THE STATVTES which THE justices of peace, Mayres, Shyryffes, bailiffs, Constables, & other officers were of late commanded by the kings majesty to put in execution, on pain of his graces most high indignation and displeasure.   

THE contents of this book.  

FIRST, The statute made against new fangled news.  
The statute made against unlawful games.  
The statute made for maintenance of archery.  
The statutes made for vagabonds strong beggars, and impotent personnes.  
The statute concerning commissions of sewers.  
The statute made for excess in apparel.  
The statute made for the utter extynguyshement of the usurped power of the byshope of Rome within this realm. 

All at length.      

against marshmallows FANGLED news.  

Anno. 2. Richardi. 2. Cap. 5.  
IT IS straightly defended upon grievous pain, 
Against new fangled news.  for to eschew damagys and perils, that none from henceforth be so hardy, to finde, say, or to tell any false news, messages, or other such false things, whereof discord or any slander might rise within this realm, and he that doth the same, shall incur and haue the pain an other time ordained therof by the statute of westminster first, which will, that he be taken and imprisoned, till he haue found him, of whom the word should be moved.   

Anno. 12. Richardi. 2. cap. 6.  
ITEM it is accorded & assented, 
against unlawful games.  that no servant of husbandry or labourer, nor servant of artificer nor of vytayler, shall from henceforth bear any boklar, sword, nor dagger, vpon forfeiture of the same, but in the time of war for defence of the realm of england, and that by the surueyenge of the arrayers for the time being, or trauaylynge by the country with their master, or in their masters message, but such servants & labourers shall haue bows and arrows, and use the same the sundays and holidays, and leave all playing at tenyce, or football, and other games, called coytes, dice, casting of the ston, kayles, and other such importune games. And that the sheriffs, mayres, bailiffs, and constables shal haue power to arrest, and shall arreste all doers against this statute, and seize the said buklars, sword, and daggars, and keep them till the sessions of the Iustices of peace, and the same present before the same iustices in their sessions, together with the names of them that did bear the same. And it is not the kings mind, that any prejudice be done to the franchises of lords, touching the forfaytures due to them.   

Anno. 11. Henrici. 4. cap. 4.  

yet against unlawful games.  our sovereign lord the king will, that the statute made at Canturbury, the .xii. year of the reign of king richard the second be firmly holden and kept: joining to the same, that every such labourer or seruant, that doth contrary to the same statute, shal haue imprisonnement by .vi. dayes. And the mayres and sheryffes, or the mayres and bailiffs of cities and burghes, and the Constables in other towns, shall haue power to put this statute in execution from time to time, and yf they do not therof execution, the same mayres and sheriffes, or mayres and bailiffs aforesaid, shal pay to the king for every default .xx. s. and the constables or constable of every town, that doth not like execution of this statute, shall pay for every their or his default .vi. s. viii. d. And that the Iustyces of assizes shall haue power to inquire in this case in their sessions from time to time, of them that doth contrary to this statute, and therof to certify in the Chauncerye.   

Anno. 17. Edwardi. 4. cap. 3.  
our sovereign lord the king, 
yet against unlawful games.  by the advise of the lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons in the said parliament assembled, and by authority of the same, hath ordained, that after the feast of Easter next coming, no person, governor, nor occupier of any house, tenement, garden, or other place within this realm, shall willyngely suffer any person to occupy or play any of the said games called closhe, kayles, halfbowle, hand in & hand out, or quekborde, or any of them, within any of their said houses, tenements, gardens, or any other place, upon pain to haue the imprisonnement of three yeres, and to forfeit and lose for every offence .xx. li. The one half therof to our sovereign lord the king, to be applied to the use of his house, in all such places where such forfeiture shall happen to fall, other then where any person ought to haue the forfeiture of the goods of felons and fugityues, by any lawful grant, authority of parliament, or otherwise. And it is ordained by the said authority, that all such personnes, their heires & successors, which ought to haue any such forfaytures in such plates, shall haue all such half, as shall be hereafter forfeit by any of the premises. And the other half therof to him or them, that in this behalf will pursue by action of debt at the common lawe. In which action, like process, trial, iudgement, costs, damages, & execution shall be had, as is used in other actions there pursued. And that no person from the said feast of Easter, shall use any of the said games called closshe, halfbowle, kayles, hand in and hand out, or quekborde, upon pain of two yeres imprisonment, and to forfeit for every default .x. li. The one half therof to our sovereign lord the king, to be applied to the use of his house in all such places, where such forfeiture shal happen to fall, other than where any person ought to haue the forfeiture of the goods of felons and fugytyues by any lawful grant, authority of parliament, or otherwise. And it is ordained by the said authority, that all such persons, their heirs and successors, which ought to haue any such forfaytures in such places, shall haue all such half, that shall be hereafter forfeit by any of the premises.  
And the other half therof to him or them, that in this behalf will sue by action of debt, in like maner and form to be had, tried, ruled, and ordered, as is aforesaid.   

Anno. 11. Henrici. 7. Cap. 2.  
furthermore it is ordained and enacted, 
unlawful games.  that none apprentyse, ne servant of husbandry, labourer, ne servant artificer, play at the tables from the tenth day of January next coming, but onely for meate and drink, ne at the tenys, closh, dice, cards, bowls, nor any other unlawful game in noo wise out of Christmas, & in Christmas to play onely in the dwelling house of his master, or where the master or any of the said servants is present, upon pain of emprisonnement by the space of a day in the stocks openly. And that the householder, were dycynge, cardynge, tenys playing, bowls, closh, or any other unlawful game afore rehearsed shall be used, otherwise than is afore rehearsed, and that lawfully be presented before the Iustices of peace, the mayor, sheriff in his turn, or steward in his let, or by examination had afore the said iustices of peace, that process be made upon the same, as upon inditement of trespass againsts the kings peace. And that the said mysdoer be admitted to no fine under the somme of .vi. s. viii. d. And that it be lawful to .ii. of the iustices of the peace, whereof one shall be of the Quorum, within their authority, to reject and put away common ale selling in towns and places, where they shall think convenient, and to take surety of the keepers of ale houses, of their good behauynge, by the discretion of the said iustices, and in the same to be advised and agreed at the time of their sessions.   

Anno. 19. Henrici. 7. Cap. 12.  
AND furthermore it is ordained and enacted, that none apprentyce, 
yet against unlawful games.  ne servant at husbandry, labourer, ne servant artificer, play at the tables from the feast of Easter next coming, ne at tennyes, closshe, dice, cards, bowls, nor any other unlawful games in no wise out of the .xii. dayes at christmas, and than to play onely in dwelling houses of his master, or where the master or any of the said servants is present, upon pain of enprisonement by the space of a day in the stocks openly. And that the householder, where dysing, cardinge, tennys playing, bowls, closshe, or any other unlawful game, afore rehearsed, shall be used, otherwise than is afore rehearsed, & that lawfully been presented before Iustices of the peace, mayor, sheriff in his turn, or steward in his let, or by examination had before the said iustice of peace, that process be made upon the same, as vpon inditemente of trespass against the kings peace, and that the said misdoer be admitted to no fine under the somme of vi. s. viii. d. And that it be lawful to two of the iustices of peace, whereof one shal be of the Quorum, within their authority, to reject and put away common ale selling in towns and places, where they shall think convenient, and to take surety of the keepers of the alehouses, of their good behauynge, by the discretion of the said iustices, and in the same to be advised and agreed at the time of their sessions,   

Anno. 3. Henrici. 8. cap. 3.  

For maintenance of archery.  THE king our sovereign lord, calling to his most noble and gracious remembrance, that by the feat and exercise of the subiectes of this his realm in shotynge in long bows, there hath continually grown and been within the same great nombre & multitude of good archers, which haue not onely defended this realm, and the subiectes therof against the cruel malice and danger of their outward ennemyes in time here to fore passed, but also with little nombre and puissance in regard, haue done many notable acts and discomfitures of war against the infidels and other, and furthermore subdued and reduced dyvers & many regions and countreys to their due obeisance, to the great honour, famed, and surety of this realm and subiectes, & to the terrible dread and fear of all strange nations any thing to attempt or do to the hurt or damage of them or any of them. And all be it that dyvers good and profitable statutes in the time of his noble progenitors & predecessors kings of this land, for the maintenance of archery and long bows here tofore haue been made, among which the right famous king of noble memory Henry the seventh, father to our said sovereign lord, by authority of dyvers parlyamentes caused good and notable acts and statutes to be established and made, and that shooting in crossbows should be set on parte, and not used, And also that great nombre of bowestaues of ewe should be brought and conveyed by merchants repayringe into this realm from those partes where these grow, upon certain pains in the same statutes limited and contained: yet never the less, archery and shotynge in long bows, is right little used, but daily mynyssheth, decayeth, and abateth more and more, for that much party of the commynaltye and parell of the realm, whereby of old time the great nombre and substance of archers hath grown and multyplied be not of power nor abylitie to by● them long bows of ewe, to exercise shotynge in the same, and to sustain the continual charge therof, and also by means and occasion of customable, usage of tenes play, bowls, closshe, and other unlawful games prohybet by many good and beneficial statutes, by authority of parliament in that behalf provided and made, great impoueryshement hath ensued, and many heinous murders, roberyes, and felonyes be committed and done, and also the divine service by such misdoers on holy and festival days not herde or solemnized, to the high displeasure of all mighty god. wherefore the kings hyghenes, of his most blessed disposition, great wisdom, and providence, and also for zeal to the public weal, surety, and defence of this his realm, and subiectes, & their ancient famed in this behalf to be revived and repaired, by the assent of his lords spiritual and temporal, and his commons in this present parliament assembled, and by authority of the same, hath ordained, enacted, and established, that the statute of wynchester for archers be put in due execution. And over that, that every man being the kings subject, not lame, decrepute, nor maimed, nor having any other lawful or reasonable cause or impediment, being within the age of .xl. yeres, except to tho men, spiritual men, Iustices of the one bench and of the other Iustices of assize, and barons of the eschequere, do use and exercise shotynge in long bows.  
And also to haue a bow & arrows ready continually in his house, to use himself, and do use himself in shotynge. And also that the father, gouernours, and rulers of such as be of tender age, do teach and bring up them in the knowledge of the same shotynge. And that every man having a man child, or men children in his house, shall provide, ordain, and haue in his house for every man child, being of the age of .vii. yeres, and above, till he shal come to the age of .xvii. year, a bow and .ii. shafts, to induce and learn them, and bring them up in shotynge, and shall deliver all the same bow and arrows to the same young men, to use and occupy. And if the same young men be servants, that then their masters shall abate the money, that they shall pay for the same bows and arrows, of their wages. And after all such young men shall come to the age of .xvii. yeres, every of them shall provide and haue a bow and .iiii. arrows continually for himself at his proper costs and charges, or else of the gift or provision of his friends, and use and occupy the same in shotynge, as is afore rehearsed. And that the Iustices of assizes, of gaole delyuerie, Iustyces of peace, and stewards of franchises, letes and lawedaye, haue power to inquire of all the premisses in their sessions, letes, and lawedays, & here and determine the same. And also by their dyscretions examine all persons, lacking and not having bows, shafts, and arrows, according to the form afore rehearsed. And every person, that shall be founden by such inquere or examination in default, or not prouydinge and having bows arrows and shafts redy, by the space of one month, shall forfayt● and pay for every such default .xii. pens, And where any such forfeiture shall happen to be founden within the precinct of any franchyse let or lawedaye, than the lord of the same franchise let or lawedaye shall haue the forfeiture therof. And in all other places, all such forfeiture to be to the king our sovereign lord, his heirs, and successors.  

