By his Excellency the Right Hon. 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
Virginia, to wit.
WHEREAS I have been informed from undoubted Authority, that a certain Patrick Henry, of the County of Hanover, and a Number of deluded Followers, have taken up Arms, chased their Officers, and styling themselves an Independent Company, have marched out of the County, encamped and put themselves in a Posture of War; and have written and despatched Letters to divers Parts of the Country, exciting the People to join in their outrageous and rebellious Practices, to the great Terror of all his Majesty's faithful Subjects, and to open Defiance of Law and Government, and have committed other Acts of Violence, particularly in extorting from his Majesty's Receiver General the Sum of 330 £. under Pretence of replacing the Powder I thought proper to order from the Magazine, whence it undeniably appears, that there is no longer the least security for the Life and Property of any Man. WHEREFORE I have thought proper, with the Advice of his Majesty's Council, and in his Majesty's Name, to issue this my Proclamation strictly charging all Persons, upon their allegiance, not to aid, abet or give Countenance to the said Patrick Henry, or any other persons concerned in such unwarrantable Combinations, but on the contrary to oppose them and their Designs by every Means, which Designs must, otherwise, inevitably involve the whole Country in the direful Calamity, as they will call for the Vengeance of offended Majesty and the insulted Laws, to be exerted here, to vindicate the constitutional Authority of Government.
Given under my Hand and the Seal of the Colony, in Williamsburg, the fifth Day of May, 1775, and in the 15th year of his Majesty's reign.
GOD SAVE THE KING
