By the King. A proclamation against abuses in preparing and preferring billes and other vvritings to his Maiesties signature.

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DIEV ET MON DROIT

HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE

❧ By the King.

¶ A Proclamation against abuses in preparing and preferring Billes and other Writings to his Maiesties Signature.

THe Kings most excellent Maiestie, obserning the inordinate li∣bertie that hath beene taken, chiefely of late times, in exhibi∣ting to his Royall Signature, as well Billes to passe his great and priuie Seale, and warrants for preparing such Bils, as also Letters, and other instruments, and writings of sun∣dry natures, drawne by Scriueners, and other like persons, and not by his Maiesties Officers, to whom the care thereof appertaineth, whereof ensueth a continuall vexation to his Maiestie, and many times exceeding danger and preiudice both in his reuenue and otherwise, Is fully resolued to abo∣lish those abuses, which haue of late yeeres crept into his ser∣uice, and to reduce it to the ancient order and institution. And therfore his Maiestie doth hereby straightly charge and command, That no person or persons whatsoeuer (other then his Maiesties owne ordinarie Officers, to whose places it appertaineth) doe at any time hereafter presume to intermeddle with the drawing, writing, or preparing for his Maiesties Signature, of any Bill, Warrant, Letter, or other instrument or Writing whatsoeuer, vpon paine of his Maiesties indignation and displeasure, and such imprison∣ment and other punishment as may iustly be inflicted for their contempt: And that no person or persons, vnder the like paine, presume to preferre to his Maiestie to bee signed any such Bill, Warrant, Letter, or other instrument or writing, not drawen or allowed by such his Maiesties ordinarie Officers, and by them signed and docqueted, in cases where the like instruments haue heretofore beene vsed to be signed and dorqueted: And that none of his Maiesties owne Officers, do presume to draw or prepare for his Highnes Signature, any Bill, Warrant, Letter, or other instrument or writing, vntill they haue receiued direction to draw the same, either by some signification of his Maiesties owne Royall pleasure, or by Warrant from such as haue beene accustomed and allowed to giue such Warrant, vpon paine of his Maiesties displeasure, and to be debarred from the exer∣cise and execution of their offices and places for such their default and abuse.

Giuen at his Maiesties Court at Roiston, the seuenth day of October, in the nineteenth yeere of His Raigne of Great Brittaine, France and Ireland.

God saue the King.