WHereas We have Received Information that great Number of Persons have frequently of late Assembled themselves together, and committed great Out­rages and Riots in the County of Kent, by coming with Arms, and with Open Violence Breaking into and Robbing the Parks of several Gentlemen in the said County, and particularly that on the Eighteenth day of August last, several Horsemen, to the Number of Fourty or more, Armed with Guns, Swords and other Weapons, as also with Toyls and Dogs, did in a Riotous and Violent Manner in the Night time, Enter into the Park of Sir John Banks Baronet, at Aylesford near Maidstone in the said County of Kent, and there killed and carried away several Deér, broke up and threw down great part of the Park Pales, and committed divers other Acts of Vio­lence, to the great Disturbance of the Publick Peace, and contrary to the known Laws of this Kingdom: We therefore being desirous that such Of­fenders should be discovered and brought to condign Punishment for their Offences, have, with the Advice of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council, thought fit to Issue this Proclamation, hereby Commanding all His Majesties Loving Subjects to Discover, Take and Apprehend the Persons concerned in the aforesaid Riot and Robbery of Sir John Banks his Park where ever they or any of them may be found, and to carry them before One of His Majesties Principal Secre­taries of State, or before the Chief Iustice of the Court of Kings Bench, or before some Iu­stice of the Peace or Chief Magistrate; which Iustice of the Peace or Chief Magistrate, in case any of the said Offenders shall be brought before him, is hereby Required to Commit him to the next Goal, there to Remain until they shall give Sufficient Bail to Appear the next Term in the Court of Kings Bench, and thereof give Notice to One of the Principal Secretaries of State, or to the Chief Iustice of the Kings Bench. And We do hereby Publish and Declare, That who­soever shall Conceal any of the said Persons, shall be Proceéded against with the utmost Severity according to Law. And whosoever shall Discover and Apprehend the said Persons, or any of them, at any time within the space of Two Months next ensuing, and bring them before any of His Majesties Principal Secretaries of State, or before the Chief Iustice of the Court of Kings Bench, or before some Iustice of Peace, or Chief Magistrate, shall receive, as a Reward, One hundred Pounds; which said Sum of One hundred Pounds the Lords Commissioners of His Majesties Treasury are hereby directed to pay. And We do hereby further Promise, That if any Person concerned in the said Riot shall at any time within Two Months next Ensuing, and before he is Discovered and Apprehended, Discover and Apprehend any the Persons concerned in the said Riot, and Robbery, and Carry them before One of His Majesties Principal Secretaries of State, or before the Chief Iustice of the Court of Kings Bench, or before such Iustice of Peace, or Chief Magistrate, as aforesaid, such Person shall not only have and receive the said Reward of One hundred Pounds, but shall also have His Majesties Gracious Pardon for such his Offence.

Given at the Court at Whitehall the Seventeenth Day of September, 1697. In the Ninth Year of His Majesties Reign.

God save the King.