Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 31

       that Agree with the Opinion of his Exncy and his Mats honrble Lib. H. D.

       Councill in this Affair, they Express the same by subscribing

       their names that they are of the same Opinion and those that

       are of a Contrary Opinion are hereby in his Mats name

       Comanded to draw up their reasons in writing and deliver

       the same to the Sherriffe in Order to be Return'd together

       with this Paper unto his Exncy and it is hereby declared that

       any prson may ffreely doe the same without ifear of Reprmand

       or Sensure but may Expect rather to be thanked then

       otherways whose Reasons Offer'd may prhaps be so prevalent

       as to alter his Exncys Resolutions.

       The Assembly Lastly the Sherriffs are to give Notice to the Sever-

       further pro-

       rogued till the all members of his mats honrble Councill and House

       26th of May. of Burgesses that if in Case a Return of these

       Matters shall be duly made and Complyed with that then it isthe

       Opinion of this Board that the Assembly be further prorogued

       untill the 26th day of May after which it is hoped there will be

       no occasion of their then meeting neither but that they may

       still be further prorogued, whereof timely notice will be given;

       and the Assembly is hereby prorogued accordingly until the

       26th day of May next upon the Condicons afore prmis'd where

       of the severall members are to take due Notice and the

       Sherriffs Ordered to publish the same accordingly and make

       due Complyance in prforming every individuall thing hereby

       directed as they will answer the Contrary at their Perill; as

       also to Offer the following Reprsentacon to all prsons to whom

       the foregoing proceedings are directed to be Offered for their

       Opinion in like manner to be given upon the same, which

       Reprsentacon followes in these words, Vizt

       Reprsentacon abt a Convoy It is most humbly Reprsented to the Rt honrble the

       for this Prov- Lords of the Committee of Trade and fforreign

       ince Plantacons by his Mats Govor & Councill of his

       Province of Maryland that Whereas for these two years together

       last past it is so fallen out that through the Extreamity of bad

       weather much more Severe and difficult for all masters of Ships p. 458

       & merchants Trading here then in his mats Colony of Virginia

       where ships are Capable of being much sooner laden by

       reason of the more Sufficiency of the Planters nearness of

       their Plantacons and warmth of the Climate for which reasons

       Severall great Ships of Considerable Countenance were forced

       to stay behind the ffieet last year and are likely to doe so this

       Year therefore do humbly Pray that his Maty will be graciously

       pleased to take the same into his Royall Consideracon and

       for the future to Order all such of his Mats men of Warr as

       hereafter shall be sent for Convoy of the Ships Trading in