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

          Lib. H. D.     Dent, wittnesses nominated to attest the sd Article were

                called, and upon hearing the said Article read Do say that

             p. 627 the Act of Assembly does direct, the Collection of the duty

                of 01s: 06d: p hhd for wch they referr themselves to the said

                Act; and their opinions upon an Order of Refferrence about

                the Collection of 6d p hhd on tobacco brought out of Virginia.

                  His Exncy demands of the severall Gentlemen of the Coun

                cill what they can say concerning the severall Articles laid

                gainst him by Capt Slye, this night read unto them; who

                make answer that they can say nothing in Affirmation of any

                one Article therein contain'd; but find the same altogether

                frivolous, idle & impertinent.

                        Ianry the 12th 1697/8.

                  The Council again Sate and were present as yesterday.

                Captt John Bayne & Mr Willm Taylard being by Summoned to

                this Councill came this day & made their appearance; Where

                upon the 10th & Articles were in Order read as fol

                lows vizt.

                  7th He keeps the present Assembly on foot by a writt

                dated after they first sate, sends forth writts for fresh mem

                bers, though others are legally Elected & alive.

                  10th Such persons as has been not dissatisfyed to the

                King and Government he putts into Offices of the Govern

                ment.

                   11th Such persons as hath been truly Loyall to their

                Majesties & first appeared for them & Government he not

                only prosecutes & disturbes, but calls them Rebells & Tray

                tors and threatens to hang them.

                  Mr Willm Taylard being question'd to the said three articles

                made oath upon the Holy Evangelist before Capt Thomas

                Tasker (one of his Majtes Justices of the Provincial Court) in

                Council, that he utterly denyes his knowledge of any such

                things as mention'd in the said three Articles.

             p.     158 Capt Bayne being sworn to the 17th Article yesterday

                taken notice off and now again read; does (upon his Cor

                porall Oath taken) say he is an absolute stranger to any such

                thing, and tht if he had known what he had been summoned

                about, he could have given some better account and there

                fore craves time to make his further answer. Mr Taylard de

                clares upon his Oath, he had no cognizance of what he was

                summoned about, and being asked by his Exncy about a letter

                he recd from Capt Slye touching some reflections in the said

                Letter cast upon his Exncy The said Taylard confesses he

                has such a Letter by him, wch he will at any time produce.

                  Mr Sam” Watkins of Calvert County being sent for came.