By the queen.  
¶ A Proclamation against the despisers or breakers of the orders prescribed in the book of Common prayer.  
THE queens majesty being right sorry to understand that the order of common prayer, set forth by the common consent of the realm, and by authority of the Parliament in the first year of her reign, wherein is nothing contained but the scripture of God, and that which is consonant unto it, is now of late of some men despised, and spoken against, both by open preachings, and writings, and of some bold and vain curious men, new and other rites found out and frequented, whereupon contentions, sects, and disquietness doth arise among her people: and for one godly and uniform order, diversity of rights and ceremonies, disputations, and contentions, schisms, and divisions already risen, and more like to ensue. The cause of which disorders, her majesty doth plainly understand to be the negligence of the Byshoppes and other Magistrates, who should cause the good laws and acts of Parliament made in this behalf to be better executed, and not so dissembled and wynked at, as hitherto( it may appear) that they haue ben.  
For speedy remedy whereof, her majesty straightly chargeth and commandeth al Archbyshoppes and Byshoppes, and all Iustices of assizes, and Oyer, and Termyner, and all Maiors, head officers of Cities and towns corporate, and all other who haue any authority to put in execution the act for the uniformity of common prayer and the administration of Sacraments made in the first year of her gracious reign, with all diligence and severity, neither fauouryng, nor dissemblying with one person nor other, who doth neglect, despise, or seek to alter the godly orders and rights set forth in the said book: But yf any person shall by public preaching, writing, or printing, contemn, despise, or dispraise the orders contained in the said book, they shal immediately apprehended him, and cause him to be imprisoned, until he haue answered to the lawe, vpon pain that the chief officers, being present at any such preaching, and the whole Parish, do answer for their contempt and negligence. likewise, if any shall forbear to come to the common prayer, and receive the Sacramentes of the church, according to the order in the said book allowed, upon no just and l●full cause: all such persons they shall inquire of, present, and see punished, and ordered according as is prescribed in the said act, with more care and diligence then heretofore hath ben done: the which negligence hath ben cause why such disorders hath of late now so much and in so many places increased and grown.  
And if any person shall either in private houses, or in public places, make assemblies, and therein use other rites of common prayer and administration of the Sacramentes then is prescribed in the said book, or shall maintain in their houses any persons being notoriously charged by books or preachings to attempt the alteration of the said orders, they shal see such persons punished with al severity, according to the laws of this realm, by pains appoynted in the said act.  
And because these matters do principally appertain to the cure of persons ecclesiastical, and to the Ecclesasticall government, her majesty giveth a most special and earnest charge to all Archbyshoppes, Byshoppes, Archdeacons, and deans, and all such as haue ordinary jurisdiction, in such causes to haue a vigilant eye and care to the observation of the orders and rites in the said book prescribed, throughout their cures and diocese, and to proceed from time to time by ordinary and Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, as is granted them in the said act, with al celerity and severity, against all persons who shall offend against any of the orders in the said book prescribed, vpon pain of her majesties high displeasure for their negligence, and deprivation from their dignities and benefice, or other censures to follow, according to their demerits.  
given at Grenewiche the .xx. day of October, 1573. in the fyfteenth year of the queens majesties reign. 
 God save the queen.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Newgate Market, next unto Christes church, by richard jug, Printer to the queens majesty.   

❀ Cum privilegio Regiae Maiestatis.