WHEREAS diverse Seditious and Rebelliously affected persons of Our County of Wilts, being conscious to have justly deserved our high displeasure and the punishment of the Lawes, have withdrawn themselves from their estates and dwellings in that County, unto other parts, and places of this Kingdome, in the power and possession of the Rebells; where they remaine and (either personally, or by supplies of Money, and other Provisions,) are in Rebellion against us. And whereas by vertue of our Commission, lately issued under our Great Seal of England, the Lands of many such Delinquents have been seized, and by Our Commissioners disposed and Let at reasonable and moderate rates, to severall Tenants, who have agreed to pay their Rents to Us, and for Our use, untill the said Rebellious Persons shall submit themselves to Legall Tryalls; For the better inabling therefore, and incouragement of such Tenants to performe their undertakings for Our service, and that henceforth they may be freed from that violence which the Souldiers of Our Armies too frequently, without command, have exercised upon possessors of Delinquents Lands; We doe hereby Declare, That all persons whatsoever, as well such as formerly held Lands of such Delinquents, and now are, or hereafter by agreements, as aforesaid, or otherwise, shall be­come Our Tenants; as others, who have, or shall take such estates of Our Commissioners in that County, shall be held, reputed, and esteemed, to be in our immediat Protection and Regard; Wherefore We Will, Require, and Command, all Officers and Souldiers of Our Armies, that they at any time presume not to doe wrong or dammage to their Persons, Houses, Cattell, Lands, or Goods; And that as much as may be possible, and the service will permit, they forbeare at a­ny time to Billet or Quarter themselves or Horses on them; but that in all things such respect be had of them, and their welldoing, as is justly due to persons in Our speciall Service and Protection. And We doe hereby farther Order and De­clare, That if any such Officers or Souldiers, shall (after notice that they are Our Tenants) in contempt of this Our Pro­clamation, doe any Act whereby such Persons or any of them shall be damnified or oppressed, upon due information thereof given, they shall receive such severe and exemplary punishment as their Offences shall deserve.

Given at Our Court at Oxford, the fifth of March, in the Ninteenth yeare of our Reigne, 1643.

GOD SAVE THE KING.