THE Queenes Maiestie , hearing credibly by report , that in some partes of her Realme , her people and subiectes are , and of late haue ben vexed and molested , by certayne lewde persons , vnder pretence of executing of Commissions for inquiries to be made , for lands concealed , who do by colour thereof , & without warrant of Commission , contrary to alright , and namely contrary to her Maiesties meaning and intent , intermeddle and chalenge ( as it is reported ) landes of long time possessed by Churche wardens , and suche lyke , vpon the charitable gyftes of their predecessours , to the common benefite of the parishe , yea and certayne stockes of money , plate , cattayle , or suche lyke : and let not also to make pretence to the belles , leade , and other suche lyke thinges belongyng to parishe Churches , or Chappels vsed for common prayers : and further to attempt to make titles to the landes , possessions , plate , and goodes , belonging to Hospitales , and suche like houses , vsed for maintenance of poore people , with many suche other vnleful attemptes and extortions , to a pernitious example , yf the same should be further vsed and suffered by colour hereof . For this purpose , her Maiestie meanyng speedyly to withstande this manner of extortions , and vnleful practises , and troubles of her subiectes , and doubting that the lyke is , or may be vsed in other places of the Realme , though presently complaint be not thereof made , hath lately commaunded , that al Commissions , whiche are extant , and not determined , for inquisition of any manner of concealementes , should be by supersedeas out of her Court of Exchequer reuoked . And yet because the fraudes of offendours in suche cases doo so abounde , as it may be , that they whiche haue already begunne , by colour of commissions to vse suche extortions and vexations for gayne , wyl them selues conceale the reuocation of their Commissions , beyng but by processe of supersedeas : Therefore her Maiestie ( to notifie this her gratious disposition more publique to her subiectes , and to procure due punishment of the offenders , with restitution of thinges wrongfully taken ) geueth to vnderstande by these presentes , that al manner of Commissions nowe extant , that haue passed from any her Courtes , to enquire of any landes , tenementes , and hereditamentes , or of any goodes , or chatels concealed , or supposed to be concealed before the date hereof , shal ceasse , and not continue : and that no Commissioner shal , by vertue of any suche Commission , charge any person to enquire further of the contentes of any suche Commission . And yf any manner of person shal haue iust cause to complaine of any other , for any manner of extortion , or misusage by colour of suche Commission , the same shal and may exhibite their complaint to the Iustices of assise , now this next circuite , or to any other two or three of the Iustices of peace in the shyre , whom her Maiestie chargeth to cause the trueth of the complaint to be examined , and the offendours to be seuerely and speedyly punished , and to make due and large restitution . Or yf the cases of the extortion shal be great , or that the offendours can not be founde within the Countie : then that certificat be made thereof by the sayde Iustices of assise , or the peace , eyther to her Maiesties priuie Counsel , or to the Lord Keper of the great Seale , to be further tried & punished in the Starre chamber , for a further example . And although her Maiestie most gratiously in this sort meaneth to releeue her subiects from wronges & vexations , yet therewith her Maiestie geueth them al to vnderstande , that she intendeth not to forbeare by somme better ordinary meanes , and by persons of knowen honestie and wisdome , to enquire of suche landes , and other thynges , as duely and iustly do belong to her Crowne , and are withdrawen and concealed , and to the whiche by the lawes of her Realme her Maiestie is iustly intituled : wherein suche care shal be had , as hereafter no commission shal be graunted , but to such persons as shal be reputed of such trust & honestie , as shal by no meanes geue cause to offende any , but suche as of mere wrong wyl kepe and deteyne thynges belonging by order of lawe to the Crowne , to whiche her Maiestie doubteth not , but al good honest subiectes do beare that duetie and reuerence , as they wyl yeelde theyr seruice to the mayntenaunce thereof , as by the lawe of God they are bounde ( besydes theyr earthly duetie ) to her Maiestie .

And finally , her Maiestie woulde haue her Iustices of assise to haue some special care , not only to the premisses in this theyr Sessions , but also to the refourmyng of certayne couetous and iniurious attemptes , of diuers that haue of late tyme by other colour then for her Maiesties vse , taken away the Lead of Churches and Chappels , yea and the Belles also out of Steeples , and other common goodes belongyng to Parishes , an example not to be suffered vnpunished , nor vnrefourmed . And so her Maiestie eftsones chargeth her Iustices of assise to prouide seuere remedie , both for punishment and refourmation thereof .

Yeuen at her hyghnesse pallace at Westminster , the thirteenth day of February , in the fourteenth yere of her Maiesties raigne .