HONI SOIT x MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation for the better Government of His majesty's Army, and for the preventing the plundering, spoiling, and Robbing of His majesty's subjects, under any Pretence whatsoever, upon pain of the Punishments herein declared.  
WE having taken into Our Princely and serious Consideration the great misery and ruin falling, and likely to fall upon Our good Subjects (if not timely prevented) by the plundering, Robbing, and spoiling of their houses, and taking from them their Money, Plate, householdstuff Cattle, and other goods, under pretence of their being disaffected to Us and Our Service; And these unjust and unlawful Actions done by divers soldiers of Our Army, and others sheltering themselves in the same, under that Title; Have, of Our tender commiseration of such their sufferings, as detesting all such horrid and barbarous proceedings, and for their future defence and preservation, thought fit to publish and declare Our royal Pleasure to be; That from henceforth no Officer, soldier, of Horse or Foot, or Party sent from Our Army, presume to search for, or seize upon any Money, Plate, Goods, or householdstuff belonging to any of Our Subjects, of what Condition soever, without Our express Warrant for the same, under Our Sign manual, declaring the cause of such seizure: And if any, either Officer or soldier of Our Army of Horse or Foot, presume from henceforth, to Plunder, spoil, or Rob any of Our People, or take from them any their Money, Plate, householdstuff, or any Oxen, Sheep or other Cattle, or any victuals, Corn, Hay, or other Commodities or Provisions going to, or from any Our Markets or otherwise, Being in the Grounds, Houses, or Possession of any Our Subjects, without giving full satisfaction for the same: Upon complaint made thereof, We will and command the Officer in chief of the Quarter within which such fact shall be committed, to proceed against such offender or offenders by the Law martial, without Favour or connivance, and cause him or them to be executed accordingly without mercy. And if any Officer in chief of such Quarter, shall either neglect or refuse to do Justice upon any person whatsoever, offending against any particular herein mentioned, Our Will is, and We do require the party grieved to repair unto Us, wheresoever We shall remain, and appeal to Our Justice, which We shall be ever most ready to afford any of Our Subjects for redress of their suffering, in any the least kind whatsoever. Likewise for the better Order in Our Army and for the preservation of the due Government thereof, We do farther strictly Charge and Command all Officers and soldiers, both of Horse and Foot of the same, as also all Parties sent out, That they, nor any of them, presume to depart or be absent from their Quarter, without a pass or licence under the Hand of the Officer commanding in chief in such Quarter of Our Army, upon pain of death; nor that any other, but such Our Officer in chief, presume to give any pass or other licence to any Officer or soldier to be absent, upon pain of cashiering. And that Our Pleasure herein declared, may be fully observed, and produce the effects We intend, for the good and security of Our Subjects, We do hereby further require all the Officers commanding in chief, in any the Quarters of Our Army, to cause this Our Proclamation to be published and made known to all the officers and soldiers under their Command, and to see that severe and due punishment be inflicted upon such as shall henceforth offend against any the least Particulars herein before mentioned, as they and every of them expect to avoid our high displeasure for the neglect thereof.  
Given at Our Court at Reading, the 25 day of November, in the eighteenth Year of Our reign. 
 God save the King.