A
Decree
of
Starre-Chamber
.
CHARLES
by
the
grace
of
GOD
King
of
England
,
Scotland
,
France
and
Ireland
,
Defender
of
the
Faith
,
&c.
To
all
to
whom
these
our
Letters
Patents
shall
come
,
greeting
.
Know
yee
,
that
Wee
haue
seene
a
certaine
Decree
made
by
Our
Counsell
in
Our
Court
of
Starre-Chamber
,
the
thirteenth
day
of
Nouember
,
in
the
ninth
yeere
of
Our
Reigne
,
which
remaineth
of
Record
among
the
Records
and
Remembrances
of
that
Court
,
conteining
diuers
Ordinances
;
which
Decree
followeth
in
these
words
,
Jn
Camera
Stellata
coram
Concilio
ibidem
13o
.
die
Nouembris
,
Anno
Nono
Caroli
Regis
.
His
Maiesties
Attourney
generall
did
this
day
informe
this
honorable
Court
,
that
it
hauing
been
presented
to
the
Lords
of
His
Maiesties
most
honourable
Priuie
Counsell
,
that
aswell
the
prices
of
all
sorts
of
victuals
,
as
also
of
Horsmeate
were
growen
to
excessiue
rates
,
and
that
instance
thereof
was
giuen
in
particular
by
His
Maiesties
Officers
of
the
Greencloth
,
in
seuerall
prouisions
made
for
His
Maiesties
house
,
whereby
the
weekely
accompts
of
the
household
were
much
increased
.
It
was
thought
fit
and
ordered
that
his
Maiesties
Attorney
Generall
,
aswell
vpon
conference
with
such
of
the
Iudges
,
and
such
of
His
Maiesties
learned
Counsell
as
hee
should
thinke
fit
,
as
vpon
perusall
of
all
such
Lawes
,
and
Statutes
,
as
are
in
force
concerning
the
setling
of
prices
of
victualls
,
and
horsemeate
,
should
make
report
vnto
the
Boord
of
his
opinion
concerning
the
same
,
as
by
their
Lordships
Order
of
the
ninth
of
October
last
past
appeareth
;
And
declared
that
according
to
the
said
Order
hee
had
at
seuerall
dayes
attended
his
Maiesties
Iustices
of
the
Kings
Bench
,
and
Common-Pleas
,
and
Barons
of
the
Exchequer
,
who
made
Certificate
of
their
opinion
in
writing
subscribed
by
them
;
which
Certificate
,
the
said
Attorney
presented
vnto
this
Court
,
and
followeth
in
these
words
.
Master
Attorney
,
wee
send
you
here
inclosed
our
opinions
of
these
things
which
were
propounded
,
and
though
fit
to
bee
reformed
at
our
last
generall
meeting
.
-
Thomas
Richardson
.
-
Robert
Heath
.
-
Humphrie
Dauenport
.
-
John
Denham
.
-
Richard
Hutton
.
-
William
Iones
.
-
George
Crooke
.
-
Thomas
Treuors
.
-
George
Vernon
.
-
Robert
Barkeley
.
-
Frauncis
Crawley
.
Touching
Victuals
,
we
finde
ingrossing
to
bee
a
great
occasion
to
raise
the
prices
thereof
,
an
offence
vtterly
against
the
Common-Law
:
And
amongst
ingrossers
,
we
finde
the
Chandlers
to
bee
great
offenders
in
buying
great
quantities
of
all
sorts
of
Graine
brought
vnto
,
or
towards
the
Market
.
We
also
find
,
that
Tauernes
are
of
late
exceedingly
increased
in
their
number
,
in
,
&
about
London
,
and
that
they
dresse
Flesh
,
&
Fish
,
&
vtter
the
same
at
excessiue
prices
,
to
the
increase
of
Riot
,
and
other
abuses
;
whereas
by
the
Law
,
as
Tauerners
,
they
are
to
sell
nothing
but
Wine
,
vnlesse
it
bee
Bread
to
eate
therewith
.
