HAuing of late bene earnestly petitioned by diuers of Our louing Subiects aswell of the Growers and Breeders of Wooll, as the Merchants [...] therein, and Clothiers and Conuerters thereof, to take into Our [...] and consideration, the due and orderly disposing of the Woolls of this [...] [...] ­dome; we by the aduice of Our Priuie Councell, and Our Councell [...] maturely examined the Lawes of Our Kingdome in that behalfe [...] [...] Charters of the Staplers, concerning their power and interest in [...] buying and selling of Woolls; And haue also taken into Our Princ [...] [...] [...] ­tion the conueniencie of a middle hand betweene the Wooll Growers, and Conuerters thereof, [...] the respect of State & policy, with that of right and Law, we might resolue how the same migh [...] [...] for the publique good of Our Subiects; And obseruing that Our famous progenitors, haue al [...] [...] Lawes, as by sundrie Charters made to the Societie of the Merchants of the Staple, prouid [...] [...] should be a continuall Trade or Merchandize of buying and selling the Woolls of this King [...], [...] within the Realme or without, to which purpose diuers Staples haue bene by them erected and [...] well within the Realme, as beyond the Seas, as the present occasion of the State had required; [...] that the Merchants of the Staple haue power and authoritie by the Charter and free grant [...] [...] sister Queene Elizabeth of famous memorie, to keepe the Staple of Woolls at Middelburgh, Bridges [...] op Zoom, which is neuerthelesse to be remoued and setled elswhere within Our Land or without [...] sure of Vs, our Heires or Successors, vpon nine moneths warning giuen vnto the said Stapler [...] [...] great Seale; And being resolued that it most tendeth to the generall good, that the Woolls [...] Kingdome shall be wrought within Our Realme, To which end Wee minding to continue [...] due and orderly meanes, aswel to furnish the Wool growers with seueral sorts of Chapmen for [...] and also for the fit and timely dispersing and disposing thereof into all parts of this Our Real [...] [...] may be best vsed; And for that of ancient time the whole Trade and vse of woolls within this R [...] [...] beene vnder the gouernement of the Maior and Societie of the Staple for the time being, (othe [...] [...] which the Clothiers and Conuerters haue heretofore, and may still lawfully buy to conuert,) [...] said Staplers haue a gouerument established, both by the Lawes of this Kingdome, and by [...] [Page]of Our famous Progenitors, with sworne Officers, as Wooll-winders, Porters, Packet [...] [...] Woolshuters, Correctors and the like, fit for the well vsing and ordering of their Trade, and [...] [...] ­ting of all frauds and deceits therein; By Our letters Patents lately made vnto them, Wee [...] Our will and pleasure, That they the said Maior, Constables and Societie of Merchants of th [...] [...] euery of them shall within nine moneths next after the date thereof, remoone themselues, the [...] goo [...] [...] seruants, and by vertue of Our said letters Patents, Wee haue declared for Vs our Heires an [...] [...] That the Staple of woolls shalbe and is remooued from the foresaid Townes of Middelburgh [...] Bergen op Zoom; And that from thencefoorth they and euery of them shall forbeare to cary any [...] this Realme, to the said places, or to any other place whatsoeuer beyond the Seas; And by O [...] [...] Pattents aforesaid, We haue assigned and appointed, That the Staples shall hereafter bee kep [...] [...] Our Realme, at the seuerall Cities, Townes and places hereafter mentioned, Viz. At the [...] and the Suburbs thereof, at the cities of Canterbury, Exeter, Norwich, Worcester, Winchester, & Lincoln [...] And [...] the Townes of Shrewsbury, and Oswestrie in the Countie of Salop, Northampton, and Brackly in the Cou [...] [...] hampton, Cirencester in the Countie of Gloucester, Reading in the Countie of Berks, Kendall in the Co [...] [...] ­merland, Sherborne in the Countie of Dorcet, Richmond, Hallifax, and Wakefield in the Countie of York [...] the Countie of Lancaster, Tanton Deane in the Countie of Somerset, Deuizes in the Countie of Wilts, [...] the Countie of Essex, And Woodstocke in the Countie of Oxon. And Wee haue likewise thereby [...] confirmed vnto the Maior, Constables and Societie of the Merchants of the Staple of Eng [...], [...] their Successors, and to all and singular Merchants and others, which are or shal be of, and vn [...] [...] ­dome and gouernment of the Societie of the Staple of England, full and free power, [...]ertie an [...] [...] to buy, bargaine and Contract all maner of Woolls in all parts of this Kingdome of England [...] [...] ­nion of Wales, of all person and persons whatsoeuer, and the same to vtter and put to Sale in an [...] [...] Staple-markets, Cities or Townes without any impeachment, restraint or condition in that b [...] [...]

