A Proclamation, set forth by the Kings Majesty, With th'assent and consent of his most dear Uncle Edward Duke of Somerset, Governor of his most royal person, and of his dominions and Subjects Protector, and others of his highness privy counsel, against enclosures, letting of houses to decay, and unlawful converting of arable ground to pastures, the first day of june in the second year of his majesties most gracious reign.  
Forasmuch as the kings Majesty, the Lord Protectors grace, and the rest of his privy Counsel, hath been advertised and put in remembrance, aswell by diverse supplications, and pitiful complaints, of his majesties poor subjects, as also by other, wise and discrete men, having care to the good order of the realm, that of late by the enclosing of lands and arable grounds, in diverse and sundry places of this realm, many have been driven to extreme poverty, and compelled to leave the places where they were borne, and to seek them livings in other countries, with great misery and poverty: insomuch, that where as in time past. x.xx. yea, in some place. C. or CC. christian people, hath been inhabiting and kept household to the bringing forth and nourishing of youth, and to the replenishing and fulfilling, of his majesties realms with faithful subjects, who might serve both almighty God, and the kings majesty to the defence of this realm, now there is nothing kept, but sheep or bullocks: All that land which heretofore was tilled and occupied with so many men, and did bring forth not only diverse families in work and labour, but also Capons, Hens, Chikons, Pigs and other such furniture of the Merkettes, is now gotten by insatiable greediness of mind, into one or two men's hands, and scarcely dwelled upon with one poor Shepherd: So that the realm thereby, is brought to a marvelous desolation, houses decayed, parishes diminished, the force of the realm weakened, and Christian people by the greedy covetousness of some men, eaten up and devoured of brute beasts, and driven from their houses by Sheep and Bullocks. And that although of the same thing, many and sundry complaints and lamentations, hath been heretofore made, and by the most wise and discrete Princes, his majesties father and grandfather, the kings of most famous memory, king Henry the. VII, and king Henry the. VIII, with the consent and assent of the lords spiritual and temporal, in diverse parliaments assembled, diverse and sundry laws and acts of Parliaments, and most Godly ordinances, in their several times hath been made for the remedy thereof: Yet the insatiable covetousness of men, doth not cease daily to encroach hereupon, and more and more to waste the realm, after this sort bringing arable grounds into pastures, and letting houses, whole families, and Copiholdes to fall down, decay, and be waste: Wherefore, his highness is greatly moved, both with a pitiful and tender zeal to his most loving subjects, and specially to the poor, which, is minded to labour and travail for their living, and not to live an Idle and loitering life: and of a most necessary regard, to the surety and defence of his realm, which must be defended against the enemy, with force of men, and the multitude of true Subjects, not with flocks of Sheep, and droves of Beasts: And further is advertised, that by the ungodly and uncharitable means aforesaid, the said Sheep and Oxen, being brought into a few men's hands, a great multitude of them being together, and so made great droves and flocks, aswell by natural reason, as also as it may be justly thought, by the due punishment of God, for such uncharitableness: great rots and Muttins, both of Sheep and Bullocks, hath lately been sent of God, and seen in this realm, the which should not by all reason so soon fall, if the same were dispersed into diverse men's hands, and the said cattles also, by all likelihood of truth should be more cheap, being in many men's hands, then as they be now in few, who may hold them dear, and tarry their advantage of the Merket: And therefore, by th'advise of his most entirely beloved uncle, the Duke of Somerset Governor of his person, and Protector of all his realms, Dominions, and Subjects, and the rest of his majesties privy counsel, hath weighed most deeply all the said things: And upon the foresaid considerations, and of a Princely desire and zeal, to see that Godly laws, made with great travail and approved by experience, and by the wise heads, in the time of the said most prudent Princes, should not be made in vain, but put in ure and execution, hath appointed, according to the said Acts and Proclamations, a view and inquiry to be made, of all such as contrary to the said Acts and Godly ordinances, hath made Enclosures and Pastures, of that which was arable ground, or let any House, Tenement, or Mese decay, and fall down, or otherwise committed or done any thing to the contrary: of the good and wholesome articles, contained in the said Acts: And therefore willeth and commandeth, all his loving subjects, who knoweth any such defaults and offences, contrary to the wealth and profit of this realm of England, and the said Godly laws and Acts of Parliament, done and committed by any person, whosoever he or they be, to insinuate and give information of the offence, to the kings majesties Commissioners, who be appointed to here the same, so truly and faithfully, that neither for favour nor fear, they omit to tell the truth of any, nor for displeasure name any man, who is not guilty thereof: That a convenient and speedy reformation, might be made herein, to the honour of God, and the kings Majesty, and the wealth and benefit of the whole realm.  
God save the King.   

Excusum Londini, in aedibus Richardi Graftoni Regij Impressoris. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum.