I.I. By the Major: Whereas diuers good acts and ordinances haue heeretofore bene made, aswell by publique proclamations, as other waies: for the restraning the great abuses daily committed and vsed in brewing and vttering of extraordinary strong ale and beere, of fifteene shillings and sixteene shillings the barrell, in such vnvsuall and strange manner, ... as is fit to be reformed: ... which in no wise is to bee suffered.

[illustration] royal blazon or coat of arms

HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE

[illustration] blazon of the City of London

M I. I.

❧ By the Major.

WHereas diuers good Acts and Ordi∣nances haue heeretofore bene made, aswell by publique Proclamations, as other waies: for the restraining the great Abuses daily committed and vsed in brewing and vttering of extraordinary strong Ale and Beere, of fif∣teene shillings and sixteene shillings the barrell, in such vnvsuall and strange manner, and by such vnlawfull measures and prizes, as in former ages was neuer kno∣wen and suffered, and growne now to such a habit of I∣dlenesse and drunkennesse, as is fit to be reformed: Or else the poison thereof, will trench to the preiudice of the whole Kingdome, which in no wise is to bee suffered. Wherefore, the right honorable Sir Iohn Iolles, knight, Lord Maior of this honourable Citie, hauing called be∣fore him, the Maister and Wardens of the Brewers, and Free-men of this Citty of London, and sundry other discreete persons of vnderstanding and graue discretion, haue diligently en∣quired, the reasons and causes of the great dearth of Barley and Malt at this present through∣out the whole kingdome: finding that the prizes of Malt is one third part dearer by the quar∣ter, then is Rie, and beareth neere to the price of ordinary wheate: which wil make the grea∣test part of the Earable Land of this kingdome to be sowne with Barley. And consequently, whereas in former times, in the knowledge of many Merchants yet liuing, That this King∣dome did yearly spare great quantities of wheate to be transported into forraign parts beyond the Seas, so much wheate as did returne into this kingdome in species of Golde and Siluer, yearly many thousand poundes, which was heere Minted into the Kings Maiesties Coine: and now so litle wheat sowen heere, to giue roome for Barley, that we are serued with wheat our selues, out of forraigne Countries, who draw away the Coine of this Land, both Siluer and Gold from England, for their Corne, to the like number of many thousand pounds yeare∣ly, to our great preiudice: All which inconueniences, doe grow by the brewing of this heady strong drink, which wasteth our Corne infinitely.

And further, a new euill is crept into the City and Suburbs, amongst the petty Victualers and Ale-house keepers, that become Brewers in their owne houses of strong Ale, and so are both Brewers and Victuallers, and retaile the same at two pence or three pence the quart, to the poorest labouring people of the City, to the misery of their poore wiues and children, whose husbands giue as much for a quart of strong Ale, as would find their wiues and children both bread and drinke at home. For Reformation of the foresaide abuses, the Lord Maior by all the best meanes and power that he can vse, intendeth foorthwith with all seueritie to reforme within the City of London, and Liberties thereof, to the example of the rest of the kingdome. And therefore heereby Chargeth and Commandeth, That no Inholder, Ale-house keeper, Cooke, Tobacco seller, nor other Victualler, or keeper of Ordinaries whatsoeuer, shall in any wise, brew any drink in their houses, neither Beere nor Ale, nor vtter, nor sell any Ale or beere at other rates, then is by the Law appointed, (viz:) a full quart of the best Ale or Beere for a peny, and a full quart of the smaller beere for a halfe peny. And likewise, straightly chargeth and commandeth all brewers, which are brewers by their trade either of Ale or beere, that they nor any of them, do brew any Ale or beere, at any other rates, or in any other manner then is appointed by the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme, nor at any other prizes, then that the Victuallers may be able to affoord the same at the rates abouesaide: of a peny a quart the best, and a halfe peny the quart of the smaller. AND, that it shall appeare, the Contents of this Proclamation shall be straightly looked into, his Lordship hath appointed in euerie Ward of London, certaine honest and well disposed persons, to search & view, throughout their Wards where any of these abuses shall be committed, to discouer them to the Lord Maior, to the end, that seuere punishment may be inflicted vpon the offenders.

And further, whereas of late there hath bene a verie grosse and corrupt vse, or rather Abuse, set vp amongst bakers of Market bread, by many Forreiners, and some bakers of the Citie: touching the baking of false sized bread, neuer wont to bee vsed, (viz:) in baking of three-peny, fiue-peny, eight-peny, and Ten-peny Loaues of bread, to beguile the simple people, and Chil∣dren withall, in selling the three peny Loafe for a groat, the fiue peny for sixe pence, the ten pe∣ny for twelue pence, which is not fit to be vsed or suffered. Wherefore, the Lord Maior strait∣ly Chargeth and Commandeth all Bakers of bread, of what kinde or condition soeuer, That they, nor any of them, shall not in any wise bake, nor put to sale, either in their shoppes, nor in the Markets of the Citie, any wheaten or white bread of any size aboue the peny loafe, & two peny loafe: nor any browne or houshold bread, aboue the peny loafe, or two peny loafe, sixe pe∣ny loafe, and twelue peny loafe, which shall haue the print in the top of the Loaues, (viz:) on the two peny loafe, the print of 2. on the sixe peny loafe, the print of 6. and on the twelue penie loafe the print of 12. And if they bake or put to sale any other bread of other sizes and prizes, the same shall be giuen away in the Market to the poore: and the sellers thereof committed to prison for their wilfull offence therein committed.

❧ God saue the King. ❧