Page [unnumbered]
A PROCLAMATION Against Prophaneness.
WILLIAM by the Orace of God, King of Great-Britan, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith; To _____ _____ Macers of Our Privy Council, Messengers at Arms, Our Sheriffs in that Part conjunctly and severally, specially Constitute, Greeting: FORASMUCH as, notwithstanding of the many good Laws and Acts of Parliament made against Prophaneness, and for the restraining and suppressing of Vice and Im∣moralities, the same do still abound to the great dishonour of God, the Re∣proach of the true Protestant Religion, and to the Hurt and Prejudice of the Peace and Government of the Realm; And We being resolved, as it hath alwise been Our Care, to have these Laws and Acts of Parliament put to due and vigorous Execution; And conceaving that the Printing and Pub∣lishing of an Abreviat of the saids acts duely collected, and laid together for the better Information and Instruction of all Our Judges, Officers and Ministers of the Law, and also of Our other Good Subjects, may be of special Use and Advantage, for their better Observation and Execution, ac∣cording to their full Tenor and Intent: THEREFORE, and in Answer to an Address presented to the Lords of Our Privy Council, by the Com∣missioners of the late General Assembly of this Church for that effect; We with Advice of the saids Lords of Our Privy Council, have thought fit, and do hereby appoint the Abbreviat and List of the saids Acts hereto subjoyn∣ed to be Printed, and duely published at all the Mercat-Crosses of the Head-Burghs of the Shires, Stewartries, Regalities and Bailliaries of this Realm: And farder, that in all time coming, this present Proclamation, with the Abbreviat and List thereto subjoyned, be publickly read twice every Year in all the Paroch Churches and Congregations within this Kingdom, to wit, on the first Lords Day after each Term of Whitsunday and Martinmass yearly, af∣ter the Forenoons Sermon, and before the dissolving of the Congregation; and that all Presbytries be careful to have this Publication constantly and so∣lemnly made in all Churches within their Bounds, with suitable and pertinent Exhortations, as they will be answerable; And We peremptorly Command and Charge, all Judges, Magistrats and Officers of the Law whatsoever, each of them within their Bounds and Jurisdictions, and as they are thereto res∣pectively