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By the King and Queen, A PROCLAMATION, For the Discovery and Apprehending of Highway Men and Robbers, and for a Reward to the Discoverers.
Marie R.
WHereas in Contempt of the Laws and well Established Government of this Kingdom, many Robberies upon the Highways have been of late frequently committed, to the great Terrour and Damage of Our Loving Subjects; and We being desirous to secure all Our People in Tavelling and Going about their lawful Occasions by Suppressing and Preventing the said Mischiefs, and Bringing the Offenders to condign Punishment, do therefore (by and with the Advice of Our Privy Council) hereby straightly Charge and Command all Sheriffs, Iustices of the Peace, Mayors, Baylifs, Constables, Head∣boroughs, Tythingmen and other Our Officers, Ministers and Subjects to whom it doth or may appertain, That they and every of them in their respective Places and Stations do use their utmost Endeavours for the Discovery and Apprehending all Highway Men and Robbers. And in order thereunto, We do hereby Declare Our Will and Pleasure to be, and do hereby Require and Command all and every Our Iustices of the Peace through∣out this Our Realm of England, Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, That upon Notice of this Our Royal Proclamation they do Take Order and See that due Watch and Ward be constantly kept by Horse and Foot, and that after Notice to them given of any Robbery on the Highway or other Theft committed they take care that Hue and Cry be made after Robbers, and other pursuit be made and raised, and Felons pursued with the utmost Diligence that the Law requireth for the Apprehending of the Offenders. And for the Encouragement of all Persons to put in Execution this Our Proclamation, We are Graciously Pleased, and do hereby Declare, That all and every Person and Persons who shall at any time within One Year now next Ensuing, discover to any Iustice of Peace, or any other Officer of Iustice, any Person that hath com∣mitted, or shall commit any Robbery on the Highway, and shall Apprehend or cause to be Apprehended such Of∣fender, shall within Fifteen Days after Conviction of such Offender so Apprehended upon such Discovery, have a Reward of Fourty pounds for every such Offender so Apprehended and Convicted, and all and every Sheriff and She∣riffs of the respective Counties where such Conviction shall be had, are hereby required upon the Certificate of the Iudge, or under the Hand of Two or more Ius;tices before whom such Conviction shall be had, to pay unto such Person or Persons who shall Discover and Apprehend such Offender, or upon whose Discovery such Offender shall be Apprehended, the said Reward of Fourty pounds within the time aforesaid, for every Offender so Apprehended and Convicted, out of the Publick Money received by him in that County, which shall be allowed to him upon his Ac∣count in Our Exchequer. And to that purpose We do hereby Direct and Command Our Vnder-Treasurer, and Chancellor of Our Exchequer, Barons, and all other Our Officers of Our said Court and every of them, to allow unto every Sheriff and Sheriffs, so from time to time paying the said Rewards, such Monies as he or they shall actually pay upon such Certificate for the Rewards as aforesaid, without any Charge unto, or Fees or Money to be demanded of such Sheriff for Passing such part of his said Account, in Discharge from Vs of so much Money by him so paid or to be paid, or for Allowance to be made unto such Sheriff for Reimbursing him or them any Money so from time to time paid or to be paid in Obedience to this Our Proclamation for the Purposes abovemen∣tioned, for Allowance whereof this Our Proclamation shall be a sufficient Warrant.
Given at Our Court at Whitehall the Thirteenth Day of September, 1692. In the Fourth Year of Our Reign.
God save King William and Queen Mary.