By the King and Queen, A PROCLAMATION, For Preventing the Exportation of Corn to France, and Enhaunsing of Prices thereof at Home, and for Setting the Poor on Work.  
MARRY R.  
WHereas a good and profitable Law was made in the Fifth and Sixty Years of the Reign of King Edward the Sixth, against Regrators Forestallers, and Engrossers of Corn, and other dead Victuals, and the Execution of that Law was enforced, and other useful Directions relating thereto were given by another Act of Parliament made in the Fifth Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, touching Badgers of Corn, and Drovers of Cattle to be Licenced; Notwithstanding which good Laws (still in Force) yet for want of the due and careful Execution thereof, divers evil disposed Persons have, and do presume to Engross, and get into their Hands great Quantities of Corn and Grain, with intent to Sell the same again, some without any Licence at all, and others, though Licenced, yet contrary to the said Acts, and their Licences, and Securities thereupon, do keép the Corn in their hands, and do not Sell the same again, in such manner, and within the time appointed for so doing, nor observe other the Matters which those Acts and their Licences and Securities require; by means whereof not only the Prices of Corn and Grain in and about Our Cities of London and Westminster, and Places Adjacent, are greatly Enhanced, far exceeding the Prices in Our Midland and more Remote Counties, but the Exportation of Corn to France, or the French Kings Dominions (where the great Scarcity and excessive Prices invite the Importation) is rendered the more easy, and evil affected Persons, notwithstanding the Penalty of a Praemunire Inflicted upon Offenders in such unlawful Exportation, by Act of Parliament made in the Third and Fourth Year of Our Reign, against Corresponding with Our Enemies, are not deterred from so evil an Action. And forasmuch as it will much conduce to the Good and Benefit of Our Subjects, that all the Laws in Force for Setting the Poor on Work throughout Our Kingdom, should be duly Observed and put in Execution; We therefore out of Our Princely Care and Tenderness for the Good and Welfare of Our Subjects, and for their Ease and Relief in the Premises, have thought fit (by and with the Advice of Our Privy Council) to Publish this Our Royal Proclamation, hereby Charging and Commanding all and every of Our judges, justices of the Peace, Mayor, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, and all other Our Magistrates Officers and Ministers whatsoever and wheresoever 〈…〉 jurisdictions, do cause the said Acts made in the Fifth and Sixth Years of King Edward the Sixth, against Regrators, Forestallers and Engrossers, and the said other Act made in the Fifth Year of Queéns Elizabeth, and all other Acts relating to the same Matters, and all Laws in Force for the Setting the Poor on Work, to be in all and every the Parts and Branches thereof put in speédy and effectual Execution; And that they do take Care, and give effectual Directions, That no Licences be granted to any Badger, Lader, Kidder, Carrier, or Buyer of Corn or Grain, but only according to the Directions of those Acts, and to such Persons only as are or shall be duly qualified for the same, and under such Surety by Recognizance or otherwise, as those Acts require; And also to take care that all Persons who shall presume to Buy and Engross any Corn, Grain, or other dead Victuals, without Licence, and all such as having Licences for that purpose, shall not duly and strictly comply with and observe the Conditions and Terms of their Licences and Securities, be effectually Prosecuted and Proceeded against, according to the Purport and Effect of the said Statutes; And that all Fines, Forfeitures and Penalties arising thereby, be duly Levied, Answered and Paid as those Acts direct. And in regard it is most probable that the Exporters of Corn to France, or the French Kings Dominions, are such as Buy and Engross the same, contrary to the said Statutes of King Edward the Sixth, and Queen Elizabeth, For the further Prevention therefore of such Exportation, We do hereby strictly Charge and Command, as well all Our judges, justice of the Peace, Mayor, Sheriffs, Magistrates, and the Commissioners of Our Customs, and all other Our Officers and Ministers, for the time being, of and belonging to Our Custom-houses and Ports, within this Our Realm of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, and all other Our Officers, Ministers, and Loving Subjects whatsoever, that they and every of them in their respective Places, Stations and Employments, do use all Lawful Ways and Means for the Discovering and Preventing of all Exportation of Corn to France, or other the French Kings Dominions: We being Resolved, and do hereby strictly Command, That the said Act against Corresponding with Our Enemies, be in all Parts thereof strictly Executed, and all Offences and Offenders against the same Punished according to the utmost Rigour of the Law. And if it shall or may be Discovered, or upon reasonable Grounds Suspected, that any Corn or Grain is Intended or Bought to be Exported to France, or any the French Kings Dominions, or to be Exported by any Persons that got the same into their Hands, by Buying or Engrossing contrary to Law, that due, strict and speedy Prosecution be made of such Offenders and Offences, according to the utmost Rigour of Law. And for the better Encouragement of all such as shall make Discovery of any Persons, who, since the making the said Act against Corresponding with Our Enemies, have, or hereafter shall Carry or Transport any Corn or Grain to France, or any of the French King's Dominions, We do hereby Declare, That the Person or Persons (other than the Master of the Ship or Vessel, wherein such Transportation hath been, or shall be made, and the Parties Interested in the Corn) making such Discovery, and giving Evidence in order to Conviction, shall, upon Certificate from the judges or Magistrates before whom such Offender shall be Convicted, not only have and receive a Reward of Two hundred Pounds for every Ship and Vessel, so Transporting, or having Transported Corn as aforesaid, to be Paid by the Lords Commissioners of Our Treasury, or Lord Treasurer for the time being, but also shall have and receive Our Gracious Pardon for such Offences, so as Discovery be made of Offences past, within the Space of Threé months' next ensuing the Date hereof, and of future Offences within the like Space of Three months' next after the Time of such Transportation. And We do hereby Require and Charge all Our Officers, Ministers and Loving Subjects whatsoever, to be Aiding and Assisting in the due Execution of Our Royal Will and Pleasure herein Expressed, under the Pain of Our High Displeasure, and of such Pains and Punishments as may by Law be Inflicted upon the Contemners of Our Royal Authority.  
Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the Nineteenth Day of October, 1693. In the Fifth Year of Our Reign.  
God save King William and Queen Mary.   

London, Printed by Charles Bill, and the Executrix of Thomas Newcomb, deceased; Printers to the King and Queens Excellent Majesties. 1693.