CR   royal blazon or coat of arms ❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation concerning New Buildings, in and about the City of London, and against the dividing of houses into several dwellings, and receiving and harbouring of Inmates.  
WHereas in the first year of Our Reign, as soon as the more important affairs of Our State would give Us leave, taking into Our Princely consideration the state of Our City of London, being Our Royal Chamber, and the Imperial seat of Our Kingdoms, renowned over all the parts of Christendom, both in respect of the usual residence of Our Royal Person and Court near unto it, the confluence of Foreign Ambassadors and Strangers thither, the ordinary place for Our Courts of justice, and resort of our Nobility and Gentry there for these occasions;  
And foreseeing that the honour, government, health and safety of this City, was of great consequence unto Us, and that Our Royal Progenitors in former times (especially Our most Royal Father of blessed memory, King JAMES, & the most Excellent Princess Queen ELIZABETH, in their times) by their Royal Proclamations had carefully provided for the same, We, according to those worthy examples, by Our Royal Proclamation did straight provide against the erecting of Houses & Buildings upon new Foundations, & the entertaining of Inmates, in and about this City, which would multiple the Inhabitants to such an excessive number, that they could neither be governed nor fed; And did also thereby give Rules for the Repairing and new Building of ancient houses decayed, in such a comely manner, with Brick or Stone, as might be for the honour and safety of the City; And for the putting of this Our Commandment into due execution, We did make, and several times renew Our Commission directed to the Lord Mayor of Our said City, and diverse other persons of honour and worth, grounding the same upon rules of Law and justice, as against public and common Nuisances, aswell as upon reason of State and Government, all tending to the public good of Our people: But that taking not so full effect hitherto as We expected, We have now again resolved to renew that Our Commission to diverse Honourable persons, and others of worth and understanding; And therefore We do hereby publish and declare Our Royal pleasure and Command, That Our said Commissioners for that service, shall forthwith aswell by taking a view in their own persons from time to time, as by all other good ways and means, inquire and find out the offenders and offences done against the several Proclamations made heretofore by Our said Father, and by Ourself, as against this present Proclamation, and the same being so found out, to make certificate thereof under their hands, or under the hands of two, or more of them, to Ourself, as against this present Proclamation, and the same being so found out, to make certificate thereof under their hands, or under the hands of two, or more them, to Our Counsel Board, or to bind them over to answer their contempts, either before the Lords of Our Privy Council, or in Our Court of Starchamber, to the end that such proceeding may be had against them, as may stand with Our Honour and with Our Laws.  
And for stay and prevention of the like offences hereafter, Our express will and pleasure is, That where any person shall presume after the publication of this Proclamation, to erect, or set up in any kind whatsoever, any Building upon new Foundation within the limits of three miles, from any of the Gates of the City of London or Palace of Westminster; That the Owners of the Building so begun, and all the workmen therein employed, shall forthwith by force and virtue of Our Royal commandment (without expecting any other or further Warrant) be attached, & brought before some of Our said Commssioners and justices of Peace, whom We also hereby require and command, to commit them to Prison, until they shall find sufficient sureties for stay of their said Building, as also for their appearance before the Lords of Our Privy Council, or in Our high Court of Starchamber, to answer such their contempts, and to undergo such Sentence, as by that Court shall be given against them.  
And for such as shall hereafter Re-edify or build upon did Foundations in any other sort than is prescribed in Our former Proclamations, and by the Insructions herein expressed; That aswell all such Builders, as the workmen therein employed, shall be attached likewise and proceeded withal as aforesaid.  
And whereas by Our former Proclamation we charged and commanded the Aldermen of the City of London, and their Deputies, in their several Wards and Precincts, as likewise the justices of Peace, High and Petty Constables, and all other inferior Officers within their several limits & jurisdictions, happening within the several Counties of Middlesex, Essex, Kent, and Surrey, That they and every of them in their several places and Offices respectively, should diligently and duly attend to give their uttermost aid, help, and assistance according to their duties, for the due observance to see this Our Royal pleasure (so much concerning the public good) to be duly executed and performed; And where they or any of them should find any offence to be committed against any Branch or Article of the said Proclamation, to make stay thereof, and certify the Commissioners or the Lords of Our Privy Council of the said offences and offenders, it being now manifest, that many of the said offences have been committed and done by the negligence or connivency of some of the Alderman's Deputies within the City of London, & other inferior Officers in the Counties adjacent, in not attending Our Commandment by timely staying the proceeding of such new buildings.  
We therefore do hereby declare Our will and pleasure to be, That where any Building shall be begun contrary to this Our Proclamation, We will take a strict account thereof, aswell from the said Aldermen, as the justices of Peace aforesaid, happening within their several limits and jurisdictions.  
