Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1700.     97

    restrain the Violence & Destruction thereof to the end there- Lib. X.

    fore that Our most sincere & devout thanks & acknowledg

    ments of such his Gracious mercy may be duly rendred

      I do by & with the advice of his Majestys honble [Council] p. 2E4

    Proclaim publish & Command all & singular his Majestys good

    Subjects the Inhabitants of this Prov that they religiously set

    apart and observe Thursday the 17th of August next ensuing

    as a day of thanksgiving for such the Great mercy of Al

    mighty God in Vouchsafing so signal a Deliverance

      And that the said day & duty thereof may be the more

    Religiously & decently observed upon this Occasion I do in

    his Majestys name strictly Charge & will the Several Minis

    ters of the Respective parishes in the several Counties within

    this Province to perform Divine Service on that day and the

    several Parishioners to attend the said Service and duty &

    that they Abstain from all Bodily Labour on that day as they

    will answer the contrary at their Peril & to the end that all

    Persons may have due notice thereof I commd the several

    Sheriffs to make publick this my Proclamation &ca Given

    under my hand & the Great Seal of this his Majestys Prov

    ince the 22d day of July in the 11th year of his Majestys Reign

    &ca Annoq Dni 1699

                                     N Blakiston

      God save the King

             By his Excellency the Capt Genl

                     A Proclamation

      Whereas Captain   Kidd Master of the Adventure

    Gally of New York together with divers other wicked Profli

    gate Persons consorting with him on Board the said Gally

    have lately Committed sundry notorious Piracys & Sea Rob- p. 255

    berys upon the Subjects of Divers Princes & States in peace

    & Friendship with his most Sacred Majesty & are now

    Suspected to be Hovering on the coast in order to Land

    & disperse themselves abroad into the Plantations thereby

    endeavouring to escape the Iustice of the Law for such

    their evil Demeritts I do therefore by this my Proclamation

    in his Majs name Strictly Require as well all Officers civil &

    Military within this Province as all other his Majestys good

    subjects that they use their utmost endeavours to seize &

    apprehend the said Captain Kidd or any of his wicked

    Accomplices when & wherever they shall be known & Dis

    covered to Land or come into any part of this Provs & them

    to secure until such time as I can have Notice thereof to give

    my further Direction therein & to the end those wicked &

    detestable persons may not have any Shelter or Covert here

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