1.

WHereas the kinges majesty, upon the publishing of the last proclamation. for the abacing of the shilling to. ix. d. minded to have broughte his coine unto a more perfection of finenes then it was, & so from time to time to have amended it, as in very dede he purposeth to do, with al the spede that may be. Now it is come to passe, yt by the spreading of false & untrue rumors, the prices of al thinges are growen so excessively, that it is intollerable for his loving subjectes to endure it, by reason that certein lewd persones of their owne light heddes have immagined, that bycause hys highnes hath already sumwhat abated the value of his sayde come, therfore his majesty should yet more abace it, and of their imaginacions, have uttered this fond rumor, in suche sorte, as every man that hathe corne, cattel or other kinde of victual, mere to be brought to the markettes, rather wil kepe it then utter it feating their losse in the fal of the money, wherof foloweth a scarsite in the market, where no scarcite ought to be, and a merveilous dearth wher plenty is of al maner of victualles. And as this gredy restreining of them that hath plentifully, bredeth the plague of god upon them, both for their light credite, and for thei insatiable covetousnes, as in the death of a numbre of them it hath of late ben sene: So the kinges highnes having charge from god, to se his common welth well governed, must have an earnest [...]e, to the streighte punishment of them that raise these slaunders [...]monges his subjectes. Wherfore his majesty straightlye prohibiteth & defendeth, all & every of his subjectes, of what estate, degre, or condicion soever he or they be, that from the publishing of this present proclamacion, they invent not, speake, mutter, or devise, any maner of tale, newes, or reporte, either touching the abacing of thesaid coyne, or that in any maner of wise may sounde either to the dishonor of his majesties persone, or to the defacing of his highnes procedinges, or of is councel, or to the disquieting of his loving subjectes, upon payne of. vi. monethes imprisonment, and suche fine to the kinges majesties use, as shalbe thought mete by the justices of the Peace, in the Shire where thoffence is committed, if thoffend or be able to pay it immediately before his deliverie: and in case the offend or be not able to pay it, then he to be put on the pillory, and one of his Eares cut of, or bothe, if the grevousnes of his offence shal seme to the Justices, Major, or other officer so to require. And whosoever shal heare any suche tale, rumor, invencion, or devise, and do not immediatly revele it unto some Justice of the peace, Major, Bailiffe, Constable or suche other Officer, he to incurre no lesse paine then the first offendor: the like wherof to be inflicted upon the Justice, Major, Bayliffe, Constable, or other officer to whome the accusacion shalbe geven, in case that upon the trial therof, they do not put the effect herof in execution upon the offendors, and the accusor of such officers to be rewarded at the kinges majesties handes, [...]or thuttering and declaration of thofficers fault, in not executing his charge, in suche sorte, as they shal have good cause an other time to watche for the like.