268 Records Illustrating the History of Maryland

P. R. O.
Maryland
B. I. Vol. 8.

Copley, full power and Authority to erect one or more Court
or Courts Admirall within our said Province and Territory for
the hearing and determining of all Marine and other Causes
and Matters therein to be heard with all reasonable and nec-
essary Powers, Authoritys, Fees and Priviledges.
As also to exercise all Powers belonging to the Place and
Office of vice-Admirall of and in all the Seas and Coasts
about your Government according to such Commission,
Authorities and Instructions as you shall receive from Ourself
under the Seal of Our Admiralty or from our High Admirall
or Commissioners for executing the office of High Admirall of
our fforeign Plantation for the time being.
And forasmuch as divers mutinies and disorders do happen
by Persons shipped and imployed at Sea and to the End such
as shall be shipt or imployed at Sea may be the better gov-
erned and ordered we do hereby give and grant unto you the
said Lionell Copley, our Captain Generall and Governor in
Chief, full Power and Authority to Constitute and appoint
Captains, Masters of Ships and other commanders and to
Grant unto such Captains Masters of Ships and other Com-
manders, Commissions to execute the Law Martiall and to use
such proceeding, Authoritys, Punishment, Correction and
execution upon any Offender or Offenders which shall be
mutinous, sedetious disorderly or any way unruly Either at
Sea or during the time of their abode or Residence in any of
the Ports, Harbours or Bayes of our said Province or Territory
as the cause shall be found to require according to Martiall
Law, Provided that nothing herein contained shall be con-
strued to the enabling you or any by your Authority to hold
Plea or have Iurisdiction of any offence, cause matter or thing,
committed or done upon the High Sea or within any of the
Havens, Rivers or Creeks of our said Province or Territory
under your Government by any Captain, Commander, Lieu-
tenant, Master or other Officer, Seaman, Soldier or Person
whatsoever who shall be in actuall service and Pay in and on
Board any of Our ships of War or other Vessells acting by
immediate Commission or warrant from our Commissioners
for executing the Office of our High Admirall of England
under the seal of our admiralty or from our High Admirall of
England for the time being, but that such Captain, Commander
Lieutenant, Master, Officer, Seaman, Soldier and other Person
so offending shall be left to be proceeded against and Tryed
as the merrit of their offences shall require, either by commis-
sion under our Great Seal of England as the Statute of 28^th of
T-S 8: directs or by commission from our said High Admirall,
according to the Act of Parliament passed in the 13^th yeare of
the reign of the late King Charles the second, of blessed
memory, (entituled an Act for the establishing Articles and