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Dunsmore's Proclamation
Lord
Dunmore's Proclamation
By
His Excellency the Right Honorable JOHN Earl of DUNMORE, His Majesty's
Lieutenant and Governor General of the Colony and Dominion of
VIRGINIA, and Vice Admiral of the same.
A
PROCLAMATION
As
I have ever entertained Hopes, that an Accommodation might have
taken Place between GREAT-BRITAIN and this Colony, without being
compelled by my Duty to this most disagreeable but now absolutely
necessary Step, rendered so by a Body of armed Men unlawfully
assembled, firing on His MAJESTY'S Tenders, and the formation
of an Army, and that Army now on their March to attack his MAJESTY'S
Troops and destroy the well disposed subjects of the Colony. To
defeat such treasonable Purposes, and that all such Traitors,
and their Abettors, may be brought to Justice, and that the Peace,
and good Order of this Colony may be again restored, which the
ordinary Course of the Civil Law is unable to effect; I have thought
fit to issue this my Proclamation, hereby declaring, that until
the aforesaid good Purpose can be obtained, I do in Virtue of
the Power and Authority to ME given, by His MAJESTY, determine
to execute Martial Law, and cause the same to be executed throughout
this Colony: and to ****** the Peace and good Order may the sooner
be restored, I do require every Person capable of bearing Arms,
to resort to His MAJESTY'S STANDARD, or be looked upon as Traitors
to His MAJESTY'S Crown and Government, and thereby become liable
to the Penalty the Law inflicts upon such Offenses; such as forfeiture
of Life, confiscation of Lands, &. &. And I do hereby
further declare all indented Servants, Negroes, or others, (appertaining
to Rebels,) free that are able and willing to bear Arms, they
joining His MAJESTY'S Troops as soon as may be, foe the more speedily
reducing this Colony to a proper Sense of their Duty, to His MAJESTY'S
Crown and Dignity. I do further order, and require, all His MAJESTY'S
Liege Subjects, to retain their Quitrents, or any other Taxes
due or that may become due, in their own Custody, till such a
Time as Peace may be again restored to this at present most unhappy
Country, or demanded of them for their former salutary Purposes,
by Officers properly ***** to receive the same.
GIVEN
under my Hand on board the Ship WILLIAM by Norfolk, the 7th Day
of November in the SIXTEENTH Year of His MAJESTY'S Reign.
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