The Virginia Gazette

POETS
CORNER.

A
PROCLAMATION.

That live in our Town,
This Proclamation I address,
In
Hopes
of
great
Renown.

When
GEORGE
our
King
first fill'd his Throne,
He
thus
increas'd
his
Fame,
In
Imita-tion
of
him,
I
mean to
do
the
same.

For you
should
think that I am like
Unto our Sovereign King,
And so indeed I really am,
As like as any Thing.

Therefore to you, my Subjects dear,
These loving Lines I write,
In Hopes that you will read the same,
And therein take Delight.

Would you be counted wise and great,
Shun every Thing that's ill.
And evermore
submit yourselves,
Obedient to my Will.

Devoutly make God's sacred Law
The standing Rule of Life,
Avoid Deceit, Hypocrisy,
Sedition and Strife.

Each Night, before you go to Bed,
Be sure your Prayers to say,
And thank the Lord for all the Good
Of the preceding Day.

And that you still may keep in Mind
These Rules, which I lay down,
I now command the School-masters
And Ushers of the Town,

That they, in their respective Schools,
May ever watchful be,
To train the Youth to my Commands,
In strict Conformity.

All naughty Boys you must correct,
With Birch and Ferule too,
For, spare the Rod, and spoil the Child,
A Saying is most true.

How can you hope that Heaven will bless
The Saplings of this Land,
If you to Reformation
Lend not your helping Hand,

And furthermore, ye Children dear,
I solemnly declare
That if you will obedient be,
My Favours you shall share.

You shall have Cakes and Sugar Plumbs,
And many Things beside;
You shall be drest in Tunicks fine,
On Cock horse for to ride.

But if you should rebellious prove,
For all that do amiss,
I keep at Home a monstrous Rod,
A Rod, well soak'd in P---.

And now God prosper GEORGE, our King,
And grant him long to live:
From SALEM's Council Chamber, I
These wise Instructions give.