By the King. A proclamation for abolishing of abuses, by billes of conformity.

woodcut of England's coat of arms, 1609

HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE

¶ By the King . ¶ A Proclamation for abolishing of abuses , by Billes of Conformity .

WHereas diuers Billes of complaint , commonly called , Billes of Conformitie , haue of late yeeres been exhibited into his Maiesties Court of Chancerie , and other His Courts of equitie , by sundry persons against their Creditors , of purpose to enforce them , either to accept lesse then their iust debts , and dammages , or to giue longer dayes or times of paiment and forbearance , then the said Creditors were willing to doe , pretending inhability & non soluencie , sometimes by reason of sodaine and accidentall losse and dammage , sometimes by suertiship , sometimes by euill debtors , and sundry other suggestions and pretences , tending to no other end or purpose , but to defeat or delay their iust and honest Creditors of their due debts and dammages : which Billes haue beene exhibited , sometimes by the debtors alone , & sometimes by the debtors and some of their Creditors by consent , or conniuencie betweene them : And vpon such billes diuers Decrees , Orders , and proceedings haue passed , to the great dammage of the Common wealth , for that thereby hath ensued aswell the imboldening of Debtors not to pay their debts in due time , whereby many men haue beene disappointed , and not able to keepe their credit with others , to their extreame detriment , as also the encouraging of wilfull Bankerupts , and deceitfull persons , and the scarcity of money ( being the measure of all bargaines and contractes betweene man and man ) together with a general hinderance of trade , & traffique , & many other inconueniences , which by reason of this late and dangerous inuention of Billes and suites of conformity haue happened , as by due and iust examination ( for the reformation of so great an euill , and for his Maiesties honour ) hath beene found out , and resolued by the house of Commons in this present Parliament : all which inconueniences by the saide Billes and suits of conformity haue increased more & more , sithence his Maiestie ( out of his Princely prouidence ) hath taken a more exact and carefull course touching Protections , then had beene formerly accustomed ; whereby many and great delaies of payment of debts , and dueties , and of other iust causes of suites haue beene auoided , which in former times had beene occasioned by some kinds of Protections .

His Maiestie ( of his blessed disposition for the Weale of His Subiects ) being carefull to stoppe the current of this growing euill , vntill vpon mature deliberation , an exact and full remedy may be prouided by Parliament in that behalfe , Doth hereby signifie and declare his most gracious Will and pleasure , and doth expresly charge and command , That all and euery Iudge & Iudges in the sayd Courts of Equity , where such Billes of conformity doe depend , for so much of the matter in those seuerall Billes conteyned as concerneth such conformity as aforesaid , and for and concerning all such persons , parties to those Suits , which haue not consented thereunto , shall forthwith , absolutely dismisse the same , and that the said Defendants in such suits be not bound or pressed to any further attendance in that behalfe . And that all Orders , Sentences , Decrees , Iniunctions and other restraints or Proces whatsoeuer grounded vpon any such Bill or Suite to the preiudice , hurt or hindrance of any Creditor or Creditors ( not hauing consented as aforesaid ) and the execution of the same , be from henceforth fully and wholly suspended , and not to be put in execution vntill order and prouision by some Act of Parliament , for a perpetuall reformation thereof bee had and taken in that behalfe . And that no Bill or Suite of the effect or nature aforesaid be hereafter receiued , accepted or allowed in the sayd Court of Chancery or other Court of Equity , vntill some such order as aforesaid bee taken in Parliament . And that all and euery person and persons now being in prison , or restrayned of liberty , or standing vpon Bond , Bayle or Mainprise , by or by reason of any such Order , Sentence , Decree , Iniunction or other restraint , ( and for no other cause ) vpon any Bill or Suit of the effect or nature aforesaid in any of the said Courts of Equity whatsoeuer , or by reason of any proceeding thereupon , bee forthwith by the sayd Iudge and Iudges of the sayd Courts of Equity , set at liberty and freed from his and their imprisonment or restraint , and be discharged of his and their Bonds , Recognizances , Bayle or Mainprise for appearance , without molestation , vexation or trouble for or by reason of any such Order , Sentence , Decree , Iniunction , Restraint , Bond , Recognizance , Bayle or Mainprise vntill such further order be taken in Parliament as aforesayd . And therefore His Maiesty doth authorise and require aswell the Lord Chauncellor of England , as all other His Maiesties Iudges and Iustices , & other persons whatsoeuer , hauing any place of Iudicature , & all and euery His Officers , Ministers and Subiects that now bee or hereafter shal be , to see and cause this His Maiesties pleasure duely with all conuenient expedition to be put in execution .

Giuen at Our Palace of Westminster the one and thirtieth day of March , in the nineteenth yeere of Our Reigne of Great Britaine , France and Ireland . God saue the King .