By the King. A proclamation of His Majesties grace, favour, and pardon to the inhabitants of his county of Somersett.

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CR

HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE

BY THE KING.

¶ A Proclamation of His Majesties Grace, Favour, and Pardon to the Inhabitants of His County of Somersett.

WHEREAS We have taken notice, that by the Malice, Industry and Importunity of severall ill-affected and seditious persons in Our County of Somersett, very many of Our weak and seduced Subjects of that Our County have not only been drawne to exercise the Militia, undercolour of a pretended Ordinance, without and against Our Consent (a Crime of a very high nature, if We would strictly enquire thereinto) but have made Contributions of Plate, Money and Horses towards the maintenance of the Army now in Rebellion against Vs; We doe hereby publish and declare, That We are graciously pleased to attribute the Crimes and Offences of Our said Subjects of that County to the power and Faction of their seducers, Who, We beleeve, by Threates, Menaces, and false Informations compelled and led them into these actions of undutifullnesse and disloyalty towards Vs; And We doe therefore hereby offer Our free & gracious Pardon to all the Inhabitants of Our said County of Somersett, for all Offences concerning the premises committed against Vs before the publishing of this Our Proclamation, except Iohn Pine, Iohn Ashe, and William Strode of Streate Esquires, against all which Wee shall proceed according to the Rules of the Law, as against Traitours and Stirrers of sedition against Vs, And whom Wee doe hereby require all Our Officers and Ministers of Iustice, and all Our loving Subjects whatsoever, to apprehend and cause to be kept in safe Custody till Our Pleasure be further knowne. Provided that this Our Grace shall not extend to any Person, who after the publishing this Our Proclamation shall presume by Loane or Contribution to assist the said Army of Rebells, to assemble and Muster themselves in Armes without Authority derived from Vs under Our Hand, to enter into any Oath of Association for op∣posing Vs and Our Army, or to succour or entertaine any of the Persons excepted in this Our Proclamation, or in Our Declaration of the 12. of August. But We must and doe declare, That whosoever shall hence forward be guilty of the premises, or of either of them, or shall give any obedience to any warrants concerning any Musters, Leavies, or Contributions for Leavies whatsoever, under any pretence of Authority whatsoever, either from the said Iohn Pine, Iohn Ashe, and Wil∣liam Strode, or from any other persons whatsoever, without Our expresse consent declared under Our great Seale or Signe Manuall, shall be esteemed by Us as an Enemy to the publike Peace, a Person disaffected to Vs, and to the Religion and Lawes of the Kingdome, and shall accordingly receive condigne punishment, of which We give them timely notice, that they may proceed accordingly at their perills. And We doe hereby will and require Our high Sheriffe, Iustices of the Peace, and all other Our Officers, and loving Subjects to resist, oppose and apprehend all such Persons as shall presume to make any Leavies in that Our County, under what pretence soever without Authority derived from Vs under Our Hand. And We likewise will and require them and every of them to be assistant to all such as shall either command the Traine Bands of that Our County, or make any Leavies in the same by virtue of Commission under Our great Seale or signe Manuall.

¶ Given at Our Court at Mayden-head, this ninth day of November, in the Eighteenth yeare of Our Reigne.

God save the King.