Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1676-81. 279

removed from his place of Collector for his Maj^tie in Maryland ;
he having been a great knave to the king, and as great a dis-
turber of the Trade, and Peace of my Province. I am now
bold to send herewith to your Lordship a writing sworne to by
one of my Councill, by which it will in some measure, appeare
to your Lordship what ill principles this Rousby is of, and how
seditious, and wicked he is in his common discourses; this
being the least matter, in that kind, he is guilty of, For I dare
affirme that he is as great a Traytor in his heart to his sacred
Majestie as is this day liveing Since this Rousby went for
England one Badcock, a Surveyor for his Majesty here, came
about a fortnight agoe to acquaint me that though some
Masters of Vessells from Poole and Lever Poole (which lately
arrived in my Province) had brought certificates of bonds to
carry their ladeing of Tobacco to England, Ireland &c: (the
Act for nine years, w^ch excepted Ireland, being some time since
expired) yett such Masters ought and were obliged to pay the
penny p. pound here afore they could be permitted to cleer
with my officers. To this I gave answer, that I was sensible
Ireland was now open; and that since at London, Bristol,
Poole and Lever Poole such Bonds were taken by the Officers
of those ports (as by certificats, produced here, appeared to me
they had taken), I thought it a sufficient Rule for me, and my
Officers to walke by, and therefore told the said Badcock I
would not suffer him to molest any Masters, that had such cer-
tificats, unless he could affirme, they were counterfeited, and
so unduely had; w^ch he durst not say they were; and yett he
had the impudence to tell me afore some of my Councill, that
he would complaine to the Com^rs of the Customes, that I
hindered his discharging his office; when, my Lord, I was
satisfied, his intent was only to cheat the Merchants concerned
in those vessells of soe much money as a penny -p. pound would
have come to; for his Maj^tie'^s duty was secured by the Bonds
given at Poole and Lever Poole, which Bonds this Badcock
did own to be legally taken, and the Certificates, produced
here to be good. By this your Lordship may see what hungry
indigent fellows are appointed to serve his Maj^tie here, such as
would dishonour the king, cheat his subjects and drive all
manner of Trade out of my Province, if they were permitted to
act thus at their will and pleasure. Good, my Lord, lett me
beg the favour that you'ill please to procure that such dissolute
fellows may be removed out of office for his Maj^tie here and
that the Comm^rs of the Customes may be required to appoint
some persons of good estates and Livers in my Province to
serve the King here; for such will be carefull to discharge their
Trust faithfully, and will also have some respect to the Govern^mt

P. R. O.

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