Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1678-1679. 233

Cap^t Richard Covill Command^r of the Shipp ffrances of
Lond^o having last yeare upon his arrivall there from this Prov-
ince falsly and Malitiously Reported that the Govern^r of this
Province had by Ord^r from his L^spp the L^d Propry imposed an
Oath of ffidelity on the People of this Province by w^ch they
were to sweare allegiance to his s^d L^spp against all Princes

Beeing informed by a Declaration of the Hon^ble Thomas
Notley Esq^r Governo^r of this Province lately published for his
Owne and the Lord Prop^rys Vindication, that One Richard
Covill Marriner (who as Master of a Shipp traded here last
yeare) had at his returne to London reported that by ord^r of
the R^tt Hon^ble Charles Lord Baltemore Propry of this Province
of Maryland his Officers here had imposed an oath upon the
people here by w^ch they were required to sweare ffidelity to
him the said Lord Baltemore against all Princes whatsoever
but more Especially ag^t his Sacred Maj^tie Our Soveraign Lord
the King of England, Banishing all such who refused the s^d
Oath. We thought it Our Duty not to be silent, nor become-
ing men of Common sense to lett ourselves & the Governm^t
committed to our care lye und^r soe foule a scandall, Where-
fore (having had the Administration of Justice in our hands
for Divers yeares before his said L^spp: made the said Notley his
Lievetenant here as well as since) Wee Doe Declare and
Publish that never any such oath was imposed or tendered to
any pson or psons whatsoever within this Province or trade-
ing here since we have here resided (which hath been for the
space of Twenty yeares at least) and consequently never any
man imprisoned or otherwise punished for refuseing to take
the same, neither is any oath or other tye of that nature to be
found upon record in this Province. This being the truth of
the case, and such as we hope may Satisfie the whole world