WHereas, notwithstanding Our late Declaration, for satisfying of the mindes and affections of Our louing Subiects, some ill disposed persons doe spread false and pernicious Rumours abroad, as if the scandalous and seditious propositon in the House of Commons, made by an vtlawed man, desperate in minde and fortune, which was tu­multuously taken vp by some few, after that by Our Royall autho­ritie, Wee had commanded their Adiournement, had beene the vote of the whole House, whereas the contrary is the trueth; for it was then decried by the wisest and best affected, and is since disauowed vpon examination, by such as were suspected to haue consented thereunto, and affirmed, as well by them as others who serued in the House that day, to bee a thing of a most wicked and dangerous consequence to the good estate of this Kingdome: Which appeareth to be so, by those impressions which this false Rumour hath made in mens mindes, whereby, out of causelesse feares, the Trade of the Kingdome is distur­bed, and Merchants discouraged to continue in their wonted Traffique. Wee haue thought it expedient, not onely to manifest the trueth heereof, but to make knowne Our Royall pleasure, that those who raise, or nourish such false reports shall be seuerely punished, and such as cheerefully goe on with their Trade, haue all good incouragement, not purposing to ouercharge Our Sub­iects by any new burthens, but to satisfie Our selues with those Duties that were receiued by the King Our Father of blessed memory; which Wee neither can, nor will dispence withall, but shall esteeme them vnworthy of Our Protection, who shall deny the same; Wee intending to imploy it for defence of Our Kingdomes, Dominion of Our Seas, and safegard of Our Merchants, specially by such Shipping, as are now making readie, and such further preparation for ayde of Our Friends and Allies as need shall require.

And whereas, for seuerall ill ends, the calling againe of a Parliament is diuulged, howsoeuer Wee haue shewed, by Our frequent meeting with Our People, Our Loue to the vse of Parlia­ments; Yet the late abuse, hauing for the present driuen Vs vnwillingly out of that course, Wee shall account it presumption, for any to prescribe any time vnto Vs for Parliaments, the Calling, Continuing, and Dissoluing of which is alwayes in Our owne power; and Wee shall bee more in­clinable to meete in Parliament againe, when Our People shall see more cleerely into Our In­tents and Actions, when such as haue bred this interruption shall haue receiued their condigne punishment, and those who are misled by them, and by such ill reports, as are raised vpon this occasion, shall come to a better vnderstanding of Vs and themselues.

Giuen at Our Court of White-Hall, this seuen and twentieth day of March, in the Fifth yeere of Our reigne of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland.

God saue the King.