ALthough it cannot be unknown to Our Subjects by the former Declarations we have published, what Our purposes and proceedings have beene in matrers of Religion since our comming to this Crowne: Yet the same being now by Vs reduced to a setled forme, Wee have occasion to repeate somewhat of that which hath passed: and how at our very first entry into the Realme, being entertained and importuned with Informations of sundry Ministers, complaning of the errors and imperfections of the Church here, aswell in matters of Doctrine, as of Discipline: Although We had no reason to presume that things were so far amisse, as was pretended, because We had seene the Kingdome under that forme of Religion which by Law was established in the dayes of the late Queene of famous memorie, blessed with a peace & prosperity, both extraordinary and of many yeares continuance (a strong euidence that God was there with well pleased,) Yet because the importunitie of the Complainers was great, their afsirmations vehement, and the zeale wherewith the same did seeme to be accompained, very specious: We were mooved thereby to, make it Our occassion to discharge the duety Which is the cheifest of all Kingly dueties, that is to settle the affaires of Religion, and the Seruice of God before ther owne. VVhich while we ware in hand to do as the contagion of the sisicknesse reigning in Our City of London and other places, would permit an assembly of persons meet for that purpose; Some of those who misliked the state of Religion here established, presuming more of Our intents then ever Wee gave them cause to doe, and transported with humour, began such proceedings, as did raither raise a scandall in the Church, then rake offence away. For both they vsed formes of publique seruing of God not hear allowed, held assemblies without Authoritie, and did other things carying a very shew of Seditiō more then of Zeale: whom We restrained by a former Proclamation in the moneth of October last, and gave intimation of the co [...]ner­ence We intended to be had With as much speede is conueniently could bee, for the ordering of those things of the Church, which accordingly followed in the moneth of Ianuary last at Our Honour of Hampton Court where before Our Selfe, and Our Privie Counsell were assembled many of the gravest Bishops and Prelats of the Realme, and many other learned men, aswell of those that are conformable to the State of the Church established, as of those that dissented. Among whom what Our paines were, what Our patience in heareing and replying, and what the indifferencie and uprightnesse of Our iudgement in determining, We leave to the report of those who heard the same, contenting our Selfe with the sinceritie of Our owne heart therein. But We cannot conceale, that the successe of that Conference was such, as happeneth to many other things, which mooving great expectation before they be entred into, in thier issue produce small effects. For Wee found mighty and vehement Informations supported with so weake and slender proofes as it appeareth unto Vs, and Our Counsell, that there was no cause why any change should have beene at all in that which was most impugned, the book of Common Prayer, containing the forme of the publike Service of God heere established, neither in the doctrine which appeared to be sincere, nor in the Formes and Rite which were justified out of the practise of the Primitiue Church Notwith standing, wee thought meet, with consent of the Bishops and other learned men there present, That some small things might raither bee explaned then change, not that the same might not very well have bene borne with by men who have made a reasonable construction of them: but for that in a matter concerning the Seruice of God VVee were nice, or rather iealous, that the publike Forme thereof should be free not onely from blame, but from suspition, so as neither the common Aduersary should have aduantage to wrest ought therein contained, to other sense then the Church of England intendeth, nor any troublesome or ignorant person of this Church bee able to take the least occasion of cavill against it: And for that purpose gave forth Our Commission vnder our great Seale of England, to the Archbishop of Canterbury and others, according to the forme which the Lawes of the Realme in like Case prescribe to be vsed, to make the said Explanation, & to cause the whole Booke of Common Prayer to be newly printed. Which being now done, and established anew after so serious a deliberation, although VVe doubt not but all our Subiects both Ministers and others, will receive the same with such reverence as appertaineth, and conforme themselves there to every man in that which him concerneth: Yet have we thought it necessary, to make knowen by Proclamation Our authorizing of the same, And to Requier and enjoyne all men, aswell Ecclesiasticall as Temporall, to Conforme themselves unto it, And to the practise thereof, as the onely publike forme of seruing God, established and allowed to be in this Realme. And the rather for that all the learned men who were there present, aswell of the Bishops as others, promised their conformitie in the practice of it, onely making sute to Vs; that some few might be borne with for a time.

Werefore VVe require all Archbishops, Bishops, and all publike Ministers aswell Ecclesiasticall as Civill, to doe their duetie in causing the same to be obeyed, and in punishing the offenders according to the Lawes of the Realme heretofore established, for the authorizing of the said booke of Common prayer. And VVe thinke it also necessary, that the said Archbishops and Bishops, doe each of them in his Prouince and Diocesse take order, That every parish do procure to themselves within such time as they shall thinke good to limite, one of the said Booke so explained. And last of all We doe admonish all men, that hereafter they shall not expect, nor attempt any further alteration in the Common and publike forme of Gods Service, from this which is now established, for that neither will We give way to any to presume, that our owne judgements having determined in a matter of this weight shall be swaied to alteration by the friuolous suggestions of any light spirit: neither are We ignorant of the inconueniences that doe arise in Gouerment, by admitting innouation in things once setled by mature deliberation: And how necessary it is to vse constancie in the vpholding of the publike determination of State, for that such is the unquietnesse and unstedfastnesse of some dispositions, affecting every yeere new formes of things, as, if they should be followed in their unconstancie, would make all actions of States ridiculous and contemptible: whereas the stedfast maintaining of things by good aduice established, is the wealth of all the Common-wealth.

Given at our Court the 5: day of March.