royal blazon or coat of arms HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  
❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation for the better execution of the Office of His majesties Exchanger, and Reformation of sundry Abuses and Fraudes practised vpon his majesties coins.  
WHereas the Exchange of all manner of Gold and silver currant in moneys, or otherwise, as the buying, selling, and exchanging of all manner of Bullion in Species of foreign coins, Billets, Ingots, or other pieces of Gold or silver fine, refined or allayed howsoever, being fit for Our Mint, hath ever been, and ought to be Our sole, and appropriate right, as part of Our prerogative royal, and ancient revenue, wherein none of Our Subiects, of what Trade, Mystery, or quality soever, ought at all, without Our special Licence, to intermeddle, the same being prohibited by diuers Acts of Parliament,& Proclamations both ancient& modern, heretofore made& published in that behalte: And where as Our Seife, and diuers Our Royal predecessors, haue, for some time now past, tolerated an indifferent, and promiscuous kind of liberty to all, but especially to some of the Mystery& Trade of Goldsmiths within Our city of London,& elsewhere within Our Dominions, not onely to make the said Exchanges, but to buy and sell all maner of Bullion of Gold& silver; and from thence some of them haue grown unto that licentiousness, that they haue for diuers yeeres presumed for their private lucre and gain, and daily do presume to sort and weigh all sorts of Moneys currant within Our realm, to the end to cull out the old and new Moneys, which either by not wearing, or by any other accident, are weightier then the rest; which weightiest and best Moneys, haue not onely been melted down for the making of Place, vessel, and other Manufacturies, but even traded and sold to Merchants, Strangers, and others, who haue transported the same, whereby the consumption of Our coins hath been greatly occasioned, not onely to the scarcity of currant Moneys, especially of silver coin, but also to the great depravation, and enfeebling of the remainder of Our silver moneys, not exported or consumed by the abuses and practices aforesaid, and to the raising of the silver even of Our own Moneys to a Rate and Price above Our Mint, and above what they are truly currant for: By reason whereof no silver can bee brought thither, but to the loss of such as bring the same, contrary to the laws and policy of Our realm, and of diuers acts of Parliament, and late Proclamations in that case provided and published; The longer permission of all which, would not onely redound to the impeachment of Our prerogative royal, but doth directly tend to the impoverishment and destruction of Our realms.  
Wherefore, Wee vpon these,& diuers other weighty considerations, with the advice and consent of Our privy Counsel, resolving, not onely to proceed to an entire and perfect reformation of the above mentioned, and other such like abuses, by the diligence and industry of such, to whose tare and vigilancy Wee shall commit the same; but also to resume Our said right, and to commit the trust and exercise thereof to such as shall duly administer the same to Our profit, and the good of Our realm, haue to that purpose, by Our Letters Patents, constituted and appointed Our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin and counsellor, Henry earl of Holland, to haue the Office of Our Changes, Exchanges, and Outchanges wheresoever, within Our realms of England and Ireland, and Dommion of Wales, To exercise the same by himself, or such sufficient deputies as he will answer for. And therefore, to the end that he and they may the better perform that trust which Wee haue committed unto him, without the intermeddling or disturbance of any other person whatsoever, Our express will and pleasure is, And Wee do hereby straitly charge and command, That no Goldsmith, or other person or persons, of what Trade, Mystery, or quality soever, other then the said Henry, earl of Holland, his Deputies, or assigns, their Fartors and seruants, within three miles of Our city of London, from and after the four and twentieth day of june next coming, or in any other place of this Our realm of England, and Dominion of Wales, or any of them, from and after the nine and twentieth day of September then next ensuing, presume, or do change, exchange, or buy, or broken, solicit, or drive the changing, exchanging, selling or buying of any manner of Bullion in any Species of foreign coin, or in Billets. Ingots, or other pieces, or mass of Gold or silver whatsoever, fine, refined or allayed, or of what other nature or quality soever: And that no person, or persons whatsoever, other then as aforesaid, and respectively after the times aforesaid presume, or do give, take, or receive, for, by reason, or vpon the changing or exchanging of any the now currant coins, or which hereafter shal be made& declared the currant Moneys of this Our realm of England,& Dominion of Wales, for other the currant Moneys of the same, by way of payment, computation, reward, or thing for telling, or otherwise howsoever, any sum or sums of Money whatsoever, above, or more then the said currant coins so exchanged, be, or shalbe currant for. And for the better reformation of the abuses above mentioned, and others of such like nature, concerning, befalling, or practised vpon Our coins, or Bullion, or other Manufacturies of Gold or silver, Wee do hereby declare and publish Our royal will and pleasure, which Wee command to bee strictly observed in all things, that all persons whatsoever, do effectually and respectively observe, fulfil, and keep the Articles and Ordinances hereunto annexed, as they will answer the contrary thereof at their utter most perils.  
