❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation signifying his majesties pleasure, to confirm by all means the estates of his Subiects against all defects in their Assurances, and all concealed Titles.  
THe Kings most Excellent majesty( having always before his eyes a serious consideration of that great and weighty Charge which is committed to him for the government of so many famous Countreys and people, over whom the KING of Kings hath made him Supreme Head and Ruler, and doth expect at his hands( out of duty to his divine majesty) the same Care and feeling of all things concerning his Subiects, which the natural head( by instinct of Nature) hath of the least member of the natural body) is pleased now, as well out of his long experience of regal authority, exercised in another great and ancient kingdom, before his coming to the crown of England, as out of the Rules of his own Iustice and moderate disposition in all things, to seek to be informed particularly and fully, Whether the courses that haue been taken, or may hereafter for enquiry or recovery of his majesties rightful Titles( cast vpon him by Law) may not more disturb and endamage his good and loving Subiects, then stands with the just measure of his own desires; who esteemeth his greatest riches to be included in the treasury of his Subiects hearts. In which respect, Although his majesty is not ignorant, that by the rule of Law no time can prejudice the Rights of the Kings of this realm, but that contrariwise, the continuance of time is said in Law rather to increase, and aggravate the wrong, then to extenuate or purge the same; And that in many cases between subject and subject( by common experience) ancient possessions are evicted and overthrown by Titles more ancient: Yet such is his highnes Princely disposition, as he is willing to make them find, both the effects of his bounty and Grace, and the due measure of his integrity and Conscience. And therefore being informed by his majesties Commissioners and Officers,( employed as well ordinarily, as extraordinarily, in the care of his revenues) That the possessions of his Subiects, haue, and do daily fall within the danger of Law( as well concerning their lands of Inheritance, as their Leases from his majesty or his Progenitors for lives or yeeres) by many ways and means; Not onely vpon points of defect in form, but even in points of Substance most just and weighty; As in respect of exchanges with the crown, not duly conveyed or executed on the Subiects part; Of the falsity of Considerations material, vpon which the Letters Patents haue been obtained; Of the falsity of Suggestions, whereby the King hath been deceived, and sometimes ancient crown Lands haue been carried away, as if they had been but new Augmentations of revenues by Attainder, or the like; Of Intayles made to the Kings of this realm, or descended to them from their ancestors, whereby it appeareth, that the King hath not been truly informed of his estate, when he made his grant, having no intention of disinherison of his Issue in tail, against the Lawe; Of referring to other Letters Patents, where many times there are none such, as by the recital are supposed; Of insufficient saving, or providing for that estate or benefit, which is intended to the King vpon the Letters Patents, by way of exception, reservation, or otherwise; Of want of proper and apt words, such as the Law doth require, even in a case between subject and subject; Of passing their Grants under a wrong seal, contrary to the grounds of Law, or express acts of Parliament; Of want of Offices, or insufficiency of Offices, whereby the Kings Title not rightly appearing, his Grants could not but pass in darkness; And many other the like defects in matter and substance, besides the defects, errors, omissions, and misprisions in writing and in form, which are no less dangerous in strictness of Law: And his majesty being further informed, That the possessions of his loving Subiects may also be impeached and brought in question vpon other Titles not having any dependence vpon defective Letters Patents, but vpon other points of diverse natures, and yet all warranted by the laws of this Land; As vpon Escheats by Attaindors or otherwise, vpon Title accrued by Dissolution, Surrender, Suppression, or relinquishing of Monasteries, encrochements vpon his majesties Wastes and high ways, which is a mere usurpation and intrusion vpon his majesties possession, not coloured by any pretence of Title; Vpon occupation of drowned land by time recovered from the Sea, which by his majesties prerogative belongeth to the crown; Vpon tithes detained, which lye out of all Parishes; vpon Alienations in mortmain, purchases by Aliens, and the like; And lastly vpon condition broken for non payment of Rent at the dayes appointed, and other the like acts not performed: His majesty conceiveth it to be a work worthy of himself to settle( as much as in him is) at once, a peace and quietness in the possessions of his Subiects.  
