FOOTNOTES:
[1] Because of his friendship for James II, William Penn fell under suspicion when William III came to the throne. On February 27, 1689, a warrant was issued by the Privy Council for his arrest upon suspicion of high treason (Privy Council Register, III William, vol. 1, p. 24). In June 1690 the interception of a letter written to him by James II caused him to be brought before the Privy Council. Upon receiving the news of the proclamation including him among the King's enemies, he at once surrenderd himself, but no evidence appearing against him, he was discharged by the court of King's bench on November 28. (Dict. of National Biography, xliv, 315).
[2] Dixon, in his William Penn (1872 ed., p. 275), is evidently in error in referring to this proclamation as issued on June 24. J. M. Rigg, in his article on Penn in the Dictionary of National Biography, gives the date as July 17, possibly because on one of the two copies of the proclamation in the British Museum someone has written this date, or because it was printed in the London Gazette on that day.
[1691, February 5.]
[For Apprehending William Penn.]
BY THE KING AND QUEEN.
A PROCLAMATION
For Discovering and Apprehending the late Bishop of Ely, William Penn, and James Grahme.
Marie R.
Whereas Their Majesties have received Information, That Francis late Bishop of Ely, William Penn Esquire, and James Grahme Esquire, with other Ill-affected Persons, have Designed and Endeavoured to Depose Their Majesties, and Subvert the Government of this Kingdom, by procuring an Invasion of the same by the French, and other Treasonable Practices, and have to that end held Correspondence, and Conspired with divers Enemies and Traitors, and particularly with Sir Richard Grahme Baronet, (Viscount Preston in the Kingdom of Scotland) and John Ashton Gent. lately Attainted of High Treason; For which Cause several Warrants for High Treason have been Issued out against them, but they have withdrawn themselves from their usual Places of Abode, and are fled from Justice: Their Majesties therefore have thought fit, by and with the Advice of Their Privy Council, to Issue this Their Royal Proclamation; And Their Majesties do hereby Command and Require all Their Loving Subjects to Discover, Take and Apprehend the said Francis late Bishop of Ely, William Penn and James Grahme, wherever they may be found, and to carry them before the next Justice of the Peace, or Chief Magistrate, who is hereby Required to Commit them to the next Goal, there to remain until they be thence Delivered by due Course of Law; And Their Majesties do hereby Require the said Justice or other Magistrate, immediately to give Notice thereof to Them or Their Privy Council. And Their Majesties do hereby Publish and Declare to all Persons that shall Conceal the Persons above named, or any of them, or be Aiding or Assisting in the Concealing of them, or furthering their Escape, that they shall be Proceeded against for such their Offence with the utmost Severity according to Law.
Given at Our Court at Whitehall the Fifth Day of February, 1690/1. In the Second Year of Our Reign.
God save King William and Queen Mary.
London, Printed by Charles Bill and Thomas Newcomb, Printers to the King and Queens most Excellent Majesties. 1690.
1 p. folio. There are two issues, varying slightly in set-up and in the cut of the royal arms. Copies in Adv., B. M., Crawf., Dalk., D. H., Guild., P. C., P. R. O., and T. C. D. Entered on Patent Rolls; entered in Privy Council Register, III William, vol. 2, p. 112. Printed in "London Gazette," February 7, 1691; reproduced in the January number of the "Journal of the Friends Historical Society."
[1700, January 29.]
[For Apprehending Author of Darien Libel.]
BY THE KING.
A PROCLAMATION.
William R.
Whereas We have been Informed, That a False, Scandalous, and Traiterous Libel, Intituled, An Inquiry into the Causes of the Miscarriage of the Scotch-Colony at Darien, or, An Answer to a Libel, Intituled, A Defence of the Scots Abdicating Darien,[1] has been Printed and Dispersed, the Design of which libel was to Create a Misunderstanding between Our good Subjects of England and Scotland, and to Stir up Sedition and Rebellion, and is Injurious to, and Reflects on the Honour of both Nations: And whereas the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament Assembled, have humbly besought Us,[2] to Issue Our Royal Proclamation for Discovering and Apprehending of the Author and Printer of the said Libel; We therefore (with the Advice of Our Privy Council) have thought fit to Issue this Our Royal Proclamation, hereby Requiring and Commanding all Our Loving Subjects whatsoever, to Discover and Apprehend the Author and Printer of the said Libel, to the end they may be dealt withal and proceeded against according to Law. And We do hereby Promise and Declare, That whosoever shall Discover or Apprehend the Author of the said Libel, so as he may be brought to Justice, shall Have and Receive, as a Reward for such Discovery and Apprehending, the Sum of Five hundred Pounds: And that whosoever shall Discover or Apprehend the Printer thereof, so as he may be brought to Justice, shall Have and Receive, as a Reward for such Discovery or Apprehending, the Sum of Two hundred Pounds; Which said respective Sums of Five hundred Pounds and Two hundred Pounds, the Commissioners of Our Treasury are hereby Required and Directed to Pay accordingly. And We do hereby further Promise and Declare, That if any Person (other than the Author himself) who was any ways Privy to, or Instrumental in the Printing and Dispersing the said Libel, shall Discover or Apprehend the Author thereof, the Person making such Discovery, or Apprehending the said Author, shall not only have the said Sum of Five hundred Pounds, as aforesaid, but also Our Gracious Pardon for his Offence. And We do hereby strictly Charge and Command all Our Loving Subjects (as they will answer the contrary at their Perils) that they do not any ways Conceal, but Discover and Apprehend the Author and Printer of the said Libel, to the end they may be Proceeded against with the utmost Severity according to Law.
Given at Our Court at Kensington the Twenty ninth Day of January, 1699. In the Eleventh Year of Our Reign.
God save the King.
London, Printed by Charles Bill, and the Executrix of Thomas Newcomb, deceas'd, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1699.
1 p. folio. There are two issues varying slightly in set-up and in the cut of the royal arms. Copies in Antiq., B. M., Dalk., and P. R. O.; also in John Carter Brown Library. There is also a manuscript draft of this proclamation in British Museum Additional MSS., 21136, fol. 63. Entered on Patent Rolls; entered in Privy Council Register, III William, vol. 5, p. 412. Printed in "London Gazette," February 1, 1700.