Whereas it hath been Our care before and since the Restitution of that
part of the Island of Saint Christophers,[1] which formerly belonged
to Us and Our Subjects, to provide for the Plantation and Improvement
thereof, by giving all manner of Encouragements to Our good Subjects
to return thither, and to Re-establish the former Trade and Commerce:
In order whereunto We lately sent thither Sir Charles Wheeler Baronet,
with Our Commission to be Our Lieutenant-General, and General Governour
of Our Leeward Islands in America; and for the better execution of so
important a Charge, gave him such Directions and Instructions as were
most suitable to these Our Royal Intentions, and might best tend to
the advancement of the general Good and Welfare of all Our Subjects
there, so that We might reasonably have expected before this time,
some Account of the good success of these Our endeavours in the happy
and peaceable Settlement of Our Subjects in their former Proprieties
and Possessions; nevertheless, to the utter disappointment of Our just
expectations, and the general Discouragement of such of Our Subjects
who formerly Inhabited that Island, We are given to understand, That
on or about the Twenty fourth of August last past, Sir Charles Wheeler
hath caused a certain Proclamation to be published in that Island,
thereby endeavouring to oblige the former Inhabitants and Proprietors
to appear before a certain Court of Claims by him there Erected,
and to return with a Stock sufficient for the quantity of Land they
Claim, on peril of losing such part of their Estates they shall not be
able to Stock, which shall be given to them who are better able; And
moreover, to be Contributory to all Levies to be made for satisfaction
of the French Demand, upon any Article of the Peace at Breda, or for
satisfaction of any other disbursments concerning Fortifications, or
any other Publick Expences; with a further menacing intimation to
all such as shall be found to have Acted or Counselled in the late
Rendition of the Island to the French, or have been guilty of any
Cowardise or Folly in that War, That they are not to expect the like
advantages with the rest of Our Subjects: And a Declaration, That upon
every mans Estate a Quit-Rent shall be reserved, greater or lesser,
according to the merit or demerit of the person Restored, with an
allowance of no longer time to such of Our Subjects who were in the
Barbadoes and Caribee Islands, for putting in their Claims, then
One Moneth, and but Three Moneths to those who were in any part of
Europe, Virginia, Jamaica, Carolina, Bermuda's, or New England, Then
which nothing could have been done more contrary to the Commission
and Instructions We had given him, nor more repugnant to Our Royal
Intentions, and the just Interests and Advantages of the antient
Planters and Proprietors: Wherefore, and for the better prevention of
the ill consequences which might otherwise ensue upon that Proclamation
so issued out by the said Sir Charles Wheeler, if the same should
be allowed to have any force or effect, We have thought fit, by
Advice of Our Council, to Publish this Our Royal Proclamation, and do
hereby Declare Our Will and Pleasure, That the said Proclamation, and
everything therein contained, is, and shall be null and void, to all
intents and purposes whatsoever, as if the same had never been had
nor made; And because the Return and Re-settlement of the antient
Planters and Proprietors hath been many ways obstructed, not onely
by the Severities of the said Illegal Proclamation, but by several
accidents which for a long time did very much retard the Surrender of
the said Island, We therefore out of the just sense We have of the
great Sufferings of the said late Planters and Proprietors, do by these
presents, for their ease, and in their favour, further Declare, That
all and every the late Planters and Proprietors, their Heirs, Executors
and Assigns, or their Agents respectively, shall be admitted to enjoy
their several and respective Plantations, carrying with them such Stock
onely as they are able, or can conveniently provide: Which Grace and
Favour of Ours We would have to be understood with these Qualifications
and Restrictions onely (That is to say) That such who have sold their
Plantations to the French, or Claim under those who did Sell the same
to the French, shall be obliged to re-imburse the Purchasers the Price
or Money they or those under whom they Claim, did actually receive
for their respective Possessions and Estates, within the space of
one whole year, to be accounted from the Re-delivery of the English
part of the said Island, which We are informed, was upon the 5/15 of
July 1671. And all such who have not Sold to the French and their
Heirs, Executors and Assigns, and their Agents respectively, shall be
obliged to return unto the said Island before the Twenty fifth day of
December, which shall be in the year of Our Lord, One thousand six
hundred seventy two. And We do further Publish and Declare Our Royal
Will and Pleasure, That no Taxes, Tallages, Aides, or other Impositions
whatsoever, shall at any time hereafter be Assessed or Imposed, nor any
Quit-Rents Reserved or Required, nor any Moneys Levied, nor any kind
of Charge be laid upon, or raised out of any Lands or Tenements in the
said Island, unless it be by vertue of some Publick Law made or to be
made by the Assembly of the said Island, and with the consent of the
Governour and Counsel there Assembled. And moreover, of Our further and
more especial Clemency and Favour unto Our good Subjects in the said
Island, We are Graciously pleased to Declare, That all and every the
Inhabitants, Planters and Proprietors of the said Island, and all and
every person and persons Claiming by, from, and under them, or any of
them, and all other Our Subjects in the said Island, shall be, and are
hereby Freed, Indempnified, and Discharged, as against Us, Our Heirs
and Successors, of and from all Crimes, Offences, Miscarriages, and
Misdemeanours whatsoever, which happened, and were committed in the
said Island during the late War in the said Island, and of and from all
Pains and Penalties incurred for or by reason of any matter or thing
done, or omitted to be done during the said late War; And of and from
all Prosecutions, Molestations, or Inquiries touching or concerning
the same; All which matters and things shall be, and are hereby put
into perpetual Oblivion, nor shall the same be ever mentioned to the
prejudice of any of Our Subjects, either in their Persons, Estates, or
Reputations. All which We Command to be Obeyed in all Our Dominions,
and all Our Officers Civil and Military, to be Assisting in the
Premises, as they will answer the contrary at their utmost perils.
Given at Our Court at Whitehall the Two and twentieth day of December
1671. in the Twenty third year of Our Reign, 1671.