❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation concerning Starch.  
IT is not unknown to most of our loving Subjects, That in the time of the late Queen of famous memory, the making of Starch within this Realm of England, being a thing newly taken up, and grown in few years very frequent, and to be much used, the inconvenience thereof was found to be so great, by the wasting and consuming of Corn fit for people's food, That many Proclamations were then made from time to time, for the repressing and utter abolishing of the same. Howbeit, afterwards some particular persons, having procured a special Licence, aswell for the making of Starchwithin the Realm, as also for bringing in the same from Foreign parts, the liberty of the Subject was so prejudiced, by reducing of that into few men's power, which in the Common liberty of the Subject was free to all, That much offence did arise thereby, Insomuch as the said Grant, being afterwards by her, in favour to the Subjects, taken away upon the Complaints of the grievance arising thereby, and the making of that stuff within this Realm being then left to the liberty of all men to use it at their pleasure, the same hath ever sithence been continued in many places of this Realm. In which small time of continuance, it falleth out by experience, that the Toleration thereof to be made here, is accompanied with so much offence to our people, as we perceive by the Information which thereof we have received, That her intent and purpose to repress the making thereof, and to take away the inconvenience of the same, was not without good cause & just ground. For it appeareth by collection gathered, That the waste of Corn spent and consumed in the making of this Stuff in most places of this our Realm, is so excessive, as it is not fit to be spared from people's Food, to serve in so vain and slender an use; For that it cannot be, but the spending thereof in Starch (especially in times wherein the plenty of Corn shall not be very abundant) must needs increase both the scarcity, and the prices thereof, above that which is fit to be suffered. And further it appeareth by the Complaints and certificates, to Us and our Council sent from divers justices of the Peace of several parts, (especially about our City of London, and the Counties near adjoining) That the making thereof is not without exceeding annoyance to the people dwelling near the places where it is made, by reason of the noisome stench, and unsavoury smells arising of and by the same: which breeding infectious airs, cannot but increase most contagious Sicknesses and diseases, especially in these times of common Infection: A danger fit to be prevented, in that providence which we own to the welfare of our people, as in every part of the Realm generally, so especially in our City of London, being our Chamber, the ordinary place of our abode for the best part of the year, and of the resort of all sorts of our Subjects for their necessary affairs.  
Which incommodities, having been by Us, with the advice of our Council, thoroughly considered, We had a determination for the redress thereof, and for the policy of our Realm, utterly to take away the making of Starch within it, of what Stuffe, or under what pretence soever. Nevertheless, upon the humble suit of a great number of our loving Subjects lately made unto Us, it being apparent, that the utter abolishing and taking away thereof, would be a great hindrance to them in their trades, and bereave many of them of the means of their necessary living and maintenance; And being likewise informed, that there may well be spared, both in our City of London, Westminster, and other the great Cities and Towns of the Realm, great quantities of Bran, and other such courser Stuffs, of which the best and finest Starch is usually made; We, tendering the good and benefit of our said Subjects, and being well pleased, in our Princely care and desire of the Public good, to yield unto them the liberty and free use of their needful Trades, and of all due and convenient means of their necessary maintenance, And yet holding it as fit and needful to provide for the redress of all abuses and inconveniences, growing both by the needless wasting of the store of Corn within our Realm, and also by the public annoyance and offence given unto our Subjects, by the noisome making of Starch in most places of our Kingdom as aforesaid, Have therefore, with the advice of our Council, thought it good to give authority unto certain persons of good quality and credit, by Commission under our great Seal of England, from time to time to view and survey, and allow all places and houses within any part 〈◊〉 ●●r Kingdom, where any Starch is or shall be made, and with the assistance of the Mayor, or chief Magistrate of that place which shall be next adjoining to any such place of Starch-making, to see that none be from henceforth made of Wheat, but only of clean Bran, and such like courser stuff; And that none shall be made in any such place, as may be to the just annoyance and offence of our loving Subjects, but only in such places, and in such order, as by the discretion and appointment of our said Commissioners, and such Magistrates next adjoining, shall be thought fit.  
And to the end all men may thereof take knowledge, and may conform themselves thereunto accordingly, we have thought it meet to publish our pleasure herein by Proclamation, willing and commanding all manner of persons whatsoever, that now do or shall hereafter use the making of Starch within any place of this our Kingdom wheresoever, presently from henceforth to forbear to make any more starch of wheat, either whole, bruised, or gross grounden, or of meal, Rubbles, or any such like stuff. And we do also will & command all persons whatsoever, to forbear and surcease the making of any starch in any place or places of this our Realm of England whatsoever, except only in such places as by the view, allowance, and appointment of our said Commissioners thereunto by us to be ordained, with the assistance of the Magistrates as aforesaid, shallbe thought fit and convenient, upon pain not only of the forfeiture of all such Starch so made contrary to our express will and pleasure hereby signified, of which the one half shall be to the party seizing the same, and the other half to Us, our Heirs and Successors, but also to incur such further punishment as for their contempt in a matter tending so much to the good and benefit of our people, shall be thought fit to be inflicted upon them.  
And We do also require all justices of peace, Majors, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Headboroughes, and all other our Officers, Ministers, and loving Subjects whatsoever, that they be from time to time aiding and assisting to our said Commissioners, or such person or person's as shall be by them deputed and appointed to see this our Ordinance executed, and that they be careful every one within his charge to cause this our pleasure to be obeyed, and to interrupt and suppress all persons who shall attempt to make any Starch otherwise, or in any other places then such as shall be so allowed and appointed as aforesaid, after the publishing of this our pleasure to the contrary. And also to seize their stuff, or to dispose and destroy the same as things noisome and offensive to all our people. And for the doing thereof, these shall be to you and every of you a sufficient Warrant.  
And furthermore for Us, our Heirs and Successors we will and command, That all persons now using to make Starch in any part of this our Realm of England, having a desire to continue the same, of Bran and Pollard only, upon the publishing of this our Proclamation, if they dwell within forty miles of our City of London, upon the last day of September next ensuing, and if their dwelling be further off, then upon the last day of October now next following shall make their repair, or cause their names to be given and sent up in writing unto our said Commissioners, at the founders Hall in London, together with a Certificate from some justice of peace, or from the Mayor, or chief Magistrate of the City, Town, or place in or near where their dwelling is, signifying thereby their desire and intent to continue the making of Starch as aforesaid, to the intent our said Commissioners may take order for the same according to our pleasure hereby signified and expressed. And if any person or persons now using to make Starch shall neglect, or refuse to make their repair, or to give up his or their names with such Certificate in writing, so signifying his or their desire, and intent to continue the making of Starch as aforesaid, Our will and pleasure is, that all and every such person and persons shall for ever after be deprived of the liberty to make any Starch of any stuff whatsoever.  
Given at Salisbury the 23. day of August, in the fifth year of our Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland. 
 God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. ANNO DOM. 1607.