THE Kings most Excellent Maiesty , shortly after His first happy entrance into this kingdome , taking into His Royall consideration the great decay and consumption of Timber , and the necessity of preseruation thereof , for most necessary vses , and especially for the shipping and Nauy of this Realme ( an especiall part of the defence and safety of the same ) and that in the very City of London ( being the principall City of this kingdome , and His Maiesties Royall Chamber , whereunto , not only the Noblemen and Gentry of this Realme , but also the States , Ambassadours , and others of forren Nations doe continually resort ) for want of sufficient Timber , they were dayly driuen to build with Beech , and other like kinde of Timber of small continuance ( which in time , if the same were not preuented , would turne to the perill and decay of the same City ) did propose vnto himselfe , and resolue of a course of building with Bricke , in , and neere the sayd City of London , foreseeing the good euent that would ensue thereupon . And to that purpose sithence , hath published diuers Proclamations , and granted diuers Commissions to some of the Lords of His Priuie Counsell and others ( by time and experience found necessary ) for the better ordering and effecting that so worthy a worke ; whose care and endeuour in the execution of those Proclamations and Commissions , His Maiestie doth graciously accept , and highly commend . And whereas His Maiestie , from time to time remayning constant to his former resolution , hath now found apparant and manifest , what himselfe preiudged , that the materials of Bricke are of farre better vse then those of Timber , for such of His Subiects as haue occasion to build , in , or neere the sayd City of London , and tendeth not onely to the preseruation of the sayd City , and places adioyning , from diuers inconueniences and mischiefes , which might happen by reason of building the walles and forefronts of houses there with Timber , but also to the beautifying and adorning the same City and places adiacent , to the honour , beauty , and lustre thereof , which for this small time of proceeding with Bricke , is greatly applauded and approoued , aswell by Ambassadours of forren Nations , as others : His Maiestie doth therefore heereby encourage his sayd Commissioners , and require them , as they haue begun with care and endeuour , so to continue their vigilancy ouer this so good a worke , and from time to time , to put in execution His Maiesties gracious and Princely commandements therein , and to chastise and reforme all those that are , or shall be contemptuous or disobedient to the same .

And now His Maiesty finding , that the goodnesse of the worke it selfe hath ouercome all opposition , all men of quality and worth most readily and willingly proceeding therin ; His Maiestie to comfort and encourage them in such their conformity , is most desirous to prouide that His Subiects , which shall haue cause to build , be not by any sinister practise , or for any priuate respect wronged , or ●●●iudiced , either by making of the sayd materiall of Bricke insufficient , or by enhansing , or raysing of the prices thereof , being of necessity to be vsed ; the sayd materials of Brickes hauing beene of late yeeres ( by the vndue courses of the Brickmakers ) very slightly , insufficiently , and ill made , the earth being neither digged , nor cast vp in seasonable times , nor well wrought , neither the Brickes moulded , dried , and burned as they ought to be . For preuention whereof His Maiestie , hauing ( vpon deliberate consideration and aduice , of men of iudgement , experience , and worth , for the generall good of His Subiects that shall be occasioned to build with Bricke ) caused these ensuing Instructions and Directions to be deuised , as rules to be obserued , in the true making and sale of Brickes , Hath thought it necessary to publish the same to His louing Subiects , and doth heereby straitly charge and command , that no person or persons after the last day of this present moneth of Nouember , doe make or cause to be made within fiue miles of any the gates of the sayd City of London , or bring or conuey , or cause to be brought or conueyed , either by water or by land , vnto the sayd City of London , or any place or places within fiue miles of the gates of the same City , or vtter , sell , or put to sale , within the sayd City , or in any place or places within fiue miles thereof , as aforesayd , to any person or persons whatsoeuer , at any time or times heereafter , any Brickes , made contrary to the true meaning of these His Maiesties Directions , or at any higher price or rate then is heerin after mentioned , vpon paine of His Maiesties indignation , and displeasure , and the seuerest censure of his Court of Starre chamber , and such further paines and punishments , as by the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme , may bee inflicted vpon them for their offences and contempt .

First , that the earth whereof the Brickes shall bee made , bee good and fit for that purpose ; The first digging thereof to be betweene the feasts of S. Michael the Arch-angell , and S. Thomas the Apostle ; And the second digging , turning , or casting vp of the sayd earth to be , at , or before the last day of February ensuing ; And that no person whatsoeuer doe presume to digge , or make any Bricke in any place within one mile of the Gates of the sayd City of London , from and after the last day of this present moneth of Nouember .

Item , that the sayd earth bee sufficiently and well wrought and tempered before it bee moulded .

Item , that the Brickemakers mould , or cause to be moulded , no earth for Bricke , but onely betweene the feast of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary , and the last day of August yeerely , and at no other time or season .

Item , that in the moulding of the sayd Brickes , the mouldes bee throughly and well filled , and not set in the moulds , in the laying downe , and that they bee sufficiently and well dried before they bee burned , and then carefully and throughly burned .

Item , that for the Assize , euery Bricke being burned conteine in length , nine inches , in breadth , fowre inches one quarter and halfe a quarter of an inch , and in thicknesse , two inches and one quarter of an inch .

Item , that for the price , they sell not their Brickes aboue the rate of eight shillings the thousand , at the Kill , being made and wrought in goodnesse and manner as aforesayd .

And to the end his Maiesties care of this so vsefull and necessary a materiall should take effect ; His Highnesse will and pleasure is , and His Maiestie doth heereby command , That the Commissioners for buildings doe appoint either the Master and Wardens of the Company of Bricklayers of the sayd City of London , for the time being , or such other trusty persons of skill and experience , as shall be by the sayd Commissioners thought fit , from time to time to make search and enquiry in all places within the City of London , and all other places within fiue miles of the Gates of the sayd City , aswell of the due obseruation of the Articles aforesayd , as of the prices heereby limited ; And that where they shall finde any breach of any of these his Maiesties Directions , That they from time to time make knowne the same to his Maiesties Commissioners for building , for the time being , with the names of the parties offending , whom We also heereby require and authorise thereupon , to take due examination , aswell of any neglect or contempt which shall be vsed by the sayd Bricklayers , by conniuency or otherwise , as of the offences and contempts to be committed by the Brickemakers or others , making , carrying , bringing , or vttering any Brickes , contrary to the true intent of the Directions aforesayd , and the same , together with the names of the offendours , from time to time , to certifie to His Maiesties Atturney Generall , for the time being , to be proceeded against in the sayd high Court of Starre-Chamber , as wilfull contemners of this his Maiesties pleasure and commandement .

And where any neglect or contempt of this His Maiesties commandement shall bee found in places more remote , His Maiestie doeth heereby authorise and require His Iustices of Peace , within their seuerall limits and diuisions , and euery of them to take due examination and notice of any offences and offendours , contrary to the true meaning of these His Maiesties Directions , as aforesayd and to make knowne the same to His Maiesties sayd Commissioners for Buildings , and they to make further certificate vnto His Maiesties sayd Atturney Generall , to be prosecuted in manner aforesayd ; whom Wee heereby command to sue , and prosecute such offendours accordingly .