WHereas by the auncient treaties of entrecourses , which from time to time haue bene renewed betweene the Queenes Maiestie our most gracious soueraigne Lady , and diuers of her highnes most noble progenitors , Kings of this Realme , and the Princes and Lordes of the lowe Countries , it hath bene alwaies agreed and thought meete , for the wealth and profit of them both , that there should be a mutuall and free traficke & trade betweene the marchants of both the Countries : And thereupon hath ensued betweene them , and the marchants of the Staple of England , in their staple marchandises , a continuall traficke , and namely in wooll and wooll felles , for the drapery of sundry of their Towns there , which through the great troubles , and ciuill warres lately had in the sayd low Countries , hath bene of late something discontinued , all passages being either stopped by the enemie , or so full of daunger , as no trade could be conueniently had into those partes , without great perill of losse of the whole aduentures , which impediments are now remoued ( thanks be to God ) in the best and most commodious places of the said Countries , for the sayd traficke the countries of Holland and Zealand being in good peace and quiet , without any feare or danger of new troubles to fall amongst them , And therefore the people of the said countries are desirous to renew their former olde trade , for the which the States of those countries haue solicited and sued to her Maiestie by their letters and messengers : The Queenes most excellent Maiestie , of her great clemencie and godly disposition , hauing great commiseration and pitie of the afflictions and miseries of the subiects of those parts , and in respect thereof , and of the said humble request , and being credibly informed , that it is commodious and not vnprofitable for the state of this her Maiesties common weale , to recontinue the annent anutie and entrecourse with her said neighbours of the lowe Countries . And that through and by the discontinuance of the sayd trade of the marchants of the Staple of late yeeres , all wooll felles , aswell marchantable as others , haue beene and are altogether pulled and the wooll thereof for the most part , wrought by strangers here in England , into sundry new and vnnecessary deuises not profitable for the Realme : Her Maiestie therefore by the aduise of her most honourable priuie Counsell , intending to preuent those mischiefes , and to prouide remedy for the premisses , as also being willing to satisfie and relieue the sayd subiects of the lowe Countries , and to auoyde diuers other inconueniences that may grow and ensue , if the inordinate pulling of marchantable wooll fels should not be restrained , straightly chargeth and commaundeth , that from Shroue Tuesday next comming after the date hereof , and so yerely from that day commonly called Shroue Tuesday , as it shall fall , vntill the last day of Iune yerely following , no maner of person of persons , vpon paine of her Maiesties indignation , displeasure and imprisonment , and further punishment at her Highnesse pleasure , by any wayes , arte , or meanes , directly or indirectly , shall pull or clippe , or cause to be pulled or clipped , any maner of wooll fell , commonly called Marchantable or Staple felles , accustomed heretofore to be dryed for the marchants of the Staple , but that all the same marchantable and Staple felles , falling by slaughter or otherwise , from the sayd Shroue Tuesday vntill the last day of Iune yeerely bee dryed , according to the forme and true meaning of this Proclamation . And for the better execution hereof , her Maiestie by the aduise aforesaid , straightly chargeth and commaundeth all and singuler her Iustices of the peace , Maiors , Sherifes , Baylifes and other head officers , of any Counties or Shires within the Realme , aswell within liberties as without , not onely as much as in them lieth , to see this present Proclamation truely executed , but also if any person bee justly accused before him or them , for contemning or breaking this Proclamation , or any part thereof , they shall commit such party to warde , there to remaine without bayle or mainprise , till her Maiesties and her most honourable Counsels pleasure be further knowen . Prouided alwayes , that if beefore the first day of August , euery yeere yerely , all such marchantable wooll felles be not bought by the marchants of the Staple , that then it shall be lawfull for the Felmongers , Glouers , and other persons , to pull all such felles as shal be then remaining and vnbought of the former yeeres growth , any thing in this present Proclamation to the contrary notwithstanding , And this Proclamation to continue during her Maiesties pleasure .