woodcut of England's coat of arms, 1609 ¶ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation prohibiting the exchange of moneys for profit, the making of Plate of any his majesties Coins, and the excessive use of Gold and Silver Foliate.  
WHereas his Majesty, by His Proclamation, bearing date the fourteenth day of May, in the tenth year of his Reign; For the better staying of Treasure within this Realm, and also for the procuring and inviting of the same to be brought, aswell into His Kingdom, as to His Mint, did set the prizes of foreign Gold and Silver, in their several Species, as by the said Proclamation more at large appeareth.  
His Majesty finding the same Proclamation not so duly obeyed and observed as it ought to be, doth hereby require and command, that the said Proclamation, being still in Force, be for the time to come more straightly put in execution: Not intending nevertheless hereby to revoke or discharge any Liberty which the East India Company (being a Company that deserveth so well to be upheld and encouraged) hath, or aught to have by the lawful use and practise of their Charter.  
And for that the drawing of Moneys into the Goldsmith's hand, by turning Silver into Gold, upon profit of Exchange, doth make it the more ready to be engrossed into the Merchant's hand for transportation to mints abroad; And for that such profit to be taken upon change of Moneys, is prohibited by Law:  
His Majesty doth further straightly charge and command, that no person or persons whatsoever, shall from henceforth give, receive or take any manner of gain, profit or advantage for the exchange of any Gold or Silver moneys, of any his highness Realms, or currant within the same, above the Rates at which the same are now currant within the said Realm, upon pain of the forfeiture of the same Moneys so exchanged, and the parties so offending, to suffer such further Penalties and punishments, as by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm, or by his majesties Prerogative Royal, may be inflicted in that behalf.  
And furthermore, the better to keep the Gold and Silver of this Kingdom, not only within the Realm, from being exported, but that it may also be continued in Moneys and Coin, for the use and commerce of his Majesty and his loving Subjects, & not turned into any dead Mass of Plate, nor exhausted and consumed in vanities by Building, and the promiscuous use of Gold and Silver Foliate, which have been in the Reigns of divers Kings of this Realm severally provided for, and prohibited:  
His Majesty doth likewise charge and command, That no Goldsmith or other person whatsoever, shall from henceforth Melt, or make into any kind of Vessel or Plate, or into any other Manufacture, any the Moneys or Coins of his majesties Realms or Dominions, or currant within the same; but shall only Melt and make the same Plate, Vessel, or other Manufactures, out of old Plate, foreign Bullion or Coin, or of Silver burned out of Lace, and the like: upon pain of the forfeiture of the Double value of the said Coin so converted or made into Plate, and of such other penalties, as by the Laws, or by his majesties prerogative Royal may be inflicted upon them.  
And the better to prevent the unnecessary and excessive waste of Gold and Silver Foliate within this Realm; His Majesty doth likewise hereby prohibit and forbid, That no Gold or Silver Foliate shall be from henceforth wrought, used, or employed in any Building, Ceiling, Wainscot, bedsteads, Chairs, Stools, Coaches, or any other Ornaments whatsoever, Except it be Armour, or Weapons, or in Arms and Ensigns of honour, at Funerals, or Monuments of the dead: And therefore willeth and commandeth, That no Artificer, Tradesman, or other, shall at any time after Six Months from the Date of his majesties Proclamation, presume to Work, Use, or Employ in or about any Building, Ceiling, Wainescot, bedsteads, Chairs, Stools, Coaches, or any other Ornaments whatsoever, (Except Armour or Weapons, Arms and Ensigns of honour, or Monuments of the dead as aforesaid) any Gold or Silver Foliate, upon pain of his majesties high displeasure, and the Forfeiture of the same Materials or Works so Silvered or Gilt, and to be further punished as contemners of his majesties Royal Commandment.  
Given at Whitehall, the fourth day of February, in the Sixteenth year of Our Reign of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the two and Fiftieth.  
God save the King.   

Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton, and john Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. ANNO M.DC.XVIII.