I R  
DIEV ET MON DROIT  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation concerning Felts.  
WHereas We are credibly informed, That the workers and makers of Felts within this our Realm of England, have heretofore daily employed and set on work many thousands of our poor subjects, both men, women, and children, in carding, basening, felting, dressing, pouncing, blocking, and dying, with certain other feats concerning the working and making of Felts, made and wrought within and near our City of London, and in diverse and many other Cities, Boroughs, and Lownes, within this Our Realm of England, and Principality of Wales, whereby Our said poor Subjects have gotten their living time out of mind, until of late year past, that very great abundance of Felts, ready wrought and made in the parts beyond the Seas, have been, and now daily are brought from foreign parts into this Our Realm, and here have been, and daily are uttered and sold, to the utter undoing of great multitudes of our loving Subjects, Who for want of employment, as heretofore, in making of Felts, are now destitute of means how to live, and thereby fall to idleness, begging, and other inconveniences: We therefore tendering the welface of Our loving Subjects, do hereby straight prohibit and forbid all and every person and persons whatsoever, aswell Our natural borne Subjects, as Denizens, or Strangers, either directly or indirectly from henceforth to unshep, discharge, or lay on land any Felts, Hats, or Caps, wrought, or half wrought in any parts beyond the Seas, or in any Port, Haven, Creek, or other place, within this Our Realm of England, or Principality of Wales, upon pain of forfeiture of all and every such Felts, Hats, and Caps, as shall be so unshipped, discharged, or laid on land contrary to this Our present Commandment; The one moiety thereof to be to Us, Our Heirs and Successors, and the other moiety to such person or persons as shall find and make seizure of the same, and also upon pain of our high displeasure, and such penalties, as by the Laws of this Our Realm of England may be inflicted upon such person so offending.  
And for the better execution herèof, we do hereby further charge and command all Customers, Comptrollers, and other Officers of Our Ports, to whom it shall appertain, and all Farmers of Our Customs and Imposts now and for the time being, their Clerks and substitutes, That they, and every of them do forbear to take any entries of any Felts, Hats, or Caps made beyond the Seas, that shall be brought into this Realm by any person or persons whatsoever, and likewise all Justices of peace, Mayors, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Constables, headboroughs, and other Our officers and ministers whatsoever, That they and every of them be from time to time, and at all times, and in all places convenient, aiding and assisting unto such of Our loving Subjects as shall desire their aid and assistance in and about the searching for, and seizing, and carrying away of all or any such Hats, Felts, and Caps, as shall be unshipped, discharges, or laid on land, contrary to the true meaning of this Our Proclamation, as they and every of them will answer the contrary at their perils.  
Given at Our Court at Theobalds', the seventeenth day of September, in the one and twentieth year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland. 
 God save the King.   

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