❧ By the queen.  
THe queens majesty considering the evil disposition of sundry her Subiects, to keep the ancient orders for abstinence from eating of flesh, as well in the time of Lent, as vpon other usual fasting daies: and weighing the great notable commodities growing by the due observation thereof within her majesties dominions, many maner of ways: Straitly chargeth all maner of people residing in the same, from henceforth yearly to observe and keep the ancient and laudable order for fasting, as well in the Lent time, as vpon all other fish dayes. And likewise commandeth all maner officers, both Ecclessasticall and temporal, to whom the regard hereof doth or may belong, straightly to see the same well and duly observed. Willing and commanding them 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 bee suffered unpunished. And because the maner of the execution 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 the Steward and principal officers of Westminster, that no Butcher, Poulter, nor Victualler, shall at any time hereafter kill, or sell, cause to be killed or sold within the said city, or the Suburbs, or within Westminster, or the jurisdiction thereof, any flesh, between Shreftuesday, and the Tuesday next after palm Sunday: nor that any Table keeper, Inholder, Victualler, or any other person that keepeth any house whereto any persons do or shall 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 in Lent time, or vpon any Fish day, 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, the one half to be disposed by their Churchwardens, to their poor people inhabiting the Parish where the offence shalbe found, & the other to her Highnesse use, as in like case is ordered. And besides, if the person offending bee a Citizen, he shall by the Maior and his brethren without delay bee immediately for ever disfranchised: and being a Table keeper or Victualler, utterly disabled in any place to use the same trade. And if he bee no Citizen, then he shall over and besides the said forfeiture, haue for every such offence ten dayes imprisonment without bail: and if the party offending, be not able to pay the said forfeiture, immediately vpon proof made of the offence 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 for the time being, within his ward, shall twice in the Lent time cause an inquiry and presentment to bee made by the oaths of xii. honest and substantial Citizens of every ward, being no Butchers, Poulters, common Victuallers, nor Table keepers, what persons haue or do offend in eating, killing, or selling of flesh within that ward, whereof the one inquiry shalbe the monday after Midlent Sunday, and the other in the week next before Easter, and that in the choice of the persons which shall so inquire, good regard be had, that they be such as bee best disposed to find out, and truly to present such offences without any respect of persons. And also that the Maior with his brethren cause once every fortnight privy search to be made by honest & trusty persons, of the houses of all Butchers, Poulters, Table keepers, taverners, Victuallers, and other suspected houses, for the better understanding whether they or any of them do offend in the premises: and that if they shall find either by this search, or by any lawful proof brought before them, any person to haue offended, that then immediately they cause the offenders to be punished, as is above expressed, without favour, affection, or respect of person. The like order to be kept by the discretion of the Steward or head officers in Westminster, as the case shall require.  
And it is further ordered and commanded, that as well the said Maior, as also every of the said Aldermen, and the principal officers of the liberties of Westminster, shall yearly certify unto her Highnesse Court of chancery, before the first day of Easter term, vpon pain of one hundred pounds, what every of them hath done in the execution of the premises, under their hands and seals, to the intent that her Highnesse thereby may consider what diligence or negligence shall be used in the execution hereof, that thereupon order may bee 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, for needful and just considerations bee permitted to sell, kill, or eat flesh. And for the better intelligence of persons licensed vpon reasonable and necessary cause, that none other may be coloured thereby: it is ordered and commanded, that every person having any licence, shall yearly the first Sunday of Lent, notify the same to the Alderman of the ward within any city, and to the Curate of the Parish, or to one of them at the least, where he dwelleth, and intendeth to take the benefit of the dispensation, or else the dispensation to be void. This maner or the like order, her majesty commandeth to bee observed, as nigh as the same may be, in all places through her realm, with like penalty, and specially in all 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 co●porations being farther 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, & in Gods name chargeth all Bishops, Curates, and other Ecclesiastical persons, having the cure of souls, or the charge of preaching, to exhort and persuade in their Sermons, 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 temperance and obedience.  
And because her majesty would that this Proclamation should haue continuance: her majesty chargeth all Maiors, Sheriffes, and other head officers, to whom appertaineth the publication of this or like Proclamations, that this be proclaimed forthwith in every place usual, and yearly bee proclaimed hereafter, vpon such market dayes as shall in any place next go before the first week of Lent: and that in every Leete at Easter, inquisition be made of the execution hereof.  
God save the queen.   

¶ Imprinted at London by the Deputies of Christopher Barker, Printer to the queens most excellent majesty. 1597.