royal blazon or coat of arms HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE dieu ET MON DROIT  
¶ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation for the due execution of the office of clerk of the Market of Our household, and throughout Our realm of England, and Dominion of Wales: And for the surveying and sealing of the constant reel appointed to be used by all Clothiers, and workers in Cloth and yarn; And for the increase of the poores wages labouring therein.  
WHereas several complaints haue been heretofore made, as well unto Our late dear and royal Father, King james of ever blessed memory, in his life time, and unto us since Our access to the crown, as unto the Lords and others of Our privy council, and to diuers of Our Iustices of Assize in their Circuits, and Iustices of Peace of sundry Counties of this Our realm at their Sessions, of the great abuses, deceits, and falsities, frequently used by and among weavers, Combers, Spinsters, and other Workers and Makers of Woollen Cloth and yarn, by the daily falsifying their yarn, as well in the length of the Reele-staffe, as in the number of the threads, and of the differences grown among themselves, concerning a constant reel for the reeling of yarn to be kept, and for the increase of the wages for the poor, according to the Statutes of quinto Eliz. and primo jacobi; For remedy and reformation whereof, and for settling of a constant course for the said reel, and increase of the Poores wages, it hath been vpon great advice thought fit, that the said course of keeping of a constant reel throughout all the Clothing Counties of this Our realm of England, and Dominion of Wales; and the increase of the wages for the poor, might proceed and go on for the general good of the whole Common Wealth: And that in regard the Reel-staffe had been lately increased a fifth or sixth part longer then had been accustomend, all Spinsters should haue for the Spinning and Reeling of fix double Knots on the double reel, or twelve on the single reel, a penny, which is more by two pence in the shilling then formerly they haue had: And that all Labourers and other Artificers employed about the Trade of Clothing and Yarne-making, should haue the like intrease of wages. And for establishing the same, Wee haue by Our Letters Patents, bearing date the two and twentieth day of january now last past, for us, Our Heires, and Successors, willed, ordained, and appointed, as well for avoiding of all future deceit in making of Cloth and yarn, and for preservation of peace between Buyer and Seller, Worke-master and Seruant; And all Clothiers, weavers, Combers, Spinsters, and other Workers and makers of Cloth and yarn, either Woollen or linen, within this Our realm of England and Dominion of Wales, that there be a constant reel provided and kept by all and every Clothier, weaver, cumber, Spinster, and other workers and makers of Cloth and yarn, either Woollen or Linen, within all and every the Counties of this Our realm of England and Dominion of Wales, and in all Cities, Boroughs, and towns Corporate, and other places, where the making of Cloth or yarn, either linen or Woollen is used, the said reel to be called a Cloth-Reele, or Reele-staffe, and to be of one yard about the single reel, and two yards or two elles about the double reel, every Knot containing fourscore threads, for all yarn whatsoever, both Woollen and linen, the same to be kept and continued as a constant reel between Buyer and Seller, Work master and Seruant, whereby the truth of the same may appear to all persons trading in Cloth or yarn; The surveying, searching, sealing, and oversight whereof, as of the increase of the wages of the poor, We haue by Our said Letters Patents committed and appointed unto Our well beloved Seruant, John Etherington, one of the Yeomen of Our Chamber, and to Henry Stracey, for the term of one and thirty yeeres, with the like Fees and Allowances for the same their service, as the clerk of the Market of Our household hath for weights and measures; A Schedule whereof is hereunto annexed; And that they attend their said service but once a year, as the clerk of the Market doth, and that they and the said clerk of the Market do travell and sit together, as shall be most commodious for themselves, and the good and ease of the Commons; As by Our said Letters Patents more at large appeareth.  
