WHereas vpon the humble Petition of Our louing Subjects the Free men of Our City of London, trading in Butter and Cheese, We caused Our Royall Proclamation to be published for prevention of many frauds and abuses, which had beene frequently practised as well in the overweight of Butter-Caske, as in the false packing of But­ter; Notwithstanding which Our Royall intention, and the vigi­lant care of Our welbeloued seruant, Captaine Iohn Read, in the ex­ecution of the trust in him reposed concerning the reformation there­of (wherewith we are well satisfied) many great abuses are still committed by Farmors, Dairiemen, Packers of Butter, and others, by putting vp of corrupt and vnwholsome Butter with good Creame Butter, and by making of new Heads or new Boards to some part of old sealed Caskes, and by counterfeiting the Stampe with which the said Butter-Caskes be marked, & likewise by Putting, Packing, Ship­ping, and Transporting of Butter in Caskes & Vessels before they be marked, & also by putting of greater quantities of Salt into those Vessels then is necessary for the preseruation of the Butter therein contained, and weighing the same Butter with vnsealed and deceitfull Weights and Balances: All which seuerall falshoods, frauds, and misdemeanours, being of euill con­sequence to the common wealth, and contemptuously committed against the tenor of Our for­mer Proclamation (which We will shall be in all things in violably obserued;) Therefore the better to meet with these and the like obstinate Offendors, We haue enlarged the power of Our said Seruant, his Assignes and Deputies, by Our late Letters Patents vnder Our great Seale of England; And doe hereby giue Our people timely notice thereof, that they may preuent the punishment which is iustly to fall vpon them, if hereafter they happen to be found transgressors in the Premisses, or any of them.

And We doe hereby charge and command, all Coopers and Potters respectiuely, that from henceforth they make all Firkins of one size, and they to conteine fifty fire pounds neat But­ter, and so after the like rate for Kilderkins and Barrels, and all Pots to hold fourteene pounds neat Butter, without fraud or guile: And that the said Coopers and Potters doe and shall set his and their distinct marke vpon euery such Caske, Pot, or Vessell, by him and them to b emade, to the end the Delinquents may be discouered, and receiue condigne punish­ment according to their demerits. To the end therefore that the frauds and Offendors afore­said may be the fooner discouered, Our will and pleasure is, that the said Captaine Iohn Reade, his Assignes and Deputies, and euery of them, shall set a distinct Marke vpon euery Vessell or Caske by them hereafter to be sealed and marked; And also that euery Maker, and Packer vp of Butter into any Caske or Vessell, do and shall from time to time hereafter set his and their priuate Marke vpon euery Vessell or Caske to be filled with Butter, whereby the defectiue Butter, either in weight or goodnesse, and the persons by whom the same was made, packed vp, or filled, may be the better discouered. And if the Offendors aforesaid, or any of them, shall notwithstanding these Our Princely Commands, wilfully and contemptuously proceede and continue in committing any the aforesaid offences, whereof by this Our Proclamation they are forewarned and restrained, We doe hereby giue further power and authority vnto Our said seruant, his Deputie and Deputies, with the assistance of a Constable, or other Officer, to enter and goe into any Faires, Markets, Houses, Shops, Warehouses, Ports, Harbors, Ships, Vessels, and all other places whatsoeuer, within this Our Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales, to search for and discouer all Butter-Vessels deceitfully made, put to sale vnbranded, branded with any counterfeit Brand, or filled with Butter wanting the due weight in Butter, as aforesaid, or corrupt Butter mingled with good Butter; and finding any such, to seize and destroy the same, or put the same into safe custodie vntill they shall be otherwise dis­posed of, according to the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme, and the Offendors condignly punished according to their demerits.

Lastly, We doe hereby for Vs, Our Heires, and Successors, charge and command all and singular Maiors, Iustices of Peace, Sheriffes, Bailiffes, Constables, Headboroughs, and all other Officers and Ministers whomsoeuer, of Vs, Our Heires and Successors, within this Our Realme of England, and Dominion of Wales, to be aiding, assisting, and helping vnto the said Captaine Iohn Reade, his Deputie and Deputies, and euery of them in the due execution of the said Office, and of Our will and pleasure herein, and in Our former Proclamation and Letters Patents expressed, according to the true meaning of these presents, whensoeuer they or any of them shall be thereunto desired, and in no wise to hinder, interrupt, or molest him or them in any thing concerning the execution and performance of this seruice, as they tender Our pleasure, and will auoid the contrary at their perils.

Given at Our Court at Oatlands, the sixteenth day of Iuly, in the thirteenth yeere of Our Reigne.