Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97. 433

  and of the Religion & Liberties thereof; which by the great Lib. H. D.

  providence & mercy of Almighty God was (by a timely dis

  covery) prevented; and duly considering that such great &

  publick Blessings do Call for publick and solemn acknowl

  edgmts I have therefore thought fit (by the advice of his Mats

  honoble Councill) to issue this my proclamation, hereby appoint

  ing & Commanding that a generall thanksgiving to Almighty

  God for these his Mercies be observed on thursday next

  within the Port & Town of Annapolis by the Justices of the

  provinciall Court now sitting and all the inhabitants & others

  then & there residing, and in the severall Counties & places

  within this province, on the third thursday in June next, strictly

  charging all his Mate loving Subjects within the same to abstain p. 346

  from servile & corporall labour on those days & religiously to

  keep the same, and that the Ministers of the severall parishes

  do then Read divine Service & preach, as they will answer the

  contrary; And to the end due Notice hereof may be given, I

  do further Command the severall Sherriffs of the province to

  make Proclamation hereof in all Churches, Chappells & other

  publick places of Meeting within their respective Counties;

  Given at the port of Annapolis vnder the Broad Seal of the

  province, this 19th day of May in the Eigth year of his Mats

  Reign &Ca Annoq Domini 1696.

                 God Save the King.  ffr. Nicholson

    On the back of the sd proclamation was thus written, Vizt Whitehall

    The Sherriffs are also Required to give Notice to the GenUe

  men of his Mats honoble Councill & Members of the House of

  Burgesses within their respective Counties, that the Royall

  Commands being Recd the Assembly will sit according to

  prorogation on the first of July next.

                    Signed p Ordr

                           Hen: Denton Cl Concil.

    Mr. Speaker, the Burgesses & Justices of the Provinciall Whitehall

  Court do pursuant to Ordr come vp, to whom was Read the

  aforesd severall Letters & papers; the Accot whereof (by

  private Letters, and from the honoble Sr Thomas Laurence

  Baront Secretary) was also given them yesterday; After which

  his Excell was pleased to Express his joy for the sd happy

  News of deliverance, by a publick Entertainmt made to the

  Gentlemen, begining his Mats health.