THe kynges maiestie , hauyng the principall and continuall charge of the common wealth , and tranquilitie of this realme for the whiche cause almightie God hath geuen to his Maiestie , power to rule : and to all his people , hath enioyned lowlines to obeye : certainly vnderstandeth , by the informacion and good aduice of his moste dere Uncle , Edwarde Duke of Somerset , Gouernor of his moste royall person and Protector of his Realmes , Dominions and Subiectes , and others of his priuey Counsaill : That of late tyme , the prices of all maner of victuall , necessary for mannes sustenaunce , be so heigthened and raised , aboue the accustomed and reasonable values , that therby ( except spedy remedy be prou●ed ) very great losse and dammage , must nedes chaunce to his maiesties louyng subiectes . And therefore bothe of wisedome , wherewith his maiestie vseth to consider the state of his common wealth , and of pitie , whiche at all tymes his Maiestie conceiueth vpon the lacke and greues of his people hath by long and deliberate studie , of his saied dere Uncle , the lorde Protector , and the rest of his priuey counsaill , concluded , and finally resolued , to prouide remedy herein , the whiche ( restyng vpon the former redresse , of sondrie dissordres in the whole common wealth ) although it cannot be so absolutely and spedely had , as his maiesties moste hartie desire is : yet it is thought by his maiestie , for the present disorders , a great relief , to put in due execution , diuerse good lawes and statuter , prouided heretofore , by thaucthoritie of Parliament , in the reignes of the kynges maiesties moste noble progenitours , and especially twoo pollitique good estatutes , made at Westminster , in the .xxv. yere of the reigne of his maiesties moste dere father , late deceassed , kyng Henry theight , or deined , as by the same appereth , very pollitiquely for the redresse of these like disordres of prices , whiche at any tyme thence after might happen . Theffecte of whiche later estatute is , that the Lorde Treasorer , the Lorde Chauncellor of Englande , the lorde President of the kynges moste honorable counsaill , the Lorde priuey Seale , the Lorde Steward , the Lorde Chamberlain , and all other Lordes of the kynges counsaill : The Treasorer and Comptroller of the kynges moste honorable house , the Chauncellor of the Duchie of Lancastre , the Iustices of either Benche , the Chauncellor , Chamberlain , vnder Treasorer , and the Barons of the kynges Exchequier , or .vii. of them at the least , whereof the Lorde Treasorer , the Lorde Chauncellor , the Lorde President of the kynges coū , saill , or the Lorde priuey Seale to bee one , should haue power and aucthoritie , from tyme to tyme ( as the case should require ) to set and taxe reasonable prices , of all kyndes of victualles , mencioned in thesaied act , how thei should be sold in grosse or by retayle , for relief of the kynges subiectes . And that after suche prices set and taxed , in fourme aforesaied : Proclamation should bee made in the kynges name , vnder the greate Scale of thesaied prices , in suche partes of this realme , as should be conuenient for the same .

And it was further enacted , by thesaid estatute , that al Fermors , Owners , Broggers , and all other victualers whatsoeuer , hauyng and kepyng any of the kyndes of victualles , mencioned in thesaied acte , to thintent to sell , should sell the same to suche , the kynges subiectes , as would buye them , at suche prices as should be set and taxed , by thesaied Proclamacion vpon the paines to be expressed , and limitted in thesaid Proclamacion , to be lost , forfeicted , and leuied to the kynges vse , in suche wise , as by thesaied Proclamation should be declared .

And it was further prouided , by thesaid act , that the same act , or any thyng therin conteined , should not be hurtfull to M●iors Sheriefes , Bailiefes , and other officers , of Citees , Boroughes , and Tounes corporate , nor to any persone or persones , or bodies poilitique hauyng aucthoritie , to set prices of suche victualies , or of any of them , but that thei and euery of them , might set prices thereof , as if the same acte had neuer been had nor made , as by the same act , emongest other thynges , more at large it doth & maie appere .

