WHereas Our most noble Progenitors , and Predecessors , Kings and Queens of this Realme , duely considering the necessary and important use of the Woods and Timber of this Kingdome , have taken into their constant care to preserve the same from wast and destruction ; And to that end , divers good and wholesome Lawes and Statutes haue been made , and divers other Provisions have been published in that behalfe : Neverthelesse , by a common neglect of the said Lawes , and by an unlawfull liberty , which many of Our Subjects have taken to themselves , there hath been , and yet continueth , such a spoyle of Timber and Woods in this Our Kingdome , by converting the same into Coales for the making of Iron , as that it may be feared that within few yeeres , ( unlesse by a speedy course it be prevented ) there will follow such want of Wood and Timber , as cannot bee supplyed by any future providence ; Which , together with the frequent transportation of Iron and Iron metall , unlawfully without License in that behalfe , hath already produced a great scarcity of Timber , Wood , and Iron , being two of the principall Commodities and Materialls for the strength of this Our Kingdome : For remedy of which said mischiefes of so high a consequence , tending to the publike dammage of Our Kingdome and People , and for restraint of transportation of Iron , and the reformation of sundry secret deceipts and abuses now used and practised in the making of Iron , and in the vent and sale thereof in Barres , by intermingling the worser sort with the better , and so selling them promiscuously and deceiptfully together , whereby many times the brittle and worser sort of Iron comes to bee imployed for shipping , and other uses for which it is unserviceable ; Wee by Our Letters Patents under Our great Seale of England , bearing date the foureteenth day of October last , Did erect an Office to bee for ever continued , and did thereby appoint Our welbeloved John Cupper , and Grimbald Pauncefoote gent. Surveyour or Surveyours of all Iron-workes , Furnaces , and Forges within Our Realme of England and Dominion of Wales , and of all Woods to bee used or imployed thereat , and for the surveying and marking of Iron with divers Stamps or Marks , distinguishing the severall kindes thereof , and for prevention of the transportation thereof without Licence , and to prosecute Offendors in the premises : For the doing whereof , and their labour , care , and charges to bee taken and expended in the execution of the said Office , for the publike good of Our Kingdome and People , Wee by the same Letters Patents haue assigned unto them a moderate Fee , to bee payd by the Owners of the said Iron , at the time of the surveying and marking thereof .

And whereas since the granting of the said Office , upon Petition and Allegations made against it , upon a full and deliberate hearing thereof before Vs and Our Priuy Counsell , It appeared that the said Office , with the Provisions in the said Letters Patents mentioned , was necessary and fit to bee put in execution ; And for that also the reformation of the said abuses , in the well ordering of the Myne and Oare , and the making of Iron , and the surveying , marking , and distinguishing thereof , ( besides the preservation of Woods and Timber ) will bee of much benefit to the Common-wealth ; Wee being minded to establish the said Office and execution thereof , Doe therefore hereby straitly charge and Command , that no person or persons whatsoever , shall use , or imploy any Woods to bee converted into Coale for the making of Iron , or shall transport any Iron , or Iron-metall , contrary unto the Lawes and Statutes of this Our Realme , and other Provisions heretofore made and published ; And that no Iron-master , Maker of Iron , Owner , or Farmour of Iron-workes , Furnaces , or Forges , their Clerkes , Servants , or Agents whatsoever , shall from henceforth sell , or put to sale , any sorts of Iron ; nor any Merchant , Trader , or dealer in Iron , nor any others , shall buy , or remove the same from the Iron-workes , Furnaces , or Forges , where the same is or shall bee made and wrought , before the same Iron shall bee first surveyed and marked by Our said Officer or Officers , their Deputies or Assignes , with the Stamps or Markes appointed in that behalfe , according to Our will and pleasure in the said Letters Patents declared , ( so as the said Officers , their Deputy or Deputies , or Assignes , upon payment of the said Fee or Fees , by the said Letters Patents allowed unto them for their paines , to be had and made at the time of the surveying and marking thereof , be ready once in every eight dayes at the said Iron-works , to survey and mark the same Iron ) Vpon paine , not onely of the forfeiture of the said Iron , but also upon paine of Our high displeasure , and such punishment as may be inflicted upon them for their contempts in that behalfe .

