WE had hoped, seeing it is notorious to all our Sub­iects, how greatly we delight in the exercise of Hunting, aswell for our recreation, as for the necessary preseruation of our health, that no man in whom was either reuerence to our person, or feare of our Lawes, would haue offered vs offence in those our sports, conside­ring especially, that the nature of all people is not onely in things of this qualitie, but in matters of greater moment so farre to conforme themselues to the affections and disposition of their Soueraigne, as to affect that which they know to be liking to them and to respect it, and to auoyd the contrary: And we must acknowledge that we haue found, that Gentlemen and persons of the better sort (who know best what becommeth their duetie) haue restrained their owne humors and framed themselues therein to giue vs contentment: yet falleth it out notwithstanding, that neither the example of them, nor respect of the Lawes, nor duetie to vs, hath had power to reforme the cor­rupt natures and insolent dispositions of some of the baser sort, and some other of a disordered life; By diuers of which condition (since our offence manifested against those that trespasse in that kind) and since our last comming forth into this Progresse, in places where we lately tooke our pleasure in our owne Grounds, and neere our owne houses of abode, there haue bene more frequent offences offered in that kinde, then at any time heretofore, or in the late Queenes dayes were attempted: Neuerthelesse, howsoeuer in her later dayes (being a Lady whose sexe and yeeres were not so apt to that kinde of recreation, hauing no posteritie, and therefore lesse care­full of conseruation of that kinde of Royaltie, which her Progenitors Kings of this Realme had mainteined) people might perhaps for those respects presume of more libertie then became them, or the Lawes of the Realme do permit; Yet in our time, being a Prince that haue mani­fested our affection & delight in that exercise, & hauing posteritie like to continue in the same dis­positiō, when either their recreation or their exercise shal require it; It seemeth strange that men will now attempt to offend with more licentiousnesse, then at any time heretofore, and offer to vs in our Grounds, that which they will not endure each at others hands in their owne. Wee are not ignorant, that there are some passions in mens minds so strong, as hard it is but they wil breake foorth at times beyond the bounds of reason, where commoditie, pleasure or reuenge pro­uoketh: But this offence being a trespassing against reason which hath no end in it, whereof can redound to the offender either profit or pleasure, honour or other recompense; Wee cannot inter­prete that the transgressions that are done therein do proceed, but either out of a barbarous and vnciuil disposition, not fit to be suffered in an ordered Estate, or out of an insolent humor & vnre­spectiue to our person, no wayes to be endured. And seeing that we haue manifested our Prince­ly disposition to the maintenance of Iustice, and giuen as free and liberall scope to the execution of the Lawes of this Realme, as euer did any of our Progenitors, We cannot but wonder that men should cōceiue that in these kinds of trespasses being so offensiue to vs, we would not be iust to our selfe & right the wrongs & insolencies offered to vs, in so speciall a branch of our Preroga­tiue, where the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme, both Ancient & Moderne, do affoord vs so full and strong remedies, as appeares by the Charter of our Forrest, as ancient and authen­ticall, [Page]as the great Charter of the Lawes of the Realme, and by other Lawes and Statutes, some inforcing the Offendors (besides other grieuous punishments of Fine and imprisonment) to abiure the Realme, some punishing them with death, as iudging them vnworthy to liue, at least in this well ordered Kingdome, that cannot bridle so inordinate an humour, which reig­ning with so great violence in one excesse, will passe on (if it be not checked) to all other extremi­ties. Being therefore thus deepely prouoked, and minding to vse as straight and as seuere meanes for the preseruation of our right, and punishing of Offendours in these cases, as the Lawes of our Realme will affoord; We haue bene pleased notwithstanding out of our grati­ous disposition, to forewarne men of our purpose, by proposing to them the seueritie we intend to vse hereafter, for redresse of such enormities, knowing that such warning wil either restraine them from giuing vs offence, or (if their vnduetifull humour can be reformed by no admonition) make them the more inexcusable to vs and our lawes for their punishment. And therefore we doe hereby signifie to all men, that after the publishing of this Proclamation, our meaning is to proceed in this maner against all Hunters, Stealers, and killers of Deere, either redde or fal­lowe, within any our Forrests, Chases, or Parkes.

First, to extend against them all penalties whatsoeuer, which by the Lawes of the Forrests, or by any other Lawes or Statutes of the Realme are to be inflicted vpon them. To giue a good reward to all such as shall informe Vs, or our Iustices of our Forrests, or any Lieute­nant, or any other hauing charge of any our Forrests, Parkes, or Chaces, of any Offendours in hunting, stealing, or killing of our Deere by any vnlawfull wayes. And if the fault be found in any of our Seruants, or any towards our Court, or person of qualitie, he shalbe assured not onely to loose our fauour, but to be debarred of our presence, or resort to our Court. And if it appeare that none of those penalties shall haue power to restraine insolent mindes from com­mitting outrages so wilfull and vnreasonable: We will make no doubt but that our Parliament finding the Lawes now in force too weake to roote out such an euill, will assist vs with their aduise, to prouide some further and more sufficient remedies for that purpose, wherein they are interessed aswell as we: for they that dare presume vpon vs will not spare them. But our hope is, that our Subiects, knowing now againe the offence we take at these insolencies, and being warned of our intent, will not giue vs cause to exercise the least of these penalties, which wee shalbe glad to finde, aswell to see the Conformitie of our peoples mindes to our disposition, as for the clemencie of our Nature, vnwilling to haue any cause of punishment against the least of them, especially in matter concerning our Selfe.

Giuen at our Honour of Hampton Courtthe ix. day of September, in the seuenth yeere of our Reigne of Great Britaine, France and Ireland.

God saue the King.