THe Queenes most excellent Maiestie , considering with her selfe how mercifully Almightie God hath by the space of many yeeres preserued her highnesse most Royal person , and this her Realme & other her Dominions , against diuers and manifold most dangerous practises , aswell of the Pope , and other forreigne enemies , as of sundrie disloyall , rebellious and traiterous persons , being naturall borne Subiects of this Realme , who haue not ceased by all possible meanes they could deuise , to compasse the destruction of her Maiestie , and the vtter ruine and ouerthrow of this state and Common weale . For the effecting whereof , they haue contriued and layde sundrie complots , not onely for the inuasion of the Realme by forreigne enemies , but also to mooue and stirre vp sedition and rebellion at home , by withdrawing her Subiects from their loyall and due obedience , and by preparing them to betray their owne naturall Countrey , & most ●nnaturally to ioyne with forreine enemies , in the spoyle and destruction of the same . For which vngodly and wicked purpose ( as it hath euidently appeared and bene fully prooued ) so many Iesuites and Seminarie Priests and other persons of like qualitie , haue by direction of the Pope bene of late yeres sent into the Realme : By whom and their Adherents , sundry false , slanderous , and seditious rumors and reports , tending wholy to moue the peoples hearts to discontentment and offence , haue bene commonly bruted and giuen out , and diuers seditious and trayterous Libels , Bookes and writings , haue bene also by them published and scattered abroade . Whereupon her Maiestie foreseeing in her Princely wisedome the dangerous consequent of such malicious and traiterous practises , hath heretofore by seuerall Proclamations notified the same to her louing Subiects , forbidding thereby the publishing , hauing or keeping of any such seditious Libels , Bookes or writings , within any her Realmes of Dominions . And her Maiestie nowe finding , that the malice aswell of the Pope and other her forreigne enemies , as of her rebellious and trayterous Subiects liuing in the partes beyond the Seas , is more and more encreased , and that they haue bene of long time secretly leuying and preparing great forces and Armies to inuade this Realme , and other her Maiesties Dominions , with purpose to put the same in speedie execution by all possible meanes , thereby vtterly to ouerthrowe our most happy estate , and this florishing common weale , and to subiect the same to the proude , seruile , and slauish gouernment of forreiners and strangers . And hauing also certaine intelligence , that Sixtus the fift now Pope of Rome , hath of late published and set foorth a most malicious and detestable Bull or Libell against her Maiestie , and her most gracious and peaceable gouernment , and against all her louing , duetiful , and faithfull subiects : and that sundry other most false , slanderous , and traiterous Libels , Bookes and Pamphlets are lately also contriued , written and printed by diuers sedicious and trayterous persons , with purpose to be in couert and secret maner dispersed through this Realme , wherein they doe not onely goe about with most false and abhominable lyes to slaunder and dishonour her Maiestie , and the present most happy and quiet state and gouernement , but also by subtile and pestilent perswasions to withdraw● her Highnesse subiects from their due obedience , and to excite and stirre vp the people to take armes against God and their Souereigne , and to ioyne with the forreigne enemies , & so to betray and yeeld themselues , their parents , kindred and children , and their religion , countrey , and Common weale , to be subiects and slaues to Aliens and strangers . Therefore her Highnesse thinketh good to admonish her louing , good and faithfull subiects , to continue in humble seare and seruice to Almightie God , in their loyall and duetifull obedience to her ●●●tie , and in their faithfull readinesse to defend themselues and their Countrey against all forreigne ene●●es and rebellious traytors whatsoeuer . And doubteth not , but by Gods mercifull goodnesse ( vpon which she 〈◇〉 alwayes , and doth onely depend ) with the strength which God hath giuen her , to withstand their malice , and to preserue her good subiects , and her Realmes and Dominions from all dangers . Neuerthelesse , least any of her people should be seduced , or their simplicitie abused by the false perswasions or malicious surmises con ed in the said infamous and slaunderous Bulls , Libels , Bookes and pamphlets : Her Highnesse doth by this her Maiesties Proclamation straightly charge and commaund , that no person whatsoeuer , shall conuey , cary , or br●●g into any of her Maiesties Realmes or dominions , any of the said Buls , or any transcript or copy thereof , or ●●y the said Libels , Bookes , Pamphlets or writings , nor shall in any wise disperse or vtter any of the same . And th●t all such persons , to whose hands any such Bull , or any transcript or copy thereof , or any of the sayde Libels , Boo●es , Pamphlets or writings , eyther hath come , or shall hereafter at any time come , doe presently with al con ent speed , without shewing the same to any person , send or deliuer it to some one of her Highnes priuy Coun●el , if any such be within xx . miles , or if it be aboue that distance of miles from the Court , then to the Lieutenant , ● to his deputie of the same shire for the time being where the partie shall be , that hath or shal haue any such Bull 〈◇〉 any transcript or copy thereof , or any such Libell , Booke , Pamphlet or writing . And that the same Lieute●ant or his Deputie , to whose hands any such Bull , or any such transcript or copie thereof , or any such Libell , Booke , Pamphlet or writing shall come : shall without delay , and with all conuenient speede , safely sende the s●me to the Lordes of her Maiesties priuy Counsell . And that euery person , to whome any such Bull , or any Transcript or copie thereof , or any such Libell , Booke , Pamphlet or writing shall be hereafter deliuered , offered 〈◇〉 ●hewed , shall immediatly apprehend and put in safe keeping the partie so deliuering , offering or shewing the s●●e , if hee bee of power and able so to doe : to the ende that euery such offendor may bee foorth comming , to be speedily proceeded vpon and punished for the sayde offence , according to the tenor of this her Maiesties Procla●ation . Or for lacke of such abilitie , shall with alconuenient speede disclose the name and dwelling place , or place of resort of the partie so offending , to some Iustice of Peace of the Shire , where any such offence shal be committed : who shal thereupon immediatly cause the party so offending to be apprehended & put in safe keeping as aforesaid .

