WHereas the Kings most Excellent Maiestie , vpon information giuen to his Highnesse of the Infection of the Plague growen and dispersed in his Cities of London and Westminster , did by his Proclamation dated at his Mannor of Woodstock the sixteenth day of September last past , for the considerations therein expressed , cause the Terme of S. Michael to be adiourned vnto the fourth Returne thereof , commonly called Mense Michaelis , Hoping by that time , through the goodnesse of Almightie God , and such Orders as by his Maiesties especiall Commandement were appointed to be kept & obserued , and by the coldnes of the aire , the said Infection of the Plague might haue bene so much diminished , as that the residue of the Terme might , without danger to his louing Subiects , which his Maiesty greatly desireth , haue bene continued at Westminster : Forasmuch as his Maiesty hath since receiued knowledge , by Certificats sent from London and Westminster , that the Plague still continueth , And therefore doubteth that if the said Terme should be kept at Westminster from the said Mense Michaelis , it could not be but dangerous to such his louing Subiects , who for Sutes and other causes should make their necessary repaire thither ; Therefore vpon the considerations aforesaid , his Maiestie hath by aduise of his Highnesse Councell , thought it very expedient , that the Terme should be adiourned from the said Returne commonly called Mense Michaelis , vntill the Returne commonly called Crastino Sancti Martini next ensuing , and thereby the rest of the vsuall Terme to be continued and kept , for which purpose especiall choise is made of his Maiesties City of Winchester in his Countie of Southampton , and at which place his Maiesties pleasure is , that now the residue of the Terme shall be kept : Doeth therefore declare , and hereby signifie his will and pleasure , That Writs of Adiournement shal be directed to the Iustices of either Bench , and to the Iudges of all other his Maiesties Courts to whom like Writs haue bene vsually directed , Giuing them authoritie to adiourne the residue of the said Terme from Westminster aforesaid , vnto the said City of Winchester , there to begin in the saide Crastino Martini next ensuing , and so to continue .

And his Maiesties pleasure is , That two of his Iustices , that is to say , of either Bench one , shall on the first day of the saide Returne , called Mense Michaelis , according to the ancient Order of the Lawes , keepe the Essoynes of the sayde Mense Michaelis , and in the first day thereof commonly called the day of Essoynes , the same Adiournement shall bee made from the saide Mense Michaelis , vntill Crastino Martini as aforesaide . And further his Maiesties pleasure is , That all matters , causes and suits betweene partie and partie , in his Highnesse Courts of Chancery , Starrechamber , Exchequer , Courts of Wards and Liueries , Dutchie of Lancaster , and Court of Requests , shall haue continuance , and the parties shall haue day from the said Mense Michaelis vntill the said Crastino Martini , at the said Citie of Winchester . Willing them and euery of them to whom it doth appertaine , to obserue and keepe their apparances and assemblies in all and euery his Highnesse said Courts at the said Citie of Winchester in the said Crastino Martini , in like maner , forme , and condition , as they would , should , or ought to haue done , if the said Terme and Courts had bene holden and kept at Westminster , as they and euery of them will answere at their perils , Any thing in his Maiesties said former Proclamation to the contrarie notwithstanding . And yet neuerthelesse his Maiesties pleasure and commandement is , for the greater safety of his louing Subiects ( which of any thing in this world he chiefly desireth ) in this infectious time , That no Issue triable by twelue or more Iurors this next Terme , shall receiue triall in any of his Maiesties Courts of Kings Bench , Common Pleas , or Exchequer , And that neither any Iurors summoned , or to be summoned to appeare at any Returne or day of this next Terme , shall appeare for triall of any such Issue , vnlesse it be for high Treason , or any matters or causes Criminall , Nor any witnesse either serued , or to be serued with Processe or otherwise , shal appeare , or giue in euidence for triall of any such Issue , ( Treasons , and matters or causes Criminall excepted ) but that both Iurors and Witnesses may safely , according to his Maiesties gracious meaning herein expressed , reside and employ them in or about their own affaires , without any forfeiture , penalty , or losse whatsoeuer in that behalfe .