against unlawful games.  ¶ AND that all statutes heretofore made against them that use unlawful games, be duly put in execution, and punishment had according to the penaltes of the same, as well against the offenders and occupiers of such unlawful games, as against them that be owners or keepers of houses or other places, where any such unlawful games be used, according to the purport tenor and intent of the same statutes. And furthermore, that all iustices of peace, mayres, bailiffs, sheriffs, constables, and all other heed officers, and every of them, finding or knowing any maner person or persons, using or exercysinge any unlawful games, contrary to the said statute, haue full power and authority to committe every such offender to ward, there to remain without bail or mainprize, to such time he or they so offending be bound by obligation to the kings use, in such somme of money, as by the discretion of the said Iustices, mayres, bailiffs, or other heed officers, shall be thought reasonable, that they nor any of them shall not from thenseforth use any unlawful games. And that every bowier within this realm alway make for every one bow of ewe, that he maketh to sell, at the least .ii. bows of elm which or other wode of mean price. And if they or any of them refuse so to do, and it founden before the Iustices of peace in the shire, or mayres, bailiffs, or other heed officers of cities or boroughs within their cities or borrows by presentement of .xii. men, or by due examination before the said Iustices of peace, or .ii. of them, or before the said mayres or bailiffs, that then the same Iustices, mayres, or bailiffs haue full authority and power to committe thē to ward, there to remain without bail or mainprize by the space of .viii. dayes or more, by the discretion of the said Iustices, mayres, or bailiffs. And also that butts be made in every city, town, and place according to the lawe of ancient time used. And that the inhabitants and dwellers, in every of them be compelled to make and continue such butts, and to exercise themself with long bows in shotynge at the same, and elles where on holy dayes and other times convenient.  
¶ AND over that it is enacted by the said authority, that every Iustice of peace within this realm, or .ii. of them within their several jurisdictions, haue full power and authority, to take, assign, and appoint bowiers in .iii. ii. or more places by their discretion within every shire, city, or borrows, where the most common repair and resort is of his subiectes, and there to enhabyte and make long bows, of elm, which, or other wood of little price and value, to serve the commynaltie for the due exercise of shotynge, and to take and compel as many of them, as they shall think necessary by their discretions, to inhabit at such places for the same. And so in like wise as often as the case shall require and be thought behouefull. And that all bowestaues of ewe, hereafter to be brought into this realm to be sold, be open and not sold in bundles nor close, to the intent the byers of them may haue perfytte knowledge of the goodness of them, and give the better price for them, if they be so worth.  
¶ AND be it also enacted by the authority afore said, that all mayres, bailiffs, sheryffes, and all other heed officers, shall make open proclamation of these presentes in every market and feyre to be holden within their several jurisdictions and authorities, and also that the iustice of the gaole deliuere, assizes, and Iustices of peace do cause the same to be proclaimed in their several cercuites and sessions before them to be holden. This act concerning the making of bows of elm, which, or other then of ewe, to begin to take effect at the feast of Lammas next coming: And the residue of all this act to take effect & be put in execution immediately, and to endure to the next parliament.  
¶ ITEM that no stranger born out of the kings obeisance( not being denysen) shall not convey, nor do to be conveyed into any partes, out of the kings obeisance, any long bows, arrows, or shafts, without the kings special licence, upon pain of forfeiture of the same, where so ever they shall be taken within this the kings power, and vpon pain of imprisonnement without bail or mainprize, unto such time he or they( so being in ward) haue made a reasonable fine to the king for his or their offences afore the iustice of peace, or .ii. of them in their sessions in the same county, where he or they shall be committed to ward, or finde sufficient surety, for the payment of the same fine.  
¶ ITEM that no maner person( not being born within the kings obeisance) not made denysen, use within the kings obeisance shotynge with long bows, without the kings licence, vpon pain of forfeiture such bows, arrows, and shafts, as they shall be founden so shotynge with, and every of the kings subiectes may haue authority to take and seize the same forfaytures to his own use.   

