❧ By the queen.  
A Proclamation against certain seditious and Schismatical books and Libels, &c.  
THe queens most excellent majesty, considering howe within these few yeeres past, and now of late, certain seditious, & evil disposed persons towards her majesty and the government established for causes ecclesiastical within her majesties Dominions, haue devised, written, printed, or caused to be seditiously and secretly published and dispersed, sundry schismatical and seditious books, diffamatory Libels, and other fantastical writings amongst her majesties Subiectes, containing in them doctrine very erroneous, and other matters notoriously untrue, and slanderous to the State, and against the godly reformation of Religion and government ecclesiastical established by Lawe, and so quietly of long ●●●… t continued, and also against the persons of the bishops, and others placed in authority ecclesiastical ●nder her Highnesse by her authority, in railing sort, and beyond the bounds of all good humanity: All which books, Libels, and writings tend by their scope, to persuade and bring in a monstrous and apparent ●●ngerous innovation within her dominions and Countries, of all manner ecclesiastical government now in use, and to the abridging, or rather to the overthrow of her Highnesse lawful prerogative, allowed by Gods lawe, and established by the laws of the realm, and consequently to reverse, dissolve, and set at liberty the present government of the Church, and to make a daungerous change of the form of doctrine, and ●se of divine service of God, and the ministration of the Sacraments now also in use, with a rash and malicious purpose also to dissolve the Estate of the prelacy, being one of the three ancient estates of this realm under her Highnesse, whereof her majesty mindeth to haue such a reverend regard, as to their places in the Church and Common wealth appertaineth. All which said lewd and seditious practices do directly ●●nd to the manifest wilful breach of a great number of good laws and Statutes of this realm, inconveniences nothing regarded by such innovations.  
In consideration whereof, her Highnesse graciously minding to provide some good and speedy remedy to withstand such notable daungerous and ungodly attempts, and for that purpose to haue such enormous malefactors discovered and condignly punished, doth signify this her Highnesse misliking and indignation of such daungerous and wicked enterprises, and for that purpose doth hereby will, & also straightly charge and command, that all persons whatsoever, within any her majesties realms and Dominions, who haue, or hereafter shall haue any of the said seditious books, Pamphlets, Libels, or Writings, or any of like nature already published, or hereafter to be published, in his or their custody, containing such matters as above are mentioned, against the present Order and government of the Church of England, or the lawful Ministers thereof, or against the rites and ceremonies used in the Church, and allowed by the laws of the realm: That they, and every of them do presently after, with convenient speed bring in, and deliver up the same unto the ordinary of the diocese, or of the place where they inhabit, to the intent they may be utterly defaced by the said ordinary, or otherwise used by them. And that from henceforth no person or persons whatsoever, be so hardy, as to writ, contrive, print, or cause to be published or distributed, or to keep any of the same, or any other books, Libels, or Writings of like nature and quality, contrary to the true meaning and intent of this her majesties Proclamation. And likewise, that no man hereafter, give any instruction, direction, favour, or assistance, to the contriving, writing, printing, publishing, or dispersing of the same, or such like books, libels, or Writings whatsoever, as they tender her majesties good favour, will avoyde her high displeasure, and as they will answer for the contrary at their uttermost perils: and vpon such further pains and penalties, as by the Lawe any way may be inflicted vpon the offenders, in any of these behalfs, as persons maintaining such seditious actions, which her majesty mindeth to haue severally executed. And if any person haue had knowledge of the authors, Writers, Printers, or dispersers thereof, that shall within one month after the publication hereof, discover the same to the ordinary of the place where he had such knowledge, or to any of her majesties privy counsel: the same person shall not for his former concealment be hereafter molested or troubled.  
given at her majesties palace of Westminster, the xiii. of february, 1588. In the xxxi. year of her Highnesse reign. 
 God save the queen.   

❧ Imprinted at London by the Deputies of Christopher Barker, Printer the queens most excellent majesty. 1588.