A proclamation for the well-ordering the making of white-starch within this realm, and for restraint of the importation thereof from foreign parts

By the King. A PROCLAMATION For the Well-ordering the making of White-Starch within this Realm, and for Restraint of the Importation thereof from Foreign Parts.

CHARLES R.

WHereas Our Dear and Royal Father of blessed Memory, in the Fourteénth year of his Reign, for the remedying of many great abuses and inconveniencies then complained of, by the excessive and disorderly making of White-Starch in many places within this Realm, by the converting and consuming great quantities of Wheat and other Grain fit for Mans food into Starch, Did Incorporate certain persons for the better Government of the said Starch-Trade, which said Corporation is since dissolved and determined: And whereas like Complaints have been made unto Us by Our loving Subjects, upon just and manifest occasions of the said abuses and inconveniencies, now again increasing by the said disorderly making of White-Starch. For the remedying whereof, no better means hath been offered to Us, then by re-erecting a Corporation of the most discreét persons experien∣ced in the making of Starch, who may be enabled to make Laws and Ordinances for the regulating the said Abuses and Inconveniencies; We therefore following the example of Our Royal Predecessors herein, by Our Letters Patents under Our Great Seal of England, have Incorporated sundry meét persons of the said Trade of Starch-making, with power and priviledges to them and their Successors, to make or cause to be made in one joynt stock, and not otherwise, in such convenient place or places, as shall be appointed by Us, Our Heirs or Successors, or six of Our Privy Council, and not elswhere, All and all manner of White-Starch with Bran and Pollard onely, or with Wheat-Corn or Grain imported from beyond the Seas, or with musty, defective, and un∣wholsome Corn, unfit for the Food of Man; and not of any wholsome Corn or Grain of the growth of this Realm of England, and the same to put to sale at reasonable prices; and to Rule, Order, and Govern the Members of the said Corporation; and to make Orders and Rules for the well-ordering the said Starch-Trade thoroughout Our Realm of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town and Port of Berwick; and to search and try all Starch that shall be made by any Member of the said Corporation, and all materials for the making of the same: And fur∣ther Granting by Our said Letters Patent, That no person or persons whatsoever, not being Freé of the said Cor∣poration,

should from thenceforth use the Art or Trade of Starch-making, or make any Starch to sell within Our Realm of England, Dominion of Wales, or Town of Berwick, except he or they have served to the said Trade as an Apprentice for the space of seven years, or have seven years used the said Trade as a Member of the late for∣mer Corporation of Starch-makers; And that no White Starch shall be imported into Our said Realm of Eng∣land, Dominion of Wales, or Town of Berwick, from beyond the Seas, upon the pains and forfeitures in that behalf in the said Letters Patents mentioned; and with other reasonable and fitting Powers for the regulating the said Starch-Trade, as by Our said Letters Patents more at large may appear. Now to the end Our loving Sub∣jects may take knowledge of Our Royal Pleasure herein, and the remedy we have provided for the redressing and preventing the said inconveniencies, by establishing the said Corporation for the good Government of the said Trade, and Reformation of abuses therein; We do by this Our present Proclamation, streightly charge and command, That no person or persons whatsoever, other then such as are or shall be Members of the said present Corporation of Starch-makers, or shall have served as an Apprentice, or have used the said Trade as Member of the said for∣mer Corporation, for the space of seven years, shall presume, attempt, or go about to make any Starch, other then for his or their private use, and not to sell, nor shall make the same of any wholsome Wheat, Flower, or Meal fit for the food of Man, of the Growth of this Our Realm, but of Bran and Pollard only, or of Grain to be Imported from Foreign Parts; And that no person or persons shall make any such Starch, or cause the same to be made in any other place or places, nor in any other manner then by Our said Letters Patents of Incorporation is directed and appointed; And that no person presume to sell any Starch, as a Hukster, or Hawker, from door to door in private, or secret, or otherwise then in their own proper and open Shops or Warehouses for any Member of the said Corpora∣tion, or on the behalf, or by the appointment of any Member of the said Corporation; And that no Grocer, Chap∣man or other person who useth to buy Starch to sell again, shall buy, utter, sell, or otherwise vent any Starch, which they shall know to have beén made by any person not qualified to make the same, or who shall make the same contrary to the direction of Our said Letters Patents. And We do likewise streightly charge and com∣mand, That no person or persons, Our Natural born Subjects, Denizens, or Strangers whatsoever, do hereafter Import, or bring, or cause to be Imported, or brought into Our Realm of England, Dominion of Wales, or Town of Berwick, from any the Parts beyond the Seas, any White Starch whatsoever, upon pain of forfeiture of all such White Starch as shall be so Imported. And Our Will and Pleasure is, and We do hereby impower and command all and singular the Officers of Our Customs, within all and every the Ports and Havens of Our said Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick, That they and every of them, do stay and seize, or cause to be stayed and seized all Foreign White Starch, which shall hereafter be Imported contrary to Our Royal Pleasure herein Declared, and within ten days after such seizure, or stay made, to give notice of the same to the Master, War∣dens, and Assistants of the said Corporation for the time being, or to some of them or their Deputies, upon pain of Our Displeasure, and such other punishments as their contempt or neglect therein shall deserve. And We do like∣wise streightly charge and command, That no person or persons whatsoever, do at any time hereafter, presume to withstand or oppose the Master, Wardens, and Assistants of the said Corporation, for the time being, their Searchers, or Deputies in Search for White Starch, Imported or unduely made by any Member of the said Corporation, or other persons qualified to make the same as aforesaid, or the materials prepared for the making thereof, contrary to the Tenor of Our said Letters Patents, or in doing or executing any the Powers, Priviledges, or Authorities thereby given or limited unto the said Corporation, nor shall willingly countenance, abet, conceal, maintain, or keép any person or persons offending in any of the Premisses, nor shall purposely, or intentionally let

any House, Shop, or place wherein any Starch shall be made contrary to the Tenor hereof: And if any person or persons do, or shall at any time or times hereafter make, or cause to be made or Imported, any White Starch, con∣trary to the Tenor hereof; or shall otherwise be found to offend in any the Premisses; Our Will and Pleasure is And We do hereby Declare, that upon complaint thereof made to Our Privy Councel, or any three or more of them by any Member of the said Corporation, such offenders shall be proceeded against, and shall suffer the utmost punish∣ment, which by Law may be inflicted for the contempt of Our Royal Prerogative and Command, in a matter of such consequence touching the good benefit of Our people. And We do likewise streightly charge and command all Iustices of the Peace, Maiors, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Constables, Headboroughs, Tithingmen, and all other Our Officers and Ministers, that they and every of them, at all times hereafter, and from time to time within their several Iurisdictions, be aiding and assisting to the said Corporation, their Searchers and Deputies, and all other Our Customers, Waiters, and all other person and persons in the due execution of all, or any the premisses, when they shall be thereunto required, And that they do not suffer any person or persons whatsoever, within their several Precincts, not being a Member of the said Corporation, or not having served seven years Apprenticeship, to the said Trade, or not having used the said Trade for the space of seven years, as a Member of the said former Cor∣poration from and after the publication of this Our Proclamation, to make or cause to be made directly or indirectly any White Starch in any other manner, or in any other place or places within this Our Realm of England, Domi∣nion of Wales, or Port or Town of Berwick, then by such persons, and in such manner, and in such places as are herein directed or intended, but that they use their utmost powers and endeavors, by all lawful means to hinder and suppress the same.

Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the third day of August, in the thirteenth year of Our Raign.