By the King. A proclamation for the prizes of victuals within the verge of His Maiesties houshold.

royal blazon or coat of arms C R HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT ❧ By the King . ❧ A Proclamation for the prizes of Victuals within the Verge of His Maiesties houshold .

WHere in Our passages thorow diuers parts of Our Realme , necessity requireth that a great number of our Subiects , not only Noble men , and others attending Our seruice , but others for their necessary occasions shall frequent those places , where in Our Royall Person wee shall resort : It is requisite that competent prouision bee made , that they bee not exposed to the intolerable auarice of Bakers , Brewers , Inholders , Butchers , and sellers of Victuall , who not contented with reasonable profit , in vttering , and selling of Victuall within Our Dominions , and specially within the Verge of Our houshold , vnlawfully exact and demand vnreasonable and extreame prizes for Victuals , Horse-meat , Lodging , and other necessaries , aboue the prizes they were sold at before Our comming to those parts . And for that it appeareth that of late more extreame exaction is vsed by theforesaid Victuallers , and others , towards Our Seruants , Traine & Suiters , attending Our Court , wheresoeuer we make Our abode , then heretofore hath beene , nothing respecting Our Prerogatiue , nor the Lawes of Our Realme . Therefore Our will and pleasure is , and by the aduice of some of the Lords , and others of Our Priuie Councell , Wee doe hereby straightly charge and command , that all persons doe obey , and keepe all such prizes , as is and shall bee prized , assessed , and rated by the Clerke of the market of Our houshold , or his lawfull Deputy , vpon the presentment of Iurors , by vertue of his Office , sworne and charged from time to time , as well within Liberties as without , within the Verge of Our houshold , which rates and prizes We will not only shall be certified by our said Clerke of the market , or his Deputy , into Our Counting-house , but also fixed and set vpon the gates of Our Court , and other places within the Verge , as well within Liberties as without , And that no maner of person or persons , of what estate or degree soeuer he or they be , doe in any wise aske , demand , take , receiue , or pay more for Corne , Victuals , Horse-meat , Lodging , or any other such thing , then after the rate and forme aforesaid , vpon paine of imprisonment , fine , and such further punishment that shall thereof follow .

And moreouer Wee doe straightly charge and command , that no manner of person or persons now vsing , or which accustomably haue vsed , or shall vse , or of right ought to vse to serue any City , Borrough , Towne or other place , where Our repose or residence shall be , or elsewhere within the Verge of Our houshold , either within liberties or without , with any kind of Corne or Victualls or other necessaries , either vpon the Market day , or at any other time , shall be any thing the more remisse or slacke in bringing or selling their Prouision , then they or any of them heretofore haue beene , nor shall vse any colour of craft either in hiding , or laying aside their Corne , Victualls , Horse-meat , Lodgings , or any other such necessaries , whereby the Prouision of the Market may be diminished , or Wee and Our Seruants and other Subiects should not bee as well serued , and as plenteously furnished in euery behalfe as it was before , or of right ought to haue beene , in defraude of this Our Ordinance .

And furthermore , We straightly charge and command all Our Officers of Our Greenecloth , Our Iustices of Peace , Our Clerke of the Market , his Deputie or Deputies , Maiors , Bayliffs , Sheriffs , Constables , & all other Our Officers of Cities , Borroughes , Townes , Hundreds , and other places within the Verge of Our houshold , wheresoeuer the same shall bee , aswell within liberties as without , and euery of them from time to time , when and as often as neede shall require , to make diligent inquirie of Corne , Graine , and other victuall , that shall be hidden , or withdrawne from the Markets , with purpose to increase the prizes , and to cause the same to bee put to sale by the owners thereof , And vpon complaint by any partie iustly made , euery of them within their authorities forthwith shall endeauour themselues to see iust punishment and due reformation of the premisses against such person or persons , as shall offend herein , according to Iustice .

Giuen at Our Court at Whitehall , the fourth day of May in the ninth yeere of Our Reigne of England , Scotland , France and Ireland , Defender of the Faith , &c. God saue the King .