ANNO QVARTO HENRICI VIII.  
THe King our sovereign lord henry the viii. after the conquest, by the grace of God king of England and of France and lord of Ireland, at his parliament holden at Westminster the iiij. day of November, in the fourh year of his most noble reign, after the prorogation to the honour of God and holy church, and for the common weal & profit of this his realm, by the assent of the lords spiritual and temporal, & the commons in this presence parliament assembled, & by authority of the same, hath, do, to be ordained, made, & enacted, certain statutes and ordinances in manner and form following.   

THE TABLE.  

AN act concerning making of bulwarks on the seaside. Cap. i.  
An act concerning punishment for murder. Cap. two.  
An act concerning juries in London. Cap. iij.  
An act of proclamations to be made before exigents be awarded in foreign counties. Cap. iiii.  
An act repelling penalties for giving of wages to labourers and artificers. Cap. v.  
An act concerning customers & controllers for sealing of cloth of gold, silver, and all other manner of silks and corpses. Cap. vi.  
An act concerning peuterers, and true weights & beams. Cap. seven.  
An act concerning Richard Strode. Cap. viii.   
FINIS TABULAE.   

HENRICI OCTAVI.  

An act concerning making of Bulwarks on the sea side. Cap. i.  
PRayen the commons in this present parliament assembled, that for as much as the land of Britain, and also the haven of Breast lieth straight against the South sea costs of the county of Cornewal and that the Frenchmen (our ancient enemies) and britains enemies, by reason of their fishing upon the sea costs, know as well every haven and creak within the said county, as every landing place, in as large manner as any subject of our sovereign lord the kings doth. And that the said county is lxx, mile in length, and the substance thereof right little more than vi. mile in bread from the south sea to the north sea: by reason whereof they also know that great multitude of people cannot shortly resort to put them of at their landing: and that in divers and many of the said landing places, neither pile, blockhouse, ne bulwark is made to grieve or annoy them at their landing, which considerations, unto our said enemies great audacity comfort and courage, giveth to arrive and land in the same parties, to the great annoyance of our said sovereign lord his subjects there, and to the utter undoing of divers and many of them, unless a remedy be the sooner provided.  
Therefore be it enacted by the king our sovereign lord, his lords spiritual and temporal, & the commons in this present parliament assembled and by authority of the same, that the justices of the peace and sheriff of the said county, do ride and view all the said South cost, from Plymmouth westward to the lands end. And that done, incontinent to appoint within themselves such boroughs, towns, and parishes, as they shall think reasonable to make bulwarks, brays, walls, ditches, & all other fortifications for the same cause, in manner, form, and fashion, as shall be thought by their discretion in every of the said landing places between this and the first day of March next now coming. And farther be it enacted, by the said authority, that every Mayre and constable of the said county, by the said justices of peace or sheriff appointed, do command all thinhabitants within the precinct of their office, to be at the sea side with such instruments as they have or can get for the making of the said bulwarks and other the premises, in such landing places, as shallbe assigned by the said justices of the peace or Sheriff. And that the said maire or constables do commit to ward all such wilful persons as will not obey, come, nor send any other person to the sea cider, to make the said bulwarks, and other the premises, at the day and time by the said More or constables to be appointed, and there to remain without bail or mainprize by the space of ten days or less, at the discretion of the said Mayre or Constables: And if any of the said Mayres or Constables do not their duty, as is aforesaid: that than the justicees of the peace next adjoining, do commit to ward the same Mayre or Constable, so offending, there to remain without bail or maynepryse by the space of a month, or else at the discretion of the justice of peace.  
And also be it enacted by the said authority, that good and substantial bulwarks, brays, walls, ditches, and all other fortifications in every landing places (in manner form & fashion as is aforesaid) as well from Plymouth aforesaid by the sea costs eastward, as in all other parts within the realm of England, be made there, as the justices of the peace & Sheriff within that shire, where any such landing places be, shall think needful. And that every justice of peace, Mayre, and constable within every shire, where any such landing places be, have like and as good authority by this present act to command the inhabitants of every borough, town, and parish adjoining to the sea side or else where, after the discretions of the justices of peace, to make the said bulwarks & other the premises: and also commit to ward all such wilful persons as will not obey, in like manner as the justices of the peace, Maires, & constables of the said county of Cornwall may do by any of the acts aforesaid.  
