WHereas His Majesties loyall Subjects, the Lords and Com­mons in this present Parliament assembled, have humbly repre­sented unto His Majesties gracious consideration, that all Iesu­ites and Priests ordained by authority from the See of Rome, re­maining in this Realm, by a Statute made in the seven and twen­tieth yeer of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, are declared Traitors, and to suffer as Traitors, which Law is not so rigorous as some men apprehend, or would make others to beleeve, for that it is restrained to naturall born Subjects, and doth not extend to any strangers at all, and that the said Statute is not onely approved, but by the Iudgement of severall Parliaments ad­judged fit and necessary to be put in execution: And that they conceive the not putting of these Statutes in execution against Iesuites and Priests, is a principall cause of the increase of Popery; And that the putting of these Laws in execution tendeth not onely to the pre­servation and advancement of the true Religion established in this Kingdom, but also to the safety of the Kings Person, and security of the State and Government, which were princi­pall causes of the making of these Laws against Iesuites and Priests: And that it appears by these Laws, that the Iesuites and Priests have come hither, not onely to draw the Sub­jects from their due obedience to the King, but also to stir up Sedition, Rebellion, and open Hostility within this Realm, to the great endangering of the safety of the Kings Royall Person, and to the utter ruine, desolation, and overthrow of the whole Realm, if not time­ly prevented: And that Iesuites and Priests did dayly withdraw many of the Kings Subjects from the true service of Almighty God, and the Religion established within this Realm, to the Romish Religion, and from their obedience to the King, and had perswaded divers Recusants and Papists, and encouraged and emboldned them to commit most dam­nable Treasons, tending to the overthrow of Gods true Religion, destruction of the King and His Royall Issue, and the subversion of the whole State, if God of his Goodnesse and Mercy had not then within few houres before the intended time of the execution thereof, revealed and disclosed the same: And that (considering the state and condition of this pre­sent time, wherein they finde Iesuites and Priests in so great abundance, and to appear here with such boldnesse and confidence, as if there were no Laws made against them) they do think the said Laws now more necessary to be put in strict execution, then at any time before.

His Majestie having taken into His serious consideration the Representation so made, and accepting with much contentment the great care of His said loyall Subjects, for the preser­vation of the true Religion established as aforesaid in this Kingdom, from which He will ne­ver depart, as also their tendernesse of His safety, and security of His State and Go­vernment, and firmely resolving to be carefull and vigilant that Popery or Superstition shall not any way increase within this Kingdom, or any other His Dominions, and to pro­vide against the dangers of Iesuites, Seminaries, and Priests, by putting the Lawes made against them into execution;

His Majestie doth therefore hereby straitly charge and command all manner of Iesuites, Seminaries, and Priests whomsoever, now out of Prison, made or ordained by any power or authority derived, challenged, or pretended from the See of Rome, hereby to take notice, that His Majesties absolute command and pleasure is, that they, and every of them do before the seventh day of April next ensuing the date hereof, depart forth of this His Realm of England and Dominion of Wales, and out of all other His Majesties Realms and Domi­nions, upon pain to incurre the uttermost danger, and penaltie of His said Lawes; Ad­monishing, and assuring all such Iesuites, Seminaries, and Priests, of what sort soever, that if any of them shall be after the said seventh day of April taken within this Realm, or any other His Majesties Realms or Dominions, or departing now upon this His Majesties pleasure signified, shall at any time hereafter return into this His Majesties Realm of England, or any other His Majesties Realms or Dominions, that they shall be left to the uttermost penaltie, and receive and suffer the judgement and execution of the Lawes here being in force concerning them, without hope of any favour or remission from His Majestie; [Page] And that for that purpose it shall be lawfull to all the Officers of His Majesties Ports, to suffer them and every of them to depart from thence into any Forraign parts between this and the said seventh day of April.

Wherefore His Majestie hereby straitly chargeth and commandeth all Archbishops, Bi­shops, Lieutenants, Iudges, Iustices of Assize, and Iustices of Peace, and all other His Majesties Officers and Ministers whomsoever, within this His Majesties Realm of England and Dominion of Wales, and all other His Majesties Realms and Dominions, to be from time to time vigilant and carefull, after the said seventh day of April, to do their duties and diligence, in discovering and apprehending of, and in putting into execution the said Lawes against such Iesuites, Seminaries, and Priests, as shall presume to re­main in this His Majesties Realm of England or Dominion of Wales, or any other His Realms or Dominions, contrary to the said Lawes, and His Majesties Royall pleasure and command herein declared.

Provided alwayes, and His Majesties intention is (which he doth hereby declare) that this His Majesties Proclamation, do not extend to Priests that do, or shall from time to time attend upon the person of His dearest Consort the Queen, according to the Treatie of His Majesties Marriage, the names of which Priests shall be set down, and signified by His Majesties said dearest Consort, under her great Seal, and such signification inrolled in His Majesties Court of Kings Bench.

And His Majesties further will and pleasure is, and His Majestie doth hereby declare, that such Iesuites, Seminaries, and Priests, as are now in prison, shall within one moneth after their inlargement depart out of this Realm, and all other His Majesties Realms and Dominions, upon pain to incurre the uttermost danger and penaltie of the said Lawes; Admonishing, and assuring all such Iesuites, Seminaries, and Priests, of what sort soever, that if any of them shall be after the said moneth next following their inlargement, taken within this Realm, or any other His Majesties Realms and Dominions, or departing after such moneth as aforesaid, shall at any time hereafter return into this His Majesties Realm of England, or any other His Majesties Realms or Dominions, that they shall also be left to the uttermost penaltie, and receive and suffer the judgement and execution of the Lawes here being in for [...]e concerning them, without hope of any [...], or remission from His Majestie.

And to that purpose it shall be also lawfull to all the Officers of His Majesties Ports to suffer them and every of them, to depart from thence into any Forraign parts within the said moneth after their inlargement as aforesaid.

And His Majestie is resolved that concerning those that are in prison, a speedie proceeding in course of Iustice shall be had for their deliverance, and their receiving of His Majesties mercy, and for the execution of the Lawes against them, as His Majestie shall finde their severall and respective cases to deserve.

Given at His Majesties Palace of VVestminster, the eighth day of March, in the sixteenth yeer of His Majesties Reign of Great Britain, France, and Ireland.

❧ God save the King.