Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694—97. 485
   By his Exncy the Capt Gent &ca a Proclamation.   Lib. H. D
                                              p.     389
   Maryland: ss      ffor a Puklick Thanksgiving.
   A Proclama- Whereas the honrble Sr ‘fhomas Laurence Baront
   tion for a Publick Secretary of this his Mats province (being lately
   Thanksgiv. Arrived) hath brought the certain intelligence and
   ing &ca happy news of his Mats good health and of the
   Kingdoms being setled in peace and tranquility Since the
   Barbarous conspiracy intended against his Mats Sacred Person
   and the designed invasion of the ifrench; of his Mats Safe
   Arrivall in fflanders, together with the News of the happy
   Return of the ffleet from the Straits and the Strong Union
   both of the Armies and ffleets continued with the confederate
   Princes; All which inestimable Blessings require our publick
   acknowledgmts. And fforasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty
   God of his infinite goodness to Add to all these his rich mer
   cies the favour of seasonable weather, whereby plentiful Crops
   both of Corn & Tobacco are (this year) likely to be made
   within this Province, the ffleet being also here Safely Arriv'd;
   and duly considering that such great & public Blessings doe
   call for public and Solemn acknowiedgmts. I have therefore
   thought fit (by the Advice of his Mats honrble Councili) to issue
   this my Proclamation, hereby appointing & Comanding that
   a Genll thanksgiving to Almighty God (for these his mercy's Whitehall
   and ifavors) be observed on the Morrow being the 17th of this
   instant September, by the Generall Assembly of this Province
   within the Port of Annapolis now convened, and by all the
   inhabitants and others then and there residing or Sojourning,
   & in the Severall Counties & all other places of the province,
   on the 22d day of Octobr next strictly charging all his Mats
   Loving Subjects within the Same to abstain from Servile and
   Corporall labour on those days and Religiously to keep the
   same, and that the Ministrs of the Severall parishes do then
   read Divine Service and Preach as they will answer the con
   trary; 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 and other
   publick places of meeting within their respective County's.
     Given at the port of Annapolis under the Broad Seal of the
   province this 16th day of Septembr in the Eigth Year of the
   Reign of our Sovereign Lord King William the Third &ca
   Annoq Domini 1696.
                   God Save the King. fir. Nicholson.
The honrble Coll: Nicho Greenberry Came & was Aded.  Whitehall
  
            Produced and Read his Mats Royall Warrant from
   Mason& Whitehall for Mason and Burleys Pardon; Ordered
  
   Burley's Pardon &cca that the same be delivered to Mr Attorney and