Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 141

       He is Asked if he Ever took the Oaths Appointed by the Lib. H. D.

     Act of Parliamt to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance

     and Supremacy—who says he has not. Whereupon the sd

     Oaths were Administred to him, as also the Oath of Trade and

     Navigacon by his Exncy in Councill and afterwards he Sub

     scribed to the Test.                      p. 520

       His Exncy is pleas'd to ask him if he can think of any thing

     whereby his Mats Service may be promoted in the way of his

     Office, and he will give all Necessary Ordrs for his Assistance

     therein; directing him to make what Dispatch he Can to the

     Execution of his Office, Saying that there are Some Ships in

     those parts now and more dayly Expected and does acquaint

     him that tht District is a place where illegall Trade is (or at

     least hath been) most Vsed, and therefore will Require his

     more particular Reguard and that there is a place Called the

     Inlet, in that District, where Tobo has been some time

     privately Exported, which place ought to be well watch't

     intimating that he has placed an Officer there, whom he would

     doe well to hold Correspondence with, as also with the Navll

     Officer there appointed for that District. And for his better

     Guidance in his Office, his Exncy is pleas'd to tell him that he

     shall Receive an Ordr to M' Layfleld the former Collr to

     Surrender up to him the Book of Rates Several Copyes of

     Lres from the Rt honrble the Commrs of his Mats Customs about

     Illegall Traders, together with Severall Instructions and

     Orders of Councill &ca in relation to his Office and printed

     Certificates &ca directing him to apply himself to the Clerk of

     the County Court for what Laws of this Province may any

     ways concern Trade, whereby he may every way rightly

     qualifye himself for his Office.

       Ordered that George Layfleld Esq Collr of his Mats Customs

     in Pocomoke District within this Province do upon Sight

     hereof Surrender up unto David Kennedy Esq the Bearer

     hereof, the Book of Rates together with all Instructions or

     Letters by him at any time Recd from the Rt honrble the

     Commrs of his Mats Customs or from his Exncy; as also Ordrs

     of Councill, Proclamations, Bonds, Certificates, Cocquets,

     printed Certificates, and other Papers any ways respecting his

     sd Office, the sd Mr Kennedy having this day been admitted

     and sworn his Mats Collr of that District, hereby directing a

     list to be made of what things are deliver'd; whose Receipt

     thereon will be sufficient discharge to the sd Mr Layfield for

     all the foregoing matters, which sd list or an Authentick Copy

     thereof is to be transmitted unto his Exncy at the Port of Ann

     apolis with all Convenient Speed.

       Produced a Letter by his Exncy recd: from his Exnc Sr

     Edmund Andros his Mats Governr of Virga of the 12th of June

     Instant which was Read as followes Vizt