We
find
,
that
Bakers
doe
sell
their
bread
,
at
foureteene
,
fifteene
,
and
sixeteene
to
the
dozen
,
where
they
should
keepe
the
Assize
,
and
not
sell
aboue
twelue
,
or
thirteene
at
the
most
to
the
dozen
;
and
this
pincheth
the
poore
.
Wee
wish
that
Ordinaries
in
and
about
London
may
bee
regulated
to
a
conuenient
summe
,
not
to
exceede
two
shillings
for
a
meale
.
And
wee
wish
that
both
Tauerners
and
Ordinary-keepers
may
bee
wholly
restrained
from
suffering
vnlawfull
Games
in
their
houses
;
for
wee
find
that
this
drawes
vnthriftie
guests
vnto
them
,
and
is
an
apparent
meanes
to
ouerthrow
the
fortunes
of
many
Gentlemen
and
Citizens
.
Touching
Horse-meat
,
vpon
hearing
of
diuers
Iustices
of
Peace
of
Middlesex
and
Surrey
,
and
of
diuers
Inkeepers
of
London
,
Westminster
,
Middlesex
,
and
Surrey
,
wee
are
of
opinion
that
the
present
prices
of
Hay
and
Oats
considered
,
sixe
pence
day
and
night
for
Hay
for
a
Horse
,
and
for
Oats
sixe
pence
a
pecke
Winchester
measure
,
is
a
competent
Rate
to
be
taken
by
Inholders
,
and
to
take
nothing
for
litter
;
and
if
they
exceede
these
Rates
,
we
hold
them
punishable
by
the
Law
,
as
for
exacting
excessiue
and
vnmeasurable
prices
.
For
Horses
which
come
to
Innes
in
the
day
time
,
we
conceiue
it
to
be
a
conuenient
Rate
for
the
Inne-keeper
to
take
a
penie
for
a
Horse
for
his
Stable-roome
,
onely
the
Horse
not
being
vnbridled
;
if
he
be
vnbridled
and
haue
Hay
and
goe
away
the
same
day
,
to
take
two
pence
the
horse
and
no
more
.
We
finde
that
of
late
yeeres
there
are
many
petty
Ostries
set
vp
in
and
about
London
,
which
entertaine
Horses
in
by-corners
,
and
receiue
Stable-horses
,
and
the
Horses
of
such
who
are
persons
suspected
,
and
these
haue
no
lodging
for
trauellers
.
By
these
Ostries
great
inconueniences
happen
to
the
Subiect
in
generall
,
and
much
preiudice
to
the
Inholders
in
particular
,
who
by
Law
are
bound
to
lodge
their
guests
,
and
to
be
answerable
for
the
goods
brought
into
their
charge
.
Wee
finde
also
that
there
are
diuers
who
vnlawfully
ingrosse
great
quantity
of
Hay
to
sell
againe
;
these
are
ingrossers
punishable
by
the
Common
Law
;
And
humbly
mooued
this
honourable
Court
,
that
the
same
might
bee
heere
recorded
,
and
that
the
Court
would
be
pleased
for
the
good
of
His
Maiesties
people
,
to
Decree
and
Command
,
that
the
particulars
thereof
be
strictly
obserued
.
Whereupon
this
honourable
Court
taking
the
same
into
their
serious
consideration
,
hath
ordered
that
the
said
Certificate
be
recorded
in
this
Honourable
Court
,
And
hath
Decreed
;
First
,
for
that
it
is
notoriously
knowen
that
ingrossing
is
a
great
occasion
to
raise
the
prices
of
victuall
,
and
also
of
Hay
,
and
ingrossing
to
inhance
prices
is
punishable
not
onely
by
the
Statutes
,
but
also
by
the
Common
Lawes
of
the
Realme
;
His
Maiesties
Iustices
of
the
Benches
at
Westminster
,
and
Barons
of
the
Exchequer
,
the
Iustices
of
Assize
;
and
Oyer
and
Terminer
,
and
Iustices
of
Peace
in
their
seuerall
places
are
required
to
cause
diligent
enquiry
to
bee
made
of
all
ingrossers
of
all
sorts
of
victuall
and
Hay
,
and
see
the
Delinquents
herein
bee
seuerely
punished
.
