[1585/12/17]¹

An act for reformation of certain abuses in direction of letters

²Our sovereign lord and three estates of this present parliament, considering the great harm and inconvenience which diverse of his highness's good subjects have incurred and daily sustain through charges purchased against them by the importunate and unreasonable suit of private persons to compear before his highness and his secret council to answer concerning enquiries under the pain of rebellion, and if they fail, to put them to the horn, or to do any deed under the pain of treason or rebellion, and if they fail, immediately to denounce them to the horn, no cognition taken in the cause, or enter themselves in ward in some of his highness's castles or prisons in short space under the pains of treason or horning, without any calling or cognition taken if the cause for which such letters are directed be treason or of other great importance concerning the king's majesty's person or proper estate; but rather oftentimes such letters are purchased to satisfy some party of the malice of the party, purchaser thereof, to the wrack and heavy trouble of their party or neighbour for their particular and civil causes that ought to be decided by the ordinary judges of this realm, abusing the order of justice and making a cloak of his highness's name and authority indirectly and to colour their private revenge, to the offence of God and great contempt of his highness if timely remedy be not provided; therefore, our sovereign lord, with advice of his said three estates, statutes and ordains that his highness's secretary or his deputes, keepers of the signets, pass no manner of such letters to charge any persons to compear concerning enquiries, or to enter their persons in ward; or to do any deed under the pains of treason or rebellion; and in case of failure, to denounce without calling or cognition taken of before, notwithstanding the subscription of his highness or any two or more of his council, except the same letters be specially subscribed by the chief officers of the estate, at the least by four of them, whereof the chancellor, treasurer or secretary shall be always one, and shall perfectly understand and answer that such letters are advisedly directed for matters being in themselves treason in deed, or otherwise of highest importance concerning his highness's person and proper estate, that may suffer no delay; and that the secretary admonish all his deputes and writers to the signet that none of them take upon hand to write or put in form any manner of signature or letter to be passed his majesty's hand that contains novelty or informality contrary to the lovable and accustomed style and form, notwithstanding the desire of any party under the pain of deprivation; and that every writer subscribe his name on the back of the signature or letter as allowed by him that it is written according to the ordinary style and form, and that no signature or letter [pass]³ disallowed or subscribed by the writer, as said is, as they will answer thereupon at their highest charge and peril.