Anno. 22. Henrici. 8. Cap. 12.  
WHERE in al places through out this realm of england vagabonds & beggars haue of long time increased, 
For vagabonds, strong beggars, and impotent personnes.  and daily do increase in great and excessive numbers by the occasion of idleness, mother and roote of all vices, whereby hath insurged and sprung, & daily insurgeth and springeth continual thefts murders, and other sundry heinous offences and great enormyties, to the high displeasure of God, the inquietation and damage of the kings people, and to the marvelous disturbance of the common weal of this realm, And where as many & sundry good laws perfit statutes and ordinances haue been before this time devised and made as well by the king our sovereign lord as also by dyvers his most noble progenitors kings of england, for the most necessary and due reformation of the premises: Yet that notwithstanding the said numbers of vagabonds and beggars be not sene in any party to be minished, but rather daily augmented and increased into great routs and companies, as evidently and manifestly it doth and may appear. Be it therfore enacted by the king our sovereign lord, & by the lords spiritual & temporal, & the commons in this present parliament assembled, and by authority of the same, that the Iustices of the peace, of all & singular the shires of england, within the limits of their commissions, and all other Iustices of peace, Mayres, Sheriffes, bailiffs, and other officers, of all and every city, borowghe, riddinges, or franchise, within the realm of england, within the limits of their authorities, shall from time to time as often as need shall require, by their discretions divide themselves within the said shires, cities, boroughs, riddynges or franchises, whereof they be Iustices of peace, Mayres, Sheriffes, bailiffs, or officers, and so being divided, shall make diligent search and inquerye, of all aged poor and impotent persons, which live or of necessity be compelled to live by alms of the charity of the people, that be or shall be hereafter abiding within every hundred rape, wapentake, city, borough, parish, liberty or fraunches, within the limits of their division. And after and vpon such search made, the said iustices of peace, Mayres, Sheriffes, bailiffs, and other officers, that is to say every of them within their limits of their authorities, where unto they be divided, shal haue power and authority by their discretions, to enable to beg within such hundred, rape, wapentake, city, town, parish, or ther limits, as they shall appoint, such of the said impotent personnes, which they shall finde and think most convenient within the limits of their diuysion, to live of the charity and alms of the people. And to give in commandment to every such aged and impotent beggar( by them enabled) that none of them shal beg without the limits to them so appoynted. And shall also register and write the names of every such impotent beggar, by them appointed, in a bill or roll indented, the one parte therof to remain with themself, and the other parte by them to be certified before the Iustices of peace at the next sessions after such search had, to be holden within the said shires, cities, towns, or franchises, there to remain under the keeping of Custos Rotulorum. And that the said Iustices of peace, Mayres, Sheryffes, bailiffs, and other officers, that is to say as they be divided, shall haue power and authority to make such and so many seals, to be engraved with the names of the handmaides, rapes, wapentakes, cities, boroughs, towns, or places, within the which they shall appoint and limit every such impotent person to beg, and commit the said seals to the custody of such of them, or to the custody of such other as they shall think convenient, and shall make and deliver to every such impotent person, by them enabled to beg, a letter containing the name of such impotent person, and witnessing, that he is authorised to beg, and the limits, within which he is appoynted to beg. The same letter to be sealed with such of the said seals, as shall be engraved with the names of the lymytte, wherein such impotent person shall be appointed to beg in, and to be subscribed with the name of one of the said Iustyces or officers abovesaid. And yf any such impotent person, so authorised to beg, do beg in any other place, than within such limits, that he shall be assigned unto, that than the iustices of peace, Mayres, Sheriffes, bailiffs, constables, and all other the kings officers and ministers, shal by their discretions punish all such persons, by imprisonment in the stocks, by the space of ii. dayes, and .ii. nights, giving them but only bread and water, and after that cause every such impotent person to be sworn to return again without delay to the hundred, rape, wapentake, city, borowgh, town, parish, or franchise, where they be authorized to beg in.  
¶ And it is enacted, that noo such impotent person, as is abovesaid, after the feast of the nativity of saint Iohn baptist next coming: shall beg within any parte of this realm, except he be authorized by writing under seal, as is abovesaid. And if any such impotent person, after the said feast of saint Iohn, be vagrant, and go abeggynge, having no such letter under seal, as is above specified: that than the constables, and all other inhabitants within such town or parish, where such person shall beg, shall cause every such beggar to be ●allen, and brought to the next Iustice of peace, or high constable of the hundred: And thereupon, the said Iustice of peace, or high constable, shall commande the said constables, and other inhabitants of the town or parish, which shall bring before him any such beggar, that they shall stripe him naked from the myddelle upward, and cause him to be whipped, within the town, where he was taken, or within some other town, where the same Iustice or high constable shall appoint: if it shall seem to the discretion of the said justice of peace or high constable, that it be conuenyente so to punish such beggar to him brought: And if not, than to commande such beggar, to be set in the stocks in the same town or parish, where he was taken, by the space of three dayes, and three nights, there to haue onely bread and water, and thereupon, the said justice, or high constable, afore whom such beggar shall be brought, shall lymitte to him a place to beg in, and give to him a letter under seal, in form above remembered, and swear him to depart, and repair thither immediately after his punishment to him executed.  
¶ And be it farther enacted by the authority aforesaid, that yf any person or personnes, being hole and mighty in body, and able to labour, at any time after the said feast of saint Iohn be taken in begging in any parte of this realm, or if any man or woman, being hole and mighty in body, and able to labour, having no land, master, nor using any lawefulle merchandise, craft, or mystery, whereby he might get his living, after the same feast be vagrant and can give no weening how he doth leefully get his living: that than it shall be lawful to the constables, and all other the kings officers, ministers, and subiectes of every town, parish, and hamlette, to arrest the said vagabonds, and idle personnes, and them bring to any of the iustices of peace of the same shire or liberty, or elles to the high Constable of the hundred, rape, or wapentake, within which such persons shall be taken. And if he be taken within any city or town corporate than to be brought before the mayor, Sheryffes, or bailiffs of every such town corporate. And that every such Iustice of peace, high constable, Mayres, Sheryffes, and bailiffs, by their discretions, shall cause every such idle person, so to him brought, to be had to the next market town, or other place, where the said Iustices of peace, high constable, Mayres, bailiffs, and other officers, shall think most convenient by his or their discretions, and there to be tied to the end of a cart naked, and be beaten with whyppes, through out the same market town, or other place, till his body be bloody by reason of such whyppynge. And after such punishment and whyppynge had, the person so punished, by the discretion of the iustice of peace, high constable, mayor, Sheryffes, bailiffs, and other officers, afore whom such person shall be brought, shall be enjoined vpon his oath, to return forthwith without delay, in the next and straight way, to the place where he was born, or where he last dwelled, before the same punishment, by the space of three yeres, & there to put himself to labour, like as a true man oweth to do. And after that done, every such person, so punished and ordered, shall haue a letter sealed, with the seal of the hundred, rape, wapentake, city, borough, town, liberrie, or franchise, wherein he shall be punished, wytnessynge that he hath been punished, according to this statute, and containing the day and place of his punishment, and the place whereunto he is limited to go: and by what time he is limited to come thither, within which time, he may lawfully beg by the way, showing the same letter, and otherwise not. And if he do not accomplish the order to him appoynted by the said letter, than to be eftsoons taken and whipped, and so as often as any default shall be found in him, contrary to the order of this statute, in every place to be taken and whipped, till he be repaired where he was born, or where he last dwelled by the space of three yeres, & there put his body to labour for his living, or otherwise, truly get his living without begging, as long as he is able so to do. And yf the person so whipped, be an idle person, and no common beggar, than after such whyppyng, he shal be kept in the stocks, till he hath found surety to go to service, or else to labour, after the discretion of the said Iustice of peace, Mayres, sheriffes, bailiffs, high constables, or other such officers, afore whom any such ydel person, being no common beggar, shall be brought, yf by the discretion of the same Iustice of peace, mayor, sheriff, daylyffe, high constable, or other such heed officer, it be thought convenient, and that the party so punished, be able to finde surety, or else to be ordered and sworn to repair to the place where he was born, or where he last dwelled, by the space of three yeres, and to haue like letter, and such further punishment, if he eftsoons offend this statute, as is above appoynted to and for the common strong and able beggars, and so from time to time to be ordered and punished, till he put his body to labour, or otherwise get his living truly, according to the lawe. And that the Iustyces of the peace, of every shire, ridding, city, town, and liberty, shall haue power and authority, within the limits of their commissions, to inquire of all Mayres, bailiffs, Constables, and other officers and personnes, that shall be negligent in executing of this act.  
¶ And if the constables and inhabitants with in any town or parish, where any such impotent person, or strong beggar doth happen to beg, contrary to the form of this statute, be negligent, and take not every such impotent and strong beggar, that so shall beg against the form of this statute, and order and punish every such beggar, as is above limited, that than the towneshypp or parish, where such default shall be, shall lose and forfeit for every such impotent beggar, that shall be suffered to beg within the said towneshyp or parish, not being taken, ordered, and punished, according to the form of this statute. iii.s. iiii. d. and for every strong beggar, that shall happen to beg within any such township or parish, not being taken and ordered, as is above limited by this statute. vi.s. viii. d. The none half of all which forfaytures to be the king our sovereign lord, and the other half to him that will sue for the same, by any bill of information afore the kings iustices of his peace, in their general sessions, to be holden in the shire, or within any liberty, where such default shall happen.  
¶ And that all Iustyces of peace, within any shire, city, borough, or liberty, shall haue full power and authority, as well to here and determine every such default by presentment, as by such bill of information, and upon every presentment afore them, and vpon every such bill of information, to make process by distress again the inhabitants of every such town & parish, where any default shall be presented, or supposed by any such information. By authority of which distress, the sheriff or other office, to whom by the lawe such distress shall be made, shall distrain the goods and cattelles of such one or two of the said inhabitants, as he may haue knowledge were most negligent, and in default in the execution of this act, and the said distress retain till they finde surety to appear at the sessions, limited in the said distress. And in case they appear and confess the default, or else if they hour-glass the presentemente, and it be tried against them by verdict, or deny the information, and it be proved against them by sufficient witness: than the said Iustyces of peace, in their sessions, shal haue authority to assess the fines, as ben above limited after the rates abovesaid, and to make process for the leuyenge of the same, by distress of the inhabitants of such towns or parishes, where such default shall be tried or proved.  
And that every such fine, if it grow by presentment, to be onely to the kings use. And yf it grow by information: than the moiety therof to be to him that pursueth the information for the same, and the other moiety therof to the kings use, as is aforesaid. And yf any such person or personnes distrained, appear not at the day and place contained in such distress, then upon the return of the sheriff or other officer, to whom the distress was delivered to execute, that such person or personnes were distrained: then every such person or persons, to distrained, at the first distress, shall lose. xl.d. and at the second .vi. s. viii. d. and so to be doubled upon every distress in such cases to be awarded, till appearance may be had by one of the inhabitants of such town or parish, to deny, hour-glass, or confess the presentment or information, exhibited again any such town or parish, to the intent that upon trial or proof therof, the fines above limited may be assessed and levied of the inhabitants of every such town or parish, as is above rehearsed.  
