❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation for removing the Staple of Wools from parts beyond the Seas, unto certain principal Cities and Towns within this Our Realm.  
Having of late been earnestly petitioned by divers of Our loving Subjects aswell of the Growers and Breeders of Wool, as the Merchants 〈…〉 therein, and Clothiers and Converters thereof, to take into Our 〈…〉 and consideration, the due and orderly disposing of the Wools of this 〈…〉 ●●●dome; we by the advice of Our Privy Council, and Our Council 〈…〉 maturely examined the Laws of Our Kingdom in that behalves 〈…〉 Charters of the Staplers, concerning their power and interest in 〈…〉 buying and selling of Wools; And have also taken into Our Prince 〈◊〉 ●●●tion the conveniency of a middle hand between the Wool Growers, and Converters thereof, 〈…〉 the respect of State & policy, with that of right and Law, we might resolve how the same migh●● 〈…〉 for the public good of Our Subjects; And observing that Our famous progenitors, have al●●● 〈…〉 laws, as by sundry Charters made to the Society of the Merchants of the Staple, prouid●●● 〈…〉 should be a continual Trade or Merchandise of buying and selling the Wools of this King●●●●, 〈◊〉 within the Realm or without, to which purpose divers Staples have been by them erected and 〈…〉 well within the Realm, as beyond the Seas, as the present occasion of the State had required; 〈…〉 that the Merchants of the Staple have power and authority by the Charter and free grant● 〈…〉 sister Queen Elizabeth of famous memory, to keep the Staple of Wools at Middelburgh, Bridges 〈…〉 op Zoom, which is nevertheless to be removed and settled elsewhere within Our Land or without 〈…〉 sure of Us, our Heirs or Successors, upon nine months warning given unto the said Stapler● 〈…〉 great Seal; And being resolved that it most tendeth to the general good, that the Wools 〈…〉 Kingdom shall be wrought within Our Realm, To which end We minding to continue 〈…〉 due and orderly means, aswell to furnish the Wool growers with several sorts of Chapmen for 〈…〉 and also for the fit and timely dispersing and disposing thereof into all parts of this Our Real●●● 〈◊〉 may be best used; And for that of ancient time the whole Trade and use of wools within this R●●● 〈◊〉 been under the government of the Mayor and Society of the Staple for the time being, (other 〈…〉 which the Clothiers and Converters have heretofore, and may still lawfully buy to convert,) 〈…〉 said Staplers have a goverument established, both by the Laws of this Kingdom, and by 〈…〉 of Our famous Progenitors, with sworn Officers, as Wooll-winders, Porters, Packet● 〈…〉 Woolshuters, Correctors and the like, fit for the well using and ordering of their Trade, and 〈…〉 ●●●ting of all frauds and deceits therein; By Our letters Patents lately made unto them, We 〈…〉 Our will and pleasure, That they the said Mayor, Constables and Society of Merchants of th●●● 〈…〉 every of them shall within nine months next after the date thereof, remoone themselves, the●●● goo●● 〈◊〉 servants, and by virtue of Our said letters Patents, We have declared for Us our Heirs an● 〈…〉 That the Staple of wools shallbe and is removed from the foresaid Towns of Middelburgh 〈…〉 Bergen op Zoom; And that from thenceforth they and every of them shall forbear to carry any 〈…〉 this Realm, to the said places, or to any other place whatsoever beyond the Seas; And by O●●● 〈…〉 Patents aforesaid, We have assigned and appointed, That the Staples shall hereafter be kep●● 〈…〉 Our Realm, at the several Cities, Towns and places hereafter mentioned, Viz. At the 〈…〉 and the Suburbs thereof, at the cities of Canterbury, Exeter, Norwich, Worcester, Winchester, & Lincoln●● And 〈◊〉 the Towns of Shrewsbury, and Oswestrie in the County of Salop, Northampton, and Brackly in the Cou●● 〈…〉 hampton, Cirencester in the County of Gloucester, Reading in the County of Berks, Kendal in the Co●●● summerland, Sherborne in the County of Dorcet, Richmond, Hallifax, and Wakefield in the County of York 〈…〉 the County of Lancaster, Tanton Deane in the County of Somerset, Devizes in the County of Wilts, 〈…〉 the County of Essex, And Woodstock in the County of Oxon. And We have likewise thereby 〈…〉 confirmed unto the Mayor, Constables and Society of the Merchants of the Staple of Eng●●●, 〈◊〉 their Successors, and to all and singular Merchants and others, which are or shall be of, and vn●●●●●●dome and government of the Society of the Staple of England, full and free power, surety an● 〈…〉 to buy, bargain and Contract all manner of Wools in all parts of this Kingdom of England 〈◊〉 ●●●nion of Wales, of all person and persons whatsoever, and the same to utter and put to Sale in an●●● 〈…〉 Staple-markets, Cities or Towns without any impeachment, restraint or condition in that b●●● 〈◊〉  
