THe Queenes Maiestie considering the euil disposition of sundry her Subiects, to keepe the ancient orders for abstinence from eating of flesh, aswell in the time of Lent, as vpon other vsuall fasting daies: and weighing the great notable commodities growing by the due obseruation thereof within her Maiesties dominions, many maner of waies: Straitly chargeth all ma­ner of people residing in the same, from henceforth yerely to ob­serue and keepe the ancient and laudable order for fasting, as well in the Lent time, as vpon all other fish dayes. And like­wise commandeth all maner officers, both Ecclessasticall and Temporall, to whome the regard hereof doeth or may belong, straightly to see the same well and duely obserued. Willing and com­manding them in the Name of Almightie God, before whom they shall answere for their particu­lar charges, and as they will also answere to her Maiestie for their apparant contempt or negli­gence, that they doe not either by their owne example, or by lacke of execution of their authority, permit such licentious and carnall disorder, in contempt of God and man, and onely to the satis­faction of deuilish and carnall appetite, to bee suffered vnpunished. And because the maner of the execution hereof in the Citie and Suburbes of London and Westminster, shall giue good ex­ample to the rest of the Realme: her Maiestie by this present Proclamation straightly comman­deth and chargeth the Maior of her said Citie, and the Steward and principall officers of West­minster, that no Butcher, Poulter, nor Victualler, shall at any time hereafter kill, or sell, cause to be killed or solde within the said Citie, or the Suburbs, or within Westminster, or the iurisdiction thereof, any flesh, betweene Shreftuesday, and the Tuesday next after Palme Sunday: nor that any Table keeper, Inholder, Victualler, or any other person that keepeth any house whereto any persons doe or shall resort for meate and drinke for their money, nor any other person residing within the same places, shall dresse, or suffer, or consent to be dressed, or eate, or suffer to be eaten, any flesh within any of their houses in Lent time, or vpon any Fish day, vpon paine that euery person and persons that shall offend contrary to this order, shall forfeite and pay to her Highnesse for euery such offence, twentie pounds, the one halfe to be disposed by their Churchwardens, to their poore people inhabiting the Parish where the offence shalbe found, & the other to her High­nesse vse, as in like case is ordered. And besides, if the person offending bee a Citizen, he shall by the Maior and his brethren without delay bee immediately for euer disfranchised: and beeing a Table keeper or Victualler, vtterly disabled in any place to vse the same trade. And if hee bee no Citizen, then he shall ouer and besides the saide forfeiture, haue for euery such offence ten dayes imprisonment without bayle: and if the partie offending, be not able to pay the saide forfeiture, immediatly vpon proofe made of the offence committed, the same shall for euery such offence stand one market day in the market time openly vpon the Pillorie, during the space of sixe houres. And also that euery Alderman for the time being, within his warde, shall twise in the Lent time cause an inquirie and presentment to bee made by the othes of xii. honest and substantiall Citizens of euery warde, being no Butchers, Poulters, common Victuallers, nor Table keepers, what per­sons haue or doe offende in eating, killing, or selling of flesh within that warde, wherof the one in­quirie shalbe the Munday after Midlent Sunday, and the other in the weeke next before Easter, and that in the choyse of the persons which shall so enquire, good regard be had, that they be such as bee best disposed to finde out, and truely to present such offences without any respect of persons. And also that the Maior with his brethren cause once euery fortnight priuie search to be made by honest & trustie persons, of the houses of all Butchers, Poulters, Table keepers, Tauerners, Vic­tuallers, and other suspected houses, for the better vnderstanding whether they or any of them do offend in the premisses: and that if they shall finde either by this search, or by any lawfull proofe brought before them, any person to haue offended, that then immediatly they cause the offenders to be punished, as is aboue expressed, without fauour, affection, or respect of person. The like order to be kept by the discretion of the Steward or head officers in Westminster, as the case shall require.

And it is further ordered and commanded, that aswell the sayde Maior, as also euery of the said Aldermen, and the principall officers of the liberties of Westminster, shall yeerely certifie vnto her Highnesse Court of Chancerie, before the first day of Easter Terme, vpon paine of one hun­dred pounds, what euery of them hath done in the execution of the premisses, vnder their hands and seales, to the intent that her Highnesse thereby may consider what diligence or negligence shall be vsed in the execution hereof, that thereupon order may bee taken with euery of them ac­cording to their deserts.

Prouided alwayes, that this order extend not to punish any person that by the Lawes Ecclesi­asticall and Temporall of this Realme, for needfull and iust considerations bee permitted to sell, kill, or eate flesh. And for the better intelligence of persons licenced vpon reasonable and necessa­rie cause, that none other may be coloured thereby: it is ordered and commaunded, that euery person hauing any licence, shall yeerely the first Sunday of Lent, notifie the same to the Alder­man of the Warde within any Citie, and to the Curate of the Parish, or to one of them at the least, where he dwelleth, and intendeth to take the benefite of the dispensation, or els the dispen­sation to be voyde. This maner or the like order, her Maiestie commaundeth to bee obserued, as nigh as the same may be, in all places through her Realme, with like penalty, and specially in all corporate Townes: from which Townes corporate, being scituate within Cxl. miles of Lon­don, her Maiesties pleasure is, that Certificate in forme aforesaid be made into her Maiesties Chauncery, at the furthest before the second returne of Easter Terme, vpon paine of one hun­dred pounds, to be leuied to her Maiesties vse, vpon the said corporation so making default: and from all other co [...]porations being farther distant, Certificate is to be made, as is aforesaid, before the last day of Easter Terme, vpon like penaltie. And for the better obseruation hereof, her Ma­iestie requireth, & in Gods name chargeth all Bishops, Curates, and other Ecclesiastical persons, hauing the cure of soules, or the charge of preaching, to exhort and perswade in their Sermons, the people to forbeare this carnall licence and boldnesse to breake common order, and to let them plainly vnderstand the great dangers of the wrath of Almighty God, that hath and wil alwayes light vpon such rebellious and obstinate people, that more regard their bellies and appetites, then temperance and obedience.

And because her Maiestie would that this Proclamation should haue continuance: her Ma­iestie chargeth all Maiors, Sheriffes, and other head officers, to whom appertaineth the publi­cation of this or like Proclamations, that this be proclaimed foorthwith in euery place vsuall, and yeerely bee proclaimed hereafter, vpon such market dayes as shall in any place next goe be­fore the first weeke of Lent: and that in euery Leete at Easter, inquisition be made of the execu­tion hereof.

God saue the Queene.