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

        Lib. H. D.     in the Plantations to Order Expressly that all the Coman

              ders of his Ships that are Sent to any of his Plantacons

              for the Defence and Service thereof; be under the direction

              of the Governrs of each of those respective Plantations during

              their Continuance there: And further that when any Capt or

              Comander of any of his Ships, in any of the sd Plantations

              shall have Occasion for Seamen to serve on Board the Ships

              under their Comand, they make their Application to the

              Governrs or Comanders in Cheif of his mats Plantations

              respectively; To whom as Vice Admiralls his Maty is pleased

              to Commit the Sole Power of impressing Seamen in any of

              his Plantations in America, or in Sight of any of them: Such

              Governrs or Comanders in Cheif being at the Same time re

              quired upon such application to take Care that his mats sd Ships

              of Warr be furnished with the Number of Seamen that may be

              Necessary for his Mats Service, on board the sd Ships from

              time to time.

                Upon Complaints also that have been laid before his Maty

              of the dispeopleing of Severall of his Colonies Occasioned by

              the Over kind reception tht has been given in Others to

              Deserters and ffugitives, His Maty being Sensible how much

              tht Practice is Contrary to the Interest of the whole has

              Comanded us to write to his Severall Governrs in all his Col

              onies and Provinces in America, that they take Care in each of

              their respective Governmts that effectuall Laws be made against

              the Receiving & harbouring not only of Deserters but also of

              such ffugitives as leave any of his Plantations contrary to the

              Laws provided for tht Purpose in each Plantacon respectively:

              Which Order we have already communicated to Some, and are

              Continuing to do it to others as opportunity Offers: And you are

              therefore likewise in the Same manner required to Serve it.

              And whereas further Complaints have been made to his Maty

              from Severall places (especially from Jamaica) that the great

              Temptation to Piracy by the entertainmt given to Pyrates in

              some places, has been another means of Seducing their In

              habitants from them; And his Maty being highly sensible how

              much such practices tend to the dishonr of the English Name

              and Nation (tho we have not any thing before us imputed

              particularly to Maryland) We are Obliged nevertheless to

              acquaint you with his Mats Generall Orders upon tht Occasion

           p. 92  Which are tht we should strictly require the respective

              Governrs of all his Plantations to be very Carefull that no

              Pyrates or Sea Robbers be any where Sheltered or Entertain'd

              under the Severest penalties; And wch we therefore accord

              ingly require yor observation.

                There is another generall head also, upon which we are to

              Signifye to you his Mats pleasure, And that is the observation