Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 495

      have them punished according to law: and that they be obliged P. R. O.

      to take an oath to this effect, concerning Pyrats and Privateers,

      under the same penaltyes as the Acts of Parliament about illegal

      Trade &c. have provided: in case the Governr refused to take

      the oath; or break it afterwards. For it may so happen, that

      some Governours may get more by illegal Trade, Pyrats, and

      Privateers, than their Governments are worth: or, as the Com

      mon saying is, make their Fortunes at once; when they shall

      use such ways & means.

        When our Assembly meets, I shall lay before them yor

      Lordps Letter of the 21st of March last, as allso the Act for

      restraining and punishing Privateers and Pyrats in his Majestys

      Island of Jamaica. And according to his Majestys Royal

      Command Signifyed to me by yor Lordps I will use the

      utmost of my Endeavor with or Assembly, to pass such an Act

      here.

        I am heartily sorry that yor Lordps have so just an occasion

      to write about the Laws of this his Majesty Province being in

      such Counfusion. But I doe assure your Lordps that I have

      several times proposed to the House of Delegates, that they

      would get some proper person or persons to revise their

      Laws, and draw them up better, both Stile, Form & Method:

      but this they would not doe, (for I suppose they had the

      Change of Government in their heads: and this would cost

      money, and they get none ofit) thô I am very sensible they are

      deficient in them all. They once appointed a Committee to

      doe something of this Nature in the Interval of Assembly: but

      never met: & if they had, I don't see that they could have

      done much: for we have not men qualifyed for such an under

      taking.

        But, according to yor Lordps Commands, I have imployed 3

      of the best Clarks, and all I could get; and they are now

      Copying out, (upon that paper which yor Lordps were pleased

      to send) all the Laws wch were passed both in Governr Cop

      leys, & in my time. And I hope to have the Body of Laws

      finished within a moneth; for I attend them daly. Then they

      shall (God willing) according to yor Lordps directions, be sent

      to you. And I have allso for these two last fears, refused to

      revive their temporary Laws that were enacted before.

        But with humble Submission to yor Lordps at first I found

      it absolutely necessary for his Majestys Service, to revive some

      of them. So I hope yor Lordps will be pleased to pardon me,

      and what I have done herein, should not at prsent be agreeable

      to yor Lordps Comands. And what others yor Lordps may be

      pleas'd to send, shall be punctually obeyed by me.

        I send to yor Lordps by Sir Tho: Lawrence the original Lists

      of Taxables, with a distinction of Freemen, Servants, Negroes,