And forasmuche as complaint hath been made , of the enhaunsyng of prices , of the same victualles , without ground or cause reasonable , in all partes of this realme : In consideracion whereof , the Lorde Treasorer , the Lorde Chauncellor of England , and all others requisite by thesaid estatute , haue by aucthorite of the same act , set and taxed reasonable prices , of all kynde of victualles , mencioned in the same acte , to be sold in forme followyng , to thintent the same should be Proclaimed , accordyng to the same act : That is to saie , that from the daie of this Proclamacion made , without delaie , all and synguler persone and persones , hauyng or kepyng , any of the kindes of victualles , mencioned in thesaid act , within this realme , to thintent to sell , shall sell the same to suche of the kynges subiectes , as will buye them at the prices , hereafter mencioned , that is to saie : from Midsomer to Hallowmas , euery Oxe beyng primed or well stricken , of the largest bone . xxxviii . s . of a meaner sort . xxviii . s . An Oxe fat , and of the largest bone . xlv . s . of the meaner sort beyng fatte . xxxviii . s . Steres and Runtes , beyng primed or wel striken , and large of bone . xx . s . of a meaner sort . xvi . s . beyng fatte and of the largest bone . xxv . s . beeyng fat of a meaner sort . xxi . s . Heifurths and Kyne , beyng primed or well stricken , and large of bone . xvi . s . of a meaner sort , xiii . s . iiii . d . beyng fat and large of bone . xxii . s . beyng fatte and of a meaner sort . xviii . s . And from Hallowmas to Christmas , euery Oxe beyng fat and large of bone . xlvi . s . viii . ð . beyng fat of a meaner sort . xxxix . s . viii . ð . Steres and Runtes within the same time , beyng fat and large of bone . xxvi . s . viii . ð . beyng fat of a meaner sort . xxii . s viii . ð . Heiforths and Kine within the same tyme , beeyng fat and large of bone . xxii . s . of a meaner sort . xix s . And from Christmas to Shroftide , euery Oxe beyng fat and large of bone . xlviii . s . iiii . ð . of a meaner sort . xli . s . iiii . ð . Steres and Runtes within the same tyme , beyng fat and large of bone . xxviii . s . iiii . ð . of a meaner sort . xxiiii . s . iiii . ð . And from sheryng tyme to Michaelmas , euery wether beyng a shere shepe , beyng leane and large of bone . iii . s . of a meaner sort . ii . s . iiii . ð . beyng fat and large of bone . iiii . s . beeyng fat of a meaner sorte . iii . s . Ewes within the same tyme , beeyng leane and large of bone . ii . s . beeyng leane of a meaner sort . xx d . beeyng fat & large of bone . ii . s . viii . d . beyng fat of a meaner sort . ii . s . And from Michaelmas to Shroftide , euery wether beyng a shere shepe , beeyng leane and large of bone . iii . s . beyng leane of a meaner sort . ii . s . iiii . d . beyng fat & large of bone . iiii . s . iiii . d . beyng fat and of a meaner sort . iii . s . iiii . d .

And from Midsomet to Michaelmas the pound of swete Butter not to be sold aboue . i . d . q . And from Michaelmas to the Newe yeres croppe , the pound not aboue i . d . ob . Bartelled Butter of Essex , the pound not to bee solde to any the kynges subiectes , aboue . ob . di . q . And bartelled Butter of any other partes , to be sold to the kynges subiectes , not aboue . ob . q . Chese of Essex , to bee sold to the kynges subiectes , from Midsommer to Michaelmas , the pounde , not aboue . ob . Chese of other partes , not aboue . ob . di . q . And of Essex to the kynges subiectes , from Michaelmas , to the Newe yeres croppe , not aboue . ob . di . q . And of any other partes , not aboue . ob . q . Vpon pain of forfeiture for euery Oxe , Stere , Cowe , Heckfor , and Bullocke , that should be sold by vertue of thesaid act , and this Proclamacion , and shall not so be sold , v. f . and for euery Shepe that should be sold , by vertue of the same act and this Proclamacion , and shall not so be solde . x . s . And for euery pounde of Butter and Chese . xii . d . And that for all and euery somme that shal be forfeited , by vertue of the same act , and this Proclamacion , the kyng our soueraigne Lorde , shall and maie haue his recouery and remedy , by informacion , bill , plaint , or accion of debte , in any of his highnes Courtes of Record . Wherefore , we consideryng the premisses , to be for the wealthe and commoditie of this our realme , will and commaunde you our Shirief , of our Countie of 〈◇〉 within twoo daies next after the receipt of this said Proclamacion that ye with all spede shall Proclaime the premisses , in all Market Tounes , within the saied Countie of 〈◇〉 and that all maner our subiectes , shall obeye the same , not onely vpon the paines aboue saied , but also to incurte our indignacion and displeasure .

