depiction of England's coat of arms in 1608 ❧ By the King. ¶ A Proclamation against Transportation of Leather.  
WHereas we understand, that divers of our loving Subjects have made complaint, that the price of Neates-Leather is lately raised to such a height, as it proveth very grievous to the poorer sort, who have daily use thereof: Such is and shall be ever our care and resolution to prevent, or reform all things that may be burdensome to any of our people over whom Almighty God hath committed to Us the universal care, as we have been no less curious to find and search out the true cause, then to provide for the remedy of the inconvenience, And therein particularly to be sure to take away all means or colour for any such grievance, that may (either in truth or apprehension) arise from any action of our own. For which purpose, although We do daily see by common experience, that excessive prices grow upon our Subjects by the practice and greediness of private persons, who either by Forestall and Engrossing of Commodities, or by combining to keep them at high prices, or by conveying them out of our Realm by stealth, do increase the rates aswell of foreign, as home bred commodities, without any Act of ours: Nevertheless, because We have observed that some evil affected people, in this, as in divers other things, are more inclined to impute the cause of grievance to some thing done by us, then to resort to the main and original grounds of the same; We have for more surety, caused our Council to take Information what Licences We have given, (which haply may have been some pretext for abuse in that kind) and thereby finding that some small quantity of that commodity hath been Transported by virtue of a Licence granted at our first coming, at the Suit of some foreign Princes our Allies, whom We could hardly then refuse, although it be known to the world, that We did not give Licence for any Leather by name, but generally for the Transporting of forbidden Commodities, and that only to the sum of six Thousand pounds in value, which could be no occasion of such scarcity: Yet because it is not unlikely but that some Neates-Leather might be hereafter issued by virtue of that Licence (as some hath been already) contrary to our meaning, We did not only (so soon as this came to our ears) give present order to our treasurer of England to restrain all use of Licences (if any there were or be) concerning the Transportation of such Leather, whereof there is no such plenty within our kingdom, but that whatsoever is carried away, may be soon felt in the scarcity and dearness thereof at home, But for the more sure prevention of this grievance, and that all our loving Subjects may be witnesses of our care in this behalf, We do now by these presents revoke and disannul all Licences and Tolerations concerning Transportation of Neates-Leather, (if any there be) And do further expressly prohibit and forbid all manner persons whatsoever, That they attempt not from henceforth to carry or convey away, or cause or consent to be carried or conveyed away out of this our Realm, any Neates-Leather, or Neates-Hides raw before they be perfect Leather.  
And likewise We do by these presents straightly charge and Command all our Customers, controllers, Searchers, Surveyors, and other our Officers of our Ports, That they do not only inform our said treasurer, what Neates-Leather, or Neates-Hides raw they have known to be Transported at any time since the beginning of our Reign, at what Ports, and by whom; But also that they be from henceforth watchful that none pass by any practice, pretence, or colour Whatsoever, as they, and every of them will answer the contrary at their uttermost perils. Knowing that from henceforth they shall have no excuse by pretence of Licences or other Tolerations, inasmuch as we have revoked and disavowed them (if any such there be) by these presents. Willing yet further all our Subjects that can learn or understand any abuse in this behalf, That they also resort to our said treasurer and inform him thereof, whereby he may detect the fraud, corruption, and confederacy of our said Officers, if they shall conceal the same. And such discoverers shall receive such reward as their service shall deserve.  
Given at our Palace of Westminster the one and thirtieth day of March, in the sixth 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. 1608.