A Proclamation devised by the kings highness, with th'advise of his most honourable counsel, to avow and abolish such english books, as 〈◊〉 pernicious detestable errors and heresies, made the viii day of july, the. ●●●viii. year of the kings majesty's most gracious reign.  
THe kings most excellent majesty, understanding how under pretence of expounding and declaring the truth of God's scripture, divers lewd and evil disposed persons have taken occasion to utter and sow abroad by Books imprinted in thenglish tongue, sundry pernicious and detestable errors and heresies, not only contrary to the laws of this Realm, but also repugnant to the true sense of God's law and his word. By reason whereof certain men of late to the destruction of their own body and soul, and to the evil example of others, have attempted arrogantly and maliciously to impugn the truth, and therewith trouble the sober, quiet and godly religion, united and established under the kings majesty in this his Realm: His highness minding to foresee the dangers that might ensue thereof, and tendering therewith like a most christian prince the conservation of the true religion in his majesties dominions from such corrupt and pestilent teaching, as hath of late secretly crept in by such printed books, hath thought it necessarily requisite to devise by his proclamation and authority of the same how to avoid and eschew the said dangers and inconvenience, and to purge his common wealth of such pernicious doctrine as by books in th'English tongue hath been of late divulged abroad in this his grace's realm. For which consideration, having the devil so tempered the setting abroad of his falsehood as he many times annexed truths thereunto, whereby to induce and deceive the simple people. So as now the purging of that which is noisome and hurtful, can not without taking away some part of that being tolerable be put in execution, being the books increased to an infinite numbered, and unknown diversities of titles and names whereby specially to revoke adnul or condemn the same. The kings majesty is enforced to use his general prohibition commandment and proclamation as followeth.  
first, that from henceforth no man woman or other person, of what estate condition or degree so ever be or they be, shall after they last day of August next ensuing, receive take have or keep in his or their possession, the text of the new Testament of Tindals or Coverdals translation in english, nor any other than is permitted by th'act of Parliament, made in the session of the parliament holden at Westminster in the xxxiiii & xxxv year of his majesties most noble reign: not after the said day, shall receive have take or keys in his or their possession any manner of book printed or written in the english tongue, which be or shallbe set forth, in the names of Frith tindal, Wicliff, joy, Roy, Basile, Bale, Barnes, Coverdale, Turner, Tracy or by any of them, or any other book or books, containing matter contrary to the kings majesties book, called, A necessary doctrine and erudition for any christian man, or any thing therein contained: or any other book or books prohibited or forbidden to be had or kept by the act of parliament holden at Westminster in the xxxiiii and xxxv year of the kings majesties most victorious reign abovesaid.  
And furthermore the kings majesty straightly chargeth and commandeth, that who so ever, of what estate degree or condition so ever they or he be hath now in his or their custody and such book printed or written in english, as doth contain matter contrary to the said doctrine set forth by the kings majesty, or be set forth in the name of Frith Cuidall, Wicliffe, joy, Roy, Basile, Bale, Barnes, Coverdale, Turner, Tracy: Or else the same book or books in english be the new Testament of Tindals or coverdale's translation, or any other prohibited by the said act made Anno xxxiiii and xxxv shall before the last day of August next coming, deliver the same english book or books to his master in that household, if he be a servant or dwell under any other. And the master or ruler of the house and such other as dwell at large, shall deliver all such books of the forts aforesaid as they have, or shall come to their hands de●●uered as afore or otherwise to the Mayor, bailiff or chief constable of the town, where they devil, to be by them delivered over openly within xl days next following after the said delivery to the sheriff of the shire, or to the Bishop, chancellor, or commissary of the same diocese, to th'intent the said bishop chancellor, commissary, and sheriff, and every of them, shall cause them incontinently to be openly ●●●●●ed, which the kings majesties pleasure is, that every of them shall see executed in most effectual sort, and of their doings therein make certificate to the kings majesties most honourable counsel, before the first of October next coming.  
And to th'intent that no man shall mistrust any danger of such penal statutes as be passed in this behalf, for keeping of the said books. The kings majesty is most graciously contented by this proclamation to pardon that offence to the 〈…〉