Notwithstanding the Statute made in the fifth yeere of the late King Edward the sixt, or any [...] Statute, Restraint, Prouision, or Proclamation to the contrary in any wise; As by our [...] Patents vnder our great Seale of England more at large appeareth. Wee doe for Vs, Our [...] Successors, straightly charge, command and prohibite all and euery our louing Subiects, that [...] doe Sue, Implead, or vexe in any Court of Record whatsoeuer, the sayd Merchants of the St [...] or any of them, their Wiues, Apprentices, or Houshold seruants, or any of them, for or concerning buyin [...] [...] in any place whatsoeuer, to sell againe by Retayle or otherwise, within the Staple Townues afor [...] [...] if any Suit hereafter shalbe brought or prosecuted in any of Our Courts against the sayd Mere [...] [...] Staple, or any of them, their Wiues, Apprentices, or Houshold seruants, for the buying of any W [...]s, [...] shall be bought to the intent to sell againe at any of the sayd Staple Townes, vpon any Stat [...] or [...] ­nance whatsoeuer, made against Ingrossing and buying of Woolles, to the intent to sell them ag [...] Th [...] and so often Wee doe by these presents, for Vs, our Heires and Successors, will, charge and re [...] [...] euery the Iudges and Iustices of Vs, our Heires and Successors, of all and euery our Courts, [...] such Suite shalbe brought and prosecuted, and the Barons of the Exchequer of Vs, our Heires [...] S [...] ­sors, so soone as they, or any of them shalbe truely certified, that the partie sued is a Merchant of [...] or Wife, Apprentice, or Houshold seruant to a merchant of the Staple; They, and euery of the [...] [...] Iudges, Iustices and Barons of Vs, our Heires or Successors, shall vse and imploy the vtter [...] [...] power and authoritie, and take all courses, and doe all things which may stand with Law and [...] the speedie stopping and repressing of all such Suits and troubles against the sayd Merchants of [...] or any of them, their wiues, apprentices, or houshold seruants of them, or any of them, for buying [...] [Page]of Wooll as aforesayd. And Wee doe also hereby reuoke, and disanull all Licences, Pow [...] [...] [...] ­ties which haue bene giuen, or may be pretended to be giuen for the buying of Wooll withing [...] for to Ship to any of His Maiesties Ilands, or to sell againe vnconuerted, Except such as [...] to the Merchants of the Staple: And doe hereby straightly charge and commaund, that [...] [...] ­tutes in that behalfe made against all others shalbe put in execution: And doe inhibite all [...] of Our displeasure, to buy or contract for any Wooll to sell againe vnwrought: And furthe [...] [...] reforme all frauds and abuses heretofore practized by Glouers and Fel-mongers, in the vtte [...] [...] wools, We will and ordaine and straightly charge and command all Fel-mongers, and eue [...] [...] doe, or shall inhabite within twelue miles of any of the sayd Staple Markets, Cities, or [...] mitted and assigned, That they and euery of them shall from time to time put to sale all [...] wools, at some or one of the sayd Staple Markets or Townes, and not elsewhere, thereto [...] [...] ­ued, weighed, and registred by some of the Officers and Ministers of the Staple. And [...] purpose, that a due and orderly gouernment may be established and continued at the Staph [...] [...] sayd, both for weighing, proouing, searching, and disposing of all sorts of the Woolles of th [...] Our [...] as may tend most to the welfare of all Our Subiects; Our will and pleasure is, That [...] Ma [...] Staple for the time being, shall appoint some one of the Societie to attend the Lords of O [...] [...] sell for their Direction from time to time, whensoeuer they shalbe commanded for that purpo [...].

Prouided neuerthelesse, that the Clothiers and Dealers in New Draperies, or any oth [...] [...] Subiects, that shall buy to conuert into Manufactures, shall not be barred from buying [...] hands of the Wool grower, Wooll fit for their vse; And also that the Dealers in New [...] Stuffes, who doe not vse the whole Fleece of the Woolles they buy, and haue vsed to sell [...] thiers, shall and may continue the same vsage, as formerly they haue done, so as they sell the [...] [...] [...] ­yle Markets, there to be viewed, weighed, and registred by the Officers and Ministers of [...]

Giuen at Burley on the Hill the foure and twentieth day of March, in the fifteenth yeere of [...] Great Britaine, France, and Ireland. 1616.

God saue the King.