And over this be it enacted by the said authority, that it be lawful for every of the kings subjects within this realm of England, by the advise and assignment of the said justices of the peace or sheriff to make all manner of bulwarks and other the premises in every man's ground, of what estate or degree he be of: and also to dig and to delve as well for earth stones and turfs, as to cut and to hue heath in any man's ground for the making of any such bulwarks and other the premises, as oft and as many times as need shall require, and the said earth, stones, turfs, and heath to take and occupy and carry away out of the said ground to any other man's ground, for the making of any such bulwarks and other the premises: in whose ground so ever the said earth, stones, turfs, and heath happen to be, without any interruption or let of any person or persons being lord or lords of any such ground, or having any other interest in the same. And without any manner of payment to be demanded for any of the premises, or any manner of action by any manner or person or people, at any time hereafter to be attempted, or in any wise maintained against any of the kings subjects for any such matter or cause. And this act to endure to the next parliament.   

An act for punishment of murder. Cap. two.  
WHere as robberies, murders & felonies daily increase more and more, and been committed and done in more heinous open and detestable wise than hath been oft seen in times past: And the persons so offending little regard the punishment thereof, by the course of the common law, ne by reason of any statute heretofore made, but bear them bold of their Clergy, and imagining and pleading of feigned and untrue foreign pleas, triable in foreign counties, to thinfent to be removed from place to place, by colourable and untrue suggestions and for to be untruly acquit by favour might and corruption: so that they live in manner without fear or dread. For reformation whereof, and for the common wealth of this realm, and to put the said murderers, felons, and offenders in more fear and dread so to offend: Be it ordained established & enacted by the king our sovereign lord, the lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons in this present parliament assembled, and by authority of the same, that all person or persons, hereafter committing murder or felony in any church, chapel, or hallowed place, or of and upon malice prepensed, rob or murder any person or personnes in the kings highewaye, or else rob or murder any person in his house, the owner or dweller of the house, his wife, child, or servant than being therein, & put in fear or dread by the same, that such persons so offending, be not from henceforth admitted to his or their clergy, such as been within holy orders only except. And over that be it enacted by the said authority, that if any murderer or fellow, upon his arraignment, hereafter do allege, that he had taken any church or churchyard for murder, felony or other place preveleged for the same in a foreign county, and against his will taken out thereof: that than the kings attournay, or any other person that will sue or allege for the king: that the said murderer or fellow so arraigned, was taken at large in the same shire, where he is so arraigned: that than the same allegiance and issue to be tried by thinquest that should try the said murder or felony within the same shire, and before the same justice, where the said murderer or fellow is arraigned, as though the said foreign plea had not be pleaded by the said fellow. And if it be founden by the same inquest, that the said murderer or fellow was taken within the same shire (as is aforesaid) that than he to have none advantage or benefit of the matter alleged by him for taking out of the church or churchyard, or other place privileged, in any such foreign shire. And this act to endure to the next parliament.   

¶ An act concerning juries in London. Cap. iij.  
WHere at a parliament holden at Westmin. the xj year of the reign of king Henry the vij for the good due administration and expedition of justice, it was ordained, and among other things enacted, that every person hereafter to be empaneled or summoned to appear in any jury or inquest, in any court within the city of London, before any judges of the same city, making default at the first summons, should lose & forfeit. xij.d. And at the second default. ij.ss. And so at every such default after that, the issues and penalties to be doubled. And also such issues lost in the Maires court should be forfeited levied, and perceived to those and behove of the maire and the commonalty of the said city. And that all such issues lost in the sheriffs court or courts, should be forfeited, levied, and perceived to the use of the sheriffs of the same city, for the time being, toward their fee ferme, as by the same act more plainly doth appear: in the which act is not expressed, how or by what means the foresaid issues, so lost & forfeited, for none appearance of the persons so empaneled and summoned, should be levied. The lack whereof is the cause, that such persons as have been empaneled and summoned, as well for the king as between party and party (being substantial and indifferent) have made many times default, and would not appear. And so it remaineth in like mischief as it was before the making of the foresaid act, to the greatlet of justice, and the delay aswell in the kings causes, as in other causes between parties, wherefore for the good execution of the said statute and pertit remedy in this behalf to be had. Be it established ordained, and enacted by the king our sovereign lord by th'assent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that for all such issues (in form aforesaid) hereafter to be lost or forfeited in the maires' court, it shallbe lawful to the said mayre, and to his successors, to distrain, and the same distress to retain till he or they be satisfied of the said issues. And in like manner that it shallbe lawful to the foresaid sheriffs, and their successors, to distrain for such issues lost in their court or courts, and the said distress to retain till they be satisfied of the said issues. Item for as much as after issues joined in actions and suits commenced taken or depending in the kings courts before himself in his bench, and before his justice of the comen bench: And also in his escheker at the kings suit, or at the suit of the parties triable in the said city of London, as well the king as the parties have suffered great delay many times for default of appearance of the jurors empaneled to try the said issues, and many times for lack of jurors not having lands & tenements of the yearly value, of. xl.s.  
