❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation for the preventing and remedying of the dearth of grain, and other Victuals.  
THe Kings majesty having taken knowledge of the high prices of grain and other Victuals, lately and very suddenly grown in sundry parts of this realm, And finding no sufficient reason thereof, doth judge that the rich Owners of corn do keep their store from common Markets, thereby to increase the prices thereof, Or else that the same is engrossed vnduely into few hands, and so the multitude of poor people having no grain of their own growing, must needs sustain great lack. His Highnesse therefore for remedy thereof, hath caused special Orders to be made and published through all parts of this realm, bearing date the first day of june 1608, and entitled, Orders appointed by his majesty, &c. By which the Iustices of Peace in all parts of the realm, are directed to stay all Engrossers, Forestallers and Regrators of corn, and to direct all Owners and Farmers,( having corn to spare) to furnish the Markets rateably and weekly, with such quantities as reasonably they may and ought to do, and to see diuers other Articles observed and performed, tending to the prevention and remedy of this inconvenience. nevertheless, because his majesty doth well know, that the life of these his gracious, godly, and politic Constitutions, depends vpon the careful and diligent Execution of the same: His Highnesse doth therefore by this his Proclamation( to the end that no person whom it may concern, shall or may plead ignorance) straightly charge and command all Sheriffes, Iustices of Peace, Maiors, bailiffs, Constables, and other his Officers and Subiects whatsoever, That they take knowledge of the said Orders, and observe and cause the same to be observed, as shall appertain unto them, as they tender his displeasure.  
And because there may be just cause to fear, that notwithstanding all the strait provisions that are lately taken against Transportation of grain, yet under colour of conveying of it from Port to Port within the land, some may be conveyed into foreign parts: Therefore for further provision in that behalf, besides the Bonds in that case appointed to be taken, His majesty commandeth and giveth Licence to any person that shall haue cause to suspect that any such corn is or should be shipped, or provided to be shipped by lawful authority to be carried to any other Port, that the same may be by fraud carried out of the realm; such person having such cause to suspect, shall give Information thereof to any Iustice of Peace, or public Officer dwelling near to the Port, Which Iustice or Officer shall with the said Informer, repair to the custom house of any such Port or Creeke where corn is shipped, or provided to be shipped, and there shall duly examine both the Officers of the custom house, and the sellers, buyers, and shippers of the corn vpon their several oaths, whether they know of any Intention directly, or indirectly, to haue the said corn to be carried out of the realm. And further also, when by their oaths they shal clear themselves of any such intention( thereby the suspicion conceived being cleared) yet the Officers of the Ports that haue authority to take Bonds, shall show the parties, who vpon pregnant suspicion shall require the same, and give them in writing the contents of the Bond, with the names of the parties bound, being sufficient to answer the same, the true quantity of the grain, and the Ports to which it is intended to haue the same carried: And if notwithstanding such provision of good assurance taken, there shall afterwards any doubt follow, that notwithstanding the said Bonds the said corn shalbe carried out of the realm, The party that shall haue cause so to suspect the same, shall repair to some Iustice of Peace, whom his majesty doth hereby command to examine the truth at the Port whereunto the said corn was appointed. And for that purpose the Officers of that Port shall make plain declaration whether any such corn, or what quantity thereof came to that Port within the time limited; And if by good proof it shall any ways appear, that there hath been any fraud in any Officer of the Port, or falsehood in the Transporter by carrying it out of the realm, the Officer of the Port shalbe deprived of his Office, and suffer imprisonment, and make Fine to his majesty at his pleasure; And the Transporter for carrying it out of the realm, and the Seller and Buyer, or either of them being privy thereto, shall bee committed to prison for the space of one year, and the Ship forfeited; And the Informer for his labour and reward, shall haue both the half of the value of the corn Transported, and the half of the Fines imposed vpon the Offenders. And for the trial of these Offences, and execution of the punishments and Fines, the same shalbe tried in his majesties Exchequer, as all Informations are vpon penal Statutes, where all expedition shalbe used, or before the Iustices of assize in their Circuits, or before any Iustices of Peace in the Sessions where the offence shalbe committed, having any authority to hear and determine any penal Law.  
Finally, his majesty is particularly informed of some intentions of sundry persons of ability to keep hospitality in their Countreys, to leave their Hospitalities, and to come to the City of London, and other Cities and towns corporate, thereby leaving the relief of their poor neighbours, as well for food, as for good Rule, and with covetous mindes to live in London, and about the City privately, and so also in other towns corporate, without charge of company. For withstanding whereof, his majesty chargeth all maner of persons, that shall haue any such intention during the time of this Dearth, not to break up their households, nor to come to the said City, or other towns corporate, And all others that haue of late time broken up their households, to return to their houses again without delay. Of the performance and execution of which his majesties Orders, It is his Highnesse pleasure that the Iustices do make certificate vpon all occasions to his majesties privy council, and more particularly for his Highnesse better satisfaction, what price corn and Victuals do bear.  
given at our Mannour of Oatlands the second day of june, 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.