WHereas in the Parliament holden at Westminster the seconde yere of the kinges maiesties reigne , one acte , emong{is} diuers others , was made , that no person , or persones should after a certeine time willingly , & wittingly eate any kinde of fleshe vpon any Fridaie , Saterdaie , any daie within the time of Lent , nor at any suche other daie , as was at that time , or should be at any time afterwardes , comonly accepted , and reputed as a fishe daie within this realme of England , vnder diuers and great penalties , as in thesaid act more largely dooeth appere . Forasmuche as thesaied acte founded vpon sondrie and holsome considerations conteined in the same , hathe sithen been by diuers and many fearelesse subiectes , most disobediently and stubbernely , infringed , broken and neglected , to the greate contempt of his maiesties lawes , & the notable offence also of almightie god , who hath commaunded princes ordinances , to be obserued , not only for feare of their indignation , but also for conscience sake . His maiestie hauyng due consideration of the great scarcetie of victual , & specially of fleshe , that is growen within this realme , & that by thabstinence of eatyng of flesh in times prohibited , muche flesh is bred & encreased , to the continuall & more plentiful sustenaunce of his subiectes , most streightly chargeth and commaundeth , that from and after the makyng of this his highnesse present Proclamation , and publishyng of the same , no manner of persone , or persones , dwellyng , inhabityng , resiaunt , or abidyng , within this his realme of Englande , or any other his Dominions , or territories , hauyng no licence of his highnesse to eate fleshe in the times prohibited by the saied acte , ne beyng prouided , forprised , or excepted by thesaied acte , dooe willingly , or wittyngly , eate any maner of fleshe in the times of Lent , or in , or vpon any other daies prohibited by thesaied acte , contrarie to the effect , purporte , and tenour of the same , vpon the peines , and penalties conteined in thesaied Estatute , and as thei wil besides that , auoide his highnesse indignation , and displeasure .

And that no maner of persone , or persones , kepyng , or that shal kepe , any tauerne , inne , hostrie , alehouses , victuallyng house , common , or vsual table , for any gestes , within his saide Realme , or dominions , from , and after the makyng of this his highnes proclamation , vtter any fleshe in any kinde of maner , in their houses , or elswhere , in any the times prohibited by thesaied acte , or statute , to be eaten by any persone , not licenced or prouided for , as is aforesaied , vpon theselfe same penalties , as against the eaters therof , in thesaid acte is prouided .

And that no Butcher , ne other persone , after the makyng of this proclamation ( except he shal be specially licenced by his highnesse , vnder the great seale of Englande ) shal sel any fleshe , beyng dead , within his saied Realme , or Dominions , to be eaten in , or vpon , any the daies , or times prohibited by thesaied acte , vpon like peine , and peines , as is before last expressed , and limited .

And for the better example to be geuen by theim whiche haue any licence , his maiesties pleasure is , that no maner of persone , or persones , hauyng any licence by his maiesties lettres patentes , or priuileged by thesaied estatute to eate fleshe , do in any wise eate the same fleshe , vpon any daies prohibited , in any open place of his , or their house , or in any suche assemblie , as thei vse on other daies accustomed , for eatyng of fleshe , but that he and thei hauyng licence , vse the same secretly , and modestly .

And that as wel the Maior of London for the time beyng , as all Iustices of peace , & all other Maiors , sherifes , bailefes , constables , and hed Officers , of al and euery , citie , countie , borough , Toune , and Village , within this his realme of Englande , and all other his highnesse dominions , and territories as thei wil auoide his highnesse displeasure , and indignation , & wil further aunswer at their peril , do from time to time after the makyng of this his highnesse proclamation , within their rules , iurisdictions , aucthorities , precinctes , & circuites , truely , and diligently , with all speede from time to time , searche and trie out , al maner thoffences , contemptes , and inobediences aforesaide , and for the due execution of the aforesaied Estatute , and the tenour of this proclamation , do deuise some weekely searche , so as by their diligence , the Lawe maie haue some fruict , and profite , as it is very nedeful : & vpon knowlege , and due profe therof made , that thei and euerie of theim furthwith commit al and euery suche offendour and offendours , to emprisonment , there safe , and surely to be kepte , & remaine , & farther to be punished , accordyng vnto the penalties by degrees , conteined in the foresaied act , and in case any be founde vpon thesaied punishementes , not amended , then suche to bee as notable and incorrigible persones , certified to his maiestie , or his counsail , that some greuous open punishment of suche , maie be example to al others .

And that al and euerie his louyng and true subiectes , be from time to time , aidyng , helpyng , and assistyng to all and euerie suche Maior and Maiors , Iustices , and other officers aforesaied , in the doyng , and executyng of theffect and purport of this his highnesse proclamation , as thei wil aunswere to his Maiestie vpon their vttermost peril , and as thei wil auoide his highnesse greuous indignation , and displeasure . For certeinly , suche is the kinges determinate purpose , to haue this throughly executed .