood, Coles, Wooll, Felles, or any other kinde of victual, vpon peine to forfet the thing so transported or conueied, and ferther to incurre the daunger, peines and forfetures of the kinges lawes and statutes in that behalf mencioned & prouided, any licence, or dispensaciō to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding

Prouided also that all and euery of the kinges highnes said Subiectes, borne within this Realme by vertue and aucthoritie of the Kinges Letters Patentes may cary ouer and transporte eny of the kin­des of commodities aforesaid, for the necessary victualling and furnishing of Callice, Guisnes, Hammes, Ryce bancke, and the marches of the same, this proclamation notwithstanding, So that by colour ther­of, the said kindes of commodities ne any of them be not in other places bestowed or employed contrary to the true intent and meaning of this proclamation.

Prouided also that it shalbe leful for al maner of persōs aswel marchantes as other hauing good & lau­ful occasiō to repaire to the sees, to furnish their ships & vesselles with necessary prouisiō of victual for the same & not otherwise, this proclamation or any thing therin conteined to the contrary notwithstanding.

Prouided alwaies that all Brewers, and Bakers, may bie all & euery the saide kindes of Graines & the Meales of thesame, so that they conuert thesame, so by them bought, or to be bought, into bread & drink to be sold at reasonable prices accordyng to the auncient estatutes and lawes of this realme, or one of theim.

Prouided also that all and euery Inne kepers may sell and vtter in their Iunes or houses, Beanes Pease and Otes to suche as be or shalbe there gestes and shalbe Lodged with theim or any of theym, so that they sel thesame at resonable & conuenient prices, according to the lawes & statutes of this Realme.

Prouided also that al baggers and common cariers of grayn may bye and sel any of the said graines, so that thesame be sold to any Bakers, Bruers. Inholders or in open Market, accordyng to the tenor & ef­fect of this proclamacion, forseing alway that thesaid Baggers & common cariers ne any other to theyr vse haue at any one time of their owne in their possession or in the possessiō of any others to their vse aboue the noumber of .xx. quarters of any one of the kindes of grain aforsaid, ouer & aboue the graine and corne that he carieth to the market to be sold from market day to market day, takyng for the cariage of thesame graine to the market suche like gaine and aduauntage as heretofore they haue vsed for thesame cariage.

AND further the kynges Maiestie most straightly chargeth and commaundeth al & euery his subiectes of what degre soeuer he or they be, that in no wise any of them vpon his or their dutie of allegeaunce meddle or enterprice to put any article or clause of this proclamacion in execucion by color or pretence of thesame, but only y^e Iustices of peace or such other as haue especial auctoritie by this presēt proclamaciō.

AND we consideryng the premisses to be for the welthe and commoditie of this our Realme, wyll and commaunde all Shirifes of our countie, Maiors and Bailiefes of euery Citie and borough within this our Realme, within vi. daies next after the receipte of this our proclamaciō, y^t he or they with al spede shall proclaime the premisses in al market townes within their limittes, and that all manner out subiectes shall obey thesame, vpon paine to incurre our indignacion and displeasure. And this proclamacion to continue duryng our pleasoure.

God saue the King