And
His
Maiesties
Attorney
generall
,
is
likewise
commanded
to
cause
such
of
them
as
shal
be
brought
to
his
notice
,
to
bee
informed
against
in
this
Honourable
Court
,
that
of
them
example
may
bee
made
,
to
deterre
others
from
like
offence
.
And
it
is
Decreed
,
that
after
publication
of
this
Decree
in
London
,
no
Chandler
presume
to
buy
Corne
,
Graine
,
Meale
,
or
Flower
to
sell
againe
,
either
in
Market
,
or
out
of
Market
.
And
this
Court
concurring
in
opinion
with
the
said
Reuerend
Iudges
,
and
considering
the
great
excesse
and
ryot
that
is
occasioned
by
preparing
and
selling
of
Victuall
in
Tauernes
,
and
how
the
prices
of
sundry
sorts
of
Viands
are
hereby
increased
:
Hath
decreed
that
no
Tauernour
or
Vintner
,
selling
Wine
by
Retaile
,
doe
hereafter
sell
or
make
ready
for
sale
,
any
sort
of
Flesh
or
Fish
,
or
other
Victuall
,
saue
Bread
,
nor
to
defraud
this
Ordinance
,
doe
by
himselfe
or
any
other
set
vp
,
or
cause
,
or
procure
to
be
set
vp
the
Trade
of
a
Cooke
within
the
same
house
,
or
in
any
shop
or
roome
therunto
belonging
,
or
in
any
house
thereto
neere
adiacent
,
nor
permit
or
suffer
any
Flesh
,
Fish
,
or
other
Victuall
,
except
bread
,
as
aforesaid
,
to
be
brought
into
his
house
to
be
there
eaten
by
any
of
his
Guests
.
And
the
Court
taking
into
consideration
,
how
the
poore
are
oppressed
and
pinched
,
when
Bakers
doe
sell
their
Bread
to
those
that
vent
the
same
by
Retaile
at
the
Rates
of
more
then
twelue
to
the
dozen
,
in
that
the
weight
is
abated
in
euery
loafe
,
and
the
Buyer
being
some
times
but
a
Passenger
,
is
not
able
to
make
complaint
of
the
Baker
,
whom
he
knoweth
not
;
It
is
therefore
likewise
ordered
and
decreed
,
that
no
Baker
shall
sell
any
Bread
at
other
Rate
then
twelue
or
thirteene
at
the
most
for
the
dozen
.
And
further
it
is
decreed
that
none
that
shall
keepe
Ordinary
Tables
,
or
other
Victualling
Tables
,
shall
take
more
of
the
Guests
,
then
after
the
Rate
of
two
shillings
the
man
for
the
Meale
,
nor
more
then
eight-pence
for
each
seruant
,
attending
his
Master
;
And
that
nothing
be
taken
aboue
that
Rate
for
Wine
or
other
thing
,
or
vnder
colour
thereof
,
whereby
the
true
intent
of
this
Decree
may
be
deluded
or
defrauded
;
And
that
none
of
them
,
or
Tauernours
,
or
other
Victuallers
,
keepe
or
suffer
to
bee
vsed
,
Games
of
Dice
,
Cards
,
Tables
,
or
other
vnlawfull
Games
in
their
houses
;
Wherein
this
Court
declareth
the
Licences
giuen
by
the
Groome-Porter
of
his
Maiesties
house
or
others
,
for
licensing
or
permitting
of
any
the
said
Games
,
are
not
of
validity
to
excuse
the
offenders
.
