❧ Orders conceived by the Lords of his majesties privy counsel, and by his Highnesse special direction, commanded to be put in execution for the restraint of killing, and eating of Flesh this next Lent, and to be executed as well by the Lord Maior within the city and Suburbs of London, and by the Officers of the Liberties and exempt places in and about the same, as by order to be prescribed by the Lords Lieutenants of all the Counties of the realm, to the Iustices of Peace, Lords of Liberties, and Officers of Corporate towns.  
22. january, in the fift year of his majesties reign of great britain, France and Ireland.  
THe Kings most Excellent majesty understanding of the great disorders heretofore, and especially the last Lent, committed in killing and eating Flesh in the time of Lent, chiefly in the city of London, and the Liberties thereto adjoining, straightly chargeth and commandeth, That these Orders following, be observed and put in execution.  
First, there shall bee onely eight Butchers licensed by the Lord Maior within the city of London, viz. four in eastcheap, and four in S. Nicholas Shambles, who shall be of the poorer sort, and shall not pay any thing for their Licences, nor join with them any partners.  
That every of the said Butchers so to bee licensed within the city, and Liberties thereof, do utter and sell in their open Shops, in such sort as in open time they are accustomend to do, and at such Rates and prices as shall be set down by Order of the Lord Maior of London for that City, and the Liberties thereof: and besides every Butcher shall keep a perfect book what quantity of Flesh they kill every day, and of what kindes, and to what persons they sell and utter the same, and the said Butchers to certify the Lord Maior, to the end the Lords of his majesties privy counsel may bee informed by him, how the laws and Statutes in this behalf provided, are observed within the said city and Liberties thereof.  
That there be licensed to kill and utter Flesh in the suburbs of the said city, as in the Counties of Middlesex and Surrey near unto London, onely ten Butchers, and these to bee licensed by the Iustices within the several Limits, whereof two to be of the Quorum, that is, two without Temple bar in the Parish of S. Clement Danes, two without Smithfielde bars in the Parish of S. Pulchres, or Clarketonwell, or one of them, one in Whitecrosse street, one in Norton Folgate, one in White chapel, one in S. Katherines, two in southwark, and for the City of Westminster, and the Liberties thereof, two Butchers to be licensed by the chief Officer of that Liberty, and those to bee as before expressed, for the said city and the Liberties, of the poorer sort inhabiting in those places, and to be licensed without any money, or other consideration to be given for the same, and to bee bound to observe the like Orders in every respect, as those that are to be appointed for London, and the said clerk of the Market, Officer and Iustice, there to see them, and to set the prices of the victual to be uttered in those places.  
That no person be permitted to kill or sell any Flesh but to those that are licensed, nor in any other place then before is specified, vpon pain to forfeit the Flesh to bee given to the poor in the prisons, and to suffer imprisonment.  
That the Constables, Churchwardens, and other public Officers bee authorized in London, and the Liberties thereof, by the Lord Maior, and by the Iustices in the Counties of Middlesex and Surrey, and the forenamed Officers in Westminster, to make search, and to see that the licensed Butchers, nor any other do kill or utter any Flesh, nor do any thing contrary to these Orders.  
And for the better knowledge of the truth of disorders in this kind, and redress of the inconveniences, the Lord Maior of London, and every other Officer here appointed, shall call before them, and sand for any of the seruants of any Inholders, Victuallers, taverners, and keepers of ordinary Tables, and such other that utter Victuals, to examine them vpon their corporal oaths, what Flesh is, or hath been during the Lent season, dressed, killed, uttered, or eaten in their houses, which if they shall refuse to do, then to commit to prison the said seruants so refusing vpon their oaths to declare the truth.  
That the Lord Maior himself shall grant no Warrant for buying of Flesh in Lent, but to such as shall haue or show to him licence in writing, according to the laws of the realm to eat Flesh, and the same licence to be viewed and registered, and books to be kept thereof, to be shewed when the same shall be required, unless it be to ambassadors and Agents of foreign Princes.  
That the Lord Maior shall now presently before Lent, or at the beginning thereof, cause all Inholders, keepers of ordinary Tables, Victuallers, Alehouse keepers, and Tauernors within the city and liberties thereof to appear before him, or such persons as he shall appoint meet for that purpose, and shall take bonds with sufficient sureties of every of them in good sums of money, viz. one hundred pound the principal, and the sureties thirty pound apiece to his majesties use, not to dress any Flesh in their houses this Lent time for any respect, nor suffer it to be eaten, except it be for some such person that lieth in their house, that also hath licence through sickness, or other necessary cause to eat Flesh. Also like bonds shall be taken of the Poulters, not to utter any Poultry ware, but to such as shall be likewise licenced to eat Flesh, and that such as will not give such bonds, that they be secluded from all utterance of victuals during the Lent season, excepting those Poulters that do ordinarily serve his majesties household, of whom like bonds shall be taken by his majesties Officers of the Greenecloth: the like bonds with sureties shall be taken of the like persons vpon like penalties by the chief Officer of Westminster, and the liberties thereof.  
And for the Butchers and other that come with victuals of flesh out of the country to the city, the Lord Maior shall cause certain persons to watch at the Gates and other like places in the suburbs where Flesh may be brought in, to view and search, and to intercept the same. The Carriers of the said victuals of Flesh if any shall be taken, to be guided to the persons houses that haue licence, and this watch to be continued daily during the whole time of Lent: And if any of those watchmen be found negligent and corrupt in his charge, then he to be committed to prison, there to continue during the whole Lent. And in case the same shall be found to be brought to any person not warranted, or licenced to eat it as is aforesaid, then the same to be forfeited and sold at the direction of the Lord Maior for the use of the poor in the hospitals and Prisons in the city, and the bringers to be imprisoned.  
And for that it is to be doubted that the Fishmongers, vpon the observation of the said Orders, will take occasion thereby to inhanse the prices as well of fresh as of Sea fish, it is thought meet that the Lord Maior shall take order with the said Fishmongers, that as well the salt as fresh fish shall be uttered at reasonable prices.  
That every of the Butchers to be licenced as aforesaid, be bound in a sufficient bond with good sureties to his majesties use, to observe these orders in every respect, and these bonds to be taken by the Lord Maior, and other the Officers aforesaid.  
And as those orders are expressly devised to be executed in the city of London, and places near to the same: so his majesties pleasure and commandment is, that the execution of these or like orders be performed by the commandment of his majesties Lieutenants to be sent to the Iustices of Peace in all Shires within their Rule, and to all other Officers in towns Corporate, or in any Liberties, with like order for bonds to be taken to his majesties use.   

❧ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty. Anno Dom. 1607.