Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 61

       for the sd Courts meeting sooner & other Reasons) and Lib. H. D.

       the sd Court is hereby Adjourn'd accordingly, Comanding all

       the Justices thereof, and Grand jury, to be precisely here on

       that day for the better Solemnizing the same, and tht in all

       parishes where Ministers are Resident, the sd Ministers doe

       Read Divine Service and preach, and where there are no

       Ministrs that Divine Service be Read, Strictly charging all

       prsons whatsoever within this Province to abstain from Servile

       and Corporall Labour on that day, and Religiously to keep

       the same, whereof the Severall Sherriffs are to give due

       Notice, by making Proclamacon, hereof, in all Churches

       Chappells and other publick places of meeting, within their

       respective Counties. And whereas by Virtue of an Ordr of

       my Self and Councill passed in December ]ast, Severall

       prsons have been prceeded agt by his Mats Attorney Genll here

       for their non Complyance in the Duty of their respective

       Offices pursuant to the directions of Severall Acts of

       Assembly and Orders of Councill issued. And fforasmuch as

       I have Recd: some reasonable Excuses both verball and

       written from divers of the parties Concern'd since such pro.

       cess issued alleadging their deficiency of not rightly under

       standing or being throughly advised in those matters and that

       the same was not done out of any Contempt, which allegacons

       I hope may prove true, But more especially taking into Con

       sideracon the happy News of his Mats health & prosperity

       &Ca before Recited, I do (by advice aforesd) hereby Signifye

       and Ordr that a ffinall Stop be put to the sd process, Provided

       the parties Concern'd do Still make due Complyance in per

       forming the severall matters and things, by the sd Acts of

       Assembly & former Ordrs of Councill injoyned them (for

       which they are proceeded agt) by the ffirst day of the next

       prov't Court, and not otherwise, whereof the Severall Sherriffs

       are to give due Notice and conform themselves accordingly,

       and to the End a future better observance may be made of all

       Laws Aets of Assembly and Orders of my Self and Councill,

       the Sherriffs are likewise to give Notice to all the Justices, p. 466

       Vestrymen, Overseers of the high ways & other Officers

       within their respective Counties whom any of the Laws of

       England Acts of Assembly of this Province, or Orders 01

       Councill do or may more imediately concern that they go to

       the Clerk of the County Courts where they live and there

       pruse the Laws of this Province as also Consult the Laws of

       England and likewise take Copy from the Sherriff of what

       Orders of Councill may relate to or Concern them to which if

       they make due & Constant Complyance they need not fear

       any molestacon or trouble, Otherwise they must expect to be

       proceeded agt according to Law; Given at the Port of