or penitence and the yeare wherein it was giuen with expression of the person whom it concerneth of the Church or the party where he is of the parentage which hee hath with the plaintiff or with other individuos so particular which truly induce the minde that it is no malice And also they may admit the same when they shall manifest writings with equall qualities to the sayings or in case of citing of witnesses the same shall bee giuen before the Informer or Deputy for in such case they may examine the witnesses which therein are cited as the Informer might examine them by himselfe and so shall giue no credit as being cited in the memoriall but for so much as shall be said being examined Besides the words which haue beene spoken in difference or extrajudicially in corrillos or in conuersations doe not withstand nor shall not be an hinderance to the acts of Nobilitie and purenesse wheresoeuer the same are divulged and dispersed and being come to the notice of many that the witnesses shall depose thereupon as not hauing more notice of the qualitie of the plaintiffe then to haue heard the same nor if hee had not cause nor reason to speake the same shall not be an hinderance to the pretention of Noblenesse and purenesse as if it had not proceeded nor shall not be grounded in another beginning but if there be verification made thereof by the Informers they shall finde that there was a ground to declare it because the person was noted or by other reasons of writings Sanbenito penitences It is Our will that they worke as the Lawe shall permit because in such a case the words shall not worke by them-selues but the cause and ground which there is against the Plaintisse although the same are not declared ITem Because all matters haue their limits and termes to make them certaine to the end the same may hereafter bee held for such as being passed in an adjudged matter it is considered that those of this quality should not holde the same but rather a perpetuall disposition and that after many positiue acts of Noblenesse and purenesse obtayned and iustly by the ordinary and iuridicall meanes the same shall not be executed because the descendents by right line require Law but remaine subiect that the effects of hatred and malice which doe daily experiment are more powerfull then the authority of the adjudged matter and that the vehement presumption doth ouercome the truth against the which the Law can hardly finde entrance We doe ordaine and command that in the quarter or quarters in the which there shall be thee positiue Acts of clearnes and Noblenesse euery one in the Act wherein hee shall require shall holde for being passed in an adjudged matter and shall bee executed and by vertue thereof to require a Royall due for the descendents by a right line for to remaine qualified by Nobles and purenesse for all the Acts which shall be offered by the said party and sufficiently to proue the descendence of the persons which obtayned the said three Acts as it is treated in the Hidalguias And it is to be vnderstood that although the said three Acts haue beene gained in sundry Courts Tribunals Communalties or Colledges or in one onely and in respect of a quarter or of two or of all as the Acts shall comprehend them But if the three shall not bee accomplished and shall haue onely one or two Wee declare That the same shall not bee giuen as passed in an adjudged matter nor the descendents shall not require any right and are to make new proofes of that quality in the ordinary forme and comming to three it shall cause the said Royall due and comprehend it AND because the three Acts doe worke presumption of truth it shall thereby bee executed for the descendents it is iust that they be of graue Tribunals and whole ones where with due knowledge of the cause the matter shall bee treated and determined of We doe ordaine and command that the said three Acts for to worke the effect here before mentioned are to bee of the Inquisition wherein there shall be familiatures of the Councell of the orders and of the Religion of St. Iohn or of the holy Church of Toledo or of the foure great Colledges of Salamanca and of the two greatest of Alcala and Valladolid and of no other Tribunall Church Colledge or any Communalty ANd because according to law sometimes they returne vpon an adiudged matter or by new instruments or because it hath appeared that those which haue beene presented were false and for other causes enacted by Law alwayes in this matter We doe ordaine and command that the three Acts in forme aforesaid in such manner shall make an adiudged matter and occasion right to the descendents that although after the same there shall be discouered any thing or reason which might be hinderfull if the same had beene knowne before by any of them the authority and effect of the adiudged matter shall be conserued and remaine in his force and vigor for it is more credit for the said noblenesse and cleannesse to sustaine three califications wherewith it is approued then to discouer although it is by accident to whose knowledge it came who gaue it and persons haue enioyed the same to whom it appertained not Moreouer because many persons with malice naturall curiosity more then for conueniency or other good effect do keep in their power bookes which they call Verdes or of leather and Registers and Catalogues of descendents fabricated without more authority nor cause then that which his owne indignation hath offered wherby there hath and do arise vnreparable iniust damages as well of the noblenesse as of the gouernment and publique quietnesse because there was onely seene written in these bookes and Registers certaine Families they