blazon or coat of arms incorporating the Commonwealth Flag (1649-1651) A PROCLAMATION OF THE Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, Declaring Charles STVART and his Abettors, Agents and Complices, to be traitors, Rebels and public Enemies.  
WHereas divers of the Scotish Nation, and some English Fugitives, being lately come out of Scotland into England with their Leader Charles STUART, Son to the late Tyrant, do here Leby War against the Commonwealth, and commit many Outrages, Spoils and murders upon the people of this Nation; And the said Charles Stuart hath caused himself by the said Men of Scotland and English Fugitives to be Proclaimed King of England, and by Declarations proscribing some who have performed great and excellent Service to the public, and offering his Indulgences to others, would draw Adherents to him in his wicked and traitorous practices, particularly by Letters in his Name directed to the City of London, and spread abroad by some of his Clandestine Agents, he labours to court them to his Party, by boasting his own Condition, and by endeavouring to annihilate the honour and Esteem of the Parliament and their Forces, who through God's Mercy have been so often Instrumental to Chastise him and his Confederates, and will, through God's Blessing we trust, still prove a burdensome Stone unto them; Hoping it seems in the mean time, That that famous City (whose Faithfulness and eminent Services in behalf of Religion, Laws and Liberties are ever to be acknowledged) and that others of this Land and Nation, into whom by his Cunning and Flatteries he would thus insinuate, can forget the Horrid and Bloody War raised by the late Tyranthis Father, and the Devastations attending it, and by his Delusions and Impostures be persuaded to betray Themselves and their Liberties again into Vassalage and Bondage, which through the Goodness of God, and at so great an expense of Blood and Treasure have been vindicated from the Pride and Tyranny of that Man and his father's House: Which laborious Fraud and falsehood of him the said Charles Stuart hath hitherto notwithstanding, through the favour of God to his People, proved of small or no effect but to aggravate his own Guilt, he being a traitor of a former Date, and to render Himself and his Complices more and more obnoxious to the Penalties of the Laws of England, Declaring and Adjudging High Treason, wherein they are so deeply and desperately involved: And whereas by a late Act and Declaration of Parliament, All persons have been Warned and Commanded not to give any Countenance or Assistance to the said Charles Stuart or his Party, but to Oppose them, and to Assist the Forces of this Commonwealth for the apprehending of them, to which a most cheerful and general Obedience hath been given by the People according to their Duty, wherein the Parliament doth humbly acknowledge the Goodness of God to this Nation, and shall not fail to manifest their good Acceptance of the people's Affections herein; All which the Parliament of England having taken into their serious Consideration, although they cannot conceive that any true Englishman can be debauched from the Duty and Fidelity which they owe to their Native country, upon such Deluding and false Pretences as the Enemy hath used, and that therefore it is not necessary to make any further Declaration herein; Yet for the more Notoriety of the Fact to all persons concerned to take knowledge of the same, and to avoid all pretence of Ignorance in any touching the Condition of this Man and his Followers, Have thought fit to Publish and Declare, And do hereby Publish and Declare the said Charles Stuart to be a Rebel, traitor and public Enemy to the Commonwealth of England, and all his Abettors, Agents and Complices to be Rebels, traitors and public Enemies to the Commonwealth of England; And do hereby Command all Officers Civil and Military, in all Market-Towns and convenient places, to cause this Declaration to be proclaimed and published.   

Monday, 25th August, 1651.  
ORdered by the Parliament, That this Proclamation be forthwith Printed and published.  
Hen: Scobell, Cleric. Parliamenti.   

London Printed by John Field Printer to the Parliament of England. 1651.