royal blazon or coat of arms C R HONI SOIT x MAL Y PENSE BY THE KING. ΒΆ A Proclamation for preventing the plundering, spoiling, or Robbing of any His majesty's Subjects, and for restraining of straggling and Idle People from following the Army, as likewise for supplying His majesty's Army with necessary provisions during their March. WHEREAS by Our gracious Proclamation of the twenty fifth of November last past, We took notice of the great misery and ruin falling, and likely to fall upon Our good Subjects (if not timely prevented) by the plundering, spoiling and Robbing of their Houses, and taking from them their money, Plate, householdstuff, Horses, cattle, and other goods, in detestation of which barbarous, and unlawful proceedings, and in tender commiseration of the sufferings of Our People, We did then declare, That if any either Officer or soldier of Our Army of Horse or Foot should from henceforth, Plunder, spoil, or rob, any of Our People, or take from them any of their money, Plate, householdstuff, Horses, or other cattle, as likewise any victual, or Commodities going to, or from Our Markets, upon complaint made thereof, the Commander, or Officer in chief of such Quarter where the fact was committed, was required to proceed against any such offender, by the Law martial, without favour or connivance, and to cause him or them, so offending, to be executed without mercy (as in and by the same Proclamation more at large appeareth,) Notwithstanding which, to the great and heavy grievance and oppression of Our People, We find that Our Commands therein have not been (as We expected) straightly observed. And having lately received Information that the greatest part of these Plunderings and Robberies committed on Our people, especially by the taking away of Horses and other cattle in the several Marches and expeditions of Our Forces, are committed and done by Persons no way listed, or employed in Our service, or under any Command, and by volunteers out of other troops, not commanded upon present service, following Our Army for spoil and Pillage; We do therefore charge and Command all persons whatsoever, but such as are or shall be licenced by the superior Officers of Our Army, or such of Our good Subjects as shall offer their service for Our assistance, and be received into Our Army upon their March, or as shall be of such Forces, as shall be sent upon any expedition, that they forbear to follow, or attend Our Army or forces, or to take away any money, Plate, Goods, Horses or cattle from any of Our Subjects whatsoever. And if any shall offend, spoil, rob, Pillage, or Plunder, in the least kind, contrary to this Our Proclamation, or take any Horse, money, Plate, or other goods, from any of Our Subjects without especial warrant of their superior Officer then commanding Our said Army, We do require and Command all the Officers and soldiers of Our Army, and all other Our Officers and loving Subjects, to apprehend him or them so offending against this Our Proclamation, and to bring them before the Commander in chief of such Army or Forces, whom We require and authorise forthwith to cause him or them, so offending, to be hanged without mercy, and to see that restitution be made to such person, or persons, as received such loss by the taking away any of their goods or cattle, in the best manner Our Commander in chief, or such Officer shall be able to perform; This We require and Command to be fully and in every part obeyed, that thereby Out good subjects may be freed from misery and ruin, or the least apprehension thereof, and may without any interruption proceed in following their several callings and professions, to the welfare and happiness of Our Kingdom and Our Army, and that the officers thereof may have the reputation of doing justice, and giving help and assistance to Our people. And Our further will and pleasure is, That this Our Proclamation be publicly read in all Churches and chapels of this Our Kingdom, and in the heads of all Our Regiments of Horse, Foot, and Dragooners. And as We have published this Our Proclamation for the protection of the Goods and Estates of all Our loving Subjects, so we expect that all such Counties, Hundreds, towns, and Villages in, or near which any part of Our Army shall happen to be Quartered upon their March, shall upon warrants from the superior Officer, or from the Commissaries of Our Army, furnish and supply Our forces, so passing through or near them, with all necessary provisions of victuals and other accommodation both for Horse and Foot, (for which they are to give tickets or receipts, which We shall carefully pay when God shall enable Us,) that so the soldier for want of necessary provisions may not have any pretence to offer any injury to any of Our good Subjects, whose ease and security shall always be Our principal care, Given at Our Court at OXFORD, this Seventeenth day of March, in the Eighteenth year of Our reign. God Save the KING. Printed at Oxford by LEONARD LICHFIELD, Printer to the University. 1642.