By the King. A proclamation for reformation of the many abuses committed against the Corporation of Gardners.

royal blazon or coat of arms C R HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT ❧ By the King . ¶ A Proclamation for reformation of the many abuses committed against the Corporation of Gardners .

WHereas Our late Royall Father King IAMES , of blessed memory , in the third yeere of His Reigne , did by His Letters Patents Incorporate the Gardners of London , and such of that Art , Trade , or Mysterie , as inhabited within London and sixe miles compasse thereof , into a Body Politique , with diuers Liberties and Priuiledges in the same Charter contained ; and in further enlargement thereof in the foureteenth yeere of His Reigne , did by a second Grant straightly prohibite any person to vse the same Art or Science , vnlesse he had serued as an Apprentice thereunto by the space of seuen yeeres , and beene admitted into the said Company ; thereby commanding the said Company to make due Searches for preuenting the sale of dead , vnwholesome , and corrupt Plants , Stocks , Trees , Setts , Slipps , Flowers , Rootes , Herbes , and Seedes , and all other things belonging to the said Trade , and to make away , burne , cut , and destroy the same , as they should finde any such offered to sale , in Market or otherwise .

And further commanding all Mayors , Sheriffes , Iustices of Peace , and other Officers within the said compasse , to be aiding and assisting vnto them , by vertue whereof , for their more orderly gouernment , sundry Lawes and Ordinances haue beene conceiued amongst them , fit and necessary to be executed and obserued : And the same were approoued of by the then Lord Chancellor of England , Lord Treasurer , and Lord Chiefe Iustice , which Trade is found to bee very beneficiall to the Common-wealth , both for the goodnesse of the Commodities which industrious Artists in that Mysterie daily raise , for the imployment of very many of the poorer sort , and for the trayning vp of diuers young men therein . Howbeit of late diuers persons , whereof many ●●uer serued as Apprentises in the said Trade , nor haue beene admitted into the said Societie , doe ●… se the same , to the vndoing of such of Our louing Subiects as haue duely serued therein as Ap●… entises , and to the great discouragement and ruine of many Freemen of the said Societie .

And moreouer some of the said Company are become contemptuous , refusing to obserue those things that conduce to their publike welfare . And others , as Wee are informed , haue Commen●… , and threatned to Commence diuers Suites , against the said Company , and the Gouernours 〈…〉 Officers thereof , for executing their said Ordinances , and searching for , taking away , cutting , ●… cuing , and destroying , of dead , corrupt , vnwholesome , and bad Plants , Stocks , Trees , Setts , ●… lipps , Flowers , Rootes , Herbes , and Seedes , offered to be sold as aforesaid , and punishment of the Offenders , Sellers , and Venders thereof , to the great expences , and discouragement of the ●… d Company , in the execution of the seuerall Powers and Authorities in the said Charter ex●… ssed ; by meanes whereof , many vnwholesome and corrupt Plants , Stocks , Trees , Setts , ●… lipps , Flowers , Rootes , Herbes , and Seedes , are daily put to sale and vented , to the great de●… it and abuse of Our people . And likewise the ingrossing of the Commodities belonging to the Art of Gardning , and buying of whole Croppes vpon the ground is growne frequent , whereby the Prizes of the said Commodities are greatly enhansed , and the labour of the Artist is thereby ●… derualued , to the great preiudice of Our louing Subiects in generall .

We therefore , at the humble petition of the Master , Wardens , and company of that Societie , taking the same grieuances into Our Royall consideration ; doe hereby straitly charge and command , that no person or persons whatsoeuer , whether Denizon or Stranger , not hauing serued as Apprentise or Apprentises , to a Freeman of the said Company , by the space of seuen yeares , and not hauing beene by them admitted into their Societie , do henceforth presume to take vpon him or them , the Art or Science of Gardening , or doe vse or exercise , directly or indirectly , any thing to the same belonging or appertaining , within the limits and compasse aforesaid , before he haue so serued , and beene by them admitted , further then for the necessary occasion of his or their owne families : And that no person or persons henceforth presume to offer any discouragement , or opposition to the said Company , for search by them duely made , or for taking away , cutting , burning , or destroying of any dead , corrupt , vnwholesome and bad Plants , Stocks , Trees , Setts , Slipps , Flowers , Roots , Herbs , and Seeds of what sort soeuer they be ; according to the tenour of the said Letters Patents : nor that any person or persons whatsoeuer , hereafter ingrosse the said Commodities , by buying Cropps vpon the ground , or otherwise presume to sell or put to sale any such bad and vnwholesome Plants , Trees , Stocks , or other things aforesaid , deceitfully to any of Our louing Subiects , vpon paine of Our indignation , and of such further punishments as by the Lawes of Our Realme , or Prerogatiue Royall , can or may be inflicted vpon the offenders .

And We doe hereby further enioyne all and euery Freeman of the said Societie , respectiuely and diligently to performe and obserue , all and euery the Grants , and provisions in the said seuerall Letters Patents conteined : And all other such lawfull Constitutions and Ordinances , as haue or shall be made by the Master , Wardens , and others of the said Company , for the better gouernment and regulating thereof .

And likewise We do hereby require and command the Master and Wardens of the same Company for the time being , that such of their Apprentises as haue duely serued out their seuen yeares Apprentiship , and will be gouerned by their Lawes and Ordinances , that they , for their better encouragement , be made free of the same .

And to the end that the said Societie may the better vend the Commodities appertaining to their profession , whilst they are liuing , fresh , good , and wholesome , and in their prime , to their best aduantage , and Our Subiects good : Our will and pleasure is , that they shall , and may from time to time , sell the same in any of Our Markets , without the disturbance or molestation of any of Our Subiects whomsoeuer , as the seasons for the said Commodities shall require .

And lastly , We doe hereby straitly require and command , the Lord Maior of Our Citie of London for the time being , Our Iustices of peace , and chiefe Officers of the same Citie , and likewise Our Iustices of Our peace of Our Counties of Middlesex , Surrey , Kent and Essex , and all other Our louing Subiects within the compasse aforesaid , to be aiding , helping , and assisting to the said Master , Wardens , and Company in all things , according to the tenour of the said Letters Patents , and of Our will and pleasure herein declared , as they tender Our displeasure , and will auoid the penalty of their contempts .

Giuen at Our Court at Whitehall , this third day of December , in the tenth yeere of Our Reigne . God saue the King .