Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 377

     thereby to no purpose—and to add to the charge an ill con- Lib. H. D.

     venience, Ordered all manner of persons that hath business at

     common law or Chancery to come there on all occasions, and

     also summoned all manner of persons, bearing any sort of

     Office to attend there to no purpose but to expence & trouble.

       Mr Richard Cloud, Mr Willm Husbands & Notley Mattox,

     Witnesses nominated to attest the said Article, were called

     and sworne in like manner as the former, to say the truth of

     their knowledge concerning the said Article, wch was read unto

     them; who upon their Oaths do say they are well enough sat

     isfyed wth Annapolis & have nothing to object against it.

       16th Article read; Vizt He hath put the Countrey to an

     unreasonable charge his building of Churches too bigg & too

     chargeable for that Countrey, to the great prejudice of so good

     a worke, and upon land belonging to private persons, and in

     places not proper nor convenient to build Churches on.

       Mr Richard Cloud, Mr Samll Cooksey and John Shanks

     wittnesses nominated to attest the sd Article, were called &

     Sworne in like manner as the former, to say the truth of their

     knowledge concerning the sd Article, which was read unto

     them; who upon their Oaths do say they know of no such

     thing, but are sensible that the Vestry of every Parish were left

     to their own discretion to build Churches as they saw fit, and

     as the 40 p poll would hold out.

        17th Article read; Vizt There is 40 l: of tobbo p head setled

     on the Church and Clergy throughout the Province he

     abuseth by not applying it as intended, and Orders the Clergy

     to be defrauded, to the great prejudice of carrying on so pious

     a worke in that Countrey.

       Mr Richard Cloud and Mr Samll Coocksey wittnesses nomi

     nated to attest the sd Article, were called and sworne in like

     manner as the former, to say the truth of their knowledge

     concerning the said Article, wch was read unto them; who

     upon their Oaths do say that Mr Thomas Davies Minister of

     their Parish was allowed more then his due out of the 40 p

     poli. And that they dont know his EXnCY ever defrauded the

     Vestry of any Parrish out of the 40 p poll.

       All the persons before sworne do again severally take their

     Oaths upon the Holy Evangelist that they never had the

     least notice from his EXnCY or direction or knew what they were

     summoned about till their now being Sworn to the Articles

     before mentioned.

       2nd Article read Vizt He collects & Receives money

     upon Shipps for all tobacco brought from Virginia and Shipt

     on board Shipps Riding in Maryland contrary to Law or any

     Act of Assembly, of that countrey.

       George Plater, & George Muschamp Esqrs & Major Willm