Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97. 535

         By his Exncy the Governr &cca Novr the 20th 1696. Lib. H. D.

    Ordr abt Whereas diverse Provinciall Writts have been

        lately issued at the Suit of his Maty (upon penall

           Navigacon Bonds agt Sundry persons inhabiting and p. 417

    residing within this province) directable to the Sherriffs of the

    Severall Counties where resident; And fforasmuch as the

    greatest part of them were by the Severall Sherriffs returned

    non est inventus at the last Provll Court here held, notwith

    standing most of the persons, agt whom such Writts were

    issued are known to goe too & again publickly in the Country

    about their Necessary Occasions as likewise in their Counties

    where their habitacons are, which great neglect & Remissness

    of the Sherriffs in so weighty affairs (concerning his Mats Ser-

    vice) is likely to bring matter of exceeding Scandall to the

    Governmt besides loss & Detrimt to his Maty Ordered there

    fore that no Sherriff (for the future) within this province,

    receiving any precept or Writt wherein his Maty is actually

    concern'd do prsume to make such a Return as a Nonest where

    the partys to be taken doe actually Reside within his Bayliwick,

    but that (rather than to fail of his Duty) he Cause the posse

    of his County to be raised or set a Guard of men to watch the

    Houses of Such persons so to be taken, under penalty of being

    displaced & having his Sherriffs bond put in Suit in Ordr to

    the paying all such damage as his Maty shall sustain for want

    of the party or parties being taken And whereas Severall

    Writts are now by Ordr renewed & issued agt diverse persons

    upon the aforemention'd penall Bonds the Severall Sherriffs

    concern'd are to take due care to the prosecution of the same

    and to give publick Notice in their Counties tht such persons

    as Evade being taken by the sd Writts, So that his Maty cannot

    obtain Judgmnt agt them this next prov” Court must not expect

    to receive any favour hereafter; his Exncy being Resolved to

    interceed with his Maty for none Save such agt whom such

    Judgmts shall actually pass.

                       Signed p Ordr

                            Hen: Denton Cl Conci!.

       By his Exncy the Governr &cca Novr 20th 1696

    Ordr abt the Vpon Complaint made by Mr John Moll junr how

    taking of cat- tht he had lost Some Cattle by the Men belonging

    tie from Mr to the privateere that lately was in Delaware;

    Moll Junr Ordered therefore that the Sherriff of Caecill

    County make inquiry of the honrble James ifrisby Esqr Coll:

    Casparus Herman, the County Justices and among the Rest

    of the inhabitants there, whether any other persons have