By the King. A proclamation against the disorderly printing, vttering, and dispersing of bookes, pamphlets, &c.

By the King .

Royal blazon or coat of arms. ¶ A Proclamation against the disorderly Printing , vttering , and dispersing of Bookes , Pamphlets , &c.

WHereas the three and twentieth day of Iune , in the eight and twentieth yeere of the Reigne of Our late deare Sister , Queene Elizabeth , for the repressing of sundry intolerable offences , troubles , and disturbances , as well in the Church , as in the Ciuill Gouernment of the State and Common-weale , occasioned by the disorderly Printing and Selling of Bookes , a Decree was made in the High Court of Starre-chamber , containing many iust and prouident Ordinances for preuenting of those inconueniences ; And amongst the rest , That no person or persons should imprint , or cause to be imprinted , any Booke , Worke , or Copy , against the forme and meaning of any Restraint or Ordinance , contained , or to be contained in any Statute or Lawes of this Realme , or in any Iniunction , made or set foorth by her Maiestie , or her Priuie Councell , or against the true intent and meaning of any Letters Patents , Commissions , or Prohibitions vnder the Great Seale of ENGLAND , or contrary to any allowed Ordinance , set downe for the good Gouernance of the Company of Stationers within the City of London , vpon paine of imprisonment by the space of sixe Moneths , without Baile or Maineprise , and such further punishment as in the said Decree is set downe ; And that euery person that should wittingly sell , vtter , put to sale , binde , stitch or sow , or wittingly cause to be solde , vttered , put to sale , bound , stitched , or sowed , any Bookes or Copies whatsoeuer , Printed contrary to the intent and true meaning of the Ordinances or Articles aforesaid , should suffer three moneths imprisonment for his or their offence . The true intent and meaning of which said Decree hath beene cautelously abused and eluded , by Printing in the parts beyond the Sea , and elsewhere , as well sundry seditious , schismaticall , and scandalous Bookes and Pamphlets , as also such allowed Bookes , Workes and Writings , as haue beene imprinted within the Realme , by such , to whom the sole Printing thereof by Letters Patents , or lawfull Ordinance or Authoritie doeth appertaine , according to the true intent of the said Decree , and by importing the same into this Our Realme . Wee willing , not onely to tread in the steps of Our said deare Sister , but to adde such further strength as shall be meete , to those prouident and good Orders made in Her time , Haue thought fit to publish and declare vnto all Our Subiects , That it is Our expresse Will and Commandement , that the said Decree be from hencefoorth strictly obserued , and put in execution .

And to meet with the malice and craft of such , as by sleight or cunning shall attempt , or goe about to vndermine , or auoyd all or any part of the sayd Decree , We doe straitly prohibit and forbid , that no person or persons whatsoeuer , either Our naturall borne Subiect , Denizen , or Stranger , doe at any time hereafter , either within Our owne Dominions , or without , imprint , or cause to be unprinted , or bring in , or cause to be brought in , into this Our Realme , or sow , stitch , binde , sell , put to sale , or disperse any seditious , schismaticall , or other scandalous Bookes , or Pamphlets whatsoeuer , or any other booke or bookes ( though lawfull or allowed to bee Printed by such to whom the Printing thereof doth belong ) which shall be Printed contrary to the true intent of the sayd Decree , or shal be Printed out of this Realme , of purpose to auoyd the sayd Decree , or any prohibition or restraint conteyned in any Letters Patents , Priuiledge , or lawfull ordinance , vpon paine of Our indignation and heauy displeasure , and of the paines , punishments and imprisonments , conteyned in the sayd Decree , and such further censures , as by Our Court of Star-chamber , and high Commission respectiuely , shall be thought meet to be inflicted on them , for such their offences .

And We doe straitly charge , authorise , and command the Master and Keepers , or Wardens of the Mysterie or Arte of Stationers of the Citie of London , and their Successors and their Deputies , that they from time to time ( taking with them such Officers , as in , or by their Charters or the said Decree are appointed ) doe make carefull and diligent search for all such scandalous and offensiue Bookes or Pamphlets , as are , or shall be imported into this Realme , or here imprinted , contrary to this Our Royall Commandement , and seize the same , and doe their vttermost indeuours , aswell for suppressing thereof , as for bringing the Offenders vnto Iustice , as they the said Master , Wardens , and their Deputies , and euery of them will answere their neglect at their perils :

Willing , and hereby straitly charging and commanding all and euery Our Iustices of Peace , Mayors , Sheriffes , Bayliffes , Constables , and Headboroughes , and all Customers , Comptrollers , Searchers , Wayters , and all other Our Officers , Ministers , and Subiects whatsoeuer , as they tender Our fauour , and will auoyd Our indignation and displeasure , from time to time , to their vttermost powers , to see this Our Royall pleasure duely executed , and to be ayding and assisting to the persons before mentioned in the due execution of this Our commandement .

Giuen at Our Mannour of Hampton Court , the fiue and twentieth day of September , in the one and twentieth yeere of Our Reigne of Great Britaine , France , and Ireland . God saue the King .