All which We do by this Our royal Proclamation ratify and confirm; and do strictly enjoin, require and command, all Our loving Subiects whatsoever, whom the same shall or may concern, That they carefully and diligently observe the same, and bee obedient and conformeable thereunto; And that all Clothiers, weavers, Combers, Spinsters, and other person and persons working or making of Cloth or yarn, either Woollen or Linen, do from henceforth provide and keep a constant reel, or Reel-staffe, according to the contents of Our said Letters Patents; And that the poor, employed about the making of Cloth and yarn, haue the said increase of Wages, after the rate of two pence in the shilling, more then heretofore they haue had paid& continued unto them. And whereas also by the laws& Statutes of this Our realm of England, there should be one Weight and one Measure throughout the whole realm, whereof Our said late dear Father King james, in His great wisdom, piety and iustice, by His royal Proclamation, dated the second day of February, in the sixteenth year of His reign, did admonish His then Subiects of this kingdom; Yet nevertheless we are informed that the same hath wrought little or no Reformation, but that there are at this day frequently used in the Cities, Boroughs, towns Corporate, and in many other Market towns, Parishes, Villages, and in other places of this Our realm, especially in the northern and western parts, and in Our Dominion of Wales, and Counties Palatine of Lancaster and Durham, false and deceitful Weights and Measurts of different contents one from another, and all disagreeing from Our Standard appointed to bee the rule and direction for them.  
And whereas Wee are also informed, that many unconscionable persons within this Our realm of England, and Dominion of Wales, haue and do use several Weights and Measures, with the greater to buy, and with the lesser to sell, and do also use false& deceitful beams and balances, to the great loss and defrauding of Our Subiects, and especially of the poorer sort, who are most sensible of the same: And whereas the clerk of Our Market, by the laws and Statutes of this realm, ought by his Office to inquire of the said abuses, and punish and reform the same; and ought also to set reasonable and indifferent rates and prizes vpon victual and other provisions, chiefly in times of Our progress, and to foresee that the same be wholesome, and of good condition and quality in their several sorts; and ought also to inflict as well pecuniary as corporal punishment vpon the offenders, according to the several qualities and degrees of their offences: And whereas complaint hath been made unto us, of the great negligence used in the execution of the said Office, partly for that diuers which are trusted as Deputies to execute the same, haue been hitherto ignorant what their power and authority is, and partly because diuers of them haue been very careless and remiss, and respecting onely their own private gains, extort unjust Fees, and either for favour or reward spare the offenders, and neglect the public service wherewith they are trusted:  
We therefore having taken the premises into consideration, and foreseing how much the plenty of this realm might be increased, and the frauds and abuses now generally used in buying and selling( especially by innkeepers and Victuallers) might bee suppressed, if the clerk of Our Market by himself, or by honest and discreet Deputies did diligently and faithfully intend the execution of the said Office: And We desiring nothing more,( after the establishing of true Religion, and the service of Almighty God) then by all good means to further and advance the peace and plenty of Our loving Subiects: And minding also to provide that the poor Labourers, and indigent Spinsters, and other Artificers employed in and about the Trade of Clothing, may be duly answered the increase of their Wages, after the aforesaid rate of two pence in the shilling; Haue thought fit by this Our royal Proclamation, to publish and make known to all Our loving Subiects, as well what by the laws and Statutes of this realm, should and ought to be performed by the clerk of Our Market and his Deputies, as by the said John Ethrington and Henry Stracey, their Executors and assigns, and their Deputies, and every of them respectively, as what Fees they may justly require and take, and what courses they should hold for the better execution of their services, and what account Wee expect, and haue determined to require at their hands concerning these services hereafter. Wee do therfore hereby signify and declare, that the Office of the clerk of Our Market,( being a very ancient Office of Our crown) by the laws and Statutes of this Our realm, is to inquire of all abuses in Weights, beams, balances, and Measures; and also to inquire of all falsities, deceits and abuses in the Trades of Millers, Bakers, Brewers, Vintners, innkeepers. Alehouse-keepers, Cookes, Victuallers, Fishmongers, Butchers, Chandlors, Grocers, Mercers, Clothiers, Clothworkers, weavers, Taylors, Brokers, Tanners, shoemakers, smiths, glovers, Whitetawers, Maulsters, Corne-masters, Colliers, Woodmongers, and generally all other Artificers, tradesman and other persons whatsoever, having or using Weights and Measures, inhabiting wheresoever within Our said realm, or Dominion of Wales, as well to prevent deceits and frauds, as to punish the same; And also to search and inquire that all Victuals, and other things put to sale by them, for the sustenance or use of mans body, and all provisions for their horses or their cattle, be wholesome and of good quality; and that their Manufactures be well and workmanlike made and wrought, and that they sell at and for reasonable and moderate gains, and not at unreasonable and excessive prizes: And especially to inquire of, and punish all Forestallers, engrossers, and Regrators, who by their inordinate desire of gain, do enhance the prices of all things vendible, to the decay of all public and open Markets, and the hindrance of all traffic and Commerce between man and man.  
