❧ By the King.  
WHereas at the late rising of the first Session of our Parliament, We did prorogue the same until the seventh day of February next, intending then to hold at that time another Session thereof: We have since been informed from divers parts of our Realm, that some contagion of Sickness doth yet so continue in many of our principal Cities and Towns, and is also scattered in divers other places of less note, as if we should against the Spring of the year draw so great a concourse of people together, as the assembly of the Parliament bringeth with it, (the continuance whereof is uncertain) it were much to be doubted, that the infection of the Plague might be renewed again in our City of LONDON, which is our Chamber, and the place of our most ordinary residence, as it did the first year of our entry, by reason of the great assembly at our Coronation, which if the settling of our State here had not necessarily required to be then performed, We would have forborue. And forasmuch also as for these two years past, by reason of our entry into this our Kingdom, our Coronation, the holding of our Parliament, and such other Solemnities, requiring the presence of persons of the best sort, the most part of the Gentlemen of quality of this Realm have been absent from the places of their ordinary abode, whereby the Countries have wanted their assistance in the government of them, and our people the comfort of their presence and Hospitality: We have therefore thought it convenient to prorogue our said Parliament until the third day of October next ensuing, at which time we intent by God's grace to hold another Session thereof, And in the mean time all those, who repaired hither about the Commission concerning the Union, or do now reside here in expectation of that Session of our Parliament at the time appointed, may return to their own homes until the said third day of October, when We will expect again their attendance. And in the mean time We do straightly charge and command them, and all others who have any trust to them from Us, either in the Commission of the Peace, or otherwise for the good government of our people, that they do immediately repair home to their own dwellings, to attend to such Services as to them belong to do, whereof by their absence both We and our Subjects are defrauded.  
Given at our Palace of Westminster the xxiv. day of December, in the second year of our Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland.  
God save the King.   

Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty.  
ANNO DOM. 1604.