328 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97.

    Lib. H. D.  hereby Required to yield all due & ready obedience, vnder the

            pain & penalties aforementioned; Given at the Port of Annap

            olis, vnder the Broad Seal of the Province this 15th day of

            October, in the 7th year of his Mats Reign &Ca Annoq Domini,

           1695                              ffr. Nicholson

                     October the 18th 1695

       The Councill again Sate & were present as before.

            Mr Layfleld Came George Layfleld Esqr his Mats Collector of

            Pocomoke Pocomoke District who made Oath to his Collection

            makes Oath of the 1d pound within the sd District.

            to his Col

            lection of    Whitehall

            the 1d p lb Produced & Read a proclamation touching per-

    Whitehall   sons inticed out of the Province &ca being prepared at the

            request of the Gentlemen of the House of Burgesses &Ca and

            was signed by his Exncy & passed the Broad Seal of the Prov

            ince, the tenour whereof follows in these Words, Vizt

                By his Exncy the Capt Generall

                                A

             Maryland ss.Proclamation

             Proclamation Whereas by general complaint it hath been signi

             touching persons inticed fyed as also evidently made appear vnto me how

             out of the that severall persons inhabitants of this province

             province

                   have been induced to remove out of the same with

            their Wives & families, some to the Southward and some to

            the Northward; Vizt Carolina & Pensilvania, being meerly

    Whitehall   deceived & led into such fancy through a common empty

            rumour & report of the great plenty those two places live in,

            which Reports are raised by persons travelling from those

            parts, but the Effects of such fallacious Reports, it is well

        p. 248  known, diverse persons have by sad experience Tryed, some

            returning again from the same in a poor condition, and others

            willing to return if they could, but are not able, having sold

            their Estates here, and by their removall spent or lost most of

            all their substance, whereby they have incapacitated themselves

            to make any Return; And forasmuch as it hath been made

            manifest how that severall other persons have been perswaded

            & terrifyed out of this Province through a vain & giddy

            headed notion & noise of great & heavy Taxes of a hogshead

            or more a head, whereas the same appears to be a frivolous

            idle complaint, not but that the Leavies are something large

            through Arrears ever since the Revolution, but hope in God

            will be now satisfyed this year, so that the Leavies will become

            as easy & light as formerly; however the aforegoing Matters