202 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1706.

       Lib. C. B. His Excellency acquaints the Boarde that upon receiving

                  the late Report from Virginia he had Ordered the Navall

                  Officers to give Notice to the Severall Masters of Shipps to

                  attend this Boarde and his Excellency being acquainted that

                  most of the Masters are now in Towne Ordered that Notice

                  be given them that his Excellency Expects their Attendance

                  at the Councill Chamber.

                    Then Came the Masters of Divers Shipps now in this Prov

                  ince to the Number of about thirty to whom his Excellency

                  was Pleased to Comunicate the cause of their calling them

                  together as followeth

                    That he hoped they did not thinke he had sent for them on

                  a frivoloUs occasion but for her Majestys & the Countrys Ser

                  vice & their owne Safety and that in Case of any Danger or

                  Invasion they should never want either his Advice or utmost

                  Assistance and Asks their Opinion where they thinke are the

                  most Proper Places for Securing their Shipps

           p. 47  After which the said Comanders withdrew And after

                  Some time Came Capt James Thomas on behalf of all the

                  Masters of the Shipps and acquaints his Excellency & the

                  Board that the Masters of the Shipps have Considered what

                  his Excellency was Pleased to Comunicate to them & wholly

                  Submitt themselves to the Judgment and Opinion of his Ex

                  cellency & this Board Whereupon its Ordered that all Shipps

                  now in a readiness to Sayle do as Speedily as may be re

                  pair to puttuxent River & those not ready do upon the first

                  Alarme make the best of their way thither in Order to Secure

                  themselves and do in all things conforme themselves to the

                  Directions of the Proclamation. His Excellency aquaints the

                  Board that upon persuall of the Iournalls of the Councill in

                  Assembly and of the house of Delligates he finds Severall

                  Mistakes and Incongruitys & that he has Desired Coll Thomas

                  Smith & Mr Robert Smith to Correct the same and thinks it

                  proper with the advice of the Councill that one other member

                  of this Board be Joyned to assist therein His Excellency

                  desires Mr Tench will be aiding to them in that Affaire.

                    His Excellency represents to this Doard the great evill too

                  Comon in this Province of Persons Divulging ffalse News

           p. 48  which may putt the Province into great Alarms and hopes the

                  members of this Board will Stand by him in Punishing Such

                  Offenders upon discovery of them To which the Gentlemen

                  of the Councill do say that they will stand by his Excellency

                  to the Utmost of their Powers in Preventing and Punishing

                  such Evills & desire of ffair Proof of any such thing his Ex

                  cellency will be Pleased to Secure the Offenders.

                    Read the Petition of Captain Richard Hill praying Liberty

                  to Shipp off twenty two hogsheads of Tobacco to Barbadoes