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WHereas, notwithstanding Our late Declaration for satisfying of the minds and affections of Our loving Subjects, some ill-disposed persons do spread false and pernicious Rumours abroad, as if the scandalous and seditious Proposition in the House of Commons, made by an outlawed man, desperate in mind and fortune, which was tumultuously taken up by some few after that by Our Royal Authority We had com∣manded
their Adjournment, had been the Vote of the whole House, whereas the con∣trary is the truth; for it was then decried by the wisest and best affected, and is since disavowed upon examination by such as were suspected to have consented thereunto, and affirmed, as well by them as others who served in the House that day, to be a thing of a most wicked and dangerous consequence to the good estate of this Kingdom: which appeareth to be so, by those impressions which this false Rumour hath made in mens minds, whereby, out of causeless fears, the Trade of the Kingdom is disturbed, and Merchants discouraged to continue in their wonted Traffique: We have thought it expedient, not only to manifest the truth hereof, but to make known Our Royal plea∣sure, that those who raise or nourish such false reports shall be severely punished, and such as chearfully go on with their Trade have all good incouragement, not purposing to overcharge Our Subjects by any new burthens, but to satisfie Our selves with those Duties that were received by the King Our Father of blessed memory: which We nei∣ther can nor will dispense withal, but shall esteem them unworthy of Our Protection who shall deny the same; We intending to imploy it for defence of Our Kingdoms, Dominion of Our Seas, and safeguard of Our Merchants, specially by such Shipping as are now making ready, and such further preparation for aid of Our Friends and Al∣lies as need shall require.
And whereas, for several ill ends, the calling again of a Parliament is divulged; howsoever We have shewed, by Our frequent meeting with Our People, Our love to the use of Parliaments; yet the late abuse having for the present driven Us unwil∣lingly out of that course, We shall accompt it presumption for any to prescribe any time unto Us for Parliaments, the Calling, Continuing, and Dissolving of which is always in Our own power: and We shall be more inclinable to meet in Parliament again, when Our People shall see more clearly into our Intents and Actions, when such as have bred this interruption shall have received their condign punishment, and those who are mis-led by them, and by such ill reports as are raised upon this occasion, shall come to a better understanding of Us and themselves.
Given at Our Court of White-hall, this seven and twentieth day of March, in the fifth year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France, and Ireland.