C R HONI SOIT x MAL Y PENSE royal blazon or coat of arms BY THE KING. ¶ A Proclamation of His majesty's Grace, Favour, and Pardon, to the Inhabitants of His County of Sussex. WHEREAS We have taken notice that by the malice, Industry and Importunity of several ill affected and seditious persons in Our County of Sussex, very many of Our weak and seduced Subjects of that Our County have not only been drawn to exercise the Militia, under colour of a pretended Ordinance, without and against Our Consent (a Crime of a very high nature, if We would strictly inquire thereinto) but have made Contributions of Plate, Money and Horses, towards the maintenance of the Army now in Rebellion against us; We do hereby publish and declare, That We are graciously pleased to attribute the Crimes and Offences of Our said Subjects of that Country to the power and Faction of their seducers, Who, We believe by threats, Menaces, and false Informations compelled and led them into these actions of undutifulness and disloyalty towards us; And We do therefore hereby offer Our free and gracious Pardon to all the Inhabitants of Our said County of Sussex, for all Offences concerning the premises committed against us before the publishing of this Our Proclamation (except Herbert Morley Esquire, and Henry Chisttey citizen of Chichester,) against whom we shall proceed according to the Rules of the Law, as against traitors and Stirrers of sedition against us, And whom we do hereby require all Our Officers and Ministers of justice, and all Our loving Subjects whatsoever, to apprehend and cause to be kept in safe Custody till Our Pleasure be further known. Provided that this Our Grace shall not extend to any Person, who after the publishing this Our Proclamation shall presume by Loane or Contribution to assist the said Army of rebels, to assemble and Muster themselves in arms without Authority derived from us under Our Hand, to enter into any Oath of Association for opposing us and Our Army, or to succour or entertain any of the Persons excepted in this Our Proclamation, or in Our Declaration of the 12 of August. But We must and do declare, That whosoever shall hence forward be guilty of the premises, or of either of them, shall be esteemed by Us as an Enemy to the public Peace, a Person disaffected to us, and to the Religion and Law of the kingdom, and shall accordingly receive condign punishment, of which We give them timely notice, that they may proceed accordingly at their perils. And We do hereby will and require Our high sheriff, Commissioners of Array, justices of the Peace, and all other Our Officers, and loving Subjects to resist, oppose and apprehend all such Persons as shall presume to make any levys in that Our County under what pretence soever without Authority derived from us under Our Hand; And We likewise will and require them and every of them to be assistant to all such as shall either command the train Bands of that Our County, or make any levys in the same by virtue of Commission under Our great seal or sign manual. ¶ Given at Our Court at Reading, this seventh day of November, in the Eighteenth year of Our reign. God save the King.