❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation for revoking all Licences heretofore granted for erecting new Buildings within the city of London, or two miles distance: together with a Restraint for building within the same compass.  
WHereas Wee, vpon consideration of the great inconveniences daily arising by the multitude of new Buildings from time to time erected in and near Our city of London: And out of the tender care We haue of the welfare of Our loving Subiects, haue published sundry Our former Proclamations: aswell for restraining of new erections not meet to be tolerated, as for prescribing a form of Building, in Cases where the same might without inconvenience be permitted. And yet there hath not ensued thereupon such reformation as Our care might expect; But the excess of new Buildings and erections haue daily more and more increased, and is still like so to do; Whereby, and by the immoderate confluence of people thither, Our said City, and the places adjoining, are and daily will be more and more pestered, all Victuals and other provision endeared, Malefactors encouraged, the City and parts adjoining, for the vastness thereof being not with any ordinary care or provision of Officers to be governed, the health of Our Subiects endangered, and other parts of Our realm unpeopled, which inconveniences haue grown to this height, partly by neglect of Our directions in that behalf, and partly by the abuse of sundry Licenses, tolerations and Dispensations, some of which haue been granted by others, without sufficient warrant or authority from us, and others which haue been granted by us, are not only defective in Law, both in respect of the misobteyning of the same vpon untrue suggestions, and otherwise, but also in the execution thereof, haue been so far abused and strained beyond Our intention, and all moderat bounds that in Our Princely care and zeal to the good of Our people, Wee may not omit to use all lawful means for a due reformation of these so great inconveniences: And therefore it being consonant to Law vpon so just grounds, to revoke and make voydall the said Licenses.  
We do hereby signify and declare Our will and pleasure to revoke and determine; and do hereby( as much as in us lieth) from henceforth revoke and determine all and singular Licences, made or granted for the Erecting, Building or setting up any Houses or Buildings within Our said City of London, or within two miles of any the gates of the said city, contrary to Our intention herein expressed.  
And We do hereby charge& command, that no person or persons whatsoever shal at any time hereafter presume to erect or Build any maner of house or Building whatsoever, within Our said City of London, or within two miles of any the Gates of the same City, either within Liberties or without, by force of any such Licence revoked, or by any other colour or pretext whatsoever, except the same be vpon an old Foundation of an House or Building erected and finished, before the Feast of S. Michael Th'archangel, in the thirteenth year of Our reign over this Our realm of England: Nor to erect any dwelling house vpon the Foundation of any barn, Stable,  shed or other Building, not formerly used for habitation, but that they& every of them do from henceforth utterly surcease and desist from all maner of Erections and Buildings whatsoever to be made, except they be vpon old Foundations as aforesaid, which We will not shalbe exceeded or enlarged in the setting up of such new Building.  
And further, That all and every person and persons, which at any time hereafter shall erect, build, or set up within any the Limits, Places or Precincts aforesaid, any manner of Houses, or other Buildings whatsoever, shall make and build the same of such height, and in such manner and form as herein is expressed( That is to say) every whole Story of and in such Houses and Buildings; and all& every the rooms of such whole Story shalbe of the height of ten foot of assize at the least; And every half Story of and in such Houses and Buildings, shal be of the height of seven foot& a half of assize at the least: And that the Forefront,& outer walls& windows therof shall be of brick, or of brick and ston: And if the said building do not exceed two Stories in height, then the walls therof shal be of the thickness of one bricks and half a Bricks length from the ground unto the uppermost part of the said walls: And where the building shalbe above the height of two Stories, the walls of the first story shall be of the thickness of two bricks length; and from thence unto the uppermost part of the wall, of the thickness of one bricks and half a bricks length: And that in building of the said Houses, there shalbe no Iutties, or iutting windows, either vpon Timber ioysts, or otherwise, but the walls to go direct& strait upwards, and at the setting off, a water table to bee made. Also the Lights in the Windows of every whole Story to be of more height then breadth, to the end there may bee a sufficient peer of brick between the windows for strength: And likewise the windows of every half Story to be made square every way, or near thereabouts. And lastly, that all Shops in every principal Street of Trade, be made with Pillasters of hard ston or brick cut in Wedges Archwise, Vpon pain that all persons directly or indirectly neglecting or disobeying this our Proclamation, or doing any thing contrary to the tenor thereof, or of any part thereof, shall endure and abide such Censure in Our high Court of starchamber, as shall be adiudged against them for their offences,& as contemners of Our royal Commandement. And Wee do also straitly charge and command all and singular Maiors, sheriffs, Iustices of Peace, and all other our Officers and Ministers, That they and every of them use all diligence to see the premises well& duly performed, and do by all lawful ways and means hinder and restrain all proceedings and attempts to the contrary of Our pleasure herein declared. And if any person or persons shall by colour of any such Licence, Toleration or Dispensation, as aforesaid, do, or attempt any thing contrary to this Our Proclamation, the said Maiors, sheriffs, Iustices of Peace,& other Our Officers and Ministers shall nevertheless proceed in the execution of this Our royal Commandement until vpon due examination of the validity of the same Licences, Tolerations or Dispensations, they shall receive other direction from us or Our privy council.  
given at Our Palace of Westminster the twentieth day of july, in the sixteenth year of Our reign of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the 〈◇〉 and Fiftieth.  
God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton, and John Bill, deputy Printers for the Kings most Excellent majesty. ANNO M.DC.XVIII.