A DECREE Lately made in the High Court of starchamber, after consultation had among the Iudges, and Certificate of their opinions in diuers things, &c.  
And also a Confirmation of that Decree by His Sacred majesty; together with His majesties Command that the same be Printed, Published, and put in due execution.  
¶ Imprinted at London by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty: And by the assigns of John BILLL. M.DC.XXXIII.   

The Contents.  
Ordinaries, that none exceed two shillings the meal.  
5 That Ordinary-keepers, taverners and Victuallers keep not houses of game.  
6 For the present Rates of horse-meat, and for regulating for the future.  
7 For suppressing in convenient time of Pettie-Ostryes in corners, kept by such as are neither Victualers, nor Jn-keepers, not answerable for the Goods of their Guests.   

A Decree of starchamber.  
CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to whom these our Letters Patents shall come, greeting.  
Know ye, that we haue seen a certain Decree made by Our counsel in Our Court of starchamber, the thirteenth day of november, in the ninth year of Our reign, which remaineth of Record among the Records and Remembrances of that Court, containing diuers Ordinances; which Decree followeth in these words, in Camera Stellata coram Concilio ibidem 13o. die novembris, Anno Nono Caroli Regis.  
His majesties attorney general did this day inform this honourable Court, that it having been presented to the Lords of His majesties most honourable privy counsel, that as well the prices of all sorts of victuals, as also of Horsmeate were grown to excessive rates, and that instance thereof was given in particular by His majesties Officers of the Greencloth, in several provisions made for His majesties house, whereby the weekly accounts of the household were much increased.  
It was thought fit and ordered that his majesties Attorney general, as well vpon conference with such of the Iudges, and such of His majesties learned counsel as he should think fit, as vpon perusal of all such laws, and Statutes, as are in force concerning the settling of prices of victuals, and horsemeate, should make report unto the board of his opinion concerning the same, as by their Lordships Order of the ninth of October last past appeareth; And declared that according to the said Order he had at several dayes attended his majesties Iustices of the Kings Bench, and Common-Pleas, and Barons of the Exchequer, who made Certificate of their opinion in writing subscribed by them; which Certificate, the said Attorney presented unto this Court, and followeth in these words.  
Master Attorney, wee sand you here enclosed our opinions of these things which were propounded, and though fit to bee reformed at our last general meeting.  

Thomas Richardson.  
Robert Heath.  
Humphrie Dauenport.  
John Denham.  
Richard Hutton.  
William jones.  
George Crooke.  
Thomas Treuors.  
George Vernon.  
Robert Barkeley.  
francis Crawley.   
Touching Victuals, we find engrossing to bee a great occasion to raise the prices thereof, an offence utterly against the Common-Law: And amongst engrossers, we find the Chandlers to bee great offenders in buying great quantities of all sorts of grain brought unto, or towards the Market.  
We also find, that taverns are of late exceedingly increased in their number, in, & about London, and that they dress Flesh, & Fish, & utter the same at excessive prices, to the increase of Riot, and other abuses; whereas by the Law, as taverners, they are to sell nothing but Wine, unless it bee Bread to eat therewith.  
We find, that Bakers do sell their bread, at fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen to the dozen, where they should keep the Assize, and not sell above twelve, or thirteen at the most to the dozen; and this pincheth the poor.  
Wee wish that Ordinaries in and about London may bee regulated to a convenient sum, not to exceed two shillings for a meal. And wee wish that both taverners and Ordinary-keepers may bee wholly restrained from suffering unlawful Games in their houses; for wee find that this draws vnthriftie guests unto them, and is an apparent means to overthrow the fortunes of many Gentlemen and Citizens.  
Touching Horse-meat, vpon hearing of diuers Iustices of Peace of Middlesex and Surrey, and of diuers attorneys of London, Westminster, Middlesex, and Surrey, wee are of opinion that the present prices of Hay and Oats considered, six pence day and night for Hay for a Horse, and for Oats six pence a peck Winchester measure, is a competent Rate to be taken by Inholders, and to take nothing for litter; and if they exceed these Rates, we hold them punishable by the Law, as for exacting excessive and unmeasurable prices.  
