WHere , in all well-gouerned Kingdomes , Common-wealthes , Cities , and Countries , care hath euer beene duly had and taken , and commands strictly giuen in publicke and in priuate , That Breade , Meats , and Drinkes of all sorts , to be solde , vttered , or put to sale , for the sustenance of mankinde , should bee good , sweete , sound , and wholesome for mans body : And that iust Assize , Weight , & Measure , should be deliuered to all persons , vpon paines , penalties , and punishments , to bee inflicted vppon the Offenders , according to the qualities of their offences .

Now therefore , the Right honorable Sir Thomas Middleton , Knight , Lord Maior of this the Kings Highnes City of London , & his right Worshipful Brethren the Aldermen of the same , considering the great Assemblie of Lords Spirituall and Temporall , & Commons at this time of the high Court of Parliament , and the repayre hither of so many others from many parts of this realme , who are to haue their prouision for their dyet in a great part from this Cittie , and purposing as much as in them shall lye , duely to prouide that they bee well serued of Victuall , both in respect of the goodnesse of the same , and of iust assize , weight , and measure , do heereby straitly Charge and Command , That no Baker , Wine-seller , Brewer , Butcher , Poulter , Fishmonger , Inholder , Cooke , Alehouse-keeper , or any other Victualler , or other person or persons whatsoeuer , doe at any time heereafter , sell , vtter , or put to sale , any Bread , Wine , Ale , Beere , Flesh , Fish , or any other Victuall whatsoeuer within the saide City or Liberties of the same , but such onely as shal be good , sweet , sound , and wholesome for mans body , vppon paine of imprisonment , and such further punnishment as the qualities of their seuerall offences shall deserue , which shall with all seuerity be executed against them , and euery of them .

And do further heereby straitly Charge and Command , That no Baker , or any other person whatsoeuer , shall at any time heereafter , sell , vtter , or put to sale , any Breade vsuallie called & sold for Wheaten bread , but that the peny loafe contain the Assize of xi . Ounces Troy waight at the least , which is th' assize now appointed for the same , & other loaues of that kind of Bread after that Rate , Nor any bread vsually called & sold for White bread , but that the peny loafe contain th' Assize of seuen ounces , & one quarter of an ounce troy waight at the least , which is th' assiize now appointed for the same , and other loaues of that kind of bread after that rate . And that no Inholder , Cooke , Tipler , Ale-house-keeper , or other person whatsoeuer , shall at anie time heereafter , sell , vtter , or put to sale , any Beere or Ale otherwise then by measures , sealed by the Officer thereunto duely appointed . And that none of them sell any of the best sort of Ale or beere at any higher rate or price , then a penie for a full Ale quart , nor any of the smaller sorte of Ale or beere at any higher rate or price , then a halfe peny for a full Ale quart .

And forasmuch as there hath beene verie great spoyle and waste of Wheate and Barley , by reason of the great abuse in brewing strong and headie Beere and Ale : and besides the abuse in drunkennesse and drinking vnmeasurably , and in so great excesse , and in exceedingly wasting of Gods blessinges , without care or conscience , many poore families , men , weomen , and children , haue beene and dayly are vtterly ouerthrowne , and forced either to liue by begging , or sterue for want , by reason that the insatiable desire of manie of the poorer sorte of housholders , to those strong Drinkes is such , and their custome in committing that sin so grounded , as that al they can get by their labour , is hardly sufficient to satisfie their owne appetite therein , which they will ( sometimes beyond their ability ) satisfie , though their Wines and Children want at home .

And where the vtterance of those Drinkes haue beene so great , as Inholders , Cookes , and other Victuallers , haue had in their sellers and other places of Store , some one man a hundred , some two hundred , and some three hundred barrels at one time , The saide Lord Maior and Aldermen therefore , do heereby straitly Charge and Command , That no Inholder , Cooke , Ale-house-keeper , or other Victualler whatsoeuer , shall at any time after publication of this Proclamation , receiue any beere or Ale into his or her house , Seller , or other place , vntill all the barrels of beere and Ale which he or she hath , shall be drawne out , spent , and reduced to the number of twenty : and that after that time , he or shee , shal not haue , retaine , or keep in his or her house , seller , or other place , at any one time , aboue the number of twenty barrels : and that neither they nor any of them , shall at any time afterwarde , receiue , retaine , or keepe any beere or Ale in anie greater Vessels then barrels onely .

And where within the saide Citie and Liberties , many Freemen of the company of Cooks , vnder pretence of selling beere and ale with their meates , by colour of their Charters and Ordinances , do keepe common Alehouses , and sell Ale and beere both within their houses , and deliuer the same out also , without selling any meate therewith , and are not thereunto licensed in due forme of Law , The saide Lord Maior and Aldermen , doo heereby straitly Charge and Command , all Freemen of the saide Company of Cookes , That they do not at any time heereafter , directly or indirectly , sell , vtter , or put to sale , any beere or Ale out of their houses , nor in theyr houses , otherwise then with their meate .

And where there haue beene , and dayly are vsed great deceipts in sale of horsemeat , as well Hay and Oates , as horse-breade within the sayde Citie and Liberties thereof . For redresse and reformation therein , the saide Lorde Maior and Aldermen , doe heereby straightlie Charge and Commaund , all Inholders , keepers of Stables and Hoasteries , and all and euerie other person and persons whatsoeuer , That neither they , nor any of them , do at any time after the publication hereof , sell , vtter , or put to sale , any Horse-bread , at any other Rates and Prizes , then three Loaues Weighing one and twenty Ounces Troy waight for a penme , nor any other then such as shall be well baked , and made of good Beanes , Branne , and woorking Meale well blended . Nor any Oates at any higher Rate or price then foure pence halfe-peny for a pecke : & after that Rate for greater and lesser measures . Nor any Hay at any higher rate or price then a bottell of Hay weighing two pounds & a halfe for a halfe-penie , and after that Rate for greater and lesser quantitie or weight . Nor shall not take any more or greater price then sixe pence day and night for Horses , Mares , or Geldings , set at Liuerie within this Citie , or the Liberties thereof , and so after the same Rate .

And doe also heereby Charge and Commaunde , all Inholders , Ale-house-keepers , and others , vsually receyuing lodgers , who shal receiue any person or persons to lodge in any of their houses , that they and euery of them , do once euery day from time to time , deliuer to the Alderman of the Ward , or his Deputy , or to the Constable of the Precinct , where such Inholder , Ale-housekeeper , or other person shal dwel , in writing , the Names , Surnames , & additions of dwelling place and profession of such persons , as they or any of them , shall receiue to lodge , & likewise of the time of their departure , to the end , the saide Lord Maior , and his brethren the Aldermen , may from time to time be truely informed thereof , and persons dangerous to the King & State , may the more easily be discouered .