Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97. 167

    also to put in Execucon all other the Lawfull Powers and Lib. H. D.

    Authorities for the better managing and Collecting the said

    Duties, in all things proceeding as the Law directs hereby

    praying and Requiring all and every his Majts Officers & Min

    isters and all others whom it may concern to be Aiding and

    Assisting to him in all things as becometh Given vnder our

    hands & Seal at the Custom house, London this 19th day of

    March, Anno Domini, 168 4/5

     Jo Werden J Butler J Buckworth, W Dickinson On the

    back of the sd Commission was thus written Vizt

             At a Councill Novembr 19th 1686

     Maryland ss: Came Mr George Layfield and produced the

    within Coniission and here made Oath vpon the holy Evange

    list, that since the said Commission hath Come to his hands

    he hath to the best of his skill well and truly Executed the

    said Commission And likewise that for the future he will to

    the best of his knowledge well & truly Execute the said Com

    mission according to the true intent & meaning thereof.

                             Jam Heath C of Concil

                 The Instructions follow.

     Instructions by the Commissionrs for Managing & Causing p. 84

    to be Leavyed his Majts Customs, Subsidies & other Duties in

    England to George Layfield Comptr & Surveyor of all the

    Rates, Duties & Impositions Arising and growing due to his

    Maty in his Province of Maryland by an Act of Parliamt made

    in England in the 25th year of his late Mats Reign.

     1: Whereas in pursuance of the said Act made in the 25th

    year of his late Majts Reign, Intituled, An Act for the Encour

    agemt of the Eastland and Greenland Trades and for better

    securing the plantation Trade Wee have by Direction of the

    Right honoble the Earle of Dorchester Lord high Treasurer of

    England, Deputed Nehemiah Blackiston to be Collector of all

    the Rates, Duties & Impositions in his Mats Province of Mary

    land, And for the better Leavying and Collecting thereof and

    Accounting for the same We have by the like Authority and

    direction Deputed you to be Comptroler and Surveyor of the

    said Rates, Duties and Impositions in the said province of

    Maryland, And because the said Act hath settled the Collec

    tion of the said Duties vnder such penalties as are inflicted for

    Non paymt of or defrauding his Maty of his Customs in Eng

    land, Wee herewith deliver to you a Book of Rates wherein