THe kinges most excellent maiestie , our natural souereigne lorde , certainly knowing and vnderstandyng by the good aduise and information of the Lordes and others of his priuie counsail , that by the setting furth of Goddes holy worde , and th establishment of a pure and sincere religion , conformable to goddes institucion , and the vsage of the holy catholique churche , with th administration of Iustice , and th obseruation of the Lawes and statutes of this Realme indifferently amonges al his subiectes , he should not onely discharge his duety to god , but also geue an occasion of perfect quietnes , humble obedience , charitable concorde , greate felicitie and welth , to al his people , euery man in his degree : And vpon trust to se th effectes and fruicte of the same , hauyng caused goddes word to be truely and sincerely taught and preached , and a godly order for the administracion of the Sacramentes , and other conuenient and decent orders , to be set furth in the churche , Is moste sory , and earnestly from the botom of his harte doth lament , and so done all his counsailors , to heare and se many of his subiectes to abuse dayly by their vicious liuinges and corrupt conuersations , that most precious Iuell the worde of god , and by their licencious behauiors , leude and sedicious talkes , boldely and presumpteously without feare either of goddes plague , or the swearde of their Prince , to breake continually the Lawes and statutes of the realme , to dispute of his maiesties affayres , to sow , sprede abrode , and tel from man to man , false lies , tales , rumors , and sedicious deuises , against his maiestie , his counsaillors , Magistrates , and Iustices : The sede and rote wherof , as they first had beginning and sprang of the corrupte nature , and yll disposicion of naughty men ( whiche therefore without short amendement , muste and shal be firste scourged with the rod of the prince , & afterward by most dredfull condempnation at goddes hand ) So the great fault for the continuaunce of the people in euill , hath proceded for want of execution of the good Lawes and Statutes of the realme , and especially the statutes made against vagaboundes , vnlaufull games , tellers of newes , Inuentors of tales and rumors , vnlauful assembles , riotes , rowtes , huntinges , fishinges , shoting in handgonnes and Crossebowes , keping of ale houses , eating of flesh on fishedaies , regrators , forstallers , breakers of th order of religion and sundry other like statutes , shoulde vndoubtedly not only haue caused eche man , to haue liued in quiet , and to haue applied himself according to his vocation and degre : but also bene causers of great welth and felicitie in this realme . No prince in the worlde is more lothe to vse thextremitie of correction vpon his subiectes , then is his maiestie , nor no counsailors more vnwilling to aduise his maiestie therunto , then his highnes counsailors be , but if the subiectes do grow into suche a contempt of their prince , of his lawes , and of his ministers , as they care not to vse al suche waies as may be daungerous to their souereigne lorde and his estate , and desperately and obstinately in thende , to cast them selfes into vtter ruine and destruction : In this cace hys Maiesty wil seuerely , and sharply loke vpon , correct and ponishe , these offendors , thereby to presetue his estate , and to saue the rest of the membres of his politique body , whiche be his faythful louing and obedient subiectes . And yet before his maiestie procede so farre furth , he will vse a fatherly facion , and gentely admonishe and geue warning ere his maiestie fall to chastising . Wherfore his highnes on goddes behalfe , moost hartely dothe requyre , and neuerthelesse , by his royal power and princely aucthoritie , straightly chargeth and commandeth all and euery his subiectes , of what estate , degre , or condicion soever he be , to dreade and feare god and his plagues , to conuert and amende their maners , and to liue according to the profession of christen men , to loue his Maiestie , and to feare his Swerde , to obserue his highnes Lawes ▪ Statutes and Proclamations , to liue euery man within the compasse of his degre , contented with his vocation , euery man to applie himself to liue obediently , quietly , without murmur , grudging , sowing of sedicion , spreding of tales , and rumors , and without doyng or saiyng of any manner of thing ( as nere as God wil geue theim grace ) that may touche the dignitie of his maiestie , his counsayl , his magistrates or ministers , or be hurtful to his neighbour , or in any wise contrary to his maiesties lawes , statutes , or proclamations , whereby his maiesty shal the rather be moued to study , deuise , and put in vre , by the good aduise of his counsail , al good wayes and meanes , that may reduce again this realme , vnto that prospetite , estimation , and wealthe , whiche by sundry occasions in proces of time hath and is decaied , a thing that his maiestie and counsail do most desire , and dout not , with some conuenient time to bring to passe , if the nawghtines of some euell hartes geue not cause of let and empechement to the same , wherunto , if any shal be so vnhappy as to geue themselfes , his maiestie wil with