WHere as the Queenes Maiestie waying the great inconueniences and enormities that haue vniuersally growen within this her Realme, by the vnlawfull retai­ning of multitude of vnordinarie seruants, by liueries and otherwise, contrary to the good, and ancient lawes, and statutes of this Realme, hath therefore by her Proclamation notified the same, and the daungers and penalties of the sayde lawes vnto her louing Subiectes, giuing vnto them expresse admonition, that if they shoulde not thereupon forbeare any further to offende therein: That her Ma­iesties will and pleasure was, that the sayde Lawes and Statutes shoulde be streightly put in execution, and the penalties and forfeitures growing thereby to her Highnesse for the offences committed against the same, to be duely leuyed. Whereof notwithstanding, there [...] hath followed such reformacion in the behalfe, as was expected, (but the sayde mischiefes and enormities [...]e rather daily more and more encreased) neither haue the said Lawes hitherunto bene put in execution, accor­ [...] to the sayde former Proclamation. Wherein hath appeared most wilfull contempt in the Offendors, and great negligence and lacke of dutifull care in those, to whome the execution of the said lawes and Statutes was commit­ [...] which might iustly moue her Highnesse to vse therein hereafter all seueritie and extremitie. Yet neuerthelesse her [...] hauing an earnest and most godly intention, to procure speedy reformation of so pernicious a sore in this Common wealth: And of her gratious and mercifull disposicion, tendring more the quiet reformation of the faults, [...] to enriche her treasure by the great forfaitures which by iustice are due vnto her in the streight execution of the s [...]d lawes, meaneth to make some further triall before she proceede to the seuere execution of the same. And therefore to the ende that such as haue offended in this behalfe (either by vnlawful retaining, or by being vnlawfully retained [...]uery, badges, promes, or otherwise) being eftsones admonished of the dangers & penalties of the saide lawes and Statutes, and of her Maiesties will and pleasure for the straight execution of the same hereafter, may haue conue­ment tune and respit to reforme themselues and to eschewe the perils and dangers of the said lawes: Her Ma­ [...]estie of her speciall grace, doeth by this her proclamation notifie to al her louing subiects, of what estate or degree so­euer they be, that whosoeuer after the last day of May next comming, shal vnlawfully retayne, or be retayned by ly­uery, badges, token, promise, or any other meanes whatsoeuer, cōtrary to the lawes & statutes of this realme in that behalfe prouided, shall not haue any maner of fauour or grace of her Maiestie for any such offence committed, or to be committed against the saide lawes, but that the whole penalties, for faitures, & punishments limited and appointed [...] the same lawes and statutes, shall with all seueritie be extended against them, aswel for their offences committed before the said last day of May, as after. And for the better reformation of the great inconueniences & mischiefes afor­said and to the end that the saide lawes & statutes, may be hereafter the more duely & seuerely executed, her Maiestie straightly chargeth & cōmandeth al maner her Iustices & officers to whome the execution of the same appertayneth, [...] cause inquisition and examination according to the same Lawes, to be made in al places of the Realme, as soone [...] conueniently they may after the saide last day of May next comming. And also willeth and commandeth that all Iustices of Issiles and Gaole deliuerie, shall at their next Sessions, and so at all Sessions after, haue due regarde that no person that is so vnlawfully reteyned, be hereafter admitted to serue in any Iurie before them. And shal also [...] euery such Sessions, cause diligent inquisition to be made by a sufficient Iurie, of the points and Articles of al the Statutes being in force against vnlawfull reteyners, & specially of the Statute made in the eyght yere of the reigne of being Edward the fourth, and in the third yere of the reigne of her Maiesties most noble Grandfather king Henry the seuenth, and to take speciall order, that some good euidence may be giuen to the same Iurie in that behalfe. And [...]ther at their said Sessions from time to time, to vse their vttermost care & diligence for the doing of al things, wher­by the inconueniences before mentioned, may be the more speedily reformed, & the Lawes in this behalfe hereafter the better obserued and executed.

Giuen at her Maiesties Manor of Greenewich the xix. Day of April, in the fine and twentieth yere of her Highnes reigne. 1583.

God saue the Queene.