WEe have with great grief of mind , and anguish , beheld the late troubles and tumultuous distempers which have swelled up above the bancks of peace and allegeance , and drowned the whole Kingdome in an Ocean of blood , rapines and oppressions ; how much Wee have in all the time of Our raigne sought and pursued the peace and safety of Our Subjects ? those good Lawes by Us enacted for their preservation and benefit , doe to the world give a luculent and true testimony . But in this lamentable time of civill warre , which rages in the bowells of Our Kingdome , and no Law , though of never so much Justice and Consequence to the publike commodity is observed ; no Statute in force , no Institution , though never so sacred , reguarded ; every man making his lust a law , his revenge a Law : and as it was with the Israelites , in the time they had no King , every man does what he pleaseth , which u●limited and confused licenciousnesse , if it be not ( and suddenly ) restrained and reduced within its channell , it will like a violent streame , when it hath overflowed its bounds , that terminate it within its current , threaten the whole Nation its peace and facility with a deluge . Into such a labyri●th of mischiefes are the affairs of this lately flourishing Kingdome betrayed , that Our best clue of reason and discourse can scarce conduct Us out of i● .

But in the ●reatest dangers are most 〈◇〉 the greatnesse of fortitude and wisedome , which are as much expressed in preventing perills that are imminent , as in resisting and suffering th●●● vali●●tly , when they are 〈◇〉 upon Us. And in this kinde of prudence and courage for delivering Our Subjects from oppressions of the souldiers , Wee have neither beene wanting to Our peoples safety , nor those whom Wee have intrusted , with the performance of Our Commands neglected their duties : But 't is , and hath beene in all wars , ancient and moderne , a certaine military licence usurped by the souldier , which Wee have no edict , though never so strict , can deter or restraine him from . And therefore Wee cannot expect but some misdemeanors must be committed by ours , though it be publikely knowne by Our late Declaration to that purpose , how averse such proceedings are to Our nature , and with what earnestnesse and severity Wee have prohibited such kinde of insolencies to be offered to any of Our Subjects , who , though some of them misled from their duties , have not performed the parts of Subjects towards Us ; yet Wee shall never forget We are their King , and therefore their Protector from all outrages : but more especially Wee are ingaged to have a particular and indulgent eye upon the good of this City of Oxford , where Wee have f●●ed . Our royal● residence for the time being , and to secure the peace of this and the adjoyning Counties , as well from the violence and incursions of the Parliaments forces , which are neere their borders , as also from any injury or rapine of Our owne souldiers , as they are vulgarly termed Cavaliers .

Our Royall Pleasure therefore is , That the Sheriffes of Our Counties of Oxford , B●rks and Buckingham , and the other Counties , Our Justices of peace in the said Counties , as also Our adjoyning Majors , Bailiffes , and other Officers of Townes Corporate , upon any notice of the approach of any of the adverse forces , to draw up in Armes for their security against any such invasions , all the power of the said Counties or Townes Corporate ; and to make stout resistance against any that shall disturb the said Counties or Townes Corporate , or seeke to rob or pillage them or any of them , either of moveables , Money , Plate , or Cattell or any of their goods whatsoever , that it shall in such cases be lawfull for any of Our good Subjects to kill , ( or take prisoners , and then deliver them up to the justice of the Law ) any such rebe●lious persons or felons that shall against Our Lawes in that case provided , presume to offer these and the like violences to any of Our good Subjects , persons or estates in the said Counties : and We doe hereby command all Our Officers of warre , in garrisons or billitted in the said Counties , upon all occasions , to be ready to assist and relieve the said Counties and Townes Corporate , or any part of them , if any danger from the adverse forces shall approach them , under paine of Our Royall displeasure , and having such punishments inflicted upon them as Our Councell of warre in such cases shall thinke meet , according to the de●●●ent sodained by any of the said Counties through the negligence , cowardise , or default of any of Our Commanders or Souldiers . And for the better security and guard of the said Counties , their Inhabitants and goods , We shall in Our Royall care , and by the advice of Our Councell of warre , provide that such a convenient number of Our souldiers shall be billetted in most places of the said Counties , during Our abode in these parts , as shall neither be oppressive to the said Shires by reason of their multitude , nor yet shall suffer them to be oppressed by the opposite forces , which in civill wars , as in all others , will still be ready to watch all opportunities and advantages , whereby to infest or inclose Us : and because Our strength consists more in horse then in foot , Wee will allot and proportion a competent number of troopes to be disposed in all these Counties , which joyned with the Posse Comitatus , may divert and repell all dangers and detriments from Our good Subjects , which might fall on them from the Parliaments forces .

