royal blazon or coat of arms HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE dieu ET MON DROIT  
❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation concerning the execution of the laws against Recusants.  
WHereas vpon the humble advice of Our Lords and Commons in Parliament, Wee resolved to put the laws in execution against Iesuites, Priests, and Popish Recusants, and by their just forfeitures accrueing unto us, to increase Our revenue towards the defraying of those extraordinary Charges for the public Defence of Our State, which necessary do lye vpon us, which Our determination Wee haue already published under Our great seal of England, and caused the same to bee enrolled of Record in Our great Courts of Iustice: And that Resolution then taken by us, Wee haue since pursued in such measure, as for the present Wee could, and intend constantly to proceed therein with as much care and speed, as by the industry of Our Officers and ministers of Iustice the same can be effected, which being a work of time, cannot at once be begun and perfected: Yet because we found diuers of Our Subiects, being Recusants, apt to complain, that the laws made and in force against them, if they should all bee strictly exacted, are so hard and severe in diuers points, that the several penalties and punishments which they must incur, and undergo, would utterly disable them and their families in their very subsistence, whereby many of them must become a burden to the place where they live, and yet Our profit would be nothing increased thereby:  
Wee took their humble Petitions in this behalf into Our serious and Princely consideration,& being desirous in all things to carry ourself towards all Our Subiects with that Iustice and moderation, as is fit for a just and a good King; For Our better instructions herein, by Our Commission under Our great seal, Wee directed diuers of Our Lords, and others of Our privy counsel, to take these things into their due consideration, and to aduise and inform us in what things Wee might give convenient ease to the Recusants, without slacking the due prosecution of Our laws against them, or encouraging them thereby to persist in their errors, and without the destroying that part of Our revenue, which might fitly bee raised by their forfeitures, from which Our Commissioners, Wee haue received such advice, as that thereout wee haue drawn Instructions and Directions unto Our Commissioners employed by us, which We haue recommended unto them under Our Royal Hand, and which We purpose shall in the substance thereof bee observed by them in the ordering of that service.  
Now, lest this Our Clemency and Moderation might bee misconstrued, and the one part of Our Subiects obnoxious to Our laws in this case might flatter themselves, as if We could by any importunity be drawn to silence Our laws against them, and the other part of Our Subiects Conformeable to Our laws, and the true and orthodox Religion professed by the Church of England, might be possessed with some diffidence, lest Our zeal and Constancy in Our Religion were cooled or abated, Wee haue thought fit hereby to make this public Declaration, whereby all sorts of Our Subiects may discern, and be assured of Our clear intention herein, and that Our full resolution is not to decline from Our first purpose and promise for the due execution of Our laws in this case, nor will not at any time hereafter bee moved, by any whosoever, to that purpose; and yet that We shall proceed therein with such moderation, as the whole world shall bear witness with us, that Wee seek their conversion, and not their ruin.  
And whereas amongst other things, which Wee haue directed in the favour of the Recusants, that we are contented, that they themselves, or their friends for them, may take leases of Our two parts of their Lands, which by the strictness of the laws is denied unto them, so as always they render unto us for the same as great a Rent, at the least, as any other would give; Lest this also should receive a misinterpretation, and turn to the prejudice of Our service, Wee do hereby publish and declare Our will and pleasure to be, that all such Leases of Recusants lands, as haue been already contracted for, and for any defect in the proceedings, or otherwise are not yet passed, or not effectually passed under Our seals, shall be proceeded in according to those contracts; and for all other lands yet to be contracted for, that the Recusants themselves, or some for them, within three moneths after the date hereof, shall make their Compositions with Our Commissioners for their own Lands, or else it shall be free for any other to take the same; and that then, and in the mean time also, if any others shall make a better offer unto us for Our profit according to Our said Instructions, then the Recusant, or some other in his behalf shall do, that he shall be received. Of all which Wee will, that all Our loving Subiects, whom it may any wise concern, do take notice.  
given at Our Court at White-Hall the sixteenth day of February, in the second 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.XXVI.