For Horses which come to inns in the day time, we conceive it to be a convenient Rate for the innkeeper to take a penny for a Horse for his Stable-roome, onely the Horse not being unbridled; if he be unbridled and haue Hay and go away the same day, to take two pence the horse and no more.  
We find that of late yeeres there are many petty Ostries set up in and about London, which entertain Horses in by-corners, and receive Stable-horses, and the Horses of such who are persons suspected, and these haue no lodging for travelers. By these Ostries great inconveniences happen to the subject in general, and much prejudice to the Inholders in particular, who by Law are bound to lodge their guests, and to be answerable for the goods brought into their charge.  
Wee find also that there are diuers who unlawfully engross great quantity of Hay to sell again; these are engrossers punishable by the Common Law; And humbly moved this honourable Court, that the same might bee here recorded, and that the Court would be pleased for the good of His majesties people, to Decree and Command, that the particulars thereof be strictly observed. Whereupon this honourable Court taking the same into their serious consideration, hath ordered that the said Certificate be recorded in this Honourable Court, And hath Decreed;  
First, for that it is notoriously known that engrossing is a great occasion to raise the prices of victual, and also of Hay, and engrossing to enhance prices is punishable not onely by the Statutes, but also by the Common laws of the realm; His majesties Iustices of the Benches at Westminster, and Barons of the Exchequer, the Iustices of Assize; and Oyer and Terminer, and Iustices of Peace in their several places are required to cause diligent enquiry to bee made of all engrossers of all sorts of victual and Hay, and see the Delinquents herein bee severely punished.  
And His majesties Attorney general, is likewise commanded to cause such of them as shal be brought to his notice, to bee informed against in this Honourable Court, that of them example may bee made, to deter others from like offence.  
And it is Decreed, that after publication of this Decree in London, no Chandler presume to buy corn, grain, meal, or Flower to sell again, either in Market, or out of Market.  
And this Court concurring in opinion with the said reverend Iudges, and considering the great excess and riot that is occasioned by preparing and selling of victual in taverns, and how the prices of sundry sorts of Viands are hereby increased: Hath decreed that no Tauernour or Vintner, selling Wine by retail, do hereafter sell or make ready for sale, any sort of Flesh or Fish, or other victual, save Bread, nor to defraud this Ordinance, do by himself or any other set up, or cause, or procure to be set up the Trade of a cook within the same house, or in any shop or room thereunto belonging, or in any house thereto near adjacent, nor permit or suffer any Flesh, Fish, or other victual, except bread, as aforesaid, to be brought into his house to be there eaten by any of his Guests.  
And the Court taking into consideration, how the poor are oppressed and pinched, when Bakers do sell their Bread to those that vent the same by retail at the Rates of more then twelve to the dozen, in that the weight is abated in every loaf, and the Buyer being some times but a Passenger, is not able to make complaint of the Baker, whom he knoweth not; It is therefore likewise ordered and decreed, that no Baker shall sell any Bread at other Rate then twelve or thirteen at the most for the dozen.  
And further it is decreed that none that shall keep Ordinary Tables, or other Victualling Tables, shall take more of the Guests, then after the Rate of two shillings the man for the meal, nor more then eight-pence for each seruant, attending his Master; And that nothing be taken above that Rate for Wine or other thing, or under colour thereof, whereby the true intent of this Decree may be deluded or defrauded; And that none of them, or Tauernours, or other Victuallers, keep or suffer to bee used, Games of Dice, Cards, Tables, or other unlawful Games in their houses; Wherein this Court declareth the Licences given by the Groome-Porter of his majesties house or others, for licencing or permitting of any the said Games, are not of validity to excuse the offenders.  
Concerning Horse-meat, for that vpon hearing of the said Iustices of the Peace, and innkeepers, the present prices considered, the Rates before specified are competent;  
It is for the present ordered and Decreed, that no innkeeper or Ostler, within the Cities of London or Westminster, or in any place within the distance of ten miles from either of those Cities, the Suburbs or Liberties of either of them, shall take above six pence for a horse standing in his stable at Hay, a day and a night, nor more then six pence for a peck of Oats, of the measure commonly called Winchester measure, without taking any thing for litter, nor more then a penny for standing of a Horse in his Stable a day without meate, nor above two pence for a Horse standing at Hay in the day, and going away before night.  