the sharpe swerde of his princely power , so sharpely chastise and correct them , as may be to the feareful example of all other . And for the better aduoiding of al suche inconueniences , his maiestie straightly chargeth and commaundeth , all Iustices , Mayors , Shirifes , baylifes , Constables , Hedboroughes , Tithing men , and al other Officers and ministers of what estate , degre , or condicion soeuer they be , from hencefurth , to loke to their offices , and earnestly , truly , and vprightly , to execute and se executed , al his maiesties Lawes , Statutes and proclamations , whiche be within the compasse of their offices , and specially the statutes aboue rehersed , and others of like kinde and qualitie , And for because that within the citie of London , ther is at this present a great number of idle persons & masterles men , which seke rather by Idelnes , & mischief to liue by other mens labours & industries , thē to trauail by any paynes takyng , to liue like good and obedient membres of the common welth : His maiesty straightlye chargeth and commaundeth all maner of vagaboundes , and masterles men , vpon the paines , not onelie all ready appoyncted by the Lawes and Statutes made for suche maner of menne . But also vpon suche paynes as his maiestie may and wil ordaine , to be inflicted vpon them , by his prerogatiue royal , to departe al suche out of the citie of London , and the Suburbes of the same , within .iiii. dayes after the making of this proclamation home to the place either where they wer borne , or wher they haue dwelt last thre yeres within the realme , goyng at the least vii● . miles a day ( if they haue so farre to go from London ) and passing not aboue .ii. or iii . or iiii . at the moste in a company , and not to abide aboue one night in a place , till they come home ( e●cept cause of sicknes , the same cause to be allowed by a Iustice of the peace , dwelling next to the place where he or they shal fortune to be sicke ) And that al vagabondes , and masterles men in al other places , within this realme , shall also within iiii . dayes after the making of this proclamation , in the next market toune , where they shal fortune to be , departe likewise to the place where they were borne , or last dwelled thre yeres within the realme , without lenger tar●eng by the way or going mo in company together , or fewer miles , in a day , then aforesaid : And vpon like paynes as is aforesayd for them which departe from London .

And furthermore , his maiestie straightly chargeth and commaundeth , that no man be so hardy either to deuise any tale , rumor or talke , touching his maieste , his Counsail , Magistrates , Iustices , officers , or ministers , nor hearing any suche tale , rumor , or talke , to tel , reporte , or speake , the same agayne to any other person or persons , then to either one of his counsayl or to a Iustice of peace , and there withall to shew also , of whome he had the same , to thintent that the same person , from whome the tale or rumor commeth , may be punished for the deuising of it , if he deuised it , or for the telling of it , to any other person , then by this proclamation is appointed .

And forbicause diuers Printers , Bokeselers , and Plaiers of Enterludes , without consideration or regarde to the quiet of the realme , do print , sel , and play , whatsoeuer any light and phantastical hed listeth to inuent and deuise , whereby many inconueniences hath , and dayly doth arise and follow , amonge the kinges maiesties louyng and faithful subiectes : His highnes therfore straightly chargeth and commaundeth that from hencefurth , no printer or other person do print nor sel , within this Realme or any other his maiestis dominions , any matter in thenglish tong , nor they nor any other person , do sel , or otherwise dispose abrode any matter , printed in any forreyn dominion in thenglishe tongue , onles the same be firste allowed by his maiestie , or his priuie counsayl in writing signed with his maiesties most gratious hand or the handes of sixe of his sayd priuie counsayl , vpon payne of Imprisonment , without bayle or mayneprice , and further fine at his maiesties pleasor . Nor that any common players or other persons , vpon like paines , do play in thenglish tong , any maner Enterlude , play , or matter , without they haue special licence to shew for the same in writing vnder his maiesties signe , or signed by .vi. of his highnes priuie counsaill willing & straightly charging & commaunding al Iustices , Mayors , Shirifes , Bailifes , Constables , & other officers and ministers , diligently to enquire for , and serche out al maner offendors , within the limites and compasse of their commissions , and specially al suche as shal offend against any the poinctes or braunches expressely setfurthe in this proclamation , and to punishe the same without remission : Willing lykewise , and also strayghtely charging and commaunding , al his good , true , louing and faythefull Subiectes to be aiding , helping , and assisting , to all and euery officer , in thexecution of their charges , as they tender the fauor of his Maiestie , and the preseruation of the common wealthe , as they will aunswer to his Maiestie , for the contrary at their vttermost perill .