And further Our will and pleasure is, That aswell the Alderman's Deputies in their several Precincts, as the High and Petty Constables, and Headboroughs, and other inferior Officers in their several Parishes, and dwelling in or near to the place where any such new Building shall happen to be begun, contrary to the Tenor of this Our Proclamation; And they or some of them not attaching the person or persons so offending, and not bringing them before some of Our Commissioners as aforesaid, That every such Alderman's Deputy, high Constable, petty Constable and Headborough, or other inferior Officers, shall be not only removed from their several Places and Offices, but be committed to the common Gaol of the City of London, and Counties of Middlesex, Essex, Kent, and Surry, respectively where such offence or offences shall be committed; and every of them to be bound with good sureties for his and their good behaviour for one whole year then after, to the end that by such their punishment, others may learn the better to perform their duties in this Our Service.  
And to the end that such as do conform in their building to the order and form prescribed by Us, may receive due encouragement by having their Materials at reasonable Rates and Prices, which We are informed is much enhanced and raised from the Prices formerly set by Our Commissioners: It is therefore Our will and pleasure, That Our Commissioners for Buildings do call before them all and every the Brickmakers, and Lime-burners within three miles distant of London, as also such as do bring any of the said Materials by land or water to the City of London, or the places near adjoining, and do take order from time to time aswell for the reducing of the Prices thereof to former, usual and reasonable Rates, or otherwise according to their good discretions to be by them set, as also for the present and speedy suppressing of all and every the Nuisances by them daily committed in their several professions of Brick making and Lime-burning so near the City of London, and the parts and places adjoining thereunto, and for the selling of those Materials at and for reasonable Rates and Prices, according to the Articles hereafter following.  
FIrst, We do strictly charge and command, That no dwelling Houses, Stables, Shops, Stalls, or any other Building whatsoever, be from henceforth erected, or attempted to be erected within the City of London, or the Suburbs thereof, or within the distance of three miles to be taken from any Gate of the said City, or from Our Palace at Westminster, except it be upon the Foundation of a former dwelling house, or such like Building; And if any such Building contrary to this Prohibition shall hereafter happen to be begun, that the same be forthwith stayed from further proceeding, by the Alderman of the Ward, or by two of the next justices of Peace, and aswell such Builder, as the Workmen employed therein, committed to Prison, until they shall enter into sufficient Bond, either to demolish, & pull down that which is built, or to answer their contempt in our high Court of Starchamber, or before the Lords of the Privy Council at the Council Board, And the Constable of the Parish or Place, shall from time to time in the first beginning of any such Work or building, give notice to the Alderman of the Ward, or two next justices of Peace, of any such offence, and of the offenders therein, that this Proclamation may be speedily and freshly put in execution, All Houses, sheds, Shops, and other Buildings, which have been builded or set up within the limits aforesaid, at any time since the thirteenth year of the Reign of Our said late Father King JAMES of blessed memory, contrary to any Proclamation published in His time, shall be forthwith pulled down, as is before directed touching other Buildings to be stayed or pulled down, and no Cellars erected within the time last mentioned, to be used for Lodgings or Victualling Houses, but the Occupiers thereof to be suppressed, and so to be kept by the justices of Peace.  
THat no person or persons do Erect, Re-edify, or set up any House, or Building in London, or within the distance of three miles from any the Gates of the said City of London, or from Our said Palace at Westminster, unless he do make all the utter-walles of the same of Brick, or Brick and Stone; And that all Houses and Buildings to be erected within the said City, or in, or adjoining to any open Street of any Town or Village out of the said City, within the limits of three 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 & 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 in the forefront, and all outward and division Walls betwixt house and house, and the jambes, Heads and soils of the Windows shall be of Brick, or of Brick and 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 according to the assize of Bricks hereunder mentioned, 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.  
THat, in building of said Houses there shall be no justies or jutting, or Cantwindowes, either upon Timber joistes, or otherwise, but the walls to go direct and strait upwards, and at the setting of, a water table to be made; Also the lights 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 there may 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 every way, or near thereabouts.  
THat all Shops and Street doors be made with Pilasters of Stone or Brick, to be in breadth fifteen inches at the least, and as thick as the wall of the Story, and the heads of the Shop-windows cut in wedges, with Arches over them to sustain the wall above; And that none do raise their first floor to gain height in their Cellars, so as they are thereby forced to make steps into the street: Provided always, that for so much as concerneth the building with Brick or Stone, shall not extend to any Buildings upon London Bridge, which by reason of the situation thereof cannot with conveniency be so built.  
