THe Quenes highnes well remembrynge what great inconueni­ence and daungers haue growen to this her hyghnes realme in tyme past thorough the diuersitie of opinions, in questions of re­ligion, and hearing also that now of late, sithens the begynning of her moost graciouse reygne, the same contentions be agayne muche renewed thorowe certeyne false and vntrue reportes and eumors spredde by some lyght and euyll disposed persons, hath thought good to do to vnderstande to all her hyghnes moost lo­uynge and obedient subiectes, her mooste gratious pleasure, in maner and fourme folowynge.

FYRST her maiestie being presently by thonely goodnes of God settled in her iust possession of thimperiall crowne of this realme, and other dominions therunto belongynge, can not nowe hyde that religion (whiche GOD and the worlde knoweth the hath euer professed from her in­fancy hitherto) whiche as her maiestie is mynded to obserue and maynteyne for her selfe by gods grace durynge her tyme, so dothe her highnes muche desyre, and woulde be gladde the same were of all her subiectes quietly and charitablye embraced. And yet she doth signifye vnto all her maiesties sayde louinge subiectes, that of her moost gratious disposition and clemency, her high­nes myndeth not to compell any her sayde subiectes thervnto, vnto suche tyme as further ordre by common assent maye be taken therein. Forbyddinge neuerthelesse, all her subiectes of all de­grees, at theyr perylles, to moue sedicions, or to styrre vnquietnes in her people by interpretyng the lawes of this realme after theyr braynes and fansies, but quietly to continue for the tyme, tyl asbefore is sayde further order maye be taken. And therefore wylleth and streyghtly chargeth and commaundeth all her sayde good louynge subiectes, to lyue togethers in quiet sorte, & chri­stian charitie, leauynge those newe founde deuelishe termes of Papyste or Heretique, and suche lyke, and applyenge theyr whole eares, studye, and trauayle, to lyue in the feare of God, exercising theyr conuersations in suche charitable and godlye doynge, as theyr liues maye in dede expresse that great hunger and thyrst of Goddes glorye and holye worde, whiche by rashe talke and wor­des many haue pretended, and in so doynge, as they shall best please GOD, and lyue withoute daunger of the lawes, and maynteyne the tranquillite of the realme, wherof her hyghnesse shalbe most gladde: so yfanye man shall rashelye presume to make any assembles of people, or at any pub­lique assembles or otherwyse, shall go aboute to styrre the people to disorder, or disquiet, she myn­deth accordinge to her duetye, to see the same moost seuerely refourmed and punyshed, accordyng to her hygnesse lawes.

AND furthermore, forasmuche also as it is well knowen, that sedition and false rumours haue bene nouryshed and maynteyned in this realme, by the subteltye and malyce of some euell disposed persons, whiche take vpon them withoute sufficient auctoritie, to preache, and to inter­prete the worde of GOD, after theyr owne brayne, in churches and other places, both publique and pryuate. And also by playinge of Interludes and pryntynge of false fonde bookes, ballettes, rymes, and other lewde treatises in the englyshe tonge, concernynge doctryne in matters now in question and controuersye, touchynge the hyghe poyntes and misteries of christen religion, whiche bokes, ballettes, rymes, and treatises are chiefly by the Prynters and Stacioners sette out to sale to her graces subiectes, of an euyll zeale, for lucre and couetous of vyle gayne. Her high­nes therfore strayghtly chargeth and commaundeth all and euery her sayde subiectes, of what­soeuer [Page] [Page] state, condition, or degree they be, that none of them presume from henceforth to preache, or by waye of readynge in Churches, or other publique or pryuate places (excepte in the scholes of the vniuersities) to interprete or teache any scriptures, or any maner poyntes of doctryne con­cernynge religion. Neyther also to prynte any bookes, matter, ballet, ryme, interlude, processe or treatyse nor to playe any interlude, except they haue her graces speciall licence in writynge for the same, vpon payne to incurre her highnesse indignation and displeasure.

AND her highnesse also further strayghtly chargeth and commaundeth all and euery her sayde subiectes, that none of them of theyr owne pryuate authoritie, do presume to punyshe, or to ryse agaynst any offendour in the causes aboue sayde, or any other offendour in wordes or dedes in the late rebellion commytted by the Duke of Northumberlande, or his complices, or to seise any of theyr goodes, or violentlye to vse anye suche offendour by strykynge, or imprysoninge, or threatynge the same, but wholy to referre the punyshment of all suche offendours vnto her high­nes, and her publique authoritie, wherof her maiestie myndeth to see due punyshment accordyng to the ordre of her highnes lawes. Neuertheles as her highnes myndeth not hereby to restreyn and discourage any of her louinge subiectes, to geue from tyme to tyme true information agaynst any suche offendours in the causes abouesayde, vnto her grace, or her counsell, for the punishment of euerye suche offendour, accordynge to theffecte of her hyghnesse lawes prouyded in that part. So her sayd highnes exhorteth and strayghtly chargeth her sayde subiectes to obserue her com­maundement and pleasure in euery parte aforesayde, as they wyll auoyde her hyghnesse sayd in­dignation, and moost greuouse displeasure. The seueritie and rygour wherof, as her hyghnesse shalbe moost sorye to haue cause to put the same in execution: so doth she vtterlye determine not to permytte suche vnlawfull and rebelliouse doynges of her subiectes (wherof may ensue the daun­ger of her royall estate) to remayne vnpunyshed, but to see her sayde lawes, touchyng these poin­tes, to be thoroughly executed, whiche extremities she trusteth all her sayde louynge subiectes wyll forsee, dreade, and auoyde accordinglye.

HER sayde hyghnesse strayghtely chargynge and commaundinge all Mayors, Sheryffes, Iustices of peace, Bayliffes, Constables, and all other publique officers and ministers, diligently to see to the obseruynge and executynge of her sayde commaundementes, and pleasure, and to ap­prehende all suche as shall wylfully offende in this parte, committinge the same to the next gaile, there to remayne without bayle or maynepryse, tyll vpon certificate made to her highnes, or her pryuye counsell, of theyr names and doynges, and vpon examination had of theyr offences, some further ordre shalbe taken for theyr punyshment, to the example of others, accordynge to theffecte and tenor of the lawes aforesayde.

¶ Geuen at our manour of Rychemonde, the .xviii. of August. In the fyrste yeare of our moost prosperous reygne.