Whereas many of our subjects in divers parts of our Colonies and Plantations
in North America, misled by dangerous and ill designing men, and forgetting
the allegiance which they owe to the power that has protected and supported
them; after various disorderly acts committed in disturbance of the publick
peace, to the obstruction of lawful commerce, and to the oppression of our loyal
subjects carrying on the same; have at length proceeded to open and avowed rebellion,
by arraying themselves in a hostile manner, to withstand the execution of the
law, and traitorously preparing, ordering and levying war against us: And whereas,
there is reason to apprehend that such rebellion hath been much promoted and
encouraged by the traitorous correspondence, counsels and comfort of divers
wicked and desperate persons within this Realm: To the end therefore, that none
of our subjects may neglect or violate their duty through ignorance thereof,
or through any doubt of the protection which the law will afford to their loyalty
and zeal, we have thought fit, by and with the advice of our Privy Council,
to issue our Royal Proclamation, hereby declaring, that not only all our Officers,
civil and military, are obliged to exert their utmost endeavours to suppress
such rebellion, and to bring the traitors to justice, but that all our subjects
of this Realm, and the dominions thereunto belonging, are bound by law to be
aiding and assisting in the suppression of such rebellion, and to disclose and
make known all traitorous conspiracies and attempts against us, our crown and
dignity; and we do accordingly strictly charge and command all our Officers,
as well civil as military, and all others our obedient and loyal subjects, to
use their utmost endeavours to withstand and suppress such rebellion, and to
disclose and make known all treasons and traitorous conspiracies which they
shall know to be against us, our crown and dignity; and for that purpose, that
they transmit to one of our principal Secretaries of State, or other proper
officer, due and full information of all persons who shall be found carrying
on correspondence with, or in any manner or degree aiding or abetting the persons
now in open arms and rebellion against our Government, within any of our Colonies
and Plantations in North America, in order to bring to condign punishment the
authors, perpetrators, and abetters of such traitorous designs.

Given at our Court at St. James’s the twenty-third day of August, one
thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, in the fifteenth year of our reign.GOD save the KING.


From: The Birth of the Republic, 1763-89 (The Chicago History of American Civilization)