392 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97.

      Lib. H. D.By his Excellency the Capt Genll

                          A

            Maryland ss:     Proclamation

            a Proclama- Whereas diverse Complaints have at sundry times

            tion prohib

            iting Seamen been made vnto me by severall Masters & Corn-

            to travell manders of ships how that their Officers & Seamen

            without           .

          passes &ca are frequently inticed & led away for Pensilvania &

                   other adjacent Colonies as also Run themselves into

            many inconveniencies, through means of persons Entertaining

            & Receiving them into their houses at all time & times;

     Whitehall  whereby is occasion'd, not only very great neglect and much

            loss & damage to the Mastrs & Owners of such ships, but also

            exceeding detrimt to his Mats Royall.Navy for want of such

            Seamen (so inticed & led away) returning for England, besides

            publick Reflections & scandall which may be brought vpon

            the Governrnt for the same, if not timely prevented; To

            remedy therefore for the future such an apparent & growing

            Evill, 1 have thought fit to publish, make known & Ordr and I

        p. 294  do hereby accordingly proclaim & Command that no person

            whatsoever Military or Civill within this province, having a

            Plantation or otherwise keeping house, do hereafter any ways

            Entertain, harbour or Receive into his, her or their house or

            houses any Officer or Officers, Seaman or Seamen belonging

            to any ship or other Vessell trading within this province, vnless

            such Officer or Officers, Seaman or Seamen shall produce a

            good & authentick pass from vnder my hand or the hand &

            Seal of the Master of such ship or Vessell to which they belong,

            wherein shall be expressed the persons reall name or names,

            and that then they be no longer detained kept or Entertain'd,

            than the business they are sent vpon shall Require, vnder

            penalty of the party or parties (found offending contrary to the

            true intent & meaning of this proclamation) being proceeded

            agt according to the vtmost severity of the Law; And I do

            hereby likewise Notify & make known that what Officer or

            Officers, Seaman or Seamen as aforesd are (after publication

            hereof) found travelling without passes as aforesd shall be

            lyable to be taken vp and seized as Runaways and pay to the

            party so taking them vp according to the directions of the Law

            for Runaway servants. And forasmuch as severall Ordrs &

            Ordr touch- Ordinances of Assembly have heretofore issued to

            ing the Col- the Vestry's of the respective parishes within this

                 province touching the Collection & disposall of the

            the 401 tob fforty p poll, Vizt, that where the same was left

            P poll vncollected last year should be Collected this year,

            and that in Parishes where Churches are built & no Minister

            inducted, the same should be sold for Bills of Exchange or