C2R  
DIEV ET MON DROIT  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  By the King. 
A PROCLAMATION Prohibiting the Importation of EARTHEN WARE.  
CHARLES R.  
WHereas by the Statute made in the Third year of the Reign of King Edward the Fourth, it is Enacted, That no Merchant Native born, Denizen or Stranger, nor other person, shall bring, send or convey from beyond the Sea into the Realm of England, or Dominion of Wales (among other things) any Painted Wares to be Uttered and Sold within the said Realm or Dominion, by way of Merchandise, upon pain to Forfeit the same, as often as they be found in the hands of any person or persons to be Sold; The one half of the said Forfeiture to go to the use of His Majesty, and the other half to him that shall first Seize the same. And whereas Complaint hath been made to His Majesty by several persons using the Trade of Potters in and about the City of London, and Suburbs thereof; That notwithstanding the said Statute, several persons, as well Subjects of this Kingdom, as Foreigners, have presumed to Import, and daily do bring several great quantities of Painted Earthen Wares privately into the Port of London, and publicly into the Out-Ports (where there is little or no care taken to prevent it) to the inevitable ruin of many hundred of His Majesty's poor Subjects, who get their Subsistance and Livelihood by the said Trade, and to the great hazard of losing the said Manufacture within this Realm; the said Manufacture being made to as great perfection by His Majesties said Subjects, as by any Foreigners, and that for the most part with Materials of English growth: His Majesty therefore (with the Advice of His Privy Council) out of His Princely care of the Artificers of this His Kingdom (to whom He resolves to give all good Encouragement) and for prevention of like mischiefs for the time to come, hath thought fit by this His Royal Proclamation, particularly to take notice of the said Statute, and the Penalties therein mentioned, to the end that all persons concerned, may not for the time to come pretend ignorance thereof: And His Majesty doth also (by like Advice) by this His Royal Proclamation straight Charge and Command all Merchants, as well Natives, Denizens, as Strangers, and all other persons whatever, not to presume at any time hereafter, to bring, send, or convey into the Kingdom of England, or Dominion of Wales, from any part beyond the Seas, any Painted Earthen Wares, be the same Painted with White, Blue, or any other Colours, by way of Merchandise, or to be Sold, Bartered or Exchanged, contrary to the said Statute, upon the Pain and Penalties therein expressed, and such others as can or may be inflicted upon the Offenders, according to the utmost severity of Law and justice. And for that end His Majesty doth hereby strictly Charge and Command all Searchers, Waiters, and other Officers of His Customs whatsoever, to use their utmost care and diligence to discover the Wares abovesaid which shall be Imported contrary to the said Statute, and to Seize the same, to the end such proceedings may be thereupon had, as shall be agreeable to Law, and as they will answer the contrary at their utmost peril.  
Given at Our Court at Whitehall the Fifteenth day of December 1676. in the Eight and twentieth year of Our Reign. 
 GOD SAVE THE KING.   

LONDON, Printed by the Assigns of John Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1676.