And whereas other vnlearned and euyll dispōsed persones, haue not sticked to instille and whisper into mennes eares, and to perswade abrode, euyll and perillous opinions, against Goddes lawe, and the good order of the realme: some teachyng that a manne maie forsake his wife, and mary another, his first wife yet liuyng, and likewyse that the wife maie do to the husbande. Other, that a man maie haue twoo wifes, or mo at once, and that these thynges bee prohibited, not by Goddes lawe, but by the Bis­shopp of Romes lawe: So that by suche euill and phantasticall opinions, some hath not been afrayed in deede, to mary kepe twoo wyfes, The whiche opinions, the Kynges maiestie, as a moste Chri­stian Prince, by thaduise aforesayed, not alowyng as Godly, and Christian, or conuenient to be spred abrode, or mainteyned in the realme: straightly chargeth and commaundeth, all Archebisshoppes and Bisshoppes, and other whiche hath spirituall iurisdiccions within the realme, to procede againste all suche as hath, or hereafter shall mary, or kepe, twoo wyfes at once, (whereof the firste is his lawfull wife) or shall put awaye his wife, and mary another, and to punishe suche offenders, accordyng to the Ecclesiasticall lawes, with graue and seuere punishement, to feare therwith others, whiche, els would­fall to suche insoent and vnlawfull actes.

And that all his highnes officers, and louyng subiectes, who hath charge or zeale thereto, shall de­tecte all suche offendours, to the saied Archebisshoppes and Bishoppes, and others that exerciseth spi­rituall iurisdiccion, and ayde the same, to the punishyng of suche euiyl doers, accordyng to the order or the lawe, in those cases. And if so be, the saied Archebisshoppes, Bisshoppes, or other who hath thexer­cise of spirituall iurisdiccions, be slacke and negligent, in the execucion of the saied processe, and puni­shyng of suche euill doers, as is before rehersed: That then the iustices of Peace, in euery shite, or any other his maiesties louyng subiectes, shall declare and signifye suche offendours and misdoers, to the kynges highnes counsaill, by their letters, that his highnes by thaduise aforesaid, might se a conueniēt redresse made, of suche misorder, and loke more straightly vpō tharchebishoppes and Bishoppes, whi­che doth not execute their dueties in this behalfe, accordyng to the trust committed vnto theim.

God saue the Kyng.