A PROCLAMATION concerning heresy.  
FOr because that of late many strangers, born out of the kings obedience, are arrived and come into this realm, which, al be it that they were baptized in their infancy and chyldehod, according to the ordinance of the vniuersalle church of christ, Yet that not withstondynge, in contempt of the holy sacrament of baptism so given and received, they haue of their own presumption and authority, wholly rebaptised themselves: and over and beside that, they deny the most blessed and holy sacrament of the altar to be really the very body of our lord Iesu Christ: And yet farther, they keep hold and teach other dyvers and sundry pestilent herysies against god and his holy scriptures, to the great vnquyetnesse of christendom, & pardition of innumerable christen souls, wherefore a great nombre of them ben judicially & lawfully convict of their detestable heresies, and haue and shal for the same suffer pains of death, as reason & iustice requirethe in that behalf: The kings most royal majesty, being Supreme heed in earth under god of the church of england, alway intending to defend and maintain the faith of christ, and sacramentes of holy church, and daily studying and myndynge above al things to save his loving subiectes( membres of the said church) from falling into any erroneous opinions and damnable heresies, into which they might happen to fall, and be infected by the communion & conversation of such corrupt, seditions, and erroneous persons, ordaineth and straightly chargeth and commandeth, that al and singular strangers, now being in this his realm, as well such as haue recanted and reuokyd their said heresies, as al other that haue or do hold or tech those or any other erroneous opinions or heresies against god and his holy scriptures, shal within .xii. dayes next after this present proclamation depart out of this his realm, & of al other his dominions, on pain to suffer death, if they contrary to this proclamation do abide & be apprehended or taken. And that no person hereafter being of the same sectis, and holding such erroneous opinions and heresies, vpon like pain repair into this his realm, or into any parte or place of his dominions. And over this, his highnes straightly chargeth and commandeth, that none of his own loving and natural subiectes be so hardy to hold keep or teach any errors or heresies contrary to god and his holy scriptures, vpon like pains above remembered, willing and commanding as well al prelates of holy church, as all nobles, Iustices, mayres, sheriffs, bailiffs, constables, & al other his ministers and loving subiectes, that they and every of them, shal put their good and effectual endeavour for the apprehendynge of such as they shall here or know to keep, hold, or teach any such heresies, to the intent the offenders may resceyue due punishment and pains of death from time to time, as the case shall require, according to their merites, not failing so to do, as they will avoyde and eschew the kings most high indignation and displeasure, and answer to his majesty for the same at their uttermost perils.  
GOD SAVE THE king Tho. Berthelet. regius impressor excudebat. CYM PRIVILEGIO.