WE had hoped , seeing it is notorious to all our Subiects , how greatly we delight in the exercise of Hunting , aswell for our recreation , as for the necessary preseruation of our health , that no man in whom was either reuerence to our person , or feare of our Lawes , would haue offered vs offence in those our sports , considering especially , that the nature of all people is not onely in things of this qualitie , but in matters of greater moment so farre to conforme themselues to the affections and disposition of their Soueraigne , as to affect that which they know to be liking to them and to respect it , and to auoyd the contrary : And we must acknowledge that we haue found , that Gentlemen and persons of the better sort ( who know best what becommeth their duetie ) haue restrained their owne humors and framed themselues therein to giue vs contentment : yet falleth it out notwithstanding , that neither the example of them , nor respect of the Lawes , nor duetie to vs , hath had power to reforme the corrupt natures and insolent dispositions of some of the baser sort , and some other of a disordered life ; By diuers of which condition ( since our offence manifested against those that trespasse in that kind ) and since our last comming forth into this Progresse , in places where we lately tooke our pleasure in our owne Grounds , and neere our owne houses of abode , there haue bene more frequent offences offered in that kinde , then at any time heretofore , or in the late Queenes dayes were attempted : Neuerthelesse , howsoeuer in her later dayes ( being a Lady whose sexe and yeeres were not so apt to that kinde of recreation , hauing no posteritie , and therefore lesse carefull of conseruation of that kinde of Royaltie , which her Progenitors Kings of this Realme had mainteined ) people might perhaps for those respects presume of more libertie then became them , or the Lawes of the Realme do permit ; Yet in our time , being a Prince that haue manifested our affection & delight in that exercise , & hauing posteritie like to continue in the same disposition , when either their recreation or their exercise shal require it ; It seemeth strange that men will now attempt to offend with more licentiousnesse , then at any time heretofore , and offer to vs in our Grounds , that which they will not endure each at others hands in their owne . Wee are not ignorant , that there are some passions in mens minds so strong , as hard it is but they wil breake foorth at times beyond the bounds of reason , where commoditie , pleasure or reuenge prouoketh : But this offence being a trespassing against reason which hath no end in it , whereof can redound to the offender either profit or pleasure , honour or other recompense ; Wee cannot interprete that the transgressions that are done therein do proceed , but either out of a barbarous and vnciuil disposition , not fit to be suffered in an ordered Estate , or out of an insolent humor & vnrespectiue to our person , no wayes to be endured . And seeing that we haue manifested our Princely disposition to the maintenance of Iustice , and giuen as free and liberall scope to the execution of the Lawes of this Realme , as euer did any of our Progenitors , We cannot but wonder that men should conceiue that in these kinds of trespasses being so offensiue to vs , we would not be iust to our selfe & right the wrongs & insolencies offered to vs , in so speciall a branch of our Prerogatiue , where the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme , both Ancient & Moderne , do affoord vs so full and strong remedies , as appeares by the Charter of our Forrest , as ancient and authenticall , as the great Charter of the Lawes of the Realme , and by other Lawes and Statutes , some inforcing the Offendors ( besides other grieuous punishments of Fine and imprisonment ) to abiure the Realme , some punishing them with death , as iudging them vnworthy to liue , at least in this well ordered Kingdome , that cannot bridle so inordinate an humour , which reigning with so great violence in one excesse , will passe on ( if it be not checked ) to all other extremities . Being therefore thus deepely prouoked , and minding to vse as straight and as seuere meanes for the preseruation of our right , and punishing of Offendours in these cases , as the Lawes of our Realme will affoord ; We haue bene pleased notwithstanding out of our gratious disposition , to forewarne men of our purpose , by proposing to them the seueritie we intend to vse hereafter , for redresse of such enormities , knowing that such warning wil either restraine them from giuing vs offence , or ( if their vnduetifull humour can be reformed by no admonition ) make them the more inexcusable to vs and our lawes for their punishment . And therefore we doe hereby signifie to all men , that after the publishing of this Proclamation , our meaning is to proceed in this maner against all Hunters , Stealers , and killers of Deere , either redde or fallowe , within any our Forrests , Chases , or Parkes .

First , to extend against them all penalties whatsoeuer , which by the Lawes of the Forrests , or by any other Lawes or Statutes of the Realme are to be inflicted vpon them . To giue a good reward to all such as shall informe vs , or our Iustices of our Forrests , or any Lieutenant , or any other hauing charge of any our Forrests , Parkes , or Chaces , of any Offendours in hunting , stealing , or killing of our Deere by any vnlawfull wayes . And if the fault be found in any of our Seruants , or any towards our Court , or person of qualitie , he shal be assured not onely to loose our fauour , but to be debarred of our presence , or resort to our Court . And if it appeare that none of those penalties shall haue power to restraine insolent mindes from committing outrages so wilfull and vnreasonable : We will make no doubt but that our Parliament finding the Lawes now in force too weake to roote out such an euill , will assist vs with their aduise , to prouide some further and more sufficient remedies for that purpose , wherein they are interessed aswell as we : for they that dare presume vpon vs will not spare them . But our hope is , that our Subiects , knowing now againe the offence we take at these insolencies , and being warned of our intent , will not giue vs cause to exercise the least of these penalties , which wee shal be glad to finde , aswell to see the Conformitie of our peoples mindes to our disposition , as for the clemencie of our Nature , vnwilling to haue any cause of punishment against the least of them , especially in matter concerning our Selfe .