❧ By the King.  
IT is a thing notorious that many of the meanest sort of our people in divers parts of our kingdom, either by secret combination, wrought by some wicked instruments, or by ill example of the first beginners, have presumed lately to assemble themselves riotously in multitudes, and being armed with sundry weapons, have laid open in forcible manner a great quantity of several men's possessions, some newly enclosed, and others of longer continuance, making their pretence that some towns have been depopulated, and divers families undone by means of such Enclosures. In which seditious courses they have persisted not only after many prohibitions by our Ministers in the several Counties, but after particular Proclamations published by our Royal Authority, & which is more, when so many means of lenity and gentleness were offered to reclaim them, as no Prince would have used, but such a one as was both confident in the loyal affections of his Subjects in general, and compassionate towards the simplicity of such Offenders: many of them stood out most obstinately, and in open field rebelliously resisted such forces as in Our name, and by Our authority came to repress them, whereupon ensued by necessity in the end that some blood was drawn as well by martial Execution, as by civil justice.  
Upon this accident it seemeth good unto Us to declare to the world, and specially to Our loving Subjects, as well that which concerneth Our affections (which upon several respects are divided between comfort and grief) as that which concerneth also Our Princely intentions, which likewise are bend upon the contrary objects and courses of Grace and justice. For first of all We find cause of comfort in ourselves in regard of the clearness of Our conscience (to whom God hath committed the care and supreme Government of Our people) from giving cause or colour of such complaint; the matter whereof is such, as We take Ourselves more interessed therein then any our Subjects can be: For as We cannot but know, that the glory and strength of all Kings consisteth in the multitude of Subjects, so may We not forget that it is a special and peculiar pre-eminence of those Countries, over which God hath placed Us, that they do excel in breeding and nourishing of able and serviceable people, both for War and Peace, which We do justly esteem above all Treasure and Commodities, which our said dominions do otherwise so plentifully yield unto Vs. Neither in this particular case of depopulation, can any man make doubt but it must be far from our inclination to suffer any toleration of that which may be any occasion to decay or diminish our people, if we did consider nothing else, but that use and application which we may make (as other Princes do) both of the bodies of our people to carry arms for defence of our Crown, and of their goods and substance to supply our wants upon all just & reasonable occasions, so as we may by many reasons sufficiently justify our care herein towards God & the world (forasmuch as appertaineth to our Kingly Office) seeing the said Enclosures (lawful or unlawful) were all or the most part made before we had taken the Sceptre of this Government into our Possession. Whereunto we may add (as wholly cleansing and washing our hands from the toleration of these grievances) the continual and strict charges and commandments given by us to our judges and justices, for, the care and reformation of those things which may be in any wise grievous to our people in their several Countries, although in this point there is some defence alleged by our subordinate Ministers, and specially by the justices of Assize, that our people have been wanting to themselves in the due and ordinary means which they ought to take, by presentment of such as are or have been guilty of these oppressions. But as we take comfort that the causes of these complaints have not proceeded from our Government, having chose (before these seditious courses first broke forth) taken into our Princely consideration this matter of depopulating and decaying of Towns and Families (whereof we are more sensible, than any other) with resolution to cure whatsoever is amiss, by just and orderly remedies: So are we grieved to behold what the disloyalty and obstinacy of this rebellious people hath forced us unto, who being naturally inclined to spare shedding of blood, could have wished that the humble and voluntary submission and repentance of all those Offenders, might both have prevented the loss of the life of any one of them, and the example of justice upon some might have prevented the loss of more. And seeing it was of such necessity, that some in regard of their intolerable obstinacy in so pernicious Treason should perish, rather than the sparks of such a fire in our Kingdom should be left unquenched, that it may yet serve to put others in mind of their duty, and save them from the like ruin and destruction, for such and so Traitorous attempts hereafter: In all which considerations, for that which may concern our own Royal intention, as we would have all men know and conceive, that neither the pretence of any wrongs received, nor our great mislike of depopulation in general, can in any wise stay us any longer, from a severe and just prosecution of such as shall take upon them to be their own judges and reformers, either in this or any other pretended grievance: So on the other side, we are not minded that the offences of a few (though justly provoking our Royal indignation) shall alter our Gracious disposition to give relief in this case, where it appertaineth, were it for none other cause, then in respect of so many others our good and loving Subjects, which might have alleged like cause of grief, and nevertheless have contained themselves in their due obedience.  
And therefore We do first declare and publish our Princely resolution, That if any of our Subjects shall hereafter upon pretences of the same or like grievances, either persist in the unlawful and rebellious Act already begun, or renew and break forth into the like, in any parts of our Kingdom; We will prefer the safety, quiet, and protection of our Subjects in general, and of the body of our State, before the compassion of any such Offenders, be they more or less, and howsoever misled: and must forget our natural clemency by pursuing them with all severity for their so heinous Treasons, as well by our Arms as Laws, knowing well, that We are bound (as the head of the politic body of our Realm) to follow the course which the best Physicians use in dangerous diseases, which is, by a sharp remedy applied to a small and infected part, to save the whole from dissolution and destruction. To which end We do accordingly charge and command all our Lieutenants, Deputy Lieutenants, Sheriffs, justices of Peace, and all other Magistrates of justice under Us, and all other our loving Subjects to whom it shall any ways appertain, to do and employ their uttermost endeavours and forces for the keeping of our Subjects in peace and obedience, for prevention of all such riotous and rebellious Assemblies, and destroying them, (if any do remain, or shall happen to arise) by force of Arms, and by execution (even to present death) of such as shall make resistance.  
On the other side We do notify and declare to all our loving Subjects, That We are resolved, not out of any apprehension or regard of these tumults and disorders (which We know well to be only dangerous to those that attempt them, and which experience may teach them, that they are in a moment to be dispersed) nor to satisfy disobedient people, be they rich or poor: But merely out of love of justice, Christian compassion of other of our Subjects, who being likewise touched with this grief, avoided the like offences, As also out of our Princely care and providence to preserve our people from decay or diminution, To cause the abuses of Depopulations and unlawful Enclosures to be further looked into, and by peaceable and orderly means to establish such a reformation thereof, as shall be needful for the just relief of those that have just cause to complain, and therein neglect no remedy, which either the laws of our Realm do prescribe, or our own Royal Authority, with the advice of our Council can supply.  
For which purpose we have already assembled our judges, and given them in charge straightly, to make it one of their principal cares aswell to discover the said offences, as to consider how far they may be touched in law, and in what course, and accordingly to proceed against them with all severity. And yet because the execution thereof requireth some time, though no more than must of necessity be employed therein, if any turbulent or seditious spirits by their impatience, or through their desire to satisfy their own wicked humours, by moving common troubles shall seek to prevent the course of justice by any such unlawful attempts, as have been lately used, and abusing our gracious disposition shall take the presumption to be Reformers of the said inconvenience by any force, because they perceive hereby how much we mislike of it: We do once again denounce unto them the same severe punishment, which belongeth to Rebels in the highest degree, And do require all and every our Magistrates, Officers and Ministers of justice (according to their place of authority) and all our loyal Subjects according to their duty of assistance (laying aside all slackness or fond pity) to see it duly put in execution: As on the other side we do promise, and are resolved graciously to lend our ears to humble and just complaints, and to afford our people justice and favour both in this and all occasions fit for a King to do for his good Subjects in general and in particular.  
Given at our Manor of Greenwich the xxviij. day of june, 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.