Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1698.     25

       Read the Petition of Roderick Loyd of St Marys County          Lib. X.

     Petitioning for the Cryers place of that County Court the said

     Petition is referred to the Iustices of the County Court who

     are to admit of him provided what he has set forth in his

     Petition be true

       His Excellency is pleased to tell this Board that whereas

     several of the Members thereof are dead few at present being

     of the Council, & living very remote, he was forced Several

     times to call for the Assistance & advice of Robert Smith        p. 182

     Esqr Major Iohn Hammond Captain Richd Hill & Thomas

     Tasker Esqr whom tho he did not Swear yet had their Assist

     ance in Council & now forasmuch as the honble Robert Smith

     Esqr was in Town proposes whether it may not be Convenient

     he should be called in to the Board

       Which is thought reasonable & if that he should not it will

     look like Slighting him

       Wherefore ordered that the Clerk of the Board go & call

     him

       Who returns with the said Robert Smith Esqr

                  October the 29th 1698

       The honble his Majestys Council Sate present as yesterday

       Mr Edward Batson Commissionated and Sworn Clerk of

     Appeals & writs of Error before his Excellency the Governor

     & Council said Mr Batson took the Oaths of Allegiance &

     Subscribed the Test

       Also the said Mr Batson took the Oath of Clark of the said

     Court

       Whereupon Ordered that the Clark of this Board deliver to

     the said Mr Batson all the Books papers & records belonging

     to the said Court to be by him kept

       The Petition of George Plater & Geo Muschampe Esqrs read

     praying some order to the Sheriffs & several Clarks of the

     Indictments to prosecute to Iudgment & Execute the several

     fines within this Province which is Granted & Ordered accord

     ingly

                  November the 1st 1698

       The Council met present as on Saturday last

       Read the Petition of Mr William Dent his Majestys Attorney      p. 183

     Genl of this Province praying that some fee may be Setled

     upon him for reports made from this Board

       Whereupon ordered that the several persons at whose Suit

     such references are made pay to his Majestys Atty Genl for