qualifie them for noted and the deposition of one witnesse who hath seene the same or hath heard say that the same were it is not enough for defence being ordinarily the most surest that they haue no substance nor know not the cause and ground of their beginning Wee doe ordayne and command that no person of what estate quality and condition soeuer hee bee shall not nor may not keepe any booke in his power Register nor Catalogue nor other paper wherein it is treated of the clearnesse of Families or descendences and that he burne those which hee hath vpon penalty of fiue hundred Duccats to be applyed in three parts for the Chamber Iudge and Denunciator and two yeares banishment from the place where hee is an Inhabitant and from this Court fiue leagues ITem because in some Councels and Tribunals particularly in that of the Inquisition in the first institution it is vnderstood that some persons which were called before them examined be themselues and of their quality confessed some things which were not true nor had cause nor reason for it and such like Confessions haue prejudiced their Descendents being
they shall haue especially contradicting the contents of this Act allowing him thereunto a necessarie commission which he shall vse before a sufficient Scriuener remouing it if he will out of the Court. Againe We ordaine and command that the Clarks of our Councell-chamber of the Chanceries and Audiences may not take nor recouer the fees which shall be due vnto them for the Scedule according to the lawes vnlesse they be first assest by the Assessor generall and setting downe vpon their fidelitie or of their principall officers that which they recoues and take in euery sute and the like is to be vnderstood of the Relators in al the sutes and Residencies and that in making the hill they exact not vpon the parties nor receiue any thing vnder the penaltie of the losse of their offices and for testimonie and proofe singly witnesses shall be sufficient Chap. 5. Which prescribes a reformation in the excesse ofseruāts houshold-stuffe furniture of houses and in the apparell of men and women ALso because from the abuse and excesse in attendance houshold-stuffe and furniture of houses and in the apparell of men and women there haue proceeded many inconueniences as well in the gouernment and good disposition wherein it ought to be as in the customes and estates seeing that being voluntary expences once brought in they are become so precise that it is one of the greatest burdens wherewith the Subiects are opprest and likewise preiudicial to commerce and trade albeit that certaine Lawes were instituted which seemed conuenient for the present estate when they were ordained but it is manifest by time and occasions that they haue not proceeded so sufficient as was expected and that wickednesse by contrauention hath found out many deuices with encrease of the mischiefes desiring to prouide a sufficient remedie and hauing commanded to see what in this kind hath beene enacted and to adde what shall be thought conuenient We doe ordaine and command that no person of any estate cōdition or qualitie soeuer may keepe or entertaine of Gentlemen Pages and Laqueyes aboue the number of eight or ten persons and who shall execute the principall offices of the house as Steward Gentleman of the Horse and others neither may keepe them employed in their seruice to the end to accompany them or their wiues by the title of Followers or Household seruants or other seeing it only serueth for ostentation and certaine inconueniences which are therein considered and there is likewise imbursed the cost and expences which they cause in the houses and it is more expedient that they employ themselues insome other course of life which may be more profitable to the Common-wealth And because the effects of a matter so important may be secured for the which the example of the King and his Officers will be conuenient seeing by themselues alone and by their offices they haue sufficient authoritie without that the great or small number of attendance can encrease or diminish it let them know that We shall be very well pleased that they continue as hitherto a moderation in their retinue procuring that if it may be possible it be greater from hence-forward so that the Councellors and Officers may not haue nor entertaine in all kinde of attendance aboue eight persons that by Our example and reformation of the number of offices and seruants which We haue commanded to be done in our Royall House and by that which they shall doe reducing themselues to the said forme there may bee a reformation in all the rest and may proportion themselues to their estate and necessitie wherein they are seeing the lustre and authoritie of their houses and persons shall be better preserued and kept liuing out of necessitie and plentifully accommodated than by consuming in an expence so superfluous And because the seruants of the said qualitie which now they haue in greater number than the said eight or ten may haue departure and employment and not vnaccommodated and idle We command that whatsoeuer is ordained concerning this Act may be obserued after the expiration of a whole yeere after the promulgation Chap. 6. That nothing made of wood or any mettall begarnished or gilt with Siluer or Gold and that there may not bee taken for the making or fashion but the fifteenth part of that which it shal weigh being of gold and the sixt being of siluer ANd because by garnishing things of wood or other things by gilding thē there followeth losse both in the expence making being a thing vnprofitable and superfluous We ordaine and command to obserue with all rigour the contents