C R  DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms  
By the King.  
A PROCLAMATION For the Observation of the Lords day, and for renewing a former Proclamation against Vicious, Debauched and Profane persons.  
CHARLES R.  
THe King's most Excellent Majesty considering the Pious Zeal of His Predecessors, and this whole Church, since the time of the happy Reformation, to the due observance of the Lords day, called Sunday, beyond any other of the Reformed Churches abroad, as being a day to be separated from common uses, and set apart and appropriated for the Service of God; His Majesty therefore (whose charge under God, is to take care both of the Spiritual and Temporal State of His People) for prevention of profanations of that Solemn day, which he fears may else be a growing evil, hath thought fit, with the Advice of His Privy Council, to publish this ensuing Proclamation: And to the end all His loving Subjects may take notice of the good Laws and Statutes provided for the Celebration thereof, by frequenting Divine Service, doth hereby make known and Declare, That by the Statute made in the First year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth, Entitled, There shall be Uniformity of Prayer and Administration of Sacraments, All persons, having no lawful or reasonable excuse to be absent, are required diligently to resort to their Parish-Church, Chapel, or usual place where Common-Prayer and the Service of God is usually Celebrated, upon every Sunday, and other days appointed to be kept as holidays, then and there to abide orderly and soberly during the time of Common-Prayer, Preaching, or other Service of God, upon pain (besides Ecclesiastical Censures) of forfeiting for every offence Twelve pence to the use of the Poor of the Parish; And for the easy and speedy obtaining of the said Penalties, by the Statute made in the Third year of the Reign of His Majesty's late Grandfather, King James, Entitled, An Act for the discovering and repressing of Popish Recusants, It is (amongst other things) Enacted, That for any the offences aforesaid, any one justice of the Peace where the party offending shall dwell, upon proof by Confession, or Oath of Witness, may give Warrant to the Churchwarden of that Parish, to Levy every such Forfeiture of Twelve pence, by Distress and Sale of the Offenders Goods. And that by the Statute made in the First year of the Reign of His Majesty's late Father King Charles (of blessed memory) Entitled, There shall be no Assemblies for unlawful Pastimes on the Lord's day, All meetings and Concourse of people out of their own Parishes for any Sports and Pastimes whatsoever, and all unlawful Exercises within their own Parishes on the said day, are Prohibited, upon several Pains and Penalties therein specified. And that by the Statute made in the Third year of the Reign of the laid late King Charles, Entitled, A Restraint of divers Abuses committed on the Lord's day, All Carriers, Waggon-men, Carmen, Wayn-men, and Drovers, are Prohibited to Travel with their Horses, Wagons, Carts, wains and , and Butchers to Kill or Sell any Victuals on the said day, under several Penalties therein specified, to be Levied and Employed as is therein directed; Which several Branches of the several Statutes aforesaid, His Majesty's Will and Pleasure is, and doth hereby Publish and Declare, shall be forthwith duly and Religiously put in execution. And all His Majesty's Subjects are to take notice, That by the Law, the resorting to Divine Service, as is before mentioned, doth comprehend the entire day, and entire Service both Morning and Evening, and doth extend to all persons of whatsoever Opinion or Profession. And moreover, His Majesty doth hereby strictly Enjoin and Command, That no person or persons shall sit, or continue, or be permitted to sit or continue Tippling or Drinking in any Inn, Tavern, Alehouse or Victualling-house, or sit idle, or play openly in the Streets, Church, Churchyards, or elsewhere, during the time of Divine Service or Sermon, on the Sunday; And that no person or persons shall on that day Proclaim, Keep, or resort unto any Fair or Market, or expose any Wares or Merchandizes to Sale, or use or exercise any Work or Labour, of, or in his or their ordinary Trade or Calling (Except the Dressing or Sale of Victuals in any Inns, Victualling-houses, or Cooks Shops, for such as cannot be otherwise provided; and for sale of Milk before or after Divine Service) upon pain of His Majesty's highest Displeasure, and such Pains, Penalties and Forfeitures as can or may be Inflicted upon the Offenders according to Law, and the neglect of His Majesty's Royal Authority and Command. And His Majesty doth hereby Will, Require and Command all Mayors, Sheriffs, justices of the Peace, Bailiffs, Constables, and all other Officers and Ministers whatsoever, in all Counties Privileged, and other places whatsoever within this Realm, That they and every of them in their several Offices and Places, do from time to time provide and see to the due execution of this His Pleasure and Royal Commandment, as they tender His Pleasure, and will answer the contrary at their utmost perils. And whereas His Majesty upon His happy Restauration, did publish His Royal Proclamation of the Thirtieth of May, 1660. against Vicious, Debauched and Profane persons; and by a subsequent Proclamation directed the same to be Read in all Churches and Chapels in England and Wales; which having been well received and resented, and in some measure had, and, it is hoped, will yet have more of His Majesty's wished effect amongst His people; And His Majesty continuing a fervent desire to promote all means which tend to the suppression of Vice, and advancement of Virtue, hath therefore thought fit, by and with the Advice of His Privy Council, That the said Proclamation shall be again Read as formerly; and doth hereby straight Charge and Command, That each Minister in his respective Parish or Chapel within this Realm of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, shall once every Month, for the space of Six Months together next ensuing, Read in their respective Congregations the aforesaid Proclamation, and incite and stir up their respective Auditors to observe the Duties therein enjoined, and avoid the Vices therein forbidden. And His Majesty doth also hereby strictly Charge and Command, That every of the respective Ministers aforesaid, do carefully and effectually observe His Will and Pleasure herein, as they tender His Favour, and will avoid His Displeasure. And lastly, His Majesty doth hereby renew His former Command, and again Require all Mayors, Sheriffs, and justices of the Peace to be very vigilant and strict in discovering and punishing of such persons according to Law, as shall offend contrary to the said Proclamation. And lastly, His Majesty's Pleasure is, and He doth hereby Charge and Command all Parsons, Vicars and Curates, That this present Proclamation be Read and Published together with the said other Proclamation against Vicious, Debauched and Profane persons, at the same time, in all Churches and Chapels.  
Given at the Court at Whitehall, the Two and twentieth day of August 1663. in the Fifteenth year of His Majesty's Reign. 
 God save the King.   

LONDON, Printed by John Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the Kings most Excellent MAJESTY, 1663.