WHereas the Queenes most excellent Maiestie vnderstanding heretofore by com­plaint of sundry of her good Subiects vsing Clothing, Cillage and Dairies, (things necessary to be maintained in her Realme for the common good of her lo­uing Subiects aboue any new deuise) that there was an vniuersall attempt of breaking and tilling of very fertile grounds to so we Woad, vpon a priuate and in­ordinate gaine practised, to the manifest griese of her people in diuers places where the same was then vsed, without all good order, measure, or moderation, did by her Highnesse Proclamation by aduice of her Counsell published, straightly forbid and inhivite vpon grieuous paines, that no maner of person should breake vp, or cause to be broken vp, any maner of ground, of what nature soeuer it were, for the vse or purpose to sowe or plant Woad in, nor that any person should cōtinue any ground already broken vp for that purpose to the vse of Woad, but in such sort and orber, as in, and by the said Proclamation is expressed. Sithence which time it hath folowed, that partly by the remisnesse of the Iustices of Peace, to whom the execution of the sayde Proclamation was specially committed: and partly by the iniquitie of couetous and disobedient persons, who haue not had that due regard thereof which appertained, the sayd vniuersall attempt of sowing Woad, hath rather increased then diminished. Her Maiestie therefore by aduice of her Counsell, streightly willeth and commandeth, that no maner of person or persons, of what degree soeuer the same be, shall directly or indirectly after the publication hereof, breake vp, or cause to be broken vp any maner of grounds, of what nature soeuer it bee, within this her Maiesties Realme of England, or any other her Dominions, for the vse or purpose to sowe or plant Woad, nor any ground shall hereaf­ter conuert or imploy to the sowing or planting of Woad, which heretofore haue bene broken vp for other purpo­ses, nor that any person doe hereafter continue for that purpose any ground already broken vp or plowed for sow­ing or planting of Woad, vntill there may be a further consideration had, how the same may bee tollerated with such moderation and conueniencie, as may be beneficial for the Common weale, and no wayes preiudiciall to any of her louing Subiects (which her Maiestie doth most specially regard) vpon payne that whosoeuer shall attempt any thing to the contrary hereof, the persons so doing, and the workemen that shall be therein imployed, shall bee committed to the next common prison by the next Iustice of Peace, and there to continue vntil certificate be made thereof to her Maiesties priuie Counsell by such as shal commit them, so as order may be taken for further punish­ment of the persons offending, according to the qualitie of their offence.

And further, her Maiestie willeth and requireth all Iustices of Peace, to whose trust and care her Highnesse hath and doeth chiefly commit to execution of this her Proclamation, that they and euery of them doe faithfully, diligently and effectually, demeane and endeuour themselues in the due performance thereof, according to the confidence which her Highnesse reposeth in them: Otherwise her Highnesse hath giuen expresse commandement, that euery such Iustice of Peace, shewing negligence or remisnesse therein, shall be called to answere both the same, and his former offence in that behalfe, and shall receiue such condigne punishment for the same, as to the qualitie of such offence and contempt shall appertaine.

Giuen at her Highnesse Mannour of Richmond the eight and twentieth day of Match 1600. in the two and fourtieth yeere of her Maiesties most gracious raigne.

God saue the Queene.