❧ A Copy of the King's majesties Letters Patents for the rating and assessing the Prices of horse-meat for Inns and Hosteries throughout the Kingdom.  
AT LONDON Printed by john Beale, and are to besold by Richard Hawkins in Chancery lane.   

❧ A Copy of the King's majesties Letters Patents for the rating and assessing the Prices of horse-meat for Inns and Hosteries throughout the Kingdom.  
JAMES by the Grace of GOD, KING of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. To Our trusty and well-beloved Sir Henry Montague Knight, Chief justice of the Pleas before Us to be holden assigned: And to the Chief justice of the said Pleas for the time being, and to all other Our justices of Assize, now and for the time being, and to all other Our loving Subjects whom these presents shall or may concern, greeting.  
Whereas We have by Our Letters Patents bearing date at Westminster the third day of March, in the fourteenth year of our Reign of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the fiftieth, for the considerations therein mentioned: Assigned and appointed Sir Gyles Mompesson of Bathe-hampton in the County of Wiltes, Knight, Gyles Bridges of Wilton, in the County of Hereford, Esquire, and james Thurbarne of Gray's Inn in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, Our Commissioners, giving them or any two of them, whereof the said Sir Gyles Mompesson to be one, full power and authority to take a view and Survey of the Inns of this Our Kingdom, and therein amongst other things, to inform themselves of the due keeping of the assize & price of Horse-meat, by inn-holders & Ostlers of this Realm, and therein from time to time to be aiding and assisting to the Chief justice of Our Bench, and to Our justices of Assize, for the better observing of Our true intent and meaning therein expressed. And further to treat with such persons as desire to keep and continue their Inns, or to have any Inn erected for the keeping, continuance and erecting of Inns or Hostries. And to make such Licence in that behalf to such persons as in Our said Letters Patents is declared.  
In every of which Licenses We directed by Our said Letters Patents, that there should amongst other things be contained a Proviso, that the party so to be Licenced and his assigns, should keep the Assize of Bread and Ale, and measure according to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm, and further observe the prices of Horse-meat set down, or from time to time to be set down by Our justices of Assize in their several Circuits, or by the Chief justice of Our Bench, in places where Our justices of Assize do not come, as by Our said Letters Patents of Commission more fully may appear.  
By the which Proviso We intended as well the general benefit of Our Subjects, by redressing the excessive prices and exactions unlawfully encroached on them by inn-holders and Ostlers, as also the relief of inn-holders and Ostlers themselves, by allowing them a more convenient gain, then by certain ancient and almost absolute statutes made in the reigns of Our most Noble Predecessors King Richard the second, and King Henry the fourth, is prescribed unto them, which Statutes although they remain as yet in force, yet considering the times wherein they were enacted, and the alteration of prizes incident to the Succession of so many ages, besides the difference of moneys then and now current within this Our Kingdom, have by degrees so far outworn that original equity and proportion upon which they were first grounded, as that at this day they cannot be observed, without the extreme prejudice and almost utter undoing of Ostlers, who notwithstanding are by the breach thereof continually subject to no less mischief by popular informations. But now finding upon further advice, that these Our charitable intentions cannot have so good effect as we expected, for that you Our said justices have neither by the said Letters Patents, nor otherwise by the Laws of of this Our Realm, without Our especial Warrant as we are informed, sufficient power or authority to assess or limit any prizes, accordingly as is conditioned with such as take any Licences for keeping of Inns, by virtue of our said Letters Patents.  
We therefore willing to give Our Royal assistance in a case of so general importance, and reposing especial trust and confidence in your fidelities, wisdoms and provident circumspections, do hereby for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, give full power and authority unto you Our said justices of Assize, respectively within your several circuits, and to all other the justices of Assize, of Us, Our Heirs and Successors, now and for the time being.  
And We do also hereby for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, will and command you and every of your respectively, as aforesaid, from henceforth until Our pleasure be further known to the contrary, at every general Assizes to be holden for each County within your several Divisions, in the presence, and by & with the assistance of any four justices of the Peace of the same County, or more, from whom you may receive fit information in that behalf, together with the assistance of Our said Commissioners or any of them, if they or any of them shall be there present, by order in writing under your hands, to assess, limit, rate, and appoint such reasonable prizes for Horse-meat to be observed by all inn-holders and Ostlers within your said several circuits, so licenced or to be licenced, as aforesaid.  
And likewise from time to time at every of the said general Assizes in the presence, & with the like assistance of any four or more justices of the Peace, & of our said Commissioners, as aforesaid by any other order or orders in writing under your hands, to correct, renew, altar & amend the said prizes, as in your discretions shall seem fit and convenient, having due respect unto the time, and the usual Rates of the adjoining Markets, and such other considerable circumstances as shall be requisite in a business of that nature.  
