Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1676-81. 261

5. That in Mariland and other places there is noe settled
maintenance for Ministers at all.
Upon which head my Lord Baltemore is called in, and being
acquainted with this particular, a copie is to be delivered his
Lordship of this Article that hee may propose a meanes for
the support of a convenient number of Ministers against
Thursday next
And it is farther agreed that this defect ought to bee
supplied in all the Plantations remaining under Propriety and
that letters bee written accordingly
[Nos. 6, 7, 8, refer to Virginia and Jamaica.]
9. That noe care is taken for the passage of new Ministers.
Whereupon it is thought fit that the Governors doe provide
for the expence of transporting Ministers and other charges
out of the profits arising by the Vacancies.

P. R. O.
Colonial
Entry Book,
No. 105.

Thursday the 19^th of Iuly 1677.

Present

Lord Privy Seale. Lord B^p of London
Duke of Ormond. M^r Sec^ry Williamson
Marquis of Worcester. M^r Chanc^r of the Excheq^r

There is read a letter directed to the Archbishop of Canter-
bury from a Minister of Maryland of the 6^th of May 1676
which by a letter from his Grace had been transmitted to my
Lord B^p of London complaining of the abuses in the religion
and morality of the inhabitants, occasioned by the discourage-
ment of the Protestant Ministry and want of provision for
such as are conformable to the Church of England and praying
that care bee taken for the establishing and settlement of the
Orthodox religion as in other parts of die West Indies. After
which the law of Maryland concerning Religion permitting
liberty of conscience and a free exercise of service to all
persons and sects professing to beleeve in Jesus Christ.
Whereupon the Lord Baltemore is called in who offers a
paper declaring the present state of the Christian Religion in
Maryland and the difficulty to establish any setled maintenance
by law for the Ministry of the Church of England there being
so few of that perswasion, among soe great numbers of other
sectaries. Which being read their Lordships take notice of
the fitness that a setled maintenance bee provided by an Act
of the Country for a sufficient number of Orthodox Ministers,
to which my Lord Baltemore seemed to consent and then with-
drew.
Their lordships doe therefore agree to write a letter to my
Lord Baltemore taking notice of the scandalous way of living
and desiring his Lordship to give orders that either those Laws

p. 87