¶ And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that scholars of the vnyuersites of oxford and cambridge, that go about begging, not being authorised under the seal of the said universities, by the commissarye chancellor or vychauncellour of the same, and all and singular shipmen, pretending loss of their ships and goods of the see, going about the country begging without sufficient authority, witnessynge the same: shall be punished and ordered, in maner and form as is above rehearsed of strong beggars. And that all proctors and pardoners, going about in any country or countreyes, without sufficient authority, and all other idle persons, going about in any country, or abiding in any city, borough, or town, some of them using dyvers and subtle crafty and unlawful games and plays, and somme of them feynyng themselves to haue knowledge in physic, phisnamy, palmestrye, or other crafty sciences, whereby they bear the people in hand, that they can tell their destinies, diseases, and fortunes, and such other like fantastical imaginations, to the great disobeyed of the kings subiectes: shall upon examination had before two Iustices of peace, whereof the one shall be the Quorum, yf he by prouable witness be found guilty of any such disteytes, be punished by whyppinge at two dayes together, after the maner before rehearsed. And if he eftsoons offend in the said offence, or any like offence: than to be scourged .ii. dayes, and the third day to be put vpon the pillory from .ix. of the clock till a .xi. before none of the same day, and to haue one of his ears cut of. And yf he offend the thyrde time: to haue like punysshemente, with whyppynge, standing on the pyllorie, and to haue his other ear cut of. And that Iustices of the peace, haue like authority in every liberty and franchise within their shires, where they be iustices of peace, for the execution of this act in every parte therof, as they shal haue without the liberty or franchise.  
¶ Also it is further enacted, that this act shall yearly be red in the open sessions, to thentente that the said statute shall be the more feared, and the better put in execution.  
¶ And furthermore be it enacted, that yf any person or persons, at any time hereafter, give any herborough, money, or lodging to any beggars, being strong and able in their bodies to work, which order themselves contrary to the form of this statute: that every such person so doing, being sufficientely proved or presented afore any justice of peace, shall make such fine to the king, as by the discretion of the said Iustices of peace at their general sessions, shall be assessed. And if any person or persons do dystourbe or let the execution of this act in any maner wise, or make rescous against any mayor, sheriff, bailiff, or other person, that shall endeavour himself for the due execution therof: it is than enacted, that every such person and personnes, for every such offence doing, shall lose and forfeit. C.s. and over that to haue imprisonnement at the kings will. The one half of which forfeiture, if such offence be committed in any city or town corporate, to be to the mayor, sheriff, bailiff, or other heed officers of such city or town corporate, where any such offence shall be done, to the use of the comminaltye of every such city or town corporate. And if it be committed out of a city or town corporate, than the said one half to be to the lord of the let, or lawedaye, where such offence shall be done, and the other half of every such forfeiture to be to the king our sovereign lord. For the which forfeiture of .v. li. recovery shall be had by action of debt, bill; plaint, or information in any of the kings courts: in which ●u●●es the defendauntes shall not wage their lawe, nor haue any essoing or protection allowed.  
¶ provided alway that this act nor any thing therein contained, shall be hurtful or preiudyciall to the barons or other inhabitants of the five ports, or of their membres, neither to any grant, liberty, or franchise, heretofore made by the king our sovereign lord, or any his progenitors kings of england, to the said barons, or other inhabitants, their ancestors, predecessors, or to any of them.  
¶ And that it be enacted by authority of this present parlyamente, that all and every mayor and Mayres, and baylye and bailiffs, electiu● and elected by the commons and inhabitants of every town and place of the said ports and membres, and also jurates of every of the said towns and places of the said ports and membres, shall haue like authority within every such town and place, where they or any of them be or shall be mayor, bailiff, or Iurate, to put or cause to be put this act in due execution, as the Iustyces of peace in any county of this realm, haue or shall haue authority and power by this act to do, where they be Iustyces. And that the inhabitants, within every town with in the said ports, shall be bound to the execution of this act, like as other inhabitants be without the said ports, upon like pain as is above remembered. And yf any person or persons, which shall inhabit● with the said v. ports or membres, be he impotent or other, idle person, do hereafter beg without the said five ports or membres of the same, contrary to this act, that then every such person shall be ordered and punished, according to this act, any thing in this proviso to the contrary not withstanding.  
¶ And it is ordained and enacted, that the seals above rehearsed, shall be made at the costs and charges of the Iustyces of peace, Maires, Sheryffes, bailiffs, and other officers above written, on this side the feast of the Natiuytie of saint Iohn Baptiste next coming, that is to say, that every of them, shall do the said seals to be made within the limits of their division, jurisdiction, and authorities.  
¶ And it is also ordained and enacted, that every letter to be made by the authority of this act, whereby any impotent beggar, shall be authorised and assigned to beg, shall be made in this form ensuing.  
¶ Kano. ss. ¶ Memorandum, that A. B. of Dale, for reasonable considerations, is lycenced to beg within the hundred of P. K. and L. in the said county. given under the seal of that lymytte, Tali die et anno.  
¶ And that every such letter, that shalbe made and delivered to such beggar or vacabounde, after he hath be whipped by authority of this act, shall be made in this wise following.  
¶ kent. ss. ¶ I. S. whipped for a vagrant strong beggar at Dale, in the said county, according to the lawe, the .xxii. day of January, in the .xxiii. year of king Henry the .viii. was assigned to pass forthwith and directly, from thence to Sale, in the county of mid, where he saith he was born, or where he last dwelled, by the time of .iii. yeres. And he is limited to be there within .xiiii. dayes next ensuing at his peril, or within such noumbre of dayes, as to him shall be limited by the discretion of the maker of the said letter. In witness whereof the seal of the lymytte of the said place of his punishment hereunto is set.  
¶ And it is enacted, that every such letter shall be made at the equal costs of such of the said Iustyces, Mayres, Sheryffes, bailiffs, or other officers, within whose iurysdiction, powers, and authorities the said beggar or vacabounde shall be whipped or limited to beg in, by authority of this act. And every such letter shall be subscribed with the hand of one of the said Iustyces, Mayres, Sheriffes, bailiffs, or other officers in this form following, Per me A. B. vnum Iusticiariorum Pacis, or Maiorem civitatis, or Balliuum ville, or constabularium talis hundredi, or else in like form in english.  
¶ And it is further enacted, that every such person and persons, as haue the custody of any Gayles, within any shire, city, borough, or town corporate, on this side the feast of saint Iohn the Baptiste, shall do make a seal engraved with the name of the castle prison or Gayle, which he keepeth. And in case any person or persons, that at any time after the said feast of saint Iohn, shall be delivered out of any gail or prisonne for suspecious of felony by proclamation, or be acquytte of any felony, and hath no friends to pay his fees, nor was born within the hundred or place, where he shall happen to be so delivered, nor can get him no master, there to abide and work with, shal haue liberty to beg for his fees, by the licence of his keeper, by the space of .vi. weeks next after such deliverance, and after that to be compellyd to go to the hundred, where he was born, or last dwelled by the space of .iii. yeres, within such time as shall be limited by one of the Iustices of peace, Mayres, Sheriffes, bailyffes, or any officers, where such deliverance shall be had.  
¶ And it is enacted, that every such person so delivered, shall haue a letter made to him by the clerk of the peace of the shire, within the which he was delivered, yf he be delivered in the shire: and if he be delivered in any city, borough, or town corporate, than he to haue a letter of the common clerk of every such city, borough, or town, where he is delivered, every such letter wytnessynge the day of his deliverance, and the place, where he was delivered, and afore whom, and the time appoynted to him to beg for his fees, and the place to the which he shall be assigned to repair unto, in case he can get no master to fall to work where he was delivered. And to every such letter the said Gayloure, or keeper of prisonē, out of the which such person shall be delivered, shall put the seal limited to be made as is aforesaid for the said prison. And that every such letter shall be made in this wise following.  
¶ Essex. ss. ¶ The .xx. day of January, An. reign regis Henrici .viii. xxiii. I. S. was delivered for felony out of the Gayle of D. in the said county, at the sessions holden afore A. B. and his fellows at Sale, the day and year aforesaid, and is allowed to beg for his fees by the space of vi. weeks, and in case he can get him no master to work within the said term, than he is assigned to pass directly to D. in the county of kent, where he saythe he was born, or last dwelled by the space of .iii. yeres, And he is allowed .xiiii. dayes next after the said .vi. weekes for his passage thither, or such number of dayes, as to him shall be limited by the discretion of the maker of the said letter. In witness whereof the seal of the prison, from the which he was delivered, thereunto is set. And in such shires, where there is no gayle, the sheriff therof, for the time being, shall cause a seal to be engraved with the name of the shire, and shall order and use the same seal, to and for such persons delivered, as is afore said, after like maner and form, as the gayler and keeper of the Gayle is limited and appoynted to do by this act.  
¶ AND it is also enacted, that every clerk of the peace of the shire, within the which such person shall be delivered, and every common clerk of every city, borough, or town corporate, within the which any such person, shall be delivered, shall make for every such person as shall be so delivered, where they be such officers, the said letter in form above said, without any fee taking for the same, and shall deliver every such letter to the Gaylour or keeper of the prison, from the which such person shalbe delivered. And if there be no gayle there, than to the sheriff of the shire, where such deliverance shall be had, within one day next after the end of the sessions, where any such deliverance is had, upon pain to lose and forfeit for default of every letter .xii. d. to the king our sovereign lord. And that the Gaylour or keeper of the prison, from the which the said person shall be so delivered, and in case there be no Gayle, than the sheriff of the shire, where any such deliverance shall be had, shall not suffer any such person to go abroad, to beg for his fees, nor depart out of prison, except it be to service or labour, unless the same gaylour or sheriff first deliver to the said person the said letter, containing his name, sealyd with the seal of the prison, from the which he shall be delivered, or elles with the seal engraved with the name of the shire, yf there be noo prison, vpon pain for every default to lose .xii. d to our sovereign lord.  
¶ And it is enacted, that if any person or persons, so being delivered out of prison, at any time after the said feast, do beg, not having the said letter sealyd, in form abovesaid, or beg contrary to the tenor of the same letter, that then he shall be taken, ordered, and whipped in every behalf, like as is above appoynted for strong beggars. And that to be done and executed by such as be above limited, to do the same vpon strong beggars, and in such wise, and vpon such pain as is afore limited, for none execution of the punishment of strong beggars.  
¶ provided alway, that it be lawful to every person and personnes, being bound by reason of any foundation or ordinance to give or distribute any money in alms, and also to every person and personnes at common dooles, used at buryals or obytes, to give and dispose in alms any money to every person and persons, coming to such alms or dooles, after like maner and form, as they haue be accustomend to do in that behalf, afore the making of this act, without any danger or penalty, of this statute, any thing contained in this present statute to the contrary hereof not withstanding.  
¶ provided also that it be lawful to al masters and gouernours of hospitals, to lodge and harbour any person or persons, of charity or alms, according to the foundation of such hospytals, and to give money in alms, in as large maner and form, as they ar bound or own to do, any thing in this statute to the contrary hereof not withstanding. And this act to endure unto the last day of the next parliament.   

