HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  English royal blazon, surmounted by a crown and flanked by the Tudor rose and Scottish thistle  
❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation for explaining and enlarging his Majesty's former orders for Buildings, in and about London.  
WHereas by sundry Proclamations grounded upon important and weighty reasons, We have heretofore made known Our Pleasure, as well for restraint of new Buildings in and near Our City of London, As for re-edifying old Houses with Brick and Stone, The good effect that hath ensued thereby, and by the diligence and care of Our Commissioners authorized for the execution of Our Commandments in that behalf, And the dutiful obedience and conformity of many Our best disposed Subjects, Hath not only given Us great content, but confirmed Our Resolution against all opposition of refractory persons, to proceed in a work not only honourable and graceful, but safe and healthful for Our said City; It being not without precedent of ancient times, even in this Our City of London; In the Records whereof it is remembered, that in the time of King Richard the first, Henry Fitz-Allwyn then Mayor, for prevention of casualties by fire, caused provision to be made, that Buildings in the said City should be of Stone, which for many years after was observed: But the neglect thereof in succeeding times, especially in the present, the great confluence to Our said City, pestering of the Streets with jutties, Stalls, and other annoyances scarcity of Timber, and many other occurrents, have turned the policy of those ancient times from conveniency to necessity: In which respect, We are now fully determined, not only to ratify Our former Commandments, but to use all possible endeavour by Our further care and direction to accomplish Our intention in a matter of such high consequence. And therefore being informed, that albeit the discreetest of Our Subjects do now accept Our Commands, not with conformity and obedience alone, but with alacrity and cheerfulness, as tending to no private end, but to the general good; yet there want not many that do daily put in ure sundry sleights and inventions, to the disturbance and impediment of that general reformation, which We so much affect, under pretence of evading the Letter, though not the sense of Our former Proclamations. And albeit some of them, notwithstanding their sleights and subterfuges, have been censured in Our high Court of Star-chamber, yet others having not tasted of that severity, do hazard themselves to incur the like: Howsoever, to make offenders in this kind unexcusalbe, We do hereby publish and declare, That as We are resolved to cherish and comfort the dutifulness of such as apply themselves to the conformity desired; So We will extend the severity of Our justice to all them, that by subtle evasions shall endeavour to frustrate Our command. And therefore being given to understand, That the progress of this so glorious a work is now chief hindered through the supportation and strengthening of ruinous and old Buildings, unfit to be continued, by digging of Cellars, and bringing up new Brick walls, by erecting new Chimneys and Staire-cases, by placing pieces of Timber, by setting on new Roofs and Rafters, and thrusting out of Dormers, knitting and fastening together the said new Additions unto the old Timber by bars and cramps of Iron, and other like devices, whereby the old deformity is not only continued, but increased.  
We do hereby straight charge and command, That no person or persons whatsoever within Our said City of London, or within two miles from any the Gates of the said City, do presume or attempt to do any of the things before recited, or any other thing whatsoever of like nature, tending to the hindrance of Our said intended Work, unless he shall be thereunto licenced and allowed by Our Commissioners for Buildings.  
And further We do hereby straight charge and command, That no person or persons whatsoever within the limits aforesaid, do at any time hereafter presume or attempt to erect, cover, overly or enclose any hovels or other Sheds of Timber, with Reeds, Faggots, Hay, Straw, Board's, or other materials, or do raise up any wall, pale or bank of earth, to which Sheds may be added: Or do repair or new make into the streets, any manner of Bulks, Stalls, windows, doors, or other offensive issues: Or do alter or change the use of any dwelling house or other building to any more noisome or offensive use, end or purpose, than the same was employed before the time of the demolishing or altering the same. By all which, and especially by the said pretences of repair and alterations, Our Royal intention of Reformation is much hindered and prevented. Our will and pleasure therefore is, That all such as shall hereafter presume to offend in any the premises, under pretence of repairing decayed houses, or addition or alteration of dwelling houses or other Buildings, or otherwise, having not first had the approbation of Our said Commissioners, shall be deemed as persons opposing Our Royal commandments, and be proceeded against in Our high Court of Star-chamber, according to the quality of their several offences.  
And whereas by Our former Proclamation, all Houses and Buildings, to be re-edified or new made within the limits aforesaid, were to be built of brick, or brick and stone, We being desirous that the like good order and decency should be observed hereafter within five miles of any the gates of Our said City, Do hereby straight charge and command, That no person or persons do hereafter presume, to erect, re-edify, or set up any house or Building within the said distance of five miles from any the ●●…tes of Our said City, unless he do make all the utter walls of the same of Brick, or Brick and Stone; And that all houses and Buildings to be erected within the said City of London, or in, or adjoining to any open street of any Town or Village out of the said City within the limits of five miles aforesaid, shall be built according to the form and proportion hereafter in these presents expressed, viz. Every whole story of and in such Houses and Buildings, and all and every the rooms of such whole Story, shall be of the height of ten foot of Assize at the least, and every half Story, of and in such Houses and Buildings, shall be of the height of seven foot and a half at the least: And that the forefront and all outward and division walls betwixt house and house, & the jambes, heads and soils of the windows, shall be of Brick, or of Brick & Stone, and the windows (being of Timber) not to be put in until the jambes and heads aforesaid, be finished and bear of themselves.  
And if the said Buildings do not exceed two Stories in height, than the walls thereof shall be of the thickness of one Brick and half a Bricks length from the ground unto the uppermost part of the said walls. And where the Building shall be of the height of three Stories, the walls of the first Story shall be of the thickness of two Bricks length, and from thence unto the uppermost part of the wall, of the thickness of one Brick and half a Bricks length, and so proportionably if there shall be more Stories.  
And that in building of the said Houses, there shall be no jutties or jutting, or Cant windows, either upon Timber joystes, or otherwise, but the walls to go direct and straight upwards, and at the setting off a Water-table to be made. Also the form of the windows of every whole Story to be of more height than breadth, to the end the rooms may receive air for health, and that there be sufficient Peers of Brick, not less than half the breadth of the windows between them for strength. And likewise the windows of every half Story to be made square or near thereabouts.  
And that all Shops and Street doors be made with Pilasters of Stone, or Brick, and the heads of the Shop windows cut in wedges, with Arches over them to sustain the wall above, and that the Pilasters of Stone be in breadth fifteen inches at the least, and as thick as the wall of the Story.  
And lastly, that none do raise the first floor to gain height in their cellars, so as they are forced to make steps into the street.  
And to the end this Our pleasure hereby signified and published, may be the better executed, We do hereby require and authorize Our said Commissioners for Buildings, and every or any of them, and all and every justice, or justices of Peace, respectively to commit to Ward or Prison, all such persons as shall be found to offend in any of the premises, contrary to the intent of this Our Proclamation. And We do further require and command, and give authority unto all Mayors, Sheriffs, justices of Peace, Constables, Headboroughes, and other Our Officers and Ministers, without any further or other Warrant, to make stay of, and restrain all irregular Buildings and proceed contrary to Our command hereby, or by any former Proclamation concerning Buildings published. Wherein if any shall be so bold to proceed notwithstanding this Our gentle admonition, Our pleasure then is, that Our Attorney General for the time being, do from time to time inform against such persons in Our High Court of Star-chamber, as wilful contemners of Our Royal Command.  
Given at Theobalds' the seventeenth day of july, in the eighteenth year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the three and fiftieth. 
 God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, and john Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. ANNO DOM. M.DC.XX.