WHEREAS Divers Disloyall Persons, Com­monly called Tories, have of Late, very much Infested severall Counties of this King­dome And have Committed divers Robbe­ries, Burglaries, and Murthers, upon His Majestes good Subjects, Whereunto (as We are Informed) they have been Encourrag­ed, by reason of Protections, that have been of Late, too Frequently granted, to Some of them, by some Persons, having or Pretend­ing Authority, from Ʋs the Lord Lieutenant, to grant the same, which Protections have been often much abused by those who have obtained the same, And also, by reason, that such Persons, who have Harboured, Concealed, or Rele­ved, the said Tories, have not been so strictly Enquired after, Proce­cuted, and Punished, as they ought to have been; For Remedy Where­of. We have thought Fit hereby, to Publish, and Declare, that no person or persons who now have or pretend to have any power or Au­thority from the Lord Lieutenant or Lord Lieutenant and Council, of this Kingdom, to grant Protections shall from and after the Twenty Fourth day of this instant June, grant any Protections, to any Robbers, or Tories, And that all Protections, which after the said Twenty Fourth day of June shall be so granted, to any such Robbers or Tories, by virtue of any such authority, shall be of no force, validity or securi­ty, to the persons, to whom the same shall be granted.

Provided always, and we do hereby farther declare, that such protec­tions, as have been already granted, or shall be granted, before the said Twenty Fourth day of this instant June, to any such Robbers or To­ries, by any person or persons having Authority from Ʋs the Lord Lieu­tenant, [Page] or the Lord Lieutenant and Council of this Kingdom, to grant the same, shall continue of force, for such time, as the same have been, or shall be so granted: and no longer, And in case any person or persons, that now are, or shall be, before the said Twenty Fourth day of this instant June protected thereby shall in respect of any services al­ready done, or hereafter to be done by them; expect to have their pro­tections continued to them, for any longer time, or to be pardoned for their offences heretofore committed by them, They are to make their timely applications herein, to Ʋs the Lord Lieutenant for the same.

And We doe hereby strictly Charge and Require the High Sheriffs of the respectiue Counties, wherein any such Robbers or Tories now are, or hereafter shall be, or wherein any such Murthers, Robberies or Burglaries shall be Committed, That they do from time to time as there shall be occasion, raise the power of the said respective Counties, for the prosecuting, apprehending, and bringing to Iustice all such Robbers and Tories, And that the Iustices of the Peace of the said re­spective Counties be aiding and assisting to the said High Sheriffs herein, And do also cause examinations to be forthwith taken, concern­ing such Murthers, Robberies and Stealths, as have been, or shall be, committed in the said respective Counties, to the end that the per­sons, who upon taking such examinations, shall appear to be guilty thereof, may be indicted for their said Offences, and Out-Lawed for the same, in case they shall refuse to render themselves, and abide their Tryals, And that they do also strictly, and particularly, enquire after, all such persons, as do or shall at any time, conceal, relieve, or harbour the said Robbers or Tories, or shall refuse or neglect to give their assistance, towards the taking, following or apprehending of them, and to cause such persons to be bound over to the next Assizes, to be prosecuted for their said Offences, to the end they may be there proceeded against, and severely punished according to their demerrits, And towards the speedy effecting of this Service, all Commanders of Horse and Foot and all other his Majesties Officers and Loving Sub­jects are to be aiding and assisting as they and every of them will answer the contrary at their perils.