Anno quinto et sexto Eduardi Sexti Actes made in the session of this present parlament, holden vpo[n] prorogacion at Westminster, the. xxiii. daie of Ianuarie, in the fiueth yere of the reigne of our moste drad souereigne Lorde, Edward the. VI. by the grace of God, kyng of Englande, Fraunce, and Irelande, defendour of the faith, and of the Churche of Englande and Irelande, in yearth [sic] the supreme hed: and there continued and kept to the. xv. daie of Aprill, in the vi. yere of the reigne of our saied souereigne lorde, as foloweth

¶ The .xiiii. Chapiter. ¶ An acte, against Regratours, Fore∣stallers, and Engrossers.

ALbeit, diuerse good statutes, heretofore haue been made, against forestallers of Met chaundises, and victualles, yet for that good lawes, and statutes, a∣gainst regratours, and engrossers of thesame thyn∣ges, haue not been heretofore sufficiently made, and prouided, and also for that it hath not been perfect∣ly knowen, what person should be taken for a fore∣staller, Regratour, or Engrosser, thesaied statutes, haue not taken good effecte, accordyng to the myndes of the makers therof: therfore, be it enacted and declared, by the kyng our souereigne lorde, with thassent of the lordes spirituall and temporall, and the com∣mons, in this present Parlament assembled, and by the aucthoritie of thesame: that whatsoeuer persone, or persones, that after the first daie

of Maie nexte commyng, shall buye, or cause to be bought, any Mar∣chaundise, victuall, or any other thyng whatsoeuer, commyng by land or by water, toward any Market, or Faier, to be sold in thesame, or cō∣myng toward any Citee, Port, Hauen, Cricke, or Rode, of this realme, or Wales, from any parte beyond the sea, to be sold, or make any bar∣gain, contract, or promise, for the hauyng, or buiyng of thesame, or any part therof, so commyng, as is aforesaied, before thesaied Merchaun∣dise, victualles, or other thyng, shalbee in the Markette, Faier, Citee, Port, Hauen, Cricke, or Rode, redy to be sold: or shall make any mociō by woorde, letter, message, or otherwise, to any persone, or persones, for thenhauncyng of the price, or derer sellyng of any thyng, or thynges, a∣boue mencioned, or els diswade, moue, or stirre, any person, or persones commyng to the Market, or Faier, to abstein, or forbeare, to bryng, or conueigh, any of the thynges aboue rehersed, to any Markette, Faier, Citee, Port, Hauen, Cricke, or Rode, to be sold, as is aforesaied, shal∣be demed, taken, and adiudged, for a Forestaller.

Further bee it enacted, and declared, by the aucthoritie aforesaied, that whatsoeuer persone, or persones, that after thesaied firste daie or Maie, shall by any meanes regrate, obtain, or get, into his, or their hā∣des, or possession, in any Faier, or Markette, any Corne, Wine, Fishe, Butter, Chese, Candelles, Tallowe, Shepe, Lambes, Calues, Swine Pigges, Giese, Capons, Hennes, Chekins, Pigeons, Comes, or other ded victuall whatsoeuer, that shalbe brought to any Faier, or Market within this realme, or Wales, to be solde, and do sell thesame again in any Faier, or Market, holden, or kept in thesame place, or in any other Faier, or Market, within foure miles thereof, shalbe accepted, reputed and taken, for a Regratour, or Regratours.

And be it also enacted, and declared, by the aucthoritie aforesaied, that whatsoeuer persone, or persones, that after thesaied firste daie of Maie, shall engrosse, or gette, into his, or their handes, by buiyng, con∣tractyng, or promise takyng, other then by demise, graunt, or Lease of lande, or tithe: any corne, growyng in the fieldes, or any other corne, or Grain, Butter, Chese, Fishe, or other ded victualles whatsoeuer, with∣in the realme of Englande, to thentent to sell thesame again, shalbe ac∣cepted, reputed, and taken, an vnlawfull Engrosser, or Engrossers.

And if any persone, or persones, shall at any tyme, after thesaid first daie of Maie, offende in any of the thynges before recited, and beeyng therof duely conuicted, or attainted, by the lawes of this realme, or af∣ter the fourme hereafter mencioned: shall for his, or their firste offence, haue, and suffer imprisonment, by the space of two monethes, without baile, or mainprise, and shall also lose, and forfeicte the value of the goodes, cattell, and victuall, so by hym, or them bought, or had.

And if any persone, lawfully conuicted, or attainted, of, or for any the offences aboue saied, bee thereof eftsones lawfully conuicted, or at∣teinted,

that then euery persone, or persones so offendyng, shall haue, and suffer, for his saied seconde offence, imprisonement by the space of one haulfe yere, without baile, or mainprise, and shall lose the double value of all the goodes, cattell, and victuall, so by hym bought, or had, as is aforesaied.

And if any persone beyng lawfully twise conuicted, or attainted, of, or for any of thesaied offences, shall eftsones offende the thirde tyme, and bee thereof lawfully conuicted, or attainted, that then euery suche persone, for thesaid third offence, shalbe set on the pillourie in the citee, toune, or place, where he shall then dwell, and enhabite, and lose, and forfeicte all the goodes, and cattell, that he, or thei, haue to their awne vse, and also be committed to prison, there to remain, duryng the Kynges Maiesties pleasure.

