woodcut of England's coat of arms, 1609 
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   
¶ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation for abolishing of abuses, by Bills of Conformity.  
WHereas diverse Bills of complaint, commonly called, Bills of Conformity, have of late years been exhibited into his Majesty's Court of Chancery, and other His Courts of equity, by sundry persons against their Creditors, of purpose to enforce them, either to accept less than their just debts, and damages, or to give longer days or times of payment and forbearance, than the said Creditors were willing to do, pretending inability & non soluencie, sometimes by reason of sudden and accidental loss and damage, sometimes by suretyship, sometimes by evil debtors, and sundry other suggestions and pretences, tending to no other end or purpose, but to defeat or delay their just and honest Creditors of their due debts and damages: which Bills have been exhibited, sometimes by the debtors alone, & sometimes by the debtors and some of their Creditors by consent, or connivency between them: And upon such bills diverse Decrees, Orders, and proceed have passed, to the great damage of the Common wealth, for that thereby hath ensued aswell the imboldening of Debtors not to pay their debts in due time, whereby many men have been disappointed, and not able to keep their credit with others, to their extreme detriment, as also the encouraging of wilful Bankerupts, and deceitful persons, and the scarcity of money (being the measure of all bargains and contracts between man and man) together with a general hindrance of trade, & traffic, & many other inconveniences, which by reason of this late and dangerous invention of Bills and suits of conformity have happened, as by due and just examination (for the reformation of so great an evil, and for his Majesty's honour) hath been found out, and resolved by the house of Commons in this present Parliament: all which inconveniences by the said Bills and suits of conformity have increased more & more, sithence his Majesty (out of his Princely providence) hath taken a more exact and careful course touching Protections, than had been formerly accustomed; whereby many and great delays of payment of debts, and duties, and of other just causes of suits have been avoided, which in former times had been occasioned by some kinds of Protections.  
His Majesty (of his blessed disposition for the Weal of His Subjects) being careful to stop the current of this growing evil, until upon mature deliberation, an exact and full remedy may be provided by Parliament in that behalf, Doth hereby signify and declare his most gracious Will and pleasure, and doth expressly charge and command, That all and every judge & judges in the said Courts of Equity, where such Bills of conformity do depend, for so much of the matter in those several Bills contained as concerneth such conformity as aforesaid, and for and concerning all such persons, parties to those Suits, which have not consented thereunto, shall forthwith, absolutely dismiss the same, and that the said Defendants in such suits be not bound or pressed to any further attendance in that behalf. And that all Orders, Sentences, Decrees, Injunctions and other restraints or Process whatsoever grounded upon any such Bill or Suit to the prejudice, hurt or hindrance of any Creditor or Creditors (not having consented as aforesaid) and the execution of the same, be from henceforth fully and wholly suspended, and not to be put in execution until order and provision by some Act of Parliament, for a perpetual reformation thereof be had and taken in that behalf. And that no Bill or Suit of the effect or nature aforesaid be hereafter received, accepted or allowed in the said Court of Chancery or other Court of Equity, until some such order as aforesaid be taken in Parliament. And that all and every person and persons now being in prison, or restrained of liberty, or standing upon Bond, bail or Mainprize, by or by reason of any such Order, Sentence, Decree, Injunction or other restraint, (and for no other cause) upon any Bill or Suit of the effect or nature aforesaid in any of the said Courts of Equity whatsoever, or by reason of any proceeding thereupon, be forthwith by the said judge and judges of the said Courts of Equity, set at liberty and freed from his and their imprisonment or restraint, and be discharged of his and their Bonds, Recognizances, Bail or Mainprize for appearance, without molestation, vexation or trouble for or by reason of any such Order, Sentence, Decree, Injunction, Restraint, Bond, Recognizance, Bail or Mainprize until such further order be taken in Parliament as aforesaid. And therefore His Majesty doth authorize and require aswell the Lord Chancellor of England, as all other His Majesty's judges and justices, & other persons whatsoever, having any place of judicature, & all and every His Officers, Ministers and Subjects that now be or hereafter shallbe, to see and cause this His Majesty's pleasure duly with all convenient expedition to be put in execution.  
Given at Our Palace of Westminster the one and thirtieth day of March, in the nineteenth year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland.  
God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by BONHAM NORTON, and JOHN BILL, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. M.DC.XXI.