WHeras, the late king of most famous memory, king Henry the .viii. father vnto our most redoubted souereigne Lord the Kinges maiesty that now is, consideryng at the beginning of his last warres, that great & notable sommes of money, wer requisite to be prouided for the maintenance and supportacion of thesame, did therfore deuise, to abace, and diminishe the goodnes of the Coyne, and therupon, caused to be coyned and setfurth to be currant amonges his subiectes, certein peces of mony called Testons valuing thesame at .xii. d. sterl. the pece, and likewise, grotes of thesame bacenes, after the rate of .iiii. d. sterl. the pece. After which time, our said souereine lord that now is, percea­uing, that aswell straungers in forrein partes, as diuers lewde persons within this realme, did by reason of the bacenes of thesayde Coine, counterfaict no small quantitie of like mony: His Maiestie therefore mynding to remedy thesame, deuised and caused to be coined and setfurth, to be currant with in this Real­me, and other his dominions, other peces of mony called Shillinges and grotes, vnder another stampe, likewise valuing thesaid Shillinges, at .xii. d. sterl. the pece, and the grotes at .iiii. d. sterl. the pece.

Forasmuch as this notwithstāding, it hath appered sithens most certainly, vnto our said souerein Lor­de, and to his highnes counsaill, that not onely diuers straungers of beyonde the seas, but also sūdry false and naughty Personnes within this Realme, haue in like maner, from time to time, counterfaicted and falsely coyned the sayde Shillinges and Grotes, set furthe by our saide Souereygne Lorde, and with the same counterfaicte and false Monies, in greate and notable Summes, do trafficque and bie al ma­ner of victualles, Wares and other kinde of Merchandizes, geuyng they care not what Prices for the same: Where vpon hathe risen one greate and special occasion of so greate dearthe, of all maner of thinges as at this day dothe appere among all men, to the greate losse of his maiestie and his subiectes, and to the greate slaunder of the whole Realme, and to the empouerishement of euery man in his Degree, that hathe thesame mony, and woulde kepe it in store. His Maiestie therefore gratiously considering, with the good aduise of the Lordes, and others of the priuie counsaill, what greate benefite, commodite and reputation shal arise and folow very shortly after, to the whole body of the realme, if that thesaide Coines wer amen­ded, and brought to such a finenesse, as may make thesame certaine, like as in times past it hathe bene. Al­beit that thesayde firste abacement of the Coyne was greatly beneficiall vnto his sayde Maiesties Father of famous memory, and also to the King our Souereigne Lorde that nowe is, yet his Maiestie conside­ring that this amendement of the coyne shalbe bothe great honor to this Realme, and also a merueilous benefite vnto the whole common wealthe, for the bringing doune of the highe prices of all thinges, hathe like a most gratious Prince determined to reforme thesame. And forasmuche as thys can not be broughte to passe onelesse the sayde mony called Shillinges, coyned by his maiesty, and grotes coyned both by his maiesty, and by the king his father, might be rated at a value, more nere vnto the goodnes and finenes of thesame, then now they be rated at, whiche thing taking place, his highnes with al the spede that maye be, determineth to reforme this present coine, and to bring it (with goddes leaue) to suche perfect goodnes and finenesse, as shal geue all his louing subiectes greate cause to reioyce. Therefore his maiestie doth or­deine and determine, that from and after the last Day of August now nexte ensuyng, the sayd Shillinges coyned and setfurth by his Maiestie, shalbe curraunt within this Realme of Englande, and the towne of Caleis and Marches of the same, for ix. d. sterl. and not aboue, & the saide grotes at iii. d sterl. & not aboue And therfore straightly chargeth and cōmaūdeth, al and euery person and persons, of what estate, degre or condicion so euer thesame be, to paye and receaue after the said last day of August the sayde coynes of Shillinges for. i [...]. d. sterl. and thesayd grotes for .iii. d. sterl. And for no higher, or lower price, within this his highnes realme, & the toune of Caleis & Marches of thesame, vpon paine of forfeiture to his maiesty, of suche somes of mony as shalbe paid or receaued otherwise then by this proclamation is setfurthe, and also vpon paine of imprisonment with a further fine to be set vpon thoffendors, at his maiestes pleasure. Geuen the last of Aprill, in the .v. yere of the reigne of our sayd souereigne Lorde King Edwarde the .vi.

God saue the King.