CHARLES , by the Grace of GOD , King of Great Brittain , France and Ireland , Defender of the Faith ; To Our Lovits , Heraulds , Pursevants and Messengers at Arms , Our Sheriffs , In that part specially constitute , Greeting : Forasmuch as by several Laws and Acts of Our Parliament , especially by the one hundred and thirty one of the Eight Parliament of King James the Sixth . Our Grandfather of blessed memory ( and renewed and ratified by Vs , with advice of Our Estates of Parliament , presently conveened ) It is statuted and ordained , That none of Our Subjects , of whatsoever quality , state or function , Conveen or Assemble themselves , for holding Councils , Conventions or Assemblies ( except in the ordinary iudgements ) without Our Warrand , or express Licence , had and obtained thereto , under the pain made against such as unlawfully convocate Our Lieges : And that notwithstanding thereof , there be divers persons under the name of Quakers , Anabaptists , and Fifth-monarchy-men , avowed Enemies to Our lawful Authority and Government , whoupon specious and religious pretences , at unlawful times and places , keep frequent Meetings and Conventicles together : And We , and Our Estates of Parliament , considering what hath been the cruel Tenets , and bloody Practises of such in former times , and what Insurrections and Murthers have been committed by them in Our Kingdome of England , within these few dayes , and of what bad consequence their Meetings may prove at this time . Our will is herefore , and We charge you and straitly commands : That incontinent thir Our Letters seen , ye passe , and in Our Name and Authority , inhibit and discharge all Meetings and Conventions of the persons foresaid , upon whatsoever colour or pretext the same may be , under the pains contained in Our Acts of Parliament , made against unlawful Convocations of Our Lieges : And for the better preventing of such unlawful Meetings , and of any prejudice may ensue thereby , We do hereby command all Magistrates of Our Burghs , Sheriffs , Constables , Iustices of the Peace and other Our publick Ministers , To make exact search from time to time , in all places where any such Meeting hath been , shall , or may be suspected ; and to apprehend every such person , who shall keep , or frequent these Meetings , and to commit them to the next Prison , therein to remain till further order be taken with them , by such as shall have Our Authority for that effect ; and ordains you to make publication hereof at the Mercat Cross of Our Royal Burroughs , where-through none pretend ignorance thereof , As ye will answer to Vs thereupon : The which to do , We commit to you , conjunctly and severally , Our full power , by thir Our Letters , &c.