A PROCLAMATION DECLARING HIS MAJESTIES PLEASURE CONCERNING SIR WALTER
RAWLEIGH, AND THOSE WHO ADVENTURED WITH HIM.
Whereas We gave Licence to Sir Walter Rawleigh,[1] Knight, and others
of Our Subjects with him, to undertake a Voyage to the Countrey
of Guyana, where they pretended great hopes and probabilities to
make discovery of certain Gold Mines, for the lawfull enriching
of themselves, and these Our Kingdoms: Wherein We did by expresse
limitation and Caution restraine, and forbid them and every of them,
from attempting any Acte of hostility, wrong, or violence whatsoever,
upon any of the Territories, States, or Subjects of any forraine
Princes, with whom Wee are in amitie: And more peculiarly of those of
Our deare Brother the King of Spaine, in respect of his Dominions and
Interests in that Continent. All which notwithstanding, We are since
informed by a common fame, that they, or some of them have, by an
hostile invasion of the Towne of S. Thome (being under the obedience
of Our said deare Brother the King of Spaine) and by killing of divers
of the inhabitants thereof, his Subjects, and after by sacking and
burning of the said towne, (as much as in them for their owne parts
lay) malitiously broken and infringed the Peace and Amitie, which hath
beene so happily established, and so long inviolably continued betweene
Us and the Subjects of both our Crownes.
Wee have therefore held it fit, as appertaining neerely to Our Royall
Justice and Honor, eftsoones to make a publique declaration of Our owne
utter mislike and detestation of the said insolences, and excesses,
if any such have beene by any of Our Subjects committed: And for the
better detection and clearing of the very trueth of the said common
fame; Wee doe heereby straitly charge and require all Our Subjects
whatsoever, that have any particular understanding and notice thereof,
upon their duety and alleagiance which they owe Us, immediately after
publication of this Our pleasure, to repaire unto some of Our Privy
Counsell, and to discover and make knowne unto them their whole
knowledge and understanding concerning the same, under paine of Our
High displeasure and indignation; that Wee may thereupon proceede
in Our Princely Justice to the exemplary punishment and coertion of
all such, as shal be convicted and found guilty of so scandalous and
enormous outrages.
Given at Our Mannor of Greenwich, the ninth day of June,
in the sixteenth yeere of Our Raigne of England, France and
Ireland, and of Scotland the one and Fiftieth.