THe Kings Majesty finding, That the Orders and Proclamations heretofore published by His late Royal Father, and Grandfather, and in the time of Queén Elizabeth, concer­ning Building in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Parts ad­jacent, during the time of the late Confusions, have not been at all, or very little obser­ved or pursued: His Majesty therefore out of the abundant Care which he hath of the Honor and Safety of the said Cities of London and Westminster, is resolved to revive and put in Execution the effects of the same Orders and Proclamations, especially per­ceiving the manifold Inconveniencies daily growing by increase of New-Buildings in the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Suburbs and Liberties of the same; whereby the People increasing to so great Numbers, are not well to be Governed by the wonted Officers; the price of Uictuals is much Inhanced, the health of His Sub­jects inhabiting in the Cities and Places aforesaid, or repairing thither, much indangered; and many other good Towns and Boroughs un-peopled, and in their Trades much decayed: And also taking notice of the fre­quent Fires chiefly occasioned by Timber-Buildings, and considering the general Commodity which would grow to the said Cities, and the Liberties, and Suburbs of the same, if Building with Brick and Stone there, were more used, whereby Timber also would be greatly preserved and spared, which is now in all parts much wasted and grown very scant. And His Majesty likewise considering, how much it would Grace and Beautifie the said Cities (being the Principle Places of this Kingdom, for the Entertainment and Resort of Foreign Princes and their Em­bassadors, which from time to time do come into this Realm) if an Uniformity were kept in the said Buildings, and the Houses were Builded with Brick and Stone, which is both more Durable and Safe against Fire; and also by experience is found to be of little more, if not less charge then the Building with Timber. The Kings Majesty doth therefore streightly Prohibite and forbid all persons whatsoever, that they, nor any of them shall, or do at any time after the Publishing of this Proclamation, Build, Erect, or Set up, or Cause to be Builded, Erected, or Set up within the Cities of London or Westminster, or the Suburbs thereof, or within the distance of two Miles, to be taken from any of the Gates of the said City of London, any manner of Buildings, be they dwelling Houses, Stables, Shops, Sheds, or any other Building whatsoever, except it be upon the foundation of a former dwell­ing House, Stable, Shop, Stall, Shed, or other like Building respectively, or in or upon some Inner-Court or Yard of a dwelling House, onely for an inlargement of the said dwelling House, for one onely habitation as it was before. And His Majesty doth further streightly Prohibite and forbid all persons whatsoever, that they, nor any of them, shall or do at any time after the publishing of this Proclamation, Build, Rebuild, Erect, or Set up, or Cause to be Builded, Rebuilded, Erected, or Set up, upon any old Foundation, any House, Habitation, or Shop, or whole Story of any Building within the said Cities of London and Westminster, or the Liberties or Suburbs of the same, or within two Miles, to be taken from any of the Gates of the said City of London, except the said House, Habita­tion, Shop, or Story, so to be Builded as is aforesaid, be wholly Built of Brick, or of Brick and Stone; Nor shall they in any such Building or other repairing of their said Houses, make or put out any Iutties, Out-windows, Trussing over, or Overchanging Walls or Windows, or any Post or Pillars to support the same towards the Street or Streets (other then Windows commonly called Ballconies) upon pain that all and every person and per­sons offending in the Premisses or any of them, shall incur His Majesties High Displeasure; and such pains, penal­ties, and imprisonments, as by the Laws of this Realm can or may be inflicted upon the Offenders therein for their [Page] contempt and disobedience in that behalf: And His Majesty is nevertheless Graciously pleased, that for incourage­ment of such as shall be conformable, and for a moderate course to be held for the ease and benefit of such as shall Build with Brick, as aforesaid, It shall and may be lawful for them to make the Doors and Windows of every such Building of Wood or Timber, for saving of room, and conveniencie of Shops; and likewise, that every person that shall Erect any house, as aforesaid, shall be allowed one or more Ballconies, so as they do Build the Walls up­right from the Foundation to the top, without Iutties, Out-windows, or Trussing over, or over-hanging as a­foresaid: And His Majesty doth streightly forbid all Carpenters, Laborers, and Workmen whatsoever, that they or any of them, do attempt or do any Labor or Work in or about the Building, or setting up of any Houses within the said Cities and Places aforesaid, contrary to this His Highness Proclamation, upon pain of such punishment and imprisonment as by the Laws of this Realm may or can be inflicted upon them in that behalf: And His Majesty doth also command the Lord Major, and Aldermen of London, and all His Majesties Iustices of Peace, and all others having Authority within the said Cities, or the Limits, or Places aforesaid, That they and every of them respectively do cause this His Majesties Commandment, to be streightly observed, and duly executed according to the Tenor and true meaning thereof without delay. Provided always nevertheless, and His Majesties Pleasure is, That such part of this His Highness Proclamation, as concerneth Building with Brick or Stone, shall not ex­tend to any Houses, Habitations, Shops, or Stories of Buildings, which from and after the publishing of this Proclamation shall be Builded or Erected, in, or upon London-Bridge: And to the end His Majesties Will and Plea­sure herein may be the better observed, He further commandeth, that the Surveyor of His Majesties Works, for the time being, do take care that this His Majesties Proclamation be in all things duely pursued and put in effectual ex­ecution; And to that end, to revive the former Orders and Proclamations in this behalf, and the Commissions, Ar­ticles, and Instructions which were heretofore made forth, and issued thereupon for his better Direction and Infor­mation, touching his proceédings herein: And also touching the proportions and scantling of Bricks, which his Ma­jesties Pleasure is, shall be observed, as was formerly directed and used, whereby the Buildings may be more sub­stantial, and not so slight as of late, and at present they have beén in most Places within the said Cities and Limits aforesaid.

Given at Our Court at Whitehal, the Sixteenth day of August, 1661. In the Thirteenth year of Our Raign.

God save the KING.