❧ By the King.  
WHereas some of the meaner sort of our people did of late assemble themselves in riotous and tumultuous manner within our County of Northampton, sometimes in the night, and sometimes in the day, under pretence of laying open enclosed grounds of late years taken in, to their damage, as they say; The repressing whereof we did first refer only to the due course of justice, and the ordinary proceedings of the Commissioners of the Peace, and other our Ministers in such cases: Forasmuch as We have perceived since, that lenity hath bred in them, rather encouragement than obedience, and that they have presumed to gather themselves in greater multitudes, as well in that County, as in some others adjoining, We find it now very necessary to use sharper remedies.  
Wherefore, We will and command all Lieutenants, deputy Lieutenants, Sheriffs, justices of Peace, majors, Bailiffs, Headboroughs, Constables, and all other our Officers and Ministers to whom it may appertain, if the said persons shall continue so assembled, after Proclamation made, or any such new Assemblies be gathered in those, or any other parts of our Realm, immediately to suppress them by whatsoever means they may, be it by force of Arms, if admonitions and other lawful means do not serve to reduce them to their duties. For We cannot but be justly moved to such severity against those, who unjustly throw a slander upon our Government, by taking that pretence for their disobedience: Seeing it is manifest by Act of Parliament, passed since our coming to this Crown, that we have been careful to prevent such Enclosures, and Depopulations, & that it hath been an ordinary charge given by Us to our justices of Assizes, when they went to their Circuits, to inquire of all unlawful Depopulations and Enclosures, and to take order to remedy the same, and to punish the Offenders therein according to the due course of Law. And it is well known to many, that We were now also in hand with some course to be taken by advise of our Counsel for the performance thereof: From which our good purpose and intent, this their presumptuous and undutiful proceeding, might rather give Us cause to desist, then increase in Us any affection to relieve such disordered persons, so far attempting against our Crown and Dignity, who choose rather to trust to their own pride and rashness, then to the care and providence of their Sovereign. Willing and commanding all our said Lieutenants, Deputy Lieutenants, sheriffs, and other our Officers and Ministers above mentioned, to attend diligently to the execution of this our pleasure, and all other our loving Subjects to be obedient to them in the performance thereof, as they will answer the contrary at their peril.  
Given at our Palace of Westminster the thirtieth day of May, in the fifth year of our Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland. God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. ANNO DOM. 1607.