❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation for preservation of Woods.  
FOrasmuch as by a late view and survey had and made of the most part of our Woods in diuers Counties of this realm, It is certified unto us that great spoils and deuastations are committed, both within our Forrests, chases, Parks and Wasts, not onely by bordering Inhabitants, but even by Woodwards, keepers, and other of our own inferior Officers, such as ought to haue had the chief care of the preservation thereof, and also in and vpon our manours, Lordships and demesne Lands, by Tenants, bailiffs and Reeues, by their unjust taking, and improvident assigning Timber trees and Woods, far beyond all reasonable proportion of allowance: And forasmuch also as diuers apparent abuses, are likewise committed in the said places by sundry sinister practices to decay our said Woods, and to make them Windefals and pretended Fees; the continuance whereof hath been so long and dangerous, as without present reformation, there is like suddenly to follow such want of Timber and Wood as by no future providence can be in meet time supplied; Forasmuch as we out of our desire to preserve and increase our Woods, of our Princely care haue hitherto forborn to draw any benefit to ourselves by sale thereof, And also for that we find, that by the practices aforesaid, and other the like, our said Woods are daily more wasted, spoiled, and defaced, then if we did make an yearly competent revenue of the same: Wee therefore( as respective of the good of our posterities, as our own) haue endeavoured to take course to stop the laid abuses, and all others too long practised, and to work the means not only of better preservation of our said Woods in times to come, but also of a present multiplication and increase of Timber and Wood to all future ages. And to the end that our care may appear to extend to the preservation and increase of Timber, as well in general to others, as to ourselves, We haue thought meet by this our Proclamation, not onely to divulge our special pleasure touching our own Woods, But also strictly to command& charge all our loving Subiects in general, That in their own Woods they presume not hereafter to defraud the true meaning of our Statutes in those cases provided, by cutting and falling the young storers, when they usually fel their Vnderwoods, which the Statute intended and appointed to be altogether preserved for Timber: Wherein if they shalbe found to offend, they are to expect no favour, as doing an apparent wrong to the Common wealth, besides the breach of Law, and our royal commandement.  
And wee do also straitly command all our loving Subiects, That for avoiding of future spoils, they nor any of them presume from henceforth to commit any Act, under whatsoever colour or pretence, not warranted by the true intent of our laws, or the Grants made unto them, whereby our said Woods may be diminished, defaced or abused. And further, that neither our Keepers of walks, or Rangers, or other Officer or Officers whatsoever, in Forrests, chases or Parks, do under colour of Browse for our Deere, Fee wood or fuel for themselves, or other pretence whatsoever, presume to cut or take more then shall necessary suffice, without wasteful expense or colourable sale; Neither that they nor any of them, nor any other subject whatsoever, adventure to head or shred any Timber three or Trees, but to take onely such loppes for Browse, as the Trees which haue been usually lopped shall afford, and that not in greater proportion then is meet and necessary. And that no Inhabitant in or near any of our Forrests, chases or Wasts, cut off the head or principal branches, or spall out, chip, bark or gird the bodies of any Timber three, or likely to prove Timber three, nor to cut or take any young saplings of oak, elm, ash, Beech, or any other three likely to prove Timber, growing in any of our said Forrests, chases or Wasts, nor to enter into any of our Coppises or Vnderwoods, to cut, spoil or waste the same under any pretence or colour, except it be for necessary uses, and the same lawfully warranted. And that no Tenant of any our Honors, manors, Lordships or Lands, Lessee or Copiholder, do take any Timber for Building, or decaying three for their fuel, nor any Steward, bailiff, Reeue, or other Officer, do assign any three or Trees for any use, but that he and they see good warrant from our treasurer or chancellor of our Exchequer, or duchy respectively, except in small reparations which may require hast, Or such as may bee amended with an allowance of a three, two, three or four at the most. In which cases the surveyors of the Woods of that County, or Steward of the Mannour, or three of the better sort of the Tenants of the said Maunour, dwelling in or near the same, shall and may view and consider of the cause of the said reparation or allowance, and alott unto them supply without such unlawful practices of favour or partiality, as haue been too common and frequent. unto which view and allowance, if it be made by the said surveyor of the Woods, or Steward of the Mannour, some three of the better sort of the said Tenants, if there be so many, or fewer, where there bee not so many, shal be also made parties and acquainted therewith, And thereupon such allowance being from time to time by such Warrant or assignment made, we do straitly charge and command the same to bee at the next Court of the said Mannour by the said Tenants presented vpon their oaths, that shall so view the said wants, or shalbe acquainted with the same, Setting down in writing what and how many Trees haue been delivered, vpon what land, to whom, and to what uses, and specially by what Warrant, And whether the same were necessary or not, the same to be done truly and without partiality, as they will answer the contrary.  
And furthermore, whereas for the better maintenance& present supply of the especial wants of our navy, wee haue appointed and authorized our Officers of the same, by some skilful and expert persons by them to bee chosen for that purpose, to elect and make choice in every of our Counties assigned for present sale, all such Timber and Trees, as by the Commissions to them directed, and the several Articles therein contained, shalbe thought fit to be reserved for the especial use of our said navy, and the same to mark for that purpose; We do now likewise by these presents straitly charge and command, as well all our several Officers within our several Forrests, parks, chases, manours and Lands, as all other our loving Subiects to whom in any sort it may appertain, that neither they nor any of them, do at any time hereafter cut or lop, or suffer to be cut or lopped, any Trees appointed and marked by our said Officers, or any of them, to and for the use of our navy, for any other use whatsoever, notwithstanding any Warrant that shall bee produced or pretended for the same, except the same Warrant be signed with our own royal hand.  
given under our hand at Royston the xiiij. day of February, in the sixth year of our reign of great britain, France and Ireland.  
God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by the Deputies of Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty. Anno 1608.