¶ By the King.  
A Proclamation concerning the making of Starch, and avoiding the annoyances thereby.  
WHereas Our late dear and Royal Father of blessed memory, vpon complaints made, and often renewed unto him, of the great inconveniences which happened by the converting of great quantities of Wheatflowre, meal, and other things fit for the food of man, into the making of Starch,& for the making of Starch in places unfit& inconvenient, whereby vnsauoury smells, and noisome stenches did arise, to the great annoyance of His loving Subiects, inhabiting near unto, or passing by these places, out of His Princely care to haue a due reformation of these inconveniences, wherein the Common-wealth hath so great an interest, did by His several Proclamations command such directions to be observed, as vpon mature and deliberate consideration were concerned, might best tend to these ends; And yet through the wilfulness of diuers of the Starchmakers, Wee haue heretofore failed of Our hopes and desires, and the mischiefs haue rather increased through Our lenity: And whereas vpon an humble petition preferred unto Our said Father from diuers of the Starchmakers themselves, whereby they were humble suitors unto His late majesty, that if he would vouchsafe by his Letters Patents, to incorporate them into a body politic to haue a perpetual succession, and thereby to enable them by the help of good laws and Ordinances, to govern the members of their own body, that they would not onely submit themselves, but would also be answerable for such a reformation to follow, as should take away all just cause of further Complaints, Our said Father conceiving this to be the most probable means for reformation, or to leave them without excuse which would not be reformed, was graciously pleased to incorporate the Starchmakers, and to give them such power for their government as they did reasonably desire. And the Starchmakers on their parts did undertake, that they, nor any member of their body, would at any time then after, make any Starch of Wheatflowre, meal, or other thing prohibited, but would make the same of Pollard and bran onely, and sell the same at and for reasonable prices. And that they would not set up or maintain any Starch-house, or use the making of any Starch in any places, which by the unfit situation thereof, or by the ill ordering thereof, might bee an annoyance to others, and if that all others might be prohibited to make Starch to put to sale, who should not submit themselves to become members of their body, and consequently to be subject to their government, That then they would with the uttermost of their endeavours discover all such offenders, and draw them into a way to bee proceeded against for their contempts, according to iustice in such sort as should bee directed. Wee therefore calling to mind, that the prices of corn are now grown to much higher rates, then in these later and cheaper yeeres the same were at, and perceiving that of late many tradesman, out of a greedy desire of gain, though with the hurt of the Common-wealth, haue taken vpon them to be Starch-makers, and left their former Trades and Occupations, haue resolved to haue an effectual reformation of the abuses aforesaid, and constantly to put the directions for that purpose formerly given, into due execution. And, to the end that what the Starchmakers haue undertaken on their parts to perform, may be indeed really performed; Wee haue constituted and appointed a surveyor, who shall be Our sworn Officer and Seruant to that purpose, to oversee the same in every part. Now to the end that all Our loving Subiects may take knowledge of Our royal pleasure herein, Wee do by this Our present Proclamation straitly charge and command, that no person or persons whatsoever, other then such as are or shall be members of the said Company of Starch-makers, shal presume to attempt, or go about to make any Starch at all, other then for his, her, or their private use,& not to sell. And, that no person whatsoever, which shall make any Starch, shall make the same of any Wheat-flowre, meal, or other thing then Pollard and bran onely. That no person whatsoever shall set up, maintain or use any Starch-house, or any vessel for the making of Starch in any place, which for the situation thereof, either in respect of the nearness thereof to any city or town, or other dwellings, or in regard of the nearness to any common high way, road, or ordinary passage of people is, or shal appear to be noisome to any other. And that no Grocer, Chapman, or other person, who useth to buy Starch to sell again, shall buy, utter, sell, or otherwise barter, or vent any Starch, which they shal know to haue been made by any person who is not a known member of the said Company of Starch-makers, so as always the Starch-makers shall be ready to sell the same, at, and for such reasonable prices, as the said Company haue by their Indenture under their common seal heretofore undertaken, and agreed to sell the same. And that no person presume to sell any Starch, as a Huckster or Hawker from door to door in private or secret, or otherwise then in their own proper and open Shops or Warehouses. And that the said Company of Starch-makers shall duly put in execution, the power and authority given unto them, for reformation of the abuses aforesaid. And Our will and pleasure is, that if any person shall offend hereafter in any of the premises, or in giuing aid and assistance, to any the said offenders directly or indirectly, Our will and command is, that Our Commissioners, which Wee hereafter shal to that purpose authorize, for the ready hearing and dispatch of all complaints touching the premises, if Wee shall thereto appoint any, or otherwise, all Our Iudges and Iustices in their several places, shall hear and examine all the complaints which shall be made against any in that behalf, and shall inflict such punishment vpon such offenders by imprisonment, or otherwise, as Our Iudges, Iustices, or Commissioners in their wisedoms shall think fit, having respect to the quality of their offences. And if Our Commissioners shall in their good discretions find any whose offence or misdemeanour, deserveth to bee made more exemplary, Our pleasure and command is, That such offenders shall undergo the Censure and severity of Our Court of star-chamber, for the contempt of Our prerogative royal, in a matter of such consequence, touching the good and benefit of Our people. And to the end Our pleasure and command herein may be the better effected, Wee do hereby straitly charge and command all and singular Iustices of Peace, Maiors, Sheriffes, bailiffs, Constables, Headboroughs, and all other Our Officers and Subiects whatsoever, whensoever any complaints shall bee brought unto them or any of them, of, or for any offence or misdemeanour committed within the limits of these several jurisdictions, at all times,& from time to time to be aiding and assisting to such, as shall at any time be employ●… nor above the execution of 〈…〉 their uttermost endeavours, that this Our 〈…〉 signifi●… 〈…〉 be in all points duly performed. And that they do not suffer any person or persons whatsoever, within any of their Precincts, from and after the publication of this Our Proclamation, to make or cause to be made, directly or indirectly, any Starch, in any other manner, or in any other place or places within this Our realm of England, Dominion of Wales, or Port, or town of berwick, then by such persons, and in such manner, and in such places as are herein directed or intended, but that they use their uttermost powers and endeavours, by all lawful means to hinder and suppress the same. And Our further will and command is, That, not onely Our said Commissioners, which are, or shal be appointed by us to this purpose, but also all other Our Iustices of Peace, Maiors, sheriffs, bailiffs, and other Our chief Officers in all the parts of Our realm of England, and Dominion aforesaid, and Port and town of berwick, when the nature and quality of the offence and contempt shall appear, to deserve a more exemplary punishment as aforesaid, shall cause all and every the offenders against any Branch, Article, or part of this Our royal Proclamation, to be bound with sureties in good bonds to Our use for their appearance before us and Our privy counsel in Our Court of star-chamber, there to answer their contempts.  
given at Our Court at Greenwich, the thirtieth day of june, in the fift year of Our reign of Great britain, France, and Ireland.  
God save the King.   

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