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Primary sourceDocument1573

Proclamation Against the Despisers or Breakers of the Orders Prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer

Elizabeth I, Queen of England · 1573

A 1573 royal proclamation by Elizabeth I ordering obedience to the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer.

Issued under her authority, this proclamation shows Elizabeth I enforcing religious conformity to the Book of Common Prayer.

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Title page of a document with handwritten-style script reading 'A Proclamation by Queen Elizabeth against the despisers, or Breakers of the Orders prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer', with 'London, Richard Jugge, 1573' at the bottom and handwritten marginal numbers at top right on a tan, aged page.
By the Queen: a proclamation against the despisers or breakers of the orders prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer, London, Richard Jugge, 1573.

About this source

What it is

This proclamation was issued in Elizabeth I's name in 1573, printed in London by Richard Jugge. It expresses her concern that some people were openly preaching and writing against the official order of common prayer, and introducing new rites instead, causing disputes and division.

Why it matters

The document is direct evidence of Elizabeth I enforcing religious conformity across her kingdom, blaming bishops and magistrates for not properly enforcing the law. It shows the tensions within the Church of England during her reign, between official practice and Puritan nonconformists who wanted further reform.

Look closer

  • Who does the queen blame for the disorder, and why might she choose to blame them rather than the dissenters directly?
  • What does this proclamation suggest about how united or divided English religious practice really was?
  • Why might the government see disagreement over prayer book wording as dangerous?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Elizabeth I on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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