FOrasmuch as the kynge and Quenes Maiesties, haue per­fecte intellygence, that aswell Straungers resortyng hyther, as their highnes natural subiectes, haue now of late for their great gayne and lucre, not onely vsed to melte the monies and coygnes, of this Realme, but also to buy and sell the same monyes, & coignes, at and for higher pyrses, and values, then the same be rated, valued and curraunte, by the lawes, Statutes, and proclamations of this Realme. Whereby greate quantities of the sayde monyes and coygnes, hath ben, and are by dyuers persons, in secrete manner, dayly transported, caryed and conueyed out of thys Realme, and great quantytie thereof molten, to the great defraudyng of their Maiesties Subiectes, dyminyshynge of their hyghnes mony and coygne, and to y^t no lytle impouerishyng of the Realme, & more is lyke day­lye to be, onlesse some spedy remedy be prouyded in that behalfe. Their Maiesties therefore, not onelye tenderyng the wealth of this their sayde Realme, and their louyng subiectes, of the same, but also to prouyde remedye herein by this their highnes proclamation, Strayghtly charge and commaund that no manner of person or persones, whatsoeuer he or they be, doo from henceforth buy or sell anye maner of money or coigne, of this Realme, or curraunt within the same, by what name so euer it be called, at or for any other pryce or value, then the same is valued, rated, and curraunt by the lawes, statutes, or pro­clamations of this Realme, nor melte any of the sayde monyes, or coygnes, vpon payne of their Maie­sties indignation, and high displeasure. And that aswell the melter as the buyer and seller of suche mo­nye or coygne, shall forfeyte the same monye and coygne, so boughte, solde, or melted, and to suffer im­prysonment of his or their bodyes, at their highnes will & pleasure, and further to incurre such paines penalties and forfeytures, as be in suche case by the lawes and statutes of this Realme appoynted and prouyded. And to thintent, that such as would go aboute to searche and finde out anye of the offences aforesayd, may be the better incoraged to do the same, their Maiesties will and pleasure is, that who­soeuer shall fynde out and dysclose any of the sayd offences, or shall make seasoure of any such monye, or coygne, bought solde, or molten, contrary to the tenor of thys proclamation, or the lawes or statutes of thys Realme, in that case made and prouyded, and the same shall lawfully and duelye proue, shall haue the hole penaltye and forfeyture of euery such offence, geuen assigned or lymited, by anye the lawes, or statutes aforesayd, whych should or ought to accrue to their Maiesties. Prouyded that it shalbe lawe­full to anye person, to sell the coignes of this Realme, or anye other coigne into anye of the kynges and Quenes Maiesties myntes, vpon such pryses as their Maiesties there doo geue, And thoffycers there may buy the same, soo to melte and coygne them to their hyghnes vse, any thyng in this presente Pro­clamation notwithstandyng. And moreouer their Maiesties, do strayghtly charge and commaund al and synguler their Iustyces of peace, Mayiors, Sheryffes, Baylyffes, Constables, and all other their hyghnes offycers, and mynysters, to put aswell thys proclamation, as all such good actes, and statutes in execution, as heretofore haue ben made touchyng the buying and selling, and meltyng of the kynges and Quenes Maiesties coygne, of thys Realme. Geuen at our maner of Saynte Iames, the .xxvii. day of Apryll.

God saue the Kynge and the Quene.