A Proclamation.
WHEREAS it is our will and desire to maintain a clear course,
so that we may be kept placed in the races of the earth, and
that our people may continue to have a handy capacity for all
athletic sports, likewise to avert the risk of the mussels of
our subjects getting limp at the end of our royal line by any
shellfish a’baiting (after the barb’rous manner of the fishy
policy of the Angles) of the care bestowed by it on generations
yet unborn—
We have thought it would fit, with or without the advice of
our Prating Council, and the Cakes of our Parliament, to
appoint and declare, and we do hereby, by and with, or passing
by and without the said advice, appoint and declare, that
immediately, or even sooner, all who hear or do not hear of
this proclamation, shall assemble without delay on a spot to
be fixed by us at some future time, there to hold our annual
games.
[Sidenote: ODD JOBS.]
And our will and pleasure further is, that prizes be awarded
to those of our subjects who display the greatest skill in
performing any of the following feats of agility and strength:—