❧ By the King.  
WHereas in the Parliament holden in the seven and twentieth year of the Reign of our most noble Progenitor Edward the third late King of England, It is enacted, and ordained amongst other things, That all Woolpackers, and Winders of Wools should be sworne, and take a corporal oath before the Mayor of the Staple for the time being, truly and justly to Wind and pack all the Wools within the Realm; By force of which Statute the fellowship of Woolwinders, otherwise called Woollmen, are bound justly and truly to wind and pack all such Wools, as they meddle with throughout the Realm, to the public good and commodity of the whole Realm, By force of which Statute, and by the good Ordinances made by the said fellowship, the said Wools have been ever since justly and truly wound and packed, until now of late divers and many persons (contrary to the same Statute) taking upon them to be Woolwinders in many places of this Realm, neither being sworn, nor expert in winding and folding of Wools, of which some be glovers, Tailors, Weavers, Cordwainers, Barbers, Husbandmen, and other Artificers, have gone about, and daily do go about throughout this Realm in many places, practising themselves in Winding and folding of the said Wools, by the procurement and means of the Owners, and Breeders of the said Wools, and do wind up, and deceitfully put into the said Fleeces of Wool, sand, stones, dust, pitch, tar, clay, iron, lead, double marks, shorlocks, dung, lambs wool, Clockets, locks, hindershanks, tails, washlocks, comer, and many other deceivable things, not only to the great slander of this Realm, but to the great loss and prejudice of his majesties Subjects, using the craft and feat of Clothmaking within this Realm, and to the great abuse and deceit of Merchants, and others, buyers of the same.  
For reformation and redress whereof, The Kings most excellent Majesty, by the advice of his Privy Counsel, straightly chargeth and commandeth, That no manner of person or persons, whatsoever he or they be, at any time hereafter go about, or take upon him or them to Wind or fold any manner of Wools in any Country where Wools are accustomed to be wrought, had or used, Or in the Counties of Northampton, Lincoln, Leicester, or Rutland, for any Merchant of the Staple, Clothier or buyers, before he or they shallbe admitted and allowed, by the Master, and Wardens of the Company and fellowship of the Woolmen of the City of London, or one of them for the time being, to the intent that he and they shallbe expert, and have knowledge in the said craft or mystery, for the true Winding and folding of Wools. And that every person and persons so allowed and admitted for an able and lawful workman, or workmen in form aforesaid, shall have a Testimonial or Certificate of his allowance and admittance, under the Seal of the Mayor of the Staple at Westminster for the time being; And that none of the said persons so allowed & admitted, or that shallbe so allowed and admitted, shall go about, or take upon him or them, to Wind or fold any Wools before he or they have taken a corporal oath before the said Mayor for the time being, That he or they shall truly and justly without deceit win, or fold all and singular such Wool, or Wools, as he or they shall take upon him or them to wind or fold, and shall not commit, use, or practise any deceit or guile therein, upon pain that every person which shall take upon him to Wind or fold any manner of Wools being not admitted and sworn, as is aforesaid, or which shall commit, use, or practise any deceit or guile therein against this our Proclamation, or against any the Laws and Statutes, in that behalf made and provided, shall suffer imprisonment ten days, and to be set upon the Pillory in the next Market town, with a Fleece of Wool hanging about his neck, according to the tenor of a Proclamation heretofore set forth in the fifth year of the reign of our late deceased brother of famous memory King Edward the sixth, And of one other Proclamation set out by our late sister Elizabeth the Queen's Majesty deceased, bearing date the tenth day of August in the fourth year of her reign.  
And his Majesty further straightly chargeth and commandeth that no Grower, Breeder, Brogger or gatherer of any Wools in any his highness Counties where Wools are accustomed to be wrought by sworn men, or in the said Counties of Northampton, Lincoln, Leicester, and Rutland, shall at any time hereafter set on work any Woolfolder, or Woolwinder, to fold or wind his or their Wool or Wools, unless the said Woolfolder, or Woolwinder bring with him or them a Testimonial, or certificate, under the Seal of the said Mayor of the Staple at Westminster for the time being: Testifying him or them to be sworn and admitted for an able workman to fold and wind Wools in manner and form as is aforesaid, upon like pain as is above expressed.  
And further where by an Act made in the three and twentieth year of the reign of our most noble Predecessor King Henry the eight of famous memory yet standing in force, It was enacted that no manner of person do wind or cause to be wound any Fleece of Wool, not being sufficiently Rivered or washed, ne wind, or cause to be wound within any Fleece any deceivable things particularly mentioned in the same Act, or any other thing, whereby the Fleece may be the more weightier, to the deceit & loss of the Buyer, upon pain the Seller of any such deceitful Wools, to forfeit for every such Fleece six pence; His Majesty hath been certainly informed, That notwithstanding the said good Act and Statute, much deceit is used in washing, winding, folding and packing of Wools, and that for the most part of unskilful persons, contrary to the said Act and Statute: His highness therefore minding to have the said clauses of the said Statute, and all Acts and Statutes touching or in any wise concerning the avoiding of the said deceits, or made, and provided for the true and lawful winding, folding, and packing of the said Wools, by expert and skilful persons, shallbe from henceforth duly observed, and put in execution, and the offenders against the same, to be corrected and punished according to the effect and true meaning thereof, doth straightly charge and command all and every his Subjects whatsoever, to whom it shall and may appertain, To observe the true meaning of the said Acts, upon pain of forfeiture of the penalties therein contained, and as they will avoid his highness further displeasure. And further his Majesty by the advice aforesaid, straightly chargeth and commandeth all and every justices of Peace, majors, sheriffs, Bailiffs, and all other his highness Officers and ministers whatsoever, to whom it may appertain within their several Liberties, and precincts, That they and every of them cause every such Offender and Offenders, to be punished for such offence and offences above mentioned, in such fort as is above limited, appointed and declared. And that every and whatsoever Justice of Peace, Maior, Sheriff, Bailiff, or other Officer, do refuse, or do not punish, or cause to be punished every such person or persons, so to him or them presented, according to this present Ordinance, his or their faults being duly proved, shall forfeit to the King's Majesty twenty pounds to be paid into his highness Court of Exchequer; And further shall incur his highness displeasure.  
Given at our Manor of East-Greenwich the 18. day of June, in the second year of our reign of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the seven and thirtieth. 
 God save the King.   

Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most excellent Majesty. Anno 1604.