And further, Wee do by these presents will and require all and singular Maiors, Sheriffes, Iustices of Peace, bailiffs, Constables, Headboroughs, Customers, controllers, Searchers, waiters, and all other Our Officers, and ministers whatsoever, That they, and every of them, in their several places and Offices be diligent, and attendant in the execution of this Our Proclamation, and the said Articies, and Ordinances, as well in any Search for discovery of any act, or acts to be committed contrary to the intent of these presents, as otherwise in the doing and executing of any matter or thing needful, or expedient for the accomplishment of this Our royal command.  

Articles, which, by virtue of Our Proclamation hereunto annexed, Wee will and command shall bee duly observed.  
INprimis, Wee do expressly will and command, according to a Proclamation, dated the eleventh day of june, in the twentieth year of the reign of Our Royal Father King james of blessed memory, That no person or persons whatsoever, do at any time hereafter, without Our special Licence in that behalf, transport, carry, or convey, nor attempt or endeavour to transport, carry or convey out of this realm any Gold or silver, either in coin, plate, vessels, jewels, Goldsmiths work, Bullion, or other mass, or otherwise howsoever: And further, That no person or persons whatsoever, do aid, assist, counsel, or any wise partake or consent with any other person or persons, purposing or attempting to transport, carry, or convey out of this realm any gold or silver in any Species or kind, as aforesaid, either by gathering or getting together such gold or silver, or by packing up the same fit for transportation, or conveying the same to, or towards any Port, haven, or other place of exportation, or by any other way, means, or colour whatsoever; And that all and singular Goldsmiths, Merchants, and their Factors, Masters of Ships, Mariners, Passengers, and all other persons whatsoever, that shall haue any notice of gold or silver in coin, jewels, Bullion, Plate or vessel, or otherwise howsoever, which hath been already exported within the space of two yeeres last past, or shall bee hereafter exported or shipped for exportation, or shall bee gathered and gotten together by Change, Culling, or otherwise, with intention to export, or put into the hands of them which would export it, that they forthwith reveal the same to our Treasurer of England, the Lord President of Our privy Counsel, the under-treasurer of Our Exchequer, or the Warden of the Cinque-ports, or his deputy, or to Our Attorney general, or some other of Our learned counsel, for which discovery, they shall haue and receive in reward the one half of the said Gold or silver, or of the value thereof, being seized or recovered to Our use; and on the other part, if they shall not discover the same, as aforesaid, they shall incur and receive such condign punishment, as by the laws of this Our realm, or by Our prerogative royal may bee inflicted vpon them.  
Item, We will and command, that the Statutes and branches of Statutes hereafter particularly expressed, be duly put in execution( that is to say) the Statutes made at york, in the ninth year of the reign of King Edward the third, the sixth, ninth, and tenth Chapters, whereby it is provided That from thenceforth, the Mayors and bailiffs in every Port where Merchants, and ships should be, should take an oath of the Masters, and Merchauts of ships, going, and coming again, that they should do no fraud against the provision of that Law, in any point, and that good and straight search should be made in all places, vpon the Sea coasts, in havens, and eiswhere, where any arrival should be, by good, and lawful men thereto sworn, that in the Kings name, they should make diligent search, that no man of what estate or degree soever, should carry out of this realm, sterling money, silver or plate, nor vessel of gold or silver, without the Kings licence, and that the Searchers should haue the fourth part for their labour, of as much as they should find so forfeited, and to loose all his goods; if he dispense with any man, and be thereof attaint, as by the same Statute( amongst other things) more fully doth appear: And one other Statute, made in the second year, of the reign of king Henry the fourth the fifth chapter, whereby the King did ordain,& establish, That from thenceforth, if any searcher of the King might find gold, or silver in coin, or in mass, in the keeping of any that should bee passing, or vpon his passage, in any ship, or vessel, for to go out of any port, haven, or creeke of the realm, without the Kings special licence, that gold, or silver, should be forfeited to the King( saving his reasonable expenses) as by the same Statute, it doth and may more at large appear.  
And We do especially charge and command, that the Maiors, and bailiffs in every Port, where Merchants, and ships shal be, and all such to whom the same shall, or may in any wise appertain, do from heuceforth with special careand vigilancy, not only take the oath of all Masters of ships, and Merchants, according to the true meaning of the sath statute, made in the ninth year of king Edward the third, but also take an oath of all such Masters, and Merchants of ships, going and coming, as aforesaid, that they haue not transported or conveyed out of this realm, any gold, orsiluer,( contrary to the true intent of the said Proclamation( given the eleventh day of june, in the twentieth year of the reign of our said royal father before recited) at any time or times since they, or any of them, respectively took, or had notice or knowledge, of Our prohibition thereof, by the first Article before contained.  
