[A1625/10/22]¹

Regarding the children of noblemen remaining beyond sea

Charles Rex, right trusty and right well-beloved councillor, right trusty and right well-beloved cousins and councillors and right trusty and well-beloved councillors, we greet you well. Whereas we are credibly informed that diverse children, both of noblemen and others our natural subjects of that our kingdom, have been heretofore sent over into seminaries, colleges or other houses of popish religion beyond the seas and are there remaining to be brought up, contrary to our laws established, and also that there be diverse Jesuits and seminary priests frequenting and repairing to the houses of many of our subjects in that realm and that papists do increase there, whereof, knowing the dangerous consequences and being desirous that our good subjects may take notice of our readiness and constant resolution to maintain the true religion professed and by law established in that our realm and upon all occasions to suppress all contrary, therefore it is our pleasure that with all convenient diligence you cause make public proclamation at the market crosses of all the chief burghs in that our kingdom, charging and commanding that all the said children before 1 May 1626 return into their native countries and conform themselves to live in such duty and obedience as becomes good subjects; and that their parents, tutors, governors and such others as have been or are faulty either in sending, permitting or maintaining them there take present order to recall them home and to provide that they be returned into their own countries upon the day aforesaid under the pain of the utmost severity of our justice to be extended in that behalf. Also, upon the like pain, straitly charging and commanding that no bishop, priest or other person having taken or which shall take orders by or under any authority or power derived from the see of Rome, whether he or they be natural born subjects or strangers, do presume to confer any ecclesiastical orders or exercise any ecclesiastical function or jurisdiction whatsoever towards, or upon, any of our natural born subjects in that realm. Likewise expressly charging and commanding all and singular judges and justices to whom it appertains that all the laws and statutes now standing in force be put to due execution against all Jesuits, seminary priests and others having taken orders by any authority from the see of Rome being our subjects who, from and after 1 February 1626, shall be found in that our kingdom; which day we limit and prefix for the utmost time of their departure. Giving also warning by the said proclamation to all our loving subjects that after the said day they do not receive, harbour, entertain, relieve or conceal any of the said Jesuits, seminary priests or other popish priests under the pains by our laws provided in that behalf; and likewise charging all our subjects of whatsoever rank or degree to conform themselves to the public profession of the true religion, prohibiting the exercise of any contrary profession under the pains contained in the laws made against the contraveners, commanding also all archbishops and bishops in their several diocese to proceed against such as are known to be of a contrary profession according to the laws of that church and realm. And the said proclamation to be printed and affixed on the market places that none pretend ignorance thereof. Farewell. Given at Sarisbury, 22 October 1625.