THe Kinges moost excellent maiestie, vnderstanding howe vnder pretence of expounding and declaring the truth of Gods scripture, diuers leude and euil disposed persons haue taken occasion to vtter and sowe abrode by Bokes imprinted in thenglish tongue, sundry pernicious and detestable errours and heresies, not only contrary to the lawes of this Realme, but also repugnant to the true sence of Gods lawe and his word. By reason wherof certayne men of late to the distruction of theyr owne body and soule, and to the euill example of others, haue attempted arrogantly and maliciousely to im­pugne the trueth, and therwith trouble the sobre, quiet and godly religion, vnited and established vnder the Kinges maiestie in this his Realme: His highnes minding to forsee the dangers that might en­sue therof, and tendring therwith like a most christen prince the conseruacion of the true religion in his maiesties do­minions from such corrupt and pestilent teaching, as hath of late secretly crept in by such printed bokes, hath thought it necessarily requisite to deuise by his proclamation and auctoritie of the same howe to auoyde and eschewe the sayde daungers and inconuenience, and to pourge his common welth of such pernicious doctrine as by bokes in thenglishe tonge hath ben of late diuulged abrode in this his graces realm. For which consideration, hauing the deuil so tempred the setting abrode of his falsehed as he many times annexed truthes therevnto, whereby to induce and deceyue the simple people. So as nowe the purging of that which is noysome and hurtefull, can not without taking awaye some parte of that being tollerable be put in execution, being the bokes increased to an infinite numbre, and vnknowen diuersities of titles and names wherby specially to reuoke adnull or condemne the same. The kynges maiestie is en­forced to use his generall prohibition commaundement and proclamation as foloweth.

FIrste, that from henceforth no man woman or other person, of what estate condition or degree so euer be or they be, shall after they last daye of August next insuing, receiue take haue or kepe in his or their possession, the text of the newe Testament of Tindals or Couerdals translation in englishe, nor any other than is permitted by thacte of Parli­ament, made in the session of y ^e parliament holden at Westminster in the .xxxiiii. & .xxxv. yere of his maiesties most no­ble reigne: not after the sayde day, shall receiue haue take or keys in his or their possession any maner of booke printed or written in the englishe tongue, which be or shalbe sette forth, in the names of Frith Tindall, Wicliff, Ioy, Roy, Basile, Bale, Barnes, Couerdale, Tourner, Tracy or by any of them, or any other boke or bokes, conteining matter contrary to the Kinges maiesties booke, called, A necessary doctrine and erudition for any christen man, or any thing therin con­teyned: or any other booke or bookes prohibited or forbidden to be had or kept by the act of parliament holden at West­minster in the .xxxiiii. and .xxxv. yere of the kinges maiesties most victorious reygne abouesayde.

And furthermore the kynges maiestie strayghtly chargeth and commaundeth, that who so euer, of what estate de­gree or condition so euer they or he be hath nowe in his or their custody and such boke printed or written in english, as doth conteine matter contrary to the said doctrine set forth by the kinges maiestie, or be set forth in the name of Frith Cuidall, Wicliffe, Ioy, Roie, Basile, Bale, Barnes, Couerdale, Turner, Tracy: Or els the same booke or bookes in en­glishe be the newe Testament of Tindals or Couerdales translation, or any other prohibited by the sayd acte made An­no .xxxiiii. and .xxxv. shall before the last day of August next comming, deliuer the same englishe booke or bookes to hys master in that householde, if he be a seruaunt or dwell vnder any other. And the maister or ruler of the house and suche other as dwell at large, shall deliuer all such bokes of the fortes aforesaid as they haue, or shall come to their handes de [...]uered as afore or otherwise to the Mayre, bayliffe or chiefe constable of the towne, where they dw [...]ll, to be by them deliuered ouer openly within .xl. dayes next folowing after the sayd deliuerie to the sheriffe of the shyre, or to the Bishop, chauncellour, or commissary of the same diocesse, to thintent the sayd bishop chauncellour, commissarye, and sheriffe, and euery of them, shall cause them incontinently to be open [...]y [...]ed, which the kinges maiesties pleasure is, that euery of theim shall see executed in moste effectuall sorte, and of their doinges therin make certificat to the kynges maiesties most honorable counsell, before the firste of October next comming.

And to thintent that no man shal mistrust any daunger of such penal statutes as be passed in this behalfe, for keping of the sayd bokes. The kynges maiestie is most graciously contented by this proclamation to pardon that offence to the [...]