HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation containing his majesties Royal pleasure, concerning the project of Dying and Dressing of Broad clothes within the Kingdom, before they be exported.  
IT was the work of one of Our noble Progenitors King Edward the third, to convert the Wools of this Kingdom formerly vented raw, into Cloth, thereby to purchase unto Our loving Subjects the profit, arising aswell upon the Manufacture, as upon the Material, and to set Our own people on work for their better sustentation and comfort; And it is likewise Our desire, That it should be the work of Our times, to ordain and provide, that all Broad clothes may be Died and Dressed within Our Kingdom before they be Exported; whereby aswell the second gain of Manufacture, as the first, with all the incidents thereof, may come wholly to the benefit of Our loving Subjects, in whose riches and good estate We shall always think Ourselves rich and happy. Neither is the increase of profit upon this great Staple commodity only in Our Princely eye and cogitation; But We foresee likewise, that when Our clothes shallbe Transported and dispersed by Our Subjects immediately into all the Markets of the world, where they are worn and used, it must increase exceedingly Our Navigation and Navy, so that not only wealth, but honour, strength and industry will evidently follow upon that which We propound to Ourselves; That as the Kings Our Progenitors, have had the wisdom and judgement to see and discern the good that might come thereof; So nevertheless, either through difficulty or misinformation, they have not perfected, nor thoroughly pursued the work intended, as may appear by the good and politic Laws that have been Enacted concerning the same on the one part, and the ancient and Inveterate Toleration and Dispensation with the said Laws, which have been from time to time put in ure on the other part: We therefore being desirous to advance and perfect so excellent a work, have resolved to leave no means unperformed, either by advise of Parliament or otherwise of Ourselves, which may conduce thereunto, by those safe degrees which in so great a work are requisite; Wherein though We find no small difficulties, as it useth to come to pass in the best works, specially in their beginnings, yet We doubt not but to overcome the same without hazard or inconvenience unto the present, for hope or desire of the future.  
And because opinion is sometime more harmful than truth, and that it may be doubted by some, that there may ensue some stand of clothes, whereby so many families of Our loving Subjects are maintained, or at least, some fall of Prices, to the prejudice, both of the clothier, and owner of wools in the mean time, between the diverting of the old course, and settling of the new: We do therefore publish unto all Our loving Subjects, by these presents, that they shall not need to fear any such consequence, either in such stand of Cloth, or abatement of Prices, as may be to their prejudice. And therefore, they may 〈◊〉 on in the courses of their former Trading, leaving it to Our care and providence to int●●●uce this great and happy alteration to the better, without any interruption of Trade, or pulling down of Price in the mean time. Furthermore although we are settled in Our resolution to effect this work, yet would We not have it construed that We have any other opinion of the Company of Merchant's Adventurers, which have long managed the Trade of clothes undressed, then as of those that have well deserved of Our state; neither of any Our neighbours, who have had correspondency with them, and bought the Cloth from them to serve the Markets abroad, then as of men, that were affected unto the good of their own people, as it is natural for men to be. Neither are We ignorant that the state of Clothing is at this time as flourishing and valuable as hath been known; but only We are willing to advance the Dowry and Stock of Our Kingdom: And where We see apparent means of doing Our people further good, not to tie Ourselves to the simple and positive degree of their welfare, but to proceed from good to better, and to make posterity beholding to Our times, for going through with that, whereof Our Ancestors have only sown the seeds, and not hitherto reaped the fruits.  
Given at Our Palace of Westminster the five and twentieth day of May in the twelfth 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 Dom. 1614