By the KING,

A PROCLAMATION.

GEORGE R.

WHEREAS it hath been represented to Us, that a great Number of Persons, in Consequence of Advertisements or Hand Bills inciting them thereto, did on Friday last the Second of this Instant June, assemble in a Riotous and Tumultuous Manner in Saint George’s Fields, in the County of Surry, from whence they proceeded in several Bodies to Palace-Yard, Westminster, surrounded both Houses of Parliament, and possessed themselves of the Avenues to the same, (the said Houses of Parliament being then sitting) where they continued in a Riotous and Tumultuous Manner, committing great Outrages and Violence against several of Our Subjects, and feloniously taking Money from them; after which, in the Evening of the same Day, they insulted and attacked the Houses of some of the Publick Ministers of Foreign Princes and States, residing at Our Court, and broke into, spoiled, and set Fire to Chapels, which in every civilized Country are allowed to such Publick Ministers for the free Exercise of the Religion of their Country, to the great Scandal and Offence of all truly pious and good Protestants; We therefore, in order that the Reproach of so frantick and atrocious an Outrage against the Precepts of Religion, as well as the Obligations of all Laws, may not remain a Disgrace to Our Kingdom, but may be confined to the Authors, Abettors, and Perpetrators of the said Outrage, and that they may be brought to speedy and condign Punishment, and that such dangerous and wicked Practices may hereafter be prevented, have thought fit, by and with the Advice of Our Privy Council, to publish and declare Our Resolution to put the Laws in Force against such Offences: And We do hereby enjoin, and require all Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs, Mayors, Bailiffs, Constables, and all other Our loving Subjects, to be aiding and assisting to the utmost of their Power in suppressing such illegal and tumultuous Assemblies, and in detecting, apprehending, and bringing to justice the Persons concerned in assembling or instigating the same, and guilty of any of the Violences above mentioned: And for the better Detection of the Persons who were concerned in the Outrages committed at the Houses of the said Publick Ministers, We are graciously pleased to promise, that if any Person shall discover any other Person or Persons who, directly or indirectly, were concerned in pulling down, or beginning to pull down, or in setting Fire to the Chapel of any Publick Minister, so as that the Person or Persons discovered may be prosecuted for the same, such Discoverer shall have and receive, as a Reward, upon Conviction of such Offender or Offenders, the Sum of FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS, and also Our Gracious Pardon for the said Offence, in case the Person making such Discovery shall himself be liable to be prosecuted for the same, except the Person who first broke into, or began to pull down or set Fire to the said Chapels. And the Commissioners for Executing the Office of Treasurer of Our Exchequer, are hereby required to make Payment of the said Rewards accordingly.

Given at Our Court at St. James’s the Fifth Day of June, One thousand seven hundred and eighty, in the Twentieth Year of Our Reign.

GOD Save the KING.

Source: London Gazette, 12097, 1- 4 July.

Lindsey: Handlist of Proclamations.