THE Quenes Maiestie callyng to her good remembraunce howe well this Realme is furnyshed with good lawes and orders , for redresse of many enormities , and howe through negligence of officers , and presumption of offendours , the same neuerthelesse do rather growe then abate : hath thought mete at this present to deuyse with her counsell , howe some fewe necessarye lawes verye beneficiall for this tyme , myght be duely executed and obserued , as they were meant , to the weale of the Realme , and comfort of her Maiestie . For whiche purpose her Maiestie geueth all maner her subiectes to vnderstande , that lyke as the laste yere a certayne abbreuiat of Statutes was made and publyshed by order of her Counsayle vppon her commaundement , and was by the Iustices of peace in diuers countreys diligently regarded , and in a great part put towardes execution , though in some other partes for lacke of tyme , the same toke not so good effecte :

So her Maiestie chargeth all maner her Iustices and other ministers to whom the same shall belonge , to take in hande agayne theyr former charge geuen to them the last yere , for thexecution of the sayde Statutes , hastenyng theyr assembles for that purpose , nowe in the begynnyng of this Sommer , so as theyr doynges may be certified in such sort as they were commaunded and prescribed the last yeare .

And besydes these , her Maiestie fyndeth lyke cause to haue two other great enormities dayly increasyng in this her Realme to be spedely refourmed , for which there do remayne in force good lawes . The one is , the monstruous abuse of Apparell almost in all estates , but principally in the meaner sort . The other is , the decaye and disfurniture of all kynde of Horses for seruice within the Realme . And because her Maiestie perceaueth , that although the lawes be very penall in bothe these cases , yet without some speciall direction geuen for thexecution therof , the reformation wyll not ensue : Her Maiestie hath caused the statutes remaynyng in force for bothe the sayde purposes , to be briefly collected , and presently by this her Proclamation , chargeth all maner her Sheryffes to publyshe the same ioyntly with this Proclamation , and to fyx the same vp in places accustomed .

And for the maner of the spedy execution of the Statutes for Apparell and other enormities incident therto : Her maiestie hath caused certayne good ordinaunces to be deuysed , and accorded by her counsell , whiche also her Maiesties pleasure is , to be well regarded , straightly kept and obserued , according to the seuerall limitations therof : wherefore there is good hope conceaued by her Maiestie of a spedie redresse by meanes of the saide good orders . And yf in any poynt of the same statutes or orders , any doubt shall aryse for the vnderstandinge of the same : her Maiestie wylleth that the aduise and aunswere of her priuie counsell be required and folowed . And for the other default tendyng to the decaye of horses within the Realme , which partly ryseth by stealyng and carrying numbers of Horses , Geldynges , Mares , and Coltes out of the Realme , and by neglectyng the breedyng and kepyng of Horses within the Realme , accordyng to the lawes prouyded .

For redresse of the former part concerning carrying out of Horses out of the Realme : her Maiestie chargeth al maner her subiectes , and others within her Realme , to take knowledge of the lawes nowe publyshed for that purpose , and not to trust in any remission of penalties therfore prouided . For the spedier obseruation whereof , her Maiestie meaneth shortly to directe her seuerall Commissions vnder the greate Seale , to suche partes of her Realme where the conueyaunce hath accustomably been , or hereafter may be , to enquire thereof diligently and streyghtly by order of lawe , and therevpon to proceade sharpely to thexecution , as the cases shall require .

And as to the latter parte tendyng to the decay of breedyng & kepyng of Horses : her Maiestie doth lykewyse charge all maner her subiectes to take knowledge of the lawes remaynyng in force , and nowe publyshed at this present tyme . And for that it is thought by her Maiestie , that the same lawes hath ben by diuers persons so long forgotten , that it wyll seme harde to haue the same spedely put in execution : her Maiestie of her gracious disposition , meaneth to proceade to thexecution therof in this maner folowyng .

Her Maiestie intendeth to direct her seuerall Commissions to special persons in euery countie of the Realme , to enquire by order of lawe , what persons shall not haue before the .xv. of August next . Horses accordyng to the Statute by reason of theyr wyues apparell mentioned in the Statute , and what other persons chargeable to breedyng or kepyng of Horses by force of the Statutes , shall not before the .xv. of December nexte , pertourme the meanyng and intent of the sayde Statutes , aswell for breedyng as kepyng . And for the more certayne execution hereof : her Maiestie also meaneth to cause a speciall vieu to be taken through the Realme in September next . of the numbre inquirable by the foresayde .xv. daye of Auguste , as is aboue expressed : and a lyke muster and vieu to be taken in Ianuarye nexte at one instaunt tyme , both of the same numbre , and of all the rest wherof inquisition shal be made by the sayde Commission , to be prouyded before the sayde .xv. day of December .

After which views and musters taken : her Maiestie intendeth at euery halfe yere to haue the same seuerely executed by officers specially appoynted , vntyll the Realme be replenyshed with such number of Horses , as may be well kept and mayntayned for the seruice of the same .

Of all these her Maiesties determinations , tendyng only to the weale , good order , and strength of her Realme : her Maiestie hath thought mete in this playne maner to geue notyce therof by this Proclamation to all maner her subiectes , to auoyde the paynes that otherwyse therof must and shall ensue .

Yeuen at her Maiesties Pallaice of Westminster the .vii. of May , the fourth yere of her hyghnes raigne .