And whereas by the sayd former Proclamation his Maiesties pleasure and commandement was , That notwithstanding the sayd former Adiournement , All Collectors , Receiuers , Sheriffes , and other Accomptants , and all other persons that should or ought to accompt , or pay any Summe or Summes of money in any of his Maiesties Courts of Exchequer , Courts of Wards and Liueries , and of his Dutchie of Lancaster , or in any of them , or to enter into any Accompt in any of the same Courts , should repayre vnto his Maiesties House of Richmond , where his Highnesse had appointed such Officers and Ministers , as for that purpose his Maiestie had thought expedient , & there to pay and doe in euery behalfe , as though no such Proclamation of Adiournement had bene had or made : And his Highnesse further pleasure and commandement was , That all Sheriffes should returne their Writs and Processe against all such Accomptants and Debters at the dayes therein appointed : And if any person or persons , who ought to accompt or pay any Summe or Summes of money to his Maiestie in any of the Courts and places aforesaid , should make default therein , That then his Highnesse Writs and Processes should be awarded and sent foorth against euery such person and persons , and the same to bee duely and orderly serued and returned by the Sheriffes and Officers thereunto appointed , in such like maner and fourme as the same should haue beene , if the said former Proclamation had not bene made : And if any Sheriffe or other Officer should make default , or be negligent in seruing , executing , or returning of any the Writs and Processe aforesaid , That then euery such Sheriffe and other Officer shall incurre such paines and penalties , as by the said Courts or any of them should be taxed and assessed : Now his Maiesties pleasure and commandement is , That all the sayd Collectors , Receiuers , Sheriffes , & other Accomptants , and all other persons that shal or ought to accompt or pay any summe or summes of money , in any of his Maiesties sayd Courts of Exchequer , Courts of Wards and Liueries , and of his Dutchie of Lancaster , or in any of them , or to enter into any Accompt in any of the sayd Courts , shall from henceforth vntill the end of the next Terme , repaire vnto his Maiesties sayd House of Richmond , where his Highnesse hath appointed such Officers and Ministers as for that purpose hath beene thought expedient , and there all and euery thing and things to be performed , done , obserued , and proceeded with in such manner and fourme , as by the sayd former Proclamation herein before recited , is prescribed and commanded .

And further , his Maiestie considering that if there should happen to be any accesse and apparance of his louing Subiects at the said City of Winchester during the residue of the Terme , of such as haue had the Plague in their houses , or haue bene themselues infected therewith , There might ensue great perill and damage to those that haue as yet bene cleare thereof , and so further inconuenience might growe thereby to the rest of the Realme : His Highnesse therefore , for the auoyding thereof , doeth straightly charge and commaund , That no such person or persons who haue bene so infected , or haue had the Plague in their houses at any time since the Twentieth day of Iuly last , of what estate or degree soeuer he or they bee , shall repayre to the said City of Winchester during the residue of the said Terme , except he or they shal be commanded by speciall Proces , or otherwise haue speciall commandement for his or their personall appearance . And yet neuerthelesse , euery such person or persons so infected before his or their repayre to the said Citie of Winchester , shall before he or they enter into any house within the sayd Citie or Suburbes thereof , openly notifie and declare by some message his or their estate touching his or their infection , with the cause for the which he or they shal be called by Proces or other commandement , to such person or persons as shal be appoynted by the Lord Chancellor of England , to haue the charge of the Gates and entries into the said Citie ; So as if the said partie shal be ordered to come into the Citie , or into any Court within the sayd Citie , the same shall after during the time of his or their abode there , beare or holde vp in his or their hand vpright to be seene one red Rod of the length of one Yard or more , vpon paine of his Maiesties displeasure , and Imprisonment of their bodies during his Highnesse pleasure .

And further his Maiestie straightly chargeth and commandeth all Iustices of Peace of the sayd Countie of Southampton , dwelling within Twelue myles of the sayd Citie , and all Bayliffes , Constables , and head Officers of any Boroughes , Townes , Villages or Hamlets within Eight myles of the said Citie , That they and euery of them shall from and after the day of the proclaiming of this Proclamation within the sayd Countie , doe their best indeuours to make , set forth , obserue , and cause to be obserued such good Orders , as by the goodnesse of God may tend most to the preseruation of all places within the same Circuit of Eight myles from infection of the Plague : And for that purpose to assemble themselues together weekely at some conuenient place in the sayd Countie from the time of the publishing of this Proclamation , vntill the end of the residue of the sayd Terme , aswell for the deuising , as for the execution of such good Orders . And that the said Iustices of Peace shall in the first day of the sitting in the residue of the Terme , signifie and declare vnto the Lord Chancellor of England , all that they and the said Constables and other the saide Officers shall then haue done in and about the premisses , and shall also from time to time follow such directions as they shall receiue from the said Lord Chancellour and other of his Maiesties Councell at the said Citie , tending to the preseruation of the places within the circuit aboue specified from the said infection of the Plague , Not doubting but that aswell the said Iustices , as other the inferiour Officers will carefully discharge their duetie in that behalfe , as they tender the continuance of his Maiesties fauour , and wil answere for the contrary at their perils .