WHereas the Queenes moſt excellent Maieſtie, vpon information giuen vnto her Highneſſe, of the infection of the Plague, growen and diſperſed in her Citie of London, doubting by reaſon thereof, that if this Terme of Saint Michael ſhould haue bene kept at Weſtminſter, at the ordinary dayes and times appoynted, the ſame could not haue bene done without the peril of her good and louing ſubiects, whoſe preſeruation ſhee doth ſpecially tender, And yet hoping that by the goodneſſe of Almightie God, through the colde ſeaſon of the yeere then approching, and through ſuch good orders as by her Maieſties ſpeciall commaundements were appoynted to be kept & obſerued, within the ſayd Citie, the ſaid infection of the plague, might either haue bene ceaſed or much diminiſhed, Did by the aduiſe of her Counſell, thinke 〈◊〉 • ery meete and expedient, that the ſaid Terme of Saint Michael, that is to ſay, from the vtas thereof, ſhould be adiourned 〈◊〉 the fourth returne of the ſame, called Menſe Michaelis, whereof her Maieſtie cauſed notice to be giuen by a Proclamation lately publiſhed, bearing date at her Mannor of Otcland, the eighteene day of September laſt paſt:

Foraſmuch as her Maieſtie hath ſince receyued knowledge by certificate ſent from the Cities of London & Weſtminſter, 〈◊〉 the plague is greatly increaſed, And therefore doth doubt, that if the ſayd Terme ſhould be kept at Weſtminſter all the t ••• about ſpecified, it could not be but daungerous to ſuch her good and louing ſubiects, as for ſuites & other cauſes ſhould 〈◊〉 their neceſſary repaire thither: Hath by the aduiſe of her ſayd Counſell, found it very expedient, that it ſhould be adiour •• d from the ſaid returne, commonly called Menſe Michaelis, vntil the returne commonly called Craſtino Animarum next en ••••• to be kept in ſome other place of the realme. And hauing for that purpoſe made an eſpecial choice of her Maieſties caſtel at Hertford, in her Countie of Hertf. where her Highneſſe pleaſure is, that the reſidue of the ſayd Terme ſhalbe kept: Doeth therefore declare & hereby ſignifie her wil & pleaſure, That writtes of Adiournement, ſhalbe directed to the Iuſtices of either Bench & to the Iudges of all other her Maieſties Courts, to whom like writtes haue bene vſually directed, giuing them au •••• itie to adiourne the ſayd reſidue of the ſayd Terme from Weſtminſter aforſayd, vnto the ſaid Caſtel of Hertford, There 〈◊〉 beginne in the ſaid Craſtino Animarum next enſuing. And the ſame Adiournement ſhall be made at the ſaid retourne called Menſe Michaelis. And alſo that all matters, cauſes & ſuites betweene partie & partie, as in her Highnes Courtes of Chaunce ••… Starte Chamber, Exchequer, the Courts of Wardes & Lyueries, the Duchie of Lancaſter, and Court Requeſts, ſhal 〈◊〉 continuance, and the parties ſhall haue day from the date of this preſent, vntill the ſaid Craſtino Animarum, at the ſaid Caſtel of Hertford. Which her Highneſſe doth ſignifie vnto all her louing ſubiectes: Willing & commanding them and euery 〈◊〉 them to whome it doeth appertaine, to obſerue and keepe their aſſemblies and apparances in all and euery her Highneſſe Courtes, at the ſaid Caſtel of Hertford in the ſaide Craſtino Animarum, in like maner, forme and condition, as they woulde, ſhould, or ought to haue done, if the ſayd Terme and Courtes had bene holden & kept at Weſtminſter, as they and euery of 〈◊〉 will anſwere at their perilles, any thing in her Maieſties ſaid former Proclamation to the contrary notwithſtanding.

And further her Maieſtie cōſidering that if there ſhould happen to be any acceſſe & apparance of her louing ſubiects at the 〈◊〉 Caſtle or at ye Towne of Hertford, during the reſidue of the Terme, of ſuch as haue had the plague in their houſes, or haue 〈◊〉 themſelues infected therewith, there might enſue great peril & dammage to thoſe that haue as yet bene cleere thereof, & 〈◊◊〉 further inconuenience might grow thereby to the reſt of the realme: Her Highnes therfore, for the auoyding thereof, doth ••… ghtly charge & commaunde, That no ſuch perſon or perſons that ſo haue bene infected, or haue had the plague in their •••••… s of what eſtate or degree ſoeuer he or they be, ſhal repaire vnto the ſaid Caſtle or towne of Hertford, during the reſidue of the ſaid Terme, except he or they be or ſhalbe commanded by Proces, or otherwiſe haue ſpecial commandement to be there. And that euery ſuch perſon neuertheleſſe ſo infected, vpon his repaire to the ſaid Caſtle or Towne, ſhall (before he enter into 〈◊〉 houſe within the ſaid Towne, or into the ſaid Caſtle) openly notifie and declare his eſtate touching his infection, to ſuch perſon or perſons as ſhalbe appointed by the Lord Chauncelor to haue the charge of the keeping of the gate of the ſaid Caſtle: And ſhal after, during the time of his abode there, beare and holde vp in his hand, one white rodde, of the length of one yard, 〈…〉 of her Maieſties diſpleaſure, and impriſonment of their bodies during her Highneſſe pleaſure.

And further her Maieſtie ſtraightly chargeth and cōmandeth all Iuſtices of peace of the ſaid Countie of Hertford, dwelling within twelue myles of the ſayd Towne and Caſtle of Hertford, and all Conſtables, Bailifes, & head Officers of any Boroughs, Townes, villages, or Hamlets, within eyght miles of the ſayd Caſtle & Towne of Hertford, that they and cuery them ſhall from & after the day of the proclayming of this Proclamation within the ſaid Countie, doe their beſt indeuours to make & ſet forth ſuch good orders, as by the goodneſſe of God) may tend moſt to the preſeruation of all places within the 〈◊〉 Circuit of eight miles, from infection of the plague. And for that purpose, to aſſemble thēſelues together weekely, from the time of the proclayming of this Proclamation, vntil the ende of the reſidue of the ſayd Terme, in ſome places conuenient, as well for the deuiſing, as for the execution of ſuch good orders. And that the ſaid Iuſtices of peace, ſhal in the firſt day of the •••••… g in the reſidue of the ſaid Terme, ſignifie & declare to ye Lord Chauncelor of England, al that they & the ſaid Conſtables, 〈◊〉 other the ſaid Officers ſhal then haue done, in and about the premiſſes. And ſhal alſo from time to time follow ſuch directions, as they ſhal receiue from the Lord Chauncelor, tending to the preſeruation of the places within the circuite aboue ſpecified, from the ſaid infection of the plague: Not doubting but that as well the ſayd Iuſtices, as other the inferior officers, 〈◊〉 carefully diſcharge their duetie in that behalfe, as they tender the continuance of her Maieſties fauour, and wil anſwere for the contrary at their perils.