HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms  
❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation against Tenant-rights.  
WHereas it hath been oftentimes, by Decrees and judgements at Law declared and settled, That Tenant-rights, since the most happy Union of these two renowned Kingdoms of England and Scotland in Our person, are utterly by the ancient and fundamental rule of Law of this Our Kingdom of England, extinguished and abolished, being but dependences of former separation and hostility; And that there is the like settled Rule and constant practice in Scotland since the Union; And yet nevertheless diverse Suits are continually raised and prosecuted in Our Courts of justice here in England, grounded upon the said claim of Tenant-right, or Customary estate of Inheritance, under that pretence, whereby not only the memory of the said Tenant-right is continued, which ought to be damned to a perpetual oblivion, but also both parties do sustain needless charge, and impoverishment, in questioning of that which is beyond all dispute; which may also (in regard of combination of Tenants, and general Taxes, to pursue their Landlords upon a common purse) open a way to turbulent and seditious attempts: We, out of Our Princely and never intermitted care, to avoid these inconveniences aforesaid, Have both recommended the matter to all Our judges, to suppress and surcease strifes and suits of this nature, And have also given express charge and commandment, to all the principal Officers and Ministers of Ourselves and Our dearest Son the Prince, That in Our own Lands, and like wise in those of Our dear Son the Prince (near or bordering upon Scotland where such Tenant-rights have been claimed) they do let all Estates, whether for Lives of Years, be it for Fine or improvement of Rent, by Indenture only, and not otherwise, To the end to cease and discontinue the said Claim:  
And further, to the end the same course may be uniform and general amongst Our loving Subjects, We do by these Presents wish and expect from all Our loving Subjects in those parts, that they shall follow and conform themselves to the same example, for Leasing such Lands in manner aforesaid, But here withal We do strictly command, That no Entry in any Court-Roll, hereafter, either of Our own Honours or Manors, or of the Princes, or of any of Our Subjects, do mention any Estate termed of Tenant-right, or Customary Estate, pretended for Border-seruice; On the other side Our express pleasure is, That good and dutiful Tenants, who shall willingly submit themselves to such Estates, be used with all favour and moderation, which We doubt not but the Landlords will do; Yet if any shall be found to do the contrary, Our Courts of Equity shall ever be open and ready to overrule such Landlords, As on the other side, both Our Courts of Law and Equity, shall be to bridle and eiect all such unreasonable Tenants as shall withstand it.  
Given at Our Court at Charlton the eight and twentieth day of july, in the eighteenth year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland. 
 God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, and john Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty.  
ANNO DOM. M.DC.XX.