Notwithstanding the Statute made in the fifth year of the late King Edward the sixth, or any 〈…〉 Statute, Restraint, Provision, or Proclamation to the contrary in any wise; As by our 〈…〉 Patents under our great Seal of England more at large appeareth. We do for Us, Our 〈…〉 Successors, straightly charge, command and prohibit all and every our loving Subjects, that 〈…〉 do Sue, Implead, or vex in any Court of Record whatsoever, the said Merchants of the St●●● or any of them, their Wives, Apprentices, or Household servants, or any of them, for or concerning buying 〈…〉 in any place whatsoever, to sell again by Retail or otherwise, within the Staple Townues affords 〈…〉 if any Suit hereafter shallbe brought or prosecuted in any of Our Courts against the said Mere●●● 〈…〉 Staple, or any of them, their Wives, Apprentices, or Household servants, for the buying of any W●●●s, 〈◊〉 shall be bought to the intent to sell again at any of the said Staple Towns, upon any Stat●●● or ●●●nance whatsoever, made against Engrossing and buying of wools, to the intent to sell them ag●●● Th●● and so often We do by these presents, for Us, our Heirs and Successors, will, charge and re●●● 〈…〉 every the judges and justices of Us, our Heirs and Successors, of all and every our Courts, 〈…〉 such Suit shallbe brought and prosecuted, and the Barons of the Exchequer of Us, our Heirs 〈◊〉 S●●●sors, so soon as they, or any of them shallbe truly certified, that the party sued is a Merchant of 〈…〉 or Wife, Apprentice, or Household servant to a merchant of the Staple; They, and every of the●●● 〈…〉 judges, justices and Barons of Us, our Heirs or Successors, shall use and employ the vtter●● 〈…〉 power and authority, and take all courses, and do all things which may stand with Law and 〈…〉 the speedy stopping and repressing of all such Suits and troubles against the said Merchants of 〈…〉 or any of them, their wives, apprentices, or household servants of them, or any of them, for buying 〈…〉 of Wool as aforesaid. And We do also hereby revoke, and disannul all Licences, Pow●●● 〈◊〉 ●●●ties which have been given, or may be pretended to be given for the buying of Wool within 〈…〉 for to Ship to any of His majesties islands, or to sell again unconverted, Except such as 〈…〉 to the Merchants of the Staple: And do hereby straightly charge and command, that 〈◊〉 statutes in that behalf made against all others shallbe put in execution: And do inhibit all 〈…〉 of Our displeasure, to buy or contract for any Wool to sell again unwrought: And further 〈…〉 reform all frauds and abuses heretofore practised by glovers and Fel-mongers, in the vtte●● 〈…〉 wools, We will and ordain and straightly charge and command all Fel-mongers, and every 〈…〉 do, or shall inhabit within twelve miles of any of the said Staple Markets, Cities, or 〈…〉 mitted and assigned, That they and every of them shall from time to time put to sale all 〈…〉 wools, at some or one of the said Staple Markets or Towns, and not elsewhere, thereto 〈…〉 ●●●ued, weighed, and registered by some of the Officers and Ministers of the Staple. And 〈…〉 purpose, that a due and orderly government may be established and continued at the Staph●● 〈…〉 said, both for weighing, proving, searching, and disposing of all sorts of the wools of th●●● Our 〈◊〉 as may tend most to the welfare of all Our Subjects; Our will and pleasure is, That 〈◊〉 Ma●●●● Staple for the time being, shall appoint some one of the Society to attend the Lords of O●●●● 〈…〉 cell for their Direction from time to time, whensoever they shallbe commanded for that purpo●●.  
Provided nevertheless, that the Clothiers and Dealers in New Draperies, or any oth●●● 〈…〉 subjects, that shall buy to convert into Manufactures, shall not be barred from buying 〈…〉 hands of the Wool grower, Wool fit for their use; And also that the Dealers in New 〈…〉 Stuffs, who do not use the whole Fleece of the wools they buy, and have used to sell 〈…〉 theirs, shall and may continue the same usage, as formerly they have done, so as they sell the●●● 〈…〉 ●●●yle Markets, there to be viewed, weighed, and registered by the Officers and Ministers of 〈…〉  
Given at Burley on the Hill the four and twentieth day of March, in the fifteenth year of 〈…〉 Great Britain, France, and Ireland. 1616. 
 God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. Anno Dom. 1616.