All such proclamacions, as haue been sette furthe by the Kynges Maiestie (and passed the print) from the last daie of Ianuarij, in the firste yere of his highnes reigne, vnto the last daie of Ianuarij, beeying in the .iiij. yere of his said moste prosperous reigne, that is to saie, by the space of iiij. whole yeres. Anno 1550

The .xxix. daie of Aprill A Proclamacion concernyng Wolles.

FOR asmuche, as vpon the pitifull complaint, made vnto the kynges maiestie, by his louyng subiectes the clothiers of this his Realme, it

appereth, that through the gredines of some persones, who perceiuyng, that Wolles is so necessary for the kepyng of the multitude of his highnes subie∣ctes from idlenes, that it cannot bee lacked, colourably made and named theimselfes factors, for Marchauntes of the staple, and so haue of late daies, vsed to buy and sell Wolles, for their singuler profite, not onely the price of thesame Wolles is so aduaunced, that within short tyme, if it be not forseen, a greate nomber of his subiectes, shal∣bee destitute of liuyng, and driuen to suche misery, as is not tollerable in a∣ny good common wealth, but also that the Clothiers, cannot make Clothes, of the iust bredth, length, content and goodnes, that is prescribed by the la∣wes and statutes of this his Realme, wherby, greate infamy hath in forrain nacions, growen to this Realme, and thesaied Clothes in some places haue been burnte, to the greate losse of the Marchantes, and in some places haue been banished, and forboden to bee

brought thether: his highnes conside∣ryng the daungiers, that maie thereby ensue to this his realme, and mindyng the preuencion thereof, nothyng doub∣tyng, but suche as be his louyng, faith full, and obedient subiectes, will wil∣lyngly do for the loue of the countrey, that those that be eiuill, must be forced to do for feare, by thaduise of his moste entierly beloued vncle, Edward duke of Somerset, Gouernor of his royall persone, and Protector of all his real∣mes, dominions and subiectes, and the rest of his Maiesties priuie counsaill, straightly willeth, chargeth and com∣maundeth, that from, and after the first daie of Iune next commyng, no person vpon pain of his maiesties displeasure and greuous imprisonment of his bo∣dy, other then suche persons, and their houshold seruauntes, as shall conuert thesame, onely into Yarne, Clothe, Hattes, Cappes, Girdelles, Worsted Stamin, Saie, Arras, Tapestrie, or a∣ny other kinde of thyng, to be wrought within this realme, and Marchantes

of the Staple, and their houshold ser∣uauntes, for the onely prouision of the said Staple, and for to be shipped, one∣ly to the saied Staple, shall by hym or her self, or by any other, buye or bar∣gain, or take promise of bargain, of any Wolles, beyng nowe vnshorne, of the growyng of the Shires, or Counties of this realme, or of Wales, or any of theim. Also, his highnes by the aduise aforesaied, straightly chargeth and cō∣maundeth, that no persone, from, and after thesaied first daie of Iune, shall buye or bargain, for any Yarne, other then suche, or his or their housholde seruauntes, as shall conuert thesame into Clothes, Hattes, Cappes, Gir∣delles, Worstedes, Saies, Stamin, Arras, Tappistrie, or other thynges, to bee bought within this realme, vpō pain of his graces displeasure, and im∣prisonment of his body.

And for the better execucion hereof his highnes by the aduise aforesaied, straightly chargeth and commaundeth all and singuler Iustices of Peace,

Maiors, Sherifes, and Bailifes, not onely to se this Proclamacion truely executed, but also if any person, be iu∣stly accused before hym or them, for cō∣tempnyng, or breakyng this Procla∣macion, or any parte thereof, thei shall commit suche persone to warde, there to remain without bayle or mainprise, till the kynges maiesties, and his saied Counsailes pleasure shalbee further knowen.