❧ By the King.  
WE had hoped, seeing it is notorious to all our Subiects, how greatly we delight in the exercise of Hunting, as well for our recreation, as for the necessary preservation of our health, that no man in whom was either reverence to our person, or fear of our laws, would haue offered us offence in those our sports, considering especially, that the nature of all people is not onely in things of this quality, but in matters of greater moment so far to conform themselves to the affections and disposition of their sovereign, as to affect that which they know to be liking to them and to respect it, and to avoid the contrary: And we must aclowledge that we haue found, that Gentlemen and persons of the better sort( who know best what becometh their duty) haue restrained their own humors and framed themselves therein to give us contentment: yet falleth it out notwithstanding, that neither the example of them, nor respect of the laws, nor duty to us, hath had power to reform the corrupt natures and insolent dispositions of some of the base sort, and some other of a disordered life; By diuers of which condition( since our offence manifested against those that trespass in that kind) and since our last coming forth into this progress, in places where we lately took our pleasure in our own Grounds, and near our own houses of abode, there haue been more frequent offences offered in that kind, then at any time heretofore, or in the late queens dayes were attempted: nevertheless, howsoever in her later dayes( being a Lady whose sex and yeeres were not so apt to that kind of recreation, having no posterity, and therefore less careful of conservation of that kind of royalty, which her Progenitors Kings of this realm had maintained) people might perhaps for those respects presume of more liberty then became them, or the laws of the realm do permit; Yet in our time, being a Prince that haue manifested our affection& delight in that exercise,& having posterity like to continue in the same disposition, when either their recreation or their exercise shal require it; It seemeth strange that men will now attempt to offend with more licentiousness, then at any time heretofore, and offer to us in our Grounds, that which they will not endure each at others hands in their own. Wee are not ignorant, that there are some passions in mens minds so strong, as hard it is but they will break forth at times beyond the bounds of reason, where commodity, pleasure or reuenge provoketh: But this offence being a trespassing against reason which hath no end in it, whereof can redound to the offender either profit or pleasure, honour or other recompense; Wee cannot interpret that the transgressions that are done therein do proceed, but either out of a barbarous and vnciuil disposition, not fit to be suffered in an ordered Estate, or out of an insolent humour& vnrespectiue to our person, no ways to be endured. And seeing that we haue manifested our Princely disposition to the maintenance of Iustice, and given as free and liberal scope to the execution of the laws of this realm, as ever did any of our Progenitors, We cannot but wonder that men should conceive that in these kinds of trespasses being so offensive to us, we would not be just to ourself& right the wrongs& insolences offered to us, in so special a branch of our prerogative, where the laws and Statutes of the realm, both Ancient& modern, do afford us so full and strong remedies, as appears by the Charter of our forest, as ancient and authentical, as the great Charter of the laws of the realm, and by other laws and Statutes, some enforcing the offenders( besides other grievous punishments of Fine and imprisonment) to abjure the realm, some punishing them with death, as judging them unworthy to live, at least in this well ordered kingdom, that cannot bridle so inordinate an humour, which reigning with so great violence in one excess, will pass on( if it be not checked) to all other extremities. Being therefore thus deeply provoked, and minding to use as strait and as severe means for the preservation of our right, and punishing of offenders in these cases, as the laws of our realm will afford; We haue been pleased notwithstanding out of our gracious disposition, to forewarn men of our purpose, by proposing to them the severity we intend to use hereafter, for redress of such enormities, knowing that such warning will either restrain them from giuing us offence, or( if their undutiful humour can be reformed by no admonition) make them the more inexcusable to us and our laws for their punishment. And therefore we do hereby signify to all men, that after the publishing of this Proclamation, our meaning is to proceed in this maner against all Hunters, Stealers, and killers of Deere, either red or fallow, within any our Forrests, chaces, or parks.  
First, to extend against them all penalties whatsoever, which by the laws of the Forrests, or by any other laws or Statutes of the realm are to be inflicted vpon them. To give a good reward to all such as shall inform us, or our Iustices of our Forrests, or any Lieutenant, or any other having charge of any our Forrests, parks, or chases, of any offenders in hunting, stealing, or killing of our Deere by any unlawful ways. And if the fault be found in any of our Seruants, or any towards our Court, or person of quality, he shalbe assured not onely to loose our favour, but to be debarred of our presence, or resort to our Court. And if it appear that none of those penalties shall haue power to restrain insolent mindes from committing outrages so wilful and unreasonable: We will make no doubt but that our Parliament finding the laws now in force too weak to roote out such an evil, will assist us with their aduise, to provide some further and more sufficient remedies for that purpose, wherein they are interested as well as we: for they that dare presume vpon us will not spare them. But our hope is, that our Subiects, knowing now again the offence we take at these insolences, and being warned of our intent, will not give us cause to exercise the least of these penalties, which wee shal be glad to find, as well to see the conformity of our peoples mindes to our disposition, as for the clemency of our Nature, unwilling to haue any cause of punishment against the least of them, especially in matter concerning ourself.  
given at our Honour of Hampton Court the ix. day of September, 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.