Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1715/16. 335

    Maryland ss.                                                   C. P.

          By His Excellcy the Capt Genrll &c.

                    A Proclamation.

     Whereas it is rumoured, that many evil Persons, in this

    Province, such as Papists, Non Jurors, & others disaffected to

    the most Sacred Person, & happy Governmt of Our Gracious

    Sovereigne King George of Great Britain &Ca upon Notice of

    the late Insurrection & Rebellion, in Great Britain, adhering

    to the open & avow'd enimies of his Majesty's Crowne, and

    the British Constitution, have industriously spread about

    divers malitions false and untrue Reports tending to the dis

    couraging, and Weakning the Hands of his Majesty's good

    & faithful Subjects, hereby advancing their false Suggestions

    of his Matys Troops being over powered by those of the Re-

    bells in Great Britain, & by drinking the Health, & otherwise

    favouring the false & traiterous Claim, of a Popish Pretender

    against his Majesty's most lawfull & rightfull Title, to the

    Kingdoms he so Gloriously Possesses, and auspiciously governs.

     In order to restrain such unaccountable, Traiterous & dis

    loyal Actions, & obviate the Malice, and evil Practices, of such

    disafected evil minded Persons, in this Province, I have thought

    fit, by and with the Advice of his Lordsps honble Council of

    State to Issue this my Proclamation, in the name of the Rt.

    Honble the Lord Proprietarie of this Province, Strictly charging

    & requiring, all Sherriffs & Magistrates, within the same

    (especially at this Juncture) carefully to observe the demea

    nour, of such Persons in their respective Countys, and upon

    any Notice or Suspicion, they shall have of any such Traiterous

    disloyal, or other unwarrantable Proceedings of any such

    Papists, Non Jurors, or other suspected Persons, forthwith to

    Cause them to be apprehended & brought before the sd

    Magistrates, who are to tender unto them, the Oaths appointed

    by Act of Parliamt instead of the Oaths of Allegiance &

    Supremacy also the Oath appointed by the Act, of the fifth &

    sixth Years, of the late Queen, Entituled an Act, for the further

    Security of her Majesty's Person & Governmt and of the

    Succession to the Crowne of Great Britain, in the Protestant

    Line, which they are to require them to take, and also Subscribe,

    the last mentioned Oath, for the security of the Succession to

    gether with the Declaration, appointed by the Act of Parlia-

    ment, made in the 25th Year of King Charles the second, com

    monly called the Test, on refusall whereof, the sd Magistrates,

    are hereby comanded & enjoyned, to oblige them, to find and

    give good Security, for their Behaviour, & Appearance at the

    next County Courts, on Default whereof they are to Committ

    them to the County Goale, till such Security be given, or they