The New Hampshire Gazette

LONDON. November 8.

The King has been pleased to issue a Proclamation for the encouragement of piety and virtue, and for preventing of vice, profaneness, and immorality ; thereby declaring his Royal purpose and resolution to punish all persons guilty thereof, of whatsoever degree or quality within this realm and particularly such as are employed near his Royal person ; and that for the encouragement of religion and morality. he will, upon all occasions, distinguish persons of piety and virtue by marks of his Royal favour. And he does thereby strictly enjoin and prohibit, all his loving subjects, of what degree or quality soever. from playing on the Lord's Day, at dice, cards, or any other game whatsoever, either in public or private houses. other place or places whatsoever ; and does thereby require and command them, and every of them, decently and reverently to attend the worship of God on every Lord's Day, on pain of his highest displeasure, and of being proceeded against with the utmost rigour that may be by law. And for the more effectual reforming all such persons, who, by reason of their dissolute lives and conversations, are a scandal to the kingdom, his further pleasure is, that all Judges. Mayors Sheriffs. Justices of the Peace, and all other Officers and Ministers, both Ecclesiastical and Civil, and all others whom it may concern, be very vigilant and strict in the discovery, and the effectual prosecution and punishment of all persons who shall be guilty of excessive drinking, blasphemy, profane swearing, lewdness, profanation of the Lord's Day, or other dissolute, immoral or disorderly practices; and that they take care also to effectually suppress all public gaming-houses and places and other lewd and disorderly houses. And to the end that all vice and debauchery may be prevented, and religion and virtue practised by all Officers, private Soldiers, Mariners, and others, who are employed in the service by sea and land, all Officers and Commanders whatsoever, are commanded to avoid all profaneness, debauchery, and other immoralities, and that by their own good and virtuous lives and conversation they do set good examples to all such as are under their care and authority ; and likewise take care of and inspect the behaviour of such as are under them, and punish those who may be guilty of any of the offences aforesaid, as they shall be answerable for the ill consequence of the neglect therein.