¶ A proclamation, concerning the advancement of gold and silver, and the setting forth of certain new pieces of gold and silver, ordained and made by the kings highness, the XVI. day of May, in the .xxxvi. year of his majesties reign.  
FORASMOCHE as now of late in outward parties beyond the sea, as well in flanders as in france, the price of money and gold, not onely coined in those countries, but also gold of the king our sovereign lordis coin of this realm, is so enhanced in the valuation therof, that not onely strange golds, as crownes and ducats, but also the gold of this realm, as nobles half nobles and royals, by merchants as well straun●●●●●●sortyng hither, as the kings subiectes repairing into those parties, for the great gain and lucre that they finde thereby, daily be transported and carried out of this realm, to the no little impoueryshyng therof, and finally to the total exhaustyng and drawing out of all the coins out of the same, oneles speedy remedy be provided in that behalf. And albeit the king our sovereign lord hath given straite charge and commandment, to all and singular his customers controllers and guardians of his ports, to put all such good acts and statutes in execution, as heretofore haue ben made, for conseruyng of the kings coin within this his realm: Yet nevertheless, for the great gain and advantage therof rising, by reason of the high price of money beyond the sea, the kings coin is daily by secret means( such as can not be espied nor deprehended) still carried over. For these causes the king our sovereign lord, tenderynge above all things the wealth and enrychynge of this his realm and people, and willing to provide remedy herein, and that gold and coin may remain and be plenteously brought in to the same, and not carried out in to outward parties, as of long season, to the great detriment and impouerisshynge of his said realm, the same hath been, For the remedyinge whereof, there can be none other means and ways studied and devised, but onely a conue●●●nt enhauncement of the valves of gold and silver in this realm, whereby the same may counteruayle the valves and rates of the same in outward partes: Hath therfore, by the advise of his counsel, resolved, that the vnce of fine gold, of .xxiiii. carates, shall be from henceforth of the value of. xlviii.s. of lawful money of this realm, and the vnce of the fynest sterling silver, shall be of the value of .iiii. s. of the said lawful money of this realm of England. AND to the intent money and coin may be the more plentiful in this realm, His majesty therfore hath caused a piece of gold to be newly made, which his highnes will, shall be called the sovereign, and shalbe currant for. xx.s. of the lawful money of this realm. ITEM an half sovereign, which his majesty will, shall be currant for. x.s. Item his majesty will, that the royal of gold, being weight, shall from henceforth be of the value of. xii.s. Item that the angel, being weight, shal be currant for. viii.s. The half angel for. iiii.s. and the quarter angel being also newly made for. ii.s.  
AND his majesty hath likewise caused to be newly made, certain pieces of silver, which his pleasure is shall be currant within this his gracis realm, after the rates hereafter specified. That is to say, a piece called a Testurne, which shal be currant for. xii.d.  
ITEM a groat with a hole face, which shal be currant for. iiii.d. an half groat of the same stamp, which shal be currant for. ii.d.  
AND his majesty is further pleased, that who so ever will bring unto his Mint, in the tower of London, any gold coined or vncoyned, of the fynesse aforesaid, shall receive for the vnce of the same. xlviii.s. and for the vnce of silver of the finesse aforesaid, iiii. s. And if the gold or silver so brought thither, be not found of the just fynesse aforesaid, the said bringers to allow for the lack therof, like as they shall be allowed for the betternesse therof, as the goodness of the same shall require.  
AND moreover the kings highnesse straightly chargeth and commandeth, that from henceforth all maner of groats, half groats, pence, half pence, and ferthynges of this coin having course, and being currant within this his said realm, not clipped nor fully broken, albeit they shal be much cracked, to be taken received and paid throughout his said realm, without any maner refusal or denial. wherefore his highnes straightly chargeth and expressly commandeth, all Mayres, Iustyces of peace, shyryffes, bailiffs, constables, and other his faithful officers and subiectes, that if any person or persons, of what estate degree or condition he or they be, refuse or deny to take or receive the said moneys of gold, being weight, or any of the moneys of silver before expressed, or now current in this realm, be it for merchandises victuals change or rechaunge, or other cause what soever: forthwith to take and arrest the same person or personnes, so making refusal or denial, and to put him or them in ward and prison, there to remain, and further to be punished at the kings pleasure.  
PROVIDED alway, that all such sums of money as were due to the kings majesty, or to any other person, before the first day of this present month of May, shall be payed after .vii. s. vi. d. the angel, and so rateably, any thing in this present proclamation to the contrary not withstanding.  
GOD SAVE THE king.   

Tho. Berth. regius impressor excudebat,  
cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum,