[238] _Morning Chronicle_, January 23, 1820.
[239] A proclamation was issued in the first year of King James,
"commanding gentlemen to depart the court and city," because it
hinders hospitality and endangers the people near their own
residences, "who had from such houses much comfort and ease toward
their living." The King graciously says:--"He tooke no small
contentment in the resort of gentlemen, and other our subjects
coming to visit us, holding their affectionate desire to see our
person to be a certaine testimonie of their inward love;" but he
says he must not "give way to so great a mischiefe as the continuall
resort may breed," and that therefore all that have no special cause
of attendance must at once go back until the time of his coronation,
when they may "returne until the solemnity be passed;" but only for
that time, for if the proclamation be slighted he shall "make them
an example of contempt if we shall finde any making stay here
contrary to this direction." Such proclamations were from time to
time issued, and though sometimes evaded, were frequently enforced
by fines, so that living in London was a risk and danger to country
gentlemen of fortune.
[240] Rushworth, vol. ii. p. 288.
[241] From a manuscript letter from Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas
Puckering, Nov. 1632.
[242] Harl. MSS. 6. fo. 152.