[1587/7/63]¹

Concerning the wadsetting of the king's property

²Our sovereign lord, now being come to his perfect age of 21 years and thereby understanding the better what the honour of his estate craves, not only in governing of his country but also how his honour requires the maintenance of his house of a part of his estate necessary; and that he is brought, as he understands, by the negligence of his officers, in great debt, partly by not collecting his highness's patrimony and rents in due time, partly by conveying and setting of the same untimeously and unthriftily, and through wadsetting and prepaid rent of his parks, being most necessary for the maintenance of his said house, besides that there is neither silver nor victual of his rent to be received by his comptroller before Martinmas [11 November] 1587; and his majesty, not willing to grieve his people by taxations for his relief in the maintenance of his house, albeit the same be most necessary, thinking more reasonable that his own rent should be burdened with relief thereof, in respect whereof, desiring consent of this present parliament to the effect underwritten; therefore the three estates of this present parliament, having consideration of the premises, consent to the wadsetting of his majesty's rent to the sum of £1,000 annual, to be paid out of the same yearly; and declare the said wadset or alienation to be a lawful, good and sufficient right to the persons who shall receive the same, either in whole or part, to the effect that they may be paid thereof termly according to the order of wadsets until the same be orderly redeemed from them, their heirs and assignees, notwithstanding any annexation of his highness's proper rents to the cro[...]³ acts of parliament or statutes whatsoever made in the contrary.