Anno. 23. Edwardi. 3. Cap. 7.  
ITEM because many valiant beggars, as long as they may live of begging, do refuse to labour, giving themself to idleness, and vice, and sometime to theft and other abominations: none upon pain of imprisonemente shall, under the colour of pity or alms, give any thing to such, whice may labour, or presume to favour them towardis their desires: so that thereby they may be compelled to labour for their necessary living.   

Anno. 23. Henrici. 8. Cap. 5.  
THE king our sovereign lord, by deliberate advise & assent of his lords spiritual and temporal, 
Commissions of sewers.  and also his loving commons in this present parliament assemblid, ordained, established, and enacted, that Commissions of sewers, and other the premises, shal be directed in all partes within this realm from time to time, where and when need shal require, according to the maner form tenor and effect hereafter ensuing, to such substantial and indifferent personnes, as shall be name by the lord chancellor and lord treasurer of england, and the .ii. chief Iustyces for the time being, or by .iii. of them, whereof the lord chancellor to be one.  
¶ Henry the .viii. &c. know ye, that forasmoche as the walls, dyches, banks, guttures, sewers, gotes, caulceis, brydges, streams, and other defences by the costs of the see, and marsh ground, being and lyenge within the limits of A. B. or C. in the county or counties of 〈◇〉 or in the borders or confines of the same by rage of the see, flowyng and reflowyng, and be mean of the trenches of fresh waters, descendinge and having course by dyvers ways to the see, be so dirupte lacerate and broken, and also the common passages of ships, ballengers, and botes, in the rivers, streams, & other floods, within the limits of A. B. or C. in the county or counties 〈◇〉 of or in the borders or confynes of the sames, by mean of setting up, erectinge, and making of streams, milns, brydges, ponds, fysshegarthes, milled ammes, locks, hebbynge wears, heckes and floodgates, or other like lets impediments or anoysaunces, be letted and interrupted, so that great and inestimable damage, for default of reparation of the said walls, dyches, banks, fences, sewers, gootes, guttures, caulceys, brydges, and streams, And also by mean of setting up, erectynge, making and enlargynge of the said fyshgarthes, mildammes, locks, hebbynge wears, heckes, floodgates, and other like anoysaunces in times past haue happened, and yet is to be feared, that far greater hurt, loss, & damage, is like to ensue, unless that speedy remedy be provided in that behalf: we therfore for that by reason of our dignity & prerogative royal, we be bound to provide for the safety and preservation of our realm of england, willing that speedy remedy be had in the premises, haue assigned you & .vi. of you, of the which we woll that A. B. and C. shall be three, to be our iustices, to survey the said walls streams, dyches, banks, gutters, sewers, gotes, caulceys, brydges, trenches, milns, myldammes, floodgates, ponds, locks, hebbyng wears, & other impediments, lets, and anoysaunces, aforesaid, and the same cause to be made, corrected, repaired, amended, put down, or reformed, as case shal require, after your wysedomes and discretions, And therein as well to ordain and do after the form, tenor, and effect of all and singular the statutes and ordinances, made before the first day of march, the .xxiii. year of our reign, touching the premisses or any of them, as also to inquire by the oaths of the honest and laufulle men of the said shire or shires, place or places, where such defaults or anoysaunces be, as well within the liberties as without( by whom the truth may the rather be known) through whose default the said hurts and damages haue happened, and who hath or holdeth any lands or tenements, or common of pasture, or profit of fysshynge, or hath or may haue any hurt, loss, or disadvantage, by any maner of means in the said places, as well nere to the said dangers lets and impediments, as inhabytynge or dwelling there abouts by the said walls, dyches, banks, guttures, gotes, sewers, trenches, and other the said impediments and anoysances.  
And al those persons and every of them to tax, assess, charge, distrain, and punish as well within the meats, limits, and bounds of old time accustomend or otherwise, as elles where within our realm of england, after the quantity of their lands, tenements, and rents by the nombre of acres and perches, after the rate of every persons portion, tenor, or profit, or after the quantity of their common of pasture or profit of fyshynge or other commodities there by such ways and means, and in such maner and form, as to you or .vi. of you, whereof the said A. B. and C. to be three, shall seem most convenient to be ordained and done for redress and reformation to be had in the premises: And also to reform, repair, and amend the said walls, dyches, banks, gutters, sewers, gootes, caulceies, bridges, streams, and other the premisses, in al places needful: and the same as often and where need shall be to make new, and to cleanse and purge the trenches, sewers, & dyches in all places necessary, and further to reform amend prostrate and 〈◇〉 ●●●e all such mills, streams, ponds, locks, fyshegarthes, hebbynge, wears, and other impediments and anoysaunces afore said, as shall be found by inquisition or by your surueyenge and discretions to be excessive or hurtful. And also to deputy and assign, diligent, faithful, and true keepers, bailiffs, surveyors, collectors, expenditours and other ministers, and officers, for the sauetie, conservation, reparation, reformation and making of the premisses and every of them, and to here the account of the collectors and other ministers of and for the receit and leyenge out of the money that shal be levied and payed in and about the making, repairing, refourmynge, and amendynge of the said walls, dyches, banks, gutters, gootes, sewers, caulceys, brydges, streams, trenches, milns, ponds, locks, fyshegarthes, floodgates, and other impediments and anoysaunces aforesaid. And to distrain for the arrearages of every such collection tax or assess, as often as shall be expedient, or otherwise to punish the debtors and deteyners of the same, by fines, amerciaments, pains, or other like means, after your good discretions. And also to arreste and take as many carts, horses, oxen, beasts, and other instruments necessary, and as many workmen and labourers, as for the said works and reparation shall suffice, payenge for the same competent wages salarye and stipend in that behalf: And also take such and as many trees, woods, vnderwodes, and tymbre, and other necessaries, as for the same works and reparations shall be sufficient at a reasonable price, by you or .vi. of you, of the which we will that A. B. and C. shal be three, to be assessed or limited, as well within the limits and bounds aforesaid, as in any other place within the said county or counties nere unto the said places, And to make and ordain statutes ordinances and provisions from time to time, as the case shall require, for the safeguard conservation redress correction and reformation of the premisses, and of every of thē, and the parties lying to the same, necessary and behouefull after the laws and customs of Ronney marsh, in the county of Kent, or otherwise by any ways or means after your own wysedomes and discretions. And to here and determine all & singular the premises, as well at our suit, as at the suit of any other what so ever complaining before you, or .vi. of you: whereof A. B. and C. shal be three, after the laws and customs aforesaid, or otherwise by any other ways and means after your discretions. And also to make and direct all writs, precepts, warrants, or other commandements, by virtue of these presentes, to al sheryffes, bailiffs, and all other ministers, officers, and other persons, as well within liberties as without, before you, or .vi. of you, whereof the said A. B. & C. to be three, at certain dayes, terms, and places to be prefixed, to be returned and received. And further to continue the process of the same, and finally to do all and every thing and things, as shall be requisite for the due execution of the premisses, by all ways and means after your discretions. And therfore we command you, that at certain dayes and places, when and where ye, or .vi. of you, whereof the said A.B. and C. to be three, shall think expedient, ye do survey the said walls, fences, dyches, banks, gutters, gotes, sewers, caulceyes, ponds, brydges, rivers, streams, water courses, milns, locks, trenches, fyshegarthes, floodgates, and other the lets, impediments, & annoysaunces aforesaid, and accomplish, fulfil, here, and determine all and singular the premises in due form, and to the effect aforesaid, after your good discretions: And all such as ye shall finde negligent gaynsayenge or rebelling in the said works, reparations, or reformation of the premises, or negligent in the dew execution of this our Commission, that ye do compel them by distress, fines, and amerciamentis, or by other punyshmentes, ways, or means, which to you or .vi. of you, whereof the said A.B. and C. shall be three, shall seem most expedient for the speedye remedy, redress, and reformation of the premises, and due execution of the same. And all such things as by you shall be made and ordained in this behalf, as well within liberties as without, that ye do cause the same firmly to be observed, doing therein as to our Iustyces appertaineth, after the laws and statutes of this our realm, and according to your wisedoms & discretions. saved always to us such fines and amerciaments as to us therof shal belong. And we also commande our sheriff or sheriffes of our said county or counties of 〈◇〉 that they shall cause to come before you, or syxe of you, of the which A. B. and C. shall be three, at such dayes and places, as ye shall appoint to them, such and as many honest men of his or their baylywicke, as well within the liberties as without, by whom the truth may best be known, to inquire of the premisses. Commandynge also all other ministers and officers, as well within liberty as without, that they and every of them shall be atcendant to you, in and about the due execution of this your commission. In witness whereof we haue caused these our letters patents to be made. witness ourself at westm the 〈◇〉 day of 〈◇〉 in the 〈◇〉 year of our reign.  
¶ And it is also enacted; that every such person, as shall be name Commissioner in the said commission, after he hath knowledge therof, shal effectually put his diligence and attendance in and about the execution of the said commission. And before he shall take upon him the execution of the said commission, he shall take a corporal oath before the lord chancellor, or before such, to whom the said lord chancellor shall direct the kings writ of Dedimus potestatem, to take the same, or before the Iustices of the peace in the quarter sessions holden in the shire, where such commission shall be directed: the tenor of which oath hereafter ensueth.  
¶ Ye shall swear, that you to your counnynge wit and power, shall truly and indifferentlye execute the authority to you youen by this commission of Sewers, without any favour affection corruption dread or malice to be born to any maner person or personnes: And as the case shall require, ye shall consent and endeavour yourself for your parte, to the beste of your knowledge and power, to the making of such wholesome just equal and indifferente laws and ordinances, as shall be made and devised by the most discrete and indifferent nombre of your fellows, being in commission with you for the dew redress, refourmation, and amendment of all and every such things, as ar contained and specified in the said Commission: And the same laws and ordinances, to your counnyng wit and power, cause to be put in dew execution, without favour meed dread malice or affection, as god you help and all sayntes.  
