Forfeiture Act (Ireland) 1639

The Kings patentees too apt to take advantage of forfeiture, where the King himself has not required it. Many suits in equity thereby occasioned for relief. N.I.

Forasmuch as the Kings Majestie out of his gracious disposition is and ever hath been averse from taking any advantage, howsoever lawfull and just, against any of his subjects, growing by any forfeiture, breach of condition, or strict interpretation of his Highnesse grants or letters patents, or the grants or letters patents of any of his royal predecessors, of any mannors, lands, tenements or hereditaments, and yet the grantees or patentees deriving their estates by or from his Majestie or his predecessors, have been too apt and ready to exact the advantage of such forfeiture, where his Majestie himselfe or his predecessors have not required the same, which hath been ever held an unequal and extream course, and hath many times been relieved by suits in courts of equity, though with the great charge and trouble of the parties indangered thereby: