C R  
Dieu ET MON DROIT  
HONI SOIT x MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
HIS majesty's DECLARATION To all His subjects OF The kingdom of ENGLAND.  
CHARLES R. 
 CHARLES The Second of that Name, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, defender of the Faith &c. To all Persons within Our kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, to whom these presents shall come, Greeting.  
We cannot without unspeakable grief and sorrow call to mind, nor without horror express, That Our dear and royal Father King CHARLES of ever blessed memory, hath been most barbarously and most cruelly murdered, by the hands of bloody traitors and Rebels within Our kingdom of England, with proceedings and circumstances so prodigious, that the particulars induce rather amazement than expression. And although We have hitherto seemed silent in a matter so highly concerning Us, as not publicly to express to the People of England Our grief of heart and high detestation of that heinous fact: Yet being now safely arrived in a small part of Our own Dominions, at the Island of Jersey, We have thought fit rather from hence, where Our Kingly Authority takes place, than from any foreign country, where We have been hitherto necessitated to reside, publicly to Declare, That out of a bitter sense and indignation of those horrid proceedings against Our dear Father, We are according to the laws of Nature and Justice, firmly resolved, by the assistance of Almighty God though We perish alone in the enterprise, to be a severe Avenger of His Innocent blood, which was so barbarously spilled, and which calls so loud to Heaven for Vengeance. And We shall therein by all ways and means possible, endeavour to pursue and bring to their due punishment those bloody traitors who were either Actors or Contrivers of that unparalleled and inhuman murder. And since it hath pleased God so to dispose, as by such an untimely martyrdom, to deprive Us of so good a Father, and England of so gracious a King; We do further Declare, That by His Death the crown of England, with all privileges, Rights, and preeminences, belonging thereunto, is by a clear and undoubted Right of Succession justly and lineally descended upon Us, as next & immediate heir & Successor thereunto, without any Condition or Limitation, without any Intermission or claim, without any Ceremony or Solemnity whatsoever; And that by virtue thereof We are now in Right lawfully seized of the said crown; and aught by the laws of God and of that Nation to enjoy a royal power there, as well in Church as commonwealth, to govern the People of that kingdom, according to the ancient and known laws, to maintain them in Peace and Justice, and to protect and defend them from the oppression of any usurped Power whatsoever. And the People of that Nation by the like laws owe unto Us, and ought reciprocally to pay duty and obedience unto Us, as unto their Liege Lord and sovereign. This royal Right of Ours is grounded upon so clear a Title, is settled by such fundamental laws, confirmed by so many oaths of Allegiance in all Ages, is supported by such a long continued Succession in Our royal progenitors, and by such a Constant submission of all the People, that the same can admit of no Dispute, no act of Our predecessors can debar Us of it, no Power on Earth can justly take it from Us; and by the undoubted laws of that Nation, to oppose Us either in the Claim or Exercise thereof, is a Treason of the highest degree. And although the bloody Contrivers of our father's murder (out of a pernicious hatred to all Monarchies) have by force, as much as in them lies, disinherited Us of Our Princely Right thereunto, Banished and proscribed Us, seized all Our Revenues, prohibited all intercourse and supplies to be sent to Us, and have by violence imposed upon the People of England a new yoke of popular Tyranny, to the utter s; ubversion, not only of Our Just Rights, but of their laws and Liberties. Yet We do profess that We cannot persuade ourself, that the Body of the English Nation hath so far degenerated from their ancient Loyalty and virtue, as to consent to these horrid proceedings against Us, or to approve the casting off that Kingly Government, under which they and their Forefathers have happily flourished so many Ages past, to the envy of all their Neighbour Nations. How can that once-happy Nation of England despair of blessed days under a royal sceptre, and vainly hope for them under the Iron Rod of an insolent Multitude? No, We cannot look upon these sad and dismal Changes, as the Desires or Intentions of the better part of Our Subjects of that kingdom, but rather as the designs and Contrivances of those Wicked murderers of Our Father, whose Ambitions are endless, whose Avarice is unsatiable, and whose Guilt hath made them desperate. And therefore out of a Confidence We have of the Loyalty and good Affections of many of Our Subjects of that Nation; And as well for their encouragement who still persist in their natural Allegiance and Obedience to Us, as for the security of such as shall yet return to their Duties and Loyalties; We have thought fit hereby further to Declare, That We are graciously pleased to receive all Persons of Our kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales (other than such who Voted or Acted in that bloody murder of Our dear Father) into Our royal Grace, Mercy and Protection, owning and esteeming them all as our good and loving Subjects, whom upon access to Our Kingly Authority, We shall hold ourselves bound according to the Law of God, the known laws of that Nation, and the Duty of Our Kingly Office, to protect, maintain, and preserve in wealth, peace and happiness. And for a clear evidence of Our good intentions towards them, We shall be contented freely to Pardon or otherwise by Act to Declare, or hold indemnified, all Persons within Our said kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales (except before excepted) for any matter whatsoever relating to the late unhappy wars and Distractions. And We shall (according to the example of Our dear Father) be ready upon the establishment of Our royal Throne, to make such further Concessions, for the satisfaction and security of Our good Subjects in general, and of all interests in particular, as shall be adjudged most to conduce to the Peace and happiness of that kingdom. And We do further Declare, that We shall give Our utmost assistance to restore Parliaments to their ancient Dignity and Honour, and shall preserve their just privileges, and join to repair all those Injuries and Affronts, which have been done to the Members of that High Court. And because all ways of gaining a mutual confidence, betwixt Us and Our good Subjects, are at present obstructed, by the usurped Force and Power now prevalent in that kingdom, We are therefore resolved to make use of such expedients as shall be necessary for the suppression of that tyrannical and unjust Power now exercised over them; And for bringing to their due punishment, those bloody murderers of Our dear Father; For shaking off the heavy burdens and Taxes they now groan under; And for restoring Our just Rights, and the ancient Liberties and freedom of the English Nation; Not doubting but We shall find all Our good Subjects ready to concur, and to assist Us in Our just and pious Undertakings for those ends. And in the mean time, We require and command all Our said Subjects, according to their duty to God their Allegiance to Us, their several oaths and Protestations, and the love and affection they bear to the Peace of their Native Country, that they do not betray their lawful King, nor the glorious Liberties and laws of England, into a perpetual slavery, by Acknowledgement or voluntary submission to any new forms or models of Government, under the name or mask of a Free State, nor under any other title or pretence whatsoever.  
¶ Given at Our Court at Castle-Elizabeth in our Isle of Jersey the Twenty third Day of October, 1649. In the First year of Our reign. 
 ¶ GOD SAVE THE KING.