FOrasmuch as by a late view and suruey had and made of the most part of our Woods in diuers Counties of this Realme , It is certified vnto vs that great spoyles and deuastations are committed , both within our Forrests , Chaces , Parks and Wasts , not onely by bordering Inhabitants , but euen by Woodwards , keepers , and other of our owne inferiour Officers , such as ought to haue had the chiefe care of the preseruation thereof , and also in and vpon our Mannours , Lordships and demesne Lands , by Tenants , Bailiffes and Reeues , by their vniust taking , and improuident assigning Timber trees and Woods , farre beyond all reasonable proportion of allowance : And forasmuch also as diuers apparant abuses , are likewise committed in the said places by sundry sinister practises to decay our said Woods , and to make them Windefals and pretended Fees ; the continuance whereof hath bene so long and dangerous , as without present reformation , there is like suddenly to follow such want of Timber and Wood as by no future prouidence can be in meet time supplied ; Forasmuch as we out of our desire to preserue and increase our Woods , of our Princely care haue hitherto forborne to draw any benefit to our selues by sale thereof , And also for that we finde , that by the practises aforesaid , and other the like , our said Woods are dayly more wasted , spoiled , and defaced , then if we did make an yeerely competent Reuenue of the same : Wee therefore ( as respectiue of the good of our posterities , as our owne ) haue endeuoured to take course to stop the laid abuses , and all others too long practised , and to worke the meanes not only of better preseruation of our said Woods in times to come , but also of a present multiplication and increase of Timber and Wood to all future ages . And to the end that our care may appeare to extend to the preseruation and increase of Timber , aswell in generall to others , as to our selues , We haue thought meete by this our Proclamation , not onely to diuulge our special pleasure touching our owne Woods , But also strictly to command & charge all our louing Subiects in generall , That in their owne Woods they presume not hereafter to defraud the true meaning of our Statutes in those cases prouided , by cutting and falling the yong storers , when they vsually fel their Vnderwoods , which the Statute intended and appointed to be altogether preserued for Timber : Wherein if they shal be found to offend , they are to expect no fauour , as doing an apparant wrong to the Common wealth , besides the breach of Law , and our Royall commandement .

And wee doe also straitly command all our louing Subiects , That for auoyding of future spoiles , they nor any of them presume from henceforth to commit any Act , vnder whatsoeuer colour or pretence , not warranted by the true intent of our Lawes , or the Grants made vnto them , whereby our said Woods may be diminished , defaced or abused . And further , that neither our Keepers of Walkes , or Rangers , or other Officer or Officers whatsoeuer , in Forrests , Chaces or Parks , doe vnder colour of Browse for our Deere , Fee wood or fuell for themselues , or other pretence whatsoeuer , presume to cut or take more then shall necessarily suffice , without wastfull expence or colourable sale ; Neither that they nor any of them , nor any other Subiect whatsoeuer , aduenture to head or shred any Timber tree or Trees , but to take onely such loppes for Browse , as the Trees which haue bene vsually lopped shall affoord , and that not in greater proportion then is meete and necessary . And that no Inhabitant in or neere any of our Forrests , Chaces or Wasts , cut off the head or principall branches , or spall out , chip , barke or girt the bodies of any Timber tree , or likely to proue Timber tree , nor to cut or take any yong saplings of Oake , Elme , Ashe , Beech , or any other Tree likely to prooue Timber , growing in any of our said Forrests , Chaces or Wasts , nor to enter into any of our Coppises or Vnderwoods , to cut , spoile or waste the same vnder any pretence or colour , except it be for necessary vses , and the same lawfully warranted . And that no Tenant of any our Honors , Mannors , Lordships or Lands , Lessee or Copiholder , doe take any Timber for Building , or decaying Tree for their fuell , nor any Steward , Bailiffe , Reeue , or other Officer , doe assigne any Tree or Trees for any vse , but that hee and they see good warrant from our Treasourer or Chanceller of our Exchequer , or Duchie respectiuely , except in small reparations which may require haste , Or such as may bee amended with an allowance of a Tree , two , three or foure at the most . In which cases the Surueyors of the Woods of that County , or Steward of the Mannour , or three of the better sort of the Tenants of the said Maunour , dwelling in or neere the same , shall and may view and consider of the cause of the said reparation or allowance , and alott vnto them supply without such vnlawfull practises of fauour or partialitie , as haue bene too common and frequent . Vnto which view and allowance , if it be made by the said Surueyour of the Woods , or Steward of the Mannour , some three of the better sort of the said Tenants , if there be so many , or fewer , where there bee not so many , shal be also made parties and acquainted therewith , And thereupon such allowance being from time to time by such Warrant or assignment made , we doe straitly charge and commaund the same to bee at the next Court of the said Mannour by the said Tenants presented vpon their Oathes , that shall so view the said wants , or shal be acquainted with the same , Setting downe in writing what and how many Trees haue bene deliuered , vpon what land , to whom , and to what vses , and specially by what Warrant , And whether the same were necessary or not , the same to be done truely and without partialitie , as they will answere the contrary .

And furthermore , whereas for the better maintenance & present supply of the especiall wants of our Nauie , wee haue appointed and authorised our Officers of the same , by some skilfull and expert persons by them to bee chosen for that purpose , to elect and make choice in euery of our Counties assigned for present sale , all such Timber and Trees , as by the Commissions to them directed , and the seuerall Articles therein contained , shal be thought fit to be reserued for the especiall vse of our said Nauie , and the same to marke for that purpose ; We doe now likewise by these presents straitly charge and command , aswell all our seuerall Officers within our seuerall Forrests , Parkes , Chaces , Mannours and Lands , as all other our louing Subiects to whom in any sort it may appertaine , that neither they nor any of them , doe at any time hereafter cut or lop , or suffer to be cut or lopped , any Trees appointed and marked by our said Officers , or any of them , to and for the vse of our Nauie , for any other vse whatsoeuer , notwithstanding any Warrant that shall bee produced or pretended for the same , except the same Warrant be signed with our owne Royall hand .