Further willing and commanding you and every of you hereby, within twenty days after the end of your several Circuits, to return and certify in writing under your hands all and singular the said Orders, Rates, and Assessments, together with the names of such justices of the Peace as were present at the rating and assessing thereof, unto the Office of the Receiver of the Fines, Rents, and Profits for Licences of Innkeepers, erected and established by Our said Letters Patents, to the end that the same may be there registered and entered in the said Office.  
And We do further hereby for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, charge and command all and singular justices of the Peace of every County at large within this Our Kingdom, now, and for the time being respectively, with their best means and endeavours to be aiding and assisting to Our said justices of Assize, for the rating and assessing of the prizes aforesaid. And touching all exempt Cities, Counties, Towns Corporate, Liberties, and other places privileged within this Realm, where Our said justices of Assize do not resort. We do hereby for Us, Our Heirs & Successors, give full power and authority unto you Our said Chief justice of Our said Pleas, and to all other the Chief justices of the said Pleas of Us, Our Heirs and Successors for the time being, and do also hereby for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, charge and command you and every of you, twice in every year, that is to say, in the Terms of Easter and Saint Michael the Archangel yearly, in the presence, and by and with the assistance of the said Commissioners, or any two of them, whereof the said Sir Gyles Mompesson to be one, by order in writing under your hand, to assess, limit, rate and appoint such reasonable prizes for Horse-meat to be observed by all inn-holders and Ostlers licenced or to be licenced as aforesaid, within any of the said exempted or privileged places: and likewise from time to time yearly in the said Terms by any other order or orders in writing under your hand, to correct alter, renew and amend the said rates and prizes according to your best discretion: and in the same Terms likewise to return & certify your said orders, rates and prizes into Our said Office of receiver to be there registered and entered, as aforesaid, willing and commanding hereby Our said receiver now, and for the time being, to make and give under his hand true Copies of all and every the Orders, Rates, and Assessments aforesaid, as well such as shall be made for the Counties at large, as for the said exempt or privileged places to all persons requiring the same, taking not above twelve pence for any one Copy.  
And for the further Indemnity of all such inn-holders or Ostlers either in the Counties at large, or other the places exempted, as aforesaid, as now are or shall hereafter be licenced to erect, keep or continue any Inn or Hostery, according to the tenor of Our former recited Letters Patents, We do hereby of Our especial Grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, give full power and authority to all and every the said inn-holders or Ostlers so licenced, or to be licenced as aforesaid, and to no other, to Receive and take from time to time, such Rates and prizes for Horse-meat, as by the said justices of Assize, or Chief justice aforesaid, respectively shall be so limited, ordered, assessed, and certified unto the said Office, as aforesaid, the said several Acts of Parliaments: or any other Law, Statute, Proclamation, Ordinance, Usage or Custom whatsoever to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. And to the end that Our care herein, chief tending to the general welfare and profit of Our loving Subjects, be not hereafter abused by the misapplying of Our Grace and Favour in the granting of any such Licenses unto people of base quality and lose conversation.  
And for as much as it is impossible that the said Sir Gyles Mompesson, Gyles Bridges, and james Thurbarne, Our Commissioners appointed by the said Letters Patents, should of themselves be able to take sufficient notice what persons throughout the whole Realm are unfit to be licenced to erect, keep, or continue any Inn or Hostry as aforesaid: the rather for that men of ill condition oftentimes procure favourable certificates, from persons of good credit in their behalf.  
We therefore for the better Assistance and Supply of Our said Commissioners herein, do hereby for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, will and command all and singular Clerks of the Peace, now and for the time being of every County at large within this Our Realm of England, where Our said justices of Assize do usually come. And all & singular Majors, Bailiffs, Constables, and other head Officers, now and for the time being of the said exempted Cities, Counties, Towns Corporate, Liberties, and places privileged, as aforesaid, Respectively to make true Returns and certificates in writing under their hands, unto our said Office of receiver twice in the year, that is to say, in the Terms of Easter, and Saint Michael the Archangel, of the names, qualities and places of abode of all such persons as before that time have been, or hereafter shall be in public Sessions holden for any County at large, or by public order made in any of the said exempted or privileged places respectively for their evil behaviour, or other personal insufficiency, disallowed or prohibited to keep any Alehouse or Victualing-house, within the Precincts of their several jurisdictions, together with the true causes wherefore they were so disallowed, To the end that the said Certificates may be kept and registered in the said Office: and that Our said Commissioners thereby taking notice of all such prohibited, and insufficient persons, may the more warily proceed in granting the said Licenses.  
Lastly, Our will and pleasure is, and We do hereby for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, grant that these Presents, and the Enrolment thereof, shall be firm, good, available, and effectual in the Law to all intents, constructions and purposes, according to our meaning herein expressed: any Law, Statute, Act, Ordinance, or Provision to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.  
In witness whereof, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents. Witness Ourself at Westminster the fourth day of November, in the sixteenth year of Our Reign of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the two and fiftieth. Per ipsum Regem.  
 royal blazon of King James HONI SOIT QVI MAY Y PENSE