By the Queene. Where in the parliament holden at Westminster, ... there was for the reliefe of diuers poore decayed townes, [and] of great multitudes of her poor subiectes, who otherwise were likely to perishe, or to become vnprofitable and daungerous to the common weale, among other prouided and established, one good and beneficial statute, entituled, an acte for the continuaunce of makyng of cappes.

By the Queene.

WHere in the Parliament holden at Westminster, the seconde day of Apryl, in the .xiii. yere of the raigne of our soueraigne Lady the Queene, there was for the reliefe of diuers poore decayed townes, & of great multitudes of her poore subiectes, who otherwyse were likely to perishe, or to become vnprofitable and daungerous to the common weale, among other prouided and establi∣shed, one good and beneficial statute, entituled, An acte for the continuaunce of makyng of cappes. By meane of whiche statute, great numbers of idle, poore, and impotent persons were for a season set on worke, whyle the awe of the sayde statute, and feare of due execution thereof continued, to the mar∣veylous great commoditie of this Realme, and helpe of the needie, and redresse of yl occupied persons, as by the experience thereof hath ben manyfestly prooued. And whereas neuerthelesse by litle and litle, the dis∣obedience and wanton disorder of euyl disposed and lyght persons, more regarding priuate fansie and vani∣tie, then publique commoditie or respect of duetie, hath encreased by want of execution of the sayde lawe, whereby those good and honest subiectes that haue meanes of the sayd statute, set to worke a great num∣ber of poore people, are lyke to be driuen to geue ouer theyr sayde trade of making of cappes, and to sende abroade agayne into idlenesse and miserie, those multitudes that haue ben by them relieued, whereby is lykely to growe great enormitie and inconuenience, yf speedie remedie therefore be not in tyme prouided. The Queenes most excellent Maiestie therefore tenderly consydering the premises, straightly chargeth and commaundeth al Iustices of assises, Iustices of peace, Maiors, Sheriffes, Bayliffes, and other head officers of Cities, Borroughes, and Townes corporate, and the Lordes, Stewardes, Bayliffes, and other officers of Leetes, Lawdayes, and liberties, & al and singuler Constables, Third borroughes, Tithingmen, Church∣wardens, and al other her highnesse subiectes, to whom the executyng or puttyng in vre of the same statute any way may apparteyne, that euery one of them, accordying to his office, place, and callying, do their vtter∣most endeuour for the due execution of the sayde statute: and that they the sayde Bayliffes, Constables, Third borroughes, Tithingmen, Churchwardens, and al other lyke inferior officers, and euery of them, to euery Sunday & Festiual day, make diligent view & searche in al Churches, Chappels, & al other places within the circuites & compasses of their offices & aucthorities, for al and singuler breakers & offenders of the said statute, and without delay cause the names of al such offendours, and of the parentes, gardians, gouer∣nours, and maisters of euery childe, seruaunt, & warde, so offendyng, together with the day and place of the offence committed, to be then written, & to be lawfully & orderly presented, at such assises, sessions, or courtes, (next after such offences) as haue aucthoritie to enquire or determine the sayd offences: And that al Maiors, Sheriffes, and Bayliffes, of Cities, Borroughes, & Townes Corporate, and al lordes of Leetes, Lawdayes, and liberties, do immediatly vpon the proclamation hereof, cal before them al the sayd Constables, Third borroughes, Tithyngmen, Churchwardens, inferior Bayliffes, and al other the abouesaid inferior officers, that shallbe vnder theyr charge of gouernment, and them, and euery of them, foorthwith in our names do s••rayghtly charge and commaunde, that they, and euery of them, to the vttermost of theyr powers, do euery Sunday and Festiual day, make such diligent viewe and searche, and suche note also of the names of al such offendours, and suche presentment of al suche offences as is abouesayde: and that al Iustices of assises, and Iustices of peace, in theyr circuites & sessions, and al Stewardes in theyr Leetes, vpon payne of her Maie∣sties high displeasure, omit not in any wyse frō tyme to tyme, specially to geue in charge, & cause to be enqui∣red of al offences against the sayde statute committed, or to be cōmitted within theyr seueral precinctes or iu∣risdictions, and also do duely heare & determine the same, punishyng euery of the sayde offendours according to the sayde statute: and that al the sayd lordes and owners of Leetes, and Lawdayes, do as much as in eue∣ry of them shal lye, to cause theyr Stewardes througly to execute theyr office and aucthoritie, accordyng to the same statute, and that vpon euery suche offence founde, both the sayde owners of Leetes, and also the ru∣lers & cheefe gouernours of euery Citie, Borrough, Towne, or Hamlet, where any such offence shalbe tryed and founde, shal do theyr vttermost endeuour by the lawe to recouer, have, and obtayne of euery suche offen∣dour, al the penalties to them, or any of them, by the sayde statute forfeyted, or to be forfeyted.

God saue the Queene.