¶ By the queen,  
THE queens majesty considering the evil disposition of sundry her subiectes, to observe the ancient orders for abstinence from eating of flesh, as well in the time of Lent, as of other usual fasting dayes. And wayenge the great notable commodities grown by the due obseruacion therof within this land, many maner of ways: straightly chargeth all maner of people residing in the same, to observe and keep the ancient and laudable order for fasting, aswell in this Lent time, as vpon other fythe dayes, and likewise commandeth all maner officers, both ecclesiastical and temporal, to whom the regard hereof doth belong, straightly to se the same well and duly observed. willing and commanding them both in the name of almighty God, before whom they shall answer for their particular charges, and as they will also answer to her majesty for their apparent contempt or negligence, that they do not either by their own example, or by lack of execution of their authority, permit such licentious and carnal disorder, in contempt of God and man, and onely to the satisfaction of devilish and carnal appetite ▪ to be suffered vnponyshed. And because the maner of thexecution hereof, in the city and suburbs of London ▪ and Westminster, shall give good example to the rest of the realm:  
Her majesty by this present proclamation, straightly commandeth and chargeth the Maior of her said city, and other principal officers of Westminster, that no Bocher, Pulter, nor victueller, shall kill, or sell, or cause to be killed or sold within the said city, or the suburbs, or within Westminster, or the jurisdiction therof, any flesh before the tuesday next after palm sunday next coming, nor that any table keeper, Inholder, victueller or any other person that keepeth any house, whereto any persons do or shal resort for meate and drink for their money, nor any other person residing within the same places, shall dress, or suffer, or consent to be dressed, or eat, or suffer to be eaten, any flesh within any of their houses, before Easter day next, vpon pain that every person and persons that shall offend contrary to this order, shall forfeit and pay to her highnesse for every such offence, twenty pounds, those half to be disposed by their Churchwardens, to their poor people, inhabytyng the parish where thoffence shalbe found, and tother to her highness use, as in like case is ordered. And besides, yf the person offending be a citizen, he shall by the Maior and his brethren without delay, be immediately for ever disfraunchised, and being a table keeper, or victueller utterly disabled in any place to use the same trade. And yf he be no citizen, then he shall over and besides the said, forfeiture, haue for every such offence ten dayes imprisonment without bail, and yf the party offending be not able to pay the said forfeiture immediately vpon proffe made of thoffence committed: the same shall for every such offence, stand one market day in the market time openly vpon the pillory, during the space of six houres, and also that every Alderman within his ward, shall twice this lent time, cause an enquyry and presentment to be made, by the oaths of twelve honest and substantial citizens of the same ward, being not Bochers, Pulters, common victuellers ▪ nor table keepers: what persons haue or do offend in eating, killing, or selling of flesh within that ward, whereof thone enquyrye shal be the Monday after Mydlent sunday, and tother in the weke next before Easter, and that in the choice of the persons which shall so inquire, good regard be had, that they be such as be best disposed to find out, and truly to present such offences, without respect of persons, and also that the Maior with his brethren, cause once every fortnyght privy search to be made by honest and trusty persons of the houses of all Bochers, Pulters, table keepers, taverns, victuellers, and other suspected houses, for the better understanding whether they or any of them do offend in the premises, and that yf they shall finde either by this search, or by any lawful proffe brought before them ▪ any person to haue offended: that then immediately they cause thoffenders to be punished, as above is expressed without favour, affection, or respect of person.  
And it is 〈…〉 that as well the said Maior, as also every of the said Aldermen, and the principal officers within the liberties of Westminster, shall certify unto her highness court of chancery before the first day of Easter term, vpon pain of one hundred pound, what every of them hath done in the execution of the premises, under their hands and seals, to thintent that her highness thereby may consider what diligence or negligence shalbe used in th'execution hereof, that thereupon order may be taken with every of them according to their deserts.  
provided always that this order extend not to punish any person that by the laws ecclesiastical and temporal of this realm be permitted to sell, kill, or eat flesh, and for the better intelligence of persons licenced vpon reasonable and necessary cause, that none other may be collored thereby, it is ordered and commanded that every person having any licence shall notify the same to the Aldermen of the ward, and curate of the parish, or to one of them at the least where he dwelleth and indenteth to take the benefit of the dispensation. This maner or the like order, her majesty commandeth to be observed as nigh as the same may be in all places, through her realm, with like penalty ▪ and specially in al corporate towns, from which towns corporate being situate within .cxl. miles of London, her majesties pleasure is, that certificate in form aforesaid be made into her majesties chancery at the furthest, before the second return of Easter term, vpon pain of one hundred pounds to be levied to her majesties use, vpon the said corporation so making default, and from all other corporations being further distant, certificate is to be made as is aforesaid before the last day of Easter term, vpon like penalty, and for the better observation hereof, her majesty requireth, and in gods name chargeth all Byshoppes, curates and other eccleciasticall persons having the cure of souls, or the charge of preaching, to exhort and persuade the people to forbear this carnal licence and boldness to break common order, and to let them plainly understand the great dangers of the wrath of almighty god, that hath and will always light vpon such rebellious and obstinate people, that more regard their bellies, and appetites, then temporaunce and obedience.  
yeauen at her majesties palace of Westminster the .xxv. of February the second year of her highnes most noble reign.  God save the queen.  

¶ Imprinted at London in POWLES church yard, BY richard jug and John Cawood, Printers to the queens majesty.  ¶ Cum privilegio Regiae Maiestatis.