¶ A proclamacion, ordeyned by the Kynges ma­iestie, with the aduice of his honourable counsayle for the Byble of the largest and greatest volume, to be had in euery churche. Deuised the .VI. day of May the .XXXIII. yeare of the Kynges moste gracious reygne.

WHere, by Iniunctions heretofore set forth by the auctoritie of the Kynges royall maiestye. Supreme head of the churche of this his realme of Englande. It was ordeyned and com­maunded amongest other thynges, that in al and synguler paryshe churches, there shuld be prouyded by a certen day nowe expyred, at the costes of the Curates and paryshioners, By­bles conteynynge the olde and newe Testament, in the Englyshe tounge, to be fyxed and set vp openlye in euery of the sayd paryshe churches. The whiche Godlye commaundement and iniunction was to the onlye intent that euery of the Kynges maiesties louynge subiectes, myndynge to reade therin, myght by occasyō therof, not only consyder and perceyue the great and ineffable omnipotent power, promyse, iustice, mercy and goodnes of Almyghtie God. But also to learne thereby to obserue Gods commaundementes, and to obeye theyr soueraygne Lorde and hyghe powers, and to exercyse Godlye charite, and to vse themselues, accordynge to theyr vocations: in a pure and syncere christen lyfe without murmure or grud gynges. By the which Iniunctiōs the Kynges royall maiesty intended, that his louynge subiectes shulde haue and vse the commoditie of the rea­dyng of the sayde Bybles, for the purpose aboue rehersed, humbly, mekely, reuerently and obediently: and not that any of them shulde reade the sayde Bybles, wyth lowde and hyghe voyces, in tyme of the celebracion of the holye Masse and other dyuyne scruyces vsed in the churche, nor that any hys laye subiectes redynge the same, shulde presume to take vpon them, any commen dysputacyon, argumente or exposicyon of the mysteries therein conteyned, but that euery suche laye man shulde humbly, mekely and reuerentlye reade the same, for his owne in­struction, edificacion, and amendement of hys lyfe, accordynge to goddes holy worde therin mencioned. And not wythstandynge the Kynges sayde moost godlye and gracious commaundement and Iniunction informe as is afore sayde. Hys royall maiestye is informed that dyuers and many Townes and paryshes wythin thys hys realme haue negligently omytted theyr dueties in the accomplishement therof wherof his [...] not a lytle. And myndynge the execucion of his sayde former, moost godly and gracyous Iniunctions doeth straytlye charge and commaunde that the Curates and paryshioners of euerye towne and paryshe [...] hys realme of Englande, not hauynge already Bybles prouyded wythin theyr paryshe churches, shall on [...] syde the feaste-of Alsayntes next cōmynge, bye and prouyde Bybles of the largest and greatest vo [...] the same to be set and fyxed in euery of the sayde paryshe churches, there to be vsed as is aforesayd: accordyng [...] the sayde former Iniunctions: vpon payne that the Curate and inhabitauntes of the paryshes and townes, [...] lose and forfayte to the Kynges maiestye for euery moneth that they shall lacke and want the sayde Byble [...] the same f [...]ast of Alsayntes fourty shyllynges, the one halfe of the same forefayt to be to ye kynges m [...] other halfe to hym or thē whyche shall fyrste fynde and present the same to the Kynges maiestyes counsayle. And fynally, the kynges royall maiestie doeth declare and sygnifye to all and syngular his louynge subiectes, that to thentent they maye haue the sayde Bybles of the greatest volume at equall and reasonable pryces. His [...] by the aduyse of hys, counsayle hath ordeyned and [...]ared: that the syllers therof, shall not take for any of the sayde Bybles vnbounde, about the pryce of ten shyllynges. And for euery of the sayde Bybles well and sufficientlye, bounde, trymmed and clasped not aboue twelue shyllynges, vpon payne, the seller to lose for euerye Byble so the contrary to this his hyghnes proclamacion fourty shyllynges, the one m [...]yre thereof to the kynges maiestie: [...] the other moyte, to the fynder and presenter of the defaulte, as is afore sayde. And his hyghnes streyghtly chargeth & commaundeth that all and synguler ordinaries hauynge ecclesiasticall iurysdiction within this his churche and realme of Englande and the dominion of Waies, that they & euery of them shall put theyr effectuall [...] that the Curates and parish [...]oners shall obeye and accomplyshe, thys his maiestyes proclamacion and [...] dement, as they tendre the [...]and godly purpose in that behalfe, and as they wyll [...]

[...] THE KYNGE.

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