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injurious, Our Proceedings in that respect having been per-
fectly consistent with that good Faith which We have always
made the Rule of Our Actions.
It is unnecessary to mention the Objections made to the
Behaviour of Our Ministers in Foreign Courts since it is
notorious that the principal View and Object of the Negotia-
tions of the French Ministers in the several Courts of Europe,
have been either to stir up intestine Commotions in the
Countries where they resided, or to create differences and
Misunderstandings between them and their respective Allies
The Charge of Piracy Cruelty and Barbarity against Our
Ships of War, is equally unjust and unbecoming; and We
have all such Proceedings in so much Abhorrence, that if any
Practices of that Nature had been made appear to Us, We
should have taken effectual Care to put a Stop to them and
to have punished the Offenders in the severest manner
We being therefore indispensably obliged to take up Arms
and entirely relying on the help of Almighty God who knows
the Uprightness of Our Intentions, have thought fit to declare
and do hereby declare War against the French King, and we
will in pursuance of such Declaration vigorously prosecute
the same by Sea and Land, being assured of the ready Con-
currence and Assistance of all Our Loving Subjects in so just
a Cause And We do hereby will and require, Our Generals
and Commanders of Our Forces, Our Commissioners for
executing the Office of High Admiral of Great Britain, Our
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Lib. C. B.
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Lieutenants of Our several Counties Governors of Our Forts
and Garrisons and all other Officers under them by Sea and
Land to do and execute all Acts of Hostility, in the Prosecu-
tion of this War against the said French King his Vassals and
Subjects, and to oppose their Attempts willing and requiring
all Our Subjects to take Notice of the same, whom we hence-
forth strictly forbid to hold any Correspondence or Communi-
cation with the Subjects of the French King and We do
hereby command Our own Subjects and advertise all other
Persons of what Nation soever not to Transport or carry any
Soldiers Arms Powder Ammunition or other Contraband
Goods to any of the Territories Lands Plantations or Coun-
tries of the said French King; declaring that whatsoever Ship
or Vessel shall be met withall, transporting or carrying any
Soldiers Arms Powder Ammunition or other Contraband
Goods to any of the Territories Lands Plantations or Coun-
tries of the said French King the same being taken, shall
be Condemned as good and Lawful Prize And Whereas there
are remaining in Our Kingdoms divers of the Subjects of the
French King, We do hereby declare Our Royal Intention to
be that all the French Subjects who shall demean themselves
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P. 227
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