arms of Charles I HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE dieu ET MON DROIT ❧ By the King. ❧ A Proclamation for putting the laws against jesuits, Seminaries, and Popish Priests, in Execution.  
WHereas His Majesties loyal Subjects, the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, have humbly represented unto His Majesties gracious consideration, that all Iesuites and Priests ordained by authority from the See of Rome, remaining in this Realm, by a Statute made in the seven and twentieth year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, are declared Traitors, and to suffer as Traitors, which Law is not so rigorous as some men apprehended, or would make others to believe, for that it is restrained to natural born Subjects, and doth not extend to any strangers at all, and that the said Statute is not onely approved, but by the Iudgement of several Parliaments adjudged fit and necessary to be put in execution: And that they conceive the not putting of these Statutes in execution against Iesuites and Priests, is a principal cause of the increase of Popery; And that the putting of these Laws in execution tendeth not onely to the preservation and advancement of the true Religion established in this Kingdom, but also to the safety of the Kings Person, and security of the State and Government, which were principal causes of the making of these Laws against Iesuites and Priests: And that it appears by these Laws, that the Iesuites and Priests have come hither, not onely to draw the Subjects from their due obedience to the King, but also to stir up Sedition, Rebellion, and open Hostility within this Realm, to the great endangering of the safety of the Kings royal Person, and to the utter ruin, desolation, and overthrow of the whole Realm, if not timely prevented: And that Iesuites and Priests did daily withdraw many of the Kings Subjects from the true service of Almighty God, and the Religion established within this Realm, to the Romish Religion, and from their obedience to the King, and had persuaded divers Recusants and Papists, and encouraged and emboldened them to commit most damnable Treasons, tending to the overthrow of Gods true Religion, destruction of the King and His royal Issue, and the subversion of the whole State, if God of his goodness and Mercy had not then within few houres before the intended time of the execution thereof, revealed and disclosed the same: And that( considering the state and condition of this present time, wherein they find Iesuites and Priests in so great abundance, and to appear here with such boldness and confidence, as if there were no Laws made against them) they do think the said Laws now more necessary to be put in strict execution, then at any time before.  
His majesty having taken into His serious consideration the Representation so made, and accepting with much contentment the great care of His said loyal Subjects, for the preservation of the true Religion established as aforesaid in this Kingdom, from which He will never depart, as also their tenderness of His safety, and security of His State and Government, and firmly resolving to be careful and vigilant that Popery or Superstition shall not any way increase within this Kingdom, or any other His Dominions, and to provide against the dangers of Iesuites, Seminaries, and Priests, by putting the laws made against them into execution;  
His majesty doth therefore hereby straitly charge and command all manner of Iesuites, Seminaries, and Priests whomsoever, now out of Prison, made or ordained by any power or authority derived, challenged, or pretended from the See of Rome, hereby to take notice, that His Majesties absolute command and pleasure is, that they, and every of them do before the seventh day of April next ensuing the date hereof, depart forth of this His Realm of England and Dominion of Wales, and out of all other His Majesties Realms and Dominions, upon pain to incur the uttermost danger, and penalty of His said laws; Admonishing, and assuring all such Iesuites, Seminaries, and Priests, of what sort soever, that if any of them shall be after the said seventh day of April taken within this Realm, or any other His Majesties Realms or Dominions, or departing now upon this His Majesties pleasure signified, shall at any time hereafter return into this His Majesties Realm of England, or any other His Majesties Realms or Dominions, that they shall be left to the uttermost penalty, and receive and suffer the judgement and execution of the laws here being in force concerning them, without hope of any favour or remission from His majesty; And that for that purpose it shall be lawful to all the Officers of His Majesties Ports, to suffer them and every of them to depart from thence into any foreign parts between this and the said seventh day of April.  
Wherefore His majesty hereby straitly chargeth and commandeth all Archbishops, Bishops, Lieutenants, Iudges, Iustices of Assize, and Iustices of Peace, and all other His Majesties Officers and Ministers whomsoever, within this His Majesties Realm of England and Dominion of Wales, and all other His Majesties Realms and Dominions, to be from time to time vigilant and careful, after the said seventh day of April, to do their duties and diligence, in discovering and apprehending of, and in putting into execution the said laws against such Iesuites, Seminaries, and Priests, as shall presume to remain in this His Majesties Realm of England or Dominion of Wales, or any other His Realms or Dominions, contrary to the said laws, and His Majesties royal pleasure and command herein declared.  
Provided always, and His Majesties intention is( which he doth hereby declare) that this His Majesties Proclamation, do not extend to Priests that do, or shall from time to time attend upon the person of His dearest Consort the Queen, according to the treaty of His Majesties Marriage, the names of which Priests shall be set down, and signified by His Majesties said dearest Consort, under her great Seal, and such signification enrolled in His Majesties Court of Kings Bench.  
And His Majesties further will and pleasure is, and His majesty doth hereby declare, that such Iesuites, Seminaries, and Priests, as are now in prison, shall within one month after their enlargement depart out of this Realm, and all other His Majesties Realms and Dominions, upon pain to incur the uttermost danger and penalty of the said laws; Admonishing, and assuring all such Iesuites, Seminaries, and Priests, of what sort soever, that if any of them shall be after the said month next following their enlargement, taken within this Realm, or any other His Majesties Realms and Dominions, or departing after such month as aforesaid, shall at any time hereafter return into this His Majesties Realm of England, or any other His Majesties Realms or Dominions, that they shall also be left to the uttermost penalty, and receive and suffer the judgement and execution of the laws here being in for●e concerning them, without hope of any 〈◇〉, or remission from His majesty.  
And to that purpose it shall be also lawful to all the Officers of His Majesties Ports to suffer them and every of them, to depart from thence into any foreign parts within the said month after their enlargement as aforesaid.  
And His majesty is resolved that concerning those that are in prison, a speedy proceeding in course of Iustice shall be had for their deliverance, and their receiving of His Majesties mercy, and for the execution of the laws against them, as His majesty shall find their several and respective cases to deserve.  
Given at His Majesties Palace of Westminster, the eighth day of March, in the sixteenth year of His Majesties Reign of Great Britain, France, and Ireland.  
❧ God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most excellent Majesty: And by the assigns of JOHN BILL. 1640.