98 ~  [16 November 1695]  Proclamation by Governor Francis Nicholson prohibiting the export of grain.

Maryland//  By his Ex^ncy the Capt Gen^ll a Proclamation

Whereas it hath been represented unto me that through the unseasonableness of the late Summer & this fall will be occasioned small quatities of corn to be made within the several Counties of this Proivince. And for as much as it is also given out that the generality of People have allready spent their cropps of wheat out of meer necessity drove the reto(?) for want of Indian corn become scarce throughout the whole Province by means of the excessive sharpness of the late Winter season being launcht out in such abundance for the support of the Inhabitants stocks of catle & hoggs, therefore to prevent the exportation of Indian corn or English grain dureing this likelyhood of scarcety I have by & with the advice of his Ma’ties hon’ble Councel, as also by the special instance & request of the Wor’ll the House of Burgesses in Assembly now conveined thought fitt for the reasons afsd to publish & proclaime, And I doe hereby accordingly strictly order & command that no persons whatsoever, Inhabitants or otherwise within this Province doe (after the Proclamation hereof) presume to carry or load on board any shipp, sloop, shallop, boat, cannow or other bottom, any Indian corn, wheat or other English grain with intent to export the same, and that no master or owner of any such shipp, sloop, shallopp, boat cannow or other bottom receive or take on board the said vessels any Indian corn wheat or English grain as afsd with any intent other than to transport the same from one Plantation to another for the suply of the Inhabitants within this Province & for their necessary support in their voyage under pain & peril of the parties (therein found offending) being prosecuted according to the utmost severity of the Law for contempt. And to the end due notice hereof may be given I doe further strictly charge & command the severall Sheriffs of the Province to make Proclam’n hereof in the most publick & convenient places within their respective Counties, to which all Persons are hereby required to yield as due & ready obedience under the pain & penalties aforementioned. Given at the port of Annapolis, under the broad Seal of the Province this 15th day of October in the seventh year of his Ma’ties Reign  Anno Domini 1695.

                        God Save the King                              Fr. Nicholson

True coppy Examined by the original p/ me

                                    Hen Denton Clk Concil