DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE CR royal blazon or coat of arms BY THE Lord Lieutenant AND COUNCIL. ESSEX. WHEREAS We are informed, That the price of Corn, and all sorts of Grain and Meal is grown excessive great in several parts of this Kingdom, and the same doth arise (as is conceived) not so much from the scarcity of the store, as from the great quantities of Corn that have been of late carried out of this Country into Foreign parts, and also from the ill disposed minds of the Countrey-farmers' and Corn-masters at home, some whereof keep back their Corn, and will not bring the same into the public Markets to be sold; Others some there are, who go into the near adjacent Counties, where Corn is sold at more moderate prices, and buy up all they can, with intention to hoard the same, either to export or sell it at their own rates: And others some do hasten early to meet such as are coming to the public Markets, and buy up all they can forestall, on purpose to enhance the price thereof, and sell the same again at their own wills and pleasures. And whereas so great misdemeanours are not to be suffered in any well governed Commonwealth, and are against the Laws and Statutes of this Realm; and the several Magistrates and Officers in the respective Cities and Towns Corporate of this Kingdom, and the justices of the Peace in the counties at large aught to be very circumspect, and active, in their several and respective places, to discover and bring unto condign punishment all such persons as they shall find to be guilty of any the Offences aforesaid. To the intent and purpose therefore, that all His Majesty's good Subjects may know that we are very sensible of the aforesaid several misdemeanours, and intent to proceed to a speedy and orderly reformation of the same for the relief of the poor, and the due punishment of such as shall be found guilty of offending in that kind, and for a timely and seasonable prevention of that great scarcity, which otherwise may by such evil practices be brought upon this whole Kingdom; We the Lord Lieutenant and Council do hereby in His Majesty's Name, strictly charge and command all manner of persons whatsoever, That they do from henceforth, until Michaelmas next, forbear to ship, carry, or transport any Wheat, Barley, Rye, Bear, Oats, Pease, Pulse, Meslin, or any Meal out of this Realm, to any other place whatsoever beyond the Seas, as they will answer the contrary at their perils. And We require all His Majesty's Officers in the several and respective Ports of this Kingdom, and the Farmers of the Great Branches of His Majesty's Revenue, that they do seize all such Grain or Meal as they shall find to be shipped after the Date of this Our Proclamation, and before Michaelmas next, with intent to export the same contrary to the true meaning hereof. And We do hereby farther require, and in His Majesty's Name straightly charge and command all Countrey-farmers', and Corn-Masters, and all such who Trade or Deal in the buying and selling of Corn, and have by them any Stores of Wheat, Barley, Rye, Beans-Oats, Pease, Pulse, or any other sort of Corn, Grain, or Meal, that they do bring, or cause to be brought such a competent part and portion thereof, into the public open Markets every Market-day weekly, as may supply the Markets with Corn, and furnish the poor with Bread at such rates as the Markets shall afford. And We do charge and command all Mayors, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Portreeves, Magistrates, and other Officers whatsoever, in the several and respective Cities and Towns corporate of this Kingdom, That they do in their several places and Offices make diligent search and strict inquiry after such as are Engrossers, Forestallers, and Regraters within any their Cities, Liberties, or Towns corporate of this Kingdom, and cause them to be punished and proceeded against according to Law; And that all His Majesty's justices of the Peace in the several and respective Counties of this Kingdom, do in their several and respective Counties, Baronies, parishes, and places, inquire after and find such out as do engross and hoard up Corn, Grain, or Meal to enhance the price thereof, and shall not bring the same, or send competent portions thereof, according to this Ourâ–ª Proclamation, every Market-day weekly, into the public open Markets, there to be sold at such rates as the Market shall afford; And that they do advertise us the Lord Lieutenant and Council thereof with all convenient speed, that thereupon such proceedings may be had against such illaffected persons as shall be according to justice, and the Laws of this Kingdom, which We shall take special care shall be strictly put in Execution against so great and evil Doers. Given at the Council-Chamber in Dublin, the 18th day of May, 1674. Ja. Armachanus. Mich: Dublin Canc. Thomond: I: Temple. Jo: Bysse. H: Ingoldesby Geo: Rawdon. GOD Save the KING. DUBLIN, Printed by Benjamin took, Printer to the KING's most Excellent Majesty; And are to be sold by Joseph Wild Bookseller in Castle-street, 1674.