HAuing after some time spent in setling the politique affaires of this Realme , of late bestowed no small labour in composing certaine differences Wee found among our Cleargie about Rites and Ceremonies heretofore established in this Church of England , and reduced the same to such an Order and forme , as Wee doubt not but euery spirit that is ledde onely with Pietie , and not with Humor , shal be therein satisfied : It appeared vnto vs in the debating of those matters , that a greater contagion to our Religion , then could proceed from those light differences , was imminent by persons common Enemies to them both , Namely the great number of Priests both Seminaries and Iesuits abounding in this Realme , aswell of such as were here before our comming to this Crowne , as of such as haue resorted hither since , vsing their functions and professions with greater libertie , then heretofore they durst haue done , partly vpon a vaine confidence of some Innouation in matters of Religion to be done by vs , which Wee neuer intended , nor gaue any man cause to expect , & partly vpon the assurance of our generall Pardon , granted according to the custome of our Progenitors at our Coronation , for offences past in the dayes of the late Queene , which Pardons many of the said Priests haue procured vnder Our great Seale , and holding themselues thereby free from the danger of the Lawes , doe with great audacitie exercise all Offices of their profession , both saying Masses , perswading our Subiects from the Religion established , and reconciling them to the Church of Rome , and by consequence seducing them from the true perswasion , which all Subiects ought to haue of their duetie and obedience to Vs. Wherefore , forasmuch as by way of prouidence to preserue their people from being corrupted in Religion , pietie and obedience , is not the least part of Royall duetie , Wee hold our selfe obliged both in conscience and in wisdome , to vse all good meanes to keepe our Subiects from being infected with superstitious opinions in matter of Religion , which are not onely pernitious to their owne soules , but the ready way and meanes to corrupt their duetie and allegiance , which cannot be any way so surely performed , as by keeping from them the ministers and instruments of that Infection , which are the Priests of all sorts ordained in forraine parts , by authoritie prohibited by the Lawes of this land , Concerning whom therefore We haue thought it fit to publish to all our Subiects this open declaration of our pleasure . That where there be of Priests at this present within our kingdome , be they Regular or without Rule , diuers sorts , some in prison , some at libertie , and of both , some hauing obtained our Pardon vnder our great Seale , and some hauing no such Pardon : And againe some that were here before Our comming into this Realme , and some commen hither since : For all such as are in prison We haue taken order that they shall be shipped at some conuenient Port , and sent out of our Realme as soone as possibly may be , with commandement not to returne againe into any part of our Dominions , without our Licence obtained , vpon paine and perill of the Lawes being here in force against them , And for all others who are at libertie , whether hauing sued out our Pardon or not , which Wee doe aduertise them and all our Subiects , that extending onely to matters done before the death of the late Queene , doeth not exempt any Priest from the danger of the Law for his abode here since Our succession to the Crowne aboue the time by the Statute limited .

Wee doe hereby will and command all maner of Iesuits , Seminaries , and other Priests whatsoeuer , hauing Ordination from any authoritie by the Lawes of this Realme prohibited , to take notice That our Pleasure is , that they doe before the nineteenth day of March next ensuing the date hereof , depart foorth of our Realme and Dominions , And that for that purpose it shal be lawfull to all Officers of our Ports , to suffer the sayd Priests to depart from thence into any Forreine parts , betweene this and the sayd nineteenth day of March : Admonishing and assuring all such Iesuits , Seminaries , and Priests of what sort soeuer , That if any of them shall be after the said nineteenth day taken within this Realme or any our Dominions , or departing now vpon this our Pleasure signified , shall hereafter returne into this Realme or any our Dominions againe , that they shal be left to the penaltie of the Lawes here being in force concerning them , without hope of any fauor or remission from Vs.

Wherefore We will and command all Archbishops , Bishops , Lieutenants , Iustices of Peace , and all other our Officers and Ministers whatsoeuer , to be vigilant and carefull after the said nineteenth day of March past , to doe their duties and diligence in discouering and apprehending of all Priests that shall remaine here contrary to this our declaration . Which though perhaps it may seeme to some to presage a greater seueritie towards that sort of our Subiects , who differing in their profession from the Religion by Lawe established , call themselues Catholikes , then by our proceedings with them hitherto we haue giuen cause to expect : Yet doubt we not , but that when it shall be considered with indifferent Iudgement , what causes haue mooued vs to vse this prouidence against the sayde Iesuits , Seminaries , and Priests , all men will iustifie vs therein . For to whome is it vnknowen , into what perill our Person was like to be drawen , and our Realme vnto confusion not many moneths since , by a Conspiracie first conceiued by persons of that sort , who hauing preuailed with some , had vndertaken to drawe multitudes of others to assist the same , by the authoritie of their perswasions and motiues grounded chiefly vpon matter of Conscience and Religion ? Which when other Princes shall duly obserue , Wee assure our selues they will no way conceiue that this alteration groweth from any change of disposition now more exasperate then heretofore , but out of necessary prouidence to preuent perils otherwise ineuitable , considering that their absolute submission to Forreine Iurisdiction at their first taking of Orders , doeth leaue so conditionall an authoritie to Kings ouer their Subiects , as the same power by which they were made , may dispense at pleasure with the straitest band of loyaltie and loue betweene a King and his People . Amongst which Forreine powers , although wee acknowledge our selues personally so much beholding to the now Bishop of Rome for his kinde offices and priuate temporall cariage towards vs in many things , as wee shall be euer ready to requite the same towards him , ( as Bishop of Rome in state and condition of a Secular Prince ) Yet when wee consider and obserue the course and claime of that Sea , Wee haue no reason to imagine , that Princes of our Religion and Profession , can expect any assurance long to continue , vnlesse it might be assented by mediation of other Princes Christian , that some good course might be taken ( by a generall Councell free and lawfully called ) to plucke vp those roots of dangers and iealousies which arise for cause of Religion as well betweene Princes and Princes , as betweene them and their Subiects , and to make it manifest that no State or Potentate either hath or can challenge power to dispose of earthly Kingdomes or Monarchies , or to dispense with Subiects obedience to their naturall Soueraignes : In which charitable Action , there is no Prince liuing , that will be readier then Wee shall be to concurre euen to the vttermost of our power , not onely out of particular disposition to liue peaceably with all States and Princes of Christendome , but because such a setled amitie might ( by an vnion in Religion ) be established among Christian Princes , as might enable vs all to resist the common Enemie .