And as his majesty hath heretofore suspended the rigour of a legal prosecution in these cases, and turned it into a gracious composition, vpon a summary consideration of the title, whereby both the charge of suit,& the extremity of eviction might be avoided: So his Highnesse understanding, that even that course of favour doth not answer or attain( in some circumstances) to that measure of grace, which he intendeth to his loving Subiects; Is pleased, that there be a cessation also of that former proceeding. And therefore, although his majesty knows, that no ordinary form of legal proceeding, concludes the interest, nor time extinguisheth the right of sovereign Princes, that many prerogatives assist him, that the voice of the laws interprets the best to be taken for him, and that he hath all advantages, saving a heart that will take no advantage: And although the present necessity of his estate( whereof the splendour and greatness is so enlarged) may justly persuade any lawful improvement of the profits of the crown; Yet it hath pleased him, as a pledge of greater favour intended towards his Subiects, then ever they received from his Predecessors,( setting apart all other considerations of profit to himself, or power over his good Subiects in this kind) by this Proclamation to declare, that he is fully resolved, that all his loving Subiects shall partake of this grace, to haue all the states of their Lands confirmed and made perfect, and to be discharged of all mean profits and Issues whatsoever heretofore due or Incurred, notwithstanding any the defects or imperfections before mentioned, or any other whatsoever; So as their estates be not by time expired and determined before, as in case of Intayles already spent and run out: In which case the detaining of any Land from his majesty is so injurious, as no private man could willingly endure to be so defrauded. For which grace and favour, as the subject shalbe no further charged for ever hereafter, then by payment of five yeeres Fine at the uttermost, according to the old Rent, and the same to be ranted onely as it appeareth to be in value by former office, by particular, or else by oath or affidauit, before some Commissioners without further examination thereof, or any maner of discovery or declaration of any Imperfection or Inualidity of their titles in any of those things for which they made offer of Composition: So his majesty doth not doubt, but his discreet and loving Subiects( comparing all circumstances together, as well considerable in his own Person as theirs) with due acknowledgement and gratitude will embrace this favour so graciously offered, and not to foreslow the time of acceptation of it, which his majesty doth hereby limit to be before the end of Michaelmas term next, seeing they and their poster tie may thereby be so well secured in their estates and Patrimonies for ever. For the perfect accomplishment of which his majesties gracious intention towards his loving Subiects, thus expressed by this declaration, his Highnesse is pleased by his Commission under the great seal of England, to give full and absolute power and authority to certain selected Commissioners of his majesties privy counsel and others, to give Order and Warrant for such Gifts, grants, Confirmations, and other Assurances to be made and passed under the great seal of England, or seal of the duchy of Lancaster, or by Fines to be levied, or by all or any other those ways and means as shall be found needful and requisite for the several Cases, And as by the counsel learned of the parties that shall desire such Assurances respectively, vpon conference with his majesties learned counsel shall be thought fit and reasonable. And for their better and more absolute Assurance against all future doubts or questions whatsoever, his majesty doth by these presents publish and declare, that he is so willing to confirm and establish their Estates and Possessions against all claims, Titles, and exceptions whatsoever, that he is pleased that it be propounded to the next Parliament, That such Gifts, grants, Confirmations, and other assurances as shall bee made in performance and execution of this his Princely intention, may be ratified and confirmed against Him, his Heires and Successors for ever, by authority of Parliament; And also to give his royal assent thereunto, when they shall be brought to that point: And doth likewise hereby promise to give to any his loving Subiects( that shall seek it) his royal covenant to be inserted into the books of their Assurances to the effect aforesaid. And for the ease of Charge to the subject in passing such their Assurances; It hath pleased his Highnesse as well to give order that there shall be an abatement of the ordinary Fees paid at the seals, as also to permit diuers persons to join in one Patent, till their several Purchases do amount to Forty pounds according to the old Rent, whereupon the Composition shallbe grounded. And because the said Commissioners being most of them of his majesties privy counsel,( and therefore ordinarily employed in the greatest affairs of the kingdom) shall not haue so fit means at all times to receive and hear the first motions of his majesties Subiects, that shall desire such new Assurances as aforesaid; His Highnesse hath therefore appoynted his attorney and solicitor general, to be ready from time to time, to hear and confer with his Subiects and their counsel concerning the promises, that they may be sure to receive their dispatch with all possible expedition and favour.  
given at White-hall the xxij. day of april, in the seventh 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. 1609.