in the fift Act with those following from the twentie fourth title of the compilation adding that not any other mettall may be gilded although it be plaine and smooth plate vnder the penaltie of the losse of the peece which shall be so gilded But Wee doe permit that it shall be lawfull to gilde all that shall be for Diuine vse and the Armes and furniture for horses so that they be not for the vse of the Coach And likewise Wee command that no fashion of Gold or Siluer which shall be wrought shall exceed being of Gold the fifteenth part of the value of what it shall weigh and being of Siluer the sixt part vnder penaltie of the losse Chap. 7. That no kind of thing may bee imbrodered IN like manner as concerning Hangings let that be inuiolably obserued which was published by the proclamation in the yeere of our Lord 1611 adding thereunto that it shall not be lawfull to make any kinde of Imbrodery of gold siluer silke or thread neither in hangings beds chaires stooles canopies pillowes carpets caskanets nor any other thing vpon cloth of gold or siluer cloth leather canuas nor any other kinde of stuffe whatsoeuer Also that no Imbroderer may imbroder any kinde of the aforesaid things nor any other vnlesse it shall be for diuine vse and horse furniture except foot-cloathes for We will not that they be imbrodered as neither liueries for the sport of the Cane running at Tilt both on horsebacke and foot running at the Quintaine Ring or other festiuall sports that the disposition of this law may facilitate the vse of riding and the exercise of these solemnities and for the reioycing and delight of the people and may take away the obstacle and difficulty which is often found by the not hauing of the pompe and excessiue expence wherewith they are now celebrated We command that the contents of this branch or chapter be obserued from the first day of March of this present yeare Chap. 8. That there may not be made Hangings for the Sommer of strange stuffs and eight yeares are allowed for the wearing out of those that are made LIkewise also We forbid that no manner of person of what estate condition or qualitie soeuer may haue or vse any hangings for the sommer of any sort or kinde though they be plaine being wrought out of these kingdoms but We permit that they
of foure yeares banishment and that for testimony and witnesse herein three single testimonies may be sufficient as in case of bribery and they may be the same persons and if they will be Informers they may be admitted and haue the third part of the Fine ANd to the intent that with greater punctualitie and Iustice they may take the Fees which are due vnto them and no more Wee ordaine and command that in this Our Court and in the Citties of Valladolid Granada Sivill and Cornna none may be received or taken vnlesse they be first taxed and assisted by the generall Assister and that the manner of proofe and the penalties be the same And that the Iustices of Our House and Court Chanceries and Audiences and ordinary Iustices of the said Citties doe not decree nor determine any Sute wherein this hath not beene accomplished And because the mischiefe may be greater towardes those that are prisoners for that they little esteeme who defend them and are carelesse of their liberties VVee strictly command that in their causes it be executed with greater care and precisenesse and because in what kinde soever of their Sutes they may be freed it is vnderstood they are molested with excessiue Fees which they exact of them VVee ordaine and command that the Assistor with one Iustice doing it by weeks may assese every morning the Fees due by the Prisoners which they haue cōmanded to be freed which shall be due and delivering them to the Assistor the parties which ought to haue them may receiue them at his hands and receiving them in any other manner We declare them to incurre the like penaltie THat in this Our Kingdome the said Clearkes and those which reside in the Offices of Provinces and Number doe nor may take of either of the parties any Fees in the Sutes that are to be executed neither for the Bookes which shall be drawne nor the proofes which shall be made during the tenne dayes of the proceedings nor for following the Sute vntill the cause be adiudged and then the Assistor having assisted them the summe wherevnto they shall amount be put into a Bill or Writte of payment which shall be allowed that the principall and the tenth part be recovered together vnder the penaltie of being deprived of their offices and disabled to execute any others ANd because many mischiefes doe arise in that the Clearkes deliver the Writts of execution to the Bailiffes that they shall make choise of not onely by being interressed in the successe whereby it is to be feared that in the Records and other Diligences they may helpe the execution but likewise because thereby many Bayliffes apply not themselues to the matter of criminall causes and delicts but stand waiting in the houses of the said Clearkes that the said writs of execution may fall vnto them VVee ordaine and command that in this Our Court and in the said Citties of Valladolid Granada Sivill and Cornna every day may be brought in the writs of execution which shall happen by the authoritie of the person that We shall depute thervnto and those be by him devided amongst the the Bayliffes by course that hereby every one with equitie may participate of the fruit of their Offices the inconveniences mentioned as much as possiblie prevented ANd that no Bayliffe may enter in this course vnlesse he shall first bring a testimony from the Clearkes of the Peace and the Iaylor of the imprisonments and criminall causes which he