¶ And it is also enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all and every statute act and ordinance heretofore made concerning the premises or any of them, as well in the time of our sovereign lord the king that now is, as in the time of any of his progenitors kings of this realm of England, not being contrary to this present act, nor heretofore rep●llyd, from hence forth shall stand and be good and effectual for ever, and to be put in due execution, according to the true meaning and purportis of the same,  
¶ And over that be it enacted, that the commissioners hereafter to be name in any of the said Commyssions, according to the purport and effect of the same commyssions, haue full power and authority, to make, constitute, and ordain laws, ordynances, and decrees, and further to do all and every thing mentioned in the said commission, according to the purport, effect, words, and true meaning of the same. And the same laws and ordynances so made, to reform repelle and amend, and make new from time to time, as the cases necessary, shall require in that behalf.  
¶ provided alway, and it is enacted, that yf any person or persons, being assessed or taxed to any lot or charge, for any lands, tenements, or hereditaments within the limits of any commission hereafter to be directed, do not pay the said lot and charge, according to the ordinance and assignemente of the commissioners, having power of thexecution of the said commission, by reason whereof it shall happen the said commissioners, having power of execution of such commission, for lack of payment of such lot and charge, to decree and ordain the same lands tenements and hereditaments from the owner or owners thereof, and their heirs, and the heirs of every of them, to any person or persons, for term of yeres, term of life, in fee simple or in tail, for payment of the same lot and charge, that then every such decree and ordinance, so by them made, engrossed in parchemente, and certified under their seals, into the kings court of Chancery, with the kings royal assent had to the same, shall bind all and every person and persons, that at the making of the same decree had any interest, in such lands, tenements, or hereditaments in use, possession, reuersyon, or remayndre, their heirs and feoffees and every of them. And not to be in any wise reformed, unless it be by authority of parliament hereafter to be summoned & holden within this realm.  
¶ And also it is provided by authority aforesaid, that the same laws ordinances and decrees to be made and ordained by the said commissioners or syxe of them, by authority of the said commission, shal bind as well the lands tenements and hereditaments of the king our sovereign lord, as all and every other person and personnes, and their heirs, for such their intereste, as they shall fortune to haue or may haue in any lands, tenements, or hereditaments, or other casual profit, advantage, or commodity, what so ever they be, whereunto the said laws ordinances and decrees, shall in any wise extend, according to the true purport, meaning, and intent of the same laws.  
¶ And it is furthermore by the authority aforesaid established and enacted: that yf any maner of person or personnes, of what estate or degree so ever he or they be of, that from henceforth doth take vpon him or them to sit by virtue of any the said commyssyons, not being before sworn in form as is aforesaid, and according to the tenor of the oath afore specified: Of if any person so name and sworn, do sit as is aforesaid, not having lands and tenements, or other hereditaments in fee simplo, fee tail, or for term of life, to the clear yearly value of .xl. marks, above all charges, to his own use, except he be resiant and free of any city borough or town corporate, and haue movable substance of the clear value of one hundred pounds, or else be learned in the laws of this realm, in and concerning the same, that is to say, admitted in one of the four principal inns of court, for an utter barrister, shall forfeit .xl. pounds for every time that he shall attempt so to do. The one half therof to be to our sovereign lord the king, and the other half therof to the use of him or them that will sue therfore, by action of debt bill plaint or information in any of the kings courts: in which action or suit, no wager of lawe shall be admitted, nor any essoing or protection shall be allowed. And if any action of trespass or other suit shall happen to be attempted against any person or personnes for taking of any distress, or any other act doing, by authority of the said commission, or by authority of any laws or ordinances made by virtue of the said commission, the defendant or defendauntes in any such action, shall and may make auowrie conysance or justification, for the taking of the same distress, or other act doing, touching the premisses or any of them, allegynge in such auowry conysance or justification, that the said distress, trespass, or other act, whereof the plaintiff complaineth was done by authority of the commissions of sewers, for lot or tax assessed by the said commission, or for such other act or cause, as the said defendant did by authority of the said commission, and according to the tenor purport and effect of this present act, made the .xxiii. year of the reign of our sovereign lord king Henry the .viii. without any expressing or rehearsal of any other matter or circumstance, contained in this present act, or any commission laws statutes or ordinances thereupon to be made, whereupon the playntife shall be admitted to reply, that the defendant did take the said distress, or do any other act or trespass, supposed in his declaration of his own wrong without any such cause alleged by the said defendant, whereupon the issue in every such action shall be joined, to be tried by verdict of .xii. men, and not otherwise, as is accustomend in other personalle actions. And upon the trial of that issue, the hole matter to be given on both partes in evidence, according to the very truth of the same. And after such issue tried for the defendant, or nonsuit of the plaintiff after appearance, the same defendant to recover triple damages, by reason of his wrongful vexation in that behalf, with his costs also in that part sustained, and that to be assessed by the same jury, or writ, to inquire of damages, as the cause shall require.  
¶ And it is also enacted, that every of the said commissioners shall haue and perceive .iiii. shillings for every day that they shall take pain in the execution of this commission of Sewers, And one clerk by them to be assigned. ii.s. for every day, of the rates taxes lots and wanes that shall be assessed or lost, by authority of the said Commission, and to be levied and paid by their discretions. And that the said commissioners, or six of them, shall haue power and authority to lymyt and assign of the same rates, taxes, lots, and waynes by their discretions, such reasonable sums of money to the said clerk, for writing of books and process concerning the premisses, and to the collectors, expenditours, and such other as shall take pain in the due execution of the said commission, as by the discretions of the said commissioners, or vi. of them, shall be thought reasonable.  
¶ provided alway, that when so ever and as often as such Commission, as is afore limited, shall be made and directed to any person or persons for the reformation and amendment, of or in any of the premises, specified in the said commission, within the fees liberties or possession of the duchy of Lancaster: that then such commissioners, as shall execute any such commission, shall be always name and appoynted by the discretion of the lord chancellor and lord treasurer of england, & the said two chief iustices of either bench, and the chancellor of the said duchy for the time being, or .iii. of them, whereof the said lord chancellor, and the chancellor of the duchy to be two. And that in every such case, two Commissions shall be awarded and made, according to the tenor of the Commission above expressed, one therof under the great seal of England, and the other under the seal of the same duchy, as before time hath ben accustomend, any thing afore rehearsed in this present act to the contrary hereof not withstanding.  
¶ And it is further enacted, that the said commission from time to time, as the case shall require, shall be had and obtained, without any money or other charge, to be paid for the seals or writing of the same, unless it be to the king. ii.s. vi. d. for the seal of every commission, as hath ben accustomend: And for the writing and enrollyng of any one commission. v.s. and not above.  
¶ And it is further enacted, that every commission to be made by authority of this act, shal endure and continue for the term of three yeres, next after the Teste of the commission. never the less after any commission made and delivered out of the kings court of chancery, the kings highness shall always at his pleasure by his writ of Supersedias, out of his said court of chancery, at any time discharge as well every such commission, as every commissioner, that shall be made or name by authority of this act. After which discharge the said commissyoners shall haue no power, nor authority to procede in the execution of their commission, nor in any thing by authority of this act.  
¶ provided always, that such laws acts decrees and ordinances, as shal happen to be made by the said commissioners, according to the tenor of their commission, or by authority of this act, shall stand good & effectualle, and be put in due execution, so long time as their commission endureth, and no longer. Except the said laws and ordinances be made and engrossed in parchment, and certified under the seals of the said commissioners, into the kings court of chancery, and that the kings royal assent be had to the same: any thing contained in this present act to the contrary hereof not withstanding.  
¶ provided also, that when so ever and as often as such commission as is afore limited, shal be made and directed to any person or persons, for the refourmation and amendment of or in any of the premises, specified in the said commission, within the fees liberties and possessions of the principality of wales, the county Palantine of Chester, or within the fees, liberties, and possessions of any other place, where there is liberty and jurisdiction of county palantine that in every such case, two commyssions shall be awarded and made, according to the tenor of the commission above expressed, one therof under the great seal of england, and the other under the usual seal of the county Palantine, in maner and form, as is above provided for the duchy of Lancaster, any thing afore rehearsed in this present act to the contrary not withstanding.  
¶ And it is provided and also enacted, that the royal assent limited to be had unto the laws and ordinances, to be made by the said commissioners, as is abovesaid, shall be certified into the said court of chancery, under the kings privy seal: And that there shal not any somme of money be paid for the same pryuye seal, but for the writing of the same Certificate under the said privy seal, shall be paid to the writer therof .ii. s. and not above, nor noo other, nor greater somme for any thing touching or concerning the same Certificate, under the same privy seal.  
¶ provided always, that the chancellors, and such other as shall haue the custody of the seals of the said principality of wales, or the county palantine of Chester, or within the fees liberties & possessions of any other place, where there is liberty and jurisdiction of county palantine, vpon reasonable request, and vpon the sight of the commission under the kings great seal of his Chancery, shall without delay make out an other commission, under the seal of the said county palantine, according to the tenor of the kings commission to them shewed under his great seal. And to those commissioners as shall be name by the lord chancellor, lord treasurer, and the two chief Iustices, or by three of them, whereof the lord chancellor to be one, except it be within the fees and liberties of the duchy of Lancaster, within which fees and liberties the commissioners shall be name, and commissions made, as is afore ordained by this act, any thing contained in the said act, or in any proviso thereunto added and annexed to the contrary therof notwithstanding.  
¶ This act to endure for .xx. yeres.   

