WHereas it hath beene oftentimes, by Decrees and Iudgements at Law declared and setled, That Tenant-rights, since the most happy Vnion of these two renowmed Kingdomes of England and Scotland in Our person, are vtterly by the ancient and fundamentall rule of Law of this Our King­dome of England, extinguished and abolished, being but dependan­ces of former separation and hostilitie; And that there is the like setled Rule and constant practise in Scotland since the Vnion; And yet neuerthelesse diuers Suits are continually raised and prosecu­ted in Our Courts of Iustice here in England, grounded vpon the said claime of Tenant-right, or Customarie estate of Inheritance, vnder that pretence, where­by not onely the memory of the said Tenant-right is continued, which ought to be damned to a perpetuall obliuion, but also both parties doe sustaine needlesse charge, and impouerish­ment, in questioning of that which is beyond all dispute; which may also (in regard of combi­nation of Tenants, and generall Taxes, to pursue their Landlords vpon a common purse) open a way to turbulent and seditious attempts: Wee, out of Our Princely and neuer inter­mitted care, to auoide these inconueniences aforesaid, Haue both recommended the matter to all Our Iudges, to suppresse and surcease strifes and suits of this nature, And haue also giuen expresse charge and commandement, to all the principall Officers and Ministers of Our selues and Our dearest Sonne the Prince, That in Our owne Lands, and like wise in those of Our deare Sonne the Prince (neere or bordering vpon Scotland where such Tenant-rights haue beene claimed) they doe let all Estates, whether for Liues of Yeeres, be it for Fine or improue­ment of Rent, by Indenture onely, and not otherwise, To the end to cease and discontinue the said Claime:

And further, to the end the same course may be vniforme and generall amongst Our lo­uing Subiects, Wee doe by these Presents wish and expect from all Our louing Subiects in those parts, that they shall follow and conforme themselues to the same example, for Leasing such Lands in manner aforesaid, But here withall We doe strictly command, That no Entry in any Court-Roll, hereafter, either of Our owne Honours or Mannours, or of the Princes, or of any of Our Subiects, doe mention any Estate termed of Tenant-right, or Customarie Estate, pretended for Border-seruice; On the other side Our expresse pleasure is, That good and dutifull Tenants, who shall willingly submit themselues to such Estates, be vsed with all fauour and moderation, which We doubt not but the Landlords will doe; Yet if any shall be found to doe the contrary, Our Courts of Equitie shall euer be open and ready to ouer-rule such Landlords, As on the other side, both Our Courts of Law and Equitie, shall be to bri­dle and eiect all such vnreasonable Tenants as shall withstand it.

Giuen at Our Court at Charlton the eight and twentieth day of Iuly, in the eighteenth yeere of Our Reigne of Great Britaine, France and Ireland.

God saue the King.