Concerning
Horse-meat
,
for
that
vpon
hearing
of
the
said
Iustices
of
the
Peace
,
and
Inne-keepers
,
the
present
prices
considered
,
the
Rates
before
specified
are
competent
;
It
is
for
the
present
ordered
and
Decreed
,
that
no
Inne-keeper
or
Ostler
,
within
the
Cities
of
London
or
Westminster
,
or
in
any
place
within
the
distance
of
tenne
miles
from
either
of
those
Cities
,
the
Suburbs
or
Liberties
of
either
of
them
,
shall
take
aboue
sixe
pence
for
a
horse
standing
in
his
stable
at
Hay
,
a
day
and
a
night
,
nor
more
then
sixe
pence
for
a
pecke
of
Oats
,
of
the
measure
commonly
called
Winchester
measure
,
without
taking
any
thing
for
litter
,
nor
more
then
a
penny
for
standing
of
a
Horse
in
his
Stable
a
day
without
meate
,
nor
aboue
two
pence
for
a
Horse
standing
at
Hay
in
the
day
,
and
going
away
before
night
.
And
that
no
Inne-Keeper
shall
exceed
those
Rates
in
any
part
of
this
Realme
;
and
where
Graine
and
Hay
are
sold
at
lesser
prices
,
there
the
Rates
and
prices
shall
be
accordingly
.
And
this
Ordinance
shall
continue
,
vntill
in
the
County
of
Middlesex
,
it
shall
be
made
to
appeare
to
the
Iustices
of
the
Kings
Bench
,
and
in
other
Counties
and
places
to
the
Iustices
of
Peace
there
,
that
because
of
the
increase
of
prices
in
the
parts
adioyning
,
greater
Rates
are
necessarily
to
be
permitted
.
And
thereupon
other
Rates
shall
from
time
to
time
be
set
,
which
being
set
,
are
hereby
commanded
and
enioyned
to
be
strictly
and
duely
obseued
,
vntill
the
same
by
like
Authority
shall
be
altered
.
And
to
the
end
that
there
may
bee
from
time
to
time
moderate
rates
and
prices
for
Hay
and
Graine
of
all
sorts
taken
by
Inne-keepers
and
Ostlers
,
of
Passengers
and
their
Guests
,
His
Maiesties
Iustices
of
the
Kings
Bench
are
desired
,
and
the
Iustices
of
the
Peace
of
other
Counties
and
places
,
are
required
yeerely
and
more
often
,
if
there
shall
bee
occasion
,
to
make
diligent
enquiry
of
Hay
and
other
Horse-meat
,
and
to
make
declaration
in
writing
fixed
in
publike
places
,
what
prices
and
rates
for
Hay
and
other
Horse-meate
are
allowed
to
bee
taken
by
Inkeepers
and
Ostlers
,
which
the
said
Inkeepers
and
Ostlers
are
commanded
to
obserue
.
And
if
any
of
them
shall
presume
to
offend
therein
,
that
diligent
enquiry
be
made
of
them
,
that
they
beeing
presented
may
without
conniuence
receiue
seuere
punishment
,
as
oppressours
of
His
Maiesties
people
,
by
taking
excessiue
prices
.
Moreouer
,
the
Court
considering
the
great
inconueniences
that
doe
arise
by
the
number
of
petty
Hostreys
and
Ostlers
that
keepe
stables
for
Horses
without
lodging
for
Guests
,
not
liable
nor
able
to
make
satisfaction
for
goods
vnder
their
custodie
that
shall
be
stollen
or
imbezeled
,
yet
taking
consideration
of
their
pouerty
,
and
that
it
would
tend
to
their
vndoing
,
if
they
shold
presently
bee
supprest
,
before
such
time
as
die
store
which
they
haue
already
prouided
shall
bee
spent
;
The
Iustices
of
the
Peace
of
the
Citie
of
London
,
Suburbs
and
Liberties
thereof
,
the
Citie
of
Westminster
,
and
Borough
of
Southwarke
,
and
of
the
Counties
of
Middlesex
,
and
Surrey
,
are
required
with
all
conuenient
speed
to
make
enquiry
of
all
such
petty
Ostreys
within
the
said
Cities
,
Boroughs
,
Suburbs
,
Liberties
,
and
all
places
not
distant
aboue
two
miles
from
some
part
thereof
,
and
what
prouision
of
Hay
,
Oats
,
and
Prouender
,
remaineth
in
their
hands
vnspent
;
And
to
command
them
not
to
make
any
further
prouision
;
And
after
that
which
is
remaining
in
their
hands
shal
be
spent
,
no
longer
to
vse
or
keepe
such
Ostries
.
