Friday 23 December 2011

23rd December 1811: Ned Lud's Proclamation

23 Dec. 1811


I do hereby discharge, all manner of Persons, who has been employ’d by me, in giveing any information, of breaking Frames, to the Town Clerk, or to the Corporation Silley Committee ~ any Person found out, in so doing or attempting to give out any information, will be Punish’d with death, or any Constable found out making any enquiries, so has to hurt the Cause of Ned, or any of his army, D E A T H (by order of King Lud)

The letter can be found at HO 42/118 (although it is a Clerk's copy). A further version is also transcribed in Binfield (2004, p.86), which is reproduced below:


Ned Ludd

Proclamation

I do hereby discharge all manner of Persons, who has been employed by me in giving any information of breaking frames to the Town Clerk or to the Corporation Silley Committee, any person found out in so doing or attempting to give any information, will be punished with death or any Constable found making inquiries so as to hurt the cause of Ned or any of his Army, Death

By order of

King Ludd

(with the Prince & 2
Thousand Pounds 2 Hundred Pounds Reward.
at their Ace.)

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