THe Queenes most excellent Maiestie, finding the great misusage in the execution of sundrie her Highnes graunts made to diuers persons, touching certaine penall sta­tutes, made and set forth for the common benefite and vtilitie of her people, and tou­ching the obtaining and recouerie of lands and tenements concealed, and of sundrie bands, forfeitures, and other thinges pretended to be vnjustly withholden and con­cealed from her Highnesse and her Crowne: By pretence whereof, she perceiueth a great multitude of her louing Subjects, contrary to the intention of her Maiesties said graunts, in many cases (though not offending) to haue bene greatly vexed and molested, and the lawes not thereby any thing the better executed, but in some parts rather unpaired, nor any such profite recouered, or obteined to her Highnesse vse vpon such executions and conceal­ments, as was pretended: most graciously minding the common quiet and profite of her louing Subjects, and wil­ling to remoue all occasions of such griefes to her people, as thing whereof she alwayes hath had, and yet still hath vtter misliking: Expressely willeth and commaundeth that the execution of all such special graunts & commissions, made to particular persons touching the premisses, and all commissions not being returned into any her Maiesties courts of Records made vpon, or by vertue of any such graunts, shall from hencefoorth cease. And that no newe com­missions vpon any the graunts aforesaide, doe from hencefoorth passe any her Maiesties Scales, nor any proces or writ to be awarded, nor informacion from hencefoorth receiued, vpon or by vertue of any such graunt or commission out of any her Maiesties courts of Recorde whatsoeuer.

And further her Maiestie commandeth, that no Commissions of Commissioner, or other person whatsoeuer, al­ready authorized to execute and such graunt or Commission, shall from hencefoorth deale proceede any further by inquisition of Iurors, examination of witnesses, or certificate, or by any other wayes or meanes whatsoeuer, to exe­cute any the said graunts or Commissions vpon paine of imprisonment, & incurring her Maiesties displeasure. And her Highnesse doeth further straightly prohibite and forbid all her Iustices of the peace, Maiors, Sherifs, Consta­bles, Bailiffes of liberties, & other her Officers and Ministers whatsoeuer, as they tender the auoiding of her High displeasure, from hencefoorth to be in any wise ayding or assisting to the execution of any the said Statutes or Com­missions. And for the better execution of the Premisses, if any person or persons, contrary to her Maiesties Procla­mation and prohibition, shall presume to execute any the said graunts or Commissions, or to be in any wise ayding or assisting thereunto: Then her Highnes will, and expresse commandement is to all Iustices of the peace, Maiors, Sheriffes, Bailiffes, and all other her Officers, and Ministers whatsoeuer, to whome it shall or may appertaine, to attache and apprehende all and euery such Offendour and Offendours, and them to commit to the common Gaole of the countrey where such offences shalbe committed, there to remaine without Baile or Mainprise, vntill her Highnesse pleasure shall by her Honourable priuie Counsell, or otherwise be signified what shalbe further done in that behalfe.

Prouided neuerthelesse, that where by meanes of the said graunts, diuerse suites are alreadie commenced by the parties, and some of them depending in sundry her Maiesties Courtes by way of Information or otherwise, at the charge of the said Patentees, her Highnes also minding to put the same suites to some good end, with the reasonable contentation of her Subjectes, doeth by vertue hereof authorize the Lorde Chauncellor of Englande, the Lorde Treasurer of Englande, the Chauncellor of her Court of Exchequier, & the Barons of the same Court, or two of them, whereof the Lord Chauncellor to be one, for all causes determinable in the Chauncerie, and the Lord Treasurer one, for all causes determinable in the Exchequier, to heare, order, end, or compound all the sayd causes, as shal stand with equitie, to the quiet of the parties molested, and the reasonable satisfaction of the Patentees aforesayd, ratifying and allowing whatsoeuer the said Lord Chauncellor, Lord Treasurer, Chauncellor and Barons as aboue is limitted, shall doe or conclude touching the premisses.

Giuen at our Mannor of Grenewich the fiftenth of December, the two and twentieth yeere of our reigne. An. 1579.

God saue the Queene.