THE Kings most Excellent Maiestie out of his Princely and Christian care of his louing Subiects , that no good meanes of providence may bee neglected to stay the further spreading of the great infection of the Plague , doth finde it necessary to prevent all occasions of publique concourse of His people for the present , till it shall please Almighty God of his goodnesse , to cease the violence of the contagion , which is very farre dispersed into many parts of the Kingdome already . And therefore remembring that there are at hand two Faires of speciall note , vnto which there is vsually extraordinary resort out of all parts of the Kingdome . The one kept in Smithfield neare the Citty of London , called Bartholomew Faire : and the other neare Cambridge , called Sturbridge Faire . The holding whereof at the vsuall times would in all likelyhood be the occasion of further danger and infection to other parts of the Land , which yet by Gods mercy stand cleere , and free . Hath with the advice of his Maiesties Privie Councell , thought good by this open declaration of His pleasure , and necessary commandment , not only to admonish and require all his louing Subiects to forbeare to resort for this time to either of the said two Faires , or to any other Faires within fifty miles of the said Citty of London , but also to inioyne the Lords of the said Faires , and others interessed in them , or any of them , that they all forbeare to hold the said Faires , or any thing appertaining to them at the times accustomed , or at any other time , till by Gods goodnesse and mercy the infection of the plague shall cease , or be so much diminished , that his Maiestie shall giue order for holding them , vpon paine of such punishment , as for a contempt , so much concerning the vniversall safety of his people , they shall be adiudged to deserue , which they must expect to be inflicted with all severity , his Maiesties desire being so intentiue for preventing the generall infection threatned , as he is resolued to spare no man that shall be the cause of dispersing the same . And to that purpose doth hereby further charge and enioyne vnder like penalty , all Cittizens , and Inhabitants of the said Citty of London , that none of them shall repaire to any Faire held within any part of this Kingdome , vntill it shall please God to cease the infection now reigning amongst them , his Maiesties intention being , and so hereby declaring himselfe , that no Lord of any Faires , or others interessed in the profits thereof , shall by this necessary and temporary restraint receiue any preiudice in the right of his , or their Faires , or liberties therevnto belonging , any thing before mentioned notwithstanding . Given at the Court at Woodstocke the fourth day of August in the first yeare of his Maiesties Raigne of great Brittaine , France , and Ireland .