DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms  
❧ By the King. ¶ A Proclamation for reforming and preventing the frauds frequently practised, aswell in the over-weight of Butter-Casks, as in the false packing of Butter.  
WHereas Our loving Subjects the Freemen of Our City of London trading in Butter and Cheese, have by their Petition lately presented unto Us, Humbly showed that time out of mind every Firkin of Butter hath used and ought to be of the weight of fifty six pounds neat Butter besides the Cask, and the Cask eight pounds and no more; But by the greedy and covetous practices of some deceitful persons, who are the makers and packers of Butter, most part of the Firkins that are filled and packed, do weigh some twelve, and some fourteen pounds the empty Cask, And both Cask and Butter for the most part, weigh not above sixty or sixty and two pounds, and many times but fifty eight pounds, And that by means thereof Our loving Subjects are daily deceived of four, six, and eight pounds of Butter, and sometimes more in each Firkin, and so accordingly in greater and lesser Vessels: And likewise that the makers and packers of Butter do usually pack up corrupt Butter with their best Creame-butter, to the no less abuse and deceit of Our loving Subjects; For prevention whereof Our said Subjects the Freemen of London most humbly prayed, That We would be graciously pleased by Our Letters Patents to appoint one person of trust, Authorising him and his Deputies to Brand and set a Mark on the outside of each Firkin, Kilderkin, Barrel and other Cask, and Vessel whatsoever wherein Butter is to be packed and put up, within Our Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, to express the weight of the same with allowance to each Cask for seasoning.  
And withal to prohibit all makers and packers of Butter not to fill or pack up Butter into any Firkin, Kilderkin, Barrel, or other Vessel whatsoever, until such Officer or his Deputies have so Branded or marked the same empty Cask or Vessel, upon pain of forfeiture aswell of the Butter as the Vessel.  
And that the said Officer, and his Deputies, might have power to search for, seize and take away all such Firkins, and other Vessels of Butter, as he or they should find filled and packed unmarked and falsely packed as aforesaid, which Petition we referring to the Consideration of the Lords, & others of Our privy Council, upon due Consideration had thereupon, it was thought very requisite that the said deceits and abuses should be speedily reform: And the best means for the doing thereof was also conceived to be by appointing such an Officer to Brand and mark all the said empty Cask & other Vessel before they be filled, thereby to express the weight, and contents on the outside thereof, as was humbly desired by the said freemen of London: We therefore for the avoiding and preventing hereafter of all the abuses, and deceits before specified for the good, and benefit of all Our Loving Subjects, did by Our Letters Patents, dated the second day of july last passed, for us, Our heirs, and Successors, appoint, erect, create, and make an Office, aswell for the gauging of Butter, as for the Branding, and marking of all empty Butter-Caske, and Vessel.  
And We reposing trust, and confidence in the fidelity, industry, diligence and experience of Captain john Read, did at the nomination of the said freemen of London, Trading in Butter, and Cheese, thereby give and grant to him, his Deputies, and Assigns, during his natural life, the said Office of gauging, Branding and marking of all empty Butter-Caske, and Vessel within Our said Realm of England, and Dominion of Wales. And also according as was thought fit by Our said Subjects the freemen of Our said City, We did by Our said letters Patents, as also We do by these presents ordain and appoint that the said Captain john Read, his Deputies and Assigns, shall have, take and receive of all and every person and persons whatsoever, who shall bring the said Cask or other Vessel to be marked or Branded, upon the Branding or marking of every Firkin the sum of two pence, and so proportionably according to the same rate for every lesser or greater Cask or Vessel.  
And We do hereby straightly charge, prohibit, and forbidden all and every makers and packers of Butter, within this Our Realm of England, and Dominion of Wales, that they nor any of them do at any time or times hereafter, from and after the first day of March next ensuing the date hereof, presume to fill or pack up any Butter into any Firkin, Kilderkin, Pot or other Vessel whatsoever, to be put to sale, before such time or until the said Captain john Read, or his Assigns, or his or their Deputy or Deputies have first gauged and marked every such Cask and vessel, and set his Brand or mark thereupon expressing the weight thereof on the outside, whereby the buyer and buyers of any such Butter, may have fifty six pounds of neat Butter in every Firkin, and so after the same rate in every other Vessel, Pot, and Cask to be filled with Butter, proportionably. And likewise we do hereby prohibit, that no person, or persons whatsoever, from and after the day aforesaid, do buy any Butter, put up in any Vessel or Cask, unless the same be first Branded and marked as aforesaid.  
And also that the said makers and packers of Butter do not presume to make up, or pack into any such Vessel, or Cask, any bad or corrupt Butter, with good Creame-butter, upon pain of being punished in Our Court of Star-chamber, as contemners of Our Royal Commands, and as falsifiers, and deceivers of Our people.  
And We do hereby give full power and authority unto the said Captain john Reade, and his Assigns, and to his and their Deputy, and Deputies, and every of them with the assistance of a Constable, or other Officer, to enter into any place, or places whatsoever, at convenient times, to search for all such Vessel, and Cask, as shall be filled with Butter unmarked, or unbranded, or falsely, or corruptly filled as aforesaid, and finding any such Cask, or Vessel, to seize and destroy the same, and to cause the Offenders to be duly punished.  
And that Our purpose herein may be firmly executed for the good and benefit of Our Subjects, We do hereby prohibit and forbid all and every person, and persons whatsoever, that none of them, other than the said Captain john Reade, and his Assigns, and his and their Deputy, and Deputies do take upon them, or presume, or attempt to mark, gage, or brand any empty Butter-caske, or Vessel whatsoever, or intermeddle, or do any thing to the said Office belonging, or appertaining, contrary to the true meaning of these presents, upon pain of Our high indignation, and displeasure, and of such other pains, penalties, and punishments, as by the Laws of this Our Realm of England, or by Our Prerogative Royal, can, or may be inflicted upon the offenders herein, for breach, and contempt of this Our Royal pleasure and Commandment.  
And lastly, We do hereby for Us, Our Heirs, and Successors, straight Charge and Command, all and singular Majors, justices of Peace, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Constables, Headboroughs, and all other Officers, and Ministers whatsoever, of Us, Our Heirs, and Successors to be aiding, assisting, and helping, unto the said Captain john Reade, and his Assigns, and his, and their Deputy, and Deputies, and every of them, in the due execution of the said Office, and of Our Will and pleasure herein expressed in all things, according to the true meaning of these presents, and in no wise to hinder him, or them, in the execution and performance of this service, As they tender Our pleasure, and will avoid the contrary at their perils.  
Given at Our Court at Theobalds', the thirteenth day of November, in the tenth year of Our Reign. 
 God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty: And by the Assigns of john Bill. 1634.