308 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1681-85.

P. R. O.
Colonial
Papers.

Steevens one of y^o Councill in Maryland being examined by
the originall now in the hands of
C Baltimore
Dec 14: 81:

B. B., p. 28

15 Dec. 1681.

May it Please your Lord^pe
In Obedience to your Lord^pe Comande Signifyed to me by
M^r Guy on an order of his Maj^tie in Councill of the 20 June
last and Copy of a letter from my Lord Baltemore Proprietor
of Maryland to my Lord Privy Seale of the 28 April proceeding
both hereunto annexed Complayning of the Insolent and un-
warrantable proceedings of Christopher Rousby the collector
there tending greatly to the discouragement of the Trade
diminution of his Ma^te Customes and disturbance of the peace
and Quiett of that Colony etc by the sayd Letter more at large
appeares
We do humbly report to your Lord^ps That we have called
the sayd Rousby before us and charged him w^th the severall
Matters Complayed off and Received his Answer thereunto a
Copy of which is hereunto annexed As also a Copy of his
former Answer to a Letter from my Lord Baltimore to our
Selves to the same Effect. But in regard there are no Per-
ticulars transmitted upon the Pointes Complayned off Nor any
Proofes of the same We are humbly of opinion That it would
be very much to the prejudice of his Ma^ties Concernes and the
discouragements of the Collectors and other Officers of his
Ma^te Customes in those Parts if they should upon such Termes
be Removed or dismissed. And therefore we pray that the
sayd Rousby may be Returned to his charge, and that a Letter
be written to my Lord Baltemore desireing him that if he shall
hereafter have any Cause of Complaint against the sayd Rousby
That he will first give him a p^rticular Charge thereof and Re-
ceive his Answer thereunto and then transmitt both the sayd
Charge and Answer to us w^th the Proofes thereof w^ch will be a
meanes to prevent the lose of time that will otherwise be
occasioned by transmitting hither such Charge alone and after-
wards sending the same back for an Answer
We have also hereunto annexed such affid^ts and other Evi-
dences as the sayd M^r Rousby hath produced before us in his
own defence
All w^ch is humbly submitted
to your Lord^ps Considerations
I Butler
Custom house Lond^o
15 December 1681 Ch: Cheyne
G Dowring.