PAX qvaeritur BELLO  
Olivarius DEI ◆ GRA ◆ REIPVB ◆ ANGLIAE ◆ SCOTIAE ◆ ET HIBERNIAE, &c PROTECTOR ◆   blazon or coat of arms  
By the Protector. A PROCLAMATION Signifying His HIGHNESS Pleasure, That all men being in Office of Government, at the decease of his most dear Father, OLIVER late Lord Protector, shall so continue till His HIGHNESS further Direction.  
WHereas it hath pleased the most wise God in his providence to take out of this world the most Serene and Renowned Oliver late Lord Protector of this Commonwealth, the most dear and beloved Father of His Highness Richard now Lord Protector, by whose decease the Authority and Power of the most part of the Offices and Places of jurisdiction and Government within these Nations did cease and fail, the sovereign Person failing from whom the same was derived: And thereupon through doubtfulness or want of Authority in such persons as were Invested in the said Offices and Places, the settled and ordinary course of justice, and of the Affairs of State (if remedy be not provided) might receive disturbance and prejudice by discontinuance and interruption; His Highness the Lord Protector in his Princely Wisdom and Care of the State (reserving to his own judgement hereafter, the Reformation and Redress of any Abuses in misgovernment, upon due knowledge and Examination thereof) is pleased, and hath so expressly signified by and with the Advice of the Council, That all Persons that at the time of the decease of His late Highness his dearly beloved Father were duly and lawfully Possessed of, or Invested in any Office or Place of Authority or Government either Civil or Martial w●thin these Nations or any other the Dominions or Territories thereunto belonging, And namely, all judges, justices, Sheriffs, justices of Peace, and all others in Place of Government, either Meaner or Superior as aforesaid; And all other Officers and Ministers whose Interests and Estates in their Offices are determined or ceased by the means aforementioned, shall be, and shall hold themselves continued in the said Places and Offices as formerly they held and enjoyed the same, until His highness' pleasure be further known.  
And that in the mean while, for the preservation of the Peace and necessary Proceedings in matters of justice, and for the safety and service of the State, all the said Persons of whatsoever degree or condition, every one severally according to his Place, Office or Charge, do proceed in the performance and execution of all Duties thereunto belonging as formerly appertained unto them and every of them while His late Highness was living.  
And further His Highness doth hereby Will and Command all and singular the good People of this Commonwealth, of what Estate, Dignity or Degree they or any of them be, to be aiding, helping, assisting, and at the Commandment of the said Officers and Ministers, in the performance and execution of the said Offices and Places, as they and every of them tender His highness' pleasure, and will answer for the contrary at their utmost perils.  
And further His Highness Will and Pleasure and express Commandment is, That all Orders and Directions made or given by the Lords of the Privy Council in the life-time of His late Highness, shall be obeyed and performed by all and every Person and Persons, and all and every thing and things to be done thereupon, shall proceed as fully and amply, as the same should have been obeyed or done in the life of the late Lord Protector, His highness's most dear and entirely beloved Father.  
Given at White-Hall this Fourth of September, in the year of our Lord God, One thousand six hundred fifty and eight.   

LONDON: Printed by Henry Hills and John Field, Printers to His Highness the Lord Protector, 1658.