¶ By the King.  Royal blazon or coat of arms.  
❧ A Proclamation concerning the wellmaking of soap.  
HIS majesty intending the aduancement of the native Commodities of this realm, and the prevention of diuers deceits, commonly used in the making of soap, with foreign and vnsweete Materials, and of the excessive rates in the Sale of ill Soapes at the pleasure of the Soape-boylers, being no Body politic, nor governed by any good Orders, and resolving to make that Manufacture of soap and Pot-ashes, a work of His own people, did by his Highnesse Letters Patents under the great seal of England, bearing date at Westminster the twentieth day of january last past, incorporate diuers persons in the said Letters Patents mentioned, by the name of Gouernours, Assistants, and Fellowes of the society of Soapers, within the city of Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, and did thereby grant, that it might be lawful to and for them and their successors, to use and exercise the Art and Mystery of Extracting, boiling, Imbibing, Burning, and Melting Pott-Ashes, or Pitt-Ashes, and of Sode, Berillia, and Soape-Ashes, out of the Materials growing in his majesties own kingdoms, and of making all sorts of Soapes, both hard and soft, with the said Pot-Ashes, Sope-Ashes, Sode, and Berillia, and other Materials of this kingdom, and selling the said Soapes and Ashes.  
And for the avoiding of fraudes and deceits in the use and exercise of the aforesaid Arts and Mysteries, His majesty did thereby give power to the said governor, Assistants, and Fellowes of the said Society, to choose yearly four skilful persons out of the said Society, by themselves, or their deputies, for whom they would answer, to oversee all works workmen, and others using the said Artes and Mysteries within this realm of England, and Dominion of Wales, or of any the said Commodities to be imported from any foreign parts into this realm of England, or Dominion of Wales, and to search and try by the best means they could, whether the soap were sweet and well boiled, and whether the foresaid things were rightly wrought, And the fraudes and deceits which they should find, to cause to be amended, according to their discretions and the laws and customs of this kingdom of England, and strictly to inhibit on His majesties behalf, all workmen in the mystery aforesaid whom his majesty likewise did by the same Letters Patents forbid that none of them should put to sale within this realm, or the Dominion of Wales, any soap or other the premises before the overseers or their Deputies should haue overseen the same, and should haue marked it for good.  
And that after such inhibition if any soap should be put to sale and found defective, or deceitful, to arrest the same, and in public place( declaring such deceits, and defects, to all that would bee present) to destroy the same; To which four men, or any two of them, or their Deputies, His majesty did give power and authority to execute all and singular the premises, and to punish the gainsayer, and rebellers, if any should bee found, as by the said Letters Patents( amongst other things) more at large appeareth.  
And the governor, Assistants, and Fellowes of the said Society, did by Indenture sealed with their Common seal, made between His majesty of the one part, and them of the other part( amongst other things) covenant to erect, and maintain, as many works, and to provide such Materials, as after the first year from the date of the said Letters Patents, they might make five thousand Tonne of good soap, for his majesties use, and a further proportion if need should require, and that the soap to bee by them made, should every way bee as good as the soap contained in one Firkin signed with the mark of the said governor, Assistants, and Fellowes, whereof an Assay and trial was made, which was delivered into the hands of Francis Coningesby Esquire, to bee safely kept until an other Firkinne of soap for an Assay should bee there delivered by the said governor, Assistants, and Fellowes, and therewith to make trial of such soap as should bee afterwards in like maner made, and that at the end of every quarter of a year, or within one month after each quarter, they should deliver one Firkin of soap of like goodness, and that the Best sweet soap should not bee sold over and above the rate of three pence the pound.  
In which Indenture, His majesty did covenant to cause a Proclamation to be set forth for the further declaration of his intentions, as well for the better maintenance and strengthening of diuers Licences, Liberties, Powers, privileges, and Authorities granted unto the said society, as for the prohibiting of the making and sale of vnsweet soap, and of importing the same, and also that no soap should bee put to sale before it were Assayed and tried by lawful men to that purpose authorized and appointed by the said Letters Patents, and Indenture amongst diuers other things therein contained, more at large appeareth.  
And for the better effecting thereof, His majesty did by His Letters Patents erect an Office for keeping of the patterns, and making of the Assay of Soapes to bee made by the governor, Assistants and Fellowes of the Society of Soapers of Westminster, and appointed the said Francis Coningesbie, to be the first Assay-Master, to make assays of the Soapes to be made by them for his majesties use, and also to be an Assistant to the said Corporation, for the search of all Soapes to be made by others, when they should require him, for discovering of deceits and frauds in the making thereof, if any should be: And that the said Francis Coningesbie should take Oath for the true execution of the said Office, before he should be admitted to the execution of the said Office, as by the said Letters Patents more at large it doth appear.  
His majesty therfore, to the end that all his loving Subiects may take notice of his Princely care herein, doth straightly charge and command as well the said governor, Assistants and Fellowes of the said society, as all others that shall hereafter make any Soapes, that they use no other oil in making of their Soapes, but olive oil, and Rape oil, as hath been long sithence decreed by the Maior and Aldermen of London, that by that means the soap may bee sweet, good, and serviceable, according to the patterns delivered up unto the said Francis Coningesby, And also strictly inhibiteth, that no person or persons import, or cause to bee imported or brought into this realm or Dominion of Wales, any vnsweet or unserviceable Soapes: And also that none presume to put to sale, or vent any Soapes, Pot-ashes, Soape-ashes, Berillia, or Sode, of what nature soever, before they shall bee assayed and tried by the Searchers to be assigned and yearly to bee chosen by the said governor, Assistants, and Fellowes, and the Assay-Master for the time being, or some of them, and by them or him found to be good, useful and serviceable, and so marked by them or their Deputies, with the mark appointed for that purpose, being the flower di'luce, if any such Officers shall reside in the towns, where such putting to Sale thereof shall bee and being required, will search and try the same without Fee or salary: Charging and commanding as well the governor, Assistants, and Fellowes of the said society, as all other Soape-makers, Soape-boylers, or sellers of soap, Soape-Ashes, Pott-Ashes, Berillia, or Sode, as well within places exempted, and in Franchises, as elsewhere, to permit and suffer the said four persons, and the said Francis Coningesby, and his deputy or Deputies, and all other Assay-Masters hereafter to be chosen to assay, try, and mark all and every their Soapes, Sope-Ashes, Pot-Ashes, Berillia, and Sode, either made within this realm, or the Dominion of Wales, or imported into the same from any foreign parts, without any manner of interruption, contradiction, or denial, as they tender Our pleasure, and will avoid the contrary at their uttermost perils.  
Willing also and requiring all Maiors, Sheriffes, bailiffs, Iustices of Peace, Constables, Headboroughs, and all other his majesties Officers and Ministers whatsoever, whom it shall concern, that they and every of them from time to time be aiding, helping, and assisting unto the said four persons, their Deputies, and the said Francis Coningesby, and his Deputies, and all other Assay-Masters, and their Deputies, which hereafter shall bee chosen into that place in the due execution of all and singular the premises, as they will answer the contrary at their perils.  
given at the Court at Greenwich, the eight and twentieth day of june, in the eighth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, CHARLES by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.  
God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty: And by the assigns of John BILL. Anno 1632.