A PROCLAMATION DECLARING HIS MAJESTIES PLEASURE CONCERNING CAPTAINE
ROGER NORTH, AND THOSE WHO ARE GONE FOORTH AS ADVENTURERS WITH HIM.
Whereas Roger North[1] Esquier, with divers others of Our Subjects,
as Adventurers for the intended Plantation and setling of Trade and
Commerce in those parts of the Continent of America neare and about the
River of Amazones (which were presupposed not to be under the obedience
and governement of any other Christian Prince or State) hath secretly
conveyed himselfe away and hath disloyally precipitated and imbarqued
himselfe, and his fellowes, and sodainly set to Sea with a pretended
purpose to prosecute that designe, contrary to Our Royal pleasure and
Commandement expresly signified unto him by one of Our principall
Secretaries, Our Admirall of England having also refused him leave
to go: We then having out of weightie considerations, and reason of
State, and upon the deliberate advise of Our Privy Councell resolved to
suspend and restraine the said Plantation and voyage for a time, and
having thereupon streightly charged and commanded him the said North
upon his duty and aleageance, that hee and his Associates should for a
while surcease their Provisions, and should stay themselves and their
Shipping, which they had already prepared, untill Our further pleasure
should be made knowen unto them.
Wee have therefore held it fit hereby to make a publique Declaration of
Our utter mislike and disavowement of this their rash, undutiful and
insolent attempt; and do hereby revoke, annihilate and disanull all
Power, Authoritie, jurisdiction, or Commission whatsoever, which he the
said North, or any of his Complices may pretend in any sort to derive
and hold from or under Us; and do hereby charge aswell him the said
North, as all his Companions and followers, immediately upon the first
notice that shall be given him or them of this Our pleasure, that they
shall make their speedie returne directly home, with all their shipping
and munitions into this Our Kingdome of England, assoone as the windes
and weather shall permit them; and being heere arrived shall foorthwith
present themselves in person unto some of Our Privie Councel, under
paine of being heereby declared guiltie of high contempt and rebellion,
in case they shall disobey this Our expresse commandement.
And Wee doe further heereby straitly require and charge aswell the
Governours, as all other the Partenors and Adventurers, any wayes
concerned, or interested as members of the Companie and Incorporation
intended for that Plantation, as all other Merchants, Captaines,
Masters, and Officers, of Ships, Saylors, Marrinors, and all other
our loving subjects whatsoever, that they shall in no sort ayd or
abette, nor comfort him the said North, nor any of his Complices with
any supply of shipping, men, money, munition, victuals, merchandise,
or other commodities or necessaries whatsoever: but that aswell all
and every Our Admirals, Vice-Admirals, and other Our Officers and
Commanders of Our Ships, or Pinnaces, as all other Captaines and
Masters of any of Our subjects ships and vessels whatsoever, that
shall happen to meete with him the saide North, or any of his Company
at sea, or in any Harbour, Port, or Creeke wheresoever, shall in Our
Name attach, seize, and summon him, or them, and their shipping, to
returne immediately home, and shall foorthwith bring them backe to some
of Our Ports of this Our Kingdome, and there commit them and their
Ships to the charge of such Our Officers, as it shall respectively
appertaine unto, untill Wee (having received information of their such
returne, which Wee will expect from Our said Officers, who shall so
stand incharged with them) shall give further order concerning them,
aswell their persons as their shipping and munitions. Wherein Wee doe
expresly charge and command aswell him the said North, and all his
Company, Abettors, and Adherents, and all the rest of that Company
and Incorporation intended, as all and every other Our Officers by
Land or Sea, and all other Captaines, Masters, and Marriners in any
of Our subjects ships, and all other Our loving subjects whatsoever,
faithfully, diligently, and carefully to observe, doe, and performe
in their severall qualities and places, that which Wee have heereby
required of them, according to every of their duties, charges, and
imployments, upon paine of Our high displeasure and indignation, and as
they will answere the contrarie at their uttermost perill.
Given at Our Manour of Greenwich this fifteenth day of May, in the
eighteenth yeere of Our Reigne of Great Britaine, France and Ireland.