WHereas heretofore diuers Bakers, Brewers, Inholders, But ­chers, and other Victualers, through their greedy desire of vnlawfull gaine, not contented with reasonable profit in vttering and selling of Victuall vnto Our Subiects in the Common wealth, And specially within the Verge of Our Court, where Our Nobilitie, Seruants and Traine (dayly attending vpon Our person) are lodged and placed by Our Harbengers, are vnlawfully exac­ted vpon with vnreasonable and extreame prices, by the said Victuallers, en­haunsing the same Victuals, Horsemeat, Lodgings, and all other necessaries at a more deare price, then it was sold for (to Our common Subiects) before Our comming, And for that of late it appeareth vnto Vs by the Records of Our Compting house, that all the Kings of this Realme, (Our progenitours) haue alwayes had a speciall care to restraine the excesse gaining by the aforesaid Vic­tuallers and others within the Verge of their Courts, And also for that it further appeareth vnto Vs, that of late more extreame exaction is vsed by the foresaid Victuallers, and others towards Our seruants, Traine and Suiters, attending Our Courts wheresoeuer We make Our abode, then heretofore hath bene, Nothing respecting Our Prerogatiue, nor the Lawes of Our Realme, Therefore Our will and pleasure is, and We doe hereby straitly charge and command, that all persons doe obey and keepe all such prices, as is and shalbe priced, asseassed, and rated by the Clearke of the Market of Our Houshold within the Verge of Our Court, aswell within Liberties as without; And the Iury before him, or his lawfull Deputie, by vertue of his Office sworne and charged from time to time, The same Rates and prices not onely to be certified by Our said Clearke of the Market, or his Deputie into Our Counting house, But also fixed and set vpon the Gates of Our Court, and other places within the Verge, aswell within Liber­ties as without; And that no maner of the person or persons aforesaid, of what estate or degree soeuer hee or they be, doe in any wise pay more for Corne, Victuals, Horsemeat, Lodging or any other thing, then af­ter the rate and forme aforesaid, vpon paine of imprisonment, & to be Fined with further punishment that shall thereof follow, The same paines and punishments, and euery part therof to be executed vpon al those persons, and euery of them which doe, or shall presume to aske or demand, vtter and sel any maner of thing, or things, contrary to the true meaning of this Our Proclamation. And moreouer We do straitly charge and command, that no maner of person or persons, now vsing, or which hereafter shal vse, or of right ought to vse to serue any City, Borough, towne or other place where Our repose & abode is, or shalbe, or elswhere within the Verge of Our Courts, aswell within Liberties as without, with any kinde of Corne or Victu­als, or other necessaries, aswell vpon the Market day, as at any other time, shalbe any thing the more remisse or slacke for making of prouision for the same, then they or any of them heretofore haue bin, nor vse any co­lour of craft to deceiue the buyers thereof, Nor hide or lay aside their Corne, victuals, Horsmeat, Lodgings or any other necessaries to diminish the Market, whereby Our whole Traine within any City, borough, towne, and other inhabitants of the same, and other Our Subiects thereunto resorting, should not be as well ferned and as plenteously furnished in euery behalfe as it was before, or of right ought to haue beene in defraude of this Our ordinance. And furthermore we straightly charge and expressely Commaunde all Our Officers of Greencloth, Our Justices of peace, Our Clarke of the Market, his Deputy or Deputies, Maiors, Bayliffes, Sheriffes, Counstables, and all other Our faithful Officers & euery of them, of Cities, Burroughes, Townes, Hundreds, and other places within the Verge of Our Court as well within liber­ties as without from time to time, when, and as often as neede shall require, vpon Complaint by any par­tie iuffly made, diligently euery of them within their authorities forthwith to endeuour themselues to see tuff punishment, and due reformation of the premises against such person or persons as shall offend herein, according to Iustice and prices, as aforesaid.

Giuen at Our Court of Whitehall the fifth day of Nouember in the eleuenth yeere of our reigne of England, Fraunce, and Ireland, And of Scotland the seuen and fortieth.

God saue the King.