Be it ordained and enacted by the said authority of this present parliament, that the sheriffs of London (for the time being) have full authority and power to return in panelles or arrays of all actions & suits now depending, or that shall depend in any of the said courts or escheker, persons being citizens having goods to the value of. C. mark or above, to try the issues joined or to be joined in every such action or suit. And the people so returned (having goods to the value of. C. mark or above) shallbe sworn and do in all such juries in likewise in every thing, as other persons shall do having lands and tenements of the yearly value of. xl.s. over all charges. And over that be it ordained by the said authority, that the sheriffs of the said city (for the time being) shall return upon the first distress in every such action or suit upon every of the juries empaneled to try the issues thereof. xx.d. And upon the second distress, upon every of the same jurors. xl.d. And upon every distress after that, upon every of the same jurors the double, till a full jury in every such Action and suit shall appear and be sworn to try the issues joined in the same. And that the sheriffs, that shall make any return upon such distress contrary to the form aforesaid, shall forfeit for every such default. x.li. the one half thereof to be to the king, and the other half thereof to the party that will sue therefore. And that the defendant in any such action be not admitted to wage his law, nor protection therein for him allowed.   

¶ An act of proclamations to be made before exigentes be awarded in foreign countries. Cap. iiij.  
THe king our sovereign lord, calling to his most gracious remembrance, how that before this time divers of his subjects of this his realm of England, have been grievously vexed and troubled by reason of outlawries had against them in foreign counties and sundry action personelles, at the suit of divers malicious persons, which cruel mind attempted such actions personelles, more for malice than for any just cause of action that they had against the parties defendants named in the same. And of the which outlawries so had in foreign counties, the party defendant, named in such foreign actions, had never knowledge ne monition, to such time as the outlawry were against them had and certified, and some of them never came within the county, where such actions were against them sued, ne never were dwelling ne conversant within the said county. Nevertheless the parties (so outlawed in foreign counties) have lost their goods and substance to their utter undoing. Wherefore in avoiding of such malicious and foreign suits hereafter to be sued, the king our sovereign lord intending the restfulness of his said subjects, and that indifferent justice should be administered to every person, as well to the poor as to the rich, and that every person should have lawful knowledge and monition of such actions, as hereafter be, to be attempted and sued against him in any of the kings courts, by the assent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and the Commons in this present parliament assembled, and by authority of the same, hath ordained established and enacted, that from henceforth at the same day that any exigent is awarded or to be awarded against any person or persons in any action personal, if it do appear by the using of the same action, that the party defendant is dwelling in another county, than in the same county where the same action is sued: that than the justices, before whom any such exigend is to be awarded, award one writ of proclamation, to be direct to the sheriff of the counti where it doth appear by the using of such action, that the party defendant is dwelling, the which writ of proclamation shall contain th'effect of the same action. And that the sheriff of the county, to whom any such writ of proclamation shall be directed, make proclamation three several days in his plain county, whereof one of the said proclamations to be made at the general sessions in those parties, where the said party is supposed to be dwelling, in that the party defendant yield himself to the sheriff of the foreign county, to whom any such exigende in any action personal shall be awarded, so that the sheriff of such foreign county may upon his yealdinge have the body of the defendant before the justices, before whom any such exigende is awarded at the day in the same exigende comprised, there to answer to the plaintiff in the same according to the law. And that every such writ of proclamation have the same day of return, as the writ of the exigende upon such foreign actions so awarded shall have: and that every such writ of Proclamation be delivered of record to the sheriff or his deputy of the county, into the which any such writ of proclamation is to be awarded. And that the sheriff of the same county duly execute the same, and thereof make due return at the day in the same writ appointed upon pain to forfeit such amerciament, as by the justices, before whom such action is used, shallbe sessed. And that the felissour or exigenter, in whose office such suit is taken, make out the said writ and writs of proclamation, as after shallbe awarded in any of the said courts. And that the same felissour or exigenter take no more for the making of any such writ of proclamation and the entering of the same record, but only six pence.  