And that no innkeeper shall exceed those Rates in any part of this realm; and where grain and Hay are sold at lesser prices, there the Rates and prices shall be accordingly. And this Ordinance shall continue, until in the County of Middlesex, it shall be made to appear to the Iustices of the Kings Bench, and in other Counties and places to the Iustices of Peace there, that because of the increase of prices in the parts adjoining, greater Rates are necessary to be permitted. And thereupon other Rates shall from time to time be set, which being set, are hereby commanded and enjoined to be strictly and duly obseued, until the same by like Authority shall be altered.  
And to the end that there may bee from time to time moderate rates and prices for Hay and grain of all sorts taken by innkeepers and Ostlers, of Passengers and their Guests, His majesties Iustices of the Kings Bench are desired, and the Iustices of the Peace of other Counties and places, are required yearly and more often, if there shall bee occasion, to make diligent enquiry of Hay and other Horse-meat, and to make declaration in writing fixed in public places, what prices and rates for Hay and other Horse-meate are allowed to bee taken by attorneys and Ostlers, which the said attorneys and Ostlers are commanded to observe.  
And if any of them shall presume to offend therein, that diligent enquiry be made of them, that they being presented may without connivence receive severe punishment, as oppressors of His majesties people, by taking excessive prices.  
moreover, the Court considering the great inconveniences that do arise by the number of petty Hostreys and Ostlers that keep stables for Horses without lodging for Guests, not liable nor able to make satisfaction for goods under their custody that shall be stolen or imbezeled, yet taking consideration of their poverty, and that it would tend to their undoing, if they should presently bee suppressed, before such time as die store which they haue already provided shall bee spent; The Iustices of the Peace of the city of London, Suburbs and Liberties thereof, the city of Westminster, and Borough of southwark, and of the Counties of Middlesex, and Surrey, are required with all convenient speed to make enquiry of all such petty Ostreys within the said Cities, Boroughs, Suburbs, Liberties, and all places not distant above two miles from some part thereof, and what provision of Hay, Oats, and provender, remaineth in their hands vnspent; And to command them not to make any further provision;  
And after that which is remaining in their hands shalbe spent, no longer to use or keep such Ostries.  
And it is Decreed by this Court, that none after that time shall keep or use any such Ostries.  
And to the end that notice may be taken of this Decree, by all those whom it may concern, and that none may excuse himself vpon pretence of being ignorant of the Contents thereof;  
It is ordered, that the same be published in the Cities of London and Westminster, and in the several Counties of this realm, at Assizes, Sessions, and other places of public Assemblies;  
And all they to whom the execution thereof pertaineth are required, that they see the same put in due execution.  
Know ye that we taking into Our consideration that the said Decree was made vpon grave and sad aduise, and vpon the certificate of Our Iudges, and that the same is just and necessary to be observed, Haue approved the same Decree, and do ratify and confirm the same; and the necessity of these times requiring it,  
WE do COMMAND that the same by all those whom it concerneth to be obeied and put in execution, under the pains to be inflicted vpon the contemners of Our Command, and the Decrees of that Court.  
And to the end that all Our loving Subiects, may be participants of the good thereof, and may complain of those things wherein they shall be grieved, contrary to the Tenor of the said Decree, and of those that in disobedience shall contemn or neglect the due observance thereof;  
WEE do command Our Printer that he forthwith cause these presents to be Printed and dispersed into the several Counties of this realm, with expedition, so that in every of those Counties, the same may be published at the general Session of the Peace to bee holden next after the Feast of the Epiphany now next coming, that Our people of those Counties, may take notice thereof.  
And we do Command the Iustices of the Peace, that at their said Sessions, in every of the said Counties the same be openly red; And we do require Our counsel, in Our Court of starchamber, the Iustices of Our Benches, barons of Our Exchequer, Iustices of Assize, and Oyer and Terminer, and Iustices of the Peace, That against all those that shall offend against the said Decree, they proceed without connivence, as they tender Our service, and the good of Our People.  
In witness whereof Wee haue caused these Our Letters to bee made Patents.  
witness ourself at Westminster, the fourteenth day of December, in the ninth year of Our reign. Per ipsum Regem. Willys.   
God save the King.