And We do also appoint and authorize Our said Officer or Officers , their Deputies or Assignes , as occasion shall require , to use some other Markes to be cast or stamped upon the said severall Sowes or Pigs and Barres of Iron , whereby the severall Iron works and Owners thereof , and the Counties where the same was made and wrought , may be certainly knowne : All , or any of which said Stamps or Marks , We require and Command , that no other person or persons do presume to counterfeit or falsifie , nor to stamp or mark any Iron therewith .

And We do straitly charge and Command all and singular Iron-Masters , Owners , and Farmours of Iron-works , Furnaces , and Forges whatsoever , within Our Realme of England and Dominion of Wales , now , and for the time being , and their and every of their Clerks , Servants , and Agents , that they and every of them respectively , do permit and suffer the said Officer or Officers , their Deputies or Assignes , at meet and convenient times , to enter into all and every the said Iron-works , Furnaces , and Forges , and all Ware-houses , Store-houses , Edifices , and Buildings thereunto belonging , there to survey , view , and mark , as well all the Iron from time to time made and wrought , as to survey , view , and try the Myne Oare and Metall , and the working thereof into Sowes , or Pigs , and Barres of Iron , as aforesaid , and to peruse , see , and take Notes , of all and every the Books and Scores , by them or any of them made and kept , of , and concerning such quantities of Iron , as from time to time shall be by them made or sold : And that the said Iron-Masters , Owners , and Farmours of Iron-works , Furnaces , and Forges , and their Clerks , Agents , Servants , or Workmen , be from henceforth aiding and assisting unto the said Officer or Officers , their Deputy or Deputies , or Assignes , from time to time , in the due execution of the premisses , and of every matter and thing thereunto belonging , as they tender Our Royall Will and Commandment heerein declared , and will answer for their contempt or neglect thereof , at their uttermost perils .

And We do hereby declare Our Royall pleasure to be , that the said Officer or Officers , their Deputy , or Deputies , or Assignes , shall , or may , with the assistance of some Constable , or other lawfull and knowne Officer , enter into any House , Cellar , Vault , Ware-house , Shop , Ship , or Vessell , or other place whatsoever , as well within Liberties as without ; And there to view , search , and finde out all such Iron , as hath been , or shall be bought , sold , or removed from the Works or places where the same was made and wrought , before the same be first surveyed , viewed , and marked , as aforesaid : And what Iron , or Iron-Metall shall be shipped , or attempted to be Transported without Our Licence in that behalfe : And in case they shall finde or discover any Iron ( except as in the said Letters Patents is excepted ) so bought , sold , or removed , before the same shall be Marked , or any Iron or Iron-Metall so shipped , to be Transported without Our Licence ; Then Our pleasure and expresse Commandment is , That the said Officer or Officers , and every of them , or his , or their Deputies , or Assignes , do seize , detain , and take the same , as forfeited to Vs , Our Heires , and Successours .

And We do further hereby declare Our Royall Will and pleasure to be , That the said Officers , their Deputies , or Assignes , may lawfully and at convenient times , enter into any Woods or Wood-grounds of any Our Subjects , wherein any Woods are or shall be Felled , Cut , or Coarded , to be converted into Coales for the making of Iron , or Iron-Metall , and there to survey and view the same , whereby it may appeare of what nature and condition the Woods are that shall be converted or imployed that way , and that the Transgressours therein may be proceeded against , and duly punished according to Our Lawes : And to these Our Royall Commands We shall expect and require a due conformity and obedience of all Our Subjects whom it shall concerne , under the pain of Our high displeasure , and such punishments as by the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme , or otherwise , may be inflicted on them for their contempts or neglects herein .

And lastly , We do hereby Will and require all Iustices of Peace , Maiors , Sheriffes , Bailiffes , Constables , Headboroughs , and all other Our Officers and Ministers whatsoever whom it shall concerne , to be aiding and assisting to Our said Officers , their Deputies or Assignes , in the due execution of the premisses , as they tender Our service , and will answer for the contrary at their perils .