FOR AS MOCHE as it is the offyce and duetie of chiefe rulers and gouernours of all ciuile commynalties , to study deuise and practise by sondrye wayes and meanes , to auaunce set forthe and encrease theyr common welthes , commytted to theyr cures and charges , and to mayntayne and obserue suche ordynaunces and orders , as by them shulde be deuysed for the same , if by the experience of them , suche goodnes profyte commoditie and benefyte succede therof in and amonge theyr ciuilitie , as they entended , and if not , then to reuoke repeale and refourme theyr sayde ordynaunces and orders , and establyshe newe from tyme to tyme , as the necessitie of theyr common welthe shulde require : The kynges moste royall maiestie , HENRY the VIII . by the grace of god kyng of Englande and of Fraunce , defendour of the fayth , lorde of Ireland , and in erthe supreme heed of the churche of Englande , of his moste excellente goodnes , depely ponderynge and consyderynge his kyngely office and charge , and that although in the tyme of his moste gracious reygne , a great multytude of lawes ordinaunces and orders , haue ben deuysed made and ordeyned by his most excellent wysedome and polycie , for auauncement and encrease of the common welth of his realme , and the great profyte and commoditie of his louynge subiectes of the same , yet his moste graciouse highnes , lyke a moste godly and worthy ruler , not myndynge to cease , but dayly to trauayle and labour in deuisynge and settynge forthe orders and ordynaunces from tyme to tyme , as his grace by his moste excellent wysedome maye perceyue iuste occasion of necessitie in his common welthe , and nowe amonges other thynges callynge to his moste graciouse remembraunce , that all be it his highnes is iustely and laufully entytled in the ryghte of his imperiall crowne , to take and perceyue for Custome and subsidie of marchauntes estrangers conueyenge or transportynge , into this his realme or out of the same , their wares , goodes , and marchandyses , greatter and larger sommes of money , than of his owne louyng and natural subiectes , and beinge in good hope and confydence , that although the moderation therof shuld tende to his gracis owne detriment and losse , that yet it shal be a great occasion , to haue more plentiful resorte trafyke and commutation with in this his gracis realme , with and amonge his louynge subiectes of the same , for their enrychynge welthes and commodities . Takyng therfore more respect to the auauncement of his gracis common welthe , than to his owne syngular profyte , and lyke the moste godly and moste worthy chiefe ruler of this realme , myndynge to proue and assaye , whether by the attemperaunce and moderation of the sayde custome and subsydie of straungers , goodnes , profyte , and commoditie , shall succede , encrease and growe to the common welthe of this his realme , accordyng to his gracis hope and expectation in that behalfe , Is therfore , and for other considerations , mouyng his highnes , pleased and contented for the experymente therof , that from the . vi . daye of Apryll , in the . xxx . yere of his gracis reygne , durynge the full and hole terme of .vii. yeres , from thense nexte folowynge , no persone or persones , beinge straungers or denysens , conueyeng or transportynge any goodes , wares , or marchandyses into any porte creke , or other place of this realme , or out of the same , shall for and durynge the same tyme of .vii. yeres , paye any other more or larger custome and subsidie , than the kynges owne louynge and naturall subiectes , haue vsed and ben accustomed to doo and paye at this present tyme ( custome and subsidie for wolles onely excepted . ) And his hyghnesse straytely chargeth and commandeth all and syngular Customers , Comptrollers , and other his mynisters , hauynge charge of receyte of his customes and subsydie , that they ne any of them , by any maner of colour or meanes , durynge the sayde tyme of seuen yeres , shall exacte take or receyue of any straunger or denysen , any other more or larger custome and subsidie , than is aboue especified in this his gracis proclamation , vppon peyne of forfayture of their offyces , and makynge fyne at his gracis wyll : And ouer that vppon payne to yelde and render to the parties greued , tenne tymes so moch as they shall exacte and take , contrarie to this presente proclamation . And his hyghnesse also chargeth and commaundeth , as well the Treasourer Chauncellour Chamberlaynes and Barons of his exchequer , and euery of them , as all other his Auditours , hauynge charge to take accomtes of his customes and subsidies , that they , ne any of them , from the sayde syxte daye of Apryll , durynge the sayde tyme of .vii. yeres , from thens nexte folowynge , shall charge any the sayde customers , comptrollers , and minysters of any other further or more custome and subsydie , for straungers or denyzens , then aboue is expressed , as they woll aunswere to his highnes at theyr vttermoste perylles . Sygnifienge and declarynge , as well to the sayde treasorer chauncellour chamberlaynes barons and auditours , and to euery of theym , as to all and synguler the sayde customers comptrollers and mynysters , that they folowynge and ensuynge this his gracis proclamation , the same shal be to them , and to euery of them , theyr heyres and executours , and to the heyres and executours of euery of them , a sufficyent warrant and discharge agaynst his maiestie , his heyres and successours for the same , without any other byll , warraunt , writ , or other commandment to be sued in this behalfe .

¶ Prouyded alwayes , that this present proclamation , ne any thynge therin conteyned , shall not extende , to gyue lycence or lybertie to any person or persones straungers or other , to conuey or transporte into this realme or out of the same , any goodes wares or marchaundises , contrary to the fourme and effect of the lawes and statutes of this Realme : But that it shall be vnderstande taken and expounded alonely , that custome and subsidie of straungers and denyzens , shall be agreable and equal with the custome and subsidie of the kynges owne naturall subiectes , and not aboue , durynge the tyme of .vii. yeres afore lymitted .