By the King. A proclamation for the prizes of victuals within the verge of His Maiesties houshold.

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C R

HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE

DIEV ET MON DROIT

❧ By the King.

❧ A Proclamation for the prizes of Victuals within the Verge of His Maiesties houshold.

WHere in Our passages thorow diuers parts of Our Realme, necessity requireth that a great number of our Subiects, not only Noble men, and others attending Our seruice, but others for their necessary occa∣sions shall frequent those places, where in Our Royall Person wee shall resort: It is requisite that competent prouision bee made, that they bee not exposed to the intolerable auarice of Bakers, Brewers, Inholders, Butchers, and sellers of Victuall, who not contented with reasonable profit, in vttering, and selling of Victuall within Our Dominions, and specially within the Verge of Our houshold, vnlawfully exact and demand vn∣reasonable and extreame prizes for Victuals, Horse-meat, Lodging, and other necessaries, aboue the prizes they were sold at before Our comming to those parts. And for that it appeareth that of late more extreame exaction is vsed by theforesaid Victuallers, and others, towards Our Ser∣uants, Traine & Suiters, attending Our Court, wheresoeuer we make Our abode, then hereto∣fore hath beene, nothing respecting Our Prerogatiue, nor the Lawes of Our Realme. There∣fore Our will and pleasure is, and by the aduice of some of the Lords, and others of Our Priuie Councell, Wee doe hereby straightly charge and command, that all persons doe obey, and keepe all such prizes, as is and shall bee prized, assessed, and rated by the Clerke of the market of Our houshold, or his lawfull Deputy, vpon the presentment of Iurors, by vertue of his Office, sworne and charged from time to time, as well within Liberties as without, within the Verge of Our houshold, which rates and prizes We will not only shall be certified by our said Clerke of the mar∣ket, or his Deputy, into Our Counting-house, but also fixed and set vpon the gates of Our Court, and other places within the Verge, as well within Liberties as without, And that no maner of person or persons, of what estate or degree soeuer he or they be, doe in any wise aske, demand, take, receiue, or pay more for Corne, Victuals, Horse-meat, Lodging, or any other such thing, then after the rate and forme aforesaid, vpon paine of imprisonment, fine, and such further punishment that shall thereof follow.

And moreouer Wee doe straightly charge and command, that no manner of person or persons now vsing, or which accustomably haue vsed, or shall vse, or of right ought to vse to serue any City, Borrough, Towne or other place, where Our repose or residence shall be, or elsewhere within the Verge of Our houshold, either within liberties or without, with any kind of Corne or Victualls or other necessaries, either vpon the Market day, or at any other time, shall be any thing the more remisse or slacke in bringing or selling their Prouision, then they or any of them heretofore haue beene, nor shall vse any colour of craft either in hiding, or laying aside their Corne, Victualls, Horse-meat, Lodgings, or any other such necessaries, whereby the Prouision of the Market may be diminished, or Wee and Our Seruants and other Subiects should not bee as well serued, and as plenteously furnished in euery behalfe as it was before, or of right ought to haue beene, in defraude of this Our Ordinance.

And furthermore, We straightly charge and command all Our Officers of Our Greenecloth, Our Iustices of Peace, Our Clerke of the Market, his Deputie or Deputies, Maiors, Bay∣liffs, Sheriffs, Constables, & all other Our Officers of Cities, Borroughes, Townes, Hundreds, and other places within the Verge of Our houshold, wheresoeuer the same shall bee, aswell within liberties as without, and euery of them from time to time, when and as often as neede shall require, to make diligent inquirie of Corne, Graine, and other victuall, that shall be hidden, or withdrawne from the Markets, with purpose to increase the prizes, and to cause the same to bee put to sale by the owners thereof, And vpon complaint by any partie iustly made, euery of them within their authorities forthwith shall endeauour themselues to see iust punishment and due reformation of the premisses against such person or persons, as shall offend herein, according to Iustice.

Giuen at Our Court at Whitehall, the fourth day of May in the ninth yeere of Our Reigne of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.

God saue the King.