And her Maiesties further pleasure and expresse commandement is , that if any person shall wittingly and willingly offende in , or touching the bringing in , dispersing , vttering , or malitious hauing or keeping of any such Bull , or of any Transcript or Copie thereof , or of any the said Libels , Bookes or pamphlets , contrary to this her Maiesties Proclamation : that euery such offender shall with all seueritie bee proceeded against , and punished ac●●rding to the Martiall Law by her Maiesties Lieutenants , or by their Deputies , by direction from the same Lieutenants in that behalfe within the seuerall limits and precincts of their seuerall Commissions of Lieutenancie , and shall suffer such paines and punishments in that behalfe , as by the saide Lieutenants or their Deputies , by such direction as is aforesaid , or any of them within their said Limits and Precincts , shal be inflicted vpon them , and that thereupon also the goods and chattels of euery such offender , shall be confiscate and forfeited to her M●iestie . And for the better execution of this present Proclamation , her Maiestie doeth not onely graunt and c●mmit full power and authoritie to all and euery her saide Lieutenants and their Deputies , hauing such direction as is aforesaid : but doeth also hereby straitely charge and commaunde them , and euery of them , to proceede against the offenders aforesaid , with all diligence and seueritie according to the said Martiall Lawe . And further granteth by these presents , that none of her said Lieutenants or their Deputies , shall in any wise be empeached in body , lands or goods , at any time hereafter , for any thing to be done or executed in the punishing of any such offenders according to the saide Martiall Lawe , and the tenor of this her Highnesse Proclamation , any Lawe or Statute to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding . And for the better discouerie of the said offences and the mo●t speedie apprehension of such Traiterous , seditious , and wicked persons , as after admonition giuen by this her Highnesse Proclamation , shall presume malitiously and wilfully to offende against the same : her Maiestie traitly chargeth and commandeth aswell all her saide Lieutenants and Deputies and euery of them , as all and euery her Iudges , Sheriffes , Iustices of Peace , Maiors , Bailiffes , and all other her Officers & ministers , and good and louing Subiects , that they shall with all care & diligence in all places , aswel exempt as not exempt , en t and search for all such Buls , Transcripts , Copies , Libels , Bookes and Pamphlets , and for al such persons whatsoeuer as shal bring in , publish , disperse , or vtter any of the same Buls , Transcripts , Copies , Libels , Bookes , 〈◇〉 Pamphlets , and them to arrest and apprehende and to put in safe keeping , that they may bee speedily proceeded 〈◇〉 for the said offences , according to the Martiall Lawe as is aforesaid . And her Maiestie is pleased that all 〈◇〉 persons as shall apprehend or detect any such offender against this Proclamation as is aforesaide , whereby 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 offender may be foorth comming to be proceeded vpon , and to receiue punishment according to the quali●● of t●e offence , shall haue the moitie of all the goods and chattels of the same offender which shal be so apprehen●● 〈◇〉 detected by them . And in case any Sheriffe , Maior , Iustice of Peace , or other publique and inferiour offi●●● 〈◇〉 any other to whom it shal or may appertaine , shall be found remisse or negligent in the due execution of this P●●●●●●ation : then the said partie or parties so offending , shal be brought before the Lordes & others of her high●●●● Pauie Counsell , to receiue punishment for that remisnesse and contempt , as shall appertaine to the nature 〈◇〉 tie of the same offence .

And ●●nally , her Maiestie of her most gratious and mercifull disposition , doeth hereby signifie to all her louing ●●●●ects , that her will and pleasure is , that they nor any of them shal be molested , troubled , or empeached for any 〈◇〉 heretofore passed in the receiuing or hauing of any of the said Buls , Transcripts , Copies , Libels , Bookes , 〈◇〉 P●●phlets , so as they do deliuer the same according to the effect and true meaning of this Proclamation , & so 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 appeare that they haue bene no authors , bringers in , setters foorth , dispersers , or mainteiners of the same 〈◇〉 , Transcripts , Copies , Libels , Bookes or Pamphlets . And her Maiestie willeth and graunteth , that this ●er ●●ghnesse Proclamation shal be a sufficient warrant to all her saide Lieutenants and their Deputies , and all ●●d euery her Iudges , Sheriffes , Iustices of Peace , Ministers and Officers , and all other her louing Subiects ●●atsoeuer , to proceede in the due execution of the premisses , according to the tenor of the same Proclamation . ●●d therefore her Maiesties wil and pleasure is , that the same shal be made and published vnder her great Seale 〈◇〉 England .