Proclamation of Henry VIII against the Stews (A)

ff 164-4v (13 April)

A Proclamation to avoyd the abhominable place called
the Stewes./

Rex Maiori et vicecomitibus Ciuitatis London, Salutem. Vobis mandamus, etc./

The kinges most Excellent Maiestie, considering, howe by tolleracion of such dissolute and miserable persons, as putting awaie the feare of almightie God, and shame of the world, haue byne suffered to dwell besides London and ells where in Common open places, called the Stewes, and there without punishment or Correccion, exercise their abhominable and detestable synne, there hath of late encreased and growne such enormities, as not only provoke, iustly the anger and wrath of almightie God, but alsoe engender such Corrupcion amoung the people, as tendeth to the intollerable annoyance of the Common wealth, and where not only the youth is provoked, inticed and allured to execute the fleshly lustes but alsoe by such assemblies, of euill disposed persons, haunted and accustomed, as daily devise and Conspire, howe to spoyle and robb the true labouring and well disposed men; ffor theis Consideracions, hath by the aduise of his Counsell, thought requisite, vtterly to extinct such abhominable Licences and Cleerely to take awaye all occasion of the same; Wherefore his Maiestie straightlie chargeth and Commaundeth, that all such persons as haue accustomed most abhominably to abuse their bodies contrary to Godes lawe and honestie, in any such Common places, called the stewes, in or about the Cittie of London; Do before the feaste of Easter next comyng, depart from those Common places, and resort incontinently to their naturall Countries, with their bagges and baggages, vpon paine of ymprisonment, and further to be punished, at the Kinges maiesties will and pleasure; ffurthermore his maiestie straightlye chargeth and Comaundeth, that all such Housholders, as vnder the name of Baudes, haue kept the notable and marked houses, and knowne hosteries, for the said euill disposed persons; That is to saie such housholders as doe inhabite the houses, whited and painted, with signes on the front, for a token of the said houses, shall avoyd with bagge and baggage, before the feast of Easter next comyng, vpon paine of like punishment, at the Kinges maiesties will and pleasure; ffurthermore the Kinges maiestie straightlye chargeth and Comaundeth, that all such as dwell vpon the Banke, called the Stewes neere London and haue at any tyme before this proclamacion, sold, any manner victualles to such as haue resorted to their houses, doe before the said feast of Easter, cease and leaue of their victualling and forbeare to retayne| any Gest or strainger into their house, either to eate drinke or lodge, after the feast of Easter next Comyng, vntill they haue presented themselues before the Kinges maiesties Counsell, and there bound themselues with suertie in Recognizance, not to suffer any such misorder in their house, or Lodge any serving man, Prentice, or woman vnmarried, other then their hired servantes, vpon the paine before specified; The Kinges most excellent Maiestie, alsoe Chargeth and Comaundeth, that noe Owner or meane Tenaunt of any such whited howse, or howses where the said lewd persons haue had resort, and vsed their most detestable life; doe from the said feast of Easter, presume to lett any of the houses, heretofore abused in the said mischeefe, in the streete called the Stewes aforesaid, to any person or persons before the same owner or meane Tenaunt, intending to make lease as afore, doe present the name or names of such as should hier the same to the Kinges maiesties Counsell, and that before them the leasee, hath putt in Bond and suertie, not to suffer any of the said houses to be abused, as hath byne in tymes past, with the said abhominacion, vpon like paine as is before is mencioned; °+°ffinallie to thentent all resort should be eschued to the said place, The Kinges maiestie straightlie chargeth and Comaundeth that from the feast of Easter next ensuing, there shall noe Bearebating be vsed in that Rowe, or in any place, on that side the bridge, called Londonbridge, whereby the accustomed assemblies, may be in that place cleerely abolished and extinct, vpon like paine, aswell to them that keepe the Beares, and Dogges, which haue byn vsed to that purpose, as to all such as will resort to see the same./°+°

Et hoc sub periculo incumbenti nullatenus omittatur. Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium xiij^o die Aprilis, Anno Tricesimo Septimo regni Regis Henrici Octaui./