❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation for Buildings, in and about London.  
THE Kings most excellent Majesty seeing of what necessary use Timber is, aswell for the maintenance of the Shipping and Navy of this Realm, being aprincipall mean for the defence thereof, As for building, and other needful uses: And understanding withal, how much and how extraordinarily the same hath been and is decayed and consumed in all parts of this Realm, In so much as in the berry City by London (being the principal City of this Realm) they are now daily driven to build with Beech, and other like kind of Timber, being of small continuance, which in time will be (if the same he not prenented) the notorious peril and decay of the same City: Doth therefore straightly charge and command, that aswell all Statutes and Laws heretofore made, and now in force, for the preservation of Timber, As that also concerning Inmates, and the erecting and continuing of Cottages, be from henceforth duly and exaetly put in execution. Forbidding withal, that none be so hardy upon pain of contempt, and his majesties high displeasure, as to convert any part of any Tree, that may serve for any use of Timber, to any Coal or Firewood. And for the better preservation of Timber, and to avoid the unnecessary consumption thereof, His Majesty also straightly chargeth and commandeth, That between this and the feast of S. Michael the Archangel coming, no new house be built within the same City of London, or the Suburbs thereof, or within one mile of the same Suburbs, contrary to the Proclamations in that behalf heretofore made. And that from and after the said feast of S. Michael the Archangel, no person shall build or erect any new House, or the forefront of any House in any new building, where any former building was, within the same City or Suburbs, or within one mile of the said Suburbs, except all the utter walls and windows thereof, and the forefront of the same be wholly made of Brick, or Brick and stone, And the forefront thereof in every respect shall be made of that uniform order and form, as shall be prescribed unto them for that Street where such Building shall happen to be, by the chief Magistrates of the same City, being within the City and the Liberties thereof, and being out of the City by such justices of the Peace or other Magistrates, as have the government in that place, upon pain to be fined and imprisoned for the same, by order of the Court of star-chamber.  
And to the end that some fitting and orderly course may be taken and set down for uniformity to be kept in every Street, where such Buildings shall be, His Majesty purposeth to direct our his Commission to discreet and skilful persons, to consider of, and set down some fit Orders and direction for the same. And his Majesty further expressly chargeth & commandeth all Majors, justices of the Peace, Constables, Stewards of Leets and law-days, and all others his majesties loving Subjects, to whom it shall or may appertain, carefully to look into, and execute the premises, and not to permit or suffer any thing to be done contrary to the true intent and meaning of this Proclamation. And that they take order that such offenders or workmen, as shall persist in doing any thing to the contrary thereof after admonition to them in that behalf to be given, be bound to appear in the said Court of star-chamber at the next sitting day of the same Court, there to be proceeded against as conteinners of his Majesties express commandment, Proclamation and Prerogative Royal.  
Given at Thetford the first day of March, in the second year of his majesties reign of Great Britain etc. 
 God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. ANNO 1604.