578 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97.

     Lib. H. D. Nor doe I believe tht any of his Mats Subjects in this Province

            have any Cause to Complain against his Exncys Governmt

         To the Truth whereof I do heartily Subscribe

                               John ffreeman, Regr in Chancery.

             Sworne Decr 14° 1696. before the Principal Justices in Open

            Court at Annapolis.         H. Wriothesley, Clk:

            Mr  Platers I under written do swear that I have been

               Imploy'd as Attorney Genll of this Province under

            Exncys legall his Exncy the prsent Govr ever since his Arrivall in

            Governmt. this Province and that I never had any Instructions

            or advice from his ExnCy during the time abovesd either

            directly or Indirectly to prosecute any person or persons agt

            Law, and that I never was asked or demanded gratifycation

            or Reward for my Place of Attorney Genll.

              And I do further declare upon my Oath, that having for the

            time aforesd been appointed Collector and Receiver of Petux

            ant District, I never was Directed by his Exncy the Govt to

            advance or increase any ffees, or alter any for his Exncys Inter

            est more than the Law directed nor to doe or Act any thing

            or things as Co!lectr & Recr aforesd contrary to Law.

              1 2° Decrs 1696:              George Plater.

              Then Came the above Named George Plater Esq & made Oath

            upon the holy Evangelist that the Contents abovesd is the

            Truth.

                                        H: Wriothesley Clk.

                    December the 16th 1696.

             The Councill again Sate and were prsent as yesterday

                   This Board having taken into consideracon the evill

              Consequences tht doe dayly happen to this his Mats

            to be made Governmt occasion'd Cheifly through the remiss-

            by all Officrs ness of the officers thereof in the strict performance

            of their duty, are pleased to Ordr as it is hereby Ordered that

            the Sherriffs in the ffirst place look well to the discharge of their

     Whitehall  Duty and of the great Trust and Confidence reposed in them,

            and that they take Special Care duly to execute all precepts,

            and punctually observe and Obey all Ordrs of his Exncy which

            from time to time they shall Receive, under penalty of being

            displaced and prosecuted according to the Utmost Rigour of

            the Law; And that they give notice in generall to all Officrs

            Military and Civill within their respective prcincts to be dili

            gent and Circumspect in the Execution of their severall Offices

            and places; His Exncy being pleased openly to declare it to be