FOrasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God to call to his mercy out of this transitory life our Soueraigne Lady, the High and Mighty Prince, Eliza­beth late Queene of England, France, and Ireland, by whose death and dissolution, the Imperiall Crowne of these Realmes aforesaid are now ab­solutely, wholly, and solely come to the High and Mightie Prince, Iames the sixt King of Scotland, who is lineally and lawfully descended from the body of Margaret, daughter to the high and Renowmed Prince, Henry the seuenth King of England, France, and Ireland, his great Grandfa­ther, the said Lady Margaret being lawfully begotten of the bodie of Elizabeth, daughter to King Edward the fourth (by which happy coniunction both the houses of Yorke and Lancaster were vni­ted, to the ioy vnspeakeable of this Kingdome, formerly rent & torne by the long dissention of bloody and Ciuill warres) the same Lady Margaret being also the eldest sister of Henry the eight, of famous memorie King of England as aforesaid:

We therefore the Lords Spirituall and Temporall of this Realme, being here assembled, vnited, and assisted with those of her late Maiesties Priuie Counsell, and with great numbers of other prin­cipall Gentlemen of qualitie in the Kingdome, with the Lorde Maior, Aldermen, and Citizens of London, and a multitude of other good Subiects and Commons of this Realme, thirsting now af­ter nothing so much as to make it knowen to all persons, who it is that by Law, by Lineall succes­sion, and vndoubted Right is now become the onely Soueraigne Lord and King of these Imperiall Crownes (to the intent that by vertue of his Power, Wisedome and Godly Courage, all things may be prouided for and executed, which may preuent or resist either forrein attempts, or popular disorder, tending to the breach of the present Peace, or to the preiudice of his Maiesties future quiet) doe nowe hereby with one full Voyce and Consent of Tongue and Heart, publish and proclaime, That the High and Mightie Prince, Iames the sixt King of Scotland, is now by the death of our late So­ueraigne, Queene of England of famous memorie, become also our Onely, Lawfull, Lineall and Rightfull Liege Lord, Iames the first, King of England, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, to whome as to our onely iust Prince, adorned (besides his vndoubted Right) with all the rarest gifts of minde and bodie, to the infinite comfort of all his people and Subiects that shall liue vnder him, We doe acknowledge all faith and constant obedience, with all heartie and humble affections, both du­ring our naturall liues for our selues, and in the behalfe of our posteritie. Hereby protesting and de­nouncing to all persons whatsoeuer, that in this iust and lawfull Acte of ours, we are resolued by the fauour of Gods holy assistance, and in the zeale of our own Conscience (warranted by certaine know­ledge of his manifest and vndoubted Right, as hath beene sayd before) to maintaine and vphold his Maiesties person and Estate, as our onely vndoubted Soueraigne Lord and King, with the Sacri­fice of our Liues, Lands, Goods, Friends, and Adherents, against all power, force, or practise, that shall goe about by word or deed, to interrupt, contradict, or impugne his iust Claymes, his entry into this Kingdome, or any part thereof, at his good pleasure, or disobey such Royall directions as shall come from him. To all which wee are resolued onely to yeeld our selues, vntill the last drop of our bloods bee spent for his seruice. Hereby willing and commanding, in the name of our Soueraigne [Page] Lord Iames the first, King of al the foresaid kingdoms, all the late Lieutenants, deputy Lieutenants, Sheriffes, Iustices, & all Maiors, Bailiffes, Constables, Headboroughes, and all other Officers and Ministers whatsoeuer, that they bee ayding and assisting from time to time in all things that are or shalbe necessary for the preuenting, resisting, and suppressing of any disorderly assemblies, or other vnlawfull Acte or Attempt, either in word or deede, against the publique peace of the Realme, or any way preiudiciall to the Right, Honour, State or Person, of our only vndoubted and deere Lord and Soueraigne that now is, Iames the first King of all the said Kingdomes, as they will auoyd the perill of his Maiesties heauie indignation, and their owne vtter ruine and confusion. Beseeching God to blesse his Maiestie and his Royall posteritie with long and happy yeeres to raigne ouer vs.