Item, Wee will and command, That no Goldsmith, Finer, or Parter, or other person whatsoever, of what Mystery, Trade, or quality soever he be, presume, enterprise, or do melt, or cause to be melted, any gold or silver coins, which now are, or hereafter shal be the currant moneys of any Our realms or Dominions, either to make Plate, vessel, or for any other Manufacture, or use whatsoever, norpresume, or do cull, or sort from the rest, any the weightier Moneys, to the intent to convey the same out of this realm, or to melt, or otherwise to alter it from coin, contrary to diuers laws and Proclamations published in that behalf.  
Item, that no person or persons, other then Our Changer, or Exchanger, for the time being, his Deputies, or assigns, their Factors or Seruants, do receive, or take by way of payment, exchange or computation, or other way whatsoever, directly or indirectly, for any Species of foreign coin, or other Gold or silver, in Pieces, or mass, fined, refined or allayed, above, or more then the Rates or Prices which now are, or hereafter shall, or may be given, payed, or allowed for the same, at Our Mint or Exchange.  
Item, We will and declare, the Statute made in the eighteen year of the reign of the late queen Elizabeth, entitled, An Act for reformation of abuses in Goldsmiths, be put in due execution. And whereas by that Act, no Goldsmith ought to take for any Plate, vessel, or work of Gouldsmitherie of gold, above twelve pence the ounce, nor for place, vessel, or work of gouldsmitherie of silver, above twelve pence the pound weight, or rateably besides the fashion, more then the buyer shall, or may be allowed for the same at the Kings exchange, or mint, which good and profitable Law hath not been yet of any effect, by reason, that vpon every such sale of gold, or siluer-plate, or other Gouldsmiths work, there is no distinction made, or rate set of gold, or silver apart, and of the fashion apart, whereby might appear what the one, or the other was ranted and prized at: To the end to avoid this confusion, Wee do will and Command, according to the rule and order of other States, That every gouldsmith vpon every sale of any gold, or silver, or other work of Gouldsmitherie, do demand for, value, or rate apart, the gold, or silver, and the fashion or workmanship apart. And vpon every such sale, shall deliver and give unto the buyer of any such place, or other work of Gouldsmitherie demanding the same, a note, or ticket subseribed with his name, or mark, wherein shall be expressed, the day of the sale, and the weight of such plate, or vessel or other work of Gouldsmitherie, of gold or silver sold, and the value or rate of gold and silver apart, and the value and rate of fashion and workmanship apart, by which may appear at what rate, the one or the other is valued or ranted, whereby no frande or deceit can be made to the said Statute: And that the buyer, selling the same again, may know, what to demand for the same at the Kings Exchange or mint.  
Item, To the end to avoyde and put to Our coin all Gold-money currant within this Our realm being Clipped, Washed, or by any other means unlawfully diminished, or lacking of the just weight thereof, otherwise then according to the rates hereafter severally expressed, and with the also wance of the remedies set down in diuers former Proclamations of queen Elizabeth, and of Our late Father of blessed memory,( that is to say) In every piece of Gold currant for xxx. s. xx. s. xv. s. x.s. v.s. ii. s. vi. d. the remedy and abatement shall not exceed 4. grains and a half, 3. grains, 2. grains and a half, 2. grains, 1. grain, half a grain: All which remedies shal be allowed in every piece accordingly, the same wanting no more being to pass, as if it were of full weight and just value. But if any such piece of coin shall lack of the true weight thereof above the remedies afore expressed, then We do straitly charge and command, That no person or persons whatsoever shall accept or offer them in payment, vpon any allowance or defaulcation, for want of weight whatsoever, but that the same be, and stand by these presents decried down, and vncurrant. And that it shall be lawful for every person or persons, to whom offer of payment of any the said pieces lightened, as aforesaid, shall bee made, to braud the same, by striking a hole in every of the said pieces so offered in payment, rendering those pieces so branded then presently afterwards to the owners thereof again: which said lightened or branded pieces, Our pleasure is, shall be brought and carried to Our Exchanges or Mint, there again to bee melted and converted into coin.  
Item, Forasmuch as it is impossible, but that the rates and prices of Gold and silver in Our Mint, or Exchanges will bee exceeded, and the same not to bee prevented, so long as way shall or may be given for the bringing in, selling or venting of any false, deceitful or counterfeit gold or silver, Plate, Vessel, wire, spangles, Oaes Gold or silver thread, Lace, Rings, spoons, Bodkins, or other Manufacturies, being not made, wrought, or sold according to the Standard of Our mint, or the goldsmiths Hall, contrary to diuers laws and Proclamations heretofore enacted and published for redress of the same; Wee do therefore will and command, That no such false, deceitful or counterfeit stuff, or Manufacturie whatsoever, of Gold or silver, less in fineness, or standard then Our Moneys of Gold or silver be made, wrought, vented, sold, or imported within, or into Our said realm of England, or any other our Dominions.  
