Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 345

    a fuller Councill and Ordered in the interim to be Recorded. Lib. H. D.

    Produced also at the same time Instructions to his said Exncy

    (with certain specimens annext) for the due observance of the

    severall Acts of Trade & Navigation, pursuant to the afore

    mention'd Oath, Signed by their Exncys the Lords Iustices of

    England, and Countersign'd by the Rtt Honoble the Lords of

    the Treasury by their Exncyes Comand, wch were likewise de

    ferred the Reading till a fuller Councill, whereat the Severall

    Collectors & Navall Officers on this side the Bay are summ

    oned to be present.

      Then read a direction from the Rtt Honoble the Comissrs for p. 616

    executing the Office of Lord High Admirall of England, Ire

    land &ca Dated 29th of Aprill last past Empowering his Exncy

    ffrancis Nicholson Esqr to grant Commissions to Sr Thomas

    Laurence Baront to be Iudge, Henry Denton Register, and

    Thomas Collyer Marshall of his Majtes Court of Vice Admir

    alty for the Province of Maryland.

      The Hono” Sr Thomas Laurence Barontt signifying his indis

    position of body & his being otherwise taken up wth his Sec

    retaries imploy does humbly desire to be excused from being

    put in any such Commission and prayes his Exncy would be

    pleased to conferr the same upon such other person as in his

    wisdome he shall think fltt.

      Then read a Commission under the Seale of the Admiralty

    of England bearing date the 26th day of Iune 1697. Empower

    ing his Exncy the Governr of Maryland to appoint Judges, Reg

    isters, Marshalls and Advocates of the Courts of Admiralty of

    Maryland, Pensilvania & West Jersey wch was read.

      Afterwards produced by the aforenamed Esqr Randolph

    two Commissions under the Seale of the Admiralty in Eng

    land bearing date the 26th day of lune 1697. The one con

    stituting W Willm Rodeney to be Regr and the other Mr Rob'

    Webb to be Marshall of his Majtes Court of Vice Admiralty in

    the Province of Pensilvania and the three lower Counties &

    West Jersey. The sd Esqr Randolph signifying that Coli

    Quarry had a Commission for being Iudge of the said Court,

    and that Mr Edwd Chilton had a Comission for being Advocate

    of the sd Court, as also of his Majtes Court of Vice Admiralty

    in Maryland.

                  Decemr the 10th 1697.        p. 171

    Mr Robt  Coll Cood

    Masons Letter

    to Collo Ino    Sr yours I received and for answer am forced to

    Cood.    acquaint you that the Governer sent down with an

    Order of Councill and seized all your Books I being then and

    still am not able to use hand nor foot and he being suspitious

    tht the first search was not sufficient sent Mr Plator Mr Bladen