And to the intent that the clerk of Our Market may put in due execution that power, which by the Law is given unto him, for the furtherance of Our service, and the service of the Common Wealth, We do will& straitly command, that the said clerk of Our Market, and his Deputies, do from henceforth with all diligence execute the said Office in all places, as well within the Verge, in the times of Our progress, that Our Nobles, Seruants, train, and Suitors, attending vpon Our Person and Court, may be well and honestly used and demeaned, as in all other parts& places of this Our realm of England and Dominion of Wales; And that from henceforth he keep his Sessions by himself, or his sufficient deputy, or Deputies, once in every year at the least, in the several Counties of this Our realm, and Dominion of Wales, and in as many places in every county, as shall bee most convenient for the general performance of the service and ease of Our people, and that he or they give knowledge in writing, of the times and places when and where their Sessions shall be held, by Precept under Our seal of the said Office, to bee directed to the high Constables within the circuit of the Sessions, a convenient time before such Sessions are to be held, and that one or more of the Iustices of the Peace of the County, inhabiting within the circuit of that Sessions, may vpon reasonable notice be present at every Sessions, the better to assist the clerk of the Market, and his Deputies, and to see Iustice equally and indifferently administered, and that the clerk of Our Market, and his Deputies, do diligently inquire, by the oaths of twelve men at the least, to be impanelled, returned, and sworn by him or them in such manner, as hath anciently been accustomend of all Offences committed within the precinct of that Sessions, contrary to the laws, and inquirable by them: And that the chief Constables of the Hundreds, and the petty Constables of every Parish, and all other inhabitants there, shall vpon their oaths( being thereunto required by Our clerk of the Market, or his deputy) give evidence to the jury so to bee impanelled: And because We are informed, that the greatest deceits and abuses are committed in Cities, Boroughs, and towns Corporate, by the chief Officers there, who ought to reform themselves and others within their several jurisdictions; Our express will and Commandement is, That all such chief Officers take special knowledge of Our pleasure herein, and bend themselves to a speedy reformation and conformity thereunto.  
