WHereas by Our Letters Patents under Our Great Seal of Eng­land bearing Date at Westminster the Ninth day of July last past, We have Granted and Let to Farm to Randolph Ashenhurst Esq Stephen Hales, Michael Cope, and Thomas Ashenhurst, Gentlemen, the Royal Oak Lottery, and all other Lotteries, and the sole Vse and Exercise of the same within Our Kingdom of England, Domi­nion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, for a certain Term to Commence from the Seventeenth day of April next, un­der Rents and Covenants therein contained; And whereas the said Patenteés have humbly besought Vs to Issue out Our Pro­clamation to Secure and Protect them in the said Grant, We therefore by Vertue of Our Prerogative Royal, do hereby Will and Require, and Our Royal [...]ll and Pleasure is, That no Person or Persons of what Degreé or Condition soever (other then the said Randolph Ashenhurst, Stephen Hales, Michael Cope, and Thomas Ashenhurst, their Deputies, Substitutes, Agents and Assigns) at any time or times during the Term of Our said Grant, Do presume to Erect, Vse, or Exercise any Lottery or Lotteries, or resemblance of Lotteries within Our said Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, or to [...]pose, obstruct, or in any wise interrupt the said Patenteés, their Deputies, Officers, Agen [...] or Assigns in the freé Vse and Exercise of any of the said Lotteries in any of the Places aforesaid: And to that end We streightly Charge and Command all Mayors, Iustices of the Peace, Bayliffs, Con­stables, Headboroughs, Bosholders, Tythingmen, and other Our Officers, Ministers, and loving Subjects, to be Aiding and Assisting to the said Randolph Ashenhurst, Stephen Hales, Mi­chael Cope, and Thomas Ashenhurst, their Deputies, Agents and Assigns, in the due Manage­ing of the same, and to do their best endeavours in their respective Places and Stations, to bring such persons offending therein, to such Condign Punishment as the Laws and Sta­tutes of this Realm have Provided against them, and as Contemners of Our Royal Autho­rity, according to the purport of Our Letters Patents, as they will answer the contrary at their utmost peril.

Given at Our Court at Whitehall the Nineteenth day of December, 1687. In the Third Year of Our Reign.

GOD SAVE THE KING.