And if any outlawry hereafter he had or promulged against any person or persons, in any action personal in a foreign county, and no writ of proclamation, as is before said awarded, returned: that than all and every such outlarie to be utterly void and of no force ne effect in the law.  
And this act to begin and take effect at the feast of the Purification of our Lady saint Mary next coming, and not before.  
And also be it enacted by the said authority, that in all actions hereafter to be taken in London, or in the county of Midd. wherein process of outlarye lieth against any person or persons, calling or naming them late of London, that before the exigende be awarded in the same action, that the party plaintiff or his attorney, after the three capias returned, sue a like writ of proclamation, in manner & form as is afore specified in the county, where the same person or persons so sued or to be sued, be conversant or dwelling at the time of the said writ awarded, or else all outlawries so had made pronounced or returned against all such persons, to be void & of none effect. And this act to endure to the next parliament.   

¶ An act reapeallinge penalties for giving of wages to labourers and artificers. Cap. v.  
PRaien the commons in this present parliament assembled, that wherefore default & lack of due execution of the statute labourers because of a statute and ordinance had and made in the twelve year of the reign of king Richard the second, that giveth penalties, pains and forfeitures against the Master and giver, as well as against Servants, Labourers, Artificers, and craftsmen, so that the master and giver for fear thereof, dare not put the said statute and other statutes thereof made in execution: wherefore by the king our sovereign lord and by th'assent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons in this present parliament assembled, and by authority of the same, be it established and enacted, that all penalties, pains, and forfeitures contained in the said statute, and in all other statutes had & made concerning servants labourers of husbandry, labourers, artificers, and craftsmen, be only to and against the said master and giver for henceforth void & of none effect. And this act to endure to the next parliament.   

¶ An act concerning customers and controllers for sealing of cloth of gold and silver, & all other silks, Cap. vj.  
WHere at a parliament holden in the twelve year of the reign of king Edward the four amongs other it was ordained established and enacted, that the collectors of the subsidy and the controllers. should at all times be ready when they should be required, to seal any manner of cloth of gold, of silver, baudekin, velvet, damask, satin, sarsenet, Cartron, Chamlette, and every other cloth of silk, and every corpse of silk and gold, and every corpse of silk of the making beyond the sea, and the same merchandises should seal at every time when they should be required without delay, tarrying, or any thing for their sealing to take by any mean, upon the pain of forfeiture to the owner of such merchandises xx. s. by every of the said collectors and controllers at every time when they refuse to seal any such merchandises after such request made, or take any thing for sealing of any such merchandises, as by the same act amongs other things more plainly appeareth. Sithen the making of which act the said collectors and controllers, and their clerks, not fearing the penalty limited in the same act, have used and daily use to take for sealing of every piece of the same merchandises, above rehearsed. ii.d. to the great hurt and damage of the merchants owners of the same. For the same merchants at many times bring & convey in one ship iii or four M. pieces of the same merchandises, which amounteth to xxx or. xl.li. after the rate of ii.d. a piece. And for as much as the foresaid penalty, expressed in the said statute, is but. xx.s. therefore the said collectors, controllers, nor their clerks fear not to run in jeopardy of the same: wherefore be it ordained and enacted by the king our sovereign lord, the lords spiritual & temporal, and the commons in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that from henceforth the collectors and controllers of the said subsidy, nor their clerks, nor any of them, take for the sealing of any piece of the said merchandises (above rehearsed) any thing, upon pain of forfeiture at every time. xx.li.  
And also be it enacted by the same authority, that if and as often as the same collectors and controllers, or any of them, unreasonablye delay or tarry the said merchants, or any of them, for and about the sealing of the same merchandises: that than and as often the same collectors and controllers, and every of them, so unreasonably delaying and tarrying the same merchants, or any of them, to forfeit for the same. xl.s. The one moiety of every of the said penalties (so forfeited) to be to the king our sovereign lord, and the other moiety thereof to the merchant so grieved, that will sue for the same by way of information in the kings exchequer, or by action or bill of debt after the order of the common law, as in other actions of debt is used: in which action the defendant shall not be admitted to wage his law, nor protection, nor essoin to be to him allowed in the same suit, for the said forfeiture.   

