WHEREAS by the Ancient Laws and Statutes of this Realm great and heavy Penalties are inflicted upon all such as shall be found to be spreaders of false News , or promoters of any malicious Slanders and Calumnies in their ordinary and common discourses ; And by the said Laws it is provided , that the Tellers and Publishers of false News and Tales shall be taken and adjudged to be the first authors and contrivers of them , in case he or they shall not bring forth and produce the person from whom he or they first heard the said News or Tales . And notwithstanding that the said Penalties of the said Laws and Statutes have by a Proclamation issued from this Board , dated the 9th . of July 1672 been published and made known , that so all persons might take notice of them , and avoid the said Penalties , yet there have been of late more bold and licentious Discourses than formerly , and men have assumed to themselves a liberty not only in Coffee-houses but in other places and meetings both publick and private , to censure and defame the proceedings of State , by speaking evil of things they understand not , and endeavouring to create and nourish an universal Iealousie and Dissatisfaction in the minds of all His Majesties good Subjects ; We therefore the Lords Iustices and Council have thought fit , by this our Proclamation , to forewarn and strictly command all His Majesties Subjects , that they presume not henceforth , by writing or speaking , to utter or publish any false News or Reports , or to intermeddle with the affairs of State or Government , or with the Persons of His Majesties Counsellors or Ministers , in their common or ordinary discourses , as they will answer the contrary at their utmost perils ; And because all bold and irreverent Speeches touching matters of this high nature are punishable , not only in the Speakers , but in the Hearers also ; unless they do speedily reveal the same unto some of His Majesties Privy Council , or some other His Majesties Iudges or Iustices of the Peace ; therefore , that all men may be left without excuse , who shall not hereafter contain themselves within that modest and dutiful regard which becomes them ; We do further declare , that we will proceed with all severity against all manner of persons , who shall use any bold or unlawful Speeches of this nature , or be present at any Coffee-house , or other publick or private meeting , where such Speeches are used without revealing the same in due time ; We being resolved to suppress this unlawful and undutiful kind of Discourse , by a most strict and exemplary punishment of all such Offenders as shall be hereafter discovered ; And to that end We do hereby will and require all and every His Majesties Iudges and Iustices of the Peace , and all other His Majesties Magistrates and Ministers in their several stations , that they take special care to have the said Laws put in due execution against all such as have or shall hereafter offend in this kind .