❧ By the queen. ❧ A Proclamation for weights published by the queens majesties commandment.  
FOrasmuch as( by Gods laws and mans laws) there hath been and ought to be in all places, true, just, and certain weights and Measures, and the same also( by the laws of this realm) to be established, published, and made known to all people, that every one may take the benefit and use thereof: Our sovereign Lady the queen being informed, that the greatest part of her loving Subiectes of this realm of England, and Wales, be ignorant of contents, differences, and true knowledge and uses of the weights of the same realm, and that the weights commonly used within the realm be uncertain, and varying one from an other, to the great slander of the same, and the deceiving of many doth Buyers and Sellers: doth by the aduise as well of her privy council, as of her counsel learned in the L●wes, & other men of perfect skill and understanding in weights, give all her loving Subiects hereby to understand, that by the Statutes and Ordinances of the realm, there hath been, is, and ought to be lawfully in use within the same, one weight, commonly called the Troy weight, according to the ancient laws, Treatize, and Ordinance, for composing of weights, and Measures, and is & ought to be used onely for the weighing of gold, silver, Bread and Electuaries, and ought to be in all parts of the realm of one and the same content. And that there is and ought to be one other weight likewise in use, commonly called the avoir depoiz weight, and is to be used for the weighing of Spices, and all other things vendible by weights, and ought also to be of one and the same content in all parts of the realm: which weights as well of Troy, as of avoir depoiz, always ought to be according to certain standards of weights thereof made and remaining in the Exchequer at Westminster, heretofore commonly called the Kings standard of weights of his exchequer. And further, that vpon information given diuers yeres past to the Lord treasurer, under treasurer, and Barons of her majesties said Exchequer, of the said uncertainty and variance of weights, and by intermission of long time, no just and perfect standards being then extant and remaining in the said Exchequer, to size & reform all other weights of the realm, but such as were there sound extant did vary one from an other: They caused two several Iuries of Aldermen, and other substantial Merchants and Goldsmiths of the City of London, to come before them in the said Court of Exchequer, and charged them vpon their oaths, amongst other things, to examine and try the said standerdes, and certain other weights delivered unto them from sundry Cities and other places of the realm, and by those weights, and by other means, to cause one certain, just, and true standard of all sorts of weights within the realm to be made and sized, and to present the same to the said Lord treasurer, under treasurer, and Barons in the said Court, there to remain & be kept, as the queens just and true standard of the said Exchequer of weights, to examine, try, & size all other weights of the realm by from time to time as occasion should require, which Iuries presented to the said Lord treasurer, under treasurer, and Barons, several brass Piles of the Troy weight, and certain Bell weights, and round flat weights of the avoir depoiz weights to be standards of the said several weights, and also several Bores containing in them small Poizes and weights of the said troy weight: and that thereupon her majesty after long deliberation, hath by the aduise of her privy counsel, ordained and established such of the said Piles & weights as be hereunder mentioned, to be her just and true standerdes of weights of her Exchequer, for the sizing, examining and trying of all other weights by, for that the same be found to be agreeing with the just & true weights that haue had long continuance and use in this realm, and with the standards used both for moneys of Plate, of silver and gold, and other things sold by weight.  
And further, her majesty hath given order and commandment by her warrant signed with her hand and under her privy seal, to the Lord treasurer, under treasurer & Barons of the Exchequer, forthwith to cause to be made, sized, and approved by the said standards now brought into the Exchequer, & there established for the true standards of weights, so many other like standards of brass as shall sustice for her majesties Mint, & for her clerk of the Market, and for every city and Shire town within the Dominion of Wales, and also for every City, Borough ▪ town and place limited by the Statute made in the xi. year of the reign of the late King of famous memory King Henry the vii. to haue and keep standards of Waigtes, according to the meaning of that Statute, and for such other as shall make suite for the having of any of the said weights, and also to cause every of the said standards of Troy weights of one hall quarter of a pound or more, to be printed and marked with 〈◇〉 crwoned, and a Homaine I with R●●●●us R●con●o●ned, and every of the said 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 quarter of a pointed and man, to be printed and martied with ●●●crowned and a ●●omane A for a difference to diserne and know both kindes of weights, and all of them with letters and stamps denoting the true contents. Her majesties will and pleasure is therefore, that the Maiors, bailiffs, and other head Officers of every of the said Cities, boroughs, towns and places, before the feast of S. John Baptist next coming, at the common charge of the same place, shal sand some sufficient person to the said Exchequer, authorized to receive such standards as shal be delivered unto him by the order of the said Court, for the said city, Borough, town, or place, and to pay such reasonable price for the same, as vpon true valuation of the same by the said Court shalbe ranted: which standards every of the said Maiors, bailiffs, or other head Officers to whom it shall appertain, shall safely keep or cause to be kept in the same, in some sure and convenient place of the same city, Borough, or town, and by them shall make or size, and cause to be made and sized other common weights for the use of all maner of people in the same city, town or place, that shall haue cause to use those weights. And shall also sign and print with like letters like weights of brass, Copper, lead, tin, or other competent stuff, unto every of the queens Subiectes duly requiring the same, taking such fees for the doing thereof, as by the Statute made in the vii. year of the said late King Henry the vii. is allowed, and no more, viz. of every hundred weight one penny, of every half hundred weight, one half penny, and of every weight under, one farthing, and not above. And every of the said Maiors, bailiffs, and other head Officers shall further do and cause to be done all such other Act and acts, thing and things for the providing, having, and using of the said standards and weights agreeing with the same, and also true Balances and Scales both common and other, as bee limited and appointed to their or any of their authority, by the said Statute made in the xi. year of the late King Henry the vii. or any other Statute or ordinance whatsoever, so as all the weights throughout the realm may be reformed and made according to the said standard of the Exchequer, as by the Statute in such case provided is required.  
And her majesty further commandeth and ordaineth, that no person or persons shall from the feast of Michaelmas next coming, use in selling, buying, or weighing of any thing, any other weight or weights, but such as shal be made or sized, and respectively agreeing to and with the said standards, and printed and marked with such marks and letters, as is before limited, neither shal use any Troy weight so made, sized, marked and printed, but onely for weighing of Bread, Gold, silver, and Electuaries, and for no other thing: nor the said avoir depoiz weight for the weighing of any Gold, silver, Bread, or Electuaries, but of Spices, wools, lead, and all other things vendible by weights, vpon pain to be apprehended and committed to prison, fined and punished, as contrivers and vsers of false weights, according to the Statute made in the ix. pere of Hen. v. and other Statutes in that case made and provided.  
And that this Proclamation, for the better instructing of her majesties Subiects, shal before the twelfth day of january now next coming, be proclaimed in every Market town through the realm, and bee hanged up and fastened in a Table in the Market place by an Officer, where it may hang dry, to continue, and be seen and red by any that will. And further, that it shalbe red in every Church, before the feast of the Purification of our Lady next, in a time and space between the beginning and end of Common prayer, vpon some Sunday or Holy day, by the Minister or clerk of the Church, and so from thenceforth, once at every feast of the Annunciation of our Lady, and once at every feast of S. Michael Tharchangel, by the space of four yeeres next coming, and be also hanged up and fastened, and preserved in every Church in a Table, to be seen and red at all times by any that will. And that the defaults of Officers, and Ministers, Clerks, & Church wardens in this behalf, shalbe inquired of and punished by the Iustices of assize, and Iustices of peace in their Sessions, according to their discretions, as comtempts of her majesties commandement. And that al the standards and weights whatsoever, not sized, marked & printed, and made respectively agreeing to and with the said new standards, and the meaning of this Proclamation, shal from the said feast of Michaelmas next coming, be reputed and taken for untrue weights, and shall within four weekes after the said feast, be broken, defaced, and destroyed by the owners of the same, or by the Officers having authority to inquire of false weights. And for the execution thereof, all Maiors, bailiffs, and other head Officers of every city, Shire town, Borough, or Market town, shall immediately after the said feast of Michaelmas, and so from time to time according to the Statute of xi. Hen. vii. cause to be brought before them all the weights within the same city, Borough, or town, to be duly viewed and examined, and such as they shall find defective, to cause to be broken, and further punishment to be done, according to that Statute. And that the Iustices of peace, or two of them, whereof one to be of the Quorum, shal with al diligence, and from time to time, by examination or enquiry, heart and determine the defaults of all Maiors, bailiffs, and other head Officers within their limits or authorities in that behalf, and also of all buyers and sellers doing contrary to the same Act and to set Fines and amerciaments vpon the offenders, by their discretions, and those to estreate into the said Court of E●chequer, 〈◇〉 that vpon pain of the punishment due for such a contempt. Lastly, her majesty straightly ●●●●geth and commandeth all Iustices of assize, Iustices of 〈◇〉 ●●●●s, bailiffs, Stewards of Liberties, clerk of the Market, and all other Officers & Ministers whatsoever, to cause this present Proclamation, and all laws, Statutes and 〈…〉 the 〈◇〉 and 〈◇〉 of true 〈◇〉 and 〈…〉 the 〈◇〉 of 〈◇〉, to be put in but execution, according to 〈…〉, as they tender 〈◇〉  

