A
PROCLAMATION
Touching
the
Election
Of
fit
Persons
to
serve
in
PARLIAMENT
.
By
the
King
.
HAving
occasion
at
this
time
to
deliberate
upon
divers
great
and
weighty
Affairs
,
highly
tending
to
the
continuance
and
further
setling
of
the
peaceable
Government
and
Sasety
of
this
our
Kingdom
,
whereof
God
hath
given
us
the
Charge
,
We
have
thought
good
according
to
the
laudable
Custome
of
our
Progenitors
,
to
crave
the
Advice
and
assistance
herein
of
our
well
affected
Subjects
,
by
calling
a
Parliament
.
And
though
there
were
no
more
to
be
had
in
consideration
but
the
present
face
of
Christendom
so
miserably
and
dangerously
distracted
at
this
time
,
besides
a
number
of
other
great
and
weighty
Affairs
that
we
are
to
resolve
upon
;
We
have
more
then
sufficient
reason
to
wish
and
desire
(
if
ever
at
any
time
,
especially
at
this
)
that
the
Knights
and
Burgesses
that
shall
serve
in
Parliament
,
be
,
according
to
the
old
Institutions
,
chosen
of
the
gravest
,
ablest
,
and
best
affected
minds
that
may
be
found
:
And
therefore
out
of
our
care
of
the
Commom
Good
,
whereof
themselves
are
also
participant
,
We
do
hereby
admonish
all
our
loving
Subjects
that
have
Votes
in
the
Elections
,
that
choice
be
made
of
Persons
approved
for
their
sincerity
in
Religion
,
and
not
of
any
that
is
noted
either
of
superstitious
blindness
one
way
,
or
of
turbulent
Humours
another
way
,
but
of
such
as
shall
be
found
zealous
and
obedient
Children
to
their
Mother-Church
.
And
as
to
the
Knights
of
Shires
,
That
they
cast
their
eyes
upon
the
worthiest
men
of
all
sorts
of
Knights
and
Gentlemen
,
that
are
Guides
and
Lights
of
their
Countryes
,
of
good
experience
,
and
great
Integrity
,
men
that
lead
an
honest
and
exemplary
life
in
their
Countryes
,
doing
us
good
service
therein
;
And
no
Banckrupts
or
discontented
persons
that
cannot
fish
but
in
troubled
waters
.
And
for
the
Burgesses
,
That
they
make
choice
of
them
that
best
understand
the
state
of
their
Countryes
,
Cities
or
Burroughs
:
And
where
such
may
not
be
had
within
their
Corporations
,
then
of
other
grave
and
discreet
men
fit
to
serve
in
so
worthy
an
Assembly
.
For
we
may
well
fore-see
,
how
ill
effects
the
bad
choise
of
unfit
men
may
produce
,
if
the
House
should
be
supplyed
with
Banckrupts
,
and
necessitous
persons
,
that
may
desire
long
Parliaments
for
their
private
Protections
,
or
with
young
and
unexperienced
men
,
that
are
not
ripe
and
mature
for
so
grave
a
Counsel
;
or
with
men
of
mean
Qualities
in
themselves
,
who
may
only
serve
to
applaud
the
Opinion
of
others
on
whom
they
do
depend
;
or
yet
with
curious
and
wrangling
Lawyers
,
who
may
seek
reputation
by
stirring
needless
Questions
.
But
we
wish
all
our
good
Subjects
so
to
understand
these
our
Admonitions
,
as
that
we
no
way
mean
to
barre
them
of
their
lawfull
Freedom
in
Election
,
according
to
their
Fundamental
Laws
and
laudable
Customes
of
this
our
Kingdom
,
and
especially
in
the
times
of
good
and
settled
Government
.
Given
at
our
Court
the
sixth
of
Novemb.