HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms 
M I I   blazon of the City of London  
❧ By the Major.  
WHereas divers good Acts and Ordinances have heretofore been made, aswell by public Proclamations, as other ways: for the restraining the great Abuses daily committed and used in brewing and uttering of extraordinary strong Ale and Beer, of fifteen shillings and sixteen shillings the barrel, in such unusual and strange manner, and by such unlawful measures and prizes, as in former ages was never known and suffered, and grown now to such a habit of Idleness and drunkenness, as is fit to be reform: Or else the poison thereof, will trench to the prejudice of the whole Kingdom, which in no wise is to be suffered. Wherefore, the right honourable Sir john jolles, knight, Lord Mayor of this honourable City, having called before him, the Master and Wardens of the Brewers, and Freemen of this City of London, and sundry other discreet persons of understanding and grave discretion, have diligently inquired, the reasons and causes of the great dearth of Barley and Malt at this present throughout the whole kingdom: finding that the prizes of Malt is one third part dearer by the quarter, then is Rye, and beareth near to the price of ordinary wheat: which will make the greatest part of the Earable Land of this kingdom to be sown with Barley. And consequently, whereas in former times, in the knowledge of many Merchants yet living, That this Kingdom did yearly spare great quantities of wheat to be transported into foreign parts beyond the Seas, so much wheat as did return into this kingdom in species of Gold and Silver, yearly many thousand pounds, which was here Minted into the King's majesties Coin: and now so little wheat sown here, to give room for Barley, that we are served with wheat ourselves, out of foreign Countries, who draw away the Coin of this Land, both Silver and Gold from England, for their Corn, to the like number of many thousand pounds yearly, to our great prejudice: All which inconveniences, do grow by the brewing of this heady strong drink, which wasteth our Corn infinitely.  
And further, a new evil is crept into the City and Suburbs, amongst the petty Victuallers and Alehouse keepers, that become Brewers in their own houses of strong Ale, and so are both Brewers and Victuallers, and retail the same at two pence or three pence the quart, to the poorest labouring people of the City, to the misery of their poor wives and children, whose husbands give as much for a quart of strong Ale, as would find their wives and children both bread and drink at home. For Reformation of the foresaid abuses, the Lord Mayor by all the best means and power that he can use, intendeth forthwith with all severity to reform within the City of London, and Liberties thereof, to the example of the rest of the kingdom. And therefore hereby Chargeth and Commandeth, That no Inholder, Alehouse keeper, Cook, Tobacco seller, nor other Victualler, or keeper of Ordinaries whatsoever, shall in any wise, brew any drink in their houses, neither Beer nor Ale, nor utter, nor sell any Ale or beer at other rates, then is by the Law appointed, (viz:) a full quart of the best Ale or Beer for a penny, and a full quart of the smaller beer for a half penny. And likewise, straightly chargeth and commandeth all brewers, which are brewers by their trade either of Ale or beer, that they nor any of them, do brew any Ale or beer, at any other rates, or in any other manner than is appointed by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm, nor at any other prizes, then that the Victuallers may be able to afford the same at the rates abovesaid: of a penny a quart the best, and a half penny the quart of the smaller. AND, that it shall appear, the Contents of this Proclamation shall be straightly looked into, his Lordship hath appointed in every Ward of London, certain honest and well disposed persons, to search & view, throughout their Wards where any of these abuses shall be committed, to discover them to the Lord Maior, to the end, that severe punishment may be inflicted upon the offenders.  
And further, whereas of late there hath been a very gross and corrupt use, or rather Abuse, set up amongst bakers of Market bread, by many Foreigners, and some bakers of the City: touching the baking of false sized bread, never wont to be used, (viz:) in baking of three-peny, five-peny, eight-peny, and Tenpenny Loaves of bread, to beguile the simple people, and Children withal, in selling the three penny Loaf for a groat, the five penny for six pence, the ten penny for twelve pence, which is not fit to be used or suffered. Wherefore, the Lord Maior straightly Chargeth and Commandeth all Bakers of bread, of what kind or condition soever, That they, nor any of them, shall not in any wise bake, nor put to sale, either in their shops, nor in the Markets of the City, any wheaten or white bread of any size above the penny loaf, & two penny loaf: nor any brown or household bread, above the penny loaf, or two penny loaf, six penny loaf, and twelve penny loaf, which shall have the print in the top of the Loaves, (viz:) on the two penny loaf, the print of 2. on the six penny loaf, the print of 6. and on the twelve penny loaf the print of 12. And if they bake or put to sale any other bread of other sizes and prizes, the same shall be given away in the Market to the poor: and the sellers thereof committed to prison for their wilful offence therein committed.  
❧ God save the King. ❧   

Printed by William jaggard, Printer to the Honourable City of Lond●●