WHereas the custody and safe keeping of our se­uerall Counties and Shires of our Realme of England, are by our ancient Commonlawes committed to seuerall Shiriffes, be­ing ancient Conseruators of the Peace, and Ministers of Iustice within the same, who by force of their Offices may assemble, and take the power and strength of our sayd Counties and Shires committed to their charge, not onely for the due execution of Iu­stice, but also for the preseruation of our Peace, and the speedy and timely dissolution and sup­pressing of all Insurrections, Rebellions, outragious Riots, Routes, and other exorbitant and vnlawfull assemblies, to the end that such dangerous attempts might bee suppressed in their beginnings, and our louing Subiects liue and exercise their seueral vocations in al peace and plentie; The good effect of the execution of which Lawes hath well appeared, in that the most detestable and diabolicall Rebellion of Percy and his Complices in our Counties of Warwicke, Worcester, and Stafford, (that had bene so secretly contriued, and so long in hatching) was by the peaceable Ministers of our Lawes, and by due execution of their Offices, with­out any extraordinary power or forces, most loyally, resolutely, and speedily suppressed: And whereas some question or scruple hath bene (as wee are enformed) mooued amongst some of the vulgar, Whether any of our Sheriffes may, with the Power of their seuerall Coun­ties or Shires, in pursuit of Rebels and Traitours, follow them into any other County, Al­beit by the Lawes of this Realme, Sheriffes, as it falleth out in dayly experience, in priuate cases betweene party and party (matters of no such eminent and publike danger and conse­quence as this is) iustly and lawfully doe the like, whereof Wee presume few or none can be ignorant: Yet Wee meaning to giue satisfaction to all, doe hereby publish and declare, That such pursuit of Rebels and Traitors into other Counties, is not onely in such cases lawfull and iustifiable, But, that if any of our Subiects being thereunto required by any of our Sheriffes, shall not follow and assist them in such pursuit, that they are to bee seuerely and sharpely punished for their high contempt and offence in that behalfe.

But if in such pursuite the Sheriffe of the same Countie or Shire (whereunto such Rebels or Traytors shal flye or escape) shall also come with the power of his Countie before such Re­bels or Traytors bee apprehended or suppressed, Then the Sheriffe so pursuing from any [Page] other Countie or Shire shall assist and ioyne with the Sheriffe in his proper Countie or Shire, for the apprehension or suppressing of such Rebels and Traitors. And it such Rebels or Traytors shall flie or escape into any house or other place of strength and defence, and shall not yeeld themselues being thereunto required by the Sheriffe or any of his companie that so shall pursue them, but obstinately and wilfully make resistance, That then it shall be lawfull for euery such Sheriffe so pursuing with such power and strength, as he shall col­lect, or shall assist him, to beate downe, burne, or otherwise wast any such house or place of defence for the better apprehension or suppressing of such Rebels and Traytors. And albeit we desire that such industrie and care may be taken, as that such offendors may be apprehen­ded aliue, Yet wee let it be knowen, that if otherwise through their rebellious obstinacy and resistance, such Rebellion cannot be suppressed; That it shall be lawfull and iustifiable in those cases of necessitie, for the Sheriffe and his Company assisting him, to kill and destroy such Traytors and Rebels. And as the faithfull endeuours of our louing Subiects with such alacrity as they haue shewed in this late Rebellion, is very acceptable vnto vs; So if in any such case any person or persons shall vnder pretence of our publique seruice, maliciously and vniustly seeke to reuenge any priuate quarrell, We let them know that they shall not escape without seuere and condigne punishments according to their demerits in that behalfe.

Giuen at our Palace of Westminster, the nineteenth day of Nouember, in the third yeereof our Reigne of Great Britaine, France and Ireland.

God saue the King.