dieu ET MON DROIT  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
By the queen.  
WHereas an untrue and flaunderous report hath of late been raised by some evil disposed and malicious Persons against the Lord Mayor of this city, as if by his means the price of grain that began to fall should be enhanced to an higher rate, which untrue report that it might haue some couller, it was likewise given out that his Lordship had brought into the river of Thames from beyond the Seas certain corn, and to that end kept up the Market, that he might sell his own grain at an higher rate: Whereas it is found that he never used that trade of buying corn either within this realm or without( save onely so much as might serve for provision of his own household) but contrariwise hath endeavoured to discharge his duty on that behalf by providing of grain to bee brought hither out of foreign parts, with as great providence as any other of his predecessors heretofore haue done, whereby the great numbers of poor people within this city haue been sustained this time of death: It hath pleased the queens most excellent majesty being truly informed of the great wrong done to his Lordship, by such an untrue and slanderous report being her Highnesse Liestenant within this city, to give order that public notice bee made hereof in the open Markets, as well to testify his worships innocency, as to make known to her loving subiects how much her Highuesse is offended, and doth mislike such false reports devised by malicious Persons against such Magistrates as under her Highnesse are appointed to supply the place of public government. Giuing knowledge withall, that if any Person shall hereafter bee found to disperse this or any other untrue report to the like effect, upon information and complaint made to the Right Honourable the Lords and others of her majesties privy council, some severe punishment shall bee inflicted vpon such offenders, to the example of all others, who for private malice and without just cause shall presume to defame any public Person who shall bee appointed under her majesty for the good government of her Highnesse people.  
Dated the xv. day of September 1597. 
 God save queen.   

Imprinted at London by the Deputies of Christopher Barker, Printer to the queens most Excellent majesty.