Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 509

        His Excellency further asked him if he did not take the Lib. X.

      oath of a Vestry man which the said Mason says he did

        Whereupon he tells him that he has forsworn himself & the p. 129

      Law relating to Servants & Slaves being read

        Ordered that his Majestys Lawyers prosecute the said Mr

      Robert Mason for such his breach of Oath

        His Excellency tells Mr Robert Mason that he understands

      he takes upon him to correct Ministers because they do not

      preach such doctrines as are pleasing to him but what serves

      to reprove vice & asks the said Mason if he has any power of

      a Bishop

       And a warrant to the Sheriff of Anne Arundel County being

      prepared requiring the said Sheriff to take him into his Cus

      tody till he gives bond for his appearance & to Answer at the

      next Provincial Court in 2000 l Sterling himself in 1000 l Sterl

      & 2 securitys each in five hundred a piece being read &

      approved of was delivered to the Sheriff who took the said

      Mason into his Custody

               Monday Evening Augt 29th 1698

        The Council Sate & were present as on saturday last

        Mr Robert Mason being brought before the Board is Shewed

      several Accots by him exhibbitted of the publick Treasury on

      the western shore from the year 1696 to this present time

      which he owns to be his

        His Excellency is pleased to ask Mr Mason if he has made

      up his Accot with the Reverend Mr Peregrine Cony who

      officiated in the cure of William & Mary parish Mr Mason

      says the Vestry have made up their accots with him

        Mr Mason is told that he must produce Vouchers for the

        several Payments he has made out of the Publick Ireasury

        otherwise his Account will not be allowed of—

        Ordered that Mr Gerrard Sly of St Marys County be Sent p. 130

      for who appearing at the Board is asked whether he never

      sent any Articles of Charge against his Excellency the Govr

      to pensylvania or not says no

        But being further asked says Mr Cood gave him some

      Articles which he gave to a person who promised to send

      them to Mr Penn & that he had sent them to the Secry of

      State & my Lord Tankerville as he promised is asked if he

      pretends to prove any of those Articles says no he is a

      stranger in the Country & that they are not his but Mr Coods

      Articles

        And the said Articles being read to him Ordered that the

      Clerk of this Board issue the same order to enable him to

      prove these as was ordered upon the former ones