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 [sic] 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.
DUNMORE
(GOD save the KING.)
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