shall haue done for thirtie dayes past IN like manner that no Clearke in this Our Court doe or may take money or any other thing for making reports of the Sutes which shall be heard before them and the Iudges in the first commencing of the Sute or in appealing to Our Councell Chanceries and Audiences and other Tribunalls whatsoever but onely those which by the Statute shall be due vnto them for the entrie of the Sutes vnder the penaltie of the losse of the office if it be their owne and if not the banishment for foure yeares and that the partie which shall giue it doe loose the right of his Sute and that for the whole the testimony of three single witnesses be allowed sufficient in the forme aforesaid ANd because We haue vnderstood that the publique Scriveners and Clearkes of this Our Court and other places of Our Kingdome doe apply themselues to seeke moneys that the Councels Vniversities and particular persons may take them to interrest receiving of them betweene three or foure in the hundred by the title name of Broakage Wee ordaine and command that from hence forward they may not receiue money nor any other thing neither this title or other by themselues or other persons nor more then the Fees which by the Statute shall be due vnto them for the writings that they shall make And because there followeth an inconvenience by the excessiue number of Clearkes which are in the Offices Wee ordaine and command that in the Offices of the criminall Pleas of Our Chamber and in those of the Province or Comitie of Madrid there may not be aboue the number of six principall Clearks which may reside in every Office for the executing of businesse and those the owners and proprietors of the Office to name at their perill that if they be Fined and shall not haue goods to discharge the Fine it may be recovered of them and that those of the said Chamber be approved by the Chamber of our Iudges and those of the Province of Madrid by the Iudges before whom the Clearkes which are proprietors of the Office make the dispatches of their businesse and those of the Assises or any one of them and the proprietour which shall haue more then the said sixe Clearkes We condemne in the losse of his Office And because many Constables by diuers wayes and representing causes and impediments lesse certaine haue taken out some reseruations in some things concerning their offices as are watches and wards and going out of this Court to make imprisonments and other things which being so that they might be of more profit in the generall by hauing more knowledge and experience in those businesses and that this priuiledge and inequalitie is preiudiciall to the rest We command that those that haue the said priuiledge of reseruall doe deliuer them to the President of our Councell within foure daies and may not vse them but that they ought and doe in the whole and euery part conforme themselues as they are bound by their offices without any exception vnder the penaltie of the losse of their said offices and banishment for foure yeeres That besides the ordinarie Visitor of the offices which is named euery yeare by Our Councell there may be named another from three yeares to three yeares by the President thereof that they may visit all the said Clarks and Officers and certifie the abuses which shall be executed in the execution of their offices commissions other imployments which
such a person or Iudge and the dignitie or degree of learning which he hath and no other title We forbid and defend that no person either in word or writing giue to any other of what estate or condition soeuer what degree or office soeuer hee hath great and preheminent though it be the stile of Most Illustrious Lordship except it be to Cardinals for it is not Our will that they be comprehended in this our Law Also by reason of the authoritie and greatnesse of the dignitie of the Archbishop of Toledo Wee command hee being Primate of Spaine that all men be bound to stile him Most Illustrious Lordship although he be no Cardinall And We command for Arch-Bishops Bishops and Grandes and such as We command to be couered that all men be obliged to giue them the Lordship as well in writing as in speech And also for the president of our Councell VVe permit that hee may be called his Most Illustrious Lordship VVe command also that such Embassadours as haue place in our Chappell are precisely to be called and written Lordship And We permit that the rest of the Embassadors which come from without these Kingdome may be stile Lordship but not them which goe from them to other parts Wee permit that Marqueses Earles the great Commendadors of the Orders of Santiago Calatraua and Alcantara the great Commendador of Montessa the Keepers of the Keyes of the said Orders of Calatraua and Alcantara may be called and written Your Lordships and the Daughters of Grades Your Ladiships the Presidents of our Councels and Chanceries the Priors and Baylies of the Order of Saint Iohn the Priors of the Covents of Veles and Leon of the Order of Saint Iago during the time of their Offices and the Vice-Royes and Generals of Our Armies Gallyes and Armada of the Ocean and he which is or shall be Master Generall of the Campe of Spaine and those which are chiefe Cities of Kingdomes and those other which haue Voice in Courts and the Chappels of Metropolitan Churches where it hath beene accustomed shall be so stiled And VVe will and it is Our fauour and intent that such persons as shall giue the stile of Ladiship to the Daughters in law of such Lords of Title which shall be maried to the Heires and Successours in their Houses and to the eldest Daughters who of force are to succeed for not being