WHereas in the Parliament holden in the seuen and twentieth yere of the Reigne of our most noble Progenitor Edward the thirde late King of England, It is enacted, and ordeined amongst other things, That all Woolpackers, and Winders of Woolls should besworne, and take a corporal othe before the Ma­ior of the Staple for the time being, truely and iustly to Winde and packe all the Woolls within the Realme; By force of which Statute the fellowship of Woolwinders, otherwise called Woollmen, are bound iustly and truely to winde and packe all such Wools, as they meddle with throughout the Realme, to the publique good and commoditie of the whole Realme, By force of which Statute, and by the good Ordinances made by the said fellowship, the said Woolls haue bene euer since iustly and truely wound and packed, vntil now of late diuers and many persons (contrary to the same Statute) taking vpon them to be Woolwinders in many places of this Realme, neither being sworne, nor expert in winding and folding of Woolls, of which some be Glouers, Tailers, Weauers, Cordwainers, Barbers, Husbandmen, and other Artificers, haue gone about, and dayly doe goe about tho­rowout this Realme in many places, practizing themselues in Winding and folding of the said Woolls, by the procurement and meanes of the Owners, and Breeders of the said Woolls, and do wind vp, and deceitfully put into the said Fleeces of Wooll, sand, stones, dust, pitch, tarre, clay, yron, leade, double markes, shorlocks, doung, lambes wooll, Clockets, locks, hindershanks, tailes, washlocks, cummer, and many other deceiuable things, not onely to the great stander of this Realme, but to the great losse and preiudice of his Maiesties Subiects, vsing the craft and feat of Clothmaking within this Realme, and to the great abuse and deceit of Merchants, and others, buyers of the same.

For reformation and redresse whereof, The Kings most excellent Maiestie, by the aduice of his Priuie Counsel, straightly chargeth and commandeth, That no maner of person or persons, whatsoeuer he or they be, at any time hereafter goe about, or take vpon him or them to Winde or folde any maner of Woolls in any Countrey where Woolls are accustomed to be wrought, had or vsed, Or in the Counties of Northampton, Lincolne, Leicester, or Rutland, for any Merchant of the Staple, Clothier or buyers, before he or they shalbe admitted and allowed, by the Master, and Wardens of the Company and fellowship of the Woolmen of the City of London, or one of them for the time being, to the intent that he and they shalbe expert, and haue knowledge in the saide craft or mysterie, for the true Winding and folding of Woolls. And that euery person and persons so allowed and admitted for an able and lawfull workman, or workemen in forme aforesaid, shall haue a Testimoniall or Certificat of his allowance and admittance, vnder the Seale of the Maior of the Staple at Westminster for the time being; And that none of the said persons so allowed & admitted, or that shalbe so allowed and admitted, shal go about, or take vpon him or them, to Winde or fold any Woolls before he or they haue taken a corporall othe before the said Maior for the time being, That he or they shall truely and iustly without deceit Winde, or fold all and singuler such Wooll, or Woolls, as he or they shall take vpon him or them to winde or fold, and shall not commit, vse, or practize any deceit or guile therein, vpon paine that euery person which shall take vpon him to Winde or folde any maner of Woolls being not admitted and sworne, as is aforesaid, or which shall commit, vse, or practize any deceit or guile therein against this our Proclamation, or against any the Lawes and Statutes, in that behalfe made and prouided, shall suffer im­prisonment ten dayes, and to be set vpon the Pillorie in the next Market towne, with a Fleece of Wooll hanging about his neck, according to the tenour of a Proclamation heretofore set foorth in the fifth yeere of the reigne of our late deceased brother of famous memory King Edward the sixt, And of one other Proclamation set out by our late sister Elizabeth the Queenes Maiestie deceased, bearing date the tenth day of August in the fourth yeere of her reigne.

And his Maiestie further straightly chargeth and commandeth that no Grower, Breeder, Brogger or gatherer of any Wools in any his Highnesse Counties where Woolls are accustomed to be wrought by sworne men, or in the said Counties of Northampton, Lincolne, Lei­cester, and Rutland, shall at any time hereafter set on worke any Woolfolder, or Woolwinder, to fold or winde his or their Wooll or Woolls, vnlesse the said Woolfolder, or Woolwinder bring with him or them a Testimoniall, or certificat, vnder the Seale of the said Maior of the Staple at Westminster for the time being: Testifying him or them to be sworne and admitted for an able workeman to folde and winde Woolls in maner and forme as is aforesaid, vpon like paine as is aboue expressed.

And further where by an Act made in the three and twentieth yeere of the reigne of our most noble Predecessor King Henry the eight of famous memory yet standing in force, It was enacted that no maner of person do winde or cause to be wound any Fleece of Wooll, not be­ing sufficiently Riuered or washed, ne winde, or cause to be wound within any Fleece any deceiuable things particulerly mentioned in the same Act, or any other thing, whereby the Fleece may be the more waightier, to the deceit & losse of the Buyer, vpon paine the Seller of any such deceitfull Woolls, to forfeit for euery such Fleece sixe pence; His Maiestie hath bene certainly informed, That notwithstanding the said good Act and Statute, much deceit is vsed in washing, winding, folding and packing of Woolls, and that for the most part of vnskilful persons, contrary to the said Act and Statute: His highnesse therefore minding to haue the said clauses of the said Statute, and all Acts and Statutes touching or in any wise concerning the auoyding of the said deceits, or made, and prouided for the true and lawful winding, folding, and packing of the said Wools, by expert and skilfull persons, shalbe from hencefoorth duely obserued, and put in execution, and the offenders against the same, to be corrected and punished according to the effect and true meaning thereof, doeth straightly charge and com­mand all and euery his Subiects whatsoeuer, to whom it shall and may appertaine, To obserue the true meaning of the said Acts, vpon paine of forfaiture of the penalties therein contained, and as they wil auoyd his highnesse further displeasure. And further his Maiesty by the aduice aforesaid, straightly chargeth and commandeth all and euery Iustices of Peace, Maiors, Shiriffes, Bailiffes, and all other his highnesse Officers and ministers whatsoeuer, to whom it may appertaine within their seueral Liberties, and precincts, That they and euery of them cause euery such Offender and Offenders, to be punished for such offence and offences aboue mentioned, in such fort as is a­boue limitted, appointed and declared. And that euery and whatsoeuer Justice of Peace, Maior, Shiriffe, Bailiffe, or other Officer, doe refuse, or do not punish, or cause to be punished euery such person or persons, so to him or them presented, according to this present Ordi­nance, his or their faults being duely proued, shall forfait to the Kings Maiestie twentie pounds to be payed into his Highnesse Court of Exchequer; And further shall incurre his highnesse displeasure.

Giuen at our Mannour of East-Greenwich the 18. day of June, in the second yeere of our raigne of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the seuen and thirtieth.

God saue the King.