THe Kings most Excellent Majesty having been Informed by the Master , Wardens and Communalty of the Art or Mystery of Needle-makers of the City of London , That great quantities of Foreign Needles are daily Imported into this Kingdom from beyond the Seas , a great part thereof being deceitfully made of Iron-Wire altogether unfit for service , and here new marked , papered and packt up , as if they were made in England , and Vended and sold in London and other parts of his Majesties Dominions ; Not onely to the great abuse of the said Art , and the deceit of his Majesties Subjects , but also to the prejudice and impoverishment of the said Company ; they being by their Charter obliged to make their Needles of Steel , which costs them more without the Workmanship , then the Imported Needles are sold for . His Majesty therefore , for the encouragement of the said Society , and preservation of so usefull an Art and Native Manufacture , is graciously pleased by this his Royal Proclamation ( with the advice of His Privy-Council ) straitly to Charge , Prohibit and Ordain , That from henceforth no person or persons , Natives , Aliens or others , do or shall Import , bring or convey , or cause to be Imported , brought or conveyed into the Kingdom of England , Dominion of Wales , or Port or Town of Berwick upon Tweed , from or out of any part or place beyond the Seas , any Needles of what sort or kind soever , by way of Merchandise , or to be Sold , Bartered or Exchanged : And that no person or persons that now useth , or that hereafter shall use the Trade or occupation of retailing , selling or uttering of Needles , shall at any time hereafter directly or indirectly buy , bargain or contract for , or concerning the Importation of any Needles of what sort or kind soever , made or to be made in any Place beyond the Seas , or utter or sell the same , upon pain of forfeiting all that by Law is forfeitable , and such other punishment as by the Law , or His Majesties Prerogatiue Royal may be inflicted upon the contemners of His Royal Authority : And His Majesty doth further Charge and Command as well the Farmers of His Customes , Controllers , Searchers , Waiters and other Officers of His Ports , as also the said Master , Wardens and Communalty by themselves or their Deputies , and all other Officers , and Persons whatsoever , to seize and destroy all such Needles that shall be Imported or Bartered , Sold or Exchanged contrary to His Majesties pleasure herein declared , in whose hands soever they shall be found , and to be in all other respects diligent and careful in and about the preventing the Importation of Foreign Needles , and discovery of the same ; And to cause the Offenders to be duly punished as to Iustice shall appertain . And also all Iustices of the Peace , Mayors , Sheriffs , Bayliffs , Constables and other Officers whatsoever , to be from time to time ayding and assisting in all things requisite for and touching the observation and execution of this His Majesties Royal Proclamation , at their perils .