❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation for restraint of disorderly and unnecessary resort to the Court.  
THe King's most Excellent Majesty, having taken into His Princely consideration, the many inconveniences which may fall out by the unlimited concourse of people of all sorts to His Court, or the Towns or Parishes near the same, especially at this time, and in this season of the year, which grows every day more dangerous for increasing the infection, already begun in the City of London, and Confines of the same; And being graciously and providently careful to take away and prevent all occasions tending thereunto, hath thought fit by advice of His Privy Council, by this Proclamation to publish and declare his Royal pleasure and commandment concerning the same, That although his Majesty cannot but conceive great joy and contentment, when His loving Subjects, out of their loyal and dutiful affections towards him, shall desire to see the Persons of Himself, or of his dear Consort the Queen, who is (by God's blessing) shortly to come over into England; yet, in his Princely care of His people, He is contented to dispense with those public shows of their zeal, cheerfulness, and alacrity at this time▪ lest the present occasions of joy and rejoicing, should produce a contrary effect, by dispersing the Infection into other parts of the Realm, where his Majesty shall keep his Royal Court and residence.  
And therefore his Majesty doth hereby straight charge and command, That aswell in the journey, which Himself shortly intendeth to Dover in Kent, for the reception of his dear Consort, the Queen, at Her arrival, as also in His, and Her Majesty's return from thence, and in all other journeys and Progresses, which they or either of them shall make this Summer now ensuing, till they shall return to a standing house in Winter, No person or persons whatsoever, not being thereunto called or appointed, or not having special cause of personal attendance at the Court for his Majesty's service, or for some necessary occasion of extremity concerning their own estate, do presume to follow, or resort to the Court with Petitions, or upon other pretence, or unto any City, Town, village, or private house within twelve miles of the same, as they tender his Majesty's displeasure, and will answer for the same, as contemners of this his Majesty's just and Royal commandment. And whereas many of his Majesty's loving Subjects have been heretofore wont to pester the Court, under colour of repairing thither for healing the disease called The King's Evil, His Majesty doth hereby publish and declare his pleasure, That until Michaelmas next, and after His Coronation shall be solemnised, He will not admit any person or persons to come to the Court for healing; And doth straight charge and forbid, That no person or persons do in the mean time presume to importune his Majesty in that behalf: And for avoiding many, and great abuses in that behalf, his Majesty doth straight charge and command, That no person or persons do at any time hereafter resort to his Majesty, or His Court for healing of that disease, without bringing a Certificate from the Minister, and Churchwardens of the Parish wherein they inhabit, or some other neighbours of more eminent quality, expressing the time they have been troubled with that infirmity, and that they have not at any time before been healed by his Majesty, or the late King: And to avoid the great disorder of poor people, who are used to come flocking into the high ways, and streets, where his Majesty is to travel, under colour of relief from the Almoner, his Majesty hath taken order, that in all the Towns and Parishes, through which He shall pass, his Majesty's said Almoner shall deliver his Majesty's Alms to the Overseers of the Poor, to be distributed amongst them, for their better & more equal relief, than they should receive by coming abroad in that dishonourable & undecent manner; which therefore his Majesty straight chargeth and commandeth them to forbear, and all Majors, Sheriffs, justices of Peace, Constables, and other Officers, to take due care of accordingly. And for other wandering poor, Uagabonds, Rogues, and such like base and unruly people, which pester the high way, and make it their Trade or profession to live by begging, pilfering, or other unlawful shifting, His Majesty doth hereby straight charge and command, aswell the Knight Martial of His household and his deputies, as all Majors, Sheriffs, justices of Peace, Constables, and other his Majesty's Officers and loving Subjects, to cause such as be Impotent, to be forthwith returned into their own Countries, and such as be able to labour, to be sent to the houses of Correction, or otherwise ordered according to the Laws: To which end also, his Majesty likewise chargeth and commandeth the said Sheriffs, justices, and other Officers, to cause diligent Watch by night, and Ward by day to be kept by honest and substantial householders, in every City, Town, village, and Parish, through which his Majesty shall pass, and within twelve miles' compass of his Majesty's passage or Court, aswell to be ready upon all occasions to suppress disorders and breaches of the Peace, as to make special search for all such persons, as shall pretend themselves to be his Majesty's Servants, or followers of the Court, and crave Lodging without having Billets for the same, and to apprehend all such as they shall find so lodged or entertained, & not billeted, and to bring them before the Knight Marshal, or his deputy, and in all other things to be assisting to him and them concerning the premises, for all occasions of his Majesty's service.  
And because his Majesty findeth much disorder in some of his own servants, in unnecessary pestering of the Court, when there is no cause for their attendance or employment, His Majesty straight forbiddeth, That any of his servants do either in this journey of his Majesty's intended to Dover, or elsewhere in His Summer's Progress, or until his Majesty shall come to keep a standing house in Winter, resort to the Court, execpt such only of his Majesty's servants, as are, or shall be set down in the List, or shall be allowed for service within doors, and above stairs, by the Lord Chamberlain of his Majesty's honourable household, or below stairs, by the Treasurer and controller of the household, or for service without doors by the Knight Martial, upon pain of his Majesty's displeasure, and incurring the Censure of a high contempt.  
And to the end his Majesty's Royal pleasure herein before declared, may be in all points observed, his Majesty straight chargeth and commandeth His Knight Marshal, and all Majors, Sheriffs, justices of Peace, Constables, Headboroughs, Bailiffs, and other his Majesty's Officers whatsoever, to see all things concerning the premises, carefully performed, and put in due execution, according to the duties of their several places, as they and every of them will answer for any their neglects herein, at their uttermost perils.  
Given at the Court at White-Hall, the seventeenth day of May, in the first year of his Majesty's Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland.  
God save the King.   

¶ Printed at London by Bonham Norton and john Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. M.DC.XXV.