By the King.
A PROCLAMATION Prohibiting the keeping of the Fair of
Wanting or
Wantage, in the County of
Berks.
THe Kings most Excellent Majesty, out of His Princely and Christian care of His loving Subjects, that no good means of Providence may be neglected to stay the further spreading of the great Infection of the Plague, Doth find it necessary to prevent all occasions of publick concourse of His people for the present, till it shall please Almighty God of His goodness to cease the violence of the Contagion, which is very far dispersed into many parts of this Kingdom already: And therefore remembring that there is at hand a Fair of note, unto which there is usually extraordinary resort out of several parts of the Kingdom, kept at Wanting or Wantage, in the County of Berks; The holding whereof at the usual time, would (in all likelihood) be the occasion of further danger and Infection to other parts of the Land, which yet by Gods mercy stand clear and free: Hath (with the Advice of His Privy Council) thought good by this open Declaration of His Pleasure and necessary Commandment, not only to admonish and require all His loving Subjects to forbear to resort (for this time) to the said Fair kept at Wanting or Wantage aforesaid, or to any other Fair or Fairs in the said County of Berks, but also to enjoyn the Lord or Lords of the said Fair, or others Interested therein, that they all forbear to hold the said Fair, or any thing appertaining thereunto, at the time accustomed, or at any other time, till by Gods goodness and mercy the Infection of the Plague shall cease, or be so much diminished, that His Majesty shall give order for holding them; upon pain of such punishment, as for a Contempt so much concerning the general safety of His people, they shall be adjudged to deserve; which they must expect to be inflicted with all severity. And to that purpose doth hereby further Charge and Enjoyn (under the like penalty) all Citizens and Inhabitants of the Cities of London and Westminster, That none of them shall repair unto any Fairs held within any part of this Kingdom, until it shall please God to cease the Infection now reigning amongst them: His Majesties intention being, and so hereby Declaring Himself, That no Lord of any Fair, or others Interested in the Profits thereof, shall by this necessary and temporary Restraint, receive any prejudice in the right of his or their Fairs, or Liberties thereunto belonging; Any thing before mentioned notwithstanding.
Given at Our Court at Salisbury this One and twentieth day of September, 1665. in the Seventeenth year of Our Reign.
God save the King.
LONDON, Printed by John Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, 1665.