Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 413

       He is asked as he is upon his Oath what he has to say Lib. X.

     Concerning the said Article and the said Clark makes Answer

     that he knows of no such thing

        Article he Collects and Receives Money upon Ships for

     all Tofr brought from Virginia & shipt on Board ships Riding

     in Maryland Contrary to Law or any Act of Assembly of that

     Cou ntrey.

       The said Philip Clark says he never told Mr Slye that the p. 31

     6d phhd taken for Tobacco brought out of Virginia & Ex

     ported hence was received Contrary to Law but by Virtue of

     an Order of Council

       3d Article he hath Offered Twenty Pounds to any Man

     that will Swear against in that Province that he might use

     them Tyrannically &Ca

       The said Clark sayes he cannot make Oath to those Words

     but Refers to the Proclamation

       4th Article To amuse the People he hath Offered fifty

     Pounds by a publick declaration which is upon Record in the

     Courts of that Province to any one that would Complain

     against him to the King often Saying his Interest was so

     Strong with the Duke of Bolton Lord Bishop of London &

     Mr Blathwayte that no man would be heard against him.

       The said Philip Clark does say he cannot make other

     Answer thereto then by referring to the Declaration it Self

     upon Record but does not say it was to amuse the People

     Neither does he know any thing of the remainder of that

     Article

       5th Article he hath often by any arbitrary or military power

     Seized Mens Estates & Writings

       He saith he knows nothing of that Article except the

     Seizing of Mr Cood & Mr Masons papers

       7th Article that he keeps the present Assembly on foot by

     a Writt dated after they first Sate Sends forth writts for fresh

     Members though others are Legally elected & alive

       The said Mr Clark desires he may give his Ansr thereto in

     Writing which he does as followeth_Vizt As to the Seventh p. 32

     Article of keeping the Assembly on foot by a Writt dated

     after they first Sate

       This Deponent Saith that as to the time he refers to the

     Journal but to the best of his Remembrance it was in Sep

     tember 1695 & he is Certain it was that Assembly that the

     honble Robert Smith Speaker was disabled by Sickness &

     the honble Kenelm Cheseldyne chosen in his Stead it so

     happened that the day that the Assembly was to meet there

     did not meet enough to Adjourn And his Excellency coming

     to Town that evening & being very Sick no Writt of Proro-

     guation issued forth It Came in Debate a Day or two after