WEE have made so many Declarations of Our Royall Intentions concerning the preserving of the Religion and Lawes of this Land, That Wee think it not fit often to repeat, Though by Gods grace We seriously intend never to decline or depart from the same. But this seems most strange unto Us, that whil'st (especially at, and about London) Our just and legall Commands are not obeyed, other Orders and Ordinances, (for which there is no legall foundation) which not only discoun­tenance, but overthrow the Lawes of the Land that settle Religion, and were the sences of the Subjects property, are submitted unto and obeyed by many of Our weaker Subjects: And amongst these a blind obedience hath been yeelded unto the pretended Ordinance, for setling the Receipt of Tonnage and Poundage, and other impositions upon Mer­chandises, without an Act of Parliament, when an Act this Parliament (received from Us, and so understood by Us, as one of the greatest graces the Crowne ever conferred on the Subject) declares, no such Paiments are due without an Act; and by that Act it is provided, that all such Persons as receive the same incurr the forfeiture of a Premunire. This We thought would not have found obedience from the Merchant, who un­derstood what his owne benefit was thereby, and could not be ignorant how penall it was in him to breake this Law; especially when he found he was to pay those duties for support of an unnaturall Warr against his Prince, and to foment an intestine and Civill dissention which hath already, and may in the future pro­duce so many Evills upon this poore People, contrary to the true intention of the said Act. But upon the me­naces and usage some received that denyed it, We find since a more generall Obedience in such as Trade, then We expected, though We understand by it the Trade of the Kingdom is much lessened. Neverthelesse We thought not fit untill this present, by any of Our Proclamations to prohibite the same, because We hoped before this time, We having so often and by so many meanes endeavoured the same, some happy understan­ding might have been between Us and both Our Houses of Parliament. But at present finding that the mo­nyes arising from these Duties, are a great part of the fewell that maintaines this fire, and supports this un­naturall Rebellion against Us, and heightens the Spirits of such as have no Spirit to Peace, unlesse they may destroy Us, Our Posterity, and the setled Government both of Church and State; We doe hereby Declare and Proclaime to all Our People of what sort soever, That whosoever hence forward shall, by vertue of the said pretended Ordinance of Parliament, pay any Monyes under the names of Tonnage and Poundage, or other impositions upon Merchandise, other then for Customes to be paid to Our proper Ministers, which are due to Us by the known Lawes of the Kingdome, That We will proceed against him or them in due time, as an ill-affected person or persons to the Peace of this Kingdome, and as such as endeavour (as much as in them lyes) to hinder a true Intelligence betwixt Us and Our People. And for such person, or persons as shall con­tinue to require or receive the same, contrary to the Statute made this Parliament, We shall like wise proceed against them according to the penalty in the said Act. And because (though the Law ought to have been every mans prohibition) We did not, untill this time, forbid the same, We doe hereby grant Our free Par­don to all such as formerly having either paid, or received these Customes, shall henceforth refuse the same, And to no other.

¶ Given under Our Signe Manuall at Our Court at Oxford, the sixteenth day of December, in the Eighteenth yeare of Our Reigne.

God save the King.