WHeras , the late king of most famous memory , king Henry the .viii. father vnto our most redoubted souereigne Lord the Kinges maiesty that now is , consideryng at the beginning of his last warres , that great & notable sommes of money , wer requisite to be prouided for the maintenance and supportacion of the same , did therfore deuise , to abace , and diminishe the goodnes of the Coyne , and therupon , caused to be coyned and setfurth to be currant amonges his subiectes , certein peces of mony called Testons valuing the same at .xii. d . sterl . the pece , and likewise , grotes of the same bacenes , after the rate of .iiii. d . sterl . the pece . After which time , our said souereine lord that now is , perceauing , that aswell straungers in forrein partes , as diuers lewde persons within this realme , did by reason of the bacenes of thesayde Coine , counterfaict no small quantitie of like mony : His Maiestie therefore mynding to remedy the same , deuised and caused to be coined and setfurth , to be currant with in this Realme , and other his dominions , other peces of mony called Shillinges and grotes , vnder another stampe , likewise valuing thesaid Shillinges , at .xii. d . sterl . the pece , and the grotes at .iiii. d . sterl . the pece .

Forasmuch as this notwithstanding , it hath appered sithens most certainly , vnto our said souerein Lorde , and to his highnes counsaill , that not onely diuers straungers of beyonde the seas , but also sundry false and naughty Personnes within this Realme , haue in like maner , from time to time , counterfaicted and falsely coyned the sayde Shillinges and Grotes , set furthe by our saide Souereygne Lorde , and with the same counterfaicte and false Monies , in greate and notable Summes , do trafficque and bie al maner of victualles , Wares and other kinde of Merchandizes , geuyng they care not what Prices for the same : Where vpon hathe risen one greate and special occasion of so greate dearthe , of all maner of thinges as at this day dothe appere among all men , to the greate losse of his maiestie and his subiectes , and to the greate slaunder of the whole Realme , and to the empouerishement of euery man in his Degree , that hathe the same mony , and woulde kepe it in store . His Maiestie therefore gratiously considering , with the good aduise of the Lordes , and others of the priuie counsaill , what greate benefite , commodite and reputation shal arise and folow very shortly after , to the whole body of the realme , if that thesaide Coines wer amended , and brought to such a finenesse , as may make the same certaine , like as in times past it hathe bene . Albeit that thesayde firste abacement of the Coyne was greatly beneficiall vnto his sayde Maiesties Father of famous memory , and also to the King our Souereigne Lorde that nowe is , yet his Maiestie considering that this amendement of the coyne shal be bothe great honor to this Realme , and also a merueilous benefite vnto the whole common wealthe , for the bringing doune of the highe prices of all thinges , hathe like a most gratious Prince determined to reforme the same . And forasmuche as thys can not be broughte to passe onelesse the sayde mony called Shillinges , coyned by his maiesty , and grotes coyned both by his maiesty , and by the king his father , might be rated at a value , more nere vnto the goodnes and finenes of the same , then now they be rated at , whiche thing taking place , his highnes with al the spede that maye be , determineth to reforme this present coine , and to bring it ( with goddes leaue ) to suche perfect goodnes and finenesse , as shal geue all his louing subiectes greate cause to reioyce . Therefore his maiestie doth ordeine and determine , that from and after the last Day of August now nexte ensuyng , the sayd Shillinges coyned and setfurth by his Maiestie , shal be curraunt within this Realme of Englande , and the towne of Caleis and Marches of the same , for ix . d . sterl . and not aboue , & the saide grotes at iii . d sterl . & not aboue And therfore straightly chargeth and commaundeth , al and euery person and persons , of what estate , degre or condicion so euer the same be , to paye and receaue after the said last day of August the sayde coynes of Shillinges for . i● . d . sterl . and the sayd grotes for .iii. d . sterl . And for no higher , or lower price , within this his highnes realme , & the toune of Caleis & Marches of the same , vpon paine of forfeiture to his maiesty , of suche somes of mony as shal be paid or receaued otherwise then by this proclamation is setfurthe , and also vpon paine of imprisonment with a further fine to be set vpon thoffendors , at his maiestes pleasure . Geuen the last of Aprill , in the .v. yere of the reigne of our sayd souereigne Lorde King Edwarde the .vi.