C R  
DIEV ET MON DROIT  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  By the King. 
A PROCLAMATION Against the deceitful Winding and Folding of Wools.  
CHARLES R.  
WHereas in the Parliament holden in the Seven and twentieth year of the Reign or Our most Noble Progenitor, Edward the Third, late King of England, it is Enacted and Ordained (amongst other things) That all Wooll-Packers, Workers and Winders of Wool, should be Sworn, and take a Corporal Oath before the Mayor of the Staple for the time being, truly and justly to Wind, Work, and Pack all the Wools within the Realm, without fraud or deceit: By force of which Statute, the Fellowship of Wooll-Winders, otherwise called Wooll-men, and all persons using or exercising that Craft or Mystery, are bound justly and truly to Wind and Pack all such Wools as they meddle with throughout the Realm, to the public good and commodity of the whole Realm: By force of which Law, and other Statutes made for the good and due Winding and Packing of Wools, and by the good Ordinances made by the said Fellowship, the said Wools have been ever since justly and truly Wound and Packed, until now of late divers and many persons contrary to the same Statute, taking upon them to be Wool-Winders in many places of this Realm, neither being Sworn, nor expert in Winding and Folding of Wools; of which some be Glover's, Tailors, Weavers, cordwainers, Barbers, Husbandmen, and other Artificers who have gone about, and daily do go about throughout the Realm in many places, practising themselves in Winding and Folding of the said Wools, by the procurement and means of the Owners and Breeders of the said Wools, and do Wind up and deceitfully put into the said Fleeces of Wool, Sand, Stones, Dust, Pitch, Tarr, Day, Iron, Led, Double-marks, Shorelocks, Dung, lambs-wool, Clockets, Locks, Hinder-shanks, Tails, Washlocks, Cummer, and many other deceivable things, not only to the great slander of this Realm, and the embasement and diminution of that ancient Staple-Trade, but to the great loss and prejudice of His Majesty's Subjects using the Craft and Feat of Cloth-making within this Realm, and to the great abuse and deceit of Merchants, and other buyers of the same: Complaints whereof have been with all humble earnestness represented unto the King's Majesty by the Company and Fellowship of Wooll-men, alias Wooll-Packers of the City of London, Suppliants for remedy and relief in that behalf. Therefore for reformation and redress thereof, the Kings most Excellent Majesty, by the Advice of His Privy Council, straight Chargeth and Commandeth, That no manner of person or persons whatsoever he or they be, at any time hereafter go about, or take upon him or them to Wind, Fold, or Pack any manner of Wools in any Country or County within this Realm, where Wools are either bred, wrought, had or used, for any Merchant of the Staple, Breeder, Clothier or Buyers, before be or they shall be admitted and allowed by the Master and Wardens of the Company and Fellowship of the Wool-men of the City of London, or one them for the time being; to the intent that he and they shall be expert, and have knowledge in the said Craft or Mystery, for true Winding and Folding of Wools: And that every person and persons so allowed and admitted for an able and lawful Workman or Workmen in form aforesaid, shall have a Testimonial or Certificate of his allowance and admittance under the Seal of the Mayor of the Staple of Westminster for the time being: And that none of the said persons so allowed and admitted, or that shall go about or take upon him to Wind or Fold any Wools, before he or they have taken a Corporal Oath before the said Mayor for the time being, That he or they shall truly and justly without deceit, Wind and Fold all and singular such Wool or Wools as he or they shall take upon him or them to Wind or Fold, and shall not commit, use or practise any deceit or guile therein; upon pain that every person which shall take upon him to Wind and Fold any manner of Wools, being not admitted sworn as is aforesaid, or which shall commit, us; e or practise any deceit or guile therein against this Our Proclamation, or against any the Laws and Statutes in that behalf made and provided, shall suffer Imprisonment Ten days, and to be set upon the Pillory in the next Market-Town, with a Fleece of Wool hanging about his neck, according to the tenor of several Proclamations heretofore set forth; one in the Fifth year of the Reign of Our most Noble Predecessor King Edward the Sixth; And one other Proclamation set out by Queen Elizabeth, bearing date the Tenth day of August, in the Fourth year of Her Reign; And one other set forth in the Second year of the Reign of Our Royal Grandfather King James, and bearing date the Eighteenth day of June in the said year.  
And His Majesty further straight Chargeth and Commandeth, That no Grower, Bréeder, Brogger or Gatherer of any Wools in any His Highness Countries or Counties within this Realm, shall at any time hereafter set on work any Wooll-Folder, or Wooll-Winder, to Fold or Wind his or their Wool or Wools, unless the said Wooll-Folder, or Wooll-Winder bring with him or them a Testimonial or Certificate under the Seal of the said Mayor of the Staple at Westminster for the time being, testifying him or them to be Sworn and admitted for an able Workman to Fold and Wind Wools in manner and form as is aforesaid, upon the like pain as is above expressed.  
And further, where by an Act made in the Three and twentieth year of the Reign of Our most Noble Predecessor, King Henry the Eighth of famous memory yet standing in force, It was Enacted, That no manner of person do Wind, or cause to be Wound any Fleece of Wool not being sufficiently rivered or washed, nor Wind, or cause to be Wound within any Fleece, any deceivable things particularly mentioned in the same Act, or any other thing where by the Fleece may be the more weighty, to the deceit and loss of the Buyer, upon pain the Seller of any such deceitful Wools to forfeit for every such Fleece six pence: His Majesty hath been certainly informed, That notwithstanding the said good Act and Statute, much deceit is used in Washing, Winding, Folding and Packing of Wools, and that for the most part, of unskilful person, contrary to the said Act and Statute: His Majesty therefore minding to have the said Clauses of the said Statute, and all Acts and Statutes touthing, or in any wise concerning the avoiding of the said deceits, or made and provided for the true and lawful Winding, Folding, and Packing of the said Wools by expert and skilful persons, shall be from henceforth duly observed and put in execution, and the Offenders against the same to be corrected and punished according to the effect and true meaning thereof, Doth straight Charge and Command all and every His Subjects whatsoever, to whom it shall and may appertain, to observe the true meaning of the said Acts, and yield punctual obedience to the said Laws, upon pain of forfeiture of the penalties therein contained, and as they will avoid His Highness further displeasure. And further, His Majesty by the Advice aforesaid, straight Chargeth and Commandeth all and every justices of Peace, Mayor, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, and all other His Highness Officers and Ministers whatsoever, to whom it may appertain, within their several Liberties and Precincts, That they, and every of them, cause every such Offender and Offenders to be punished for every such Offence and Offences above mentioned, in such sort as is above limited, appointed and declared. And that every and whatsoever justice of Peace, Mayor, Sheriff, Bailiff, or other Officer do refuse, or do not punish, or cause to be punished, every such person or persons, so to him or them presented, according to this present Ordinance, his or their faults being duly proved, shall be Fined to the King's Majesty according to such demerits; And further, shall incur His Highness' displeasure.  
Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the Fifth day of February, 1663. in the Sixteenth year of Our Reign. 
 GOD SAVE THE KING.   

London, Printed by John Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the KING'S most excellent Majesty. 1663.