54 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1693 94.

     Lib. C. B. At the Court at Whitehall the 28th day of September 1693.

                                Present

                  The Queens most Excellent Maty

             Lord Arch Bp of Canterbury    Viscount ifalkiand

             Lord Keeper           Lord Bp of London

             Lord President        Lord Cornwallis

             Lord Chamberlain      Lord Godolphin

             Earle of Oxford       Mr Vic. Chamberlain

             Earle of Nottingham   Mr Secretary Trenchard

             Earle of Rochester    Mr Chancelor of the Exchequer

             Earle of Montague     Lord Chiefe Justice Holt

             Earle of Ranelagh     Sr Henry Goodricke

                           Mr Boscawen

             Queens Whereas the Rt Honble the Lords of the Comittee

             Ordr in Relation to Sr of Trade & Plantations, by their Report Dated the

             Tho: Lau- 15th instant have Represented to her Maty in Coun

             rance &Caecill that Upon Reading severall Letters from the

          p. 67   Governor & Councill of Maryland, to the Comittee, Dated the

             14th of October, 21th of December, and of Aprill last

             together with Articles of impeachment against Sr Thomas

             Laurence Secretary of that Province Upon which Articles the

             Governor & Councill of Maryland Acquaint their Lops they had

             comitted & confined Sr Thomas Laurence and had dismissed

             him from being of the Councill & Judge of the Provinciall

             Court. There appeareing to the Comittee noe ground for

             such Proceedings although the Allegations contained in the

             said Articles were true, but that the Proceedings of the

             Governor & Councill in this Matter are illegall and Arbitrary;

             Their Lops are of Opinion that the Governor & Councill of

             Maryland be directed to Give Sr Thomas Laurence a Copy of

             the Articles transmitted against him, and that he returne his

             Answer Unto them, to the End their Maties pleasure therevpon

             may be knowne, and that in the mean time Sr Thomas

             Laurence be Set at Liberty and be restored to his places of

             Counsellor & Judge of the Provinciall Court and that he

             receive noe molestation or disturbance in the Enjoyment of his

             Office of Secretary of Maryland, according to his Mats former

             Order in Councill of the second of March last and that per.

          p. 68   mission be given in Maryland to Examine all Persons that

             shall give Evidence in this Matter without any hindrance or

             discountenance to such Persons as Sr Thomas Laurence shall

             desire to be Examined on his behalfe.

               Her MatY in Councill approveing the same, is this day

             pleased to Order, as it is hereby Ordered accordingly that the