Declaring nevertheless, that We do not intend by Our said Proclamation, or any of these present Articles, to restrain any of Our Merchants importing Bullion from the parts beyong the Seas, orany other of Our subiects for any Gold or silver growing, or found within any of Our Realms or Dominions whatsoever, but that they, and every of them shall stil be, and remain at liberty to carry their said Bullion unto Our said Exchange, or to Our mint, there to be melted into Our coins at their election; Any thing in these presents notwithstanding. And yet Our pleasure is,& We do hereby straitly charge and command, That no goldsmiths whatsoever, or other trading as a Gold-smith, shall, or do by colour or pretence of being seruant or Factor to any such Merchant, or otherwise in the name of any such Merchant, buy, sell, or bring to Our mint, or otherwise intermeddle at all with any such Bullion, but after the said several dayes before limited, shall bring, and carry the same unto Our said Exchanger, his Deputies. Factors, or Seruants, there to be sold, and exchanged, according to the true intent of Our said Letters Patents, and Articles abovesaid; not intending nevertheless, but that the said Goldsmiths may use their Trade of Goldsmithery as fully and amply, as heretofore they lawfully might or could do: And that they& every of them may use& enjoy the Franchises and liberties which they now lawfully haue& hold, by or from the Grants, or Charters of us, or any Our Predecessors, Kings of England, and may likewise exchange, or buy any Gold or silver, Plate, in vessel, or other manufacture of Gold or silver, as heretofore they lawfully might, or could, so that the same be bought or exchanged ouely to make Plate, or other work of Goldsmithery, proper and belonging to their Trade, and be made and counerted into the same, and so as they do not give a rate, or price for the same, above the rate or price of Our mint; And likewise, that by colour or pretence hereof they do not buy, exchange, or intermeddle at all with any foreign Species of Money, or other Bullion whatsoever, Imported, or coming from the parts beyond the Seas, or of the proper growth, or being found within any Our realms and Dominions: All which Our pleasure is, shall immediately bee carried, and brought unto Our said mint, or Exchanges, to bee converted into Our coin, in augmentation and increase thereof, for Our profit, and the good of Our realm: Any prtence of practise, usage, or custom herein made or had to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.  
Item, Our express Will and pleasure is, that the Premises, and every Article thereof, be observed and kept, not onely vpon pain and penalty of such forfeitures and other punishments, as by any the laws or Statutes of this Our realm, in such cases made and provided, may bee inflicted vpon the offenders in the Premises, but likewise vpon penalty of such fines and censures as by Our Court of starchamber, may be inflicted vpon wilful contemners of Our royal Will and Command, grounded vpon the good and welfare of Our realm: to which purpose, Our will& pleasure is, and We do hereby straitly charge and command Our Attourny General for the time being, to inform against such persons in Our Court of Star chamber from time to time, whose contempt and disobedience against this Our royal Command, shall merit the censure of Our said Court, and to prosecute every such Information, speedily, and effecually, until the same shal be brought to sentence:  
Declaring nevertheless, that Wee do not intend, or comprehend under any the Forfeitures, Penalties, or Censures above expressed, any such person or persons whatsoever, who committing or offending against any the premises with any other person, shall within forty dayes next after his said offence, and delict perpetrated( so the same bee before any other person hath related and discovered his offence, or proceeded against him) discover such other person or persons with whom he committed, or did the said offence, but for such his Information, relation, and discovery, shall be both freed of his own Forfeitures, Penalties, and Censure aforesaid, as also enjoy all such part of the Forfeiture of the said other party to the same offence, as amply as any other Informer or Relator, not having offended, might haue done, to whom, and to all other discoverers, and such as will inform, concerning the premises, over and besides such part of the Forfeitures and Penalties allowed them by any the Statuies, or acts of Parliament, made concerning the premises, such part of the Forfeitures accrueing to us, as by Our said Commissioners shall be thought fit, shall be given and paid unto them and every of them, for their further reward for their discovery of any offence committed against all, or any of the premises.  
given at Our Court at White-Hall the five and twentieth day of May, in the third year of Our reign of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland.  
God save the King.    

¶ Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and John Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent majesty. M.DC.XXVII.   

The Office of His majesties Exchange for the city of London, is kept at the House of the late sheriff Westthrows, over against the inn, called, The George, in Lumbard-streete.