564 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97.

       Lib. H. D.    By his Exncy the Capt Genll a Proclamacon.

              A Proclamation Whereas his Mats Writ of Venire has issued to

              issued at Coll: Cood Sundry Counties of the Province agt W John Cood,

              &ca commonly called Coll: John Cood for the causing

              him to be and appear before his Mats Justices of the provll

        Whitehall     Court to Answer to a certain prsentmt by his Mats Attorney

              Gen” preferred agt the sd Cood for Blasphemy & found by

              the Grand Jury of this Province, but fforasmuch as all

              Measures hitherto taken for the bringing him to condign

              punishmt have proved ineffectuall being harbour'd (as is sup

              posed) by some Evill minded persons Enemies to this his

              Mats Governmt; I have therefore (by & with the Advice of his

              Mats honrble Councill and of the Justices & Kings Lawyers

              therein had) thought fit to publish and declare, and I do

              hereby accordingly strictly Charge and forwarn all persons

              whatsoever, inhabiting or otherwise residing within the Same

              from Entertaining, Aiding harbouring or assisting him the sd

              Cood in any respect whatsoever, undr pain of being prose

              cuted according to the Utmost Severity of the Law but on the

              Contrary that they Vse their Utmost Endeavour to take him

              in Ordr that he may be brought to Speedy Justice in answer

              ing such his Notorious Crime, hereby ascertaining a Reward

              of Twenty pounds Sterling to that prson which shall so ap

              prehend & Cause him to be brought in; And to the End due

              notice hereof may be given I doe hereby Command the

              Severall Sherriffs of this Province to make proclamacOn

              hereof in all Churches Chappells & other publick places of

              Meeting within their respective Counties, as they will answer

              die Contrary at their perill; Given under the broad Scal of the

              Province this 17th day of December in the Eigth year of his

              Mats Reign &ca Annoq Domini 1696.

                              God Save the King. ffr: Nicholson.

              Ordr for all His EXnCY was pleased to Command that the Jus

              prsons abt

              Town to tices of the provll Court should have notice to be all

              appear at the prsent upon the Bench & for to Ordr the Sherriff to

              Cort House

              &casummons all prsons about lown that they be forth

              with and Appear at the Court house he being de

       Whitehall signed to Come down thither having something to declare

              in the face of the Countrey.

               His     accordingly goes down attended with his Mats

              honrble Councill and is pleased to declare in open Court (the

              Court House being full of people) how that he understood

              Mr Cood and Mr Clarke were infusing strange notions into

              the peoples heads how that this Countrey is Govern'd by an

              Arbitrary Sort of Power and that Justice is not Equally &

              impartially administred and such like; therefore was pleased