able now to haue a Brother which should be preferred before them in the succession of the said Houses shall not incurre the penalties of this Edict hereafter mentioned nor any other Forbidding as Wee doe forbid that no other person of whatsoeuer qualitie state or condition he be haue the stile of Lordship neither in writing or speech or that of Excellencie except he be Grande And VVe declare that the treatie which is to be had with the wiues of Grandes of Knights and of other persons to whom as it hath beene said it is due and who may be called either Lord or Sir and among themselues by writing or speech it shall bee the same which is to bee performed to their husbands Moreouer We command in that which concernes one mans writing to another that generally without any exception this forme be held and kept viz. the letter or paper which shall be written shall prestently begin with the reason or businesse in hand without setting either vnder the crosse at the top or in the beginning of the line any title cipher or letter and the conclusion of the letter shall be saying God keepe your Lordship or your Worship or God keepe you and presently the date of the place and time and vnder that the firme without any complement either before or after only he which hath a title may put it in the firme with the place from whence he hath that title And for superscriptions to a Prelate shall be put the Ecclesiasticall dignitie which he hath to a Duke Marquesse or Earle that of his estate to Knights Gentlemen and other men their name surname the dignitie or office charge or degree of learning which they haue Nor shall any exception be taken or made against this order and forme of writing by any person neither by the subiect writing to his Lord nor by the seruant writing to his Master onely Parents writing to their children or children to their Parents may before the proper name adde that which is naturall also betweene the husband and the wife may be exprest the estate of Matrimonie if they will and betweene brothers cozen germanes Vncles and Nephewes that of their kinred And We will and it is Our pleasure that that which is thus ordered and commanded in this Our letter and prouision be obserued of all men not only within these Our Kingdoms but also in writing to such as are absent abroad And for the better keeping accomplishing and executing of all that hath beene formerly related Wee ordaine and command that such as shall come or goe against that which is here set downe and contained in these Our letters and prouision or any portion or part thereof that euery one of them shall for the first offence pay two hundred Ducats for the second foure hundred for the third a thousand Ducats and a yeeres banishment fiue leagues from this Court and from the Cities Villages and places of these Our Kingdomes and iurisdiction where the said law and edict shall be broken the which pecuniarie penalties aforesaid shall be distributed in this manner viz. one third part to the Informer another third part to the Iudge which giues sentence and the other third part to pious vses In like manner shall fall into the same foresaid penalties such persons who from hence forward shall vnder-hand dissemble or giue consent that their children seruants subiects or any other persons doe goe beyond either in word or writing to them the courtesie and order contained in this said Proclamation and the transgressor or transgressors which haue not wherewith to pay the said pecuniarie penaltie it is Our will that for the first offence they be imprisoned twenty dayes and if it be in Our Court that they be banished and depart from it fiue leagues for a whole yeere and if it be in any other place of these Our kingdomes the banishment shall be from that place and out of that country and iurisdiction for the second offence the foresaid punishment shall be doubled and for the third offence they shall be banished for fiue yeeres in the forme aforesaid reseruing vnto Our Selues according to Our pleasure besides the foresaid punishments the making of some greater demonstration towards the said transgressors For which cause the obseruation and execution of all the aforesaid being so profitable and important We command you all and euery one of you according as hath beene said that you take notice of this Our letter and prouision and that which is contained in it the which We will haue to hold the force of a Law Edict and
so that according to Law if it should bee proued the contrary of that which they containe they cannot prejudice because the truth doth not moue for the only will Wee ordaine and command that if the said Confessions be not helped with some other reason whereby it may be induced that the matter is not in sole termes of confession it is not sufficient to hinder the nobility and purenesse but proceed to qualifie it as if the same had not beene and according to that which shall arise let the determination bee ruling this according to law ITem Because some of the Tribunals and Communalties which require Acts of nobility and cleannesse doe draw nearer or faster more then other qualities of the proofe and qualification and particularly the Colledges not contenting themselues with the affirmatiue how that they are cleane but also require that the contrary hath not bin heard nor doubted which quality and verification hath giuen occasion that many families remaine noted vniustly by the malice and hatred wherewith many goe forwards in this matter and if now it goe in the same forme besides the foresaid inconueniences it would preiudice the rest of the Communalties and Tribunals in the which they require nobilitie purenesse We do ordaine command