THe Quenes Maiestie beyng infourmed, that in some partes of her Realme, sundrye either ignoraunt or malicious people do spreade rumours abrode, that the base Testons of foure pence halfpenye should not be currant after thende of Ianuary next: Hath thought meete (leste the lyke false and sedicious rumours myght be further spread) to do all maner her subiectes to vnderstande, that it hath ben alwayes and so is meant by her Maiestie, that all maner the base monyes, whiche hath ben of late decreed by Proclamacion, sauyng the Testons of twopence farthynge, shoulde continue and be currant styll, and so taken and payde from subiecte to subiecte, at theyr values as they be rated by former Proclamacion, and so to continue vntyll the same maye be by her Maiesties subiectes brought to the mynt at London▪ and there exchaunged for newe sterlynge monyes, with thallow­aunce to the brynger, of three pence in the pounde. Wherin suche expedicion is made, as in a mat­ter of such a moment, possyble hytherto coulde be, and shalbe nowe from day to day much more.

And as for the peeces of two pence farthyng, it is and was meant and declared in the Proclama­cion, that they shoulde be taken as currant monye vntyll the last day of Ianuary, that daye beyng the ende of foure monethes from Michaelmas laste. And yet neuerthelesse, because within that tyme it shalbe harde to bryng vp and make exchaunge of the same in the mynt with newe monies: Her Maiestie is well pleased, that whosoeuer shall brynge anye of the same Testons of two pence farthyng after the sayde last day of Ianuary to the sayde Mint at London, within the space of three monethes after, shall haue for the same in newe syluer two pence farthyng: So as her Ma­iestie meaneth, asmuch as in her shalbe, to beare herein with the burden of her poore subiectes. And her pleasure is, that this shoulde be notified to all her louyng subiectes: geuyng also straight commaundement, that no maner person do refuse to take in payment any of the sayd base monyes, that is to say: the fourepence halfpeny, the threhalfpence, the threfarthynges, at the values rated by the former Proclamation, at any tyme hereafter: neither the other base Testons of twopence farthyng at the same rate, vntyll the last day of Ianuary. And in anye wyse to cause all persons doyng the contrary, to be seuerely punyshed as obstinate and sedicious.

And further, her Maiestie chargeth all maner of officers and ministers, diligently to see to the attachement and punyshment of certayne lewde and sedicious persons, that from towne to towne, and Countrey to Countrey, do cary and spreade sedicious and slaunderous tales, importynge to simple people a feare, that Cattell vnmarked shoulde be forfeited: or that all people Chrystened or Maryed, shoulde paye for Christenynges and Maryages certayne summes of monye to her Ma­iestie, with suche lyke vayne and sedicious follyes, neuer meant, nor within the compasse of anye meanyng of her Maiestie or her counsayle. The staye wherof, by speedy and seuere punyshment, her Maiestie strayghtly requireth of all maner of Iusticiaries, as they wyll or ought to aunswere to the contrary, & from hence forth to geue order, that assone as any such lewde tale is vttered, that the reporters therof may be eyther punyshed with speede, or els produce the aucthours.

Yeuen at her hyghnesse Palyce at Westminister, the .xxiii. day of December.