At a Councill held at the port & Towne of Annapolis In
Ann Arundell County the 23^d day of ffebruary 1698 the Tenth
Yeare of his Maj^tyes Raigne &^ca

S^r Thomas Laurence Barr^t Secr^y
Colonel Henry Jowles
Edward Randolph Esq^r

This day by his Ma^tys Writt of Election or Summons being
appointed for the meeting of the Gen^ll Assembly of this
Province pursuant thereto appeared att the Councill Boarde,
these ffollowing Delegates by Indenture Returned for S^t
Marys, Ann Arundel prince Georges, and Calvert Countys,
(Viz^t ) M^r Jacob Moreland, Major John Hammond, M^r James
Saunders, M^r Samuel Yo[ung] Major Walter Smith, M^r Elisha
Hall, M^r W^m Hutchyson M^r John Wight Coll Ninian Beale
and Major William Barton to whom by Virtue of his Maj^tys
Writt of dedimus potestatem directed to the aforesaid Gentle-
men of his Maj^tys hon^ble Councill then p^rsent were administered
the Oaths appointed by Act of parliament to be taken in steade
of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy att which they tooke
as Likewise M^r William Bladen Clarke of the said house of
Delegates and and at the same tyme the said Members &
Clarke Subscribed the Test.
After which was produced & read his Maj^tys Writt of pro-
rogation In these words Viz^t :

Maryland ss:
William the Third by the Grace of God of England, Scot-
land, ffrance and Ireland King Defender of the ffaith &^ca To
the members of our privy Councill & house of Delegates for
this our province of Maryland, Greeting, Whereas by our
Certain Writt of Election issued, directed, and sent unto the
Sev^rall Sheriffs of our said province bearing date the Eleventh
day of January Last past thereby Impowering them to call
together four or more Commissio^rs of their Respective Countys
with their Clke to [sit] as a Court and during their sitting (by
Virtue of their to make or Cause to be made publicke
proclamation thereby giving notice to all the ffreemen of their

Original
Journal,
p. 1