that all that which is disposed and contained in this Act be kept accomplished and executed vniformally and equally in all Tribunals Communalties and Colledges without any exception or difference Chap. XXI Meanes for increase of people LIkewise because the increase and multitude of people is the onely and principall foundation of Common-wealthes for the increase and conseruation whereof greater diligence and care is to bee applyed though that many thinges contained in this Act doe in some sort prouide and are therevnto directed desiring to hinder and stay the Diminution herein which dayly encreaseth and to preuent the causes from whence it hath proceeded and to dispose the matters of Gouernment and quiet of the Subiects in such sort that there may be hoped great multiplication and increase and considering the great importance that there is to procure by all wayes and meanes that this our Intention may haue his desired effect hauing considered the greatest meanes which may bee auayleable hereunto Wee doe ordaine and Commaund that no person of what estate condition or quality soeuer may depart out of these our Kingdomes with his House and Family without our Licence vnder penalty of the losse and forfeyture of the goods that they shall leaue therein and that the Iustices and Officers of the Ports and any other person whatsoeuer may stay and detaine the said persons and goods that they shall carry with them and shall be very carefull to vnderstand the departure of any and diligent for the execution and whosoeuer shall not obserue the Contents of this Act shall be depriued of his Office Likewise because by the great concourse of people in this our Court and the great multitudes which reside in the Citties of Siuill and Granada there arise many inconueniences as well by the number which liue Idely and the danger wherein they liue in such a confusion the meanes wherby they procure their maintenance as in the other Cities Townes Villages of the Kingdome for the great importance that there bee an increase in all partes that the Land may be preserued and Iustice better administred Wee doe Commaund that as touching the Gouernment of this our Court that therein there may not bee more persons then needfull and so great a concourse be diminished and euery one may be knowne who hee is what Occupation or cause of residence hee pretendeth and how long hee hath resided that the confusion hitherto may bee remedied being precisely obserued and kept that which is ordayned concerning the Registers and Diuisions and shall bee ordayned by those of our Counsell and for many reasons of vniuersall benefit which haue beene considered Wee doe likewise Commaund that those sixe Diuisions whereinto the Court is diuided and in euery one of which one of the Iustices of our House and Court with his Officers is commaunded to liue and reside bee deuided into sixteene Diuisions the most proportionable that may bee and that in euery one of them doe reside some one of our Counsell in the Houses which Wee commaund to bee allowed for them who wee Commaund and Charge carefully to know and vnderstand the quality of the people that liue therein and the Professions and imployments they haue what occasions there are of scandales and offences towards God and whatsoeuer else shall bee executed and done in the said Diuision that by the Authority of his person and Office hee may procure it to rest in a conuenient and setled estate and that for the accomplishing and executing of the diligences and occasions which shall bee offered there bee appointed to euery one a Purseuant of the Court which shall liue in the same Diuision and that the Iustice of the principall Diuision ought to repaire to those of our Counsell who shall liue within it and giue an account to them of what shall happen and that they may appoint him what shall seeme conuenient that by this care and correspondency there may be a consideration and accompt of the whole And wee Commaund that henceforward no person of what estate condition or quality soeuer may come to liue and reside with his House and Family in this our Court or in the said Citties of Siuill and Granada nor may bee admitted or suffered in them vnder punishment of a Thousand Duckets of the person offending and from the Iustice Gouernment who shal admit permit them to liue there from each particularly Two hundred Duckets and let it bee set downe for an Act to remaine And because by the non-residence of the Nobility and Gentry at their houses and habitations there haue beene found most grieuous inconueniences as well in the publicke gouernment of the Kingdome and whereby the neigh bourhood Villages are decreased and depopulated for that it is most absolute that the seruants and vassals which were sustained by them doe follow them and in the part where they goe doe liue idlely and vnaccommodated for that those that remaine behinde and are not wel gouerned nor maintained in peace and Iustice as they ought neither are the Iustices carefull to remedy it rather in many cases and occasions proceed absolutely seeing themselues superiours from whence resulteth the morgaging and decay of their houses and estates seeing besides the losse of the commodity and small charge wherewith euery one liueth vpon his owne and the Obligations in the Court and other great places being greater the expences must needes be greater and therefore they encreasing and the Tenants and Rents decreasing because all suffer declination and decay by their absence it is of absolute necessity that they must consume and decay and although their owne conueniencie being so well knowne might be sufficient to oblige them to procure the remedy that