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

             Lib.     H. D. Came John Hockin master of the Annapolis Briganteen,

               p. 607 Riding in this Port; who signifying that the sd Vessell being

                  lately built wthin the said Port, and understanding that by a

                  late Act of Parliament intituled an Act for preventing frauds

                  and regulating abuses in the Plantation Trade; it io thereby

                  directed tht the Masters of all Shipps and Vessells Plantation

                  built shall make Oath thereof before the Governr of such

                  Plantation &ca and have Certificate of the same therefore

                  humbly prayed that such Certificate might be granted him;

                  he making Oath as the law in that case directs. Whereupon

                  this Board being sensible tht the said Briganteen was built

                  here, and the said Hockin being Sworn thereto before his

                  Exncy in Councill this day; It is Ordered that a Certificate

                  be granted him pursuant to the directions of the said Act of

                  Parliament. Upon the Reading a return of the Justices of

                  Talbott County in answer to an Order of this Board, concern

                  ing the Records of that County Court; wherein they certify

                  the reasons why the Records wch ought to have been up by Mr

                  Jno Valliant & Mr Richard Macklin, was absolutely the neglect

                  of such Mercenary Clerks. Ordered that the Iustices Certify

                  ing the same; Vizt Capt Iames Murphey, Mr Willm Hemsley

                  Mr Richard Tilghman, and Mr Robt Macklin make answer to

                  this Board what they mean by those words (Mercenary Clerks)

                  and why they did not take the same care as was taken by the

                  said County Iustices at a Court held for the sd County the 25th

                  of September past; as by their return also here read and

                  approved off does appear.

                    Produced at the Board the following return of George Mus

                  champ Esqr Vizt

                    Pursuant to an Ordr of his Exncy and Councill bearing date

                  the 21th of October 1697. I immediately upon the Receipt there

                  of repared to the House of Mr Robert Mason and there took

                  a full view of all his Bookes and papers and could find none

                  relating to Mr John Cood excepting his accot wch I have copyed

                  out of the said Masons Booke of accots and eight small Bookes

                  being lists of Debts due to the said Cood out of the following

                  hundreds Vizt St Maries Hundred, St Georges Hundred,

                  Poplar Hill hundred. St George's hundred St Clement hun

                  dred, Newtown hundred Choptico hundred.

                                                  G.     Muschamp.

                    On the back of the aforementioned Accot Copyed out and

                  likewise produced at the Board was thus written Vizt

                    Memorandum that Mr Mason, told me that Robt Carse

                  attached of Collo Jno Coods debts 17000 lb: of Tobacco wch

                  he standeth indebted unto him; and that severall others