[1609/4/17]¹

²Act regarding excommunicated persons not to enjoy their lands, rooms and possessions

Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, considering that whereas there are diverse persons who are excommunicated for not conforming themselves to the true religion presently professed and do notwithstanding still enjoy the possession of their lands, rents and living, either directly in their own persons or covertly in the persons of their friends and well wishers, to their use and benefit, to the encouraging of them to persist in their pernicious and erroneous opinions and to the frustrating of the execution of the acts and constitutions made against excommunicates heretofore; therefore our said sovereign lord and estates foresaid declare, statute and ordain that no persons whatsoever who are already or hereafter shall happen to be excommunicated for not conforming themselves to the religion presently professed within this kingdom shall be suffered either directly in their own persons or covertly and indirectly by any others in their names and to their benefit enjoy the possession of their lands, rents and revenues, but the same shall be meddled, intromitted with and uplifted to his majesty's use.