WHEREAS there hath been great Destruction of His Majesty's Red and Fallow Deer, and of the Beasts, Fowl, Fish, and Game of the Forests, and also of the Timber Trees, Coppices, and Vert, in most of the said Places, as well in Breach and Contempt of the Laws of the Forest, as of several Statute-Laws in such Cases made and provided: Which, as I am credibly informed, hath happen'd not only by the Trespasses and unlawful Acts of many disorderly and idle Persons living in the said Forests, Chases, Parks, and Places adjacent without the least Pretence or Colour of Autho­rity, and of others under Pretences of Licenses and Warrants which are determined or void; but also by the Negli­gence of many of the said Officers, who have connived thereat, and suffered the same to remain without due Prosecu­tions, unpunished; and likewise by means of other Officers, who under Colour or Pretence of their Offices, have greatly transgressed, and assumed to themselves Authorities to which they have no Right in Law, contrary to their Duties, and in direct breach of the Trust in them reposed, whereby they have not only forfeited their said Offices, but also subjected them­selves to the other Penalties of the Law for such their Misdemeanors: And His Majesty having signified to Me His Royal Pleasure, That a due Reprehension be had of the said Misbehaviours for the time past, as likewise that for the future all possible Care be taken for Preserva­tion of His Majesty's Game, Vert, and Venison, and for that purpose to see the Laws relating thereto duly executed.

NOW for Remedy thereof, and that Right may be done in the Premises, and for and towards the more effectual Execution of the said Laws, and for Prevention of the like Mischiefs in time to come, and in Obedience to His Majesty's said Commands, I do therefore hereby Order, and strictly Charge and Command all and every the said Officers, of what Degree or Quality soever, That they and every of them be diligent and faithful in their several and respective Stations, and in the Discharge and Execution of their several and respective Duties and Offices, as they tender His Majesty's Service, or will answer the same at their Perils: And that they, as far as in them lies, take all possi­ble Care for the discovering, finding, apprehending, presenting, prosecuting, and punishing of the said Offenders, either by the Rules and Methods of the Laws of the Forest, or of the said Acts of Parliament; and that they see the same from time to time duly executed. And that they, or any of them, do not usurp or assume to themselves, or exercise any Authority or Power over or concerning His Majesty's said Timber-Trees, Coppices, Red or Fallow-Deer, or other Beasts of the Forest, Fowl, Fish, or other His Majesty's Game, which by Law they ought not to do. And that they do not take upon them to make any Grants, or give any Warrants or Directions for or towards the cut­ting of the said Woods, or killing, taking, or destroying of the said Beasts, Fowl, or Fish.

And I do further and more particularly will and require all and every the said Officers in their several and respective Places, that they do not permit or suffer any Person or Persons, of what Quality soever, to Hunt, Hawk, Course shoot, take, kill or destroy any Deer, Phea­sants, Partridges, Hares, Fowl, Fish, or other Game within the said Forests, Chases, Parks, Warrens, or the Purlieus or Precincts thereof, excepting only Peers of the Realm, in their coming to, and returning from the Parliament, to hunt in a Forest, according to the Statute in that Case, and under the Restrictions therein expressed, and such other Persons as have Right so to do by the Laws of the Forest, or par­ticular Grants of the same; and excepting such Persons to whom I have already granted, or shall hereafter grant Licenses of Pleasure; for the better certainty whereof I do declare, That no Licenses to be by me granted shall be of any effect in any Forest, unless the same be entred at the Court to be held for that Forest next after the date thereof: And that no Licenses by me already granted shall be of any Effect, unless the same be entred at the Court to be next held after publication hereof.

And I do further will and require all and every the said Officers to seise, and kill, or cause to be seised and killed, all such Hounds, Spa­niels, Greyhounds, and other Dogs; and seise and take, or cause to be sised and taken, all such Guns, Toyles and other Engines as shall be kept or used within the Forests or Places aforesaid, by any Person or Persons not sufficiently Authorised or qualified by Law to have or use the same.

And further also, That no Deer be killed but by good and sufficient Warrant in Writing; and that an Account of the said Warrants, and number of Deer killed be yearly at Hollyrood Day delivered, or sent to me by the Chief Officer or Officers of the said Forests, Chases or Parks respectively, and by whose Warrants the same were killed; as also an Account of the Stock of the Deer remaining therein. And what Timber or Coppices have been lately Cut, and by whose Authority.

And to prevent any of the said Officers from being imposed upon, I do hereby publish and declare, That the granting of Licenses and Warrants for Hunting, Hawking, or other Licenses of Pleasure, or to be Game-keepers within any of the Forests or Places aforesaid, doth appertain and belong to the Chief Justice in Eyre for the time being, and that all the former Licenses, for the purposes aforesaid, granted by any former Chief Justice in Eyre are determined. And I do therefore prohibit all manner of persons from Hunting, Hawking, Fishing or Fowling by Virtue or Colour thereof.

And I do strictly command and require the Verderers, and other Officers of the Forests, to whom it doth belong, That the Swanimote and other Courts of the Forests respectively be duly kept and held in their proper times, the omission whereof hath been one of the causes of the said Mischiefs, and that due Presentment of the said Offenders be made thereat, and particularly of Persons who keep disor­derly Alehouses, encourage and harbour Deer-stealers, Straglers and Poachers, and Destroyers of the Game.

And if any Person or Persons shall presume on any pretence to act contrary to this my Prohibition, I do require the said Officers to whom it doth belong, respectively to present and prosecute the said Offenders, and to give me immediate notice of their respective Names, Habita­tions, and the nature of their Offences, that they and every of them may be brought to condign punishment according to Law.

And that no Person may pretend ignorance herein; I do hereby will and require the Beadles, and other proper Officers of every of the said Forests, Chases, and Parks, to cause due notice hereof to be given to all Persons concerned, to the end that they may conform themselves ac­cordingly, as they will answer the same at their perils.

Given under my Hand, and the Seal of my Office, this 19th day of August, in the Ninth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord William the Third, by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, [...]fender of the Faith, &c. Anno (que) Dom. 1697.