By the Queene.
FOrasmuch as vpon the lamētable complaint made vnto the Queenes most excellent Maiestie, by sundry her louing subiects the Clothiers of diuers partes of the Realme, & of a multitude of other people mayntayned in their handlabours by them, it appeareth that partly through the great death of Sheepe, which of late yeeres hath happened in sundrie partes of this Realme, and partly through the greedines of sundrie euil disposed people, by buying & selling of wooll within the realme, thereby seeking more their vnlawfull gayne, then the due obseruing of the lawes of the Realme prouided in that behalfe, or regarding the penalties incident to the same, and in some part also through the great abuse of some which haue obteyned (vpon reasonable considerations) licence to bye and sell wooll within this Realme, to a certaine not vnreasonable quantitie, but yet through their vnsaciable greedines and abuse thereof, by substituting of a multitude of deputes, who haue not onely misused their deputations, by ingrossing and buying vp of greater quantities of wooll, then was agreeable to her Maiesties good & gracious meaning, at the time of the graunting of the said licences, and so haue passed the bondes of their licences by buying yerely greater quantitie of wool, then they ought to do, so that vpon these great abuses the honest Clothiers can buy litle or none, but such as is very course, or els at such excessiue prices, as they cannot make their principal thereof againe: whereby her Maiestie vnderstandeth that without carnest reformation of the said great abuses of buying and selling of wool within the Realme, and also some restraint of the sayde licences for some reasonable time, there shall follow great want to the Clothiers to continue their trade, for mayntenance aswell of themselues, as of great multitude of poore people lyuing onely vnder them to the decay of diuers good Townes which are chiefly maintained by the Clothiers. Therefore by the aduise of her Counsell, her Maiestie straightly chargeth and commaundeth, that from and after the publication of this present Proclamation, no person (other then such as by the Lawes of this Realme or otherwise are specially appointed, and permitted to buy wool to be transported ouer the Seas shal hereafter vse any such trade of buying & selling of wool, neyther yet any person by colour of any licence shall directly or indirectly doe the same, vntill her Maiestie shall vpon further consideration notifie her pleasure to the contrary as touching buying and selling of wool within this Realme, by force of any lience vpon paine of her Maiesties displeasure and imprisonment during her pleasure. And for the better execution hereof, her Highnes by ye aduise aforesaid, straightly chargeth and commaundeth all and singuler Iustices of peace, Maiors, Sherifes and Baylifes, not only to see this proclamation truely executed, but also it any person be iustly accused before him or them, for contemning or breaking this Proclamation, or any part thereof, they shal commit such person to warde, there to remaine without bayle or mainprise, till her Maiesties pleasure be further knowen.
Giuen at her Maiesties Palace of Westminster, the xxx. day of Aprill, in the one and twentieth yeere of her Hignes most prosperous Raigne.
God saue the Queene.