royal blazon or coat of arms HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE dieu ET MON DROIT  
¶ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation against false packing up of Butter, and other deceits and misdemeanours concerning Butter-Caske, discovered since the publishing of a former Proclamation in that behalf.  
WHereas vpon the humble Petition of Our loving Subjects the Free men of Our City of London, trading in Butter and Cheese, We caused Our royal Proclamation to be published for prevention of many frauds and abuses, which had been frequently practised as well in the overweight of Butter-Caske, as in the false packing of Butter; Notwithstanding which Our royal intention, and the vigilant care of Our well-beloved seruant, captain John red, in the execution of the trust in him reposed concerning the reformation thereof( wherewith we are well satisfied) many great abuses are still committed by farmers, Dairiemen, Packers of Butter, and others, by putting up of corrupt and unwholesome Butter with good cream Butter, and by making of new Heads or new Boards to some part of old sealed casks, and by counterfeiting the stamp with which the said Butter-Caskes be marked,& likewise by Putting, Packing, Shipping, and Transporting of Butter in casks& Vessels before they be marked,& also by putting of greater quantities of Salt into those Vessels then is necessary for the preservation of the Butter therein contained, and weighing the same Butter with unsealed and deceitful Weights and Balances: All which several falshoods, frauds, and misdemeanours, being of evil consequence to the common wealth, and contemptuously committed against the tenor of Our former Proclamation( which We will shall be in all things in violably observed;) Therefore the better to meet with these and the like obstinate offenders, We haue enlarged the power of Our said Seruant, his assigns and Deputies, by Our late Letters Patents under Our great seal of England; And do hereby give Our people timely notice thereof, that they may prevent the punishment which is justly to fall vpon them, if hereafter they happen to be found transgressors in the premises, or any of them.  
And We do hereby charge and command, all Coopers and Potters respectively, that from henceforth they make all Firkins of one size, and they to contain fifty fire pounds neat Butter, and so after the like rate for Kilderkins and Barrels, and all Pots to hold fourteen pounds neat Butter, without fraud or guile: And that the said Coopers and Potters do and shall set his and their distinct mark vpon every such cask, Pot, or vessel, by him and them to b emade, to the end the Delinquents may be discovered, and receive condign punishment according to their demerits. To the end therefore that the frauds and offenders aforesaid may be the fooner discovered, Our will and pleasure is, that the said captain John read, his assigns and Deputies, and every of them, shall set a distinct mark vpon every vessel or cask by them hereafter to be sealed and marked; And also that every Maker, and Packer up of Butter into any cask or vessel, do and shall from time to time hereafter set his and their private mark vpon every vessel or cask to be filled with Butter, whereby the defective Butter, either in weight or goodness, and the persons by whom the same was made, packed up, or filled, may be the better discovered. And if the offenders aforesaid, or any of them, shall notwithstanding these Our Princely Commands, wilfully and contemptuously proceed and continue in committing any the aforesaid offences, whereof by this Our Proclamation they are forewarned and restrained, We do hereby give further power and authority unto Our said seruant, his deputy and Deputies, with the assistance of a Constable, or other Officer, to enter and go into any fairs, Markets, Houses, Shops, Warehouses, Ports, harbours, Ships, Vessels, and all other places whatsoever, within this Our kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales, to search for and discover all Butter-Vessels deceitfully made, put to sale vnbranded, branded with any counterfeit Brand, or filled with Butter wanting the due weight in Butter, as aforesaid, or corrupt Butter mingled with good Butter; and finding any such, to seize and destroy the same, or put the same into safe custody until they shall be otherwise disposed of, according to the laws and Statutes of this realm, and the offenders condignly punished according to their demerits.  
Lastly, We do hereby for us, Our Heires, and Successors, charge and command all and singular Maiors, Iustices of Peace, Sheriffes, bailiffs, Constables, Headboroughs, and all other Officers and Ministers whomsoever, of us, Our Heires and Successors, within this Our realm of England, and Dominion of Wales, to be aiding, assisting, and helping unto the said captain John read, his deputy and Deputies, and every of them in the due execution of the said Office, and of Our will and pleasure herein, and in Our former Proclamation and Letters Patents expressed, according to the true meaning of these presents, whensoever they or any of them shall be thereunto desired, and in no wise to hinder, interrupt, or molest him or them in any thing concerning the execution and performance of this service, as they tender Our pleasure, and will avoid the contrary at their perils.  
Given at Our Court at Oatlands, the sixteenth day of july, in the thirteenth year of Our reign.  
❧ God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty: And by the assigns of John BILL. 1637.