C R  HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon surmounted by a crown  
BY THE KING.  
¶ A Proclamation for the apprehending and punishing all straggling Souldiers, for the greater security of His Majesties good Subjects.  
WHereas We have been certainly informed, that divers persons, who either are actually Souldiers of Our Army, or pretend themselves to be so, do wander up and down from Parish to Parish, in several Counties of this Our Kingdom under Our obedience, and there Quarter themselves upon the Inhabitants, and enforce them to give them Free-Quarter, without making any satisfaction; and likewise very often rob and despoil them of their Horses; cattle, and other goods, to the great prejudice and discouragement of Our good Subjects in those Counties. For prevention whereof, and that We may not be wanting, in these times of distraction and Rebellion, to give Our good Subjects all the relief and Protection We can possible, We are graciously pleased to declare Our Pleasure, and hereby to Will and Command, all and every Constable or other Officer of any Parish or town, whereunto any persons shall come, pretending themselves to be Souldiers, strictly to examine them, and if he either find they have Robbed, or taken away any Horses, cattle, or other goods from any Our Subjects whatsoever, without authority, or that they cannot produce any authentic pass, under the Hand and seal of the colonel, Lieutenant, colonel, or Sergeant-Major of the Regiment whereof he or they pretend themselves, or other the superior-Officers of Our Army, then the said Constable or other Officer, is forthwith to apprehended them, and cause them to be safely brought and delivered to the chief Officers of any Our nearest Garrisons or Quarters, who are speedily to cause them to be sent and delivered to the Provost Marshall-Generall of Our Army, or to such other Provost-Marshall, whom We shall for the ease and safety of each County cause to reside therein, who receiving with them particulars of the Offences of such Offenders, shall cause them to be brought to a Court of war, there to receive punishment as they deserve, for the satisfaction, and future security of Our good Subjects. And if it shall happen that such stragglers shall be of so great force and number, that the Constables shall not dare to apprehended them, then Our Command is, that upon notice given to the chief Officer of Our next Garrison or Quarter, he give the Constable, or other Officer such assistance, by sending out such a party, as shall be requisite to perform the same. But if any Souldiers of Our Army( especially those who are sick or wounded) shall pass through any of Our Counties, having such pass or testimonial, then Our Command is, that the Constable of every Parish, where they come to Lodge, shall provide for them necessary diet, and Lodging, the charge whereof shall be allowed out of the Contribution, in all those Counties who pay us the same. This Our Pleasure, We Command shall instantly be published in all the several Parishes of the Counties in Our Obedience, and be therein duly and fully observed by all Persons whatsoever, whom it may in any sort concern, at their utmost perils.  
Given at Our Court at OXFORD, this first of December, in the Nineteenth year of Our reign. 1643. 
 GOD SAVE THE KING.   

Printed at Oxford, by LEONARD LICHFIELD, Printer to the University. 1643.