By the Queen.  
¶ A Proclamation for restraint of transportation of grain beyond the seas.  
THE Queen's Majesty understanding of the sudden increase of the prices of grain, for the more part universally in the Realm, as it is to be conjectured partly by the unseasonableness of the late harvest time, and partly by reason of excessive transportation of grain out of the Realm, into the parties beyond the seas, whereby if stay be not speedily made for any further transportation, there may follow a great dearth, which shall hardly be borne of a great number of her good loving subjects: doth therefore straightly charge and command all manner her subjects, and other inhabitants within this Realm, to forbear from the day of the publication hereof, from the shipping or lading into any vessel, any manner of grain, to the intent the same should be directly or indirectly carried and transported into any parts beyond the seas, upon pain of imprisonment, and other further punishments, due by the laws of the Realm. And if any officers, in any port Towns, as Customers, controllers, Searchers, or such like, shall either themselves offend herein, or shall not do their endeavour to stay any such transportation, or if they cannot conveniently stay the same, shall not make due and speedy infourmation thereof to her Majesty, her privy counsel, or to the principal officers of her Exchequer, than they, besides the former punishments, to forfeit their offices. And consyderying it cannot be well avoided, but that some quantity of grain is to be carried from one port to another port, to serve the necessity of some other part of the Realm: in such case, the officers of the ports shall diligently see, that good sureties with bonds be taken of persons being of valour answerable for the same, to bring due certificates from the ports where the same shall arrive and be unladen: And that for more assurance thereof, the officers of the ports, shall thereof make their certificates into the Exchequer within two months after the arrival thereof, upon pain of forfeiture of their offices.  
And for that it is thought, that it shall appear by the end of October next, what effect shall follow hereof, to the diminution of the excessive prices, her Majesty meaneth that this manner of restraint shall not continue by force of this Proclamation, but to the end of the said month of October now following.  
Given at Woodstock, the xvi. day of September 1572, the fourteenth year of her majesties reign. 
 God save the Queen.   

Imprinted at London in Paul's Church yard, by Richard jug, Printer to the Queen's Majesty.   

Cum privilegio Regiae Maiestatis.