And
it
is
Decreed
by
this
Court
,
that
none
after
that
time
shall
keepe
or
vse
any
such
Ostries
.
And
to
the
end
that
notice
may
be
taken
of
this
Decree
,
by
all
those
whom
it
may
concerne
,
and
that
none
may
excuse
himselfe
vpon
pretence
of
being
ignorant
of
the
Contents
thereof
;
It
is
ordered
,
that
the
same
be
published
in
the
Cities
of
London
and
Westminster
,
and
in
the
seuerall
Counties
of
this
Realme
,
at
Assizes
,
Sessions
,
and
other
places
of
publike
Assemblies
;
And
all
they
to
whom
the
execution
thereof
pertaineth
are
required
,
that
they
see
the
same
put
in
due
execution
.
Know
yee
that
Wee
taking
into
Our
consideration
that
the
said
Decree
was
made
vpon
graue
and
sad
aduise
,
and
vpon
the
certificate
of
Our
Iudges
,
and
that
the
same
is
iust
and
necessary
to
be
obserued
,
Haue
approued
the
same
Decree
,
and
doe
ratifie
and
confirme
the
same
;
and
the
necessitie
of
these
times
requiring
it
,
WE
DOE
COMMAND
that
the
same
by
all
those
whom
it
concerneth
to
be
obeyed
and
put
in
execution
,
vnder
the
paines
to
be
inflicted
vpon
the
contemners
of
Our
Command
,
and
the
Decrees
of
that
Court
.
And
to
the
end
that
all
Our
louing
Subiects
,
may
be
participants
of
the
good
thereof
,
and
may
complaine
of
those
things
wherein
they
shall
be
grieued
,
contrary
to
the
Tenor
of
the
said
Decree
,
and
of
those
that
in
disobedience
shall
contemne
or
neglect
the
due
obseruance
thereof
;
WEE
doe
command
Our
Printer
that
he
forthwith
cause
these
presents
to
be
Printed
and
dispersed
into
the
seuerall
Counties
of
this
Realme
,
with
expedition
,
so
that
in
euery
of
those
Counties
,
the
same
may
be
published
at
the
generall
Session
of
the
Peace
to
bee
holden
next
after
the
Feast
of
the
Epiphany
now
next
comming
,
that
Our
people
of
those
Counties
,
may
take
notice
thereof
.
And
Wee
doe
Command
the
Iustices
of
the
Peace
,
that
at
their
said
Sessions
,
in
euery
of
the
said
Counties
the
same
be
openly
read
;
And
Wee
doe
require
Our
Counsell
,
in
Our
Court
of
Starre-Chamber
,
the
Iustices
of
Our
Benches
,
Barrons
of
Our
Exchequer
,
Iustices
of
Assize
,
and
Oyer
and
Terminer
,
and
Iustices
of
the
Peace
,
That
against
all
those
that
shall
offend
against
the
said
Decree
,
they
proceede
without
conniuence
,
as
they
tender
Our
Seruice
,
and
the
good
of
Our
People
.
In
witnesse
whereof
Wee
haue
caused
these
Our
Letters
to
bee
made
Patents
.
Witnesse
our selfe
at
Westminster
,
the
fourteenth
day
of
December
,
in
the
ninth
yeere
of
Our
Reigne
.
Per
ipsum
Regem
.
Willys
.