A Pile of Troy weights, containing xiiii. pieces of the several poizes following, viz.  

The standard for Troy weight in the queens Exchequer.  
The Case or capital weight being CClvi. ounces. {Cxxviii. ounces. {lxiiii. ounces. {xxxii. ounces. {xvi. ounces. {viii. ounces. {iiii. ounces. {ii. ounces. {i. ounce. {di. ounce. {que. ounce. {di. {que}. ounce. {ii. pieces farthing gold weight. Poiz altogether v. C. xii. ounces, which is xlii. ii. viii. ounces, every pound containing xii. ounces Troy.  
One Iuerie box containing one ounce, which is xx. penny weight, {one half ounce, which is x. penny weight, {one quarter ounce, which is v. penny weight, {one fift part of an ounce which is four penny weight, {iii. penny weight, {ii. penny weight, {i. penny weight, which is xxiiii. grains, {i. half penny weight, which is xii. grains, {i. fourth part of a penny weight, which is vi. grains, {iiii. grains, {iii. grains, {ii. grains, {i. grain, being in all xiii. pieces.    

A suit of Bell weights of avoir de poiz, containing vii. pieces of the several Poizes following, viz.  

The standard for avoir de poiz in the queens Exchequer.  
One half hundred weight being lvi. li. {one quarter of a C. weight being xxviii. li. {one half quarter of a C. weight being xiiii. li. {vii. li. {iiii. li. {ii. li. {i. li. Poiz altogether five score xii. li. which is the hundred weight of avoir de poiz now in use, every pound containing xvi. ounces avoir de poiz.  
One round flat Pile of small weights of avoir de poiz, wherein the pound weight is divided into xvi. ounces, viz. viii. li. {iiii. li. {ii. li. {i. li. {di. li. {que. li. {di. {que}. li. which is ii. ounces {i. ounce {di. ounce {que. ounce {di. {que}. ounce, {ii. xvi. partes of an ounce. Poiz altoghether xvi. li. avoir de poiz, and be in number xiii. pieces.   

E L. Ao Do 1588 Ao Reg XXXo  


half Hundred.  
LXIIII. onz. R  
LVI. pound A.      
God save the queen.   

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