But to make this Matter clearer, and to shew what the City pleaded for it self against these Concealers, this Plea which they put in to the Lord Treasurer, may deserve to be considered.

1. IN the firste yeare of Kinge Edwards the vjth, Chauntries, Colledges and divers Lands, Tenements, Rents, &c. employed in superstitious uses, were geven to the Kinge, his Heires and Successors.

2. In the same Statute are divers Clauses, lymitinge in what Cases the Kinge should have all or parte, or Rente, or the Land it selfe.

3. Among other, there is a Clause to this effecte; That all Profites emploied by Corporations of Misteries, to such superstitious Uses, should bee to the Kinge as Rentes-charge, whereunto all those and other the Landes of such Corporations should be liable.

4. Hereupon the Lawe was then taken and put in use, that in such cases where Landes were geven to suche Corporations, with lymitinge of Proffites to bee so superstitiously emploied, the Kinge should not have the Landes, but the Proffites so employed, as Rentes-charge.

5. Upon this Statute, Commissions were directed for London, to certen Persons of the Kings Counsell learned, and other greate learned Men in Lawe, and suche as were of Parliament, and prevye to the makinge of the Lawe, and so beste understanding the true meaninge of the Statute.

6. These Commissioners came to the Halles of London, and there had all the Evidences of the Companies laide before them, that they mighte accordinge to their Understandinge, sett downe the Rightes of the Kinge.

7. They, accordinge to the said Exposition, did sett downe and certifie those Proffites to bee the Kinges, as Rents-charge, and did not entitle the Kinge to the Landes themselves.

8. The Certificates were so accepted and allowed in the Kinges Courts, no doubte with the advise of the Kinges Officers and Judges and Counsel learned.

9. These Rents were accordingly paied to the Kinge by the space of certen yeres, without question.

10. Afterward the Kinge in the thirde yeere of his Raigne, having occasion to levie a great Masse of Money, did require the Companies to purchase those Rents, which they were lothe to doe; but beinge urged by their Dutie of Love and Service to the Kinge.

11. The Companies accordingly purchased those Rents, for which they paied to the Kinge allmost xix thousand Pounds.

12. For the raisinge of this Somme of 18700l. they were enfored to sell divers of the saide Landes and Tenements, to paye for the reste.

13. The Kinge most gratiouslye meaninge that both the Companies and the said Purchasers should reteyne bothe the saide Landes, and enjoye their saide Rentes accordinge to their Bargaynes, did in the fifth Yere of his Raigne, in a Session of the same Parliament, passe an Acte of Parliament for their assurance againste Reversions, Remainders and other Incombrances.

14. In the Preamble of the said Acte is recited, howe the Kinge was by the said Statute in the firste Yere of his Raign, intituled to the said Proffits, as Rents-charge, and not to the Landes in the handes of those Laye Corporations.

15. So by the Judgement of the Kinge, his Nobles, Judges, Counsaile learned, and whole Court of Parliamente, in the said late Session, who had been allso of the former Session, and beste understandinge their owne meaninge, it was confessed and recited, that the Kinge in this Case, had the Rents, and not the Landes.

16. In the Bodie of the said Acte is expressely sett downe, that the said Companies and Corporations shall quietly enjoye and holde both the said Rents, Manors, Landes, Tenements and Hereditaments.

17. Accordinge to this Exposition, they have ever since quietly enjoyed the same.

18. They have made sondrye Sales, Grauntes, and Leases of their said Landes and their Grauntees, have likewise done. Upon which Grauntes are sondrye Warrantises, Bondes and Covenants.

19. Many of the said Leases are become Portions of Widowes and Orphanes.

20. Many have bestowed great Buildings upon the same, to the beautifying of her Majesties Citie.

21. Many, but especially poore Men, have their Habitations and onely Settlings of their livinge in the Premisses.

22. The Arrerages of the Profits are very greate Sommes.

23. The Companies havinge purchased the said Rents, thoughe they mighte have turned them wholly to their owne profite, have emploied the same to publike uses, viz. reliefe of poore Persons, of Almes, Exhibitions, of Schollers in the Universities, Provisions of Grayne and Armour, setting forth and Entertainments of Souldiers, and other Service of their Soveraignes from time to time.

24. Nowe of late there hath bene founde out a newe Opynion upon the said Statute, contrary to the forsaid Exposition and Understanding therof. And it is suggested that the Kinge is entitled to the said Landes, and not to the Proffites; and so the said Companies have neither Lande nor Rente, notwithstanding their Purchases bona fide, and by the Judgment of the Kinge, his Counsels learned and Parliaments.

25. Upon this Suggestion, informations of Intrusions are brought against the said Companies, all for concealed Landes.

26. Yf the said Informations should prevaile, and the said newe Opynion holden for Lawe, infinite Inconveniences would ensue: Viz.