royal English blazon or coat of arms ❧ By the King. ¶ A Proclamation for the preventing of the exportation of Woolles, Woolle-fels, Yarn, Fuller's earth, and Woad-ashes, and for the better vent of Cloth, and Stuff made of Wool, within this Kingdom.  
Having understood by the general complaints of Our loving Subjects from the several parts of this Our Realm of England, that of late years the Woolles of this Our Kingdom are exceedingly fallen from their wonted values, and that the Cloth and Stuffs of this Our Kingdom, have not that vent in foreign parts which formerly they have had: We taking these things, and the weighty consequence thereof, into Our Princely consideration, as matter of very great importance to the wealth and welfare of this Our Kingdom, and being careful to provide a speedy and effectual remedy against such a growing evil, and to the end that the honest Clothiers, and those painful workfolkes that depend upon them, might be comforted in their labours, and be encouraged in their trades, and the Woolles and manufactures of Woolles restored to their wont estimation; Have therefore seriously and often advised with Our Privy Counsel for the good of Our people; and the better to be informed, both of the true causes, and the fittest remedies, thought it expedient, first to nominate a Committee of twelve persons of quality and known abilities, not only to inform themselves out of their own observations and judgements, but also by conference with diverse Knights and Gentlemen of several Counties, Merchants of diverse Societies, Clothiers of several clothing-Shires, and with all such others as they in their opinions thought fit, and then afterwards to make report to Us and Our Privy Counsel of their proceed in that behalf.  
Which Committee, according to Our trust in them reposed, have with great care and diligence traveled therein, and exactly inquired both into the causes, and after the remedies, and made their report unto Us accordingly: Whereupon, and after advice taken with Our Privy Counsel, We find amongst other things of moment, That the exportation of Woolles, Woolle-fels, Woollen yarn, Fuller's earth, and Woad-ashes, are a great means to enable the foreign making of Cloth, and a principal impediment to the vent of Our Clothes made in England; And that the false and deceitful making, dying, and dressing of Our Cloth and Stuffs here made of Woolles, doth exceedingly disgrace and discredit the Drapery of this Our Kingdom, and doth very much hinder the vent of these commodities.  
We therefore out of the great desire We have to advance the wealth of Our people, & by all means possible to cherish and comfort their labours, do by these presents straitely charge and command, that no manner of Woolles, Woolle-fels,  yarn, Cornish-hayre, Fuller's earth, Woad ashes, be at any time or times hereafter, exported out of this Our Realm of England, Dominion of Wales, Town or Port of Berwick, or any the Isles, Ports, Creeks, or places thereof, into any foreign parts, or into Our Kingdom of Scotland, nor that any manner of Wools, wool-fells, Woollen yearn, Fuller's earth, or Woad-ashes, be transported out of Our Kingdom of Ireland, into any other parts then into the Realm of England only, upon pain of confiscation of all such Woolles, and other the premises so transported, or endeavoured to be transported, as also of Our highest indignation, and the seurrest censure of Our Court of Star-chamber, and of such other pains and penalties as by the Laws and Statutes of this Our Kingdom, and by Our Prerogative Royal may be inflicted.  
And to the end that all Officers and Ministers in, or about Our Ports of England, may the more strictly look to the observance of this Our will and pleasure, for the weal of this Our Kingdom; We do further straight charge and command, that if any Officer or Minister of or belonging to Our Customs or Ports, or attending at any the Havens, Creeks, or places adjacent, or carrying to the Sea, shall consent or connive at the unlawful exportation of the premises, or any of them: Or if any of them shall make any certificate upon any cocket of the landing of any Woolles in any Ports of this Our Realm, unless the Officer himself, who shall make such certificate, do first see the same Wools landed, according to the contents of the said certificate: Or if the said Officers or any of them shall make any cocket, which shall not contain both the number of Sacks, and the weight of the Wool in every Sack contained in such cocket; That then every such Officer and Minister, who shall offend in any the premises, shall not only forfeit his Office, place, and employment, but shall also incur all other the pains and penalties aforesaid. And if any Minister or Officer of, or many ship or other Vessel, shall permit and suffer any Woolles, wool-fells, or any other of the premises to be transported in any Ship, Bottom, or other Vessel, wherein, or whereof he is or shall be Master, or other Officer; That then every person so offending shall be subject unto such pains and penalties as aforesaid.  
