'Letters missive concerninge preachers and preachinge’ from Archbishop Abbot to the episcopate:

Right reverend father in God, my very good lord and brother. I have received from the kings most excellent maiesty a letter, the tenor whereof here insueth. Most reverend father in God, right trusty and right entirely beloved councellor, we greet you well. For as much as the abuses and extravagancies of preachers in the pulpit, have bin in all tymes repressed in this realme, by some act of councell or state, with the advise and resolution of grave and learned prelates, in soe much, as the very licensing of preachers had begininge by an order of starrchamber, the eight day of July in the ninetenthe yeare of King Henry the eight our noble predecessor. And whereas at this present diverse yonge students, by reading of late writers and ungrounded divines, do broach many times unprofitable, unsound, seditious, and dangerous doctrines, to the scandale of this Church and disquietinge of the state and present government: we upon humble representation unto us of these inconveniences by your selfe and sundrie other grave and reverend prelates of this Church, as also of our princely care and zeale for the extirpation of schisme and dissention growinge from these seeds, and for the settlinge of a religious and peaceable government both of Church and state, do by these our speciali letters straightly charge and command you, to use all possible care and diligence, that these limitations and cautions herewith sent upon you concerninge preachers, be duely and strictly from henceforth observed and put in practise by the severall bishopps in their several diocesses with in your jurisdiction. And to this end our pleas[ur]e is, that you send them forthwith severall coppies of these Directions to be by them speedily sent and communicated to every parson, vicar, curate, lecturer, and minister in every cathedrall or parish church within their several diocesse: and that you earnestly require them to imploy their uttermost endeavours in the performance of this so important a busines, lettinge them know, that we have a speciall eye to their proceedinges, and expect a strict account thereof both from you and every of them.