IT is not vnknowen to most of our louing Subiects , That in the time of the late Queene of famous memory , the making of Starch within this Realme of England , being a thing newly taken vp , and growen in few yeeres very frequent , and to be much vsed , the inconuenience thereof was found to bee so great , by the wasting and consuming of Corne fit for peoples food , That many Proclamations were then made from time to time , for the repressing and vtter abolishing of the same . Howbeit , afterwards some particular persons , hauing procured a speciall License , aswell for the making of Starchwithin the Realme , as also for bringing in the same from Forreigne parts , the libertie of the Subiect was so preiudiced , by reducing of that into few mens power , which in the Common libertie of the Subiect was free to all , That much offence did arise thereby , Insomuch as the said Graunt , being afterwards by her , in fauour to the Subiects , taken away vpon the Complaints of the grieuance arising thereby , and the making of that stuffe within this Realme being then left to the libertie of all men to vse it at their pleasure , the same hath euer sithence bene continued in many places of this Realme . In which small time of continuance , it falleth out by experience , that the Toleration thereof to bee made here , is accompanied with so much offence to our people , as we perceiue by the Information which thereof we haue receiued , That her intent and purpose to represse the making thereof , and to take away the inconuenience of the same , was not without good cause & iust ground . For it appeareth by collection gathered , That the waste of Corne spent and consumed in the making of this Stuffe in most places of this our Realme , is so excessiue , as it is not fit to be spared from peoples Food , to serue in so vaine and slender an vse ; For that it cannot be , but the spending thereof in Starch ( especially in times wherein the plentie of Corne shall not be very abundant ) must needs encrease both the scarcitie , and the prices thereof , aboue that which is fit to be suffered . And further it appeareth by the Complaints and Certificats , to Vs and our Councell sent from diuers Iustices of the Peace of seuerall parts , ( especially about our City of London , and the Counties neere adioyning ) That the making thereof is not without exceeding annoyance to the people dwelling neere the places where it is made , by reason of the noysome stench , and vnsauourie smells arising of and by the same : which breeding infectious aires , cannot but encrease most contagious Sicknesses and diseases , especially in these times of common Infection : A danger fit to be preuented , in that prouidence which we owe to the welfare of our people , as in euery part of the Realme generally , so especially in our City of London , being our Chamber , the ordinary place of our abode for the best part of the yeere , and of the resort of all sorts of our Subiects for their necessary affaires .

Which incommodities , hauing bene by Vs , with the aduice of our Councell , throughly considered , Wee had a determination for the redresse thereof , and for the policie of our Realme , vtterly to take away the making of Starch within it , of what Stuffe , or vnder what pretence soeuer . Neuerthelesse , vpon the humble suit of a great number of our louing Subiects lately made vnto Vs , it being apparant , that the vtter abolishing and taking away thereof , would be a great hinderance to them in their trades , and bereaue many of them of the meanes of their necessary liuing and maintenance ; And being likewise enformed , that there may well be spared , both in our City of London , Westminster , and other the great Cities and Townes of the Realme , great quantities of Branne , and other such courser Stuffes , of which the best and finest Starch is vsually made ; We , tendering the good and benefit of our said Subiects , and being wel pleased , in our Princely care and desire of the Publike good , to yeeld vnto them the libertie and free vse of their needfull Trades , and of all due and conuenient meanes of their necessary maintenance , And yet holding it as fit and needfull to prouide for the redresse of all abuses and inconueniences , growing both by the needlesse wasting of the store of Corne within our Realme , and also by the publike annoyance and offence giuen vnto our Subiects , by the noysome making of Starch in most places of our Kingdome as aforesayd , Haue therefore , with the aduice of our Councell , thought it good to giue authoritie vnto certaine persons of good qualitie and credite , by Commission vnder our great Seale of England , from time to time to view and suruey , and allow all places and houses within any part 〈◊〉 ●●r Kingdome , where any Starch is or shall be made , and with the assistance of the Maior , or chiefe Magistrate of that place which shall be next adioyning to any such place of Starch-making , to see that none be from henceforth made of Wheat , but onely of cleane Branne , and such like courser stuffe ; And that none shal be made in any such place , as may be to the iust annoyance and offence of our louing Subiects , but onely in such places , and in such order , as by the discretion and appointment of our sayd Commissioners , and such Magistrates next adioyning , shall be thought fit .

And to the end all men may thereof take knowledge , and may conforme themselues thereunto accordingly , we haue thought it meet to publish our pleasure herein by Proclamation , willing and commaunding all manner of persons whatsoeuer , that now doe or shal hereafter vse the making of Starch within any place of this our Kingdome wheresoeuer , presently from henceforth to forbeare to make any more starch of wheat , either whole , bruised , or grosse grounden , or of meale , Rubbles , or any such like stuffe . And we do also will & command all persons whatsoeuer , to forbeare and surcease the making of any starch in any place or places of this our Realme of England whatsoeuer , except onely in such places as by the view , allowance , and appointment of our sayd Commissioners thereunto by vs to be ordayned , with the assistance of the Magistrates as aforesayd , shal be thought fit and conuenient , vpon paine not onely of the forfeiture of all such Starch so made contrarie to our expresse will and pleasure hereby signified , of which the one halfe shall be to the partie seizing the same , and the other halfe to Vs , our Heires and Successors , but also to incurre such further punishment as for their contempt in a matter tending so much to the good and benefite of our people , shall be thought fit to be inflicted vpon them .

And We doe also require all Iustices of peace , Maiors , Sheriffes , Bayliffes , Headboroughes , and all other our Officers , Ministers , and louing Subiects whatsoeuer , that they be from time to time ayding and assisting to our sayd Commissioners , or such person or perso●s as shall be by them deputed and appointed to see this our Ordinance executed , and that they be carefull euerie one within his charge to cause this our pleasure to bee obeyed , and to interrupt and suppresse all persons who shall attempt to make any Starch otherwise , or in any other places then such as shall be so allowed and appointed as aforesayd , after the publishing of this our pleasure to the contrarie . And also to seize their stuffe , or to dispose and destroy the same as things noysome and offensiue to all our people . And for the doing thereof , these shall bee to you and euerie of you a sufficient Warrant .

And furthermore for Vs , our Heires and Successors we will and commaund , That all persons now vsing to make Starch in any part of this our Realme of England , hauing a desire to continue the same , of Branne and Pollard onely , vpon the publishing of this our Proclamation , if they dwell within fortie miles of our Citie of London , vpon the last day of September next ensuing , and if their dwelling be further off , then vpon the last day of October now next following shall make their repaire , or cause their names to be giuen and sent vp in writing vnto our sayd Commissioners , at the Fownders Hall in London , together with a Certificate from some Iustice of peace , or from the Maior , or chiefe Magistrate of the Citie , Towne , or place in or neere where their dwelling is , signifying thereby their desire and intent to continue the making of Starch as aforesayd , to the intent our sayd Commissioners may take order for the same according to our pleasure hereby signified and expressed . And if any person or persons now vsing to make Starch shall neglect , or refuse to make their repaire , or to giue vp his or their names with such Certificate in writing , so signifying his or their desire , and intent to continue the making of Starch as aforesayd , Our will and pleasure is , that all and euerie such person and persons shall for euer after be depriued of the libertie to make any Starch of any stuffe whatsoeuer .