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loving subjects, we do, by these presents, wish and expect,
from all our loving subjects in those parts, that they shall
follow and conform themselves to the same example for
leasing such lands in manner aforesaid. But herewithall, we
do strictly command, that no entry in any court-roll
hereafter, either of our own honours or manors, or of the
Prince's, or any of our subjects, do mention any estate
termed of tenant-right or customary estate pretended of
border-service. On the other side, our express pleasure is,
that good and dutiful tenants, who shall willingly submit
themselves to such estates, be used with all favour and
moderation, as we doubt not but the landlord will do: Yet if
any shall be found to do the contrary, our courts of enquity
shall ever be open and ready to overrule such landlords: As,
on the other side, both our courts of law and equity shall
be, to bridle and eject all such unreasonable tenants as
shall withstand it.
Given at our Court at Charlton, the 28th day of July, in
the eighteenth year of our reign of Great Britain, France,
and Ireland, 1620.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
The Lords who had estates in the north readily coincided:
upon which the tenants drew up a remonstrance, of which they
made several copies, and a subscription and purse for the
defence of their ancient customs, against the King, Prince,
and Lords.
Their border service they had quitted, but not their border
spirit of liberty, and said "If the devil was lord, they
would be tenants." The Prince of Wales began first, and
exhibited a bill in chancery, complaining that the tenants
claimed an estate on inheritance, &c. Whereupon the
tenants met and subscribed the following articles, which, to
shew our northern spirit, I shall put down.
"We, and every of us whose names are hereunto subscribed,
having taken into consideration the danger of the times, do
therefore, for ourselves, our heirs, executors, and
administrators, severally agree, covenant, assume and
promise unto and with each other, to observe and perform in
every respect, part, and behalf, all and every article,
clause, matter, and thing hereafter expressed, according to
the true meaning of the same, viz.
"First, That we and every one of us, as in conscience
we are bound, will stand to the general protestation by us
taken, to the utmost of our and every of our abilities in
every point.
Second, Also, that to the utmost of our power, we and
every of us, at all times hereafter, will defend our own
persons, families, and estates; and the persons, families,
and estates of one another, as far as lawfully may be.
"Third, Also, if any person or persons shall plunder,
or go about in violent manner, without due course of law, to
take away the persons, families, or goods of any of us, it
shall be reputed as done to us all; and that upon notice
given thereof to us, and every or any of us, every man
having notice and able to do service, shall and will, with
all speed and expedition, repair to the persons or places so
plundered, pillaged, or restrained of their liberty, and
shall to our utmost power rescue such persons and goods.
"Fourth, Also, that if any of our goods or estates,
real or personal, shall happen to be violently taken away,
contrary to law as aforesaid, if satisfaction cannot be
gotten out of them who took them, the loss thereof shall be
equally born, and restored to them so plundered, by us all
who have hereunto subscribed; who shall be equally rated ac-
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