And in case there be now in force any former Licences or authorities heretofore given and granted by Us, or any of Our Predecessors, for transportation of Woolles, or any other the premises, We do hereby revoke and disannul the same; And are resolved that none such hereafter shall be granted: And for the better utterance of Cloth within this Our Kingdom, We do straight charge and command, that when, and as often as upon the occasion of any Burials or Funerals, any Blacks be hereafter given or worn; That then such blacks and mourning stuffs shall be only of Cloth and Stuffs, made of the Wool of this Kingdom, and not elsewhere, nor otherwise.  
And for that We are informed that the false dying of Cloth and Stuffs made of Wools, is a great hindrance to the vent of those commodities: Therefore We straight will and command, That no person whatsoever in, or towards the dying of any Cloth, of what sort soever, or of any Stuffs made of Wool, shall use any Logwood or Blockewood, the use whereof about the said Clothes and Stuffs, hath so often by several Laws and Proclamations been already condemned: And for the better discovery of false and deceivable dying, and the suppressing of the said Logwood and Blockewood, in and about the dying of Stuffs made of Wool, We straight charge and command the Wardens of the Dyer's of London, within the compass of their search, and all other Officers in other places, That from time to time they make careful & diligent search for the discovery of all false and deceitful dying: and if in their searches they shall find any Cloth or Stuff died with Logwood or Blockewood, either in all or in part, That they seize the same, and inform Our Attorney General for the time being thereof, that such proceeding may be speedily had against the offenders, as so great a contempt deserveth.  
Further. We do hereby straight charge and command all justices of Peace, Mayor, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Officers, and other persons whatsoever, to do their best endeavours to discover all and every the offenders against this Our Proclamation. And for the better encouragement of all such as shall take care and pains to make such discoveries. Our will and pleasures is, that every such person that shall be the first discoverer of such offender, shall be rewarded with the moiety, or one half of such sums of money as shall come unto Us by virtue of any forfeiture incurred upon this Our Proclamation, Giving also like charge and command, that all persons of what degree, quality or place soever, to whom it shall appertain, do diligently observe, and readily assist the due performance of this Our Proclamation in all things.  
Also We do hereby think good to declare to all Our loving Subjects, that, for the more equal balancing of trade, furthering of Commerce, increasing of Merchandise, removing of impediments of Trade, and applying of remedies, according to the variation of occasions, and for diverse other weighty matters, much importing the enriching and flourishing estate of this Our kingdom of England, We are resolved forthwith, by Commission under Our great Seal of England, to authorise some select persons to be Our Commissioners, who shall take into their special care and consideration the causes and matters aforesaid, and they from time to time to make report thereof to the Body of our privy Counsel, whereupon, We with the advice of Our privy Counsel, shall apply such further help in each particular as shallbe aptest and fittest for so great a work.  
And for the better proceeding in this Our intention, to the honour and weal of all Our Kingdoms, We are also resolved, with all convenient speed, to give directions, that some Commissioners out of Our Kingdom of Scotland, shall meet and confer with Our Commissioners to be authorized by Us in this Our Realm of England, to advice of the best way, how the Woolles of that Our kingdom of Scotland, which shall not there be draped, may be brought hither into England, and here from time to time be bought up and employed in the drapery of this kingdom.  
Given at Our Manor of Otelands, the eight and twentieth day of july, in the twentieth year of Our Reign of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the five and fiftieth.  
God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and john Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. M DC. XXII.