Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

¶An inhibition of the Queene, for preaching, Printyng, &c.

THe Queenes highnes well remembryng what great inconuenience and daungers haue growen to this her highnes Realme in tymes past,* 1.1 thorough the diuersitie of opinions in questions of religion,* 1.2 and hearyng also that now of late, sithence the beginnyng of her most gracious Raigne, the same contentions be agayne much reuiued thorough certayne false and vntrue reportes and rumors spreade by some lyght and euyll disposed personnes, hath thought good to doe to vnderstand to all her highnes most louyng subiectes, her most gracious pleasure in manner followyng.

First,* 1.3 her Maiestie beyng presented by the onely good∣nesse of God, setled in her iust possession of the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme, and other Dominions thereun∣to belongyng, cannot now hide that religion which God and the world knoweth she hath euer professed from her infancie hitherto. Which as her Maiestie is mynded to ob∣serue and maintaine for her selfe by gods grace during her tyme, so doth her highnesse much desire and would be glad the same were of all her subiectes quietly and charitably embraced.

And yet she doth signifie vnto all her maiesties louyng subiects, that of her most gracious disposition & clemency, her highnesse myndeth not to compell any her sayde sub∣iects thereunto, vnto such tyme as further order by com∣mon assent may be taken therein: forbiddyng neuertheles all her subiects of all degrees, at their peryls to mooue se∣ditions, or stirre vnquietnes in her people by interpreting the Lawes of this Realme, after their braynes and fanta∣sies, but quietly to continue for the tyme, tyll (as before is sayd) further order may be taken, and therfore willeth and straitly chargeth and commaundeth all her sayd good lo∣uyng subiects, to lyue togethers in quiet sort and Christi∣an charitie, leauyng those new found diuelish termes of Papist or heretike, and such lyke, and applying their hole care, study and trauaile to lyue in the feare of God, exerci∣sing their conuersations in such charitable & godly doyng, as their lyues may in deed expresse that great hunger and thirst of Gods glory and holy worde,* 1.4 which by rash talke & wordes many haue pretended: and in so doing they shal best please God, and lyue without daungers of the lawes, and maintaine the tranquillitie of the Realme. Wherof as her highnes shall be most glad, so if any man shall rashlye presume to make any assemblies of people, or at any pub∣like assemblies or otherwyse, shall go about to stir the peo∣ple to disorder or disquiet, shee myndeth according to her dutie, to see the same most surely reformed & punished ac∣cordyng to her highnes lawes.

And furthermore, forasmuch also as it is well knowen,* 1.5 that sedition and false rumours haue bene nourished and maintayned in this Realme by the subtletie and malice of some euill disposed persons, which take vpon them with∣out sufficient authoritie to preach & to interprete the word of God after their owne brayne in churches and other pla∣ces, both publike and priuate,* 1.6 & also by playing of Enter∣ludes, and printyng of false fond bookes, ballades, rymes, and other lewd treatises in the English tongue, concer∣nyng doctrine in matters now in question, and contro∣uersie touchyng the high poyntes and mysteries of christen religion, which bookes, ballades, rymes, and treatises,* 1.7 are chiefly by the Printers and Stationers set out to sale to her graces subiects of an euil zeale, for lucre and couetous∣nes of vile gayne. Her highnes therefore straitly chargeth and commaundeth all and euery of her sayde subiectes, of whatsoeuer state, condition or degree they be, that none of them presume from hencefoorth to preach, or by way of rea∣dyng in Churches or other publike or priuate places, ex∣cept in schooles of the Uniuersitie, to interprete or teach a∣ny scriptures or any maner poynts of doctrine concerning religion, neither also to print any bookes, matter, ballade, ryme, Enterlude, processe or treatise, nor to play any En∣terlude, except they haue her graces speciall licence in wri∣tyng for the same, vpon payne to incurre her highnesse in∣dignation and displeasure.

And her highnes also further chargeth and commaun∣deth all and euery her sayd subiectes, that none of them of their owne authoritie do presume to punish, or to ryse a∣gainst any offender in the causes abouesayde, or any other offender in words or deeds in the late rebellion▪ committed or done by the Duke of Northumberland or his compli∣ces, or to cease any of their goods, or violently to vse anye such offender by strikyng or imprisonyng, or threatenyng the same, but wholy to referre the punishment of all suche offenders vnto her highnes and publike authority, wher∣of her maiestie myndeth to see due punishment, accordyng

to the order of her highnes lawes.* 1.8

Neuertheles, as her highnesse myndeth not hereby to restraine and discourage any of her louyng subiectes, to geue from tyme to time true information against any such offenders in the causes abouesayd, vnto her grace or her Counsaile, for the punishment of euery such offender, ac∣cording to the effect of her highnes lawes prouided in that part: so her sayde highnes exhorteth and straitly chargeth her sayd subiects to obserue her commaundement & plea∣sure in euery part aforesayd, as they will auoyd her high∣nes sayd indignation and most grieuous displeasure. The seueritie and rigor whereof, as her highnes shall bee most sory to haue cause to put the same in execution: so doth she vtterly determine not to permit such vnlawfull and rebel∣lious doyngs of her subiects, wherof may ensue the daun∣ger of her royall estate to remayne vnpunished, but to see her sayd lawes touching these points, to be throughly ex∣ecuted, which extremities, she trusteth all her sayd louyng subiects will foresee, dread, and auoyde accordingly: her sayd highnes straightly charging and commaundyng all Mayors, Shiriffes, Iustices of Peace, Bailiffes, Consta∣bles, and all other publike Officers and Ministers, dili∣gently to see to the obseruyng and executyng of her sayde commaundementes and pleasure, and to apprehende all such as shall wilfully offend in this part, committyng the same to the next Gaole, there to remayne without bayle or maineprise, till vpon certificate made to her highnes or her priuy Counsaile, of their names and doyngs, and vpō examination had of their offences, some further order shall be taken for their punishment to the example of others, ac∣cording to the effect and tenour of the lawes aforesayd. Ye∣uen at our Manor of Richmond, the 18. day of August, in the 1. yeare of our most prosperous raigne.

Notes

• * 1.1

  August. 18.
• * 1.2

  An inhibition of the Queene for preaching and printing.
• * 1.3

  Q. Mary begin∣neth to set forth her popish reli∣gion. Religion here grounded vppon the Queenes will.
• * 1.4

  Terme•• of Pa∣pist and Here∣ticke forbidden.
• * 1.5

  False surmise a∣gainst true prea∣chers, Printers and players.
• * 1.6

  Here was the head of Win∣chester.
• * 1.7

  Preachyng, Printyng, Rea∣dyng and play∣ing of Enter∣ludes, restray∣ned.
• * 1.8

  Anno 1553.