Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97. 567

            To his Exncy the Governr and Councill &ca  Lib. H. D.

     Report upon In Obedience to your Exncys Commands unto Us

     the late Act of Parliamt given Verbally We have Considered the late Act of

    abt Trade  Parliamt Entituled an Act for preventing ifrauds and

            Regulating Abuses in the plantation Trade, and so

     ffarr forth as the same relates to the plantation Trade, which

     is all We conceive yor Exncy required of Us, We humbly Offer Whitehall

     &ca That by the sd Act, all Governrs of his Mats plantacöns are

     Obliged before the 25th day of March 1697, to take a Solemn

     Oath to doe their Utmost that all the Clauses, matters and

     things Contained in the fformer Acts of Trade relating to the

     sd Colonies and Plantations, and that all and Every the Clauses

     contained in this prsent Act be punctually and bona fide

     observed according to the true intent and meaning thereof,

     which Oath is to be taken before such person or persons as

     shall be appointed by the Kings Maty &ca

      That all Navll Officers in the Plantations within two months Whitehall

     after Notice of this Act or as soon as Conveniently it may be

     are Obliged to give Security for their true and ffaithfull per

     formance of their Duty and any that shall hereafter be

     Appointed are likewise Obliged within two months or as soon

     as Conveniently it may be to give the like Security as aforesd

     and till such time as such Security is given and the Officer

     appointed be approved on by the Comrs of the Customs in

     England the Govr of the place who appoints them to be

     Answerable for their Offences, and these Security's are to be

     given to the Commissionrs of the Customs in Eng! or to such

     as by them shall be appointed to his Mats Vse.

      That by another Clause of the sd Act all Lawes that Either

     are or shall be made repugnant or contrary to the sd Act

     or the other Acts of Trade and Navigation therein in

     any of the Plantacons &ca are to be declared and Judged

     Void and Null.

      That by another Clause of the sd Act the Govrnr or Officer Whitehall

     appointed by the Commissionrs of the Customs are to inspect

     all Certificates of having given Bond in England &ca And

     where they suspect any ifraud or deceipt in such Certificates

     they are Enabled to Require and take security in the Planta

     cons &Ca for delivery of that Lading according to Law &ca

     And where the Governr or Officer shall have Cause to suspect

     that the Certificate of having discharged the Plantacon

     Lading in England is false or Counterfiet the Governr or

     Officer aforesd shall not Cancell such Bond till they are In

     form'd from the Commissionrs of the Customs in England

     that the matter of the sd Certificate is True &ca

      By another Clause of the sd Act it is declared that after p. 438