FOr asmuche as of late yeres a great numbre of persons with­in this realme haue laide their landes, farmes, and pastures, to feadynge of Sheepe, Oxen, Runtes, Shrubbes, Stee­res, and Hekfaires, and suche other lyke cattall, hauynge no regarde or care to brede and reare vp younge beastes and cattall, wherby is growen great scarcetie of cattall and vic­tuall, necessarye for the susteynaunce of diuers sortes of peo­ple within this realme, and more is lyke to be, yf spedye re­medye be not prouided.

It is therfore by thauethoritie of this presente parliment enacted, that euery person whi­che from the feast of the Purification of our Ladie nexte ensuinge, shall kepe or feade aboue the number of sixe score shere sheepe for the moste parte of the yere, vpon his or hyr seueral pa­stures, landes, feadynges, or fermes, apte or mete for milche kyen, and wherein no other per­son hath at the makynge of this present acte commen for anye cattall of any time of the yere, shall by aucthoritie of this acte, yerelye so longe as he shall kepe or feade the sayde number of sixe score shere sheepe, for euery thre score shere sheepe so kepte and fedde, kepe one milche cowe and shall brede and reare vp yerelye for euery sixe score shere sheepe so kepte, as is aforesayde, one calfe, vpon payne of forfeyture for euerye moneth that any suche persons shall not for eue­rye thre score shere sheepe as is aforesayde, kepe or feade one milche cowe, twentye shyllinges for euerye cowe so not kepte. And for lacke of rearynge and bredynge of one calfe, for euerye sixe score shere sheepe to forfeyte likewise twentie shillynges, for euerye calfe so not reared and fedde. And that euerye personne whiche after the aforesayde feast of the Purification of our Ladie vpon his or hyr seueral pastures as afore is saide, shal kepe or feade aboue the num­ber of twentye Oxen, Runtes, Shrubbes, Steeres, Hekfaires, or Kine, shal by thaucthoritie of this acte, for euerye tenne beastes of the saydesortes so kepte or fedde, kepe and nourishe one milche cowe, and brede, reare, and wayne yerelye and kepe for one whole yere, one calfe for euerye two milche kine so charged to be kepte, vpon the seuerall paynes and forfey tures a­fore rehearsed, excepte the sayde calfe or calfes, shall chaunce to die within the sayde yere, with out couyn or fraude thereto added, the one halfe of whiche sayde forfeytures shalbe to thuse of oure sayde Soueraigne Lorde and Ladie the Kynge and Quenes maiesties, and thother halfe to the vse of the partie that within one yere after the offence committed wyll sue for the same in anye of the kynge and quenes maiesties courtes of Recorde, or before the Iustices of peace in the same Shire. where any such cause of forfeyture shalbe had at the generall Sessi­ons (who by aucthoritie of this acte shall haue power to heare and determine the sayde offen­ces) by bylle, infourmation, presentment, action of dette, or detinue, in whiche action or suyte, no essoyne, protection, wager of lawe, or licence to the contrarye shalbe allowed.

Prouided alwayes, that this act nor anye clause thereof shall be extended to bynde anye person to kepe milche kyne, ne yet to brede or reare calfes, as afore is expressed, for suche sheepe or other beastes as the same person shall kepe and fede to the entent onely to be spent in hys or theyr house or houses, without fraude or couyn. This acte to endure onely vnto the ende of se­uen yeres next folowyng the feast of the Purification of our Lady aforesayd, and from thence to the ende of the Parliament then nexte folowynge.

God saue the Kynge and the Quene.