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desirous of being removed into other countries, (as no meet
persons to live in this,) as King James in his proclamation
setteth forth.
Next followeth another proclamation of the said King's, for
apprehending the Grames returned from banishment, dated 22d
July 1614.
BY THE KING.
IT always hath been, and is our natural disposition, and the
temper of our government, to purge our dominions of
malefactors; and, nevertheless, draw as little blood as may
be, and rather to prevent offences that suffer them to go on
to the hurt of the innocent subjects, and the final
destruction of the malefactors themselves: According to
which mixture of clemency and good policy, we did, in the
first year of our reign, proceed against the Grames, being
the principal and most violent disturbers of the peace and
quiet of the middle shires. For notwithstanding that
numbers, by barbarous spoils, slaughters, and outrages, were
fallen under the sword of justice, to be capitally inflicted
upon them; yet we were pleased to extend mercy unto them,
and upon their own suit and humble prostrating of themselves
by submission, to remove them, and transplant them into our
realm of Ireland; there to become new men, and to put off
their wicked and desperate course of life, formerly
continued in blood and rapine. For which purpose, we did at
that time publish our Royal Proclamation, and also direct
our Commission, for the effecting of the same; which, not
without the great charge of us and the country thereabouts,
in their shipping and removing, was executed accordingly.
But now being given to understand, that divers of them are
of late returned into the middle shire, and begin to revive
their old courses of robbing, riding armed, and other
heinous disorders; to the great terror of our loving
subjects there inhabiting, and to the manifest contempt of
our former grace and mercy, and to the renewing of former
troubles and dangers in those parts, which at this time, by
our politic and peaceable government, enjoy equal benefit of
peace and security with the rest of our counties.
We do, therefore, hereby strictly forbid, That none of the
said Grames hereafter do presume to return into our realms
of England or Scotland, out of Ireland, or the cautionary
towns of the low countries whereunto some of them are sent,
and are since returned into Ireland, without special licence
of our deputy of Ireland for the time being; which licence
we intend to be according to such directions, and with such
cautions as we have already prescribed unto our said deputy.
And further, we do, in like strict manner, command and
ordain, that if any of them shall be taken within these
middle shires within the space of forty days of this our
proclamation, or any other time after such limitation of
stay as may be given to them in any their licences; that
forthwith, with all search and diligence, they may be
apprehended and committed to prison, and further proceeded
with; as well upon any of their former crimes, as upon the
contempt of this our Royal Commandment, according to the
uttermost severity of our law, and according to the
directions formerly given by us and our council for the
government of those parts: and that as well as our right
trusty and well-beloved Cousin the Earl of Cumberland, and
our right trusty and well-beloved the Lord Weldein, our
Lieutenant in those parts, as also our other Commissioners,
Justices, and Ministers for the middle shires, do take
special care and order for the due and strict executing of
this our proclamation, observing all other points not here
mentioned, their former instructions.
Given at Royston, the 22 July, in the twelfth year of our
reign.
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