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

           Lib. X.   Occasion to evade the several praecepts to the said Sheriff

               directed

                Ordered therefore that the Sheriff of St Marys County

               summons all the Doctors & Physicians in that & the adjacent

               County who are hereby required to go to the house of the

               said Mason & to inquire into his present Condition & there

               upon their oaths to be administred upon them by Kenelem

               Cheseldyn Esqr Chief Justice of St Marys County they are to

               make a Report whether the said Mason may not ride up to

               this Place without the apparent hazard of his Life or whether

               he may not without such Danger be removed to the Sheriffs

               house there to remain in Custody until the next Provincial

               Court according to which report the said Sheriff is to Con

               form himself

                As to the Scurrilous Reflections upon his Excellency the

               Governor the handling of Arms Swords Spits &ca and the

               threats mentioned in Collo Lows Letters ordered that the said

               Collo Low apprehend & secure all such persons whom he is

               to have before this Board at the next Provincial Court

                Advised that the said Colonel Low be writ to that he take

               Care upon any Comotion to raise the posse of his County and

               send fresh Messengers one after another to his Excellency the

               Governor who will himself God willing [use] force to quell them

           p. 89     Thomas Tasker Esqr Presents the Address of several Mas

               ters of Ships now riding in the freshes of Putuxent River to

               his Excellency whereupon ordered that a proclamation issue

               pursuant to that address and the said proclamation being

               prepared is as followeth

                     By his Excllcy the Capt Genl

                            A Proclamation

                Whereas Application hath been made to me by severall

               Captains and Commanders of Ships and Vessels now trading

               in & frequenting this Province who do severally Complain of

               the great Damage & loss they daily Sustain by their Mariners

               & Seamen deserting their said ships & Vessels which does

               likewise much Redound to the prejudice of his Majestys

               Interest in the great delay it gives to the Trade of this Prov

               ince several Vessels being often Impeded & stopped & by

               deserting rendred uncapale to proceed upon their respective

               Voyages

                Therefore to remedy the aforesaid great & growing evil as

               in me lyeth do at the request of the said several Captns &

               Commanders of Vessels whose Names are hereunder written

               & by & with the advice & Consent of his Majestys honble

               Council within this Province hereby publish & give Notice to