❧ By the King. ❧ A Proclamation for the better ordering of those who repair to the Court, for the Cure of their disease, called, The King's Evil. WHereas by the grace and blessing of God, the Kings and Queens of this Realm by many ages past, have had the happiness by their sacred Touch, and invocation of the Name of God, to cure those who are afflicted with the Disease called, The King's Evil: And His now most Excellent Majesty, in no less measure than any of his Royal Predecessors, hath had good success herein, and in His most gracious and pious disposition, is as ready and willing as any King or Queen of this Realm ever was, in any thing to relieve the distresses and necessity of His good Subjects, yet in His Princely wisdom foreseeing, that in this (as in all other things) order is to be observed, and fit times are necessarily to be appointed for the performing of this great work of charity: His most Excellent Majesty doth hereby publish and declare His Royal will and pleasure to be, That whereas heretofore, the usual times of presenting such persons to His Majesty for this purpose, were Easter and Whitsuntide, that from henceforth the times shall be Easter and Michaelmas, as times more convenient, both for the temperature of the season and in respect of any Contagion which may happen in this near access to His Majesty's sacred Person; And His Majesty doth accordingly will and command, that from the time of publishing this Proclamation, none presume to repair to His Majesty's Royal Court to be healed of that disease, before the Feast of S. Michael now next coming. And His Majesty doth further will and command, that all such as hereafter shall come, or repair to the Court for this purpose, shall bring with them Certificates under the hands of the Parson, Vicar or Minister, & Church wardens of those several Parishes where they dwell, & from whence they come, testifying according to the truth, that they have not any time before been touched by the King, to the intent to be healed of that Disease: And his Majesty doth straight charge all justices of the Peace, Constables, and other Officers, That they do not suffer any to pass, but such as have such Certificates, upon pain of his Majesty's displeasure. And, to the end that all His loving Subjects may the better take knowledge of this his Majesty's pleasure and command, His will is, That this Proclamation be published and affixed in some open place in every Market Town of this Realm; All which, his Majesty having by former Proclamations, upon the like occasion published and commanded, he doth now again command strictly to be observed, by all and every person and persons whom it shall or may concern, upon such pains and penalties as may be inflicted upon them for the neglect thereof. Given at Our Court at Whitehall the sixth day of April, in the sixth year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland. God save the King. ¶ Imprinted at London by ROBERT BARKER and JOHN BILL, Printers to the Kings most Excellent MAJESTY. M.DC.XXX.