woodcut of England's coat of arms, 1609 
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  
DIEV ET MON DROIT   
❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation for relief of the subject that might be otherwise damnified by the late burning of Records in the Six Clerks Office.  
THE Kings most Excellent Majesty, graciously and tenderly considering the manifold inconveniences, that might happen to many of his loving Subjects, by means of a dangerous and sudden fire, that of late consumed, not only all the buildings and rooms belonging to the Office of six Clerks of the high Court of Chancery, but also many Bills, Answers, and other plead, together with the depositions of witnesses and decrees concerning his said Subjects, and likewise diverse patent rolls, warrants, and other Records remaining in that Office; And desiring in his great and Princely goodness, not only to device all possible means to relieve and help his said Subjects, but also to give notice thereof, whereby every person, whom the same doth concern, may readily make resort where they may partake of the benefits of his most gracious and royal providence, doth hereby publish and declare. That all such Bills, Answers, Plead and depositions (the Records and originals whereof were burnt, as aforesaid) shall at the request of such person and persons, whom the same doth any way concern, producing any exemplification or authentic copy thereof under the hand of the Court, be again written out, filled and recorded. And for such depositions whereof no copies were made, either in respect that the same were not published or otherwise, Certioraries shallbe awarded, at the desire of any person or persons whom the same doth concern, unto the Commissioners, in whose hands the originals of the said depositions do remain, to certify the same again into the said Court of Chancery, there to remain of record. And where any depositions, taken in any suit not yet determined, have been burnt, as aforesaid, and cannot be renewed by any the means aforesaid; in such case the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, or Our said Court of Chancery, upon understanding of the nature and state of the business, may give such order as to justice shall appertain, for the relief of the party grieved, by ordering a new examination of witnesses, or otherwise, as shall be fit. And where any Decrees, or Inrolments of Decrees, have been burnt, as aforesaid, That in every such case, at the request of such person and persons, whom the same doth any way concern, producing any exemplification of the said Decree, or any Writ, De executione Decreti, the said Decree shall be new written, and enrolled. And that all enrollments of Patents burnt, as aforesaid, shall at the request of any person or persons whom the same doth concern (producing the original patent, or any exemplification or Constat thereof, and upon view of the original Bill or warrant under the Signet or Privy Seal, remaining either in the Signet Office, or elsewhere, and upon view of the books of controlment, remaining in the custody of the Clerk of the Hamper, or elsewhere,) be newly written, entered, and enrolled of Record. And his Majesty's will and pleasure is, and the said six Clerks have assented, that for the writing, in grossing, eutring, or inrolling of any the premises by them or any of their Clerks, or for doing any thing in the premises by them or any of their Clerks, no fees or rewards shall be taken, but the same shallbe done gratis, without fee. And his Majesty's further will and pleasure is, and he doth hereby require and authorise, aswell the Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England, as the Master of the Rolls, and either of them in their several places, to see the premises duly performed, and to settle, quiet, and reconcile all such ambiguities, doubts, and questions, as shall arise concerning the due execution and performance of the premises, in such sort, as they in their wisdoms and good discretions shall find it meet. Nevertheless, his Majesty doth declare, that it is not his purpose or intention, that any shall take benefit of this his Princely grace and Royal providence, but such only as shall desire and request the same on this side and before the tenth day of july, now next ensuing.  
Given at Our Palace at Westminster the seventh day of january, in the nineteenth year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France, and Ireland.  
God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by BONHAM NORTON, and JOHN BILL, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. M.DC.XXI.