Anno. 24. Henrici. 8. Cap. 13.  
WHERE BEFORE this time dyvers laws, ordinances, 
R formation of excess in apparel.  and statutes haue ben with great deliberation and advise, provided established and devised, for the necessary repressing, avoiding, and expelling of the inordinate excess, daily more and more used in the sumptuous and costly array and apparel, accustomably worn in this realm: whereof hath ensued and daily do chance such sundry, high, and notable inconveniences, as be to the great, manifeste, and notorious detriment of the common weal, the subversion of good and politic order in knowledge and distinction of people, according to their estates, pre-eminences, dignities, and degrees, and to the utter enpouerysshement and vndoynge of many inexperte and light personnes, inclined to pride, mother of all vices: which good laws not withstanding, the oulteragyouse excess therein is rather from time to time increased, joanne dymynysshed, either by occasion of the perverse and frowarde manners and usage of people, or for that errors and abuses ones roted and taken into long custom, be not facylly and at ones without some moderation for a time relynquyshed and reformed. In consideration whereof, and for a reasonable order and remedy like to be observed, performed, and continually kept, It is by the kings highnes, the lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons in this present parlyamente assembled, and by authority of the same, enacted, established, and ordained, in maner and form following.  
¶ first that no person or personnes, of what estate, dignity, degree, or condition so ever they be, from the feast of the Purification of our lady, which shall be in the year of our lord, M.D.XXXIII. use or wear in any maner their apparel, or upon their horse, mule, or other beast, any silk of the colour of purpur, ne any cloth of gold, of tyssue, but onely the king, the queen, the kings mother, the kings children, the kings brethren, and miters, and the kings vncles and auntes: except that it shall be lefulle to all dukes and marquyses to wear and use in their doublets and sleueles coats, cloth of gold, of tissue, and in none other their garments, So that the same to be worn by such dukes and marquyses, exceed not the price of .v. li. the yard. provided that this word purpur extend not to any mantle of the order of the Garter.  
¶ AND that no man, under the state of an earl, from the same feast, use or wear in his apparel of his body, or upon his horse, mule, or other beast, or harneys of the same beast, any cloth of gold or silver, or of tynselde satin, or any other silk or cloth mixed or embrowdred with gold or silver, nor also any furs of Sables: except that it shall be lawful for vicontes, the prior of saint Iohnns jerusalem, within this realm, and barons, to wear in their doublets or sleueles coats, cloth of gold, silver or tynsell.  
¶ ALSO it is enacted, that noo man, under the estate of a duke, marquyse, earl, and their children, or under the degree of a baron, oneles he be a knight, that is companion of the Garter, from the said feast, wear in any part of his apparel any wollen cloth, made out of this realm of england, ireland, wales, Calys, Berwyke, or the marches of the same, except in bonettes onely: Ne also wear in any maner apparel of his body, or on his horse, mule, or other beast, or harness of the same beast, any veluette of the colours of crymesen, scarlet, or blewe, ne any furs of black jenettes or lusernes, ne any maner imbrowdery. And that no man, unless he be a knight, after the said feast, wear any collar of gold, name a collar of S. And that no man, under the degree of a barons son, or of a knight, except he may expend yearly in lands, or tenements, rents, fees, or annuities to his own use, for term of his life, or for term of an other mans life, or in the right of his wife, two hundreth pounds over all charges, shall after the said feast, use or wear any cheyne of gold, bracelet, ouche, or other ornament of gold, in any parte of his or their apparel, or the apparel of his or their horse, mule, or other beast: except every such theyne, jewel, ouche, or ornament, be in weight one vnce of fine gold, or above, and except rings of gold, to be worn on their fingers, with stones or without. Ne also shall wear any maner of velvet in their gowns, coats with greves or other uttermost garments, nor any furs of lybardes, nor also shall wear any maner embroidery, prickynge or pryntinge with gold, silver, or silk in any part of their apparel, or on their horses, mules, or other beasts.  
¶ AND that no man, under the said estates and degrees, other than such as may dispend in lands, or tenements, rents, fees, or annuities, as is aforesaid, a hundred pounds by year, over all charges, shall after the said feast, wear any satin, damask, silk chamlet, or taffata in his gown, cote with greves, or other uttermost apparel or garment, nor any maner of veluette, otherwise than in sleeveless iackettes, doublets, coifs, partlettes, or purses: Nor also shall wear any fur, whereof the like kind groweth not within this realm of england, ireland, wales, Calys, Berwyke, or the marches of the same: except foins, genettes, called graye genettes, and bogy.  
¶ AND that no man under the said degrees, other than the son and heir apparent of a knight, or the son and heir apparaunte of a man of three hundreth mark by year, over all charges, and such other men as may dispend in lands and tenements, rents, fees, annuities, or other yearly profits, as is aforesaid, xl. li. by year, over all charges, from the said feast, wear in their gowns, or any other their uttermost apparel, any chamlet or silk, ne also wear in any other parte of their apparel, any silk, other than satyne, damask, taffata, or sarcenette in their doublets, and sarcenette, chamblet, or taffara in living of their gowns, and the same, or velvet in their sleeveless coats, iackettes, ierkyns, coifs, caps, pourses, or partelettes, the colours of scarlet, crymysen, and blewe always except. Nor shall wear any fur of foins, or genettes, called Gray jenettes, nor any other furs, whereof the like kind is not grown within this realm of england, ireland, wales, Calys, Berwyke, or the marches of the same, except before except, Ne shall wear any maner aglettes, buttons, broches of gold or silver guilt, or counterfeit gilded, or made with any other devise of any weight Nor shall wear any cheyne of gold, of less weight and value than ten vnces of Treye weight of fine gold.  
¶ And that no man under the said degrees, other than such gentleman as may dispend in lands, or tenementis, rents, fees, or annuities, as is aforesaid .xx. pounds by year over al charges, from and after the said feast, wear any maner of silk, in any apparel of his body, or of his horse, mule, or other beast, except it be satin, taffata, sarsenet, or damask in his doublet or coif, and chamblet in his sleeveless iackettes, and a lace of silk for his bonnet, or points, laces, girdles or garters made or wrought in england or wales: nor shall wear any furs of black conye or bogy.  
¶ And that noo man under the said degrees, other than such as may dispend in lands and tenements, rents, fees, or annuities, as is aforesaid, five pounds by year over al charges, from and after the said feast, wear any maner of cloth of the colour of scarlet, crymosen, or violet engrayned, nor any silk in their doublettis or jackets, nor any other cloth in any garment above the price of .vi. s. viii. d. the broad yard: nor any other thing made out of this realm, except chamblet in their doublets and iackettes.  
¶ And that noo serving man, nor other yeoman, taking wages, or such other as he may not dispend of frehold forty shillings by year, after the said feast, shall wear any cloth in his hoses, above the price of two shillings the yard: And that none of their hoses be guarded or mixed with any other thing, that may be sene on or through the utter parte of their hosen, but with the self same cloth only, nor in his gown, cote, or iackette, or other garnement any cloth, above the price of three shillings four pence the broad yard, except it be his masters lyuery, nor any maner fur, except coney, called graye coney, black lamb or white lamb of Englishe, welsshe, or Irisshe growing: Nor shall wear any shyrte, or shyrt band, under or vpper cappt, coif, bonnet, or hat, garnished, mixed, made, or wrought with silk, gold, or silver: Nor shall wear any bonnet or shirtband, made or wrought out of this realm of england, or wales, nevertheless it shall be lefulle for him to wear a silk ribande for his bonnet, and also the cognysance or badge of his lord or master, and a horn tipped or flued, with silver gylt or vngilt, And also they and all other persons to wear on their bonettes all such games of silver guilt or vngylte, as they or any of them may win by wrestling, shotynge, running, leapinge, or casting of the bar, and also masters of the ships or other vessels, and mariners to wear whistels of silver, with the cheyn of silver to hang the same vpon, any former clause in this act heretofore mentionid to the contrary not withstanding.  
¶ AND that noo housebande man, from the said feast, wear in his hoses any cloth above the price of the yard. iis. shillings, or any cloth in his gown above the price of. iiii.s. the broad yard, or in his iackette or cote, above the price of .ii. s. viii. d. the broad yard. Nor in his doublet any other thing than is wrought within this realm, fustian and canvas onely excepted, nor any maner of fur in any his apparel.  
¶ And that no serving man in husbandry, or journey man in handy crafts, taking wages after and from the feast aforesaid, wear in his hoses any cloth above the price. of .xvi. d. the yard, nor shal wear any cloth in his gown, iackette, or cote, above the price of .ii. shillings viii. d. the broad yard, nor in his doublette any other thing than fustian, canvas, or leather, or wollen cloth, nor any maner of fur in any of his apparel.  
¶ PROVIDED always, that all such officers and servants, waytinge or attending upon the king, the queen, the prince or princess, daily, yearly, or quarterly in their households, or being in their Eschequire roll, as shall be admitted, assigned, and lycenced by his grace, to use or wear any maner apparel on their bodies, horses, mules, or other beasts, otherwise than is afore expressed, shal mow lawfully do the same, according to the licence, which shall be given unto them in that behalf.  
The same licence to be declared in writing by the kings highness, or the lord steward of his most honourable household, or the lord Chamberlayne, knowing the kings most gracious pleasure in the same.  
¶ PROVIDED also, that the vycechamberlayne, steward, treasurer, and controller of the french queens honourable household, and every of them for the time being, after and from the said feast, may wear in their gowns, coats, iakettes, doublets, and other their apparel, velvet, satin, & damask, being of the colours of black, tawnye, or russet, and also chains and broches of gold, of such value as they wool at their liberty, this present act, or any thing therein mentioned to the contrary notwithstanding.  
¶ PROVIDED also, that the lord chancellor, and the lord treasurer of england, the presydente of the kings counsel, and the lord privy seal, for the time being, of what estate or degree so ever they be, besides those romes, may wear in their apparel, velvet, satin, and other sylkes of any colours, except purpur, and any maner furs, except black jenettes, any thing in this act mentioned to the contrary not withstanding.  
¶ BE IT further enacted, that after the said feast, none of the clergy, under the dignity of a bishop, abbot, or prior, being a lord of the parliament, wear in any parte of his or their apparel of their bodies, or on their horses, any maner of stuff, wrought or made out of this realm of england, ireland, wales, calais, Berwyke, or the marches of the same, except that it shall be lawful to all archedeacons, deans, prouostes, masters, and wardens, of cathedral and collegiate churches, prebendaries, doctors or bachelors in divinity, doctors of the one law or the other, and also doctors of other sciences, which haue taken that degree, or be admitted in any university, to wear sarsenet in the living of their gowns, black satin, or black chamlet in their doublets and sleueles coats, & black velvet or black sarrenet, or black satin in their typpettes, and riding hodes or girdles, and also cloth of the colours of scarlet, murey, or violet, and furs called graye, black boge, foins, shanks, or meneuer in their gowns and sleueles coats, any thing before mentioned to the contrary notwithstanding. And that none of the clergy, under the degrees aforesaid, wear any maner of furs, other then black coney, bogy, graye coney, shanks, calaber graye, fyche, fox, lamb, otter, and beaver. And that none of the clergy, under the degrees aforesaid, other than masters of arte, and bachelors of the one lawe or the other, admitted in any vnyuersitie, or such other of the said clergy as may dispend yearly .xx. li. over all charges, shall wear in their tipettes any maner of sarsenet or other silk.  
¶ PROVIDED also, that this act, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend nor be hurtful or prejudicial to any of the kings most honourable council, ne to Iustices of the one bench or the other, the barons of the kings Eschequere, the master of the rolls, seriantes at lawe, the masters of the chancery, ne to any of the counsel of the queen, prince or princes, apprentices of the lawe, the kings, the queens, the princes, and the pryncesses physicians, mayres, recorders, aldermen, sheriffs, bailiffs elect, and all other heed officers, of cities, towns, and boroughs corporate, wardens of occupations, the barons of the five ports, that is to say, to all the said officers and persons, that now be, or heretofore haue ben in like rome, place, office, or authority, or hereafter for the time shalbe, as well in the time as after that they haue benne in any such place, office, rome, or authority, but that they shall mow at all times were, after the said feast, all such apparel in and vpon their bodies, horses, mules, and other beasts, and also citizens, and burgesses, shall mow wear such hoods of cloth, and of such colours, as they haue heretofore used to wear: any thing in this act mentioned to the contrary not withstanding: except that it shall not be lawful to any of them to wear velvet, damask, or satin of the colours of crimysen, violet, purpur, or blewe, otherwise than by the continue of this act, in any of the clauses before mentioned, is by reason of their lands or otherwise permitted, limited, or assigned.  
¶ NE also this act or any thing therein mentioned, shall extend to ambassadors, or other personages sent from outward princes, or to noble men, or other coming into the kings realm, or other part of his obeisance, to visit se or salute his grace, or to se the country, and not minded to make long or continual demure in the same, ne to any hencheman, heralde, or purceuaunt at arms, mynstrels, player in interludes, sights, bowels, iustes, journeys, bariers, solemn watches, or other martial feats or disguysynges, or to men of war, being in the kings wages of war: nor to any man for wearing any apparel, given unto him by the kings hyghenes, the queen, the french queen, the prince, or princess, ne to any sword bearer of the city of London, or of any city borrow or town corporate. Ne also shal extend to any utter barrister of any of the ynnes of court for wearing in any of his apparel such silk and fur, as is before limited for men that may dispend in lands, tenements, rents, fees, or annuities, for term of life .xx. li. over all charges: Nor to any other student of the ynnes of court or Chancery, or to any gentle man, being servant to any lord, knight, squire, or gentleman of this realm, whose master may dispend .xl. li. over all charges, for wearinge by such student or gentyllman, being servant, of doublets, & partlettes of satin, damask, or chamlet, or iackettes of chamblet: which doublets, partlettes, or iackettes be given unto them by any of their parentes, maisters, or kynsfolkes, so always they be not of the colours of crimosen, purpur, scarlet, or blew: or for wearing of any furs, whereof the like groweth within this realm, wales, or ireland, mar●ernes, and black coney except.  
¶ IT IS also further enacted, that yf any man use or wear, at any time after the said feast, any apparel, or other the premisses, contrary to the tenor and form aforesaid: than he so offending, shall forfeit the same apparel, and other the premises, so by him used or worn upon his person, horse, mule, or other beast, wherewith so ever it be garnished, embrodred, doubled, or mixed, or the value therof: and also .iii. s. iiii. d. in the name of a fine for every day, that he shall so wear the same, contrary to the tenor and purport of this act. And that every man, that woll, may lawfully sue for the same, by action of detynue, to be commensed within .xv. dayes next after the beginning of the term, next ensuing, after any such time and cause of forfeiture so given: in the which action the defendant shall not be suffered to wage his lawe, nor any essoing or protection shal be to him allowed in that behalf. The one half of the which forfeiture & fine shall be to the kings highness, and the other half to him or them, that woll sue for the same, in form, and within the time before limited.  
¶ AND it is further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that it shall be lawful to the iustices of peace in their sessions, the sheriff in his turn, the steward in any let or lawedaye, the aldermen in their wards, and to all other persons, having authority to inquire of blodshede and frays, to inquire of every of the said offences and forfaytures: and the parties offending against this statute, and so presented, shall make fine in maner and form, and after the rate aforesaid.  
¶ OVER this it is enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all other acts made for reformation of excess in apparel, or array, at any time before this present parliament, and all and singular articles, provisions, forfaytures, and penalties, mentioned in the said former acts or any of them, be from henceforth utterly void, repelled, extyncte, and of none effect: And all transgressions, offences, sums of money, penalties, and forfaytures for any thing done contrary to the said former acts, or any of thē, before this time made for reformation of excess in apparel, he clearly remitted, pardonned, and relesed: and the offenders in that behalf and every of them to be therof discharged, and acquitted for ever.  
¶ PROVIDED always, that this act, nor any thing therein contained, be hurtful or preiuditiall to any spiritual or temporal person, in and for the wearing any ornaments of the church, used for executing divine service, or for wearing their amycis, mantils, habytes, or garments of religion, or other things, which they be used or bound unto by their romes, or promotions, or religions: ne also to any graduates, beadels, or ministers to the graduates in universities and schools, for wearing of their habits or hoods, with furs, lyninges, or otherwise, after such form as heretofore they haue been accustomend to do, any thing in this present act, made to the contrary not withstanding.  
¶ PROVIDED also that this act, nor any thing therein contained, be prejudicial or hurtful to any person or personnes for wearinge of any linen cloth, made or wrought out of this realm, or other parties of the kings obeisance, ne to any person being of the degree of a gentleman, for wearing of any shirte made, wrought, or embroudred with thread and silk onely, so the same work or embroudery be made within this realm of england, wales Cales, Berwyke, or the marches.    

