Proclamation from Governor Effingham

By His Excellency a Proclamacon-

Whereas by the prudent care of the Genll. Assembly a most necessary and good law was thereby made, to deter and prevent the insurrection of Negroe slaves for want of due observance whereof, and by the too frequent remissnesse of Masters of families in not restraining their Negroes from walking and rambling on broad on Satterdayes and Sundayes, by such liberty given them the opportunities of meetings in great tumults, to consentt and advise by all maner of wicked meanes and contrivances to hope by such plottings to putt themselves into a capacity to exende their bloody purposes on their Masters and Mistrisses and by the execution of their sins, blood, plotts and designes to exempt and free themselves from their present slavery which of late yeares has beene too frequently notoriously made manifest threatning the total ruine and subversion of the inhabitants of this his Majties. governmt. if by Gods providence a timely discovery had not beene made of such plotts and designes and to the intent for the future that better care and diver observance may bee had and paid unto that wholesome and necessary law entituled an act preventing Negroes insurrections, I Francis Lord Howard Baron of Effingham his Majties. Leiut. and Governor Genll. of Virginia by and with the consent and advice of the councell of state have thought fitt that for the future noe Negroes slaves bee suffered to carry or arme himselfe with any staffe, clubb, gunn, sword, or other weapon, offensive or defensive, nor presume to depart from off his Master or Mistress grownd without the permission of his Master, Mistress or overseer and that to bee made manifest by certificate under the Master, Mistress or overseer hand, and any Negroe prosumeing otherwise to doe to bee taken and securyed and severly punished according as the before recited law hath directed and appointed and to the intent a strict enquiry bee made unto this good law the Grand Jury men of every respective county are hereby in his Majties. name strictly charged and comanded to make enquiry whether any Master or Mistresses of Negroes slaves bee neglectfull of their parts of the afoemenconed act, as alsoe whether Constables and other officers doe well and truely give correction unto such offending Negroes as shall be brought before them, and alsoe to enquire whether or noe that according to the direction of the said act the same bee published every six monethes att the respective county courts and parish churches within this collony, and if upon the Grand Juries enquiry of the due performance of the aforesaid act that they shall finde whether Master, Mistress or overseer wanting in their parts in the performance of the said act that then they present the same to the intent the offenders may bee prceeded against according to law. Given under my hand and the seale of the colony att Rosegill this fifth day of Nov Anno Dom. 1687. God Save the King Effingham.