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

             Lib. x.   to all his Majestys good Subjects in General here residing

                 by the Altering the good Frame and Constitutions of several

                 Courts of Judicature Vizt that of the Governor and Council

                 for hearing appeals &ca The Chancery the provincial & Com

                 missary Courts & the several County Courts beside the

                 Danger of an end being put to all those Considerable Actions

                 depending in the several Courts here wherein his sacred

                 Majesty is more Immediately Interested and that it be further

                 represented the great Encouragement that will be given to

                 the Irish Jesuits priests & others of that party to Flock hither

                 as before was Usual in the Lord Baltimores time to the very

                 great Discouragement of the English Inhabitants & hinderance

                 of the progress of the protestant Religion within this his

                 Majestys province

                   Came Colonel Ninian Beal & Offered his Service to Com

                 mand One party of the New Rangers to be raised upon

                 Potomack and the said Colonel Beal is well accepted of by

                 this Board

                   Captain Richard Owen is thought to be a person very fitly

                 Qualified to Command the other party

                   Ordered that Coil0 Beal & Captain Owen do lmmediately

                 go to Colonel Addison & adjust the said Matter wth him &

                 pursue what Directions the said Coilonel Addison shall give

                 them

              p. 23    It being Represented to this Board that Mr Robt Mason

                 the present Sheriff of St Marys County hath by Several

                 Orders for his Majestys Service been sent for but through

                 Sickness hath been Incapacitated to Come & since that he

                 hath been Observed to be a Busy Man of Coods party &

                 managing his Business & hath Neglected or by Disability

                 not Complied with to make up his Treasurers Accot

                   The said Mr Mason is not thought fit to be Longer Con

                 tinued in his Majestys Service therefore Ordered that the

                 said Mr Mason be dismissed from further Executing that

                 Office & that Lieut Collo Henry Low be Constituted & Corn

                 missionated High Sheriff of the said County in his Stead &

                 that a Commission with the other Usual Instruments Isue out

                 of the honble the Secretarys Office Accordingly

                   The representation of his Majestys honble Council Con

                 cerning the want of more Counsellors being taken into

                 Consideration it is thought that Major John Hammond &

                 Captain Richard Hill of Ann Arundell County Capt Thomas

                 Tasker of Calvert County & W Francis Ienkins of Somerset

                 County may be fit & Capable persons to serve in that Station

                 & to be represented to his most sacred Majesty for his Royal

                 Approbation & Assent Ordered that the Respective Naval

                 Officers within this his Majestys province take Care to keep