royal blazon or coat of arms C R HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT ❧ By the King. THe King's most Excellent Majesty, finding that the Infection of the Plague is at this present dispersed and scattered, aswell into several Parishes of the City of London, as into sundry other parts of the Kingdom, and now lately come into several houses of the City of Westminster, some of them not fare from the place where the Courts of justice are usually holden; And foreseeing, that if the general resort, and concourse of people from all parts of the Kingdom to Westminster, for the occasions of the next Term, should be continued in the ordinary course, the same might be an occasion of further dispersing the said Infection, aswell in the said Cities of London and Westminster, as in other places, especially in the Thoroughfare Towns, which yet (by God's mercy) stand free; And hoping that by the deferring and putting off the business of the next Term of S. Michael, for some of the first Returns thereof, and thereby keeping the Sick from the Whole, till the coldness of the year come further on, may (by God's blessing) be a good mean to prevent the further spreading of that Contagion, whereby His Majesty, the Queen, and Prince, may afterwards with more safety come & abide at their usual places of Residence & access, and His Subjects, aswell for their Suits in Law, as for their Trade and Commerce, resort to the said Cities of London and Westminster, Is therefore of His especial favour and Princely goodness, resolved to Adjourn the said Term of S. Michael, (That is to say) in, and from the Vtas thereof, unto the fourth Return of the said Term, called Mense Michaelis next coming, which his Majesty signifieth to all his loving Subjects of this his Realm, to the intent that they and every of them, who have cause or commandment to appear in any of his Highness' Courts at Westminster, in, or at any day or time from and after the said Vtas of S. Michael, may tarry at their dwellings, or where their business otherwise shall lie, without resorting to any of the said Courts for that cause before the said Return of Mensae Michaelis next coming; And that without danger of forfeiture, penalty, or contempt to be incurred towards his Majesty in that behalf. And nevertheless His Majesty's pleasure is, that two of His justices (that is to say) of either Bench one, shall the first day of the said Term of S. Michael, called Octabis Michaelis, according to the ancient order of the Laws keep the Essoynes of the said Octabis Michaelis. At which Vtas of S. Michael Writs of Adiournement shall be directed to the said justices, giving them authority to Adjourn the said Term of S. Michael from the Vtas thereof, until the said fourth Return of Mense Michaelis (as aforesaid.) And the said Adiournement shall be made in the first day of the said Vtas, commonly called the day of Essoynes. And further His Majesty's pleasure is, that all matters, Causes and Suits depending in any of his other Courts, between party and party, aswell in His Highness' Courts of Chancery, Starchamber and Exchequer, as in the Courts of Wards and Liveries, Duchy of Lancaster, and Court of Requests shall have continuance, and the parties shall have day from the date of these presents, until the said fourth Return, as before is said. Provided always, and His Majesty's Pleasure and Commandment is, That all Collectors, Receivers, Sheriffs and other Accomptants, and all other persons that should or ought to account or pay any sum or sums of money in any of His Majesty's Courts of Exchequer, Court of Wards and Liveries, and of his Duchy of Lancaster, or in any of them, or to enter into any Account in any of the said Courts, shall repair unto the accustomed places at Westminster where His Highness hath appointed such Officers and Ministers, as for that purpose His Majesty hath thought expedient, and there to pay and do in every behalf, as though no such Proclamation of Adiournement had been had or made. And His Highness further pleasure and Commandment is, That all Sheriffs shall return their Writts and Process against all such Accomptants and Debtors, at the days therein appointed. And if any person or persons who ought to Account or pay any sum or sums of money to His Majesty in any of the Courts and places aforesaid, do make default therein, That then His Highness' Writts and Process shall be awarded against them, and duly served and Returned by the Sheriffs and other Officers, as the same should have been if this present Proclamation had not been made. And if any Sheriff or other Officer shall make default, or be negligent in Serving, Executing, or Returning of any the Writts or Process aforesaid, That then every such Sheriff and other Officer shall incur such pains and penalties as by the said Courts, or any of them shall be Taxed and Assessed; Willing and commanding all and every His Majesty's Sheriffs, Officers, Ministers and Subjects to whom it doth or shall appertain to observe and keep their Assemblies and Appearances with all their Returns and Certificates in His Highness said Courts at Westminster, in Mense Michaelis next coming, then and there to be holden and kept, and there to do their Offices and Duties in every behalf, in like manner and form, as they should or ought to have done if this present Proclamation had not been had or made, as thy will answer to the contrary at their perils. And further His most Excellent Majesty, upon the same reasons, and out of the same provident care to take away all other occasions of needless resort and concourse in this time of danger, doth hereby straight charge and command that no person or persons upon pretence of seeking help or Cure of the disease commonly called The King's Evil, do presume or attempt to come to His Majesty's Court, or to the Cities of London or Westminster for that purpose before Palm Sunday next coming, upon pain of His Majesty's high displeasure, his Majesty hereby declaring himself, that his resolution is not to sit for healing until after that day; And therefore his Majesty doth further charge and command all his Officers and Ministers to whom the same may appertain to make stay of all such as shall be coming against this his Royal Commandment, and return them back to the places from whence they came, with such condign punishment for their misdemeanour, as they shall think fit. And lastly, because his Majesty hath observed, that diverse Noblemen, Knights, and other persons of quality, have been accustomed towards the Winter season, to give over their House keeping and hospitality in the Country where they dwell, and to come up and live or sojourn at London or Westminster, or other Cities and Towns; A thing which hath been usually forbidden, not only in the times of the late Queen ELIZABETH, and of his Majesty's Father (of blessed memory,) but in the times of other his Royal Predecessors, and is of very evil consequence, the Winter time being a time when the Country hath most need of their Residence and keeping amongst their Neighbours, and attending the public Services and occasions thereof, but above all other times, is not to be permitted in times of Infection and Dearth; His Majesty's express pleasure and will is, and he doth hereby straight charge and command (for the reasons and considerations aforesaid,) That they continue at their usual dwellings and habitations in the Country for the Winter season now coming, without removing themselves and their Families from the places of their abode to London or Westminster, or other Cities and great Towns, saving that such as for attending their Suits in Law, or other just cause shall be occasioned thereunto, may come up to London or Westminster, leaving their Families in the Country, and to return again thither after their business dispatched, aswell to avoid their own danger, as to be a comfort and relief to such of their poor Neighbours as shall stand in need thereof; And if they have any place of authority, (as being justices of Peace, or other Officers) to take due care aswell for preventing the further spreading of the Plague, as to see that the Markets be well served with Corn and provisions at reasonable Rates and Prices: All which his Majesty straight chargeth and commandeth to be duly observed by all such whom the same shall any way concern, upon pain of his Majesty's high displeasure, and of such further punishment, as by the Laws, or his Majesty's Royal Prerogative may be inflicted upon them, for contemning or disobeying this his Majesty's Commandment at their perils. Given at his Majesty's Court at Wansted, the ninth day of September, 1630. in the sixth year of his Majesty's Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland. 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.XXX.