Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God lately to call unto his
infinite Mercy the most High and Mighty Prince, Charles the Second of
most Blessed Memory, the Kings Majesties most Dear and most Entirely
Beloved Brother, by whose Decease the Authority and Power of the most
part of the Officers and Places of Jurisdiction and Government within
his Majesties Dominions did cease and fail, the Soveraign Person
failing, from whom the same were derived. The Kings most Excellent
Majesty in His Princely Wisdom and Care of the State (reserving to
His Own Judgment hereafter, the Reformation and Redress of any Abuses
in Mis-government, upon due Knowledge and Examination thereof) is
Pleased, and hath so expresly Signified, That all Persons that at the
time of the Decease of the late Kings His dearly beloved Brother,
were Duly and Lawfully Possessed of, or Invested in any Office, or
Place of Authority or Government, either Civil or Military, within His
Majesties Realm of England and Ireland, Islands of Jerzey and Guernsey,
Sark or Alderney, or within His Majesties Colonies and Plantations in
America; And namely, all Governors, Lieutenants or Deputy-Governors,
Councellors, Judges, Justices, Provost-Marshals, Sheriffs, Justices
of the Peace, and all others in place of Government, either Meaner or
Superior, as aforesaid; And all other Officers and Ministers, whose
Interests and Estates in their Offices are determined, shall be, and
shall hold themselves continued in the said Places and Offices, under
the same Condition as formerly they held and enjoyed the same, until
His Majesties Pleasure be further known, or that other Provision be
made pursuant to His late Majesties Commission and Instructions to
His Governors and Officers of the Islands, Colonies and Plantations
aforesaid. And that in the mean while, for the Preservation of the
State, and necessary Proceedings in matters of Justice, and for the
Safety and Service of the State; All the said Persons of whatsoever
Degree or Condition may not fail, every one severally, according
to his Place, Office or Charge, to proceed in the Performance of
all Duties thereunto belonging, as formerly appertained unto them,
while the late King was living. And further, His Majesty doth hereby
Will and Command all and singular His Highnesses Subjects, of what
Estate, Dignity, and Degree, they or any of them be, to be Aiding,
Helping and Assisting, and at the Commandment of the said Officers and
Ministers, in the Performance and Execution of the said Offices and
Places, as they and every of them Tender His Majesties Displeasure,
and will answer the Contrary at their uttermost Perils. And further,
His Majesty's Will and Pleasure and Express Commandment is, That all
Orders and Directions Made or Given by the Late King, of most Blessed
Memory, the Lords of His Privy-Council, or His Principal Secretaries
of State, or other Legal Authority, derived from His said Majesty in
His Lifetime, shall be Obeyed and Performed by all and every Person and
Persons, and all and every Thing and Things to be done thereupon, shall
Proceed as Fully and Amply as the same should have been Obeyed or Done,
in the Life of the said Late King, His Majesty's most Dearly and most
Entirely Beloved Brother, until His Majesties Pleasure be further known
thereupon.[1]
Given at the Court at Whitehall, the Sixth Day of February, In the
First Year of His Majesty's Reign of England, Scotland, France and
Ireland, and other His Majesties Territories and Dominions.