¶ By the queen. ALthough the queens most excellent majesty might according to the good example of good and wise princes, levy great sums of money at this present, by ●ue execution of sundry wholesome laws, vpon great nombre of her subiectes, for transgressyng the same, and namely for the weryng of such excessive and inordinat apparel, as in no age hath ben sene the like, whereby also should ensue such notable benefit to the common wealth, as hard it were by any other ways to devise so great. yet the singular goodness of her majesties nature is such, to forbear thextendyng of any sudden and vnloked for extremity, that in these caces her majesty hath thought rather necessary by this Proclamation to notify her highness determination, with her privy counsel, amongs many other her weyghtie affairs for this that followeth, then suddenly textende the penalty of her laws. first her majesties said counsel, by her commandment, shall and will presently take order that the statute made in the first & second yeares of king Phyllyp and queen Mary, and certain other branches of an other Statute made the .xxiiii. year of king Henry the eight, against excessive apparel, shalbe put in execution both within her majesties court, and in their own houses, with a certain favourable proceadynge, touching such as can not presently without their overgreat loss, change their unlawful apparel which they presently haue. Wherein because her majesty trusteth that thexample shall induce the rest of her subiectes to reform their disorders: Her majesty hath willed her said privy counsel, to publish by her authority their decree and order in this behalf. And for like tolleracion toward such as live in the country out of her court, her majesty chargeth forthwith all Maiors and gouernours of Cities and towns corporate, al Sheryffes and Iustices of peace in shires, all noble men of thestate of Barons and above, al gouernours and heads of any societies or companies, either ecclesiastical or temporal, fourthwith, or at the furthest within the space of .xii. dayes after the publication hereof, to devise, accord, and take order, either according to thexample of her majesties counsel, or else after some other better maner, as the place shall require for thexecution of the foresaid Statute and branches specified hereafter, in a brief abstract and draft annexed to this proclamation within the limit of their charge, so as her majesty may take some comfort of her tolleracion, and the common wealth some relief of the great damage hereby sustained. Wherein yf her majesty shall see her expectation deceived, she shal thereby haue just occasion to procede with execution of her laws, both to the benefit of her common weal, and to the chastisement of such disordered subiectes, as being favourably warned, will not amend. Which thing her majesty purposeth certeynely to do in more effectual sort than heretofore hath been. And because the tolleracion of these abuses shall not be drawn to any sinister occasion of continuance of this abuse: Her majesty chargeth and commandeth that there be no tolleracion had, nor excuse allowed, after the xx. day of December next, as touching all the contents of the said Statute, in the first and second yeares of king Phyllyp and queen Mary, neither after the last of january next, as touching the branches of tother Statute of the .xxiiii. year of king Henry the eight, noted hereafter in th'end of this proclamation, other then is contained in the same Statutes and branches. Except it be for certain costly furs and rich enbroderies bought and made by sundry gentlemen, before this proclamation, to their great costs, with which her highness is pleas●●●o dispense. given at her highnes palace of Westminster, the xxi. day of October, the first year of her majesties reign. ¶ The brief content of certain acts of Parliament against thinordinate use of apparel. Anno .xxiiii. Henrici .viii. None shall wear in his apparel any Cloth of gold silver, or tincele. satin, silk, or cloth 〈◇〉 with gold or silver, nor any Sables. Except Erles, and al of superior degrees and Uiscountes, and Barons in their doblets & sleeveless coats. Wollen Cloth made out of the realm velvet crimson Scarlet or Blewe. furs. black jenets. Luzerns Except Dukes their children. Marquesses their children. Erles their children or Barons & knights of thorder. velvet in gowns coats, or utter most garments. fur of Libardes Embroderye Pricking or printing with gold silver or silk. Except Barons sons. knights or men that may dispend cc.li. by year Taffata satin damask or silk Chamlet in his uttermost garments. velvet otherwise then in Iakectes, dobletes. &c fur whereof the kind groweth not within the queens dominions. Except Grey jenets. Bodge. Except A man that may dispend one hundred pound by year. Anno .i. et .ii. Philippi et Mariae. None shall wear any silk in hat, bonnet, Nyghtcap, girdle, Scabbard, Hosen, Shoes, Spurlethers. Except The son and heir or daughter of a knight or the wife of the said son. A man that may dispend .xx. li. by year, or is worth two hundred pounds in goods. ¶ These be the brief contents but of certain partes of the laws now remaining in force, to thobseruance whereof her majesty thinketh best to induce her subiectes by this short memorial, and yet nevertheless wisheth that all of inferior estates, should not neglect the rest of the same laws, leste if they shalbe found to contemn these orders here mentioned, they may feel the pain of the rest. There be certain other exceptions in the Statutes: as for such as haue licence by the queens majesty, or such as shall run in any Iustes, or shall serve in war, or shal haue apparel given thē to be worn by her majesty and such like. All which are well to be considered by them that will claim any privilege thereby, and that at their peril. ¶ And where there is mention made of valves of yearly liueloodes & goods, the best account therof is to be made by the taxations in this last subsidy, so as if any will be excused by pretence of his lyueloode or substance, to offend, it is as meet that he answer to the Prince in subsedye for that value, as seek defence to break any good lawe, whereof her majesty giveth to all men admonition. Anno. M. D. L. IX. mensae Octobris ¶ Imprinted at London by richard jug and John Cawood, printers to the queens majesty. ¶ Cum privilegio Regiae Maiestatis.