262 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97.

       Lib. H. D. The Lords After our very herty Commendations Complaint

         p.  having been made to their Majties by the Merchants

             trade & Plan- trading to Virginia and Maryland that their trade

             tations &c . .                    .

             Ordr to his is in a great measure destroyed and ruin d by many

             Exncy to Ships trading directly from Scotland & Ireland to

              Virginia, Maryland & Pensilvania, and from thence

             illegall back to the said places without paying their Majties

             trade &Ca

                    dues to the undervaluing trade to all such fair

             Traders who observe the Act of Navigation For the preven

             tion as much as may be of such illegall trade for the future,

             Wee have received their Majtes Comands and accordingly wee

             doe hereby signify Their Majtes Royall will and pleasure unto

             you, that you cause one or more Small Vessells of about forty

             Tunns each, to be hired with Skillfull Comanders in those

             parts for whom you will be answerable and to appoint them to

             cruise upon the Coast of Maryland and Pensilvania wth power

             to examine all Ships trading to and from those parts and to

             inspect the clearings of the said Ships in the Collectors Books

             in order to the discovery of Forged Cocquets and Certificates.

             And for the defraying the charge of such Vessells and the

             Encouragement of the Commander or commanders thereof,

             you are hereby Authorized and impowered to dispose of their

             Majtes third part of the fforfeitures upon the Act of Trade and

             Navigation & the penalties recovered on the forfeited Bonds

             within your Government, in such manner as you shall find

             most conducing to their Majtes service herein, And for the bet

             ter guidance of the Commander or Commanders of such Ves

             sells as shall be employed in this service you will herewith

             receive the draught of Instructions, wch you are to give unto

             them, and you are from time to time & as often as you shall

             see convenient to take an account from the Commander or

             Commanders of such Vessells of their proceedings in the exe

             cution of their Instructions to the intent that under colour of

             executing the powers and directions wch shall be thereby given

             unto them they doe not molest & hinder the legall prossecu

             tion of trade in those parts as well to the prejudice of their

             Majtes Revenue here as of their Majtes Subjects in the Planta

         p. 147  tions, And so Wee bid you very heartily farewell, From the

             Treasury Chambers at Whitehall this 15th day of 9br 1694.

             In the 6th year of their Majtes Reign.

                 Your very Loving friends.  Ste: ifox

                                            Cha: Montague

             Govr of Maryland to hire Vessells to Cruise Will: Trumball

               for illegall Trade &ca       J. Smith