THe Kings most Excellent MAIESTIE taking into consideration the manifold euil practises , which for priuate gaine are too often put in vre , as well by Corne-masters & Hoorders of Corne , as by merchants and others , to inhance the prices of Corne and Graine to the generall preiudice of all other his Maiesties Subiects , especially labouring men , and those of the poorer sort , which hath appeared not onely in the time of the late dearth , but in the yeere now past , when by the goodnesse of God , there was such plenty and abundance of Corne as seldom hath been greater ; and yet the rates and prices of Corne in many parts of this Kingdome , ( especially in the Citie of London and the parts neere adioyning ) were kept vp at farre higher prices , then was fit to be , in a time of so great & generall plenty ; And that howsoeuer by the prouident & constant care of His Maiestie , & His priuie Councell , transportation of Corne was restrained euen in that plentifull yeere ; yet in many parts of the Kingdome , false rumors were and are spread and divulged , of great transportation of Corne licensed and authorised , to the great dishonour of His Maiestie , and the State , and of a wicked purpose to keepe vp Corne and Graine at immoderate prices ; His Maiestie , with the aduice of His Priuie Councell , doth hereby publish and declare , That all the said rumors were most false , vntrue , and scandalous , and that the Authors and divulgers thereof , haue iustly incurred His Maiesties displeasure , and the seuere censure of His Lawes , which His Maiestie doeth hereby require and command to be strictly and seuerely inflicted vpon all such as haue or shall offend in that behalfe , by all and singular his Iudges , Iustices , Magistrates , Officers and ministers to whom it doeth appertaine , that by their example , others may be deterred from the like presumption , in time to come . And albeit His Maiestie is well satisfied that by the remaining store of the last yeere , and by the increase of this present yeere , there is very ample & good prouision of Corne , sufficient to supply the whole Kingdom at easie and reasonable prices ; yet considering the want of Corne in diuers other parts beyond the Seas , might occasion a transportation thereof from hence , which would necessarily draw on an inhancement of prices if it should be permitted ; Therefore his Maiestie holding it necessary to prouide , that his owne Subiects in generall may enioy the good blessing of plenty which God hath vouchsafed to this Realme , and that the same be not turned to the inriching onely of a few greedie Cormorants , doth by like Aduice of His Priuie Councell , prohibite and forbid , that from henceforth for the space of one yeere next ensuing , and from the end of that yeere , vntill his Maiestie shall declare His pleasure to the contrary , no Corne or Graine be transported , or carried out of this his Maiesties Realme of England , or Dominion of Wales , vnto any other part or place whatsoeuer , vpon paine of his Maiesties indignation and displeasure , and of such punishments to be inflicted aswel vpon the offendors themselues , their Ayders , Procurers , Abbettors and Fauorers , whether they be Iustices of Peace , Officers of his Maiesties Customes or Ports , or any other whosoeuer , as so high a contempt and offence doeth demerit .

And because His Maiestie is informed , that in diuers Counties of this Realme neare the Sea Coast , it hath been practised to buy and prouide great quantity of Corne , and bring the same vnto , or neare the Sea-Coast ready for transportation , and then in some one or two markets to sell some small quantitie thereof , or of other Corne at lower prices then the same were bought , and vpon some faint and partiall certificate from some Iustices of Peace , or other officers , that Corne in those Markets was sold vnder the rates limited by the Statute , haue procured the same to be transported beyond the Seas ; His Maiestie requireth by like Aduice of His Priuie Councell , that those and all other fraudulent practises vnduely to procure Transportation of Corne heretofore committed , or hereafter to be committed ; be strictly and diligently inquired and looked into , and condigne punishment inflicted vpon all offenders therein .

And whereas His Maiestie is informed , that sundry Merchants , Strangers , and Aliens of Forreigne Countreys in Amitie with His Maiestie , haue accustomed to bring their Shippes and Vessells into some of the Ports , Hauens , or Creekes of this Realme vnuictualed , of purpose , that vnder colour of taking in a supply of fresh victuals for their necessities , they might victuall themselues and their Ship-company from hence for their voyages , whereby they carry away much Corne , Beefe , and other victualls , and prohibited Commodities , which is an equall mischiefe with Transportation ; His Maiestie doeth hereby declare , and command , that the same bee not hereafter suffered to bee done . Notwithstanding , if any such Aliens or Strangers , shall by distresse of weather , or other ineuitable Accident , be driuen into any of the Ports , Hauens , Creekes , or Harbours of this Realme , His Maiestie is well pleased , that they shall haue liberty to prouide and take vp such quantities of victualls , and other necessaries , as shall be sufficient for their necessary sustenance in their returne thence into their owne Countrey onely , and not otherwise .

