Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 91

                    April the 21st 1696/7.        Lib. H. D.

        Then Rëcd: of Henry Denton Clerk of the Councill these

      following Armes, Vizt i'en Sadles & Caps for Carbines, Nine

      Bridles, Ten pair of pistolls, ten Cartouch boxes & belts, ten

      Byonets and Belts ten Carbines & belts, being for the Vse of

      the Rangers in Baltemore County, I say recd: by me the day

      and Year abovesd

                                    John Oldton

                          William R.

        Trusty and Well beloved we greet you well whereas notwth

      standing the many Good Laws made from time to time for

      prventing of frauds in the Plantation Trade It is manifest that

      very great Abuses have been and Continue Still to be practised

      to the prjudice of the Same Which Abuses Must Needs Arise

      either from the Insolvency of the psons Who are Accepted for

      Security of from the remissness or Connivance of such as have•

      been or are Govrs in the Severall Plantations who ought to

      take Care that those persons who give Bond should be duly

      prosecuted in Case of Non performance you are to take Notice

      that we take the good of our plantations and the Improvemt

      of the Trade thereof by a strict and punctuall Observance of

      the Severall Laws in force. Concerning the Same to be of so

      great Importance to the benefitt of this our Kingdom and to

      the Advancemt of the Dutyes of our Customs here that if we p. 238

      shall be hereafter Informed that att any time there shall be

      any failure in the due pformance of those Laws within our

      Province of Virginia Comitted to your Charge by any willful

      fault or Neglect on your part, We shall look upon it as a

      breach of the Trust reposed in you by us which we shall punish

      with the loss of your place in that Governmt and such further

      Markes of our displeasure as we shall Judge reasonable to

      be Inflicted upon you for your Offence against us in a Matter

      of this Consequence that we now so pticularly Charge you

      with. So we bid you heartily farewell. Given att our Court

      att Kensington this 22d day of Aprill 1697 in the Nineth year

      of our Reigne  By his Mates Comand

                            Shrewsbury

                      May the 11th 1697.

        Then Rëcd: of Henry Denton Clerk of his Mats honrble

      Councill two dozen of Carbine, two dozen of musket & ffour

      dozen of pistoll fflints as also 9 ll Weight of Musket bullets and

      six pounds weight of pistoll Bullets, being deliver'd upon