DIEV ET MON DROIT  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  By the King, 
A PROCLAMATION.  
JAMES R.  
WHereas the Commissioners of the Treasury of the late King, Our Dear Beloved Brother Deceased, Sidney Lord Godolphin, Sir John Ernely Knight, Sir Stephen Fox Knight, Sir Dudley North Knight, and Frederick Thynne Esquire, on the Fifth day of this instant February, for the better Improvement of the Revenue arising by the Duty of Excise, did Contract, Conclude and Agree with Sir Peter Apsley Knight, Sir Benjamin Bathurst Knight, and James Grahme Esquire, That they the said Sir Peter Apsley, Sir Benjamin Bathurst, and James Grahme, their Executors, Administrators and Assigns, should have, receive, and take the full and whole Duty of Excise for the Term of Three years, to Commence from the Date of the said Contract, Rendering to the late King, His Heirs and Successors, the yearly Rent of Five hundred and fifty thousand pounds payable by Quarterly Payments, The First Payment to be made at the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary next ensuing, under such Covenants and Agreements for Payment and Securing the said Rent, as in and by the said Contract are Provided for.  
And whereas We have been Certified by the Opinion of Our judges (whose Opinion for Our greater Satisfaction herein We have Required) That the said Contract made by the said Commissioners of the Treasury of Our Late Dear Brother is Good and Valid in Law, and hath Continuance during the said Three Years, as well for that Part of the said Revenue which was Granted to Our said Dear Brother for Life, as for that Part which was Granted to Him, His Heir and Successors, by virtue of the Acts of Parliament which gave those Duties, notwithstanding the Decease of Our said Dear Brother; To the intent therefore the said Sir Peter Apsley, Sir Benjamin Bathurst and James Grahme, who have been made such Contract with the said Commissioners of the Treasury, may have no Pretence to withhold the said Rent from Us, and that Our loving Subjects, who are Chargeable with the Payment of the said several Duties, may not incur the Penalties inflicted by the Laws of Excise, for not making due Entries, or Nonpayment, or Concealing of my Part of the said Duties, during the said Term of Three Years, We do hereby Signify and Publish to all, Our loving Subjects, That Our said judges have Certified to Us their Opinions in Law, That the said Contract hath Continuance notwithstanding the Decease of Our said Dear Brother: Our Will and Pleasure therefore is, And We do hereby strictly Charge and Command all Our Commissioners and Sub-Commissioners of Excise, and all other Our Officers Employed or to be Employed in the Collection of the said Duties, That they be Aiding and Assisting to the said Sir Peter Apsley, Sir Benjamin Bathurst, and James Grahme, and their Assigns, in the Collecting and Levying of the said Duties, during the said Term of Three Years, according to the several Powers and Authorities Placed in them by the several Acts for Granting of the Excise. And that all Our loving Subjects chargeable with the Payment of the said Duties do make their due Entries and Payments, as is Provided by the Laws of Excise, during the said Term of Three Years, upon the Pains and Penalties to be inflicted thereupon, according to the said Laws of Excise.  
Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the Sixteenth Day of February, 1684/5. In the First Year of Our Reign. 
 God save the King.   

LONDON, Printed by the Assigns John Bill deceased: And by Henry Hills, and Thomas Newcomb, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1684/5.