THe Quenes Maiestie vnderstanding , that by the meanes of sundry people , partly ignoraunt , partly malicious or couetous : there hath ben of late yeres spoyled and broken , certayne auncient monumentes , some of metall , some of stone , which were erected vp aswell in Churches , as in other publike places within this Realm , only to shewe a memory to the posteritie of the persons there buryed , or that had ben benefactours to the buyldynges , or dotations of the same Churches or publique places , and not to noryshe any kynd of superstition : By which meanes , not only the Churches and places remayne at this present day spoyled , broken , and ruinated , to thoffence of all noble and gentle heartes , and thextinguyshyng of the honorable and good memorye of sundry vertuous and noble persons deceassed : But also the true vnderstandyng of diuers families in this Realme ( who haue descended of the bloud of the same persons deceassed ) is thereby so darkened , as the true course of theyr inheritaunce may be hereafter interrupted , contrary to Iustice , besydes many other offences that hereof do ensue , to the sclaunder of such as eyther gaue or had charge in tymes paste onely to deface monumentes of Idolatry , and false fayned Images in Churches and Abbeyes . And therefore , although it be very harde to recouer thynges broken and spoyled : yet both to prouide that no such barbarous disorder be hereafter vsed , and to repayre asmuche of the sayde monumentes as conueniently may be : Her Maiestie chargeth and commaundeth all maner of persons , hereafter to forbeare the breakyng or defacyng of any parcell of any monument , or tombe , or graue , or other inscription and memorye of any person deceassed , beynge in any maner of place , or to breake any Image of Kynges , Princes , or noble estates of this Realme , or of any other that haue ben in times past erected and set vp , for the only memory of them to their posteritie in common Churches , and not for any religious honour : or to breake downe or deface any Image in glasse wyndowes in any Church , without consent of the Ordinary : vpon payne , that whosoeuer shall herein be founde to offend , to be committed to the next Gayle , & there to remayne without bayle or mainprise , vnto the next commyng of the Iustices , for the delyuery of the sayd Gayle , and then to be further punyshed by fine or imprisonment ( besydes the restitution or reedification of the thyng broken ) as to the sayde Iustices shall seme meete , vsyng therin thaduise of Thordinarye , and yf nede shal be , thaduise also of her Maiesties Counsayle in her Starre chamber .

And for such as be already spoyled in anye Churche or Chappell nowe standynge : Her Maiestie chargeth and commaundeth all Archbyshops , Byshops , and other Ordinaries , or Ecclesiastical persons , which haue aucthoritie to visite the same Churches or Chappelles , to inquyre by presentmentes of the Curates , Churchwardens , and certayne of the paryshyoners , what maner of spoyles haue ben made , sithens the begynnynge of her Maiesties raigne , of suche monumentes , and by whom , and yf the persons be lyuynge , howe able they be to repayre and to reedifie the same , and thervpon to conuent the same persons , and to enioyne them vnder payne of excommunication , to repayre the same by a conuenient day , or otherwyse as the cause shall further require , to notifie the same to her Maiesties counsayle in the Starre chamber at Westminster . And yf any suche shal be founde and conuicted therof , not able to repayre the same : that then they be enioyned to do open penaunce two or three tymes in the Church , as to the qualitie of the cryme and partie belongeth , vnder lyke payne of excommunication . And yf the partie that offended be dead , and thexecutours of the wyll lefte , hauynge sufficiente in theyr handes vnadministred , and thoffence notorious , the Ordinary of the place shal also inioyne them to repayre or reedifie the same , vpon lyke or any other conuenient payne to be deuysed by the sayde Ordinary . And when thoffendour can not be presented , yf it be in any Cathedrall or Collegiat Church , which hath any reuenue belongyng to it , that is not perticulerly allotted to the sustentacion of any person certayne , or otherwyse : but that it may remayne in ●●●cretion of the gouernoure thereof , to bestowe the same vpon anye other charytable dede , as mending of hyghwayes , or such lyke : Her Maiestie enioyneth and strayghtly chargeth the gouernours and companies of euery such Churche , to employe such parcelles of the sayde sommes of money ( as any wyse maye be spared ) vpon the spedye repayre or reedification of any suche monumentes so defaced or spoyled , as agreable to thoriginall , as the same conueniently maye be .

And where the couetousnes of certayne persones is such , that as Patrones of Churches , or owners of the personages impropriated , or by some other colour or pretence , they doo perswade with the person and paryshioners to take or throwe downe the Belles of Churches and Chappels , and the Leade of the same , conuertyng the same to their priuate gayne , and to the spoyles of the sayde places , and make suche lyke alterations , as thereby they seke a sclaunderous desolacion of the places of prayer : Her Maiestie ( to whom in the ryght of the Crowne by thordinaunce of Almighty God , and by the lawes of this Realme , the defence and protection of the Churche of thys Realme belongeth ) doth expressely forbyd anye maner of person , to take away any Belles or Lead of anye Churche or Chappell , now vsed , or that oughte to be vsed with publique and diuine seruice , or otherwyse deface any suche Churche or Chappell , vnder paine of imprisonmente duringe her Maiesties pleasure , and suche further fine for the contempte , as shal be thought mete .

And her Maiestie chargeth all Byshops and Ordinaries to enquire of all such contemptes done from the begynnynge of her Maiesties Raygne , and to enioyne the persons offendynge , to repayre the same within a conuenient tyme . And of theyr doynges in thys behalfe , to certifye her Maiesties pryuye Counsayle , or the Counsayl in the Starre chamber at Westminster , that order may be taken herein .