WHere in the Parliament holden at Weſtmynſter the .xii. day of Ianuary, in the fifth yere of the reigne of our ſoueraigne Lady the Quenes Maieſty it was enacted by the Quene our ſayd ſoueraigne Lady, the Lordes ſpirituall, and temporal, and the commons in that parliament aſſembled, that the Iuſtices of the peace of euery ſhyre, Riding, and liberty within the limites of theyr ſeuerall commiſſions, or the more part of them, being reſiaunt wythin the ſame, and the ſheriffe of the countie yf he conuenientlye myghte, and euerye Mayor Bayliffe, or other head officer within any Citie or towne corporate, wherin is any Iuſtices of the peace wythin the limittes of the ſayd Citie or Towne, ſhould by force of the ſaid act, yerely after Eaſter at tymes conuenient appoynted by the ſame, aſſemble them ſelues together, and callynge before them ſuch diſcrete and graue perſons of the ſayd Countie, Citie and Towne, as they ſhould thinke meete, and conferring together, reſpecting the plenties or ſcarſitie of the time, and other circumſtances neceſſarily to be conſidered, ſhould by vertue of the ſayd Act, within the limittes and precinctes of theyr ſeuerall Commiſſions, limytte, rate, and appoint the wages, aſwell of ſuch and ſo many of the ſayd artificers, handie craftes men, huſbandmen, or any other labourer, ſeruaunt, or workmen, whoſe wages in tymes paſt hath bene by any lawe or ſtatute rated & appoynted, as alſo the wages of all other laborers, artificers, workemen or apprentices of huſbandry, which haue not bene rated, as the ſame Iuſtices, Mayors, or head officers within theyr ſeuerall commiſſions or liberties, ſhoulde thinke meete by theyr diſcretions to be rated, lymytted, or appoynted. And the ſame rates and taxations ſhould certifie into the Quenes highnes courte of Chauncery, before a certayne day, limitted in the ſayde acte. Wherevpon it ſhoulde be lawefull for the Lorde Chaunceloure or Lorde Keper of the great ſeale of Englande for the tyme being, vpon declaration thereof to her highnes, her Heyres, or Succeſſours, or to the lordes and others of her Maieſties priuie councel, to cauſe Proclamations to be printed and ſent downe into euery of the ſayd ſhyres and places, conteyning the ſeuerall rates appointed by the ſayde Iuſtices and other head officers, commaundyng thereby, in her highnes name, al perſons ſtraightly to obſerue and kepe the ſame, vpon the danger of the puniſhmēt and forfaytures limitted and appoynted by the ſayd Act and ſtatute.

And where alſo it is further enacted by the aucthoritie aforeſayde, that all maner of perſon & perſons after ſuch Proclamation made, ſhould obſerue and kepe the ſaid rates for wages, vpon paine of the forfaitures & penalties conteined in the ſame eſtatute, vntill further order by proclamation, according to the purport of the same eſtatute, it ſhould be otherwiſe ordered & proclaymed, wherfore the Quenes Maieſtie hauyng receyued into her ſayd Court of Chauncery amongeſt diuers other Certificates, from ſundrye of her hyghnes Shieres, Cityes and Townes, one certificate from her hyghnes County of Northampton, conteynyng the Rates for wages hereafter folowynge, made and appoynted by the Iuſtices of thys her ſayd County of Northampton, accordyng to the tenor of the ſame Acte. And myndyng to haue the ſame rates put in execution in all pointes, as by the proceſſe of the ſame acte is preſcribed, lyke as her Maieſty hath and intendeth to do in all other her hyghnes Countyes and Shyres, and other places of libertye within thys her Realme: •••• refore her highnes ſtraightlye chargeth and commaundeth all maner of perſon and perſons within her ſayde County of Northampton, to kepe and obſerue in all poyntes, the ſayd rates, taxations, orders, and appointmentes for wages hereafter folowyng, and ſet forthe, vpon the paines and forfaitures appointed by the ſaide eſtatute, and vpon payne of her highnes diſpleaſure.

And further her hyghnes pleaſure and expreſſe commaundement is, that all Iuſtices of peace, Sheriffes, and other heade officers of her ſayd County of Northampton, ſhall ſee, and cauſe the ſame Rates duelye and ſeuerelye to be obſerued and kept in all poyntes: And thys Proclamation to be vſed in euery behalfe accordynge to the tenor and effect of the ſame act. And her Maieſties further pleaſure and commaundemente is, that if any queſtion, ſcruple, or doubt, ſhall aryſe vppon my of the taxations or rates for this her ſaid County of Northampton, herevnder mentioned: That then the ſame ſhalbe reſolued and determined by her hyghnes Iuſtices of peace that dyd make and ordayne the ſame taxations and rates: and that all perſons ſhall perfourme and kepe the ſame reſolutions orders and determinations 〈…〉 reſolued and determined by her hyghnes Iuſtices of peace that dyd make and ordayne the ſame taxations and rates: and that all perſons ſhall perfourme and kepe the ſame reſolutions, orders, and determinations, ſo by them to be made and determined touchyng the ſame.