Whereas frequent Robberies and Piracies have been, and are daily
committed by great numbers of Pirates and Privateers as well on the
Seas as on the Land of and in America, which hath occasioned a great
prejudice and obstruction to the Trade and Commerce as well of Our
Subjects, as of the Subjects of Our Allies, and hath given a great
Scandal and Disturbance to Our Government in those Parts. And whereas
We being resolved to take some effectual course for the putting an end
to all such Outragious Insolencies, have therefore thought it requisite
to send a Squadron of Ships into the Parts aforesaid, under the Command
of Our Trusty and Welbeloved Servant Sir Robert Holmes,[1] Knight,
Our Governor of Our Isle of Wight, and have otherwise given him all
necessary Powers for Suppressing of the said Pirates and Privateers,
either by force, or assurance of Pardon, and have Constituted and
Appointed the said Sir Robert Holmes Our Sole Commissioner in that
Affair; Now to the end that this Our Royal Purpose may be the better
put in Execution, and that none of the said Offenders may have any
cause of excuse or pretence left for want of a due Advertisement of
Our Intended Mercy and Clemency towards them, upon their withdrawing
themselves from their said wicked and Piratical courses for the future:
We are Graciously pleased hereby to Promise and Declare, That in case
any such Pirate or Privateer Pirates or Privateers shall within the
space of Twelve months next ensuing the Date of this Our Proclamation,
either in Person, or by their Agents Surrender, or become obliged
to Surrender him or themselves unto the said Sir Robert Holmes, or
any other person or persons appointed by him, or such other person
or persons as in case of his Death shall be further Constituted and
Appointed by Us, within any of Our said Islands, Plantations, Colonies,
or other Places on the Sea or Land, lying between the Tropiques of
Cancer and Capricorn in America, and in case any Pirate or Privateer,
Pirates or Privateers shall within the space of Fifteen months next
ensuing the Date of these Presents, Surrender, or become obliged to
Surrender him or themselves to the said Sir Robert Holmes, or any
others Appointed as aforesaid, in any other parts of America, or
within Our Kingdom of England, and shall give sufficient Security to
be approved of by the said Sir Robert Holmes, or in case of his Death,
by such other person or persons as shall be further Appointed by Us,
for his or their future good Behaviour, We will, upon such humble
Submission, and after such Security given, Grant unto such Pirate or
Pirates, Privateer or Privateers, Our Gracious, Full and Ample Pardon
for all Piracies or Robberies committed by him or them upon the Sea or
Land before the Date of these Presents. And we do hereby straightly
Charge and Command all and singular Our Admirals, Vice-Admirals,
Chief Governours, Captains, Commanders, Mariners, Seamen, and all
Our Officers and Ministers of and in all and every Our said Islands,
Plantations, Colonies, and Territories whatsoever, and of all and every
Our Ships of War and other Vessels, and all other Our Officers and
Subjects whatsoever, not only to be Aiding, Favouring and Assisting in
their several Places and Stations, unto the said Sir Robert Holmes,
and such other Person or Persons as shall be appointed as aforesaid
in and for the more effectual Reducing and Suppressing of all manner
of Pirates and Privateers within the Limits and Parts aforesaid, or
any of them, but also (upon the producing a Certificate or Instrument
under the Hand and Seal of the said Sir Robert Holmes, or such other
Person as in case of his Death shall be further Appointed by Us,
signifying that any Pirate or Privateer, Pirates or Privateers hath or
have Surrendered him or themselves unto the said Sir Robert Holmes, or
such other Person or Persons appointed as aforesaid, and given Security
for their future good Behaviour according to the Tenor of these
Presents) to permit and suffer the said person or persons lawfully to
Pass and Travel either by Sea or Land, without any Let, Hindrance
or Molestation whatsoever, to or from any of Our said Islands,
Plantations or Colonies, or into Our Kingdom of England, as soon as
conveniently may be, in Order to his or their receiving Our full and
Gracious Pardon as aforesaid, and that in the meantime no Indictment,
Process, or other Proceeding shall be had in any of Our Courts of
Record, or elsewhere, against any such person or persons producing such
Certificate or Instrument, for any Piracy or Robbery by him or them
committed as aforesaid, before the Date of these Presents. Provided
always, That if any of the said Offender or Offenders whatsoever shall
after the Publishing of this Our Proclamation, in contempt thereof, and
of Our Princely Mercy and Clemency to them hereby offered, wilfully
and obstinately persist in their Piracies, Robberies and Outragious
Practices, or shall not Surrender themselves in manner aforesaid;
Then We do hereby expressly Direct and Command, That all and every
such person and persons shall be pursued with the utmost Severity,
and with the greatest Rigour that may be, until they and every of
them be utterly Suppressed and Destroyed; We Declaring it to be Our
Royal Purpose and Resolution, That they and every of them shall from
thenceforth be finally Excluded and Debarr'd from receiving any further
Favour or Mercy. And lastly We do hereby Revoke, Annul and make void
all Proclamations by Us formerly Issued touching the Premisses herein
above mentioned, or any of them.
Given at Our Court at Whitehall this Twentieth Day of January,
1687/8. In the Third Year of Our Reign.