THE Queenes Maiestie beyng ryght sory to vnderstande that the order of com­mon prayer, set foorth by the common consent of the Realme, and by aucthori­tie of the Parliament in the fyrst yere of her raigne, wherein is nothing con­teyned but the scripture of God, and that whiche is consonant vnto it, is now of late of some men despised, and spoken agaynst, both by open preachynges, and wrytynges, and of some bolde and vayne curious men, newe and other rytes founde out and frequented, wherevpon contentions, sectes, and disquietnesse doth aryse among her people: and for one godly and vniforme order, diversitie of ryghtes and ceremonies, disputations, and contentions, scismes, and diuisi­ons already rysen, and more lyke to ensue. The cause of which disorders, her Maiestie doth playnely vnderstand to be the negligence of the Byshoppes and other Magistrates, who shoulde cause the good lawes and actes of Parliament made in this behalfe to be better executed, and not so dissembled and wynked at, as hytherto (it may appeare) that they haue ben.

For speedy remedy whereof, her Maiestie straightly chargeth and commaundeth al Archbyshoppes and By­shoppes, and all Iustices of Assises, and Oyer, and Termyner, and all Maiors, head officers of Cities and Townes corporate, and all other who haue anye aucthoritie to put in execution the Acte for the vniformitie of common prayer and the administration of Sacraments made in the fyrst yere of her gratious raigne, with all diligence and seueritie, neyther fauouryng, nor dissemblying with one person nor other, who doth neglect, despise, or seeke to alter the godly orders and ryghtes set foorth in the sayde booke: But yf any person shall by publique preachyng, wrytyng, or pryntyng, contemne, despise, or disprayse the orders conteyned in the sayde booke, they shal immediatly apprehend him, and cause him to be imprisoned, vntyl he haue aunsweared to the lawe, vpon payne that the cheefe officers, beyng present at any such preachyng, and the whole Parish, do aun­sweare for their contempt and negligence. Lykewyse, if any shall forbeare to come to the common prayer, and receyue the Sacramentes of the Churche, accordyng to the order in the sayde booke alowed, vppon no iust and l [...]full cause: all suche persons they shall enquyre of, present, and see punished, and ordered accordyng as is pre­scribed in the sayde Acte, with more care and diligence then heretofore hath ben done: the whiche negligence hath ben cause why suche disorders hath of late nowe so muche and in so many places encreased and growen.

And if any person shall either in priuate houses, or in publique places, make assemblies, and therin vse other rytes of common prayer and administration of the Sacramentes then is prescribed in the sayde booke, or shall maynteyne in their houses any persons beyng notoriously charged by bookes or preachynges to attempt the al­teration of the sayd orders, they shal see such persons punished with al seueritie, accordyng to the lawes of this Realme, by paynes appoynted in the sayde Acte.

And because these matters do principally apparteyne to the cure of persons Ecclesiasticall, and to the Eccles­asticall gouernment, her Maiestie geueth a most special and earnest charge to all Archbyshoppes, Byshoppes, Archdeacons, and Deanes, and all suche as haue ordinarie iurisdiction, in suche causes to haue a vigilant eye and care to the obseruation of the orders and rytes in the sayde booke prescribed, throughout their cures and Diocesse, and to proceede from tyme to tyme by ordinarie and Ecclesiastical iurisdiction, as is graunted them in the sayde Acte, with al celeritie and seueritie, agaynst all persons who shall offende agaynst any of the orders in the sayde booke prescribed, vpon payne of her Maiesties hygh displeasure for their negligence, and depriua­tion from their dignities and benefices, or other censures to folowe, accordyng to their demerites.

Geuen at Grenewiche the .xx. day of October, 1573. in the fyfteenth yere of the Queenes Maiesties raigne.

God saue the Queene.