Janry the 30th 1696.                             Lib. H.

                             Prsent

        His Exncy the Governr & Sr Thomas Laurence Baront Secry

        A Consultacon Mr Attorney & Sollicitor Genll being sent for

        abt the Ship

        Charles of came accordingly to whom his EXDCY was pleased

        Topsham to propose whether the Ship Charles of Topsham

        Richd Bass Master (being Accused for breach of the Acts of

        the 12th 14th & 15th of King Charles the Second for boing an

        Unfree bottom & unqualifyed to Trade in this Province and

        a Tryall thereon having been had by a Speciall Court and

        Jury & being Returned upon the prmises not guilty by the

        Jury and Judgmt by the Court given for her discharge) may

        legally Load with Tobo & Export the same; who (after Some

        Consultacon thereon had) do say that his ExncY taking a Copy

        of the Proceedings of the sd Court together with a Copy

        of the Certificates from the Commissionrs of his Mats Customs

        here produc'd by the sd Master and Remitting the same to

        the Rt honrble the Lords of the Treasury for their Lordships

         Judgmts therein, and upon the sd Bass'es giving Bond with

        Sufficient Security to Stand and abide their Lord Ships

        determination in the prmises, That then his Exncy may without

        any detrimt or damage permit the sd Ship to Load with Tobo

        and Export the same pursuant to the Tenr of his Bond passed

        in England.

         By his Exncy the Governr &ca & Janry 18th 1696.

        Ordr abt an Whereas an Idle Report hath been lately spread

        Idle Report

        sent to be abroad in this County of Ann Arrundell how that

        published in the ffieet is not to Sayle untill May, and that as

        each County .          —

        of the Province if a Sort of Declaracon had been publickly Read

        abt the ffleets last County Court to the sd Effect, which is a most

        Sayling apparant and Notorious falsity; the Comodore

        having not yet prefixt the time, but will be shortly sent to

        upon that Accot Ordered therefore that the Sherif. of the

        sd County do iffiediately publish this throughout the Severall

        parts & prcinct. of his Bayliwick to the End the people may

        be undeceived and not give Credit to such foolish and

        palpable lyes & stories.

                          Signed p Ordr

                                Hen:  Denton Cl Concil.