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

        Lib. H. D.     give Copyes thereof to their Under Sherriffs with directions

              to shew the same to all the inhabitants & others in Genll and

              goe therewith to their severall habitacons & places of abode

              where unto all prsons are hereby Required to Conform them

              selves accordingly and if in Case any Masters of Ships Mer

              chants or any others have any thing to Write or Offer to the

              Comodore why they cannot get their Ships ready to Sayle by

              the time appointed they are hereby directed to draw up their

              Reasons in writing and deliver the Same to the Sherriffs by

              them to be transmitted hither, with all imaginable speed

              together with the masters petition & other papers last De

              cembr sent to be prsented to the Severall County Courts and

              Grand Juries &Ca so that a Return thereof be made to be here

              by the 18th day of this Instant ffebry along with such of his

              Mats Councill as Come from their parts (being then appointed

              to meet) or other Safe Conveyance by Expresses whereof the

              sd Sherriffs are to take due Care to make Complyance herein

              at their Utmost perill, but upon failure must Expect to be

              sent for hither in Irons for their disobedience and Contempt

              to his Mats Commands hereby signifyed Given at the Port of

              Annapolis under my hand and Sea! this ffirst day of ffebry in

              the Eigth year of his Mats Reign &ca Annoq Domini 1696.

                                            ffr. Nicholson

                An Abstract of what News his Exncy Recd: in a Letter sent

              from Capt Thomas Tasker, Dated 1st of ffebry 1696, Vizt

              Abstract of   That the ifrench King is dangerously Sick and

              news taken out

              of Mr Taskers that the Doctors have given him over. Great

              Lre preparations for next Campaigne both by Sea &

              Land—Our men of Warr dayly fitting—Money begins to be

              plenty—The Emperor has kill'd Ten thousand of the Turks in

              a Battle last Summer.

                The Sherriffs are hereby Ordered to Publish the above

              news at the Same time with the Cornodores Letter.

         p. 453         Port of Annapolis ffebry 1st 1696.

              His Exncys Lre Sr

              to each of his                   .     .

              Mats honrble   Having Some very Urgent Business importing

              Councill his Mats and the Countreys Service to communi

              cate to his Mats honrble Councill, this comes to Signify tht I

              have appointed their meeting at this place the 18th of this

              instant ffebry and therefore do Require tht (all Excuses set

              apart) you be here by the time aforesd without faile, whereby

              his Mats Service may not be delay'd or impeded, it being the

              Ordr ofYour most Affectionate ifriend

                             ffr. Nicholson