Proceedings of the council of Maryland, 1701.    115

  then proposed it to the assembly here who might perhaps         Lib. X.

  have followed the example of our adjacent Neighbours in re

  fusing the said sum but that it being conveeniet Our Assem-     p. 274

  bly should meet early in the Spring they being sensible of the

  charge they have avoided by their not meeting this Autumn

  upon that Occasion may be the easier inclined to give a ready

  compliance thereto

     His Excellency was pleased to Lay before the Board the

  Right Honble the Lords of Trade & Foreign Plantations

  Letter to him of the 13th of June with the Proposed Law for

  the Establishment of Religious Worship according to the

  Church of England & for the maintainance of Ministers here

  which said proposed Law is Referred to be Laid before the

  General Assembly at their next first Sitting to enact the same

  according to their said Lordships Directions

     Then was produced & read their said Lordships Letter to

  his Excellency the Governor of the 22d of July 1701 requir

  ing his Excellency to get the best information he can &

  speedily transmitt the same to their Lordships relating to the

  ill Conduct of Proprietary Government especially of Mary

  land when under that Govt & also of the adjacent Proprietary

  Government of Pensylvania & the Jerseys

     Whereupon his Excellency requires the Members of this

  Board they having been resident in this Province when under

  the Proprietary Government to give him the best information

  they can as to the Observations they have made upon the ill

  conduct of that Government & likewise what they know or         p. 274

  have heard Concerning the Proprietary Govts of Pensylvania

  and the east and west Jerseys

     To which they do say that as to this Province when under

  the Proprietary Government of the Lord Baltimore & those

  by him impowered they have been informed great irregular

  itys were committed but forasmuch as their Lordships Com

  mands are instant for a speedy Answer they can only give

  this present account reserving themselves to give their Lord-

  ships such further circumstances & Proofs as at Present they

  cannot for want of time to enquire and examine into vizt that

  they are well assured under the Proprietary Government of

  this province there were no oaths of Allegiance or other obli

  gatory oaths to his Majesty imposed upon or administred to

  any person within this Province whether of the Council Ius

  tices or any the Ministerical Officers but that such persons

  only took an oath of Fidelity to his Lordship the Proprietary

  & other oaths for the due execution of their respective offices

     There were several Laws in the Proprietary Governmt with

  the advice & Consent of the Assembly but how far repugnant

  to the Laws of England or prejudicial to Trade they cannot