HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
¶ By the King.  
WHereas We are daily informed by the Officers of Our Mint and otherwise, That aswell divers of Our natural born Subjects, both Goldsmiths, Merchants, and men of other Trades; As also Strangers inhabiting within this Our Realm of England, have presumed for their private lucre and gain, and daily do presume to weigh all sorts of Money's currant within this Our Realm of England, to the end to cull out the old and new Moneys, which either by not wearing, or by any other accident in the making thereof are more weighty than the rest, Some part of which moneys so culled out, We have found (when it pleased Ourself to enter into the examination thereof) to be daily openly sold to Goldsmiths, and by them employed for the making of Plate, and Vessel of all sorts within this our Realm of England; And some part to be Transported into foreign parts for private men's particular gain, whereby there is a great scarcity of good Money likely to ensue, if present remedy be not provided for the same: We therefore in Our Princely care intending with all convenient speed to redress so great and insufferable a mischief, Do by this Our Proclamation make known unto all men, that Our will and pleasure is, And We do hereby straightly charge and command, That no Goldsmith, or other person or persons of what estate soever he or they be, (other than the Master and Officers of Our Mint, for the service and employment thereof) presume or enterprise to melt any Moneys of Gold or Silver, being the proper Coins of any Our Realms or Dominions, or currant within the same, or any of them, either to make Plate or Vessel thereof, or for any other use whatsoever, or do presume to cull or choose out from the rest any weighty moneys, to the intent to convey the same out of the Realm, or to melt, or otherwise to alter it from Coin, upon pain of Our heavy displeasure, and of such pains and punishments, as upon the contemners of Our Royal commandment, grounded upon the public good, may be inflicted.  
Given at Our Manor of Greenwich the eighteenth day of May, in the ninth year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland. 
 God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. ANNO 1611.