And We will and command, as well Our clerk of Our Market, and his Deputies, to give us or Our council true Information of such persons as shall bee found remiss or refractory herein; As the said John Ethrington and Henry Stracey, their Executors, Administrators and assigns, or their sufficient deputy or Deputies, once every year to give a true and just account unto Our Iustices of Assize of their several circuits, of their proceedings in Our service, according to the tenor of Our said Letters Patents unto them granted, as aforesaid, to the end the Delinquents may bee proceeded against, in such a course as their contempt shall deserve. And because Wee are informed, that the Buyers( the poorer sort especially) are much pinched by sleights and deceits used in measuring; Wee do therefore hereby command the clerk of Our Market and his Deputies, in all their Sessions to make careful and diligent inquiry of all such falsities and deceits, and that they suppress all hooped Measures, which are or may be removed deceitfully at pleasure; And likewise all unlawful extraordinary broad, or extraordinary narrow and deceitful Bushels, or other Measures: And Wee do charge and command, that no Iune-holder or ostler use any Measure of Straw or Wicker, or double Measure to sell or utter their provender by, nor use any Hostry-Measure, but such as shall be sized and sealed by Our clerk of Our Market, and that every of them haue such a sealed Measure continually hanging by a chain at the door of their Hostrie, and all the rest of their Measures in their Hosteries to be answerable thereunto, and Sealed, that so the traveler, or Passenger, may not be deceived of his due Measure; And also to provide that they sell their Meat, drink, Hay,& provender, and other provision, both for Man and Beast, for moderate prizes: And further, that there be no Weights or Measures used by any person or persons whatsoever, but such as shall bee of such matter and substance as are fit to receive and retain the impression of Our seals, and such as shall be sized by Our Standard, and sealed as aforesaid, and accordingly allowed and sealed by Our clerk of Our Market; And that no person or persons whatsoever do buy or sell by any other Weights or Measures, nor vent their commodities otherwise, but by such sealed Weights and Measures as aforesaid.  
And We do straitly charge and command Our clerk of Our Market and his Deputies, that when any offence shall be discovered and duly found out by them, or any of them, that he or they do not neglect nor omit( either for favour or reward) to assess reasonable Fines and other punishments vpon the offenders, according to the natures and qualities of their offences, and the condition of the offenders; And the same being so assessed, that he& they cause the same to be duly estreated and levied vpon the offenders, for the use of us, Our Heires and Successors, by such ways and means, as by the laws and Statutes of this Our realm are warranted and appointed, and that herein they fail not as they tender Our high displeasure, or would avoid that punishment which their negligence herein shall deserve.  
And because the clerk of the Market of Our household, and his Deputies, may bee encouraged to execute their Offices and Places with integrity, and may haue their just and reasonable Fees allowed, and may not exact unjust Fees or Rewards, to the grief or oppression of Our loving Subiects; We haue thought fit here withall to limit and express the due Fees which Our clerk of Our Market, or his Deputies may require and take, as the same haue been heretofore examined and approved of, by the Lords, and others, then Officers of the Greene-Cloth, and so remain recorded in Our counting house; a Schedule whereof Wee haue hereunto annexed: And if it shall happen Our said clerk of Our Market, or any of his Deputies, in the execution of their said places, by cutting or paring any Weight or Measure, shall spoil or impair the same; Our will and pleasure is, that then he, or they, shall make present payment of the value thereof to the Owner; Or if he or they, shall directly or indirectly, exact or take any greater Fee or Reward, then by the said Schedule is expressed, vpon complaint made by any of Our loving Subiects, finding themselves justly grieved therewith, to the Lord Steward, Treasurer, or Controller of Our house, the party offending shall haue his deserved punishment, and the party wrouged speedy recompense for the same.  
And to the intent that Our service may be the better performed, Wee straitly charge and command Our clerk of Our Market, that he make no deputy, or Deputies from henceforth, but such as shall be of sufficiency and ability to perform the place, and which shall not himself bee either Vintner, Inne-holder, Victualler, or other Tradesman using the trade of buying and selling: And that this Our Proclamation, for the better instructing of all Our loving Subiects, shall before the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel now next coming, be proclaimed in every Market town throughout Our realm of England, and Dominion of Wales, and be hanged up and fastened in a Table in every Market place by an Officer, where it may continue to be seen and red by any that will: And further, that it shall be red in every Parish Church, before the said Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel next coming, immediately after evening prayer, vpon the Sunday or Holiday by the Minister or clerk of the Church; and so from thenceforth at every Feast of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary, and Feast of Saint Michael the archangel by the space of five yeares next coming, and shall be hanged up and preserved in every Church in a Table, to be seen and red at all times by any that will; And that the defaults of Officers, Ministers, clerks, and Churchwardens in this behalf, shall bee enquired of and punished by Our Iustices of Assize, and Iustices of Peace in their Sessions, according to their discretions, as contemners of Our royal Commandement.  
