The League Illegal, Proclamation
BY THE KING.
His Majeſties Proclamation, forbidding the Tendring or Taking of the late Vow or Covenant, deviſed by ſome Members of both Houſes, to Engage His Majeſties good Subjects in the Maintenance of this odious Rebellion.
WHEREAS We have lately ſeen a Vow or Covenant pretended to be taken by ſome Members of both Houſes of Parliament, whereby after the taking notice of a Popiſh and Traiterous Plot for the ſubverſion of the true Reformed Prote ſtant Religion, and the Liberty of the Subiect and to ſurprize the Cities of London and Weſtminſtr, They do promiſe and covenant according to their utmoſt power to aſſiſt the Forces pretended to be raiſed and continued by both Houſes of Parliament, againſt the Forces raiſed by VsUs, and to aſſiſt all other perſons that ſhall take the ſaid Oath, in what they ſhall do in purſuance thereof; which Oath as the ſame hath been taken without the leaſt colour or ground, the Contrivers thereof well knowing that there is no popiſh Army within this Kingdom, that We are ſo far from giving countenance to that Religion, that We have alwayes given, and alwayes offered Our conſent to any Act for the ſuppreſſion of Popery, and the growth thereof; and that the Army raiſed by VsUs is in truth for the neceſſary defence of the true Reformed Proteſtant Religion eſtabliſhed by Law, the Liberty and Property of the Subiect, and Our own Iuſt Rights according to Law; all which being ſetled and ſubmitted to or ſuch a free and peaceable Convention in Parliament being provided for, that the ſame might be ſetled, We have offered and are ſtill ready to Disband our Armies: and as the ſaid Oath was deviſed only to prevent Peace, and to pre-engage the Votes of the Members of both Houſes (directly contrary to the Freedom and Liberty of Parliament) and to engage them and Our good Subiects in the maintenance of this horrid and odious Rebellion; ſo it is directly contrary, as well to their natural Duty as to the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy eſtabliſhed by Law, which obliges them to bear to VsUs Truth and Faith of Life, Members and Earthly Honour, and to defend VsUs to the utmoſt of their powers againſt all Conſpiracies and Attempts whatſoever, which ſhall be made againſt Our Perſon, Our Crown and Dignity and to do their beſt endeavours to diſcloſe and make known to VsUs all Treaſons and Traiterous Conſpiracies which ſhall be againſt VsUs and to their power to aſſiſt and defend all Iuriſdictions. Priviledges, Preheminences and Authority belonging to VsUs, or united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm. And whereas We are informed, that ſome deſperate ſeditious perſons do endeavour to perſwade and ſeduce others of Our good Subiects to take the ſaith Oath, thereby to engage them and this Kingdom into a continuanee of theſe miſerable and bloudy diſtempers, We do therefore out of Grace and Compaſſion to our people, and that they may not by any craft or violence ſuffer themſelves to be ſeduced againſt their Duty and Conſcience, warn them of their natural Allegiance, and their Obligations by Oaths lawfully adminiſtred to them, and wiſh them to remember the great Bleſſings of God in peace and plenty, which the whole Kingdom hath received, whilſt that Duty and thoſe Oaths were carefully obſerved, and the unſpeakable miſeries and calamities they have ſuffered in the breaking and violation thereof. And we do ſtraitly Charge and Command Our loving Subiects of what degree and quality ſoever, upon their Allegiance, that they preſume not to take the ſaid Seditious and Traiterous Vow or Covenant, which endeavours to withdraw them from their natural Allegiance which they owe unto VsUs, and to which they are or ought to be ſworn, and are bound by the known Laws of the Land, albeit they are not ſworn, and engages them in Acts of High Treaſon by the expreſs letter of the Statute of the 25th. Year of King Edward the third. And We do likewiſe hereby forbid and inhibit all Our Subiects to impoſe adminiſter or tender the ſaid Oath or Covenant: And if notwithſtanding this Our Gracious Proclamation any perſon ſhall preſume to impoſe, tender, or take the ſaid Vow or Covenant, We ſhall proceed againſt him or them with all ſeverity according to the known Laws of the Land.
Given at Our Court at Oxford, the One and Twentieth day of June, in the Nineteeth Year of Our Reign.
God Save the KING.
End of the text · Daniel Featley, The League Illegal (1660)