royal coat of arms By the King, A PROCLAMATION For Protecting and Securing the Patentees of the Royal Oak, and all other Lotteries, Prohibiting all others to Use or Exercise the same.  
JAMES R.  
WHereas by Our Letters Patents under Our Great Seal of England bearing Date at Westminster the Ninth day of July last passed, We have Granted and Let to Farm to Randolph Ashenhurst Esq Stephen Hales, Michael Cope, and Thomas Ashenhurst, Gentlemen, the Royal Oak Lottery, and all other Lotteries, and the sole Use and Exercise of the same within Our Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, for a certain Term to Commence from the Seventeenth day of April next, under Rents and Covenants therein contained; And whereas the said Patenteés have humbly besought Us to Issue out Our Proclamation to Secure and Protect them in the said Grant, We therefore by Virtue of Our Prerogative Royal, do hereby Will and Require, and Our Royal ●●ll and Pleasure is, That no Person or Persons of what Degreé or Condition soever (other than the said Randolph Ashenhurst, Stephen Hales, Michael Cope, and Thomas Ashenhurst, their Deputies, Substitutes, Agents and Assigns) at any time or times during the Term of Our said Grant, Do presume to Erect, Use, or Exercise any Lottery or Lotteries, or resemblance of Lotteries within Our said Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, or to ●●pose, obstruct, or in any wise interrupt the said Patenteés, their Deputies, Officers, Agen●● or Assigns in the free Use and Exercise of any of the said Lotteries in any of the Places aforesaid: And to that end We straight Charge and Command all Mayors, justices of the Peace, Bailiffs, Constables, Headboroughs, Bosholders, Tythingmen, and other Our Officers, Ministers, and loving Subjects, to be Aiding and Assisting to the said Randolph Ashenhurst, Stephen Hales, Michael Cope, and Thomas Ashenhurst, their Deputies, Agents and Assigns, in the due Managing of the same, and to do their best endeavours in their respective Places and Stations, to bring such persons offending therein, to such Condign Punishment as the Laws and Statutes of this Realm have Provided against them, and as Contemners of Our Royal Authority, according to the purport of Our Letters Patents, as they will answer the contrary at their utmost peril.  
Given at Our Court at Whitehall the Nineteenth day of December, 1687. In the Third Year of Our Reign. GOD SAVE THE KING.   

London, Printed by Charles Bill, Henry Hills, and Thomas Newcomb, Printers to the King's most Excellent Majesty, 1687.