WHereas We are credibly informed, That the workers and makers of Felts within this Our Realme of Eng­land, Haue heretofore dayly imployed and set on worke many Thousands of Our poore Subiects, both men, wo­men and children, in Carding, Basening, Felting, Dress­ing, Pouncing, Blocking and Dying, with certaine other feats, concerning the working and making of Felts, made and wrought within and neere Our City of London, and in diuers and many other Cities, Boroughes and townes within this Our Realme of England, and Principalitie of Wales, wherby Our said poore subiects haue gotten their liuing time out of minde, vntill of late yeeres past, that very great abundance of Felts ready wrought and made in the parts beyond the Seas, haue bene, and now daily are brought from forreine parts into this Our Realme, and here haue bene and daily are vttered and sould, to the vtter vndoing of great multitudes of Our lo­uing Subiects, who for want of imployment as heretofore in making of Felts, are now destitute of meanes how to liue, and thereby fall to idlenesse, begging, and other inconueniences; Wee therefore tendering the welfare of Our louing Subiects, doe hereby straitly prohibit and forbid all and euery person and persons whatsoeuer, as­well Our naturall borne Subiects, as Denizens or Strangers, either directly or in­directly, from henceforth to vnship, discharge or lay on land, any Felts, Hats or Caps, wrought or halfe wrought, in any parts beyond the Seas, at or in any Port, Hauen, Creeke, or other place within this Our Realme of England, or Principalitie of Wales, vpon paine of Our high displeasure, and such penalties as by the Lawes of this Our Realme of England, may be inflicted vpon persons so offending.

And for the better execution hereof, Wee doe hereby further charge and command all Customers, Controllers, and other officers of Our Ports, to whom it shal apper­taine, and all Fermers of Our Customes and Imposts now, and for the time being, their Clerkes and substitutes, that they and euery of them doe forbeare to take any Entries of any Felts, Hats or Caps, made beyond the Seas, that shalbe brought into this Realme by any person or persons whatsoever, as they and euery of them will answere the contrary at their perils.

Giuen at Roystone the second day of December, in the xj. yeere of Our Reigne of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the 37.

God saue the King.