Part 17
[1] The Prince of Orange issued a circular to the Governors of the Colonies, ordering all officers to be continued, on January 12, 1689, but it was not until February 19, that the proclamation was approved (_Cal. State Papers, Colonial, 1689-1692_, pp. 4, 7; _Acts of Privy Council_, ii, 122).
1689, May 7.
[Declaration of War against France.]
THEIR MAJESTIES
DECLARATION
AGAINST THE FRENCH KING.
WILLIAM R.
It having pleased Almighty God to make Us the happy Instruments of Rescuing these Nations from Great and Imminent Dangers, and to place Us upon the Throne of these Kingdoms, We think Our Selves obliged to endeavour to the uttermost to Promote the Welfare of Our People, which can never be effectually secured, but by preventing the Miseries that threaten them from Abroad.
When we consider the many unjust Methods the French King hath of late Years taken to gratifie his Ambition, that he has not only Invaded the Territories of the Emperor, and of the Empire now in Amity with Us, laying Waste whole Countries, and destroying the Inhabitants by his Armies, but Declared War against Our Allies without any Provocation, in manifest Violation of the Treaties Confirmed by the Guaranty of the Crown of England; We can do no less then Joyn with Our Allies in opposing the Designs of the French King, as the Disturber of the Peace, and the Common Enemy of the Christian World.
And besides the Obligations We lie under by Treaties with Our Allies, which are a sufficient Justification of Us for taking up Arms at this time, since they have called upon Us so to do, the many Injuries done to Us and to Our Subjects, without any Reparation, by the French King, are such, that (however of late Years they were not taken Notice of, for Reasons well known to the World, nevertheless) We will not pass them over without a Publick and Just Resentment of such Outrages.
It is not long since the French took Licences from the English Governor of New-found-Land, to Fish in the Seas upon that Coast, and paid a Tribute for such Licences, as an Acknowledgment of the sole Right of the Crown of England to that Island; and yet of late, the Encroachments of the French upon Our said Island, and Our Subjects Trade and Fishery, have been more like the Invasions of an Enemy, then becoming Friends, who enjoy'd the Advantages of that Trade only by Permission.
But that the French King should Invade Our Charibbee Islands, and possess himself of Our Territories of the Province of New-York and of Hudson's-Bay in a Hostile manner, seizing Our Forts, burning Our Subjects Houses, and enriching his People with the Spoil of their Goods and Merchandizes, detaining some of Our Subjects under the Hardship of Imprisonment, causing others to be inhumanely kill'd, and driving the rest to Sea in a Small Vessel, without Food and Necessaries to support them, are Actions not becoming even an Enemy; and yet he was so far from declaring himself so, that at that very time he was Negotiating here in England by his Ministers, a Treaty of Neutrality and good Correspondence in America.
The Proceedings of the French King against Our Subjects in Europe are so Notorious, that We shall not need to enlarge upon them; His countenancing the Seizure of English Ships by French Privateers, forbidding the Importation of great part of the Product and Manufactures of Our Kingdom, and imposing exorbitant Customs upon the rest, notwithstanding the vast Advantage he and the French Nation reap by their Commerce with England, are sufficient Evidences of his Designs to destroy the Trade, and consequently to ruine the Navigation, upon which the Wealth and Safety of this Nation very much depends.
The Right of the Flag, Inherent in the Crown of England, has been Disputed by his Orders in Violation of Our Sovereignty of the Narrow Seas, which in all Ages has been Asserted by Our Predecessors, and We are resolv'd to Maintain for the Honour of Our Crown, and of the English Nation.
