C R
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE
BY THE KING
¶ A Proclamation of His Majesties Grace, Favour, and Pardon, to the Inhabitants of His County of Oxon.
WHEREAS We have taken notice that by the malice, Industry and Importunity of severall ill affected and seditious persons in Our County of Oxon, very many of Our weake and seduced Subjects of that Our County have not only been drawne to exercise the Militia, under colour of a pretended Ordinance, without and against Our Consent (a Crime of a very high nature, if We would strictly enquire thereinto) but have made Contributions of Plate, Money and Horses, towards the maintenance of the Army now in Rebellion against Vs; We doe hereby publish and declare, That We are graciously pleased to attribute the Crimes and Offences of Our said Subjects of that County to the power and Faction of their seducers, Who, We beleeve by Threates, Menaces, and false Informations compelled and led them into these actions of undutifullnesse and disloyalty towards Vs; And We doe therefore hereby offer Our free and gracious Pardonto all the Inhabitants of Our said County of Oxon, for all Offences concerning the premises committed against Vs before the publishing of this Our Proclamation (except the Lord Say, Nathaniell Fynes Esquire, Sir William Cobb, and Iohn Doyley Esquire,) against all which We shall proceed according to the Rules of the Law, as against Traitours and Stirrers of sedition against Vs, And whom We doe heereby require all Our Officers and Ministers of Iustice, and all Our loving Subjects whatsoever, to apprehend and cause to be kept in safe Custody till Our Pleasure be further knowne. Provided that this Our Grace shall not extend to any Person, who after the publishing this Our Proclamation shall presume by Loane or Contribution to assist the said Army of Rebells, to assemble and Muster themselves Armes without Authority derived from Vs under Our Hand, to enter into any Oath of Association for opposing Vs and Our Army, or to succour or entertaine any of the Persons excepted in this Our Proclamation, or in Our Declaration of the 12 of August. But We must and doe declare, That whosoever shall hence forward be guilty of the premises, or of either of them, shall be esteemed by Us as an Enemy to the publick Peace, a Person disaffected to Vs, and to the Religion and Law of the Kingdome, and shall accordingly receive condigne punishment, of which We give them timely notice, that they may proceed accordingly at their perills.
¶ Given at Our Court at Oxford, the third day of November, in the Eighteenth yeare of Our Reigne.
God save the King.