[243] The whole story is in 12 Co. 746. I owe this curious fact to
the author of Eunomus, ii. 116.
[244] A quarto volume was published by Barker, the king's printer,
and is entitled "A Booke of Proclamations Published since the
beginning of his Majestie's most happy Reign over England, until
this present month of Feb. 1609." It contains 110 in all. The
Society of Antiquaries of London possesses at the present time the
largest and most perfect collection of royal proclamations in
existence, brought together since the above was written. They are on
separate broadsheets, as issued.
[245] In 1529 the king had issued a proclamation for resisting and
withstanding of most dampnable heresyes sowen within the realme by
the discyples of Luther and other "heretykes, perverters of Christes
relygyon." In June, 1530, this was followed by the proclamation "for
dampning (or condemning) of erronious bokes and heresies, and
prohibitinge the havinge of holy scripture translated into the
vulgar tonges of englishe, frenche, or dutche," he notes many bookes
"printed beyonde the see" which he will not allow, "that is to say,
the boke called the wicked Mammona, the boke named the Obedience of
a Christen Man, the Supplication of Beggars, and the boke called the
Revelation of Antichrist, the Summary of Scripture, and divers other
bokes made in the Englishe tongue," in fact all books in the
vernacular not issued by native printers. "And that having respect
to the malignity of this present tyme, with the inclination of
people to erronious opinions, the translation of the newe testament
and the old into the vulgar tonge of englysshe, shulde rather be the
occasion of contynuance or increase of errours amonge the said
people, than any benefit or commodite toward the weale of their
soules," and he determines therefore that the scriptures shall only
be expounded to the people as heretofore, and that these books "be
clerely extermynate and exiled out of this realme of Englande for
ever."
[246] History of the Reformation, vol. ii. p. 96, folio.
[247] In June, 1574, the queen issued from her "Manour of Greenwich"
this proclamation against "excesse of apparel, and the superfluitie
of unnecessarye foreign wares thereto belonginge," which is declared
to have "growen by sufferance to such an extremetie, that the
manifest decay, not only of a great part of the wealth of the whole
realme generally, is like to follow by bringing into the realme such
superfluities of silkes, clothes of gold, sylver, and other most
vaine devices, of so greate coste for the quantitie thereof; as of
necessitie the moneyes and treasure of the realme is, and must be,
yeerely conveyed out of the same." This is followed by three folio
leaves minutely describing what may be worn on the dresses of every
grade of persons; descending to such minutiae as to note what classes
are not to be allowed to put lace, or fringes, or borders of velvet
upon their gowns and petticoats, under pain of fine or punishment,
because improper for their station, and above their means. The order
appears to have been evaded, for it was followed by another in
February, 1580, which recapitulates these prohibitions, and renders
them more stringent.
[248] The list of a very few of those issued at the early part of
his reign may illustrate this. In 1604 was published a "Proclamation
for the true winding or folding of wools," as well as one "For the
due regulation of prices of victuals within the verge of Kent." In
1605, "Against certain calumnious surmises concerning the church
government of Scotland." In 1608, "A proclamation against making
starch." In 1612, "That none buy or sell any bullion of gold and
silver at higher prices than is appointed to be paid for the same."
Another against dying silk with _slip_ or any corrupt stuff. In
1613, for "Prohibiting the untimely bringing in of wines," as well
as for "Prohibiting the publishing of any reports or writings of
duels," and also "The importation of felt hats or caps." In 1615,
"Prohibiting the making of glass with timber or wood," because "of
late yeeres the waste of wood and timber hath been exceeding great
and intolerable, by the glassehouses and glasseworkes of late in
divers parts erected," and which his majesty fears may have the
effect of depriving England of timber to construct her navy!
[249] I have noticed it in Calamities of Authors.
[250] Lilly, the astrologer, in his memoirs, notes that Thomas
Howard, Earl of Arundel (the famous collector of the Arundelian
marbles now at Oxford), "brought over the new way of building with
brick in the city, greatly to the safety of the city, and
preservation of the wood of this nation."
[251] This proclamation "for the suppression of coffee-houses" bears
date December 20, 1675, and is stated to have been issued because
"the multitude of coffee-houses, lately set up and kept within this
kingdom, and the great resort of idle and dissipated persons to
them, have produced very evil and dangerous effects," particularly
in spreading of rumours, and inducing tradesmen to neglect their
calling, tending to the danger of the commonweal, by the idle waste
of time and money. It therefore orders all coffee-house keepers
"that they, or any of them, do not presume from and after the tenth
day of January next ensuing, to keep any publick coffee-house, or
utter, or sell by retail, in his, her, or their house, or houses (to
be spent or consumed within the same), any coffee, chocolate,
sherbett, or tea; as they will answer it at their utmost peril."