By the Rev. Canon Jackson. 



195 



ye wyll faythefully dilligently and earnestly of all parts execute the same : 

 And bycawse among others good holsome lawes made for the weale of the 

 Realme we fynd in this tyme some more necessary then others to be earnestly 

 executed by oomandement of her Ma tie , we have caused a short collection to be 

 made of the same, and do sende them herewith prynted to th intente the same 

 may be distributed amongest yourselfs, and the easlyer put in use. How 

 necessary the execution of these be we nede not remember unto you, for that 

 we- feare you fele, for lacke of observacion of some of them, no small disorder 

 therein. And therefore we do hope assuredly that now being thus pressed by 

 us in her Ma tie ' s name, you will set apart all slothfulness, nyceness and folishe 

 pytie, and earnestly execute the same without respect of persons. And for 

 that her Ma tie is very desyrous to see some proofe of the execucion thereof 

 this sommer, her Ma tie wylleth and comaundeth you that within xxviij dayes 

 after the receipt hereof and so monethly afterwards, untill Alhallow-tyde, you 

 shall, by your letters to be sente to London to me the Threasurer of England, 

 certifie to us the state of the country, and specially how ye have executed these 

 special statutes, and what ye fynd to ensue thereof and what ye w d . further 

 requier of her Ma tie or us towards the more effectual execucion thereof. And 

 by cawse the sendinge of y r . letters shall not be troublesome unto you, if ye 

 have none other opertunity to send them to London, you the Shrieff shall sende 

 them upp by one of yours, and the charge hereof shall by me the Threasurer 

 be allowed unto you in th' exchequer. Thus endinge we most earnestlye requier 

 you to remember for what purpose every one of you is appointed by the Quene's 

 Ma tie to be a Justice of the Peace, not to exercise authority for your singular 

 credit and reputation, nor to colour and shadow your own causes or your 

 servants, but first yourself in your own oonversacion to be seen, to them whom 

 ye shall rule, more wurthy to governe and punysh than to be governed and 

 punyshed : next, for the reverens of God and your bonde of allegiaunce to our 

 Sovereign Lady the Quene, to see religion reverently used, Devyne Servyce 

 and Prayer frequented and disorders agaynst the same and the peace suppressed, 

 wherein the more authority you have the sharper shall your punishment be 

 bothe before God and this world if ye neglecte your duetye. And this our 

 sharp and playne writinge shall not need to discourage dyvers of you whome 

 we know to be carefull of your charge and percaase [perhaps'] the wurse 

 allowed in opinion of others that care not, so their owne pleasures or gredyness 

 be served, what may chaunce to all the reste, with w h . sort of men we meane 

 not so long to beare as perchance they think we will. And yet upon report of 

 amendment we shall be contente to passe overfaultes passed, and regarde only 

 the time to come. So fare ye well. From Greenwich the ixth of July 1561. 

 Yr. loving Frends 



N. Bacon. C.S.* Winchester. "W. NoRTHT.f 



Arttndell. F. Bedford. W. Howard. 



E. Cltnton. G. Rogers. F. Knollys. W. Cecill. 



Ab : Cave. Ry : Sackvyle. John Mason. 

 To our loving Frendes 



The Sheriff and Justices of the Peace 

 of the County of Wilteshire." 



* Nicolas Bacon, Gustos Sigilli. 

 t William Tarr, Earl of Northampton, brother of Queen Catharine Parr. 



