❧ By the queen.  
THe queens most excellent majesty, finding the great misusage in the execution of sundry her Highnesse grants made to diuers persons, touching certain penal Statutes, made & set forth for the common benefit and utility of her people, and touching the obtaining and recovery of Lands and Tenements concealed, & of sundry bands, forfeitures, and other things pretended to be unjustly withholden and concealed from her Highnesse and her crown: By pretence whereof, she perceiveth a great multitude of her loving Subiects, contrary to the intention of her majesties said grants, in many cases( though not offending) to haue been greatly vexed and molested, and the laws not thereby any thing the better executed, but in some parts rather impaired, nor any such profit recovered, or obtained to her Highnes use vpon such executions( & contealements, as was pretended: most graciously minding the common quiet and profit of her loving Subiects, and willing to remove all occasions of such griefs to her people, as things whereof shee always hath had, and yet still hath utter misliking: expressly willeth and commandeth that the execution of all such special grants & Commissions made to particular persons touching the premises, and all Commissions not being returned into any her majesties courts of Record made vpon, or by virtue of any such grants, shall from henceforth cease. And that no new Commissions vpon any the grants aforesaid, do from henceforth pass any her majesties seals, nor any process or Writ to be awarded, nor information from henceforth received, vpon or by virtue of any such Grants or Commission, out of any her majesties Courts of Record whatsoever.  
And further her majesty commandeth, that no Commissions or Commissioner, or other person whatsoever, already authorised to execute any such Grant or Commission, shal from henceforth deal or proceed any further by inquisition of jurors, examination of witnesses, or certificate, or by any other ways or means whatsoever, to execute any the said Grants or Commissions vpon pain of imprisonment, and incurring her majesties displeasure. And her Highnes doth further straightly prohibit and forbid all her Iustices of the Peace, Maiors, Sheriffs, Constables, Bailiffs of Liberties, and other her Officers and ministers whatsoever, as they tender the avoiding of her Highnes displeasure, from henceforth to be in any wise aiding or assisting to the execution of any the said Statutes or Commissions. And for the better execution of the premises, if any person or persons contrary to her majesties Proclamation and Prohibition, shall presume or execute any the said Grants or Commissions, or to be in any wise aiding or assisting thereunto: Then her Highnes will and express commandement is to all Iustices of the Peace, Maiors, Sheriffes, bailiffs, and all other her Officers and ministers whatsoever, to whom it shall or may appertain, to attach and apprehended all and every such offeder and offenders, and them to commit to the common Gaole of the country where such offences shalbe committed, there to remain without bail or mainprize, until her Highnesse pleasure shall by her Honourable privy counsel, or otherwise be signified what shal be further done in that behalf.  
provided nevertheless, That where by means of the said Grants diuers Suits are already commenced by the parties, and some of them depending in sundry her majesties Courts by way of Information or otherwise, at the charge of the said Patentees, her Highnesse also minding to put the same Suits to some good end, with the reasonable contentation of her Subiects, doth by virtue hereof authorize the Lord chancellor of England, the Lord treasurer of England, the chancellor of her Court of Exchequer, and the Barons of the same Court, or two of them, whereof the Lord chancellor to be one, for all causes determinable in the Chancery, and the Lord treasurer one for all causes determinable in the Exchequer, to hear, order, end, or compound all the said causes as shall stand with equity to the quiet of the parties molested, and the reasonable satisfaction of the Patentees aforesaid, ratifying and allowing whatsoever the said Lord chancellor, Lord treasurer, chancellor and Barons as above is limited, shall do or conclude touching the premises.  
given at our Mannor of Greenwich the xv. of December, the two and twentieth year of our reign. Anno 1579. 
 God save the queen.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker, Printer to the queens most Excellent majesty.