A PROCLAMATION TO GIVE ASSURANCE UNTO ALL HIS MAJESTIES SUBJECTS IN
THE ISLANDS AND CONTINENT OF AMERICA, OF HIS MAJESTIES ROYALL CARE
OVER THEM, AND TO PRESERVE THEM IN THEIR DUE OBEDIENCE.
Charles, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France
and Ireland, Defendor of the Faith, etc. Whereas We have seen a
Paper, called an Ordinance of the pretended Houses of the Lords and
Commons in Parliament, ordered to be Printed the second day of this
instant November,[1] Whereby Robert Earle of Warwick is made Governor
in chiefe, and Lord High Admirall of all those Islands and other
Plantations inhabited, Planted, or belonging to any of Our Subjects
within the Bounds, and upon the Coasts of America, and a Committee
appoynted to be assisting unto him in the Government thereof: The
intention of which Ordinance cannot reasonably be conceived to be
other, then to spread the contagion of this horrid Rebellion, even unto
those remoter parts, and that the continuers thereof (foreseeing how
little prosperous their wicked Designes are likely to prove here in Our
Realme of England) may provide for themselves a place of Retreat and
Security in those Westerne Countries: The consequences whereof would
be the disturbance of that quiet, which those Our Subjects in America
doe yet injoy under Our Government, and instead of Peace, to introduce
amongst them the like Oppressions, Bloodshed, Rapine, Disorders and
Confusion in Church and State, as they have brought already into
some parts of this Our Kingdome, and would have gone farther on, if
the Goodnesse of Almighty God, giving strength to Our Forces, and
successe to Our Enterprises, had not given a stop to their Malitious
and Rebellious attempts. To prevent which inconveniences from those
Westerne parts, out of Our Royall care of Our good Subjects there, We
have thought good hereby to give timely notice unto them, not only that
the said Ordinance was made without Our Royall assent, and therefore
that it ought not to bind any of Our Subjects, but also that the said
Earle of Warwick: hath been justly Proclaimed a Traitor by Us, and
that he still persists in his Treason and Rebellion against Us; and
therefore We doe require and Command all Our Subjects whatsoever,
That they doe not give obedience to the said Ordinance, nor unto him
the said Earle, as their Governor, or Admirall, nor to any other by
pretence of any Authority from him, or from any of the said Committee,
but that they shall endeavour the suppression of all such Rebellious
Attempts, as they shall have means and Opportunity to doe it. And We
doe farther declare, That as We have given unto all Our faithfull
Subjects in generall all possible testimonies and assurances of Our
care of their wellfare and happinesse, in preservation of the true
Protestant Religion established by the Lawes, the Liberty of their
Persons, the Propriety of their Goods, and the just Priviledges of
Parliaments, which We have done by such Professions before Almighty
God, and such Acts of Grace, as have exceeded all the Precedents of
former times: So shall Our Subjects in the said Islands, and Continent
of America in particular, find the constant fruits and effects of Our
gratious Government and Protection, and of those assurances, in as full
and ample measure as any other Our Subjects whatsoever. And therefore
We doe strictly charge and Command all Governors and Magistrates, who
exercise any authority under Us in the said Islands and Plantations,
That they doe not only publish unto Our good People there, these Our
gratious intentions towards them, but that they let them feel the
benefit thereof, by due administration of Justice amongst them, and
by seasonable Provisions of all things needfull for their defence and
prosperity. And We doe in like manner require all Our said Subjects,
that they persist in their due Allegiance and Obedience unto Us,
whereto they are obliged by all Lawes Divine and Humane; and that
they receive not any Governors nor Commanders, or obey any Ordinances
contrary to, or without Our Royall consent, but that they pursue and
apprehend them as Traytors to Our Royall Person and Dignity; and that
as they tender their duty to God, the avoyding of Our High Displeasure,
and the preservation of their own Peace and Happinesse. Given at Our
Court at Oxford, the Twenty fourth day of November, in the Nineteenth
yeare of Our Raigne. 1643.