WHereas We have been Inform'd, That a False, Scandalous, and Seditious Libel, and Destructive to the Freedom and Li­berties of Parliament, Intituled, An Account of the Proceedings of the House of Commons in Relation to the Recoining the Clipp'd Money, and Falling the Price of Guineas, has been Printed and Dis­persed; And whereas the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament Assembled, have humbly besought Vs to Issue Our Royal Proclamation, for Discovery of the Author of the said Libel: We therefore (with the Advice of Our Privy Council) have thought fit to Issue this Our Royal Procla­mation, hereby Requiring and Commanding all Our Loving Subjects whatsoever, to Discover the Author of the said Li­bel, to the end he may be Dealt withal, and Proceeded against according to Law. And We do hereby Promise and Declare that whosoever shall Disco­ver the Author of the said Libel, shall Have and Receive as a Reward, for such Discovery, the Sum of Five hundred Pounds; which said Sum of Five hundred Pounds the Com­missioners of Our Treasury are hereby Required and Directed to Pay accordingly. And We do also further Promise and Declare, That if any Person (other than the Author himself) who was any ways privy to, or instrumental in, the Printing or Dispersing the said Libel, shall Discover the Author thereof, the Person making such Discovery, shall not only have the said Sum of Five hundred Pounds, as aforesaid, but also Our gracious Pardon for his Offence. And We do hereby strictly Charge and Command all Our Lo­ving Subjects (as they will answer the contrary at their Perils) that they do not any ways Conceal, but Discover the Author of the said Libel, to the end he may be Pro­ceeded against with the utmost Severity, according to Law.

Given at Our Court at Kensington the Fifth Day of November, 1696. In the Eighth Year of Our Reign.

God save the King.