ANd for the better encouragement of Our loving Subjects in their Buildings, according to the direction of this Proclamation: We have thought fit to set down these orders following concerning the true making and rating of the price of Brick, which is one of the principal Materials requisite for the said buildings: (viz.)  
THat the earth whereof the Brick shall be made, be good and fit for that purpose, The first digging thereof to be between the Feasts of S. Michael the Archangel, and S. Thomas the Apostle, and the second digging, casting, or turning up of the said earth, to be at or before the last day of February then following; And that no person whatsoever do presume to dig or make any Brick in any place within one mile of the Gates of the said City of London, or within one mile of Our Palace of Westminster.  
THat the said earth be sufficiently and well wrought and tempered before it be moulded, and the Brickmakers cause no earth to be moulded for Brick, but only between the Feast of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary, and the last day of August yearly, and at no other time or season of the year.  
THat in the moulding of the said Brick, the Moulds be throughly and well filled, and not set in the Moulds in the laying down; And that they be sufficiently and well dried before they be put into the Kilne, and then carefully and throughly well burned, so as for the assize every Brick being burned contain in length nine inches, in breadth four inches one quarter and half a quarter of an inch, and in thickness two inches and one quarter of an inch.  
THat the price of Bricks (being thus wrought and made in goodness, size, and manner as aforesaid) shall not exceed the rate of eight shillings the thousand at the Kilne; And if any excessive rate be demanded for the carriage of the said Bricks from the Kilne to the place where they shall be to be used, the Commissioners for buildings to moderate the same, according to equity in their good discretions; And that no person or persons shall make, or cause to be made, within five miles of any of the Gates of the City of London, nor bring by water or land, or utter, sell, or put to sale within the said City, or any place or places within five miles thereof, as aforesaid, any Bricks made or wrought contrary to the directions aforesaid, nor sell the same at any higher rate than is before mentioned.  
THat no person or persons within the said City of London, or within three miles from any the Gates thereof, or from Our Palace of Westminster, shall in defrauding the intent of this Proclamation, support or strengthen any Buildings so ruinous and old, as are unfit to be continued, by digging of Cellars, and bringing up new brick walls, by erecting new Chimneys and Staire-cases, by placing of pieces of Timber, by setting on new Roofs or Rafters, and thrusting out of Dormers, knitting and fastening together the said new additions unto the old Timber, by Bars and Cramps of Iron, or other like devices, unless he or they shall be thereunto licenced and allowed by Our Commissioners for Buildings.  
THat no person or persons within the limits last aforesaid, do at any time or times hereafter presume or attempt, to erect, cover, overly, or enclose any Hovels, or others 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 then the same was employed before the time of the demolishing or altering the same, without the special licence and allowance of the said Commissioners for buildings. And for that the dividing of houses into several tenements and habitations, and the letting part of houses and chambers to Inmates and undersitters, is no less inconvenient than excessive buildings, aswell in regard of surcharge of people, especially of the worst sort, and for breeding and spreading of infection, as otherwise, We do also command these Articles following to be duly observed.  
THat no person or persons within the City of London, or three miles from any the Gates thereof, do divide any dwelling house by Lease, sufferance, or otherwise, into, or for any more tenements or dwellings than are at this present, or have been heretofore used within the same by the space of thirty years last passed.  
THat no person do hereafter receive into any house, any Inmates or undersitters, or any more Families than one.  
That no person or persons who shall erect a new house upon, or within the precincts of an old foundation, shall divide the same into more Tenements, or several dwellings than were used in the said former houses.  
BY the due observation of which several Articles, as the uniformity of the buildings will bring much honour to the City, & grace and ornament, both to the streets thereof, and to the neighbour towns; so the building with Brick or Stone will be more durable, and more safe from the danger and casualty of fire: & withal the reducing of all sorts of houses to this order, and the present removing of Inmates and Vndersitters according to this direction, will in short time discontinue, and take away the many Cottages, Sheds, and base places of habitations in By lanes, and back Streets, whereby the City, Suburbs, and Confines will become more suitable, and less subject to that danger of sickness and infection, which by the unwholesome pestering of multitudes of poor people together, is now threatened against the same. And therefore We upon mature, and deliberate consideration taken of the premises, do straight charge & command, all and every person & persons, of whatsoever degree, quality, or condition he or they be: That he, they, and every of them, do well and truly observe and keep, all and singular the Articles before specified, in all things to them respectively belonging, as they will avoid Our high displeasure, and such further penalties and punishments, as their contempts and neglects herein shall demerit, and by Our Prerogative royal, or otherwise may be inflicted upon them.  
Given at Our Court at Nonsuch: the sixteenth day of july, in the sixth 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: and by the Assigns of john Bill. M.DC.XXX.