THe Kings most Excellent Maiestie , ( whose watchfull Eye of prouidence , for the publique good of His louing Subiects , is alwayes kept open ) hath lately taken into His Princely consideration , the generall scarcitie and dearth of Graine and Victuall like to fall out , and much feared this yeere following in many parts of this Kingdome . And hauing vpon aduice with the Lords of his Maiesties Priuy Counsell , considered of such good meanes as haue been heretofore vsed vpon the like occasion , and some others , which by a due and seasonable execution , may ( by Gods blessing ) preuent those extremities , which otherwise the scarcitie threatned , may bring foorth , doeth by this His Proclamation publish and declare His Royall pleasure and Commandement therein , for the good of His people , in the seuerall Articles here ensuing .

First , wheras His Maiesti● hath with the aduice of His said Priuie Counsell , caused a Booke of Orders , for preuenting and remedying the dearth of Graine and Victuall , ( which was first conceiued and made in the time of the late Queene Elizabeth , and afterwards renewed in the time of His Maiesties Royall Father of blessed memory ) to bee againe reuised and enlarged with some necessary additions , grounded vpon the Statutes made since the first publishing thereof , and hath taken care for reprinting of the same ; whereby particular directions are giuen for suppressing the abuses and offences of Ingrossers , Badgers , Broggers , Carriers , and Buyers of Corne , Mault-makers , Brewers , Bakers , Milners , and others Trading in Corne , as also for causing the Assize of Bread and Beere to bee truely kept , and the Markets duely supplyed with Corne , and the poore first serued and prouided for , with other like clauses to the good purpose aforesayd : His Maiestie straitly chargeth and commandeth , aswell the Lord Maior , Recorder , Aldermen and Sheriffes of the Citie of London , and all other Officers and Ministers of the sayd Citie , as also all and singular Sheriffes , Iustices of Peace , and other Officers and Ministers in the seuerall Counties of this Realme , and all Maiors , Sheriffes , Bayliffes , Aldermen , and other Magistrates , Officers and Ministers of all other Cities and Townes Corporate , that they and euery of them , within their seuerall Limits and Iurisdictions respectiuely , doe carefully and diligently put in due and speedie execution the said Orders and Directions , and euery of them , according to his Maiesties expresse pleasure therein signified , as they will auoyd his Maiesties iust indignation , and such further punishments as shall or may bee inflicted vpon them , for their neglect of any the dueties of their seuerall places , and the contempt of this his Maiesties Royall Commandement .

And because in the scarcitie of Corne , the plenty and cheapnesse of other Victuals , may helpe to giue some ease and reliefe to the poore , and the forbearing of Flesh , aswell in the time of Lent , as vpon other Fish-dayes , may bee a good meanes to draw downe the prices of Flesh , and will also be a good incouragement for the Trade of Fishing , when the certain Vent and Sale of Fish shall be prouided for .

And whereas His Maiestie vpon vome of these considerations , hath by his Highnesse Proclamation bearing date at the Court at White Hall , the eighteenth day of Ianuary last past , set downe certaine Orders and particular Directions for restraint of killing , dressing , and eating of Flesh in Lent , and vpon other Fish-dayes , to be duely and strictly obserued , both for the time of Lent then following , and for all succeeding times , as thereby appeareth ; His Maiestie hath iust cause to be offended at the Supine remissenesse , and wilfull contempt generally committed and suffered by the inordinate libertie taken by all sorts of people against the good and wholesome Orders conteined in the said Proclamation , vpon such weightie Reasons grounded , and in such strict termes deliuered and enioyned .

And therefore being resolued to take a more strict account thereof for the time to come , both at the hands of the Officers to whom the execution thereof is committed , and of euery priuate person that shall presume to disobey the same ; especially in this time of generall feare , and expectation of Dearth ( if by good and politique rule and order the same be not in some good measure preuented ) doth hereby straightly charge and command aswell the Lord Maior of the Citie of London , for and within the said Citie and the Liberties thereof , and all and singuler Maiors , chiefe Officers of other Cities , and Townes Corporate , and also the Iustices of Peace , within the seuerall Counties of England and Wales , that they and euery of them within the seuerall limits of their Commissions and Iurisdictions respectiuely , doe forthwith more diligently and carefully see and cause that the said Proclamation of the eighteenth of Ianuary last , and all Articles and Clauses therein contained , be both in Lent next , and at all other times from henceforth duely and strictly obserued and performed in euery point , vpon paine of His Maiesties high displeasure , and such Penalties as by the Lawes of this Realme may bee inflicted vpon the offenders , for their neglect or contempt of his Maiestie or his Lawes , vpon this second warning .

And whereas by an ancient and laudable Custome no suppers were wont to bee kept on Fridayes , or the Eues of Feasts commanded to be fasted , nor vpon Wednesdayes , or Saturdayes in the Ember Weekes and time of Lent , but a generall abstinence from Suppers on those nights : And the same course is to this day for the most part obserued , not onely in his Maiesties most Honourable houshold , and in the Families of most of the Nobilitie and great men of the Kingdome ; but also in the Innes of Court and Chancery , and in the Colledges and Halles of both Vniuersities , and all other publique places of good orders , and in the houses of many Knights and Esquires that are most commended for good House keeping , according to the ancient manner of England , for which this Realme hath heretofore been so much honoured . Howbeit that good and laudable custome is dayly more and more neglected , and that good order broken especially in Tauernes , Innes , Ordinaries , Houses of Dicing and Playing , Cookes houses , and other Victualling houses , where commonly there is more waste and excesse on the Fasting nights , then in any time of the weeke besides .