Prouided alwaie, and it is enacted and declared, by thaucthoritie aforesaid, that the buiyng of any suche barley, Bigge, or Otes, as any persone, or persones (not forestallyng) shall buye, to conuert into malt, or otemeale, in his, or their awne house, or houses, and so shalbe conuet∣ted in deede, or the buiyng of any suche thyng, by any suche Fishemon∣ger, Boucher, or Pulter, as concerne his, or their awne facultie, crafte, or Misterie (otherwise then by forestallyng) whiche shall sell thesame again vpon reasonable prices by retaill, or the takyng of any cattell, corne, grain, butter, chese, or any other thyng aboue mēcioned, reserued without fraude, or couin, vpon any lease for terme of life, or lifes, yere, or yeres, heretofore made, or hereafter to be made: or the buiyng of any wine, or other dedde victuall aboue mencioned, beeyng apte and mete for mannes sustenaunce, by any Inneholder, or other victualler, to sell thesame by retail within his house, or to any of his neighbors for their sustenaunce, for reasonable prices, or the buiyng of any dried, or salted fishe, herryng, or sprottes (not forestalled) and sold for reasonable pri∣ces, or the buiyng of any corne, fishe, butter, or chese, by any suche bad∣ger, lader, kiddier, or carier, as shalbe assigned, and allowed to that of∣fice, or doyng, by three Iustices of Peace, of the countrie, where thesaid badger, lader, kidder, or carier shall dwell, whiche shall sell, or deliuer in open Faier, or market, or to any other victualler, or to any other per∣sone, or persones, for the prouision of his, or their house, or houses, all suche corne, grain, butter, and chese, as any suche persone shall buye, or cause to be bought (and that within one moneth, nexte after he shall so buye any suche Corne, Grain, Butter, or Chese) so that thesame shalbe bought without forestallyng: or els that any common prouision made or hereafter to be made, without fraude or couin, by any person, or per∣sones, of any of the thynges abouesaid, for any citee, borough, or toune corporate, or for prouision of victuallyng of any ship, Castle, or Forte, within the kynges dominiōs, without forestallyng, whiche shalbe em∣ployed onely to that vse, and purpose: Or the buiyng and prouision of

any of the victualles aboue mencioned, necessarye, and requisite for the furniture and prouision of the enhabitauntes of Calais, Guisnes, and other the Marches of thesame, or of the toune of Barwicke, Holly I∣slande, or the Marches of Englande against Scotlande, whiche with out fraude, or couine shalbe transported, & conueighed, assone as wind and wether may serue, to suche of the places aforesaide, for the whiche thesame shalbe so prouided, shall not be in any wise demed, adiudged, or taken any offence contrary to this acte.

And it is also further enacted, by the aucthoritie aforesaide, that if any persone, or persones, after thesaide firste day of Maye nexte com∣myng, hauyng sufficiente Corne, and graine for the prouision of his, or their owne house, or houses, and sowyng of their groūdes, for one yere doe buye any corne in any Faier, or Market, for the chaunge of hys, or their sede, and do not bring to thesame Faier, or Market, thesame day so muche corne, as he shal fortune to buye for his sede, and sel thesame, if he can, as the price of corne then goeth in thesaid Market, or Faier: that then euery suche persone, or persons so buyeng corne for sede shal forfeicte and lose the double value of the corne so boughte. Or if any persone, or persones, aftre thesaide firste daye of Maye shall buye any maner of Oxen Roōtes, Stieres, Kine, Heckfers, Calues, Sheepe, lambes, goates, or kiddes liuyng, & sel thesame againe aliue, onles he or they do kepe, & fede thesame by the space of .v. wekes, in his, or their owne houses, ground, ferme groūd, or els in suche ground, or groūdes where he, or they haue the herbage, or common of pasture, by graunte, or prescription: that then euerry persone, or persones, so buieng and sel¦lyng againe shal lose the double value of the cattall, or thynges so bo∣ught and sold againe. The moitie of al whiche forfeitures afore reher∣sed shalbe to the kyng, and the other moitie to him, or theim, that wyll sue for thesame, in anye of the Kynges Courtes of Recorde, by Bille, plaint, action of debt, or enformation, in the whiche bill, plaint, action, or information, no wager of law, essoine, or protection shalbe admitted

Bee it also further enacted, by the aucthoritie afore said, that the Iustices of the Peace in euery countie, within this realme, or Wales, at their quartre Sessions, shall haue ful power and aucthoritie by ver¦tue of this acte, to enquire, heare, and determine, all, and euery the de∣faultes and offences perpetrated, committed, or doone, contrarye to this acte, within the countie, where any suche sessions shalbe kepte, by inquisition, presentmente, bill, or enformation before theim exhibited, and by examination of twoo lawfull witnesses, or by anye of thesame waies, or meanes, by the discretion of the saide Iustices, and to make processe therupon, as though they wer endicted before them by inqui∣sition, or by veredict of .xii. menne, or more: and vpō the conuiction of y^e offendor, by information, or sute of any other then the Kynge, to make extractes of the one moitie of the forfeictures, to be leuied to the kyn∣ges

vse, as they vse to do, of other fines, issues, and amerciamētes gro¦wen in the Sessions of peace, and to award execution of thother moi∣tie for the complainaunt, or enfourmer againste the offendour, by Fieri facias, or Capias, as the kinges Iustices at Westminster may do and vse to do. And if any suche conuiction, or attamdour, shal herafter happen to be at the kynges sure onely, that then the whole forfeictures to bee extracted and leuied to the Kynges vse onely.

