WHereas Lands , Tenements , Hereditaments , goods , Chattels , Money , and other things haue bene heretofore giuen , limitted , appointed and assigned , aswell by his Maiesties most noble Progenitors , as by sundry other well disposed persons ; Some for reliefe of aged , impotent , and poore people , some for maintenance of sicke and maymed Souldiers and Mariners , Schooles of learning , free Schooles , and Schollers in Vniuersities ; Some for repaire of Bridges , Ports , Hauens , Cause-wayes , Churches , Seabanks , and High-wayes ; Some for education and preferment of Orphanes ; Some for or towards reliefe , stocke , or maintenance for houses of Correction ; Some for marriages of poore Maydes ; Some for supportation , ayde , and helpe of yong Tradesmen , Handicrafts men , and persons decayed ; And others for reliefe , or redemption of Prisoners , or Captiues , and for ayde or ease of any poore Inhabitants , concerning payment of Fifteenes , setting out of Souldiers , and other Taxes : Which Lands , Tenements , Hereditaments , Goods , Chattels , Money , and other things neuerthelesse haue not bene imployed according to the charitable intent of the Giuers and Founders thereof , by reason of frauds , breaches of trust , and negligences in those , that should pay , deliuer , and employ the same . For redresse and reformation whereof , remedy and reliefe haue bene prouided , in and by one Art of Parliament , made in the three and fourtieth yeere of the raigne of the late Queene of famous memory , Elizabeth late Queene of England . By the due execution of which Act , in diuers and many parts of this Realme , much good hath ensued , by the diligence and traueile of diuers of our charitable and well affected Subiects , by restoring , and true employing of diuers and many of the saide Gifts and Endowments , according to the true Iustitution , Ordinance , and Intention of the Founders and Donors in that behalfe : And much more good his Maiestie dayly expecteth should be done in so Religious a case , acceptable to God and all good men .

And whereas such as haue the care , charge and gouernement of the Colledges , Halles , and houses of learning within either of the Vniuersities of Cambridge or Oxford , or of the Colleges of Westminster , Eaton , or Winchester , or of any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church , were presumed by the makers of the said Act , in respect of their Professions and Offices ( which ought to put them in continuall memorie of their duties ) to neede to Law to enforce them to the performance of so iust and charitable a worke , And therefore did by speciall Prouiso except and exempt them out of the saide Acte : His most excellent Maiestie , in his godly meditations , calling to his blessed remembrance , how good and necessarie it is , That the deuout , godly , and charitable intents of the said Founders and Giuers should be exactly and duely performed , And nothing doubting , but that the saide persons , bodies Politique and Corporate so excepted , will aswell in discharge of their owne consciences ( albeit they be not bound by the saide Acte ) as for example to all others ( that may bee enforced thereby ) will speedily , Christianly , and exactly perfourme their said dutie : Yet lest that any in so great a number should bee found eyther so remisse , as to neglect the speedie employment of the same , or so vncharitable and vnconscionable , as in any sort , by fraude or deuices to seeke to peruert or ouerthrow the true institution & meaning of the said Founders or Giuers ; His most excellent Maiestie , in his Princely & Royall care , That the said good and godly vses & intents may be duely & speedily employed , as is abouesaid , And that no person or persons , bodies Politique or Corporate ( presuming to passe away with impunity ) neglect , or not performe their duties in that behalfe , Doeth ( by Aduise of his Priuie Councell ) straightly charge and commaund aswell all and singuler person and persons , bodies Politique , and Corporate within either of the said Vniuersities of Cambridge or Oxford , or within Westminster , Eaton , or Winchester , or any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church aforesaid , as all other person and persons , bodies Politique and Corporate whatsoeuer hauing any Lands , Tenements , Hereditaments , Proffits , Goods , Chattels , Summes of money , or other things mentioned to be giuen , limited , assigned or appointed to or for any of the good and charitable vses aboue said , That they and euery of them doe well and faithfully imploy the said Lands , Tenements , Hereditaments , Goods , Chattels , Summes of money or other things , according to the true meaning , ordinance , and institution of the Founders , or Giuers of the same , vpon paine of his Maiesties high displeasure , and of such penalties and punishments , as they shall iustly deserue for contemning of his Royall commaundement , in a cause so iust and necessary to be performed , and for their demerits in that behalfe .

And albeit his Maiestie knoweth , that for and concerning such person and persons , bodies politique and Corporate as be exempted out of the said Act , such sufficient remedie and reformation by visitations , and other lawfull meanes may be had in the cases aboue said : Yet forasmuch as these proceedings will require time , and draw the parties exempted out of the said Act , from their studies , and exercises of learning , and put them to no small charge ; His most excellent Maiestie , hath for their ease and profit taken this more speedy course , by these presents in manner and forme abouesaid ; Giuing all and singuler the person and persons , bodies Politique and Corporate abouesaid assuredly to know , That whosoeuer shall violate , or not performe his Maiesties Royall commaundement hereby published , that he , or they , or any of them shall not hope to passe away with impunity , but shall vndergoe such paines , penalties , and punishments , as by the seuerity of the Lawes of this Realme , may be inflicted and imposed vpon so grieuous and vncharitable offendours .