Whereas We did think fit, by and with the Advice of Our Privy-Council,
to Issue Our Royal Proclamation, bearing Date the Fifth Day of
September, One thousand seven hundred and seventeen, in the Fourth Year
of Our Reign, therein taking Notice, That We had received Information,
that several Persons, Subjects of Great Britain, had, since the Four
and twentieth Day of June, in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven
hundred and fifteen, committed divers Piracies and Robberies upon
the High Seas in the West-Indies, or adjoyning to Our Plantations,
which had and might Occasion great Damage to the Merchants of Great
Britain, and others, Trading into those Parts: And We did thereby
Promise and Declare, That in case any the said Pirates should, on or
before the Fifth Day of September, One thousand seven hundred and
eighteen, Surrender him or themselves in manner as therein is directed,
every such Pirate and Pirates, so Surrendring him or themselves, as
aforesaid, should have Our Gracious Pardon of and for such his or their
Piracy or Piracies, by him or them committed before the Fifth Day of
January then next ensuing: And whereas several of the said Pirates,
not having had timely Notice of Our said Proclamation, may not have
Surrendred themselves within the time therein appointed, and by reason
thereof are uncapable of Receiving the Benefit of Our Royal Mercy and
Clemency intended thereby: And though We have appointed such a Force,
as We judge sufficient for Suppressing the said Piracies, yet the more
effectually to put an end to the same, We have thought fit, by and with
the Advice of Our Privy-Council, to Issue this Our Royal Proclamation;
And We do hereby Promise and Declare, That in case any the said Pirates
shall, on or before the First Day of July, in the Year of Our Lord One
thousand seven hundred and nineteen, Surrender him or themselves to
One of Our Principal Secretaries of State in Great Britain or Ireland,
or to any Governor or Deputy-Governor of any of Our Plantations
or Dominions beyond the Seas, every such Pirate and Pirates, so
Surrendring him or themselves, as aforesaid, shall have Our Gracious
Pardon of and for such his or their Piracy or Piracies, by him or them
Committed before such time as they shall have received Notice of this
Our Royal Proclamation; which Pardon or Pardons We have Authorized
and Commanded Our respective Governors to Grant accordingly. And We
do hereby strictly Charge and Command all Our Admirals, Captains, and
other Officers at Sea, and all Our Governors and Commanders of any
Forts, Castles, or other Places in Our Plantations, and all others Our
Officers Civil and Military, to Seize and Take such of the Pirates, who
shall refuse or neglect to Surrender themselves accordingly. And We do
hereby further Declare, That in case any Person or Persons, on or after
the First Day of July, One thousand seven hundred and nineteen, shall
Discover or Seize, or Cause or Procure to be Discovered or Seized, any
One or more of the said Pirates, so Neglecting or Refusing to Surrender
themselves, as aforesaid, so as they may be brought to Justice, and
Convicted of the said Offence, such Person or Persons, so making such
Discovery or Seizure, or Causing or Procuring such Discovery or Seizure
to be made, shall Have and Receive as a Reward for the same, (viz.) For
every Commander of any Pirate-Ship or Vessel the Sum of One hundred
Pounds; For every Lieutenant, Master, Boatswain, Carpenter, and Gunner,
the Sum of Forty Pounds; For every Inferior Officer the Sum of Thirty
Pounds; And for every Private Man, the Sum of Twenty Pounds; And if
any Person or Persons, belonging to, and being part of the Crew of any
such Pirate-Ship or Vessel, shall, on or after the said First Day of
July, One thousand seven hundred and nineteen, Seize and Deliver, or
cause to be Seized and Delivered, any Commander or Commanders of such
Pirate-Ship or Vessel, so as that he or they be brought to Justice, and
Convicted of the said Offence, such Person or Persons, as a Reward for
the same, shall Receive for every such Commander the Sum of Two hundred
Pounds; which said Sums the Lord Treasurer, or the Commissioners of Our
Treasury for the time being, are hereby Required and Directed to Pay
accordingly.
Given at Our Court at St. James's, the Twenty first Day of December
1718. In the Fifth Year of Our Reign.