ALthough it cannot be unknown to Our Subjects by the former Declarations We have published, what Our purposes & proceedings have beén in matters of Religion, since Our coming to this Crown: Yet the same being now by Vs reduced to a setled Form, We have occasion to repeat somewhat of that which hath passed, and how at our very first entry into the Realm, being entertained & importuned with Informations of sun­dry Ministers, complaining of the Errors & Imperfections of the Church here, as well in matters of Do­ctrine, as of Discipline: Although we had no reason to presume that things were so far amiss, as was pre­tended, because We had seen the Kingdom under that Form of Religion which by Law was established in the dayes of the late Queen of famous memory, blessed with a peace & prosperity, both extraordinary, and of many years continuance, (a strong evidence that God was therewith well pleased,) Yet because the importunity of the Com­plainers was great, their affirmations vehement, and the zeal wherewith the same did séem to be accompanied, very specious: We were moved thereby to make it Gur occasion to discharge the duty which is the chiefest of all Kingly duties, that is to settle the Affairs of Religion, and the Service of God before their own. Which while we were in hand to do as the contagion of the sickness reigning in Our City of London and other places, would permit an Assembly of persons méet for that purpose; Some of those who misliked the state of Religion here established, presuming more of Our intents than ever We gave them cause to do, & transported with humor, began such procéedings as did rather raise a scandal in the Church, than take offence away. For both they used Forms of publick serving of God not here allowed, held Assemblies without Authority, and did other things carrying a very shew of Sedition more than of zeal; whom we restrained by a former Proclamation in the Month of October last, & gave intima­tion of the Conference We intended to be had with as much speed as conveniently could be, for the ordering of those things of the Church, which accordingly followed in the Month of January last, at Our Honour of Hampton Court, where before Our Self, & Our Privy Council, were assembled many of the gravest Bishops & Prelates of the Realm, & many other learned men, as well of those that are conformable to the State of the Church established, as of those that dissented: Among whom what Our pains were, what Our patience in hearing & replying, and what the indifferency & uprightness of Our Iudgment in determin­ing, VVe leave to the report of those who heard the same, contenting Our Self with the sincerity of Our own heart therein. But we cannot conceal, that the success of that Conference was such, as happeneth to many other things, which moving great expectation before they be entred into, in their issue produce small effects. For VVe found mighty & vehement Informations sup­ported with so weak & slender proofs as it appeareth unto Vs, and Our Council, that there was no cause why any change should have béen at all in that which was most impunged, the Book of Common-Prayer, containing the Form of the publick Service of God here established, neither in the Doctrine which appeared to be sincere, nor in the Forms and Rite which were justified out of the practise of the Primitive Church: Notwithstanding, VVe thought meet, with consent of the Bishops and other learned men there present, That some small things might rather be explained then changed, not that the same might not very well have been born with by men who have made a reasonable construction of them: but for that in a matter concerning the Service of God, we were nice, or rather jealous, that the publick Form thereof should be frée, not only from blame, but from suspition, so as neither the common Adversary should have advantage to wrest ought therein contained, to other sense than the Church of England in­tendeth, nor any troublesome or ignorant person of this Church be able to take the least occasion of cavil against it: And for that purpose gave forth Our Commisssion under Our Great Seal of England, to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and others, ac­cording to the Form which the Laws of the Realm in like case prescrive to be used, to make the said Explanation, and to cause the whole Book of Common-Prayer to be newly printed; which being now done, & established anew after so serious a deliberati­on; although we doubt not but all Our Subjects, both Ministers & others, will receive the same with such reverence as apper­taineth, and conform themselves thereto every man in that which him concerneth: Yet have VVe thought it necessary, to make known by Proclamation Our authorizing of the same; and to require & enjoyn all men, as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal, to con­form themselves unto it, and to the practise thereof, as the only publick Form of serving God, established & allowed to be in this Realm: and the rather for that all the learned men who were there present as well of the Bishops as others, promised their conformity in the practise of it, only making suit to Vs, that some few might be born with for a time.

VVherefore VVe require all Arch-Bishops, Bishops, and all publick Ministers, as well Ecclesiastical as Civil, to do their duty in causing the same to be obeyed, and in punishing the offenders according to the Laws of the Realm heretofore established, for the authorizing of the said Book of Common-Prayer. And we think it also necessary, that the said Arch-Bishops and Bi­shops, do each of them in his Province and Diocess take order, That every Parish do procure to themselves within such time as they shall think good to limit, one of the said Books so explained. And last of all VVe do admonish all men, that hereafter they shall not expect, nor attempt any further alteration in the common & publick Form of Gods Service, from this which is now establish­ed, for that neither will we give way to any to presume, that Our own Iudgments having determined in a matter of this weight, shall be swayed to alteration by the frivilous suggestions of any light spirit: neither are we ignorant of the Inconveniences that do arise in Government, by admitting Innovation in things once setled by mature deliberation: And how necessary it is to use constancy in the upholding of the publick determination of States, for that such is the unquietness & unstedfastness of some dispositions, affecting every Year new Forms of things, as if they should be followed in their unconstancy, would make all acti­ons of States ridiculous and contemptible; whereas the stedfast maintaining of things by good advice established, is the weath of all the Common-wealth.

Given at Our Court, the 5th. day of March.