His Maiestie therefore doeth straitly charge and command , that this said ancient and laudable custome bee strictly obserued in all and singuler Tauernes , Innes , Ordinaries , houses of Dicing and Play , Cookes houses , and other Victualling houses , and that no Suppers bee in them , or any of them , or by the owners of them or any of them , or their seruants had , dressed or prouided for to bee eaten either in their owne houses , or elsewhere , vpon any the Fasting nights aforesayd ; And that in the Bonds or Recognizances to bee taken of them for obseruation of Lent and Fish dayes , this Article bee specially remembred and prouided for .

And as His Maiestie doeth commaund this course to bee obserued in the places aforesayd , so Hee doeth with the Aduice of His Priuy Counsell , commend the same course to the rest of His Subiects in their priuate Families , in this time of Scarcitie , and that they would , out of that which shall bee saued by this abstinence , and by their sober and moderate dyet at other times , charitably and bountifully employ some good proportion towards the reliefe of those that shall be in penury and want , and would be glad to be refreshed with the meanest of that foode which is superfluously spent in Rich-mens houses .

And for the same end , His Maiestie by like Aduice of His Priuie Counsell doeth will and ordaine , that the vsual Feasts at the Halles of Companies in London , which at other times haue beene , and may bee vsed , bee , during the time of Sicknesse or Dearth this yeere forborne .

And because the sayd Societies and Companies shall by this meanes of putting ouer their Feastes , spare much money of that which hath beene heretofore vsually spent that way , His Maiestie doeth specially recommend it vnto them ; that those who should haue borne the Charge of those Feastes , would allow , if not more , yet at the least the one halfe of what that Charge would haue come vnto , towards the reliefe of the poore , which being orderly disbursed , will bee a great comfort vnto them , and will bee a matter of great Charitie in the doers thereof , and beeing by them accordingly performed , His Maiestie will graciously accept thereof , and will finde meanes to giue them their due commendation and Right ; as on the contrary , Hee shall haue cause to remember the hardnesse of their hearts which in this time of want shall shew themselues so mercilesse , as not to distribute vpon the poore , one halfe of that , which they would bee content to spend on a Feast , which may well bee spared .

And whereas his Maiestie is informed , that sundry Merchants , Strangers and Aliens of Forraigne Countreys , in Amitie with his Maiestie , haue been heretofore accustomed to bring their Shippes and other Vessels from their owne Countreys , into some of the Portes , Hauens , or Creekes of England or Wales , Vnuictualled of purpose , that vnder colour of taking in a supply of Fresh-Victuals for their necessities , they might Victuall themselues , and their Shippe-Company from hence for other long Voyages , whereby such Strangers haue beene suffered to carry away much of the Corne and Victuals , wherewithall His Maiesties owne Subiects should haue beene sustayned and relieued , and they by that meanes pinched with want , which in time of Scarcitie is by no meanes to bee suffered .

His Maiestie therefore doeth by this Proclamation giue in expresse Charge and Command , as well the Lord Maior of London , for the Port of London , as to all Maiors and other Magistrates of the Out-Ports , and all Creekes and Harborough Townes , and to all Sheriffes and Iustices of Peace of the Maritine Counties , as also to all Customers , Comptrollers , Searchers , and other His Maiesties Officers of His Customes , and to euery of them respectiuely , that they in no wise suffer any such thing to bee done hereafter : Notwithstanding , If any such Aliens or Strangers shall with their Ships or other Vessels by distresse of weather at Sea , or other ineuitable accident be driuen into any the Ports , Hauens , Creeks or Harboroughs aforesayd ; His Maiestie is well pleased , that they shall haue libertie to prouide and take vp such quantities of Victuals , and proportion of necessaries for their Ship-Company onely , as by the Lord Maior of London for the Port of London , or by the Maior or chiefe Magistrate of the sayd Port Towne , Hauen or Creeke in the Out-Ports , where the sayd Ship shall be driuen in , and by two of the next Iustices of Peace of the County adioyning , shall bee thought fit to bee allowed for their necessary sustenance , in their returne into their owne Countreys onely , and not otherwise : And these proportions so allowed by them to be set downe in writing , vnder their hands , to be certified to the Lord Treasurer of England , within fourty dayes after such allowance giuen .

And in like manner , His Maiestie doeth hereby giue a speciall Charge as well to the Lord Maior of the Citie of London , and all Maiors and Magistrates of the Out-Portes , as also to all Sheriffes , and Iustices of Peace of the Maritine Counties , and all and singular His Maiesties Officers of His Customes , for their seuerall Limites , places of attendance , and Iurisdictions respectiuely , that the Articles specified in the said Imprinted Booke of Orders for restrayning the Exportation of Corne and Victuall be duely and carefully obserued and put in execution .

Lastly , His Maiestie doeth hereby signifie and declare to all and singular Maiors , Sheriffes , Iustices of Peace , Bayliffes , Aldermen , and other His Officers , Ministers and Subiects whome it may concerne ; That as His Maiestie hath published this His Royall Proclamation , and the sayd Imprinted Orders for the safety , weale and plenty of His people , and for the preseruing of the liues and health of the poore , against Famine , and the diseases which follow the want of wholesome foode , and doubteth not but good effects will ensue thereof , if euery man in his place will readily and willingly put to a helping hand , for the execution of the good Orders conteined in the sayd Booke , and in this His Proclamation : So , if by neglect , or contempt hereof , those euill effects which may then bee feared , doe ensue , His Maiestie and His Throne are innocent ; And the offendours as they may well expect the iust Iudgement of Almighty God , so let them bee assured , that His Maiestie will require a strict and seuere accompt of them , and inflict such punishment on them , as those persons deserue , who doe incurre His high displeasure and indignation , and as may iustly bee inflicted vpon the contemners of His Royall Commandement , in a case of such necessity and importance .