WHereas it is acknowledged by all men ( as it must needes be ) that Fines for Alienations of Lands holden in Chiefe , are of right due vnto vs and our Crowne , as one of the most Ancient , Iust , and Royal reuenues belonging to the same ; And yet it is as well knowen , that Lands of that nature haue been , and are often Aliened by Feoffements , Grants of Reuersions , Wils , Exchanges , Couenants , and other like Conueiances made without Record , for which no Fines are answered , only because the Conueiances are not of Record , & therfore cannot come ( without great charge ) to the knowledge of our Officers , to whose care the same doth appertaine , but are wilfully , and against conscience by the Purchasers hidden and concealed , whereas Fines are as well due in that case , as if the same Conueiances were of Record , and are accordingly required & payd without exception , wheresoeuer they are discouered : In which respect , there was about a yere past , in diuers Counties a course taken , as wel to finde out such Alienations without Record by Commissions of enquiry , and other lawfull meanes , as also to require and take such Fines as should be found due according to the lawe , of all those that should appeare to be liable to the same Fines .

Forasmuch as we haue euer bene enclined to vse grace and fauour , rather then seuerity , euen in those things which all men knowe to be most clearly due to vs , as in this case amongst others , wherein no man can challenge any exemption in course of Iustice from payment of a full yeeres value of the Lands so Aliened , especially being such as haue so ill deserued any fauour at our hands , from whom they haue so long withheld our Due , and meant still to doe , vnlesse they should be by some extraordinary care and charge layed open & discouered , we haue been pleased ( notwithstanding all their former courses , so farre to the preiudice of vs in our iust Dueties and Demaunds ) both to make stay of execution of all and euery of those Commissions , and other enquiries formerly sent out , whereof the charge and disquiet would fall heauily vpon our Subiects : and haue also resolued by this our gracious Proclamation to make knowen to all those who know themselues answerable for any such fines , that We will be content out of our princely fauour to forbeare those meanes which will easily discouer trueth , and remit vnto them the greater part of our Fines , according to the Articles hereunto annexed . Prouided alwayes , that they shall willingly and dutifully pay the rest of that which we shall not forgiue , for our owne proper vse into the Office of Alienations , where our Ministers wil be ready to giue them a discharge vpon receit thereof .

Of which great fauour , ease & benefit , though we are well perswaded that most of our louing Subiects , as well in discretion as in duety , will be glad to take hold , and to yeeld vs a grateful acceptation ; neuerthelesse , because Wee haue had good experience that many persons are more apt to shew themselues backward in taking hold of grace and fauour , when the same is offered , then otherwise , Wee finde it likewise necessary for vs in cases of this nature ( where by Fraud and Couine our ancient Rights are sought to be concealed or extinguished by the practise of priuate men , or are omitted or neglected by those that should search after things of that nature ) to declare hereby , that whosoeuer shall not offer himselfe to make such satisfaction as is expressed in the Articles hereafter mentioned , before the end of Hillary Terme next , at the furthest , must not expect any further fauour at our hands , then that which they may challenge by the course of our Lawes , which no man can bind vs to mitigate further then he should deserue , or We shall be disposed to doe out of our inward clemencie , which Princes seldome vse , when wilfully the same is not accepted , according to that grace and bounty wherwith it is offered .