FOrasmuche as it is most necessary in euery christian comon welth to prouide , that tranquillitie and peace may be preserued and continued amonges the people , and speciallye in holye Churche in the time of diuine seruice and administration of the Sacramentes , and Sacramentalles , as before thys time it hath bene accustomed in holy Churche within this realme , and that al thinges beyng contrary therunto , or that are or maye be in disturbaunce th 〈…〉 t be eschewed and auoyded , and remedy therfore in due tyme prouided , aswell for the pr●●●●ion of the Quenes hyghnes peace , as for an vniuersall quietnes and ordre to be vsed within this realme .

Be it therfore enacted by the Quene our Soueraygne Lady , the Lordes , spirituall and temporall , and commons in this present parliament assembled , and by the aucthoritie of the same , that yf any person or persons of their owne power and aucthoritye , at any time or times , after the .xx. day of December next commyng , do or shal willingly , and of purpose , by open and ouert worde , facte , acte , or dede , maliciously or contemptuously moleste , lette , disturbe , vexe , or trouble , or by any other vnlawfull wayes , or meanes , disquiete , or misuse any preacher or preachers , that nowe is , or that at anye tyme or tymes hereafter shal be licensed , allowed , or aucthorised to preache by the Quenes hyghnes , or by any Archebisshop , or Bisshop of this realme , or by any other lawful ordinary , or by any of the vniuersities of Oxforde and Cambrige , or other wise lawfullye aucthorised or charged by reason of his , or their cure , benefice , or other spirituall promocion or charge , in anye of his , or their open sermon , preachyng , or collacion , that he or they shall make , declare , preache , or pronounce in any Churche , chappell , Churcheyard , or in any other place or places , vsed , frequented , or appoynted , or that hereafter shal be vsed or appoynted to be preached in .

Or yf any person , or persons after the sayde .xx. day of December next commynge , shall maliciously , willingly , or of purpose , molest , lette , disturbe , vexe , disquiete , or otherwise trouble anye person , vicar , paryshe priest , or curate , or any lawfull priest , prepayring , saying , doing , singyng , ministrynge , or celebratyng the Masse , or other suche diuine seruice , Sacramentes , or Sacramentalles , as was mooste commonly frequented and vsed in the laste yeare of the raygne of the late Soueraygne Lorde kinge Henry theight , or that at any tyme hereafter shal be allowed , set forth , or aucthorised by the Quenes Maiestie .

Or yf any person or persons at any time or times , after the sayde .xx. daye of December , shall contemptuously , vnlawfully , or maliciously of their owne power or aucthoritie , pul downe , deface spoyle , abuse , breake , or other wise vnreuerently handle , or ordre the moost blessed comfortable & , holy Sacrament of the body and bloude of our Sauiour Iesus Christ , comonly called the Sacrament of the Alter , beyng , or that shal be in any Churche or Chappell , or in anye other decente place , or the pixe or canapie , wherin the same Sacrament is or shal be , or vnlawfully , contemptuously , or maliciously of their owne power and aucthoritie pull downe , deface , spoyle , or otherwyse breake any aulter or aulters , or any crucifixe , or crosse , that now or hereafter shal be in any churche chappell , or churcheyarde . That then euery suche offender and offenders in anye the premisses his or their aydour , procuror , or abbettor , aydours , procurours , or abbettours , immediatlye and forthwith after anye of the sayde Acte or Actes , or other the sayde misdemeanours so committed , done , or made , or at anye time or times after , shal be apprehended , arrested , and taken by anye Constable or Constables , Churchewardeyn , or churchewardeyns of the sayde paryshe , towne , or place , where the sayde offence or offences shal be so committed , made , or done , or by anye other officer or officers , or by anye other person or persons , then beinge present at the tyme of the sayde offence or offences so vnlawfully committed , made , or done . Whiche person or persons so apprehended , taken , or arrested with conueniente spede , shal be broughte and caryed to anye Iustice of peace within the sayd Shire , or within any Citie , Borowe , Libertie , or Towne corporate , wherin Iustices of peace be , where the sayde offence or offences shal be so committed , done , and made , and that the sayd Iustice of peace , vpon due accusation , thereupon had and made by the apprehendour , or apprehendours , or other person or persons of any of the sayde person or persons so offendynge , forthwith , shall committe the sayde person or persons , so apprehended , arrested , and taken , to sauffekepyng and custodye , as by the discretion of the sayde Iustice shal be thought moost mete and conueniente , and that within .vj. dayes nexte and immediatlye after the sayde accusation so had and made to the sayde Iustice , the sayde Iustice with one other Iustice of peace in the sayde Shire , Citie , Borowe , Libertie , or towne corporate , shall diligentlye examine the Acte or Actes , offence or offences aforesayde . And yf they the sayde two Iustices of peace , shall vpon their sayde examination finde or perceaue the sayde person or persons so accused , giltie of any of the sayde offence or offences , wherof he or they shal be so accused , and that by two sufficient wytnesses , or by his or their owne confession or confessions , That then and immediatlye with conueniente spede , the sayde two Iustices shall committe and awarde the sayde person or persons so accused , as is aforesayd to the gayle of , or for the sayd shire , citie , borowe , libertie , or towne corporate , where the sayd offence or offences was so committed , made , or done , there to remayne without bayle or maine price by the space of thre monethes , then nexte ensuing , and further to the next quarter sessions to be holden within the sayde shire , citie , borowe , libertie , or towne corporate , nexte after thende of the sayde thre monethes , at which sayd quarter sessions , the sayd person or persons , so committed to the gayle , as is aforesayde , vpon his or their reconciliation and repentaunce in that behalfe , before the sayde iustices of peace at the sayde sessions , shal be deliuered and discharged out of prison and gayle vpon sufficient suertie of his good abearyng and behauoure , to be then & there taken by the sayd Iustices for one hole yeare , then next ensuinge , as by the discretion or discretions of the sayde Iustices then , and there beyng , or of the more part of them , shal be thought mete and conueniente . And yf the sayde person or persons so in gayle , as is aforesayde , will not be reconciled and repente at the sayde quarter sessions , that then the sayde person or persons immediatlye in time conuenient , shal be further awarded and committed to the sayde gayle , by the sayd Iustices , or by the more part of them , there to remayne , without bayle or mayneprise , vntill he or they so committed and awarded to gayle , as is aforesayde , shal be reconciled , and be penitente for hys or their sayde offence or offences .

