❧ By the queen.  
WHere in the Parliament holden at Westminster, the second day of april, in the xiii. year of the reign of our sovereign Lady the queen, there was for the relief of diuers poor decayed towns, & of great multitudes of her poor subiects, who otherwise were likely to perish, or to become unprofitable and dangerous to the common weal, among other provided & established, one good & beneficial statute, entitled, An act for the continuance of making of caps. By mean of which statute, great numbers of idle, poor, and impotent persons were for a season set on work, while the awe of the said statute, and fear of due execution thereof continued, to the marvelous great commodity of this realm, and help of the needy, and redress of ill occupied persons, as by the experience thereof hath been manifestly proved. And whereas nevertheless by little and little, the disobedience and wanton disorder of evil disposed and light persons, more regarding private fancy and vanity, then public commodity or respect of duty, hath increased by want of execution of the said law, whereby those good and honest subiects that haue by means of the said statute, set to work a great number of poor people, are like to be driven to give over their said trade of making caps, and to sand abroad again into idleness and misery, those multitudes that haue been by them relieved: whereby is likely to grow great enormity and inconvenience, if speedy remedy therefore be not in time provided. The queens most excellent majesty therefore tenderly considering the premises, straitly chargeth and commandeth all Justices of assizes, Justices of peace, Maiors, Shirifes, bailiffs, and other head officers of Cities, Boroughs, and towns corporate, and the Lord, Stewards, bailiffs, and other officers of leets, Lawdayes, and liberties, and all and singular Constables, Third boroughs, Tithingmen, Churchwardens, and all other her highnesse subiects, to whom the executing or putting in ure of the same stature any way may appertain, that every one of them according to his office, place, and calling, do their uttermost endeavour for the due execution of the said statute: and that they the said bailiffs, Constables, Thirdboroughs, Tithingmen, Churchwardens, and all other inferior officers, and every of them, do every Sunday, and festival day, make diligent view and search in all Churches, chapels, and al other places within the circuits and compasses of their offices and authorities, for all and singular breakers and offenders of the said statute, and without delay cause the names of al such offenders, and of the parents, guardians, gouernours, and masters of every child, seruant, and ward, so offending, together with the day and place of the offence committed, to be then written, and to be lawfully and orderly presented, at such assizes, Sessions, or Courts( next after such offences) as haue authority to inquire or determine the said offences: And that all Maiors, Shirifes, and bailiffs of Cities, Boroughs & Towns corporate, and all lords of leets, Lawdayes, and Liberties, do immediately vpon the proclamation hereof, call before them all the said Constables, Third boroughs, Tithingmen, Churchwardens, inferior bailiffs, and all other the abovesaid inferior officers, that shal be under their charge of government, and them and every of them forthwith in our names do straitly charge and command, that they, and every of them, to the uttermost of their powers, do every sunday and festival day, make such diligent view and search, and such note also of the names of al such offenders, & such presentment of all such offences as is abovesaid: And that all Justices of assizes, and Justices of peace in their Circuits and Sessions, & al Stewards in their leets, vpon pain of her majesties high displeasure, omit not in any wise from time to time, specially to give in charge, and cause to be enquired of all offences against the said statute committed or to be committed within their several precincts or jurisdictions, and also do duly hear and determine the same, punishing every of the said offenders according to the said statute: And that al the said lords & owners of Leets and Lawdayes do as much as in every of them shall lye, to cause their stewards thoroughly to execute their office and authority, according to the same statute, and that vpon every such offence found, both the said owners of Leets, and also the rulers and chief gouernours of every city, Borough, town, or Hamlet, where any such of fence shall be tried and found, shall do their uttermost endeavour by the Law to recover, haue, and obtain of every such offender, all the penalties to them or any of them, by the said statute forfeited, or to be forfeited.  
God save the queen.   

Imprinted at London by the Deputies of CHRISTOPHER BARKER, Printer to the queens most excellent majesty. 1597.