Governor Jonathan Belcher's Proclamation
for Bringing a Criminal to Justice (1733)
By His EXCELLENCY
Captain General and GOVERNOR in Chief in and over His Majesty's
Province of the
Massachusetts Bay in New England.
A PROCLAMATION
for Apprehending Gyles du
Lake Tidmarsh.
WHEREAS Gyles du Lake
Tidmarsh of Boston did on the twenty-seventh day of October last, in a most
violent and outrageous manner with force and arms assault and abuse William
Brattle, Esq; a member of the House of Representatives, for some
discourse of the said William Brattle upon a debate had that day in the said
house; Which assault and abuse the Great and General Court or Assembly of this
Province then sitting did resent as a high affront and indignity offered to
themselves as well as to that member, and did accordingly pass an order
requiring the sheriffs of the several counties in this Province and their
officers to apprehend the body of the said Gyles du Lake Tidmarsh and to have
him before the Court to answer for the said crime; And whereas the said Gyles du
Lake Tidmarsh has thereupon absconded and fled from justice;
I have therefore thought fit,
at the request of His Majesty's Council and the House of Representatives, to
issue forth this Proclamation, hereby requiring all sheriffs, under-sheriffs,
constables, and other [of] His Majesty's officers, to make diligent search and
inquiry after the said Gyles du Lake Tidmarsh, and to apprehend and bring before
one or more of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, that so he may be had
[presented] before the Great and General Court or Assembly to answer for his
said crime. And as a reward for the good service of such officer or officers, or
of any other of His Majesty's good subjects that shall apprehend and secure the
said Gyles du Lake Tidmarsh and render him to justice as aforesaid, there shall
be allowed and paid to such person or persons the sum of fifty pounds out of the
public treasury of this Province.
Given at the Council Chamber
in Boston, the ninth day of November 1733, in the seventh year of the reign of
Our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Second, by the Grace of GOD of Great Britain,
France and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, and etc.
By Order of the Governor,
with the Advice of the Council, J. BELCHER.
J. Willard, Secr.
GOD save the King.
BOSTON: Printed by J. Draper, Printer to His Excellency the GOVERNOR and COUNCIL. 1733.
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