By the King. A proclamation concerning the well-ordering the trade of making and selling of soape.

DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE royal blazon surmounted by a crown and flanked by the English lion and Tudor rose on one side and the Scottish unicorn and thistle on the other ❧ By the King . ❧ A Proclamation concerning the well-ordering the Trade of making and selling of Soape .

WHereas Wee haue declared by two former Proclamations Our Princely care for the aduancement of the natiue Commodities of Our Kingdomes , the imployment of many of Our poore people , and the reformation of diuers former abuses in making of Soape : Wee now finding by experience , that many factious and refractory persons haue not onely disobeyed Our Royall Commandements , but haue studied diuers new wayes to hinder all Our good intentions to Our louing Subiects , some by vsing of Castile , Venice , Smyrna , and English hard Soape from the Westerne parts , and by dissoluing of it to multiply or increase it , who formerly neuer vsed any of that kinde in that maner , some by bringing in great quantity of Fishoyle Soape , and other Soape from Scotland , France and Holland , and diuers other places , some by procuring the increase of making of Soape in places where small quantities of Soape were formerly made , seruing onely for the places neare adioyning , and dispersing it ouer the Realme , where was neuer vse of that Soape before , others by perswading of Our Subiects that they could instruct housholders , and other priuate persons to make Soape at easie rates for their vses , therein abusing and deceiuing them with purpose to cause them for a while to forbeare the vse of the new made Soape , hoping thereby to ouerthrow the vse of making Soap of the natiue commodities of this Kingdome . And besides all these inuentions , they haue not onely raysed the prices of the old Soape to such excessiue rates , that Our louing Subiects haue payed euen heere in Our Citie of London , sixe pence a pound for the same , and in many other parts of Our Kingdome eight pence , tenne pence , and twelue pence the pound , which was wont to be sold for three pence , or three pence halfe peny ; But in like manner also to bring the new white Soape into dislike , they haue purposely abused and falsified it , and haue maliciously presumed to sell it by retaile for like inordinate prices . For the remedy of all which inconueniences , and for the better preuenting of their malice in the like attempts , We haue resolued with the aduice of Our Priuie Councell to settle and establish the Manufacture of Soape , according to such powers and prouisions , as in cases of like nature haue from time to time beene ordered and put in execution .

And therefore for the better finding out and discouery of all offenders against Our said two former Proclamations , and such as shall disobey Our further Commands in this Our present Edict , and the Decrees of Our Court of Star-Chamber , and Letters Patents made concerning the premises ; Our will and pleasure is , and Wee doe hereby require and Command , that the Keeper of Our Great Seale , or Our Treasurer , Chancellor , and Barrons of Our Exchequer , or the Chancellor of Our Dutchie of Lancaster , for the time being respectiuely , shall and doe award such and so many Commissions , to such persons , and of such tenour and effect as they shall thinke fit , for the rectifying of the prices of Soape vpon any such complaint , as in that behalfe shall bee made vnto them , and for the examining and finding out of all offences and offenders against Our Proclamations , Decrees , and Letters Patents , to the end that aswell the Importers , bringers in , carriers , and makers of all Soape prohibited , and the sellers of Soape at prices excessiue , as the buyers , sellers , spenders , and receiuers thereof , may receiue condigne punishment for their seuerall offences .

And because some complaints haue deene made to vs , and to Our Priuie Councell , by some particular Tradesmen ; As namely , Silke-Diers , Wooll-combers , Weauers , Say-thickers , Fullers , and the like , that their Trades doe require some other sorts of Soape , then such as now is vsed and made by the said Corporation , and other then that which was formerly commonly made in Our Citie of London , according to the quality of their seuerall Manufactures .

Therfore Our further will and pleasure is , and Wee doe hereby straitly charge and command the Gouernour for the time being , and the Society of the Soape-makers , And doe by these presents authorize them , and appoint that they shall and may from time to time make , and cause to be made such quantities , and such a proportion of any other sort of soft Soape , as shall bee requisite for the necessary vse of the sayd Tradesmen in their said seuerall Trades onely , and not otherwise , nor for any other vse whatsoeuer . Prouided alwayes , that no soft Soape be fold to the sayd Tradesmen by the said Corporation , at the place where it shall bee made , for aboue three pence the pound .

And to the end that Soape shall not bee sold at any such excessiue prices and rates as now it is , by the fraud of the vndue-makers and Retaylers , but at such indifferent and moderate rates and prices as may bee conuenient betwixt the Buyer and the Seller : It is Our will and pleasure , and Wee doe hereby straitly charge and command , that the Maior , Bayliffe , or other chiefe Officer in euery Citie and Towne corporate , with the assistance of two of the next Iustices of the Peace of that County , or the two next adioining Iustices of the Peace where the said Retaylers dwell out of a Citie or Towne Corporate , vpon any complaint that shall bee made of any excessiue rates or prices , doe set such rates and prices vpon all Soape that shall bee Retayled , as they in their best Iudgements shall thinke fit and reasonable , consideration being by them had , aswell of the setled price payed to the Corporation , as of the Charge of Carriage , Sea-aduenture , and other charges and casualties thereunto belonging , with fit and reasonable gaines to the Retayler .

