Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1676-1678. 201

At a Councell held at John Bakers house at the Citie of
S^t Maries the 17^th Day of October in the 3^d yeare of the
Domin. of the R^tt Hon^ble Charles &c. Annoq Domini 1678 :

Thomas Notley Esq^r Governo^r
Philip Calvert Esq^r Chancelo^r

William Calvert Esq^r Sec^ry
The Hon^ble P sent
L^tt Coll. Thomas Taylor

Coll: Henry Coursey
Majo^r Benjamin Rozer

Having recd: Divers Complaints from all parts of the Prov-
ince ag^t the respective Sheriffes thereof for takeing Extortious
ffees and other their illegall & tyrannicall proceedings upon
the poor Inhabitants The Governo^r and Councell take the

By the L^tt Gen^ll
A Proclamation
Forasmuch as I have been credibly informed by the great
complaints generally recd: from all p^ts of the Province of the
grand absurdities & abuses committed by the severall Sheriffes
of this Province upon severall of the Inhabitants of the same
that the Sheriffes Doe assume to themselves an Exorbitant
illegall power of Leavying Executions when & where they
please und^r pretence of Doeing the same for his Lopps Dues
& other Officers ffees notwithstanding the same have indeed
been first duely paid and Satisfied, threatning & terrifying
the Inhabitants out of the same by colour of their Office. And
whereas I have been also informed that such psons as have
been soe wronged & abused as aforesaid have been by the
insolent and haughty behavio^r of the Sheriffes terrified from
makeing their just Complaints knowne, and consequently of
receiving any redress and releife in their greviances. Which
my Self and his Lopps. Councill having taken into considera-
tion and willing to cleare our Selves of any aspersions that