Anno quinto reginæ Elizabethe. At the parliament holden at Wesmynster the .xii. of Ianuary, in the fyfth yere of the raigne of our soueraigne lady, Elizabeth by the grace of god, of England, Fraunce, and Irelande, quene, defendour of the the fayth. [et]c. To the hygh pleasure of almyghtye God, and the weale publique of this realme, were enacted as foloweth

¶An Acte against fonde and Phantasticall Prophesies. The .xv. Chapter. (Book 15)

FOrasmuche as sithens the expiration and ending of the Statute made in the time of Kynge Edwarde the sixte, entytuled an acte against fonde and fantasti∣call prophesies, diuers euill disposed persons enclined to the stirring and mouinge of factions, seditions, and rebellions within this Realme, haue byn the more bolde to attempte the lyke practise in fayning, imagining, inuenting, and publyshing of suche fonde and phantastical prophesies, aswel con∣cerning the Quenes Maiestie, as diuers honorable personages, Gen∣tilmen, and others of this Realme, as was vsed and practised before the makinge of the saide statute, to the greate disquiete, trouble, and perill of the Quenes Maiestie, and of this her Realme. For remedie wherof: Be it ordeyned and enacted by the aucthoritie of this pre∣sent Parlyament, that if any person or persons, after the first daye of Maye nexte comminge, do aduisedly, and directly aduaunce, publishe, and set forth by writing, printing, syngyng, or any other open speache or dede, to any person or persons, any fonde, phantasticall or false pro∣phesie, vpon or by the occasion of any armes, fieldes, beastes, badges, or suche other lyke thinges accustomed in armes, cognisaunces, or si∣gnettes, or vpon, or by reason of any tyme, yere or day, name, blodshed, or warre, to the intent thereby to make any rebellion, insurrection, dis∣sention, losse of life, or other disturbaunce within this Reame, and other the Quenes dominions: that then euery suche person beinge

thereof lawfullye conuicted, accordynge to the due course of the lawes of this Realme, for euerie suche offence shall suffer imprison∣ment of his bodye by the space of one yere without bayle or main∣prise, and shall forfait for euerye suche offence the summe of tenne poundes. And if any suche offendour do after suche conuiction eftsones offende in any of the premisses, and be thereof lawfullye con∣uicted, as is aforesaid, that then euery suche offendour shall for his seconde offence and conuiction as is aforesaide, suffer imprisonment of his bodie without bayle or mainprise duringe his life, and shall forfait al his goods and cattels realles and personales. The moities of euery whiche forfaitures, shalbe to the Quenes highnes, her heyres and successours, and the other moities thereof, to him that shall or will sue for the same in any of the Quenes courtes of re∣corde, by action, bill, plainte or information, in which case no essoygne, wager of lawe, or protection shalbe allowed or admitted.

And be it further enacted by the aucthoritie aforesaid, that all and euerye Iustice of assise, Iustice of Oyer and determiner, Iustice of peace, shall haue full power and aucthoritie, by vertue hereof, to enquire, heare and determine, all and euery offence or offences aboue∣said, committed or done within the lymittes of their comission, con∣trarye to the tenour and meanynge of this Acte.

Prouided alwayes, and be it enacted by the aucthoritie aforesaide, that no person or persons; shall at any tyme hereafter be empeached for any offence hereafter to be committed or done, contrarie to this acte, vnlesse he be therefore empeached or accused within sixe monethes nexte ensuynge any suche offence, by hym or them committed or done.