And We do straitly will and command, that all Our Iustices of Assize, Iustices of Peace, Sheriffes, Our clerk of Our Market, his deputy and Deputies, and the said John Ethrington and Henry Stracey, their deputy or Deputies, and all Maiors, and other Officers of Cities, Boroughs, Liberties, and towns Corporate, High Constables, Petty Constables, Tithing men, and other Our Officers and Ministers in all places wheresoever, do cause this present Proclamation to be duly executed, and be from time to time aiding and assisting to their uttermost unto Our clerk of Our Market, and his Deputies, and to the said John Ethrington and Henry Stracey, their Executors, Administrators and assigns, and their Deputies, in the due execution of their Offices respectively, and that the said clerk of Our Market, as well now as hereafter for the time being, be also aiding, furthering, and assisting unto the said John Ethrington and Henry Stracey, their deputy and Deputies, in the due execution of their said Office, as they and every of them tender Our service herein, the Common Wealth of this realm, and Our high displeasure.  
given at Our Court at Oatelands, the ninth day of july, in the twelfth year of Our reign.  
¶ God save the King.   

❧ A Declaration of the Fees anciently belonging to the clerk of the Market, for the execution of his Office.  
FIrst, for Sealing of every new bushel, for entering of the same, with the name and dwelling place, of the Owner thereof— iiii. d.  
Item, For Sealing of every half bushel, for entering the same, the Owners name, and dwelling place— ii. d.  
Item, For new Sealing every lesser Measure or Weight, for entering the same, with the names and dwelling places of the Owners thereof— i.d.  
Item, For recording every Victuallers name, his dwelling place, and for viewing and examination of every particular Victuallers Ale and beer Measures, be they never so many, and for entering the same— ii. d.  
Item, For recording of every Inholders and Vintners name and dwelling place, and for viewing or examination of every particular Inneholders,& Vintners Ale, and beer, Wine, and Hostry Measures, be they never so many, and for entering the same iiii. d.  
Item, For recording of the names and dwelling places of every Butcher, Grocer, Chandler, Mercer, Draper, Clothier, or any other person, entering of all their Weights, Measures, Elles, Yards, beams and balances, and for trying and examination of the same, bee they never so many— ii. d.  
Item, For new Sealing of every Ell or Yard at both ends, entering the same, with the names and dwelling places of the Owners thereof— ii. d.  
Item, For trying and examination of every bushel formerly Sealed, entering of the same, with the name and dwelling place of the Owners thereof— ii. d.  
Item, For trying and examination of every lesser Measure formerly Sealed, entering of the same, with the name and dwelling place of the Owners thereof— i. d.  
Item, For trying and examination of every Weight and Measure, of any person or persons that shall be found repugnant to His majesties Standard, which shall sell any Commodities by a lesser Weight or Measure, or shall buy any Commodities by a greater Weight or Measure, to the deceit of the Subiects— ii. d.   

¶ The Fees to be taken for the Sealing and surveying of the constant reel, and for the oversight of the increase of the poores wages, working in the making of Cloth.  
INprimis, For Sealing of the constant reel of two Yards, or two Ells about, and for recording and registering of the names and dwelling places of the Owners thereof, the like Fee as for the Bushel— iiii. d.  
Item, For Sealing of the single reel, and for recording and registering the names and dwelling places of the Owners thereof— ii. d.  
Item, For the Trying, Examination, and oversight of the double reel being once Sealed, and for registering the names and dwelling places of the Owners thereof— ii. d.  
Item, For the Trying, Examination, and oversight of the single reel, and for registering of the names and dwelling places of the Owners thereof— i. d.  
Item, For the oversight of the increase of the Poores wages, working in the making of Cloth— gratis.   

❧ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty: And by the assigns of John BILL. 1636.