478 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1684-89.

Liber B.
P. R. O.

of such warrant or Certificate assigned, as aforesaid, sue forth
pattent thereupon, the Officers Fees and other charges thereof
shall be made good, or good caution for the same given before
such time as pattents issue out of the office.

May the 6^th 1686.

Approved of in Councill and ordered to be punctually
observed the foregoeing severall Rules in the Land Office
signed p. order John Llewellin Cl. Con:

To the hon^ble his Lordship's Councill
The humble petition of John Baker of S^t Maryes County

Sheweth,

John Baker's
petition.

That your Petitioner (at the instance of your
Hon^rs onely) being the last yeare constituted Sheriff

of S^t Marys County, and in noe wise doubting of the continu-
ance of your Hon^rs favour towards him upon the consideration
of his good behaviour and faithfull discharge of his duty in
that Office (as he humbly conceives) did ignorantly omitt to
make his application to your Hon^rs as in duty he ought, where-
of some person takeing advantage hath (as your Petitioner is
informed) privately sued to your Hon^rs and obteined a grant
of the said Office for the yeare ensueing, much to the damage
and disappointment of your Pet^r Wherefore he is forced now
to sett forth to your Hon^rs that beside the vast trouble, charge
and expence he hath been at in secureing, keepeing and main-
taineing the publick Prisoners committed to him, upon the
account of the publick faith, meerely of his own private Estate,
yett unsatisfied and not reimbursed to your Petitioner, he hath
contracted severall small parcells and dribletts of debts in all
parts of the County, which (as the case stands) he shall not be
able to collect without much difficulty and more charge. Your
Pet^r likewise (not dreameing of any such undermineing against
him as aforesaid) hath in order more diligently and securely to

p. 24

manage the said Office, provided himself and contracted with
four able persons to officiate under him to keepe his owne and
all publicke accounts committed to his charge, and soe put
himself into a convenient posture for that employment, as may
most redound to his Lop's service, the good and benefitt of his
Officers, and all persons concerned, and his owne creditt and
good will amongst the Inhabitants, as he doubts not will con-
tinue his good name, which he presumes noe person cann
justly defame or bespatter. And therefore humbly prays that
your Hon^rs would yet please soe to consider his case, as to
revoke your order passed for the Office of Sheriff of this
County, and continue your Pet^r in the same for the yeare
ensueing by which meanes your Pet^r may the better be enabled