Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1636-1647. 145

[And in case the number of the said Counsellors either by
death absence or otherwise shall at any time happen to be
reduced to lesse then three (besides the said Lieut^t) his Lo^p
doth in that case give power to his Lieut^t to supply the number
by nominating one or two more such other able psons in the
said pvince to be of his Lo^ps Counsell and Conservator of the
peace there, as he the said Lieut^t shall think fitt, whom his Lo^p
declares (after they have taken the oathes of fidelity & of
Counsellors to his Lo^p (w^ch his Lo^p requireth & authoriseth his
said Lieuten^t to administer vnto them) shalbe & have all the
powers & preeminences of Counsellors and Conservators of
the Peace within that Province, till vpon notice given therof
given therof to his Lo^p his pleasure be further knowen therin.
By vertue wherof the Lieut^t Generall nominated Thomas
Gerard gent to be of his Lo^ps Counsell & Conservator of the
peace within the Province, who took the oath of fidelity in these
words.
I doe faithfully & truly acknowledge the right ho^r Cecilius
Lo. baltemore to be true & absolute Lo: & Propriet^r of the
Prov. & country of maryland & the Hands thervnto belonging
and I doe sweare that I will beare faith vnto his Lo^p & his
heires Lords & Proprietors of the said Prov: & will yeild willing
& true obedience to his Lo^p & his said heires & to his & their
governm^t in temporall affaires in & over the said Prov: & Hands

Liber P. R.

thervnto belonging as to the true & absolute Lords & Proprietors
of the said Province & the Ilands thervnto belonging. And I
doe also sweare that I will at all times as occasion shall require
to the vtmost of my power defend & meinteine all such his
Lo^ps & his heires right interest priviledges royall iurisdiction
prerogatives and dominion over & in the said Prov: of maryl:
& Hands thervnto belonging & over the people who are or
shalbe therin for the time being, as are granted or mentioned
to be granted to his Lo^p & his said heires by the king or crowne
of Engl: in his Lo^ps Pattent of the said Province vnder the great
scale of that kingdome. And I doe further sweare that I will
not either by my selfe or by any other pson or psons directly
or indirectly take accept receive purchase or possesse to any
other vse or vses whatsoever then only to the vse of the said
Lord & Proprieto^r and his heires & assignes any lands tenem^ts
or hereditaments in the said Prov. of maryl. or the Hands ther-
vnto belonging from any Indian or Indians or any other pson
or psons not deriving a title thervnto from or vnder some grant
from the said Lord & Proprieto^r or his heires vnder his or their
great seale of the said Prov. for the time being. So helpe me
God.
And then he took the oath of a Counsello^r in these words.
I doe sweare that whilst I am Counsellor of this Province,

p. 132