And it is further enacted, by thaucthoritie aforesaied, that what∣soeuer personne, shall at any tyme hereafter, bee punished by vertue of this acte, for any thyng mencioned in this acte, that then thesame per∣sone shal not otherwyse be, vexed, troubled, sued, or put to any paine, or punishment for that thyng, wherefore he, or they shal haue bene so pu∣nished.

Prouided alwayes, and it is enacted by the aucthoritie aforesaide that it shalbe lawful to any persone, or personnes, whiche shalbe assi∣gned, and allowed by thre Iustices of the peace, of the Countie where he shall dwelle, therunto, to buye, (otherwise then by forstallyng) corne graine, or cattall, to be transported, or caried by water from any porte or place within this realme, or Wales, vnto any other Porte, or place, within thesaide realme, or dominions, if he, or they shal without fraud or couine, shippe, or embarke within .lx. dayes next after he, or theie shal haue boughte thesame, or taken couenaunte, or promise for the buyeng thereof, and with suche expedicion, and diligence, as wynde, and wether will serue, to carye and transporte thesame to suche Porte, or place, as his, or their cockettes shal declare, and there dooe disbarke, vnlade, and sel thesame, and do bryng a true certificat thereof, from one Iustice of peace of the countie, or Mayor, or Bailife of the toune corporate wher thesame shalbe vnladen, and also of the Customer of the Porte, where suche vnladyng shalbe: of the place, and daye, where thesaide Corne, or cattal shalbe disbarked, vnladen, and solde, to be directed vnto the Cu∣stomer, and Comptroller of the porte, where thesame ware embarked, any thing mencioned in this acte to the contrary, notwithstandyng.

And ouer that, that at al times hereafter, when wheate shalbe com∣monlye at the price, of .vi. s̄ .viij. đ. the Quarter, or vnder, Malte, and Barley, at .iii. s̄ .iiii. đ. the Quarter, or vnder, Otes, or Otes malted, at the price of ii. s̄. the quarter, or vnder, Pease, or Beanes, at the price of iiij. s̄. the quarter, or vnder, and Rie, or Misseleine, at the price of .v. s̄. the quarter, or vnder (al whiche quarters shalbe entended to be of Lon¦don measure,) that then it shalbe lawful to euery persone, and persones (not forstallyng) to buy, engrosse, and kepe, in his, or their Graneries, or houses, suche Corne of the kyndes aforesaide, as wythout fraud, or couine shalbe bought, at, or vnder the prices afore expressed, any thing in this acte to the contrary notwithstanding.

Prouided alwayes, and be it enacted, by thaucthoritie aforesaide,

that this acte, or any thyng therein conteined, extend not to charge any persone, or persones, for any the offences aboue mencioned, onles he, or thei be sued for thesame, within. it yeres next after suche offence doen or committed. This acte to endure vntill the ende of the next Parlament.

Prouided alwaies, and be it enacted by the aucthoritie aforesaied, that it shalbe lawfull to all, and euery of the kynges Maiesties subie∣ctes, now dwellyng, and enhabityng, or that hereafter shall dwell, or enhabite within one mile of the maigne sea, to buie all maner of Fishe, freshe, or salted (not forestallyng thesame) and to sell thesame again at reasonable prices: this acte, or any thyng therein conteined to the con∣trary in any wise, notwithstandyng.

Prouided also, and be it enacted by the aucthoritie aforesaied, that it shalbe lawfull to all, and euery persone, and persones, knowen for a cōmon Drouer, or Drouers, beyng licenced, aucthorised, and allowed in writyng, by three Iustices of the Peace (whereof one to bee of the Quorum) of the Countie, or Counties, where thesame Drouer, or Dro∣uers, shalbe moste abidyng, & dwellyng, to buye cattell in suche shires, or counties, where Drouers haue been wont in times past accustoma∣bly to buie cattell, at their free libertie and pleasure, and to sell thesame as is aforesaied, at reasonable prices, in common Faiers, and Market∣tes, distant from the place, or places, where he, or thei shall buye the∣same .xl. miles at the least, so that thesame cattel be not bought by way of forestallyng. This Acte, or any thyng therein conteined to the con∣trary in any wise, notwithstandyng.

Prouided alwaies, that suche licence of Iustices of the Peace, shal not endure aboue one yere, onles thesame be yerely renewed by so ma∣ny Iustices, as is aforesaied.