¶ An act concerning peuterers and true weights and beams Cap. seven.  
FOr asmuch as a certain act was made and established, in the parliament holden at Westminster the xix year of the reign of the late most famous king your father Henry the vij whom god pardon, concerning peauterets, and braziers, hawking and walking about the countries, and also concerning false beams, scales and weights, with a provision for casting of fine metal and of perfect goodness: Which act was made to endure to the next parliament, the tenor whereof hereafter ensueth: That where many simple and evil disposed persons of this your realm of England (using the said crafts) daily go about this your realm from village, from town, and from house to house, as well in woods and forests, as other places, to buy pewter and brass, and that knowing, thieves and other pickets, that steal as well pewter and brass, belonging to your highness, and under your mark, and to the lords spiritual and temporal, as to your subjects of this your realm, bring such stolen vessels unto them in such hid places to sell, and sell it for little or nought, and about they bring it to privy places, or into corners of cities or towns, and there sell much part of it to strangers, the which carry it over the sea by stealth. Also the said persons (so going about) and divers other using the said crafts, use to make new vessels, and mix good metal and bad together, and make it nought, and sell it for good stuff, where in deed the stuff and metal thereof is not worth the fourth party that is sold for, to the great hurt, deceit and loss of your subjects. Also divers persons, using the said crafts, have deceivable and untrue beams and scales, that one of them will stand even with. xij.li. weight at the one end, against a quarter of a pound at the other end, to the singular advantage of themself, and to the great deceit and loss of your subjects, buyers and sellers with them. For reformation of the premises it would please your highness of your most abundant grace, with th'advise of your lords spiritual and temporal & the commons in this present parliament assembled, & by authority of the same, to enact and establish, that no person nor persons, using the said crafts of peauterers and braziers, from henceforth shall sell or change any pewter or brass, new or old, at any place or places within this your realm, but only in open fairs or markets, or in their own dwelling houses, but if they be desired by the sand buyers of such wares, upon pain of forfaytuee to our sovereign lord the king for every such default x. li. Also by the same authority it may be enacted and established, that no person nor persons, of what condition or degree soever he or they be from henceforth within the city of London and York, or without either cast or work any pewter vessels or brass at any place or places within this your realm, but that it be as good fine metal, as is the pewter and brass cast and wrought after the perfect goodness of the same, within the city of London, & by the statutes of the same own to be, upon pain of forfeiture of all such pewter and brass, so cast & wrought of worse pewter or brass than ought to be wrought in the same cities: the one half of every such forfeiture to be to the use of your highness, and the other half to the use of the finders thereof.  
Provided always that this forfeiture in no wise stretch ne extend to brass or pewter, being in the possession of any person, other than the workers of the same, or such as have the same to sell, and being of the crafts or mystery. Also that it may by the same authority be enacted and established, that no manner of person or persons, of what degree or condition soever he or they be, from henceforth make no hollow wares of pewter, that is to say salts and pots, that is made of pewter called lay metal, but that it may be after thassise of pewter lay metal wrought within the city of London. And that the makers of such wares shall mark the same with several marks of their own, to the intent that the makers of such wares shall avow the same wares by them (as is abovesaid) to be wrought. And that all and every such wares, not sufficiently made and wrought, and not marked in form abovesaid founden in the possession of the same maker or seller to be forfeited: and if the same ware be sold, the said maker to forfeit the value of the same so unlawfully wrought and sold, the one half of the said wares, or the value thereof, to be the use of your highness, and the other half to be to the use of the finder or searchers of the same. Also that it may by the said authority be enacted and established, that if any person or persons hereafter, using buying and selling of pewter or brass, that hereafter occupy any deceivable or false beams or weights of the said wares, that every such person or persons, using or occupying such deceivable and untrue beams or weights, to forfeit. xx.s. the