King James I
A Proclamation Declaring His Majesties Pleasure Concerning the Dissolving of the Present Convention of Parliament

A Proclamation declaring his Maiesties pleasure concerning the dissoluing of the present Conuention of Parliament

Albeit the Assembling, Continuing, and Dissoluing of Parliaments, be a Prerogatiue so peculiarly belonging to Our Imperiall Crowne, and the times and seasons thereof so absolutelie in our owne power, that Wee neede not giue account thereof vnto any: yet, according to Our continuall custome, to make Our good Subiects acquainted with the reasons of all Our publike resolutions and actions, We haue thought it expedient at this time to declare, not onely Our pleasure and resolution therein, grounded vpon mature deliberation, with the aduice and vniforme consent of Our whole Priuie Councell; but therewith also to note some especiall proceedings moouing Vs to this resolution: And that chieflie to this end, that as God, so the World may witnesse with Vs, that it was Our intent to haue made this the happiest Parliament that euer was in Our time: And that the lettes and impediments thereof being discerned, all misunderstandings and iealousies might be remooued, and all Our people may know and beleeue, that Wee are as farre from imputing any of those ill accidents, that haue happened in Parliament, to any want or neglect of duty, or good affection towards Vs, by them in generall, or by the greater and better number of Parliament men, as We are confident (the true causes discouered) they wilbe farre from imputing it to any default in Vs; there hauing in the beginning of this late Assemblie passed greater and more infallible tokens of loue and duty from Our Subiects to Vs their Soueraigne, and more remarkeable testimonies from Vs of Our Princely care and zeale of their welfare, then haue beene in any Parliament met in any former Age.

This Parliament was by Vs called, as for making good and profitable Lawes, so more especially, in this time of miserable distraction throughout Christendome, for the better setling of peace and Religion, and restoring Our Children to their ancient and lawfull patrimony, which We attempted to procure by peaceable treaty, at Our owne excessiue charge, thereby to saue and preuent the effusion of Christian blood, the miserable effect of warre, and dissension; yet with full purpose, if that succeeded not, to recouer it by the sword; and therfore, as a necessary meanes conducing to those ends, the supply of Our Treasures was to bee prouided for.

This Parliament beginning in Ianuary last, proceeded some moneths with such harmonie betweene Vs and Our people, as cannot bee paralleld by any former time: For as the House of Commons at the first, both in the manner of their supplie, and otherwise, shewed greater loue, and more respect then euer any House of Commons did to Vs, or (as Wee thinke) to any King before Vs: So Wee, vpon all their complaints, haue afforded them such memorable and rare examples of Iustice, as many ages past cannot shew the like; wherein, that Wee preferred the weale of Our people before all particular respects, the things themselues doe sufficiently prooue, Our Iustice being extended, not onely to persons of ordinary ranke and qualitie, but euen to the prime Officer of Our Kingdome. And although, after their first Recesse at Easter, Wee found that they misspent a great deale of time, rather vpon the inlarging of the limites of their liberties, and diuers other curious, and vnprofitable things, then vpon the framing and proponing of good and profitable Lawes: Yet Wee gaue them time and scope for their Parliamentary proceedings, and prolonged the Session to an vnusuall length, continuing it vntill the eight and twentieth day of May, before Wee signified Our purpose for their Recesse; and then Wee declared, that Wee would make a Recesse on the fourth day of Iune next following, but only for a time, and in such maner, as might bee without disturbance to any their businesses in hand, expressing out of Our Grace (though We needed not) the causes of that Our purpose, which were the season of the yeere, vsually hot, and vnfit for great assemblies, Our Progresse approaching, the necessitie Wee had to make vse of Our Councell attending in both houses, both to settle Our waightie affaires of State before Wee went, and to attend Vs when Wee went Our Progresse, the disfurnishing of Our ordinary Courts of Iustice so many Termes together, the long absence of Iustices of Peace, and Deputy Lieuetenants, whose presence was needfull for making and returning of musters, and for subordinate gouernement of the Countrey; and therefore We appointed to adiourne the Parliament on the fourth day of Iune, giuing that warning longer then vsuall, that they might set in order their businesses, and prepare their greeuances, which Wee promised both to heare and answer before that Recesse, for presenting whereof Wee appointed them a time. This message graciously intended by Vs, was not so well entertained by some, who in a short time dispersed and spred their iealousies vnto others, and thereby occasioned discontentment in the House, for being adiourned without passing of Billes; Yet made not their addresse to Vs, as had beene meet, but desired a conference with the Lords; and at that conference, the nine and twentieth day of May, vnder colour of desiring to petition Vs for some further time, to perfect and passe some speciall Bils, were imboldened, not onely to dispute, but to retell all the reasons that We had giuen for the adiournement, which being made knowen vnto Vs, Wee againe signified Our pleasure to both Houses, that on the fourth day of Iune the Parliament should rise, but We would then giue Our Royall assent to such billes, as were or should be ready and fit to be then passed, continuing all other businesses in state they were by a speciall Act to bee framed for that purpose.