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

Liber C. B.

by these Presents do Constitute appoint and Ordain him the
said Thomas Hatton to be our Secretary of our said Province
of Maryland and we do by these presents appoint Constitute
and Ordain the said Thomas Hatton as well to be our Principal

p. 207

Officer and Keeper of the Acts and Proceedings of us and of
our Lieutenant General & and Council there for the time being
and of and for the entring and Recording of all Grants by us
or our heirs to be made of any Lands or Offices within our said
Province of Maryland and for the Probates entring and Record-
ing of Wills and Inventories and Granting of Letters of Ad-
ministration and for the entring and Recording of all other
matters Acts and things which by any Instructions Laws or
Ordinances made or Given or to be made or Given for or con-
cerning our said Province of Maryland shall or ought by the
Appointment of us or our heirs or by the appointment of our
Lieu^t General or other chief Governor there for the time being
or otherwise to be entered and Recorded to have and to hold
Execute and Enjoy the said Office and Offices unto the said
Thomas Hatton until we or our heirs shall signify our or their
pleasure to the Contrary and no longer Given at Bath under
our hand and Seal at Arms the twelfth day of August in the
seaventeenth year of our Dominion over the said Province
Annoq Drii 1648

The Oath of the Lord Proprietarys
Secretary in Maryland

I AB do swear that I will be true and faithful to the right
honble Cecilius Lord Baron of Baltimore the true and Absolute
Lord and Proprietary of this Province of Maryland and him
and them & his and their rights royal Jurisdictions Signiory all
and every of them in to and over the said Province and Islands
thereunto belonging will at all times defend and maintain to
the utmost of my Power and will never accept of nor execute
any Place Office or employment within the said Province any

p. 208

way concerning or relating to the Government of the said Pro-
vince from any person or Authority but by from or under a
lawful Authority derived or to be derived from time to time
from his said Lordship or his heirs Lords and Proprietarys of
the said Prov^e under his or their hand and Seal at Arms I will
serve him faithfully as his Secretary in the said province to
none will I wittingly or willingly delay or deny Right in what
belongeth to my Office or Offices to do true Record I will keep
of Judgments and all other matters to be by me recorded with-
out falsification or Corruption for fear favour or malice of any
Person whatsoever to the best of my ability and Understanding
so help me God and by the Contents of this Book