¶ By the queen.  
THe queens most Excellent majesty being credibly informed that many Vagabonds, Rogues, idle persons, and masterless men having nothing to live on, do daily resort to the Cities of London and Westminster, and to the Suburbs of the same and also to the Borough of southwark, and other Villages and towns near adjoining to the said Cities and Borough, and there are suffered to live very disorderly, by occasion whereof many Robberies and felonies, and other horrible crimes and offences be committed and done, to the high displeasure of Almighty God, and to the great hurt of her good and loning Subiects, the chief occasion whereof seemeth to be the want of the good execution of good laws and Statutes made for the punishment of such masterless men, Idle and Vagrant persons: Wherefore her majesty minding with some severity primely to haue the said good laws and Statutes already provided against such persons to be duly put in execution, hath thought good by this her Proclamation to notify the same her Highnesse pleasure to all her loving Subiects; And therefore doth straitly charge and command all persons, that by the laws of this realm may be taken for Rogues and Vagabonds, and all Idle persons and masterless men, having not wherewith to live in no living by any lawful Labour or Occupation, and being her natural born Subiects, that they and every of them do within two dayes next after the publishing of this Proclamation, depart and avoid themselves from the said Cities of London and Westminster, and Suburbs of the same, and from the Borough of southwark, and all other towns and Villages within seven miles compass of the said Cities and Borough, and from thence to repair to the Countreys and places where they were born, there to tarry and adide in some lawful work and exercise, as they ought to do, vpon the pains and penalties limited and expressed in the laws and Statutes provided against such offenders. And her majesties further pleasure and express Commandement is, that the Maior, Aldermen and Recorder of the said city of London, and all Iustices of Peace within the Counties of Middlesexe, Rent, Surrey, and Essex; and specially all those Iustices that bee within the limits aforesaid, that they & every of them, as they will avoid her Highnesse displeasure, as occasion shall serve cause good watch to be set, and search to be made in all places where they shall think convenient, for the apprehending, arresting and taking of all such idle vagrant persons, and masterless men, and that they cause the same with all speed to be imprisoned, and duly punished according to the tenor and effect of her majesties laws and Statutes in such cases provided, without any toleration or favour whatsoever to bee shewed unto any of them. And her majesty doth also especially charge and command the said Maior, Aldermen and Recorder of London, and all Iustices of Peace, bailiffs of Liberties and Franthises within the said Cities, towns and Limits, that they and every of them within the limits of their jurisdictions, do from time to time cause good search to be made as well in all common Tabling houses, inns, Alehouses, and tippling houses, and also in all Bowling alleys, and other places, where any game or play is used and frequented, and there to apprehended & take such suspected persons being masterless men, of evil name and famed, not having where withall to maintain their idle life, and the same so apprehended and taken, to commit to prison, there to remain, until they shall receive such punishment and correction, as by the laws and Statutes of this realm, is and shalbe due unto them. And her Highnesse is further pleased and contented, that the Maior of the said city of London, shall haue power and authority from time to time, to proclaim and publish this present Proclamation within all places, within the said City and Suburbs, so often as to him shall seem needful and convenient.  
given at Her majesties Honour of Hampton Court, the xxxj. day of january 1578. in the xxj. year of Her Highnesse reign. 
 God save the queen.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker, Printer to the queens majesty.