[1581/10/58]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Forasmuch as our sovereign lord, through the disorderly behaviour and dealing of sundry his highness's subjects, is daily bothered, seeing that, without due reverence had of his majesty or the acknowledging of themselves and the nature of their suits, and without all respect of the time, place and other circumstances requisite, they cease not to present signatures, letters and precepts to his majesty's self and importunately to urge the granting and subscribing the same then instantly or his highness's solemn promise thereupon, his majesty not being certainly informed nor advised upon the valour of the matters sought of his highness; for remedy of the which abuse, it is statute and ordained by his majesty, with advice of his said three estates in this present parliament, that all persons, his highness's subjects, which have any gift, grace, precept or other letter to crave of his majesty which they desire to have expedited gratis, or the same being of such nature as customarily is not subject to the payment of composition, shall seek the same of his highness by supplications in writing, which his majesty, by himself or his master of requests, will always receive from the presenters and grant them favourable audience, keeping their said supplications until his highness be advised therewith; and that none presume to urge his majesty then presently to subscribe their signatures or letters, or to make any promise by word or writ thereupon, but attend upon the answers of their supplications to be given in writ; and to that effect, that the same supplications may receive due answers so soon as conveniently may be, to the reasonable satisfaction of the suitors, his majesty will cause place the said supplications in some convenient room until at his first leisure he may call to him such of his council and officers as he shall think most suitable for the consideration and ordering of his affairs, and then cause read them and note on the back of everything his highness's mind touching the granting or refusal thereof; which being delivered again to the parties, that they stand satisfied therewith without further importuning of his majesty thereupon, as they will answer at their peril and under pain of incurring his highness's reproof and indignation if they shall presume in the contrary.