But that which must nearly touch Us, is his unchristian Prosecution of many of Our English Protestant Subjects in France, for matters of Religion, contrary to the Law of Nations, and express Treaties, forcing them to abjure their Religion by strange and unusual Cruelties, and Imprisoning some of the Masters and Seamen of Our Merchant Ships, and Condemning others to the Gallies, upon pretence of having on Board, either some of his own miserable Protestant Subjects, or their Effects; And Lastly, as he has for some years last past, endeavoured by Insinuations and Promises of Assistance to overthrow the Government of England; So now by open and violent Methods, and the actual Invasion of Our Kingdom of Ireland, in support of Our Subjects in Arms, and in Rebellion against Us, he is promoting the utter Extirpation of Our good and Loyal Subjects in that Our Kingdom.
Being therefore thus necessitated to take up Arms, and Relying on the help of Almighty God in Our just undertaking, We have thought fit to Declare, and do hereby Declare War against the French King, and that We will in Conjunction with Our Allies, Vigorously Prosecute the same by Sea and Land (since he hath so unrighteously begun it) being assured of the hearty Concurrence and Assistance of Our Subjects in support of so good a Cause; Hereby Willing and Requiring Our General of Our Forces, Our Commissioners for Executing the Office of High Admiral, Our Lieutenants of Our several Counties, Governours of Our Forts and Garisons, and all other Officers and Soldiers under them, by Sea and Land, to do, and execute all acts of Hostility in the Prosecution of this War against the French King, his Vassals and Subjects, and to oppose their Attempts, Willing and Requiring all Our Subjects to take Notice of the same, whom We henceforth strictly forbid to hold any Correspondence or Communication with the said French King, or his Subjects; And because there are remaining in Our Kingdoms many of the Subjects of the French King; We do Declare and give Our Royal Word, that all such of the French Nation as shall demean themselves dutifully towards Us, and not Correspond with Our Enemies, shall be safe in their Persons and Estates, and free from all molestation and trouble of any Kind.
Given at Our Court at Hampton-Court, the Seventh Day of May, 1689. In the First Year of Our Reign.
GOD SAVE KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY.
London, Printed by Charles Bill, and Thomas Newcomb, Printers to the King and Queen's most Excellent Majesties, 1689.
_1 p. folio. There are three issues, varying slightly in set-up. Copies in Antiq., Bodl., B. M., Ch., Crawf., Dalk., Guild., P. C., P. R. O., and Q. C.; also in John Carter Brown Library. Printed in "London Gazette," no. 2452._
1690, July 14.
[For Apprehending William Penn.]
BY THE KING AND QUEEN.
A PROCLAMATION.
MARIE R.
Whereas Their Majesties have received Information That the Persons herein after particularly Named have Conspired together, and with divers other disaffected Persons, to Disturb and destroy Their Government, and for that purpose have Abetted and Adhered to Their Majesties Enemies in the present Invasion, for which cause several Warrants for High Treason have lately been Issued out against them, but they have withdrawn themselves from their usual places of Abode, and are fled from Justice; Their Majesties therefore have thought fit by the Advice of Their Privy Council, to Issue this Their Royal Proclamation: And Their Majesties do hereby Command and Require all Their Loving Subjects to Discover, Take and Apprehend Edward Henry Earl of Litchfeild, Thomas Earl of Aylesbury, William Lord Montgomery, Roger Earl of Castlemaine, Richard Viscount Preston, Henry Lord Belasyse, Sir Edward Hales, Sir Robert Thorold, Sir Robert Hamilton, Sir Theophilus Oglethorp, Colonel Edward Sackvile, Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Abercromy, Lieutenant Colonel William Richardson, Major Thomas Soaper, Captain David Lloyd, William Pen[1] Esq; Edmund Elliot Esq; Marmaduke Langdale Esq; and Edward Rutter wherever they may be found, and to carry them before the next Justice of the Peace, or Chief Magistrate; who is hereby Required to Commit them to the next Goal, there to remain until they be thence delivered by due Course of Law: And Their Majesties do hereby Require the said Justice or other Magistrate immediately to give Notice thereof to Them or Their Privy Council: And Their Majesties do hereby Publish and Declare to all Persons that shall Conceal the Persons above named, or any of them, or be Aiding or Assisting in the Concealing of them, or furthering their Escape, that they shall be proceeded against for such their Offence with the utmost Severity according to Law.