And furthermore the kynges Maiestie of his aucthoritie & power royal , straightly that geth & commaundeth all maner his Iustices of Peace , Shirifes , Maiors and Bailifes of any tounes corporate , or any othe● ministers to be assigned or appointed by any two Iustices of Peace of the sayd countie , if any the market or markettes within the same countie shall lacke wherwithall to furnishe the marketies , for the relief of his louyng subiectes , that then they shal foresee & prouide that the owners , Grasiers , Drouers , Farmors , Broggers , or any other of any kynde of estate or degree whatsoeuer , nere adioynyng , hauyng suche store of any kynde of the aforesayd victual , that he may spare part of his sayd store , be it lene or fat ( ouer and besides the store necessary for the maintenaunce of his houshold , the allowaunce whereof must be made , in respecte of his accustomed expences , and the tyme of an other vsual prouision ) towarde the futniture of the market , shall by thappointment , and ordre of the sayd Iustices , and other officers aboue named , bryng to the market and markettes suche nombre and quantitie of the sayd victuals , and at suche tyme and tymes , as they shall thinke the cause and necessite requyreth , and the same shall sell there accordyng to the prices by the sayd Iustices to be rated , as for an example , where the markettes cannot be ser●ed with sufficient quantitie of Motton , so that in default thereof the people happe to haue ouermuche lacke , then in that and like cases , the kynges Maiesties will and commaundement is , that the sayd Iustices of euery countie , and officers aboue named , vpon the certain knowledge of that lacke shall compell all and euery suche person and persones , as shall haue nigh to the sayd market tounes , the nomber of v. C. here Shepe , for euery hundreth of the same v. C. and aboue , to send to the market so lackyng , at the most 1. of the best and fattest shepe of that sort , to be sold from tyme to tyme , and at the prices to be rated by the sayd Iustices and other officers , and if lesse lacke , then lesse in nomber , vpon like paine aforesayd , for euery shepe not so brought to the market . Furthermore because the prices of the Bieffes and Mottons hereto adioyned , be but the prices of Bieffes and Mottons aliue and solde in grosse and not by retaile , as the Boucher vseth to do : His Maiestie notwithstandyng the tenor of this Proclamacion , lieenseth the Boucher in suche cases where he shal buy of those prices so to sell aboue the sayd price , as it shal be thought & ordered by the sayd Iustices , and officers aboue named accordyng to the lawes & estatutes of the realme mete , for a conuenient gaine towarde his liuyng . And so in all cases the same to be obserued vpon paines expressed in sondry estatutes for the same .

Prouided that notwithstandyng any article or clause aboue mencioned , euery Boucher beyng no Grasier hauyng bought , and in his possession any maner cattell aboue the prices herein contained , before the tyme of this Proclamacion , shal haue licence and full libertie , to make sale of any suche cartell so bought of those prices accordyng to the rate and {pro}porcion of the price he paied or then became debtor for , without any couyn , by the space of viii . dayes after the Proclamacion shal be proclaymed , in the next market toune to his dwellyng place , or to the place where he shall that sell , and after those viii . dayes , then to remaine subiect to the whole tenor of the Proclamacion . And herein the kynges Maiestie to whom onely vnder God appertaineth auengement , punishement , and redresse of his peoples offences whatsoeuer the same be , most straightly chargeth , and vpon the pain of his highnes extreme indignacion , commaundeth al maner of people to seke the redresse & amendement of any maner offence against the tenor of this Proclamacion , or any other estatute or lawes , only by order of his Maiesties lawes , wout force , ryot , manasse , vnlawfull assembles , or any other disturbance of peace . And on the contrary if any subiect of what degre or estate soeuer he be , shall contrarywise , and vnlawfully , that is to say , otherwise then by complaint or order of lawe , seke , begyn , or enterprise to redresse , his owne cause , or the cause of any other , be the same neuer so iust : Then his Maiestie asserteneth and letteth the same to knowe , that without any maner fauor , or grace to be hoped vpon , he and euery of them , so offendyng , shall surely feele , by extreme punishement the kynges highnes vtter indignacion , and in suche case no extremitie to be spared , but to be taken and accepted , not onely as vnkynde , vnnatural , vnlouyng and disobedient subiectes : But also as high traptors and rebellors against the kynges Maiesties owne royall person , his croune , state , and dignitie : Dated at Richmont the second of Iuly , the third yere of the reigne of kyng Edward the . VI .