Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1648- 1655 . 217

by by us intended to be reposed in you wherefore we do by
these presents authorize Constitute and appoint you to be
Commander of the Island of Kent within our said Prov^e and
the Inhabitants thereof and do Grant unto you all such fees
Perquisites and Profits as are belonging to the said Place and
Office of Commander of the said Island to have and to hold
the said place and Office and Fees Perquisites and Profits
aforesaid till we or our heirs shall signify our or their Pleasure
to the Contrary under our or their hand and Seal at Arms and
we do further Grant hereby unto you full Power and Author-
ity to elect and choose any six or more able and Sufficient
men Inhabitants of the said Island as you in your discretion
shall think fit with whom you shall advise and Consult in all
matters of importance whom we do do appoint shall be Author-
ised Commissioners for that purpose under the Great Seal of
our said Province and to call a Court or Courts as often as
there shall be Cause and in the said Courts to award in our
name all manner of process hold pleas and finally to hear and
determine all Causes and Actions whatsoever civil hapning and
Arising between any the Inhabitants of the said Island not ex-

Liber C. B.

ceeding in damage or demands the Value of ten pounds Ster-
ling as also to hear and finally to determine all matters and
Offences whatsoever Criminall happening and Committed
within the said Island which may be heard and determined by
any lustice of the peace in England in their Courts of Session
not extending to Life or Member and we do further Authorise
you to do use and execute all and all manner of Jurisdiction
and Authority whatsoever for the Conservation of the Peace
within the said Island as any Justice of Peace in England may
or ought to do by Virtue of his Commission for the Peace &
further to elect and appoint all necessary Officers for the exe-
cution of Justice and Conservation of the peace there with
Allowance of such fees as are usually belonging to the same
or the like Officers in Virginia and to do all other things and
Acts which shall be necessary for the execution of the Power
and Jurisdiction hereby Committed unto you Given under our
hand and Greater Seal at Arms at Bath the 12^th day of August
in the 17^th Year of our Dominion over the said Province of
Maryland Annoq Dni 1648

Commission for Secretary in
Maryland

Cecilius Absolute Lord and Proprietor &c^a Know yee that
we reposing special trust and Confidence in the Wisdom dili-
gence and fidelity of our trusty and well Beloved Thomas
Hatton Gent have Constituted appointed and Ordained and

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