And if it shall happen , that in any of the places aforesaid , there shall be vnfit prices set , whereby the Buyer , or Seller , may haue iust cause of complaint , then in euery such case vpon complaint thereof made , Our will and pleasure is , that all such pretended vndue proceedings , shall bee examined and rectified , by such Commissioners as shall bee hereafter nominated and appointed by the Keeper of Our Great Seale , or Our Treasurer , Chancellor , and Barons of Our Exchequer , or the Chancellor of Our Dutchie of Lancaster .

And because the said Gouernour , Assistants , and Fellowship of Soape-makers , are forced to bee at excessiue charges , by imployment of seuerall men in searching , seising , and other discouery of Soape , made or put to sale , contrary to the tenour of the said Proclamations , Decrees , and Letters Patents , which being falsely , or corruptly made , or being put to fale vnmarked , contrary to the said Decrees , Proclamations , and Letters Patents is to bee destroyed , as hath beene vsed by the Law , and common custome of the Realme , whereby the said Fellowship receiue no recompence for their charge and expence ; Wee are therefore well pleased , that vpon complaint made in Our Court of Star-Chamber , or Exchequer , of such falsities , corruptions , or abuses , that competent allowance for their charge and expence bee made vnto them , by that Court where they shall complaine , out of the fines that shall be set vpon the Delinquents : And this Our Proclamation shall bee a sufficient warrant for making and giuing such allowance .

And for discouery of such falsities , corruptions , and abuses , their Officers , and Ministers , may enter in to search , and seize the same in any Houses , Cellers , Shops , Ware-houses , and other places whatsoeuer , aswell within Liberties , as without ; Requiring , and hereby straitly Charging and Commanding , all Maiors , Sheriffes , Bayliffes , Constables , and other Our Officers , and louing Subiects , to bee ayding and assisting vnto them in the doing and executing thereof without excuse or delay .

And because Wee haue prouided by this and Our form●r Proclamations , Letters Patents and Decrees , that a sufficient quantitie of good and vsefull Soape to be sold at reasonable prices , shall at all times be in readinesse for the vse of our people , and Wee are resolued so to continue Our care , that euery man may bee serued thereof at euery Market-Towne , without being put to any vnnecessary trauaile there-abouts , so as none shall bee occasioned to vse any the shifts or inuentions aforesaid . Therefore Wee will and command , that no person or persons , other then such as by the Decree in Our Court of Starre-Chamber heretofore made , are , or shall bee permitted or allowed , doe at any time hereafter presume to make any kinde of Soape in their priuate houses or elswhere , either for their owne vse or otherwise , vpon paine of incurring Our heauie displeasure , and such punishment as their contempt in that behalfe shall demerit .

And Wee doe hereby also straitly charge and command , that no person or persons whatsoeuer , either Our owne naturall borne Subiects , Denizens or Strangers , Merchants , Mariners , Artificers , or any other doe hereafter import or bring in , or attempt to import or bring into this Our Kingdome of England , or Dominion of Wales , any Soape from Our Kingdomes of Scotland or Ireland , or any manner or kinde of Soape , hard or soft whatsoeuer from any Forreigne parts , or to transport , Load , or cary any manner of soft Soape not marked with the Marke in that behalfe ordained , and hereby prohibited , from or into any parts or places of this Our said Kingdome of England , or Dominion of Wales , vpon paine of Our heauy displeasure , and to vndergoe such further penalties and punishments as in cases of like nature are vsually inflicted vpon the contemners of Our Royall command and authority .

And for the better performance and execution , of all and euery the premisses , Wee doe further Charge and Command , all and singuler the Officers of Our Customes , within all and euery the Ports , and Hauens of Our said Kingdome , and Dominions , and the Creekes and members thereof , as also within Our Cinque Ports , and the members thereof : That they and euery of them doe not onely forbeare to take any entrie , or entries , or giue any Bill , or Warrant , for vnlading , or landing of any Soape prohibited as aforesaid , but doe also cause seizure and stay to bee made thereof to Our vse , vpon paine of forfeiture of his or their Offices respectiuely , and vndergoing Our heauy displeasure , and such other punishments as their neglects and contempts herein shall be found to deserue .

And wee doe also straitly Charge and Command all Maiors , Sheriffes , Iustices of Peace , Constables , Headboroughes , Tythingmen , and all other Our Officers , and Ministers , aswell of Our Admiralty , as also Our Officers of the Cinque Ports , and all other Our louing Subiects to whom it shall or may appertaine , that they and euery of them at all times hereafter , and from time to time , be ayding and assisting to the said Searchers , and their Deputies , and to such Our Commissioners , as shall bee from time to time appointed for or about this seruice : And also to bee from time to time likewise ayding and assisting to all Our Customers , Searchers , Wayters , and all other person , or persons , therunto Deputed by the said Searchers , or their Deputies , in and for the Seizing , Searching for , or carying away of all such prohibited Soape , imported , brought in , or Landed , or hereafter to be imported , brought in , Landed , made , bought , sold , vented , or disposed , contrary to this Our Royall Command .

And Wee doe hereby require Our Attourney Generall for the time being , that from time to time he carefully proceed in Our Court of Starr-Chamber , or our Court of Exchequer against all such person and persons that shall presume to offend or not yeeld obedience to Our command in the premisses .

Giuen at Our Court at Theobalds the thirteenth day of Iuly , in the tenth yeere of Our Reigne of England , Scotland , France and Ireland . God saue the King .