❧ By the Queen.  
A Proclamation for bringing into the Realm of unlawful and seditious books.  
Whereas divers books made or translated by certain the Queen's majesties subjects, for the more part remaining on the other side of the sea, without lawful licence, containing sundry matters repugnant to truth, derogatory to the sovereign estate of her Majesty, and stirring and nourishing sedition in this Realm, are commonly in secret sort here dispersed by malicious persons among sundry her majesties subjects, to th'intent to draw them to error, and withdraw we them seditiously from their duties and allegiance due to her Majesty, as their only sovereign. For redress hereof, like as of late time some mild example hath been made in the star chamber at Westminster, in correction of certain persons found faulty in the secret dispersing, buying, and allowing of sundry of the said seditious books: So her Majesty meaning of her clemency neither to have any advantage taken for things herein already past, nor any her honest and quiet subjects to be entangled with the like hereafter for lack of admonition in due time: willeth and earnestly chargeth all manner of persons, to forbear utterly from the use or dealing with any such seditious books, made or translated by any person, containing matter derogatory to the sovereign estate of her Majesty, or impugning the orders and rites established by law for Christian religion and divine service within this Realm, or otherwise stirring and nourishing matter tending to sedition: and that such as already have any of the said books, shall present, or cause to be presented the said books, within twenty and eight days after the publishing of this proclamation, to the bishop of the diocese, or ordinary of the place, and to receive of him a testimonial of the time of the delivery thereof: and without express licence in writing of the said bishop or ordinary, or some archbishop, or other bishop of the Realm, not to keep or read any seditious books, upon pain of her majesties grievous indignation, and to be punished severely, as the quality and circumstances of the offence shall require and deserve.  
Given at her majesties palace of Westminster, the first day of March, 1568, the eleventh year of her majesties reign. 
 God save the Queen.   

❧ Imprinted at London in Paul's churchyard by Richard Jugge and John Cawood, Printers to the Queen's Majesty.   

Cum privilegio Regiae Maiestatis.