THe Kings most Excellent MAIESTIE hauing of late taken speciall notice of the generall decayes and ruines of Parish Churches and Chappels in many parts of this Kingdome , and that by Law the same ought to bee repaired and maintained from time to time , at the proper charge of the Inhabitants and occupiers of Lands within those Parishes and Chappelries respectiuely , who being altogether carelesse of their dueties therein , haue in many places wilfully neglected the same , when with a little charge seasonably bestowed in time , they might easily preuent those great ruines , which afterwards grow more heauy to be supported by their own defaults , and sometimes those Churches and Chappels are by them purposely suffered to run into such extreame ruine and decay out of hope to obtaine some generall Collection , whereby to spare themselues , and to get the worke , which they are bound to doe by law , to bee done by the common purse of others , such Collections hauing been of late yeeres more frequently granted then heretofore .

His Maiestie therefore taking this matter into His Princely consideration , and holding it a great dishonour to our Christian profession , that the consecrated places of Gods worship and Diuine Seruice are no better looked vnto , doth by this his Proclamation straitly charge & command all Archbishops , Bishops , Archdeacons , and others to whom it may appertaine , That they take speciall care , each of them within his owne limits and Iurisdiction , that this point of keeping and vpholding the Churches and Chappels from time to time , in good , decent , and substantiall repaire , bee exactly and duely performed , and therein not to rely vpon the Churchwardens Presentments , who to saue themselues and their neighbours from charge , will easily omit to make knowen the decaies of their Churches and their owne defaults , but either by themselues in person , or by their Officials , or other persons of worth and trust , to take view and suruey of the Churches and Chappels within their seuerall Iurisdictions , and where they find ought amisse , to cause the same to be speedily and carefully amended , and to limit and appoint set dayes for the doing thereof , that no needefull worke be deferred too long , and to vse the power of the Ecclesiasticall Courts for putting the same in due execution . Willing and requiring also all His Maiesties Iudges of the Common Law , to be very carefull and wary , that in these cases which concerne the repaire of Churches & Chappels according to this His Maiesties Princely care , and Royall commandement , the good worke vndertaken in the Ecclesiasticall Courts bee not interrupted , by their too easie granting of Prohibitions , which , as with other cases , so especially in this , would not be granted , but vpon weighty and great cause , and vpon strict and due examination .

And to take away from the said Inhabitants and Land-holders of Parishes , the hope which they haue heretofore had to relieue themselues by publique Collections , as also to preuent the causelesse burthening of His louing Subiects , not lyable by the Law to the sayd reparations , His Maiesty hereby doeth further charge and command the Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England , that from hencefoorth no Letters Patents be granted , nor suffered to passe the Seale for any Collection for the repayring or new building of any Churches or Chappels , or the Steeples of the same , excepting onely in case of casualty by fire , or extraordinary violence of Tempest , whereby the sayd Churches , Chappels , or Steeples are suddenly , without the Parishioners default , so greatly decayed , as the Inhabitants and Land-holders are not able without helpe of others , to repayre or new build the same .

All which His Maiestie doth will and command to be from henceforth duely and strictly obserued , aswel by the said Lord Keeper for his part , as by the said Archbishops , Bishops , Iudges , and others for their parts , as they tender His Maiesties good pleasure and Royall Commandement , that the great inconuenience , and dishonour of suffering the houses of Gods worship and seruice , to runne into ruine and decay amongst vs , may bee hereafter carefully preuented .