Given at Our Court at Whitehall the Fourteenth Day of July, 1690.[2] In the Second Year of Our Reign.
GOD SAVE KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY.
London, Printed by Charles Bill and Thomas Newcomb, Printers to the King and Queens most Excellent Majesties. 1690.
_1 p. folio. There are two issues, varying slightly in set-up and in the cut of the royal arms. Copies in Antiq., B. M., Crawf., Dalk., D. H., Guild., P. C., P. R. O., and Q. C. Entered on Patent Rolls; entered in Privy Council Register, III William, vol. 1, p. 479. Printed in "London Gazette," July 17, 1690; reproduced in January 1909 number of the "Journal of the Friends Historical Society."_
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Because of his friendship for James II, William Penn fell under suspicion when William III came to the throne. On February 27, 1689, a warrant was issued by the Privy Council for his arrest upon suspicion of high treason (Privy Council Register, III William, vol. 1, p. 24). In June 1690 the interception of a letter written to him by James II caused him to be brought before the Privy Council. Upon receiving the news of the proclamation including him among the King's enemies, he at once surrenderd himself, but no evidence appearing against him, he was discharged by the court of King's bench on November 28. (_Dict. of National Biography_, xliv, 315).
[2] Dixon, in his _William Penn_ (1872 ed., p. 275), is evidently in error in referring to this proclamation as issued on June 24. J. M. Rigg, in his article on Penn in the _Dictionary of National Biography_, gives the date as July 17, possibly because on one of the two copies of the proclamation in the British Museum someone has written this date, or because it was printed in the _London Gazette_ on that day.
1691, February 5.
[For Apprehending William Penn.]
BY THE KING AND QUEEN.
A PROCLAMATION
FOR DISCOVERING AND APPREHENDING THE LATE BISHOP OF ELY, WILLIAM PENN, AND JAMES GRAHME.
MARIE R.
Whereas Their Majesties have received Information, That Francis late Bishop of Ely, William Penn Esquire, and James Grahme Esquire, with other Ill-affected Persons, have Designed and Endeavoured to Depose Their Majesties, and Subvert the Government of this Kingdom, by procuring an Invasion of the same by the French, and other Treasonable Practices, and have to that end held Correspondence, and Conspired with divers Enemies and Traitors, and particularly with Sir Richard Grahme Baronet, (Viscount Preston in the Kingdom of Scotland) and John Ashton Gent. lately Attainted of High Treason; For which Cause several Warrants for High Treason have been Issued out against them, but they have withdrawn themselves from their usual Places of Abode, and are fled from Justice: Their Majesties therefore have thought fit, by and with the Advice of Their Privy Council, to Issue this Their Royal Proclamation; And Their Majesties do hereby Command and Require all Their Loving Subjects to Discover, Take and Apprehend the said Francis late Bishop of Ely, William Penn and James Grahme, wherever they may be found, and to carry them before the next Justice of the Peace, or Chief Magistrate, who is hereby Required to Commit them to the next Goal, there to remain until they be thence Delivered by due Course of Law; And Their Majesties do hereby Require the said Justice or other Magistrate, immediately to give Notice thereof to Them or Their Privy Council. And Their Majesties do hereby Publish and Declare to all Persons that shall Conceal the Persons above named, or any of them, or be Aiding or Assisting in the Concealing of them, or furthering their Escape, that they shall be Proceeded against for such their Offence with the utmost Severity according to Law.
Given at Our Court at Whitehall the Fifth Day of February, 1690/1. In the Second Year of Our Reign.
GOD SAVE KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY.
London, Printed by Charles Bill and Thomas Newcomb, Printers to the King and Queens most Excellent Majesties. 1690.
