The Upper House. 59

The following proclamation for punishing all Immoralities
and prophaneness read & approved of viz:

By his Excellency John Seymour Esq^r her Majesty's Cap^t
General and Governour in chief in and over this her Province
of Maryland and the territorys thereto belonging and Vice
Admiral of the same.

A Proclamation for preventing & punishing all immorality
and Prophaneness.

Whereas we cannot but be deeply sensible of the great
Goodness and Mercy of Almighty God in the peaceable and
happy Enjoyments of his manifold Blessings to us in this Pro-
vince under her most sacred Majest^ies immediate Government
Therefore we ought in Gratitude to return our most humble
and hearty thanks to him and Express the same by a Suitable
Life and Conversation avoiding all occasions of offending so
good and gracious a God by breaking our straite of our
Obedience & Duty to him and whereas nothing can prove a
greater dishonour to a well obeyed Government where the
Christian Faith is professed nor is likelier to provoke God to
withdraw his mercy and blessings from us and instead thereof
to inflict heavy and Severe Judgments upon this Province
than the open & avowed practice of Vice Immorality and
Prophaneness which amongst many men has too much pre-
vailed here of late years to the high displeasure of Almighty
God and the great Scandal of Christianity and the ill and fatal
Examples of others who have been Soberly Educated and
whose Inclination would lead them to the Exercise of Piety
and Virtue did they not daily find such frequented and re-
peated instances of dissolute living Prophaneness & Impiety
which has in a great measure been occasioned by the remiss-
ness and Neglect of the Magistrates not putting in Execution
those good Laws which have been made for the Suppressing
and Punishm^t thereof and by the ill Example of many in
Authority to the Great Dishonour of God and Reproach of
our holy religion
Wherefore and for that we cannot reasonably Expect the
Increase or Continuance of the Blessings we Enjoy unless the
like Evills be prevented for the Future I think my Self bound
in Duty to God and the Care of her Majest^ies Subjects to me
Committed during my Administration of Government here to
take Effectual Course that Religion Piety and Good manners
may Encrease and flourish in this Province I have therefore
by and with the Advice and Consent of her Majest^ies honble
Council thought fit to Issue this my Proclamation, and do
hereby publish and Declare that I will discountenance and
most Severely punish all manner of Vice Immorality and Pro-

Original
Journal.