❧ By the queen.  
A Proclamation for the dearth of corn.  
THE queens majesty hearing by report out of sundry Countries in the realm, or the unreasonable increase of prices of grain, to the grief of her poorer sort of people that haue no living by Cillage: And though the sellers of corn, as rich Farmers, and engrossers, do pretend to raise the prices by colour of the unseasonableness of this summer: yet that being no rust cause to raise the prices of their old corn of the last yeeres growth, but that the Farmers and engrossers of corn, of mere covetousness haue very lately, even within two moneths, most uncharitably haunced up their prices, not collerable to be suffered. For remedy whereof, to the relief of the great multitude of her poor loving Subiects, lacking corn for their food, and also for reformation of many other abuses committed by such covetous and uncharitable persons, being void of all natural compassion towards their neighbours: Her majesty calling to her remembrance the good orders by her majesties commandment published the last year, especially for the stay of the dearth of corn, to be executed by the sheriffs and Iustices of Peace in every county of her realm, the good observation whereof would remedy these disorders of the ill and wealthy sort, and to the relief of the good and needy: doth therefore charge and straightly command all her sheriffs and Iustices of Peace, and other principal Officers in towns Corporate, forthwith vpon publication hereof to assemble themselves in their places accustomend, and there diligently to peruse the said Orders published in the year of our Lord, one thousand five hundred fourscore and fifteen, and diligently to consider all such points of those Orders, as may tend to the reformation of all persons, that by their disorder and covetousness, and breach of the said Orders, are the causers directly or indirectly to increase the prices of grain in this lamentable sort beyond reason, and forthwith to proceed to the execution of all such orders, as may with good reason give remedy to the furniture of Markets, and to abate such unreasonable increase of prices. And of their doings her majesty commandeth that the said sheriffs and Iustices, and other principal Officers, do certify her majesties privy counsel monthly, or oftener, until the last of December next, with particular notifications of such Iustices & Officers as shall herein bestow their labours, so as her majesty by such certificate may be duly informed, who they are that shall dutifully towards her majesty, and charitably towards their neighbours, perform their charge committed to them, and contrariwise to mislike of such as shall neglect the execution of this her commandment.  
And in like maner, her majesty being informed of an abuse greatly tending to make a scarcity of corn meet to make bread, by making of Starch within the realm, of corn of the realm, doth straightly command, that no maner of person shal make any Starch of any corn, or bran of corn grown within the realm, or that is, or shall be brought into the realm, nor witting sell or utter any such Starch( except such as hath been made by virtue of her majesties Letters Patents.) And whereas her majesty hath already, by her said Letters Patents granted to one of her loving Subiects, the making of Starch to bee made of Bran only: To the end, the poorer sort may be relieved this way also, Her majesty doth also straightly inhibit and forbid the said Patentee, his Deputies and assigns, and every of them,( notwithstanding her majesties grant by the said Letters Patents) henceforth to make any Starch of bran, during this time of dearth, vpon pain of imprisonment by any Iustice of Peace, or other public Officer of iustice, and forfeiture to her majesties use of the same Starch so made, either of corn or bran, or any other grain, or witting put to sale by the said Patentee, his said Deputies or assigns, or by any other person or persons whatsoever.  
given under our Signet. At our Mannor of Greenwich, the last day of july, in the xxxviii. year of our reign. 
 God save the queen.   

Imprinted at London by the Deputies of CHRISTOPHER BARKER, Printer to the queens most excellent majesty. 1596.