one half to the king, and the other half to the party that therefore shall sue by action of det: and that in the said action no protection nor essoin shallbe allowed. And also the said party so offendings, shall forfeit his beam to him that shall cease it: and if the said offender or offenders be not sufficient to pay the said somme or sommes by them so forfeited, that then it shall be lawful to the Mayres, bailiffs, or other head officers of such place or places, where any such offenders shallbe found to put them in the stocks, and them so to keep till the next market day next adjoining, & in the market place to put them in the pillory all the market time. And furthermore that it be lawful by the said authority, that the master & wardens of the said craft of peuterers within every city and borough of this realm, where such wardens are, and where no such wardens are, the head officers or governors of the same city or borough, to appoint certain persons most expert in knowledge of the same, to make search within the said cities or boroughs where they dwell. And over this the justices of peace within every shire at the general sessions holden at Mighelmas, shall assign and appoint two certain persons, having experience therein, to make search in the premises in every part of that shire, as well within the franchises as without, saving in cities or boroughs, where searchers be appointed by the heads or governors of the same. And that all such unlawful pewter or brass, as the said searchers shall find, the one half to the use of your grace, and the other half to the said searchers. And that in the default of the said masters & wardens of the said occupations, not searching inform as is aforesaid, and whereby that any such unlawful mettles is cast or made, or unlawful weights used: that then it shallbe lawful to any person or persons, having sufficient cunning & knowledge in the said occupations, by oversight of the maire bailiffs, or head officers of the said cities, boroughs and towns, to search all the said places, and to put said authority and act in execution in form aforesaid. Pleaseth it therefore your grace and wisdom's, in so much as the said act is thought good and profitable, that it be ordained enacted and established, by the lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the said act may endure for ever. And over that be it enacted by the said authority, that if any untrue or deceivable metal or workmanship of Tin or pewter, be founden either in platters, chargers, dishes, saucers, potengers, trenchers, basins, flagons, bottles, pots, saltesels, goblets, spoons, cruets, or candlesticks, or any other such wares of tin or pewter, wheresoever it be cast, made, or wrought within this realm or without, and brought to be sold within the same realm: that than it shall be lawful to the mayre of the city of London, and the master and wardens of the craft of peauterers (of the said city for the time being) and their deputies, to have search of the same within the city of London, and the suburbs of the same. And that in all other cities, boroughs, and towns, where any wardens be or shall be, the Mayres, bailiffs, or head officers, and wardens to have like authority. And where no wardens be, than the head officers or governors of the same cities, boroughs, and towns to appoint certain persons most expert & cunning in knowledge of the same, to make search within the said cities, boroughs and towns where they dwell. And if any such new wares wrought of tin and pewter, as is aforesaid, be found defectise, & being in the possession of the cellar, that then same person or person that putteth any such new wares of pewter to sale, shall forfeit the same wares, the one half to the use of our sovereign lord the king, and the other half to the searchers or finders of the same.  
Provided always that this act concerning the forfeiture be not prejudicial nor hurtful to any person or persons, having grant of our sovereign lord the king, or of any of his noble progenitors by his letters patents of such forfeiture, but that they and every of them shall & may enjoy the same according to their former grants and liberties.   

An act concerning Richard Strode. Cap. viii.  
LAmentably complaineth & showeth unto your most discrete wisdom's in this present parliament assembled, Richard Strode gentleman of the county of devonshire, one of the burgeis of this honourable house, for the borough of Plimton in the county aforesaid, that where the said Richard condescended and 'greed with other of this house, to put forth certain bills in this present parliament against certain persons, named tinners in the county aforesaid, for the reformation of the perishing, hurting, and destroying of divers ports, havens, and creeks, and other villes for the common weal of the said county, the which here in this high court of parliament should and ought to be commended and treated of.  
