❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation concerning Leases and Asserts.  
HIs most Excellent majesty calling to his remembrance, that the imperial crown of this realm hath ever been enriched with Honors, palaces, Castles, Lordships, Manors, Forrests, parks, chaces, Lands, Tenements, revenues and Hereditaments, of a greater yearly value, then any King or Prince in EVROPE, And not finding any of them to haue been by any of his Progenitors( Kings and queens of this realm) so individually annexed to the said imperial crown, but that the same hath been severed or divided: And where it hath pleased almighty God of his infinite and unspeakable mercy towards this realm, both in present, and to all future Posterities, not only to bless and enrich his majesty with such a plentiful and Royal progeny, above the most of the Kings of the world, as his loving Subiects and their posterities shall, by Gods providence, for ever be freed from all former fears, and live in all happiness and safety, under the certain and blessed government of his majesty, and his royal Issue, until all the kingdoms of the earth shall haue an end, but also with such Issues, as God hath endowed with so many rare and excellent virtues and gifts both of body and mind, the multiplication of which his royal posterity( to our further comfort) remaineth in Gods secret pleasure: His majesty intending to begin and leave an example both to his own and others, of his royal and natural care, as well for the certain supportation and amplitude of his royal Successors, Kings of this realm, and for honourable Ioinctures to be made to the queens of this realm for the time being, as also for competent sustentation and aduancement of the Kings younger children, in honourable and prosperous estate, as appertaineth; Hath( out of his Princely wisdom and providence, by advice of his privy council) resolved to haue all those Honors, palaces, Castles, Lordships, manors, Forrests, parks, chaces, Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments, parcel of the possessions of his majesties crown of England, and of the duchy of Lancaster, as are set down and expressed in fourteen Schedules, to be individually and inseparably, for the purposes and intents abovesaid, at the next Session of Parliament, by authority and consent of the same, united and annexed for ever hereafter to the imperial crown of this realm. His most Excellent majesty understanding, that the greatest part of the premises be in Lease for lives or Yeeres in possession, and most of them in reversion for term of yeeres, All which be subject not onely to strict conditions, but also to diuers other questions and ambiguities, which cannot so perfectly and effectually be salved and remedied after the said Annexation, as they may now be, and in his Princely care and favour to his loving Subiects tendering their quiet, without seeking such advantages, as his majesty might by the laws of this realm, by reason of the said Conditions, and other defects: And to the end there may be a mean, whereby his Highnesse said Subiects may with less charge and attendance attain to a convenient Composition in such cases; Hath by his Highnesse Commission under the great seal of England, given full power and authority unto certain Commissioners in the said Commission mentioned, from time to time to give and take order, as well for the Surrender of any Estate, Lease, or term for yeeres, life or lives, mentioned to be demised by any Letters Patents, Indentures, or writings, of any of the aforesaid premises or any part thereof, as thereupon, for such reasonable and moderate consideration as shall be thought fit by the said Commissioners to grant, Demise, and let to farm to every such person or persons so surrendering the Estate, term, or Interest, claimed by them as aforesaid, or to such persons as they shall nominate in that behalf, such, and so many of the premises, as shal be so mentioned to be surrendered, for the term of forty yeres or under in possession( other then Marsh or surrounded Grounds, and certain other Hereditaments, which may be Demised for a longer term, as hath been heretofore accustomend) or for term of six lives or under, or for such term of Yeeres, Life, or lives, as shall be by any person or persons mentioned to be surrendered. And further to Grant, Demise, and let to farm to any person or persons in reversion for reasonable Consideration, for the term of one and twenty yeeres, or for such number of yeeres in reversion as shall be so mentioned to be surrendered as is aforesaid, any of the foresaid premises now in Lease, or Estate to any person or persons, to commence and take effect after the Determination, Surrender, or Forfeiture of the present Interest, term, or Estate.  
And his majesty hath further for the great quiet and safety of his loving Subiects,( whom it doth concern) authorised the said Commissioners to contain in every Lease by force of the said Commission to be made, such penalties of Nomine poenae or other reasonable clauses( in stead of the strict provisoes and Conditions) as the said Commissioners shall in their wisedoms and discretions think fit, as by the said Commission more at large appeareth. And whereas his most excellent majesty, being informed that many of his loving Subiects, and their Ancestors, haue for very small Rent of long and ancient time been in quiet possession of diuers messages, Lands, Tenements,& Hereditaments called Asserts, Wasts, or Prepastures, which are, or were within the Limits of some of his majesties Forrests, Hath for the common good and quiet of all his loving Subiects, and for avoiding of chargeable and tedious Suits, by one other Commission under the great seal of England, given full power and authority unto certain Commissioners in the said Commission mentioned, for such considerations as are therein expressed, to bargain, sell and conclude for his majesty, and in his Highnesse name, for any of the said Assert lands, Wasts or Prepastures, to and with any person or persons, and their heires in Feefarme, or other estate of Inheritance, with a discharge of the mean profits thereof, as by the said Commission more at large also appeareth. In consideration whereof, and for that the time being run out,& the said Annexation once established, the said Farmers, Leassees, Occupiers, possessors, and others claiming under them, cannot obtain to themselves so certain and assured means of their benefit, quiet and freedom from Questions, Suits, and troubles, for the comfort of themselves, their wives and children, as they now may: His most excellent majesty hath of his abundant grace( with aduise of his privy council) caused this his royal and Princely care and favour to all his loving Subiects, to bee by these presents openly and universally divulged and published, to the end that all of them( whom it concerneth) may in time apprehended, and take the benefit thereof, and none of them may be prevented of so great a benefit, for want of timely knowledge or understanding.  
given at our palace of Westminster the xvij. day of February, in the second 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. 1604.