❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation to redress the mis-imployment of Lands, Goods, and other things given for Charitable uses.  
WHereas Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, goods, Chattels, Money, and other things haue been heretofore given, limited, appointed and assigned, as well by his majesties most noble Progenitors, as by sundry other well disposed persons; Some for relief of aged, impotent, and poor people, some for maintenance of sick and maimed Souldiers and Mariners, schools of learning, free schools, and Schollers in universities; Some for repair of Bridges, Ports, havens, Cause-wayes, Churches, Seabanks, and highways; Some for education and preferment of orphans; Some for or towards relief, stock, or maintenance for houses of Correction; Some for marriages of poor maids; Some for supportation, aid, and help of young tradesman, Handicrafts men, and persons decayed; And others for relief, or redemption of Prisoners, or captives, and for aid or ease of any poor Inhabitants, concerning payment of fifteens, setting out of Souldiers, and other Taxes: Which Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, Goods, Chattels, Money, and other things nevertheless haue not been employed according to the charitable intent of the glovers and Founders thereof, by reason of frauds, breaches of trust, and negligences in those, that should pay, deliver, and employ the same. For redress and reformation whereof, remedy and relief haue been provided, in and by one Art of Parliament, made in the three and fortieth year of the reign of the late queen of famous memory, Elizabeth late queen of England. By the due execution of which Act, in diuers and many parts of this realm, much good hath ensued, by the diligence and travail of diuers of our charitable and well affencted Subiects, by restoring, and true employing of diuers and many of the said Gifts and Endowments, according to the true Iustitution, Ordinance, and Intention of the Founders and Donors in that behalf: And much more good his majesty daily expecteth should be done in so Religious a case, acceptable to God and all good men.  
And whereas such as haue the care, charge and government of the colleges, walls, and houses of learning within either of the universities of Cambridge or Oxford, or of the Colleges of Westminster, eton, or Winchester, or of any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church, were presumed by the makers of the said Act, in respect of their Professions and Offices( which ought to put them in continual memory of their duties) to need to Law to enforce them to the performance of so just and charitable a work, And therefore did by special proviso except and exempt them out of the said act: His most excellent majesty, in his godly meditations, calling to his blessed remembrance, how good and necessary it is, That the devout, godly, and charitable intents of the said Founders and glovers should be exactly and duly performed, And nothing doubting, but that the said persons, bodies politic and Corporate so excepted, will as well in discharge of their own consciences( albeit they be not bound by the said act) as for example to all others( that may bee enforced thereby) will speedily, Christianly, and exactly perform their said duty: Yet lest that any in so great a number should bee found either so remiss, as to neglect the speedy employment of the same, or so uncharitable and unconscionable, as in any sort, by fraud or devices to seek to pervert or overthrow the true institution& meaning of the said Founders or glovers; His most excellent majesty, in his Princely& royal care, That the said good and godly uses& intents may be duly& speedily employed, as is abovesaid, And that no person or persons, bodies politic or Corporate( presuming to pass away with impunity) neglect, or not perform their duties in that behalf, doth( by Aduise of his privy council) straightly charge and command as well all and singular person and persons, bodies politic, and Corporate within either of the said universities of Cambridge or Oxford, or within Westminster, eton, or Winchester, or any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church aforesaid, as all other person and persons, bodies politic and Corporate whatsoever having any Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, profits, Goods, Chattels, sums of money, or other things mentioned to be given, limited, assigned or appointed to or for any of the good and charitable uses above said, That they and every of them do well and faithfully employ the said Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, Goods, Chattels, sums of money or other things, according to the true meaning, ordinance, and institution of the Founders, or glovers of the same, vpon pain of his majesties high displeasure, and of such penalties and punishments, as they shall justly deserve for contemning of his royal commandment, in a cause so just and necessary to be performed, and for their demerits in that behalf.  
And albeit his majesty knoweth, that for and concerning such person and persons, bodies politic and Corporate as be exempted out of the said Act, such sufficient remedy and reformation by visitations, and other lawful means may be had in the cases above said: Yet forasmuch as these proceedings will require time, and draw the parties exempted out of the said Act, from their studies, and exercises of learning, and put them to no small charge; His most excellent majesty, hath for their ease and profit taken this more speedy course, by these presents in manner and form abovesaid; Giuing all and singular the person and persons, bodies politic and Corporate abovesaid assuredly to know, That whosoever shall violate, or not perform his majesties royal commandment hereby published, that he, or they, or any of them shall not hope to pass away with impunity, but shall undergo such pains, penalties, and punishments, as by the severity of the laws of this realm, may be inflicted and imposed vpon so grievous and uncharitable offenders.  
given at his majesties Castle of Rockingham the xi. of August 1605. in the third year of his majesties 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. 1605.