AGAINST THE bishop OF ROME.  

Anno. 28. Henrici. 8. Cap. 10.  
FOR as much as not withstanding the good and wholesome laws ordinances and statutes heretofore made enacted and established by the kings highness our most gracious sovereign lord, 
against the false usurped power of the bishop of Rome.  and by the hole consent of his high court of parlyamente, for the extirpation abolution and extinguyshement out of this realm, and other his graces dominions seignories and countries, of the pretended power and usurped authority of the bishop of Rome, by some called the pope, used within the same or else were concerning the same realm dominions segnories or contreis, which did obfuscate and wrest goddes holy word and testament a long season from the spiritual and true meaning therof, to his worldly and carnal affections, as pomp, glory, avarice, ambition, and tyranny, covering and shadowynge the same, with his human and politic devices, traditions, and inventions set forth to promote and stablish his onely dominion, both upon the veils and also the bodies and goods of al christian people, excluding christ out of his kingdom and rule of man his soul, as much as he may, and all other temporal kings and princes out of their dominions, which they ought to haue by gooddis lawe, upon the bodies and goods of their subiectes: whereby he did not only rob the kings majesty, being onely the supreme heed of this his realm of england immediately under god, of his honour, right, and pre-eminence, due unto him by the lawe of god, but spoyled this his realm yearly of innumerable treasure, and with the loss of the same deceived the kings loving and obedient subiectes, persuadynge to them by his laws, bulls, and other his deceivable means, such dreams, vanyties, and fantasies, as by the same many of them were seduced and conveyed unto superstitious and erroneous opinions: so that the kings majesty, the lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons in this realm being ouerweried and fatigated, with thexperience of the infinite abominations and myschefes proceeding of his impostures, and craftyly coulourynge of his deceits, to the great damages of veils, bodies, and goods, were forced of necessity for the publycque weal of this realm, to exclude that foreign pretended power jurisdiction and authority, used and usurped within this realm, & to devise such remedies for their relief in the same, as doth not onely redound to the honour of god, the high praise and advancement of the kings majesty, and of his realm, but also to the great and inestimable utility of the same. And notwithstanding the said wholesome laws to made, and heretofore established, yet it is commen to the knowledge of the kings hyghenes, and also to dyvers and many his loving faithful and obedient subiectes, how that dyvers seditious and contentious persons, being imps of the said bishop of Rome and his see, and in heart, membres of his pretended monarchye, do in corners and else where, as they dare whisper inculke preach and persuade, and from time to time instyll into the ears and heeds of the poor simple and unlettered people, the anauncement and continuance of the said bishops feigned and pretended authority, pretending the same, to haue his ground and original of goddes lawe, whereby the opinions of many be suspended, their judgements corrupted and deceived, and diversity in opinions augmented & increased, to the great displeasure of almighty god, the high discontentation of our said most dread sovereign lord, and the interruption of the unity love charity concord & agreement, that ought to be in a Christen region and congregation. For avoiding whereof and repression of the folyes of such seditious personnes, as be the means and authors of such inconveniences. Be it enacted ordained and established by the king our sovereign lord, and the lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons in this present parliament assembled, and by thauctoritie of the same, that yf any person or personnes, dwelling demurrynge inhabytynge or resiant within this realm, or within any other the kings dominions seignouries or countreys, or the marches of the same, or elles where within or under his obeisance & power, of what estate dignity pre-eminence order degree or condition so ever he or they be, after the last day of January, which shalbe in the year of our lord god. M.D.xxxvi. shall by writing, cyfrynge, printinge, preaching, or teaching, dede or act, obstinately or maliciously, hold or stand with, to extol setforth maintain or defend the authority jurisdiction or power of the bishop of Rome, or of his see, heretofore claimed used or usurped within this realm or in any dominion or country being of within or under the kings power or obeyssaunce, or by any pretence obstinately or maliciousely invent any thing for thextollynge advancement setting forth maintenance or defence of the same, or any part therof, or by any pretence obstinately or malyciousely attribute any maner of jurisdiction authority or pre-eminence to the said see of Rome, or to any bishop of the same see for the time being within this realm or in any the kings dominions or countreys: that then every such person or personnes, so doing or offending, their aydours, assistentes, comforters, abbettours, procurers, maynteyners, fautors, counsellors, councelours, and every of them, being therof lawfully convicted, according to the laws of this realm, for every such default and offence, shall incur and run into the dangers, penalties, pains, and forfaytures ordained and provided by the statute of provision & praemunire, made in the .xvi. year of the reign of the noble and valiant prince king richard the second, against such as attempt procure or make provision to the see of Rome or else where, for any thing or things to the derogation or contrary to the prerogative royal or jurisdiction of the crown and dignity of this realm.  
¶ AND to thentent that this act at all times may be well and trewelye executed, and the offenders therof haue and receive condign punishment according to their demerits, It is enacted by the authority afore said, that as well iustices of assize in their circuities, as iustices of peace within the limits of their commission & aucthorites, or two of every such iusticiers of peace at the least, whereof one to be of the Quorum, shall haue full power and authority to inquire of all offences contempts and transgressyons perpetrated committed or done contrary to this act, in like maner and form as they may of other offences against the kings peace, And shall certify every presentment afore them or any of them had or made, concerning this act or any part therof, before the king in his bench, within .xl. dayes next after any such presentment had or made, if the term be then open: And if not, than at the first day of the term next following the said .xl. dayes, vpon pain that every of the iusticiars of assize, or iusticiars of peace, before whom such presentement shalbe made, making default of such certificat contrary to this statute, to lose and forfeit forty pounds to the kings highenes.  
¶ AND it is enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the Iusticiars of the kings bench, as well vpon every such certificat as by inquerye before themselves within the limits of their authorities, shall haue full power and authority to here order and determine every such offence, done or committed contrary to this act, according to the laws of this realm, in such like maner and form to all intents and purposes, as yf the person or personnes, against whom any presentement shalbe had upon this statute, had be presented vpon any matter or offence expressed in the said statute, made in the said .xvi. year of king richard the second.  
¶ And it is also enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all and every archebyshops byshops and archedeacons within this realm, their commissaries, vycars general, and other their ministers, in every their visitation and seanes, shall make diligent insearche, enquiry, and examination of all and every ecclesiastical and religious person within and of their jurisdiction, which shall be suspected accused or deemed to be a transgressor or offeder of this act. And if upon such search enquiry and examination any ecclesiastical or religious personnes shalbe presented suspected accused, or found culpable by witness or confession, of any offence contrary to this act, and be present at the time of such presentement examination or accusation: that then every the archebysshoppes bishops and archedecons, their commissaries, vicars general, and other their ministers, afore or to whom any such person shall be presented, suspected, accused, or found culpable( as is aforesaid) shall commit every such person so presented suspected accused or found culpable, if he be present( as is aforesaid) to the next common jail of the shyere where such enquiry examination or accusation shall be had or made, or elles by good and sufficient sureties to be bound by obligation to the kings use, shall let every such person to bail by their discretions, to appear before the king and his counsel, in the star chaumbre at Westmynster, within .xv. dayes next after such enquiry presentemente or accusation, yf the term be then open and kept, or elles in the first day of the term next following after the same enquerye presentement or accusation. And at the same day limited for such apparance, they shall certify into the said star chaumbre by writing under their seals, as well the said bonde and obligation, taken for such appearance, as the presentment examination accusation or conviction of every such person, and all depositions and circumstances therof, and the name of the jail, where unto they haue committed the said person. And if any such ecclesiastical or religious person, being presented suspected or accused in any scene or visitation, be not present at the time of the said scene or visitation as is aforesaid, that then nevertheless every the said archebyshops byshops and archedeacons, their commissaries, vicars general, and all other their ministers, afore or to whom any such presentement suspection or accusation shalbe had or made, shall certify every such presentment suspection and accusation, and all circumstance therof( as is aforesaid) in to the star chaumbre at Westmynster within .xv. dayes next after such presentement suspection or accusation had or made, or in the first day of the term next following after such presentement suspection or accusation, in such maner and form as is afore rehearsed. And in case any ecclesiastical or religious person, being presented suspected or accused of any offence done or attempted contrary to this statute, be therof conuycted by confession or witness before any archebysshoppe bishop or archdeacon, or before any the commissaries, vicars general, or other their ministers, in their seanes or visitations, or before the kings counsel in the star Chaumbre at Westmynster: that then every such spiritual and religious person, so being convict, shall suffer such pains penalties and forfaytures, as be expressed in the said statute made in the said .xvi. year of king richard the second.  
¶ It is also enacted by thauctoritie aforesaid, that yf any ecclesiastical judge or visitatour do voluntarily concele cloak hide or colour any presentement accusation or confession, that shall be made to him concerning this statute, and do not certify every such accusation presentement or confession before the king and his counsel in the sterryd Chaumbre at Westmynster, in such maner and form as is above specified in this statute: that then every such ecclesiastical judge and visitatour, so wilfully offending, for every such default shall forfeit .xl. li. the one half therof to the kings hyghenes, the other half to such person as will sue for the same by original writ bill plaint or information in any of the kings courts: in which suit no essoing protection or wager of lawe shall be admitted nor allowed.  
¶ And for stronger defence and maintenance of this act, it is ordained and enacted by authority aforesaid, that all and every ecclesiastical judge, ordinary, chancellor, commissary, ofciall, vicar general, and other ecclesiastical officer or minister, of what dignity pre-eminence or degree so ever they shall be, And all and every temporal judge, iusticiar, mayor, bailiff, shereffe, vndershereffe, eschetour, alderman, jurat, counstable, hedborowe, thirdeboroughe, borsholder, and every other lay officer, and minister, to be made, created, elected, or admitted within this realm or any other the kings dominions, of what estate order degree or condition so ever he shalbe from and after the said last day of January, shall before he take upon him the execution of such office, make take and receive a corporal oath vpon the evangelists, before such person or personnes as haue or shall haue authority to admit him, that he from henceforth shall utterly renounce refuse relynquishe or forsake the bishop of Rome and his authority power and jurisdiction: And that he shall never consent nor agree, that the bishop of Rome shal practise exercise or haue any maner of authority jurisdiction or power within this realm, or any other the kings dominions, but that he shall resist the same at all times to thuttermooste of his power. And that from henceforth he shall accept repute and take the kings majesty to be the onely supreme heed in earth of the church of england. And that to his cunning wit & uttermost of his power, without guile fraud or other vndewe mean, he shall observe keep maintain and defend the whole effects and contents of all and singular acts & statutes made and to be made within this realm, in derogation extirpation and extinguyshemente of the bishop of Rome and his authority. And all other acts and statutes made and to be made in reformation and corroboration of the kings power of supreme heed in earth of the church of england: and this he shall do against all maner of personnes, of what estate dignity degree or condition they be, and in no wise do nor attempt, nor to his power suffer to be done or attempted directly or indirectly any thing or things rejoicingly or apartly, to the let hindrance damage or derogation therof, or of any parte therof, by any maner of means, or for any maner of pretence. And in case any oath be made or hath been made by him to any person or personnes, in maintenance defence or favour of the bishop of Rome or his authority jurisdiction or power, he repute the same as vain and adnychilate, so help him god all sainctes and the holy evangelist.  
¶ And it is also enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all and every person and persons spiritual and temporal, suing lyuere restitutions or utter le main out of the king, his heirs, or successors hands, or doing any fealty to his hyghenes, his heirs, or successors, or which shal be sworn to the king his heirs or successors, or that shall haue any office fee or room of the most gracious gift of the kings majesty, his heirs, or successors, or shal be retained in service, with his grace, his heirs, or successors, shall make take and receive the said oath. And that also all and every religious person, at the time of his or their profession or entre into religion, and every other ecclesiastical person at the time of his taking of orders, & all and every other person, which shall be promoted or preferred to any degree of learning in any university within this realm or other the kings dominions at the time of his promotion or inditement, and every of them, shall make take and receive the said oath before his or their sovereign, ordinary, or the commissary of such university.  
¶ And it is also enacted by the authority aforesaid, that yf any person or personnes, limited or commanded by authority of this act to make the said oath, or commanded by any other person or personnes, authorized by the kings hyghenes commission under his great seal, or his seal ordained for causes ecclesiastical, to make the said oath, obstinately refuse that to do: that than every such offence and contempt shall be high treason, and the offenders therof being lawfully convicted, shall suf●●e pains of death and other forfaytures penalties and losses, as is limited and accustomend in cases of high treason by any laws or statutes of this realm heretofore made.  
¶ provided always and be it enacted, that this act, nor any thing or things in the same rehearsed mentioned or comprised, be in any wise prejudicial hurtful or derogatorye to the ceremonies uses and other laudable and politic ordinances, for a tranquillitie, discipline, concord, devotion, vnytie, and decent order heretofore in the church of england used instituted taken and accepted, nor to any person or personnes accordingly using the same or any of them.  
¶ provided alway and be it enacted by authority of this present parlyamente, that this act, concerning the byshope of Rome, or any thing to be done by his usurped authority, shal no further bind nor extend to and upon the kings subiectes of his yle of jersey, Gernesey, and Alderney, in any other maner form or condition, than it shall please the kings hyghenes, with the advise of his most honourable counsel, upon consideration and examination of the state and disposition of his said yles, and the common wealth of the same, hereafter to establish ordain and declare unto them by his gracious letters patents under his great seal: and that the said letters patents and every thing therein to be contained, shal be of the same effect, strength, and virtue, as if they had been passed and enacted by authority of parliament, any thing in the said act contained to the contrary in any wise not withstanding.   
GOD SAVE THE king.   

LONDINI IN A●DI●VS THOMAE ●ERTHELET● R●GII IMPRESSORIS. EXCVS.  
ANNO. M.D.XXXVIII.  
CV. PRIVILEGIO.