FOrasmuch as his Maiestie vnderstandeth, that there be diuers ancient & other good and necessary Lawes and statutes of this his Kingdome of England, which do inflict and im­pose diuers grieuous Corporall and pecuniary paines & punishments, extending in some cases to sentence of death (the last and greatest punishment,) and in some cases to final ex­ile & banishment out of their naturall Countrey for euer, vpon such as vnlawfully hunt or enter into any Forrest, Parke, Chase, or Warren, to kill or destroy any Deere or Game with any Dogs, Nets, Gunnes, Crossebowes, Stonebowes or other Instruments, En­gines, or meanes whatsoeuer, or by any such vnlawfull meanes or deuises to spoile or de­stroy the Game of Pheasants, Partridges, Hearne, Mallard, & such like, And also diuers other good Lawes and Statutes, prouided for the preuenting of the said offences, and therefore doe prohibite vpon great paines and penalties aswel the hauing or keeping, as the vsing of any Deere hayes, Buckstalles, Dogs, Gunnes, Crosse­bowes, Nettes and other Engines, as by the same Lawes and Statutes appeareth: And yet his Maiestic vnderstan­deth withall, that the same good Lawes and Statutes haue had (especially of late time) little or no effect, in respect there hath not bene any due execution (the life of all Lawes) of the same, by such to whom the care and charge thereof apper­teined: by meanes whereof, such boldnesse and disobedience hath growen, specially in the vulgar sort, as that of late peeres, the seuerall Games aboue mentioned, haue bene more excessiuely and outragiously spoilet & destroyed, then hath bene attempted & practised in former ages. His Maiestie intending a due and speedy reformation of the said abuses and offences, And that the said good Lawes and Statutes be hereafter put in due execution. And yet of his Princely Cle­mencie and Benignitie, now in the beginning of his most happy and prosperous Reigne towards all his louing Sub­iects, is graciously pleased, and doeth by these presents vouchsafe to publish to all his Subiects his intention and deter­mination therein, to the end that none of them, (which his Maiestie desireth) might hereafter incurre the seueritie and punishment of the sayd Lawes and Statutes: but like good and naturall Subiects for their owne safetie and good, obey and obserue the same. And therefore doeth straightly charge and command all and euery person and persons, of what estate and degree soeuer, not to Hunt, Kill, Take, or destroy, by any of the wayes or meanes abouesayd, or by any other vnlawfull meane, deuice, or inuention whatsoeuer, any of the Games abouesaid, contrary to any of the aforesaid Lawes or Statutes: Nor that they haue, keepe, or vse any of the sayd Deere hayes, Buckestalles, Dogges, Gunnes, Crosse­bowes, Nettes, and other things aboue mentioned, or any of them, contrary to any of the said Lawes or Statutes. And that if any person or persons, shall, after this Proclamation made and published, oftend in any of the premises, against any of the said Lawes and Statutes, that then he shall not onely vndergo and suffer the seuere sentence and punishment of the same, aswell for such offences hereafter to be attempted or done, as for the like offences formerly committed, but also such paines and penalties as may be inflicted vpon such as wilfully contemne and disobey his Commandement Royal. And his Maiestie doeth further charge and command al Iustices, Officers and Ministers whatsoeuer, to whom in these cases it doth appertaine, that they from henceforth diligently and carefully looke to the due executing, aswel of the said Lawes and Statutes and euery of them, as of his Maiesties pleasure and Royal Commandement, signified and declared by these presents, And that without respect of any person or persons of what estate or degree soeuer, as they wil answere the contrary at their vttermost perill.

Giuen at our Mannour of Greenwich the 16. day of May in the first yeere of our Reigne of Eng­land, France and Ireland, and in the sixe and thirtieth of Scotland.

God saue the King.