And for because the said Richard is a tinner, for the causes and matters afore rehearsed, one john Furse tinner, understewarde of the Steimerie in the said county, in and at four courts of the said Steimerie at divers places and times before him severally holden in the said county, he and other have condemned the said Richard in the some of clx.li. That is to weet at every court day xl. li. and that by the procurement of the said john Furse, at the said four several courts and law-days, in the said Steymerie by him holden, in this manner published and said, that the same Richard at the last parliament holden at Westminster, would avoided and utterly destroyed all liberties, privileges, & franchises concerning the Steimerie: by reason whereof the said Richard, upon four bills had and made thereof by the said john Furse and other, caused that the said Richard was presented & founden guilty of the premises in every of the said courts in xl. li. to be lost and forfeit by him, by reason of an act and ordinance by tinners made and had at a place in the said county called Crokerentor: the tenor of the which act appeareth in Cedule to this bill annexed: to the which the said Richard was never warned nor called to make answer to the premises, contrary to all laws, right reason, & good conscience. And for the execution of the same, one john Agwilliam upon a surmise by him made to the kings highness to the said condemnation to be to his grace forfeit, thereof attainted a bill assigned of xx.li. parcel of the said clx.li. to be to him granted by the said kings highness: whereupon the said john Agwilliam and other caused the said Richard was taken & imprisoned in a dungeon and a deep pit under the ground in the castle of Lidford in the said county, and there & else where remained by the space of three weeks & more, unto such time he was delivered by a writ of privilege out of the kings eschequere at Westminster, for that he was one of the collectors in the said county for the first of the two quindeims granted at and in this present parliament: the which prison is one of the most annoyous, contagious, & dtetestable places within this realm: so that by reason of the same imprisonment he was put in great apparel & jeopardy of his life, and the said Richard so being in prison, and the said john Agwilliam seeing the same cruel imprisonment of the said Richard, entreated and instantly desired one Philip Furse) than being keeper of the said prison) straightly to keep the said Richard in prison, & to put irons upon him to his more greater pain & jeopardy, and to give him but bread and water only, to th'intent to cause the said Richard to be feign to content & pay him the said xx.li. And for the same promised the said keeper four marks of money: for the which four marks the said Richard for to be eased of his irons and peyneful imprisonment aforesaid (for safeguard of his life) promised and granted to pay the said keeper four mark: whereof he paid the said keeper in hand xiii. s.iiii d. And over that the said Richard for to be eased of his said painful imprisonment, was also of necessity driven to be bounden to Thomas Denis, deputy unto sir Henry Marney knight, warden of the said Steimerie, in an obligation of the some of C.li Upon condition whereof party is as hereafter followeth: that is to say, that if the above bounden Richard Strode, defend and save harmless the said Thomas Denis, and to use himself as true prisoner, during the time it shall please the king to have him prisoner in the castle of Lidforde, and also to do nothing, whereby he shall in the law be deemed out of prison, & other articles comprised in the said condition, the which the said Richard perfectly remembreth not: wherefore the premises by your great wisdom's tenderly considered, the said Richard humbly prayeth, that it may be ordained, established and enacted, by the king our sovereign lord, and by the lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons in this present parliament assembled, and by authority of the same, that the said condemnation and condemnations of the said clx.li. and every parcel thereof, and judgements and executions had or to be had for the premises or any of them, to be utterly void against the said Richard and of none effect.  
And over that be it enacted by the said authority, that all suits, accusements, condemnations, executions, fines, amercementes, punishments, corrections, grants, charges, and impositions put or had, or hereafter to be put or had unto or upon the said Richard, and to every other of the person or persons afore specified, that now be of this present parliament, or that of any parliament hereafter shallbe, for any bill, speaking, reasoning, or declaring of any matter or matters, concerning the parliament to be communed and treated of, be utterly void and of none effect.  
And over that be it enacted by the said authority, that if the said Richard Strode, or any of all the said other person or persons, hereafter be vexed, troubled, or otherwise charged for any causes, as is aforesaid, that than he or they and every of them so vexed or troubled, of and for the same, to have action upon the case against every such person or persons, so vexing or troubling any contrary to this ordinance and provision, in the which action the party grieved shall recover triple damages and costs. And that no perotection, essoin, nor wager of law in the said action in any wise be admitted nor received.   

BE it inquired for our sovereign lord the king, that where as at the parliament holden at Crokerentor, before Thomas Denis, deputy to sir Henry Marney knight, warden of the Steimerie, the xiv. day of September, the second year of the reign of king Henry the viii. It was ordained established and enacted, that (from the day aforesaid) it shallbe lawful for every man to dig tin within the county of devonshire, in all places where as tin may be founden. And also to carry the water to their works without any let or trouble of any person or persons, according to our usages & confirmations of our charter, & according to our custom out of mind. And if any person or persons let, trouble, or vex any man to dig tin, or to carry water for the same, contrary to our old custom and usage, and if it be founden by verdict of xii. men at the law day, he that so letteth, vexeth, or troubleth any such person or persons, shall fall in the penalty of xl. li. as oft as he so vexeth or troubleth: the one half to my lord Prince, and the other half to him that was so letted, vexed, or troubled. And a Fieri facias to be awarded, as well for my lord prince as for the party, if one Richard Strode of Plimton tinner, at the parliament holden at Westminster the fourth day of February last passed, letted, vexed, and troubled one William Reed the younger, and Elis Elforde tinner, and all other tinners in the same parliament for digging of tin in the several soil of the said Richard and other people contrary to this our act made.  
God save the king.