Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1636-1647. 65

it selfe be dissolved for want of power to assemble; Know ye
therefore that in case of such my absence I have authorised
and deputed, & doe hereby appoint authorise and depute
m^r John Lewger Secretary in my name and place to hold and
continue the said Assembly at the day appointed, and to give
voice for me to all and onely such things as he shall thinke fitt,
also to adiorne or dissolve the said Assembly as he shall see
cause, and to doe and performe all other things belonging to
the said Assembly as amply to all intents and purposes as I
my selfe might doe if I were personally present
Leonard Caluert

Liber Z.
L. O. R.

No. 2.

To the King's most Excellent Majesty

The humble Petition of Captain Wil-
liam Clepborne on the behalfe of
himself and Partners, —
Shewing
That the Pet^r by vertue of a Comission under Your Majesties
hand and Signett hereunto annexed, divers years past discov-
ered, and did then plant upon an Island in the Great Bay of
Cheasapeak in Virginia, by them named the Isle of Kent,
which they bought of the Kings of that Country, and built
houses transported Cattell, and Settled people thereon to
their very great Costs and Charges which the Lord Baltemore
takeing notice of, and the great hopes for : trade of beavers
and other Comodities like to ensue by the Peticoners discov-
erys hath Since obtained a Pattent from your Majesty Compre-
hending the said Island with the Limitts thereof, and Sought
thereby to dispossess the Peticoners thereof and debarr them
of their discovery and hopefull trade for beavers Complaint
being made thereof, your Majesty was graciously pleased to
signifie your Royal pleasure by a Letter under your Majesty's
hand and Signett Intimating therein that was contrary to
Justice and the true intent of your Majesty's Grant to the said
Lord, that Notwithstanding the said Patent the Peticoners should
have freedom of trade enjoy the same therein requiring
the Governor and all others in Virginia to be aiding and assist-
ing unto them, prohibiting the Lord Baltemore and all other

Liber F.
p. 1

pretenders vnder him to offer Them any Violence, or to disturb
or molest them in their said and plantation, as by your
Majesty's Said Letter annexed appeareth, Since which ti
be it your Majty's Said Royal pleasure hath been made known
to S^t John Governor of Virginia (who Slighted the Same)
as also to the Lord Baltemore Agents there, Yet they
have in a most wilfull and contemptuous manner disobeyed the
same, and, violently Set upon your Peticoners Pinnaces and

p. 2