THe Kings Maiestie hauing taken knowledge of the high prices of Graine and other Victuals , lately and very suddenly growen in sundry parts of this Realme , And finding no sufficient reason thereof , doeth iudge that the rich Owners of Corne doe keepe their store from common Markets , thereby to encrease the prices thereof , Or else that the same is engrossed vnduely into few hands , and so the multitude of poore people hauing no Graine of their owne growing , must needes sustaine great lacke . His Highnesse therefore for remedy thereof , hath caused special Orders to be made and published through all parts of this Realme , bearing date the first day of Iune 1608 , and Intituled , Orders appointed by his Maiestie , &c. By which the Iustices of Peace in all parts of the Realme , are directed to stay all Engrossers , Forestallers and Regrators of Corne , and to direct all Owners and Farmers , ( hauing Corne to spare ) to furnish the Markets rateably and weekely , with such quantities as reasonably they may and ought to doe , and to see diuers other Articles obserued and performed , tending to the preuention and remedy of this inconuenience . Neuerthelesse , because his Maiestie doeth well know , that the life of these his gracious , godly , and politique Constitutions , depends vpon the carefull and diligent Execution of the same : His Highnesse doeth therefore by this his Proclamation ( to the ende that no person whom it may concerne , shall or may pleade ignorance ) straightly charge and command all Sheriffes , Iustices of Peace , Maiors , Bayliffes , Constables , and other his Officers and Subiects whatsoeuer , That they take knowledge of the said Orders , and obserue and cause the same to be obserued , as shall appertaine vnto them , as they tender his displeasure .

And because there may be iust cause to feare , that notwithstanding all the straight Prouisions that are lately taken against Transportation of Graine , yet vnder colour of conueying of it from Port to Port within the land , some may be conueyed into forraine parts : Therefore for further prouision in that behalfe , besides the Bonds in that case appointed to be taken , His Maiestie commandeth and giueth Licence to any person that shall haue cause to suspect that any such Corne is or should be shipped , or prouided to be shipped by lawfull Authoritie to be caried to any other Port , that the same may be by fraud caried out of the Realme ; such person hauing such cause to suspect , shall giue Information thereof to any Iustice of Peace , or publique Officer dwelling neere to the Port , Which Iustice or Officer shall with the said Informer , repaire to the Custome house of any such Port or Creeke where Corne is shipped , or prouided to be shipped , and there shall duely examine both the Officers of the Custome house , and the sellers , buyers , and shippers of the Corne vpon their seuerall Oathes , whether they know of any Intention directly , or indirectly , to haue the said Corne to be caried out of the Realme . And further also , when by their Oathes they shal cleare themselues of any such intention ( thereby the suspition conceiued being cleared ) yet the Officers of the Ports that haue authority to take Bonds , shall shew the parties , who vpon pregnant suspition shall require the same , and giue them in writing the contents of the Bond , with the names of the parties bound , being sufficient to answere the same , the true quantitie of the Graine , and the Ports to which it is intended to haue the same carried : And if notwithstanding such prouision of good assurance taken , there shall afterwards any doubt follow , that notwithstanding the said Bonds the said Corne shal be caried out of the Realme , The party that shall haue cause so to suspect the same , shall repaire to some Iustice of Peace , whom his Maiestie doeth hereby command to examine the trueth at the Port whereunto the said Corne was appointed . And for that purpose the Officers of that Port shall make plaine declaration whether any such Corne , or what quantitie thereof came to that Port within the time limitted ; And if by good proofe it shall any wayes appeare , that there hath bene any fraud in any Officer of the Port , or falshood in the Transporter by carying it out of the Realme , the Officer of the Port shal be depriued of his Office , and suffer imprisonment , and make Fine to his Maiestie at his pleasure ; And the Transporter for carying it out of the Realme , and the Seller and Buyer , or either of them being priuie thereto , shall bee committed to prison for the space of one yeere , and the Ship forfeited ; And the Informer for his labour and reward , shall haue both the halfe of the value of the Corne Transported , and the halfe of the Fines imposed vpon the Offenders . And for the triall of these Offences , and execution of the punishments and Fines , the same shal be tried in his Maiesties Exchequer , as all Informations are vpon penall Statutes , where all expedition shal be vsed , or before the Iustices of Assise in their Circuits , or before any Iustices of Peace in the Sessions where the offence shal be committed , hauing any authoritie to heare and determine any penall Law .

Finally , his Maiestie is particularly informed of some intentions of sundry persons of abilitie to keepe Hospitalitie in their Countreys , to leaue their Hospitalities , and to come to the City of London , and other Cities and Townes corporate , thereby leauing the reliefe of their poore neighbours , as well for food , as for good Rule , and with couetous mindes to liue in London , and about the City priuately , and so also in other Townes corporate , without charge of company . For withstanding whereof , his Maiestie chargeth all maner of persons , that shall haue any such intention during the time of this Dearth , not to breake vp their households , nor to come to the said City , or other Townes corporate , And all others that haue of late time broken vp their households , to returne to their houses againe without delay . Of the performance and execution of which his Maiesties Orders , It is his Highnesse pleasure that the Iustices do make certificate vpon all occasions to his Maiesties Priuie Councell , and more particularly for his Highnesse better satisfaction , what price Corne and Victuals doe beare .