¶ A proclamation, set forth by the kings majesty, with the aduise of his highnes most honourable counsel, the. xvij: day of july, in the .v. year, of his highnes most prosperous reign, wherein diuers wholesome and profitable laws, made against regrators, forestallers, and engrossers. &c. are mentioned and recited  
THe kings most royal majesty, having perfect knowledge daily out and from all partes of this his realm, that the great & excessive prices both of corn, cattle, Butter, cheese & other victuals, necessary for mennes sustenance, for the most parte groweth by the greedy and insatiable covetous desires and appetites of the Breders, Broggers, Engrossers, graziers, Victuallers, and forestallers( minding only their own lucre, without respect of the common wealth, to the great damage, empouerishing and disquieting of his majesties subiectes) can not in respect of the office committed unto his majesty of god, for the preservation of his people, but forthwith provide speedy remedy for reformation therof. And therfore his majesty letteth all maner his subiectes to understand that by the aduise of his counsel, he purposeth most severely and straightly, to execute all such laws as haue been heretofore, most godly and holesomly made and ordained, against al such Breders, Broggars Engrossers, graziers, Victuallers, Regrators and forestallers, aswell of victuals, as of merchandises and namely one old statute, made against forestallers, the tenor whereof hereafter followeth. No forstaller shalbe suffered to dwell in any town, the which for his lucre will make hast to meet any corn, fish, hering and other things, to be sold sometime by water, some time by land, the which so taken, doth imagine to sel it the more dere: Also they that come to the merchants strangers offering them to the sale of their ware, & exhorting them to sell their ware more deere, then they did purpose to sell it, and so by craft and engine, beguileth both the towns & the country. The first time that he is therof convict he shal be grievously ainerced, The second time, he shalbe put vpon the pilory. The third time, he shalbe put in prison and make fine. The fourth time he shalbe abjured, and banished the town. And that shalbe observed of al maner of forestallers, & of them, that gene unto them counsel and aid. And it shalbe enquired, if any Steward, or bailiff, for any reward, did remit the judgement of the Pillory, or Tumbrell, judged or of right to be judged. ¶ And further, where there was in the .xxv. year of the reign of his majesties most dere father, king Henry theight, a good statute made against regrators and forestallers of fish, his majesty commandeth that according to the form of thesaide statute, that the stewards of the fairs, of Sturbridge, S. Yues, and Ely, cause thesaide statute to be openly proclaimed, and read, within their limits, and that likewise the sheriffs of the counties of Essex, suffolk, norfolk and lincoln, & the Maiors, & bailiffs, of cities and tounes corporate, within the same shires, shall before the last of july, next coming publish and cause to be proclaimed the said statute, at convenient places. And where there were in the last session of parliament, holden at westminster, in the .iiii. year of his majesties reign, good laws made as well against them that should buy any maner of Oxen, Steres, routs, Kyne, Heighfers, or calves, otherwise then in open fairs, or markets,( except it be for his own provision of household, Teeme, or Deicie,) or that should sel the same again alive, in the said faire, or merket, where the same cattle was bought, & against the Butcher, that should buy any fat cattle, and sell the same again on live, as also against such which use to buy butter, and cheese, to sel again,( except they sel the same by retail in open shop fair or market, and not in gross,) his majesty straightly chargeth and commandeth, all maner of his subiectes, to whom the same may appertain, that they shal duly observe and keep, the good intent, and meaning of al the said statutes, and laws, vpon such pains and penalties, as be contained in the same. And further his majesty streightlye chargeth and commandeth, all and singular his Maiestes Iustices of peace, Maiors, sheriffs, and other head officers, of every Shire, city, borough, and town corporat within this his majesties realm, that they and every of thē, within their limits to their uttermost power and habilite shall endeavour themselves, with all diligence, from time to time, to se, and cause this his highness proclamation, and laws, to be executed and obeyed, as they will enjoy his majesties favour, and aduoyde his indignation: That in case vpon this admonition, the greedy malice of covetous men, shal by proof appear to be nothing amended, but to continue stil in their corrupt intencions of disobeiyng the laws, and empayring of the common wealth: His majesty as head of the same, and of all his loving subiectes, is resolved to provide in such wise for the redress, and repression of such greedy disordinate enhauncers of prices, as shal be much more sharp and penal, then any former lawe, or proclamation, heretofore made or ordained hath been,  
God save the king.   

richardus GRAFTON typographus Regius excudebat mensae julij. Anno. 1551.  
Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum.