¶ A Proclamation set forth by the kings majesty, for the abstinence from flesh, in the time of Lent, and other daies prohibited, the .xiiii. day of february, in the seventh year of his majesties most prosperous reign.  
WHereas in the Parliament holden at Westminster the second year of the kings majesties reign, one act, emong{is} diuers others, was made, that no person, or persons should after a certain time willingly, & witting eat any kind of flesh vpon any Fridaie, Saterdaie, any day within the time of Lent, nor at any such other day, as was at that time, or should be at any time afterwards, commonly accepted, and reputed as a fish day within this realm of England, under diuers and great penalties, as in thesaid act more largely doth appear. forasmuch as thesaied act founded vpon sundry and wholesome considerations contained in the same, hath sithence been by diuers and many fearless subiectes, most disobediently and stubbernely, infringed, broken and neglected, to the great contempt of his majesties laws, & the notable offence also of almighty god, who hath commanded princes ordinances, to be observed, not only for fear of their indignation, but also for conscience sake. His majesty having due consideration of the great scarcetie of victual, & specially of flesh, that is grown within this realm, & that by thabstinence of eating of flesh in times prohibited, much flesh is bread & increased, to the continual & more plentiful sustenance of his subiectes, most straightly chargeth and commandeth, that from and after the making of this his highnesse present Proclamation, and publishing of the same, no manner of person, or persons, dwelling, inhabiting, resiant, or abiding, within this his realm of england, or any other his Dominions, or territories, having no licence of his highnesse to eat flesh in the times prohibited by the said act, ne being provided, forprised, or excepted by thesaied act, do willingly, or wittingly, eat any maner of flesh in the times of Lent, or in, or vpon any other daies prohibited by thesaied act, contrary to the effect, purport, and tenor of the same, vpon the pains, and penalties contained in thesaied statute, and as they will besides that, avoid his highnesse indignation, and displeasure.  
And that no maner of person, or persons, keeping, or that shal keep, any tavern, inn, hostrie, alehouses, victualling house, common, or usual table, for any gestes, within his said realm, or dominions, from, and after the making of this his highnes proclamation, utter any flesh in any kind of maner, in their houses, or elsewhere, in any the times prohibited by thesaied act, or statute, to be eaten by any person, not licensed or provided for, as is aforesaid, vpon theselfe same penalties, as against the eaters therof, in thesaid act is provided.  
And that no Butcher, ne other person, after the making of this proclamation( except he shalbe specially licensed by his highnesse, under the great seal of england) shal sel any flesh, being dead, within his said realm, or Dominions, to be eaten in, or vpon, any the daies, or times prohibited by thesaied act, vpon like pain, and pains, as is before last expressed, and limited.  
And for the better example to be given by them which haue any licence, his majesties pleasure is, that no maner of person, or persons, having any licence by his majesties lettres patents, or privileged by thesaied statute to eat flesh, do in any wise eat the same flesh, vpon any daies prohibited, in any open place of his, or their house, or in any such assembly, as they use on other daies accustomend, for eating of flesh, but that he and they having licence, use the same secretly, and modestly.  
And that as well the Maior of London for the time being, as all Iustices of peace, & all other Maiors, sheriffs, bailefes, constables, and head Officers, of al and every, city, county, borough, town, and Village, within this his realm of england, and all other his highnesse dominions, and territories as they will avoid his highnesse displeasure, and indignation, & will further answer at their peril, do from time to time after the making of this his highnesse proclamation, within their rules, jurisdictions, authorities, precincts, & circuits, truly, and diligently, with all speed from time to time, search and try out, al maner thoffences, contempts, and inobediences aforesaid, and for the due execution of the aforesaid statute, and the tenor of this proclamation, do devise some weekly search, so as by their diligence, the Lawe may haue some fruit, and profit, as it is very needful: & vpon knowledge, and due proof therof made, that they and every of them forthwith commit al and every such offeder and offenders, to imprisonment, there safe, and surely to be kept, & remain, & farther to be punished, according unto the penalties by degrees, contained in the foresaid act, and in case any be found vpon thesaied punishments, not amended, then such to bee as notable and incorrigible persons, certified to his majesty, or his counsel, that some grievous open punishment of such, may be example to al others.  
And that al and every his loving and true subiectes, be from time to time, aiding, helping, and assisting to all and every such Maior and Maiors, Iustices, and other officers aforesaid, in the doing, and executing of theffect and purport of this his highnesse proclamation, as they will answer to his majesty vpon their uttermost peril, and as they will avoid his highnesse grievous indignation, and displeasure. For certainly, such is the kings determinate purpose, to haue this thoroughly executed.  
God save the king.   

richardus GRAFtonus, Typographus Regius excudebat. Anno Domini. 1552.  
Cum privilegio ad Imprimendum solum.