❧ By the queen.  
The queens majesties Proclamation for suppressing of the multitudes of idle Vagabonds, and for staying of all unlawful assemblies, especially in and about the city of London, and for orders to punish the same.  
FOrasmuch as it is seen that notwithstanding the good laws provided for the restraining of idle people and Vagabonds, yet for want of due execution thereof by the Iustices of Peace, and other ministers authorized thereunto, there are in many parts of the realm, and specially about the city of London and her majesties Court, manifestly seen wandring in the common high ways, to the annoyance of the common people both in their goods & lives, multitudes of able men, neither impotent nor lame, exacting money continually vpon pretence of service in the warres without relief; whereas many of them never did serve, and yet such as haue served, if they were maimed, or lame by service, are provided for in the Countreys by order of sundry good laws and Statutes in that behalf made and provided: For reformation whereof her majesty straightly commandeth all justicers and Officers to haue better regard, then heretofore they haue had, and to appoint vpon certanine dayes in the week monthly( for some convenient season) watches and privy searches in places needful, and thereby to attach and imprison such idle Vagabonds, and to sand the lame and maimed into the Countreys according to the said Statues. And doth further notify hereby to all her Subiects, that because the disorder of those vagrant persons is through neglect of her ordinary Officers of Iustice grown to such unruliness and vndutifulnesse, that there hath been of late diuers routs and unlawful assemblies of Rogues and Vagabonds, colouring their wandering by the name of Souldiers, lately come from the warres, who arming themselves with shot and other forbidden weapons, haue not onely committed robberies and murders vpon her majesties people in their travail from place to place, But also resisted and murdered diuers Constables and others, that haue come to the rescue: Her majesty therefore being compelled to look with the eye of severity into these growing outrages, and being minded to provide for her good and dutiful Subiects by cutting off in the beginning such lewd and notorious offenders, meaneth for that purpose to appoint a provost Marshall with sufficient authority to apprehended all such as shall not be readily reformed, and corrected by the ordinary Officers of Iustice, and them without delay to execute vpon the gallows by order of Martiall Lawe. And these her majesties commandements she willeth to bee duly observed vpon pain of her indignation.  
given at her majesties Mannour of greenwich the ninth day of September 1598. in the fortieth year of her Highnesse reign. 
 God save the queen.   

❧ Imprinted at London by the Deputies of Christopher Barker, printer to the queens most excellent majesty. Anno Dom. 1598.