THe Kings Maiestie being informed, that the infection of the plague is at this present time dispersed into diuers Townes and places, both of France, and the Low-Countries: and weighing the danger that may ensue to His owne Kingdomes and people, by the resort of persons, from any infected parts, or the landing of their goods here: Hath thought fit, (with the aduice of His Priuie Councell) out of His Prince­ly care of the safety of His Subiects, and by all prouident meanes to preuent the perill and inconueniences that may arise thereby, to de­clare and publish His Royall Will and Pleasure in that behalfe: And doth therefore hereby straightly charge and command, That during the time of the infection in those or any other parts, no Ships or Vessels whatsoeuer, ariuing in any parts of this Kingdome, shall land any Passenger, or Person, or any Apparell, Houshould-stuffe, Wares, or Merchandises, vntill such time as they shall haue Licence from the Officers or Farmours of His Maiesties Customes, or some of them, vpon due consideration by them first taken of the parts and places from whence such Shipping shall come: vpon paine of imprisonment of euery person so landing, or other­wise vnlading or sending a shore any such Wares or Goods, and to be further proceeded against, as high contemners of His Maiesties Royall Commands.

[Page]And for such Ships or Vessels, as (comming from any infected parts) shall arriue here, His Maiesties pleasure is, that the Officers and Farmours of His Customes take speciall care that no Licence or Warrant be giuen for the comming a shore of any person, or the landing or vnlading of any goods therein, vntill twenty dayes after the arriuall of such Ship or Vessell here; whereby it may be knowne, whether the men in such Ship shall stand in health or no: And if in such Vessell there shall be brought Apparell, Houshould-stuffe, or Wares, that may bee thought fit to bee ayred, that then the same bee conueighed to some conuenient place, neere the Water-side, remote from the Citie of London, or any other Towne or place of much resort.

And for the better effecting of His Maiesties Royall pleasure in the Premisses, His Maiesties Farmours of His Customes are hereby required, vpon the arriuall of any Ship, Barke, or Vessell in any part of this Kingdome, to send a board one or more Waiters or Guardians, the better to restraine the landing of Goods, or comming a shore of Men out of such Ship­ping, vntill due tryall shall bee had, that the same may bee done without perill or danger of Infection.

And lastly, His Maiestie doth hereby require and command all Iustices of Peace, Maiors, Bailiffes, Sheriffes, Constables, Headboroughs, and all other His Officers and Ministers whatsoeuer, to be aiding and assisting in the full accomplishment and execution of His Maie­sties Royall Pleasure herein declared, which so much importeth the common good and safety of His Kingdomes and people.

Giuen at the Court at Hampton-Court, the first day of Nouem­ber, in the eleuenth yeere of His Maiesties Reigne.

God saue the King.