England's royal coat of arms, 1603 ❧ By the King.  
AS we haue ever from our infancy had manifold proofs of Gods great goodness towards us in his protecting of us from many dangers of our Person, very nearly threatening us, and none more notorious then his happy conducting of us in the late case of our succession to this crown, which contrary to most mens expectation wee haue received with more quiet and concurrencie of good will of our people( otherwise perhaps of different dispositions) then ever in like accident hath been seen: So do we think that the memory of his benefits ought to be a continual solicitation to us to show ourselves thankful to his divine majesty, wherein soever opportunity shall be offered us to do him service, but especially in things concerning his honour and service, and the furtherance of the Gospel, which is the duty most beseeming royal authority. Wherefore after our entry into this kingdom, when wee had received information of the state thereof at the decease of the queen our Sister of famous memory, Although we found the whole Body thereof in general by the wisdom of herself and care of those who had the administration thereof under her, in such good state of health as did greatly commend their wisedoms, as well in the politic part of it, as also in the ecclesiastical, whereof since wee haue understood the form and frame, we are persuaded that both the constitution and doctrine thereof is agreeable to Gods word, and near to the condition of the primitive Church: Yet forasmuch as experience doth show daily, that the Church militant is never so well constituted in any form of policy, but that the imperfections of men who haue the exercise thereof, do with time, though vnsensibly, bring in some corruptions: As also for that informations were daily brought unto us by diuers, that some things used in this Church were both scandalous to many seeming zealous, and gave advantage to the Aduersaries, Wee conceived that no subject could be so fit for us to show our thankfulness to God, as vpon serious examination of the state of this Church, to redeem it from such scandals, as both by the one side and the other were laid vpon it. For our instruction wherein, we appointed a meeting to be had before ourself and our counsel, of diuers of the Bishops and other learned men, the first day of the next month, by whose information and advice we might govern our proceeding therein, if we found cause of amendment. But by reason of the sickness reigning in many places of our kingdom, the unseasonable time of the year for travail, and the incommodity of the place of our abode for such an assembly, we were constrained to defer it till after Christmas: At which Consultation we shall both more particularly understand the state of the Church; and receive thereby light to judge whether there be indeed any such enormities as are pretended, and know how to proceed to the redress. But this our godly purpose we find hath been misconstrued by some mens spirits, whose heat tendeth rather to combustion then reformation, as appeareth by the courses they haue taken, Some using public invectives against the state ecclesiastical here established, some contemning their authority and the Processes of their Courts, some gathering subscriptions of multitudes of vulgar persons to Supplications to be exhibited to us to crave that Reformation, which if there be cause to make, is more in our heart then in theirs. All which courses it is apparent to all men are unlawful and do savour of tumult, sedition, and violence, and not of such a Christian modesty as beseemeth those, who for pieties sake onely desire redress of things they think to be amiss, and cannot but be the occasions of dissentious partialities, and perhaps of greater inconveniences among our people.  
For preventing whereof, We haue thought it necessary to make public declaration to all our Subiects, that as we haue reason to think the estate of the Church here established, and the degrees and orders of Ministers governing the same, to be agreeable to the word of God, and the form of the primitive Church, having found the same blessed in the reign of the late queen, with great increase of the Gospel, and with a most happy and long peace in the politic State, which two things, the true service of God, and happiness of the State do commonly concur together: So are we not ignorant, that time may haue brought in some Corruptions, which may deserve a review and amendment, which if by the assembly intended by us we shall find to be so in deed, we will therein proceed according to the laws and customs of this realm by aduise of our council, or in our high Court of Parliament, or by convocation of our clergy, as we shall find reason to lead us; not doubting but that in such an orderly proceeding, we shall haue the Prelates and others of our clergy no less willing, and far more able to afford us their duty and service, then any other whose zeal goeth so fast before their discretion. Vpon which our Princely care, our pleasure is, that all our Subiects do repose themselves, and leave to our conscience that which to us only appertaineth, avoiding all unlawful and factious manner of proceeding, for that hereafter if any shall either by gathering the subscriptions of multitudes to Supplications, by contemptuous behaviour to any authority by the laws resting in ecclesiastical persons, by open invectives and undecent speeches either in the Pulpit or otherwise, or by disobedience to the processes proceeding from their jurisdiction, give us cause to think that he hath a more unquiet spirit then becometh any private person to haue toward public authority, We will make it appear by their chastisement, how far such a maner of proceeding is displeasing to us, and that we find that these Reformers under pretended zeal affect novelty, and so confusion in all estates: whereas our purpose and resolution ever was, and now is to preserve the estate as well ecclesiastical as politic, in such form as we haue found it established by the laws here, reforming onely the abuses which we shall apparently find proved, And that also to do by such mature aduise and deliberation, as we haue above mentioned. Wherefore we admonish all men hereby to take warning, as they will answer the contrary at their peril.  
given under our hand at Wilton the twenty fourth day of October 1603. of our reign of England, France and Ireland the first, and of Scotland the thirty and seventh year.  
God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty. Anno 1603.