Proclamation Issued by Governor Nicholson
By the Right
Honorable their Majties Leiut Governor
Whereas there are divers good lawes made in England & Va restraining the
profaining the Sabbath day & agt the wicked sins of cursing, swearing,
drunkenesse & debauchery & for the good govermt of this country &
amonge the rest of the good & wholesome lawes there are severall acts made
for the well ordering of Negroes particularly 1 made at a genll assembly begun
June 8, 1680 to prevent the rambling about of Negroes (which must frequently
happen on the Sabbath day) & agt Masters of families & overseers that
shall entertaine or suffer them to be in their plantacons. And whereas there is
an act made that enjoynes the haveing grand juries in every county that all
offenders may be presented & a due course taken for their punishmts to
deter the like offences for the future. Now to the end that the Sabbath day may
be kept holey, & that all prophainenesse & debaucheryes of what sort
soever may be discouraged & deterred that the judgmts of God Almighty bee
not drawne down upon all heads & that the good & wholesome lawes
concerning the same be put in execution & all other lawes for the good
governmt of this country, I Francis Nicholson Esq their Majties Leiut Gov. of
Va by the advise & consent of the councill doe by this proclamacon in their
Majties names will & require all & every the justices of the peace in
their severall county cts & stations to take care to present & punish
such as are Sabbath breakers & all other prophaine & scandalous livers
to put the lawes agt prophainouss in execution, & all other the good lawes
for the well ordering this their Majties country. And take escpeciall care that
Grandjuries of the best & most substantiall men in their counties bee duly
sworne & a strict charge given them to inquire agt all offences &
offenders & to present them to the county cts whoe are to cause all due
prosecutions to be had agt offenders & such punishmts & penalties to be
inflicted on them as the serverall lawes injoynes & to take care that
the act about Negroes be read in all county cts & churches as the lawes
injoynes. Hereof noe person is to faile as they will answer the contrary att
their attmost perills. Given under my hand & the seale of the collony July
26, 1690. Fr. Nicholson