Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1681-85/6. 219

Act limitted, had instead of promoteing the same by their

forwardness in putting the said Act in Execution, been very
remiss and negligent therein
Ordered that Proclam^a forthwith issue commanding the
severall & respective Commission^rs in the said Act named to
expedite the laying out the severall Townes and Ports of
Trade within their severall & respective Counties soe as the
same be effected by the 25^th day of March next as by the said
Act is limitted as they will answer the contrary at their perill,

Lib. R. R. R.

not onely by incurring his heavy displeasure for their con-
tempt but Endangering to be exempt and excluded from any
future benefitt or advantage to be had from any amendment
or alterations to be made of the said Act. Accordingly
Proclamation issued in these words foll (viz.)

Proclamation concerning the Act for Advancem^t of Trade.
By the Lord Prop^ry
A Proclamation.

Forasmuch as by the Act for Advancem^t of Trade passed
the last Sessions of Assembly, It was Enacted and ordeined
that the severall and respective Townes and places of Trade
therein mentioned in the severall and respective Counties of
this Province should be layd out by the five and Twentieth
Day of March next ensueing, which being now neere at hand,
and little or noe pgress therein made, occasioned by the
greate discouragem^ts given by the Comission^rs in the said Act
nominated and appointed to manage the same, as wee are
informed and have credibly reed: To the End therefore that
soe laudable a Design, and of soe greate moment and Import
to this Province (as the Erecting of Townes and places of
Trade the first foundation and Rise of all Countries) may not
be wholly frustrated and layd aside, Wee have by and with
the advice and consent of our Councill thought fitt, and wee
doe hereby strictly charge and command all and singular the
Commission^rs of the respective Counties within this Province
in the aforesaid Act named and others therein concerned forth-
with to putt in Execution the said Act soe farr forth as in
them lyes and of them is required to be done, by causeing the
severall Ports Townes and places of Trade in the said Act
mentioned to be forthwith layd out according to the Teno^r of
the said Act before the said five and Twentyeth day of March
next; And that noe failure be thereof made as they will
answer the Contrary at their perill, by not onely incurring our
displeasure for their contempt of the said Act, and conse-
quently of other the Lawes of this our Province, but also run-

p. 58