THE Queenes Maiestie is presently geuen to vnderstand of some yll disposed persons , who partly to moue misliking amongst the common and meaner sort of her louyng people , partly of couetousnes , to enhaunce the pryces of Corne , haue of late secretely spred abrode in Markettes and other places , that the pryces do ryse , and are lyke dayly to encrease , by reason that certayne persons haue bought some quantities of graine to her Maiesties vse in sundry countreys : And that also her Maiestie meaneth to graunt to some about her . licence to carry Corne out of the Realme . Upon which rumours beyng maliciouslye spred , it may in deede happen , that although there be no scarcitie in the Realme ( thanked be almightie God ) yet thereby , the couetousnes of 〈…〉 haue eyther of theyr owne store , or by vnlawfull bargaynes ingrossed into theyr handes , great quantitie 〈…〉 of grayne , wyll take occasions to inhaunce the pryses therof without necessary cause , to the detriment 〈…〉 of the multitude whiche haue lacke . Therfore her Maiestie myndyng to preuent the inconueniences 〈…〉 aryse , doth strayghtly charge and commaunde all maner of persons , and specially such as haue go 〈…〉 ettes , to apprehende and commit to pryson , such as do or shall vtter and sprede abrode any such 〈…〉 dearth or offence amongst her good subiectes . And secondly , her Maiestie wylleth all her good 〈◇〉 to vnderstande for a trueth , that she hath no meanyng to do , or suffer any thyng to be done , whereby any 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 should ryse amongst her people , neyther hath she graunted licence to any person about her , to carry 〈…〉 of grayne , and therefore yf any be so named of euyll intent , the same is also misused . And as to 〈…〉 or buying of any grayne by any of her ministers in her Maiesties name , other then hath ben ordina 〈…〉 〈…〉 for her housholde , and her garrisons vppon the frontures , she is pleased , that the trueth of her good 〈…〉 vnderstande , whiche was this . Hauyng sundry earnest requestes made to her Maiestie , by dyuers of 〈…〉 belongyng to the kyng of Spayne her hyghnes good brother in the lowe Countreys , to haue licence 〈…〉 and carying out of certayne quantitie of Wheate , and other grayne for theyr necessitie : Her Maiestie ●●●●●●t best , neyther fully to graunt , nor flatly to denye the same , vntyll it myght be fyrst vnderstande , howe the 〈◇〉 m●ght be done without hurt to her owne Countrey . And therefore fyrst order was geuen to certayne of her 〈◇〉 , to proue at what pryces certayne seuerall quantities of grayne in sundry Countreys , myght be bought 〈◇〉 redy money , without vsyng any other meanes , then commonly is vsed betwixt subiect and subiect , meanyng if it 〈…〉 appeare , that a conuenient quantitie myght be prouyded at reasonable pryses , and without enhaunsyng of 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 other damage to the Realme , then her Maiestie woulde gratifie her neyghbours therewith , in lyke sort as 〈…〉 Realme hath ben oftentymes of late yeres , from the other partes beyonde the seas , in tyme of scarcitie here . 〈◇〉 in that maner , her Maiestie thought better to make a proffe by her owne ministers , what might be reasona 〈…〉 prouyded , rather then to permit straungers and theyr factours , to trauayle abrode in the Countreys , 〈…〉 both the pryses shoulde be disordered , and yet they not satisfied . Neuerthelesse , consideryng it appeareth , 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 number of couetous men , hauyng ingrossed into theyr handes in sundry Counties of the Realme , and speci 〈…〉 〈◇〉 to the sea coastes , great quantities of all maner of grayne , specially of such as serue for bread and drynke , 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 pretence of this her Maiesties good and louyng intention , through spreadyng of false rumours , threatened a 〈◇〉 and by forbearyng to bryng theyr Corne to the Markettes as they were accustomed , haue geuen some colour 〈◇〉 and so the pryses be growen sodenly very great , and not to be well indured , nor such as can beare the sending 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 any grayne out of the Realme , without occasion of great inconuenience to the multitude of the meaner sort .

For helpe whereof , and for the tender fauour whiche her Maiestie beareth towarde her louyng subiectes , whom 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 moste toucheth : Her Maiestie hath geuen order to her ministers , in respect of the greatnes of the pryses 〈…〉 are , to forbeare from the transportation ouer the Seas of the sayde grayne , and to disperse it among her 〈◇〉 people . And doth most strayghtly charge and commaunde , that no maner of grayne shal be caryed out of the Realme , by any maner person Englyshe or straunger .

And further , that due searche be made immediatly in all places , what quantities of Corne hath ben bought 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 maner of person , by way of ingrossing , and to extende , as reason is , her lawes against them to the vttermost , 〈◇〉 all others that by 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 or otherwyse by forestallyng or regratyng , or by vnordinat● kepyng of grayne , 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 occasion to enhaunce the pryces thereof , as of late they haue ben made 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 . Ans so her Maiestie wylleth and chargeth all maner her officers and other 〈…〉 ers , to see to the execution of the premisses , as the spreaders of rumours , who haue geuen , or shall geue , and threaten cause of dearth , and suche persons as by ingrossyng , forestallyng , or any other vnlawfull 〈◇〉 , hath or shall geue lyke cause of dearth , may be duely punyshed . And for the further remedying of the inconvenience aforesayde : her Maiestie meaneth forthwith , to sende speciall commission to persons of speciall trust , in sundry Counties , requisite to inquire vpon the statutes prouyded agaynst ingrossyng , forestallyng , or enhauncyng of the pryces , as well of grayne , as of other victayles , and to prouyde also , that the Markettes shal be duely serued of necssary grayne and victayle .