WHereas by the Lawes and Statutes of this Our Realme of England, speciall provision hath been made for the restraint of the use of any other Vessels in venting and putting to sale any Beere or Ale to be spent and occupied within this Realme, in any other Barrels, Kil­derkins, Firkins, or other Vessels then such as should be made and marked by a common Artificer of Cowpers, and which should contain the severall quantities and contents by the said Lawes and Statutes limited: And whereas it is now found that the good intent of the said Lawes and Statutes is dayly cluded by the Brewers of Beer and Ale, In-holders, Alehouse-keepers, Cooks, Vittuallers, Chan­dlers, and other such like persons, who starting, emptying, tunning, or shifting their Beer and Ale into Wine-Casks, as Tunnes, Butts, Pipes, Hogsheads, Tier­ces, and other Wine-vessels prohibited by the said Lawes and Statutes; and from or in those Vessels do retail or sell the same, whereby aswell Our own Houshold, and Our deerest Con­sort the Queens, as the houses of Our Nobility, and other Our Subjects of quality are often unfurnished of sound and serviceable Wine-Casks for their necessary use; And our Navy and other Shipping of Our Realms are deprived and destituted of so needfull and principall furniture and provision for victualling at Sea, whereof the Officers of Our Nauie do often complain, and the mystery of Cowpers within this Realm (being ancient, and of good use) is impoverished and decayed.

Wee intending reformation in the premisses, and that the generall and free use of the said Wine-Casks by Brewers, In-holders, Alehouse-keepers, Cooks, Chandlers, and Victual­ers, may be in some measure restrained, whereby aswell Our own Houshold, and Our deerest [Page]Consorts, as the houses of Our Nobility, and other Our Subjects of quality may be there­with better served, and the Navy and Shipping of Our Realm sufficiently furnished with a Provision so needfull, Do therefore hereby signifie and declare our Royall pleasure and Com­mandment to be, and do also straitly charge and command, All and every Brewers, In-hold­ers, Cooks, Chandlers, Alehouse-keepers, Victuallers, and other sellers of Beer or Ale, That they or any of them from and after the first day of March next coming, shall not have, use, or imploy in their Houses, Vaults, Cellars, or other Roomes, any Wine-Casks, as Tunnes, Butts, Pipes, Hogsheads, Tierces, or any other Wine-Vessels whatsoever, contrary to the in­tent of the said Lawes and Statutes, for the keeping of any Beer or Ale, by them to be sold or put to sale in grosse or by retail, within Our Realm of England or Dominion of Wales. And that no Brewer, Inn-holder, Alehouse-keeper, Cook, Chandler, Victualer, or other sellers of Beer or Ale in grosse or by retail, nor their Agents or Servants shall from henceforth start, emptie, tunne or shift any Beer or Ale into any the said Wine-Casks, contrary to the meaning hereof, upon pain of Our high displeasure, and such penalties as by the Lawes or Statutes of Our Realm or otherwise may be inflicted on the offendors for their contempt of Our Royall Com­mandment.

And whereas for the better execution of this Our Royall Command, Wee are minded to appoint and authorise meet persons from time to time, to make and take diligent view and search, aswell of all such Wine-Casks, as now are, or hereafter shall be used and imployed by any Beer-Brewers, Ale-brewers, Inn-holders, Cooks, Chandlers, Alehouse-keepers, Victuallers, and other fellers of Beer or Ale in grosse or by retail within this Our Realm of England, or Dominion of Wales; As also of the names of the persons so having and using the same, to the end that from and after the said first day of Marth next coming, they may be thereof wholly restrained, according to Our pleasure herein declared; Wee will and require all Beer-brewers, Ale-brewers, Inn-holders, Cooks, Chandlers, Alehouse-keepers, and other Vittuallers, to yeeld all due and ready obedience thereunto, upon pam of Our high displeasure, and to be proceeded a­gainst as contemners of Our Royall Commandment.

And further Our will and pleasure is, and Wee do hereby straitly charge and command, all Iustices of Peace, Maiors, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Constables, Headboroughs, and all other Our Officers and Ministers whatsoever, from time to time in their severall Offices and places to be ayding and assisting to the said persons, so by Vs to be appointed and authorized for the said view and search, as much as in them is, that Our Royall will and Commandment herein declared, may be duely observed, as they tender Our pleasure, and will answer the contrary.

Neverthelesse, Our meaning is not hereby to inhibite or restrain any Brewers from send­ing, selling, or venting their Beer or Ale in Wine-Casks, unto any of our Nobility, or other Our Subjects of quality, to be expended onely for the use of them and their families, any thing heretofore to the contrary thereof notwithstanding.

Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the nineteenth day of November, in the thirteenth yeare of Our Reign.