And We doe further signifie Our Royall pleasure to all Our Commanders and Souldiers that shall be disposed of as safeguards to the said Counties , that if at any time , or upon any occasion , be it want of pay , or whatsoever other pretence they bee to induce them thereunto , that none of them presume , either directly or indirectly to take any thing of any value from any of Our good Subjects , nor them any way , or by any meanes molest , but to demeane themselves like honest and civill Subjects , and such as are constituted the preservers of the peace and quietnesse of the said places where they are billetted , and not as infringers thereof : Whosoever shall presume to breake this Our Royall command , shall incurre such penalty as the haynousnesse of the fact doth deserve , both for the breach of Our Lawes , and the violation of the rights of hospitality . And this Our command stretcheth not onely to such places and persons , where , or with whom Our said forces are billetted , but to all other places within Our said Counties , and to all the persons of Our said Subjects , especially women and travellers , as Carriers , and the like , whom what souldier soever shal rob or plunder of any thing , or offer any violence to , which may be in terrorem vitae , shall surely upon proofe of that fact suffer death for the same .

And whereas We have for the present made Our good City of Oxford Our place of residence , Wee esteeme Our selves ingaged as well to secure the peace and affaires of the University and City against the violences and misdemeanors of Our owne souldiers , as against the attempts and invasions of the adverse partie . And for as much as dive●s of our Souldiers ( notwithstanding all the Declarations of Our Pleasure to the contrarie ) have , as Wee have been credibly enformed , committed divers abominable ou●rages in the townes of Abington , Alisburie , and other places in the said Counties : nay that some unruley Schollers , under pretence of his being a Malignant to Us , plundered the house of one Alderman Nickson in our Citie of Ox●ord , contrarie to Our Lawes in that case provide● ; Wee do hereby signifie to all Our Soldiers , and others within our Universitie and Citie of Oxford , that it is Our Royall Pleasure , that no Soldier or other shall dare to plunder the house , or houses of any Inhabitant in this Our Citie , for any pretence whatsoever , under the penaltie of suffering all the extremities of punishment , which the severitie and Justice of Our Lawes hath provided for Felons and Burglarers . And Wee doe hereby charge and command all Our Colonels , Lievtenant-Colonels , Sergeant Majors , Captaines and other Officers of Our Armie now resident in and about this Universitie and Citie , to observe this Our charge with all strictnesse , and to intimate the same to all the Souldiers of their severall Troops and Foot-Companies , that none of them hereafter ( so offending ) may plead ignorance for their excuse .

Wee further certifie to all Our said Officers , that Our Royall Pleasure is , that by their owne examples of sobrietie and temperance , and by their authorities , if any need require , that they restraine and endevour to avert all manner of quarrels betwtxt the Souldiers in this Our Citie of Oxford , it being now to be accounted as Our Royall Court , and they meerly as a Guard for Our Person , Our owne Presidiarie Legions : And that the said Commanders doe ( as much as in them lies ) for the restraint of their Souldiers , from all manner of cavill and contention , with any Inhabitant of this Our Citie , or Student of the Universitie ; intimating hereby , that Our Royall Pleasu●e is , that any Student or Inhabitant , who shall be fouly treated , or beaten , or revil'd by any of Our Souldiers , shall upon complain●●●●e to the Captaine , of Colonell of the said Souldier so offending , have right done him for the said in●●urie , by the punishment of the Souldier , according to the merit of his 〈◇〉 We also will and require all our Captaines , and all other superiour and inferiour Commanders , to abstaine themselves from all manner of disorders , in or about our said Citie , especially from the bestiall and unmanly vice of inordinate drinking , which by custome is growne to be too much used in our Nation , especially amongst those of the Militarie Profession .

Further , charging the said Commanders , to kind or asmuch as in them lies , the said intemperate excesse in the souldiers . And We doe hereby give all Our loving Subjects to understand , as well within Our said City and Counties adjoyning , as in the rest of Our Dominions , That We have alwayes ●●d , and so will ever have , as much true and tender surfe●● theirs as of Our owne sufferings , and shall evermore study to keepe them secure from all dangers , preserving , as Wee have often firmely declared and protested , their lives estates , and ancient libertie , from all oppression and invasions whatsoever , both during the time of these lamentable intestifie wars , and after , when it shall please heaven in its mercy ●o constitute and effect a faire reconcilement of all these sad and wofull distractions betweene Our selfe and Our high Court of Parliament ; which We hope will be speedily , that this Nation so long time blessed ( both in Our owne precedent raign , and that of Our deare fathers of famous memory ) with the fruits of peace , may againe flourish in unity ▪ peace and concord , which We hope the prayers of all Our good subjects doe implore with Us may suddenly come to pa●●● ; in which no care of Ours shall at any ( time , or upon any occasion be wanting .