¶ A Proclamation set forth by the kings Majesty, prohibiting aswell the buying or selling, Gold, Silver, or coin, at any higher price than is appointed, as also the melting down of the said Coins.  
THough it be manifest, that the kings majesty & his most honourable counsel, have been most careful in the devising & setting forth of remedies, for such disordres as long time have been, & daily grow within this realm, wherein beside their travail, his highness specially to declare in effect the earnest desire he hath toward the relief of his good subjects, & common wealth, hath given over the revenue & profits of his mints which was of no small importance toward the maintenance of his royal estate. Yet all this notwithstanding, the malice of wicked men doth somuch reign, that whatsoever laws, proclamations, or ordres, be devised, it booteth so little, that the things for the most part, do rather daily impair then amend. Wherefore, seeing that these ordres cannot with gentle procedings take place, his highness must of necessity against thobstinate disobedience of those wicked subjects, use such strong remedies as their unreasonable, and froward doings do require. And because a great part of th'occasion of the dearth of things, hath grown upon th'alteration of the coin which was done in the time of king Henry the eight of most famous memory, & so continued .v. or uj years. The kings majesty tendering more his common wealth, than his own profit, hath not only given over the revenue of his mints, as is aforesaid, but also hath now of late, begun to bring the coin to a perfection, having altered a great part of it, and intending to reduce the rest into fine silver and gold, according to a proclamation lately set forth touching the order of that matter. This notwithstanding, divers and sundry covetous merchants, some greedy Goldsmiths, and other like, have contrary to the said proclamation, enhanced the prices both of gold, and silver, far above th'order appointed by his highness, insomuch that some have not been ashamed, openly to buy & sell Angels & other coins, far above the values rated in the said proclamation, not only to the great & heinous contempt of his highness most royal prerogative, authority and commandment, but also to the marvelous hindrance & detriment of the whole common wealth, for the which his highness hath presently caused certain of th'offenders to be openly punished, according to their demerits, and intendeth henceforth to pardon none that shallbe found faulty in that behalf. Wherefore his highness hath determined, this ones by proclamation to admonish his people again, that no manner of person be so hardy, as to buy, or to sell, either gold, or silver at higher, or other price, than by the last proclamation is limited: or to give, or take, for any manner of coin, of gold, or silver currant within this realm, more, or less, then by his majesties proclamations are appointed, upon pain not only of forfaioture of the same coin, but also that the party so offending, shall sustain open punishment, and abide such fine as shall please his highness.  
And further, where it is prohibited▪ by divers laws & proclamations, that no man shall either melt down, cull out, batter, or wilfully break, any manner of the kings majesties coins, to th'intent to sell it, & that no manner of person, convey any manner of money, gold, or silver out of this realm, into any foreign parts, or dominions: his highness doth straightly charge & command, all manner of persons from hence forth to have such regard thereunto, as their allegiance and the common wealth of his realms & dominions, do require. For the better and more assured execution whereof, his highness giveth knowledge, that what person soever, whether he be prentice, servant, or other, that shall give information, and be able sufficiently to prove any man from hence forth an offender▪ in any of these points before rehearsed, or if the buyer, will in this case accuse the seller, or if the conveyer of any Money, Gold or silver, into any foreign parts, that accuse the sender, or owner, they and every of them, by whom the said offences shallbe known, shall have for their reward, the fourth part of the Money, Gold or Silver, by them discovered, to be bought, sold, melted down or conveyed in form aforesaid, and further, such thanks and reward, as their truth & good will toward th'execution of these reformations shall deserve. And so his highness, straightly chargeth & commandeth, all Mayors, sheriffs, justices, Bailiffs, & all other his highness ministers, and subjects, to have a special eye and regard to this matter, as they will avoid his majesties high indignation, and displeasure. given at our palace of Westminstre the xxi day of Decembre, the .v. year of our reign.  
God save the King   

RICHARDUS GRAFTON typographus Regius excudebat. A. M. D. LI. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum.