❧ By the queen.  
THe queens most excellent majesty, foreseing the general dearth grown of corn and other victuals, partly through the unseasonableness of the year past, whereby want hath grown more in some countries then in others, but most of all generally through the covetousness and uncharitable greediness of such as be great cornemasters and engrossers of corn, using al the subtle means they can, to work their own present unconscionable gain against the rules of charity, which her majesty of her princely care and love towards her people, utterly condemneth, and earnestly desireth to remedy, for the relief of the poorer sort. And therefore, her majesty with her princely care towards her people, having with the aduise of her counsel had good consideration hereof, doth by this her Proclamation, give express commandement and charge unto al such to whom it shall or may appertain, that such good orders as her majesty hath commanded to be devised for that purpose, and now also are sent to all partes of her realm, bee diligently & effectually put in speedy execution: Signifying withall unto all her good and loving subiects, that if any shalbe found obstinate or negligent in the due execution, or otherwise in the observation thereof, that then vpon due information and proof thereof made unto her highnesse said counsel, which she requireth not to be spared by any, having just cause of complaint, for respect of any person, she hath given special commandement & order, that they shalbe speedily called to answer, and thereupon, according to the quality of their offences, shall receive sharp punishment, whereby others may take example to avoid the like contempt, negligence, or other defaults.  
And although this Dearth hath insundry partes of the realm first grown by the visitation of almighty God, in the alteration of seasonable weather this last year, which nevertheless of his great mercy hath been so extreme in this realm, as in many other Countries adjoining, where the Dearth is by many occasions manifestly known to be far greater then is in this realm hitherto, or by his goodness is like to be: Yet it is manifestly known the said Dearth to haue been wilfully increased in very many places of this realm, not onely by and through the covetousness of many engrossers of corn and Cornemasters, but also by unlawful transportation of grain, and lack also of preservation of store in time requisite. Her Highnes acknowledging this maner of Gods mercy and favour in amore favourable measure towards her Country and her people, then to other fo●rein partes near adjoining, hath thought good and necessary, for a further remedy against the uncharitable covetousness of the Cornemasters, as cause shall require, to notify, that if such as be the great Cornemasters & owners of grain, or of other necessary victual for food of the poor, shall not be willing, or do not perform these orders, whereby the poorer sort may be relieved in the markets at reasonable prices, or that it shall appear that other needful victuals shall by covetousness of any persons grow to excessive prices, to the pinching of the poorer sort: Then her Highnesse doth hereby signefie, that she will not onely severely punish the offenders for their cruel covetousness & offentes against her orders, but will also for redress of the excessive prices of other needful victuals, give order that reasonable prices shall be set both on corn and other victuals to be sold for the relief of her majesties poor Subiects, according both to her prerogative Royal, and to the order of Iustice, as by special lawe of Parliament therefore made in the five and twentieth year of the reign of her late Noble and dear Father King Henry the eight, is specially in such cases provided.  
given at greenwich the second day of january, 1586. In the nine and twentieth year of her Highnesse reign. 
 God save the queen.   

❧ Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker, Printer to the queens most excellent majesty.