And further His Maiestie doeth by like aduice of His Priuy Councell , straitly prohibite and forbid , That no Wooll , Wooll-Fells , Fullers-earth , tanned Leather , or raw Hides be at any time hereafter transported , or carried out of this His Maiesties Realme of England , or Dominion of Wales , vnto any other Port , or Place whatsoeuer , vpon paine of His Maiesties indignation and displeasure , vnder such punishments to be inflicted , aswell vpon the Offenders themselues , their Ayders , Procurers , Abbettors , and Fauourers , whether they be Iustices of Peace , Officers of His Maiesties Customes or Ports , or any other whosoeuer , as so high a contempt and offence doeth demerite .

And His Maiestie being likewise informed , that great and manifold abuses haue beene committed in times past , aswell by the corruption , or negligence in the inferiour Officers and ministers of His Maiesties Customes , aswell in permitting Wooll , Wooll-Fells , and Fullers-earth , to be transported ; As also touching transportation of Corne , Leather , and raw Hides , in permitting the same to passe , either without any Licence , or in greater quantities then hath beene Licensed , or in suffering the same to passe beyond the Seas , vnder colour of transportation from Port to Port within the Realme ; His Maiestie doeth in like maner Will and Command , that all abuses in that behalfe , either heretofore done , or hereafter to be done , be strictly and diligently enquired , found out , and punished . And for auoyding the like in time to come , His Maiestie willeth and Commandeth , that no transportation of any Corne , Wooll , Wooll-Fells , Fullers-earth , Leather , or raw Hides from Port to Port within this Realme bee permitted , but vpon good bonds with sufficient Sureties responsall , and resident within the Realme , for whose sufficiencie , the Officers of His Maiesties Customes taking the same bonds , will bee answerable ; In the condition of which Bonds , the true quantity of the Corne , and Fullers-earth , and the number and weight of the bags or sackes of Wooll , and number of Wooll-Fells , Hides , and Leather shipped to bee carried from Port to Port , shall bee set downe ; And that no Certificate of the landing thereof , or of landing any Wooll out of Ireland , bee made vpon an entry alone , either at sight or otherwise , before such time as the goods bee landed , and then the Certificate to containe the iust quantity , weight , and numbers of them so landed , and no more . And to the intent the Customers and Officers of His Maiesties Ports , executing their places by deputies , may not shift off the offences aforesaid , or others of like nature ( when they happen to bee discouered ) vpon their deputies , ministers , or seruants , who haue little or nothing to be answerable for their offences ; His Maiestie doeth signifie and declare His will and pleasure , that in euery such case , euery person or persons , shall according to the Law be answerable aswell for his owne offences , as for the faults of his and their deputies , ministers , and seruants , by forfeiture and seizure of their Offices , or otherwise in the seuerest and strictest wayes that by the lawes of the Realme are appointed or permitted , without any fauour or conniuence .

And because His Maiestie is desirous , that this His gracious prouidence and prouision should receiue due effect for the generall Weale of His people , His Maiestie is pleased , if any person or persons will at any time hereafter disclose or discouer vnto His Maiesties Priuy Councell , or to the Lord High Treasurer of England , or to His Maiesties Attorney Generall , any persons that haue offended either in spreading such rumours as aforesaid , or in transporting of Corne , Victualls , Wooll , Wooll-Fells , Fullers-earth , Leather , or raw Hides contrary to His Maiesties Proclamation , or any Law , or other Proclamation formerly published in that behalfe , and will produce sufficient proofe for the conuicting of the said offenders , that in euery such case , the one halfe of the fine and summes of money forfeited , or to bee imposed vpon the said offenders shall bee allowed vnto the party or parties making such discouery , as His Maiesties free bounty and reward . His Maiestie doeth hereby authorize aswell the Lord Treasurer , Chancelor , and Barrons of His Exchequer , as all other Iudges , Iustices , Officers and Ministers of any other His Courts of Iustice whatsoeuer , to whom it shall appertaine , without any further or other Warrant , to giue order for the leuying , issuing , paying , and deliuering of the said moyety of the fines , and summes of money according to His Maiesties gracious pleasure herein declared as aforesaid .