And be it further enacted by the auctoritye aforesayde , that yf anye person or persons , at any time or times , after the sayde twentye daye of December , of their owne aucthoritye and power , willingly , and vnlawfully do reskewe anye offender or offenders so apprehended , taken , or arrested , as is aforesayde , or will disturbe , hynder , or lette the sayde offender or offenders , so offendyng , as is aforesayde , to be apprehended , taken , or arrested , that then euery one of the sayde reskewers or disturbours , shall suffer lyke imprisonmente , as is aforesayde , and further shall paye forfeyte , and lose for a fine , for euery of his or their sayde offences .v. li. to the Quenes Maiestie her heyres and successours .

And be it further enacted , by thauctoritie aforesayd , that yf any of the offenders aforesayd be not taken , apprehended , or arrested immediatly in tyme conueniente , as is aforesayde , but do escape , or go awaye , that then the sayde escape shal be lawfullye presented before the Iustices of peace in the sayde Shier , Citie , Borowe , Libertie , or Towne corporate , at the next quarter sessions to be holden , where the sayd escape was made and suffred , and that then thinhabitauntes of the paryshe , where the sayde escape was so suffred , shall forfeyte and lose to the Quenes Maiestie her heyres and successours , for euery suche escape . v. li. to be leuied and taken , as other lyke amerciamentes and fines before this time , hath , and bene leauied and taken vpon any village , hundred , or towne , for the escape of any murderer , or other felon , for not making pursuite vpon Hue , and crye accordynge to the estatute of Wynchester , and the estatute made and prouided in the thirde yeare of the worthy kyng Henry the seuenth .

And be it further enacted by thaucthoritie aforesayde , that all and singuler the Iustices of peace , Iustices of assise , Iustices of oyer and determiner , & all and singuler Maiours , Bayliffes , and Iustices of peace , within anye Citie , Borowe , or Towne corporate , in any partes within this realme , within the limittes of their commission or commissions , shal haue full power and aucthoritie , by vertue of this Acte , after the sayd .xx. daye of December , to enquire of all and singuler the offences and misdemeanours aforesayd , and to heare and determine the same , and to set the fines and amerciamentes of the sayd offender or offenders , as is afore sayd .

Prouided alwayes , and be it further enacted by thauctoritie aforesayd , that this Acte or anye thing therin conteyned , shal not in any wise extende to abrigate and take away thauctoritie . Iurisdiccion , power , and punyshmentes of the ecclesiasticall lawes , nowe standynge , and remayning in their force , of , or for the punishmente of anye the offences and misdemeanours afore sayde , but that thauctoritye , power , Iurisdiccions , and punishmentes of the sayde ecclesiastical lawes , of , & for anye of the offences and misdemeanours aforesayd , shal stande in ful power and strength , and to be vsed and exercised in all , and in euery thinges , as thoughe his Acte had neuer bene had and made . This present Acte or any thyng therin conteyned to the contrary hereof in any wyse notwithstandynge .

Prouided alwayes , and be it enacted , that whatsoeuer person offendyng in the premisses , shall for any of the offences afore recited , receaue punyshment of the ordinarye , hauyng a testimoniall therof , vnder the sayde ordinaries seale , shall not for the same offence , eftsones be conuicted before the Iustice , and in likewyse receauynge for the sayde offences , punishment by the Iustice , he shall not for the same offence eftsones receaue punishment of the ordinarye . Anye thynge in this Acte to the contrary notwithstandynge .