_1 p. folio. There are two issues, varying slightly in set-up and in the cut of the royal arms. Copies in Adv., B. M., Crawf., Dalk., D. H., Guild., P. C., P. R. O., and T. C. D. Entered on Patent Rolls; entered in Privy Council Register, III William, vol. 2, p. 112. Printed in "London Gazette," February 7, 1691; reproduced in the January number of the "Journal of the Friends Historical Society."_
1700, January 29.
[For Apprehending Author of Darien Libel.]
BY THE KING.
A PROCLAMATION.
WILLIAM R.
Whereas We have been Informed, That a False, Scandalous, and Traiterous Libel, Intituled, An Inquiry into the Causes of the Miscarriage of the Scotch-Colony at Darien, or, An Answer to a Libel, Intituled, A Defence of the Scots Abdicating Darien,[1] has been Printed and Dispersed, the Design of which libel was to Create a Misunderstanding between Our good Subjects of England and Scotland, and to Stir up Sedition and Rebellion, and is Injurious to, and Reflects on the Honour of both Nations: And whereas the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament Assembled, have humbly besought Us,[2] to Issue Our Royal Proclamation for Discovering and Apprehending of the Author and Printer of the said Libel; We therefore (with the Advice of Our Privy Council) have thought fit to Issue this Our Royal Proclamation, hereby Requiring and Commanding all Our Loving Subjects whatsoever, to Discover and Apprehend the Author and Printer of the said Libel, to the end they may be dealt withal and proceeded against according to Law. And We do hereby Promise and Declare, That whosoever shall Discover or Apprehend the Author of the said Libel, so as he may be brought to Justice, shall Have and Receive, as a Reward for such Discovery and Apprehending, the Sum of Five hundred Pounds: And that whosoever shall Discover or Apprehend the Printer thereof, so as he may be brought to Justice, shall Have and Receive, as a Reward for such Discovery or Apprehending, the Sum of Two hundred Pounds; Which said respective Sums of Five hundred Pounds and Two hundred Pounds, the Commissioners of Our Treasury are hereby Required and Directed to Pay accordingly. And We do hereby further Promise and Declare, That if any Person (other than the Author himself) who was any ways Privy to, or Instrumental in the Printing and Dispersing the said Libel, shall Discover or Apprehend the Author thereof, the Person making such Discovery, or Apprehending the said Author, shall not only have the said Sum of Five hundred Pounds, as aforesaid, but also Our Gracious Pardon for his Offence. And We do hereby strictly Charge and Command all Our Loving Subjects (as they will answer the contrary at their Perils) that they do not any ways Conceal, but Discover and Apprehend the Author and Printer of the said Libel, to the end they may be Proceeded against with the utmost Severity according to Law.
Given at Our Court at Kensington the Twenty ninth Day of January, 1699. In the Eleventh Year of Our Reign.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
London, Printed by Charles Bill, and the Executrix of Thomas Newcomb, deceas'd, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1699.
_1 p. folio. There are two issues varying slightly in set-up and in the cut of the royal arms. Copies in Antiq., B. M., Dalk., and P. R. O.; also in John Carter Brown Library. There is also a manuscript draft of this proclamation in British Museum Additional MSS., 21136, fol. 63. Entered on Patent Rolls; entered in Privy Council Register, III William, vol. 5, p. 412. Printed in "London Gazette," February 1, 1700._
FOOTNOTES:
[1] The tract with this title was published with no place of imprint, 1699, pp. 84, and in another edition with the imprint, Glascow, 1700, pp. 112. _A Defence of the Scots abdicating Darien_, pp. 50, has 1700 as the date of imprint. A copy of the first tract is in the Library of Congress, and copies of the last two tracts are in the American Antiquarian Society and John Carter Brown Library.
[2] The House of Commons, on January 15, 1700, resolved that the book was "a false, scandalous, and traitorous libel," that it should be burned by the common hangman, and that an address should be presented to the King seeking a proclamation to apprehend the author of the book (_Commons Journals_, xiii, 123).
1701, March 6.
[For the Apprehension of Pirates.]
BY THE KING.
A PROCLAMATION.
WILLIAM R.