royal blazon or coat of arms ❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation commanding the Gentry to keep their Residence at their Mansions in the Country, and forbidding them to make their habitations in London, and places adjoining.  
THe King's most Excellent MAJESTY hath observed, that of late years a greater number of the Nobility and Gentry, and abler sort of His people with their Families, have resorted to the Cities of London and Westminster, and places adjoining, and there made their residence, then in former times, contrary to the ancient usage of the English Nation, which hath occasioned diverse inconveniences; for where by their residence and abiding in the several Countries whence their means ariseth, they served the King in several places according to their Degrees and Ranks in aid of the Government, whereby, and by their Housekeeping in those parts, the Realm was defended, and the meaner sort of the people were guided, directed and relieved, but by their residence in the said Cities and parts adjoining, they have not employment, but live without doing any Service to His Majesty or His people, a great part of their money and substance is drawn from the several Countries whence it ariseth, and is spent in the City in excess of Apparel provided from Foreign parts, to the enriching of other Nations, and unnecessary consumption of a great part of the Treasure of this Realm, and in other vain delights and expenses, even to the wasting of their Estates, which is not issued into the parts from whence it ariseth, nor are the people of them relieved therewith, or by their Hospitality, nor yet set on work as they might and would be, were it not for the absence of the principal men out of their Countries, and the excessive use of Foreign Commodities by this occasion also, and of the great number of lose and idle people that follow them, and live in, and about the said Cities, the disorder there groweth so great, and the Delinquents become so numerous, as those places are not so easily governed by their ordinary Magistrates, as in former times, and the said Cities are not only at excessive charge in relieving a great number of those idle and lose people, that grow to Beggary, and become diseased and infirm, but also are made more subject to Contagion and Infection, and the prizes of all kinds of victuals both in the said Cities, and in diverse other places from whence those Cities are served, are exceedingly increased, and the several countries' undefended, the poorer sort are unrelieved, and not guided or governed, as they might be in case those persons of quality and respect resided among them.  
His Majesty finding those inconveniences to arise from hence, and foreseeing that more will ensue, if timely remedy be not provided, hath resolved for the common good of His people, as by His Office He is bound to use all good ways for preventing of those great evils.  
And observing that His Noble Progenitors Kings of this Realm have used, when for the common profit of the Realm it was necessary to command their people, aswell those of the Clergy of all sorts, as the Laity, to keep Residence at their dwellings in the several parts of this Realm, where for defence, good, and safety thereof, was most necessary, and to restrain their departure, or changing their habitations from thence, under diverse pains upon the contemners of those Commands: Therefore His Majesty doth straight charge and command His Lords both Spiritual and Temporal, the Lieutenants and deputy Lieutenants of Counties, justices assigned for conservation of the Peace, Baronet's, Knights, Esquires, and Gentlemen, and all Clerks having Benefices with Cure, or prebend's or Dignities in Cathedral or Collegiate Churches, and all other His Majesty's Subjects of the several parts of the Realm, that have Mansion-houses and places of Residence in other parts, and are not of His Majesty's Council, or bound to daily attendance on His Highness, His dearest Consort the Queen, or their Children, That before the end of forty days next after the publishing of this Proclamation within His City of London, they with their families depart from the Cities of London and Westminster, Suburbs and Liberties thereof, and places adjoining, and resort to the several Counties where they usually resided, and there keep their habitations and hospitality, attend their services, and be ready for the defence and guidance of those parts, as their Callings, Degrees and Abilities shall extend, upon such pains as are to be inflicted upon those that shall neglect the public service and defence of the Realm in contempt of His Majesty's Royal Command: And that aswell those hereby commanded to return to their several Countries, as those which are already there, do upon the same pains, continue the Residence of themselves, and their families there, and do their duties and services as aforesaid.  
Nevertheless, his Majesty doth hereby declare that it is not His purpose to restrain the necessary access of any His Subjects to the said Cities or either of them, for the following their suits or other necessary business in Term time, or otherwise, so as they do not by pretence thereof remove their families, but leave the same to continue in the Country, and keep their houses and Hospitality, and themselves return thither as their business may permit them, and to the end the better effect may hence follow, His Majesty doth charge and command the Lord Mayor of the City of London, and the Aldermen of the same City, & the justices assigned for conservation of the Peace there, and in the City of Westminster and the Suburbs and Liberties of the same Cities, and in the Counties and places adjoining, and all Constables and Churchwardens in every Parish within any of those Cities, Suburbs, Liberties, Counties, and places, That every of them make special observation of all those that shall be disobedient to this Our Command, and from time to time present their names to some of Our Counsel learned, whom We do Command to take due examination, or notice of the qualities of their offences, and to cause prosecution to be had against them in Our Court of Star-chamber, or in any other Our Courts of justice as the case shall require.  
And because His Majesty's loving people of the Cities, Suburbs, Liberties, and places aforesaid, are exceedingly burdened and charged, by occasion of this great & unnecessary concourse of those strangers among them, His Majesty holdeth it equal and just, and is well pleased that in their aid and contributions to his Majesty, and other common payments, they shall be charged with respect to the inconvenience that cometh by their residence in those places, and that nevertheless in other parts of the Realm they be not forborn in any usual payment which by Law may be laid on them, and which they were accustomed to bear among their neighbours in the Country when they resided there. And his Majesty doth further charge and command, that when they or any of them at any Assizes, Sessions, or other place of public service shall make default of their service, or due attendance, that the penalties of the Law be severely inflicted on them, without favour or excuse by reason of their residing with their families at London, or Westminster, or the places adjoining.  
Finally, His Majesty doth hereby declare that it is His firm resolution to withstand this great and growing evil, by all just ways, and by a constant severity towards the offenders in that behalf; For which cause His Majesty doth give this timely warning, that none do hereafter presume to offend, nor put themselves to unnecessary charge in providing themselves to return in Winter, to the said Cities and places adjacent but that they conform themselves to this his Royal Commandment, as they tender their duties to His Majesty, or the good and welfare of their countries and themselves.  
Given at the Court at Greenwich, the twentieth day of june, in the eighth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, CHARLES by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc.  
God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent MAJESTY: and by the Assigns of john Bill. M.DC.XXXII.