Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1700.     91

       At a Council held at the Town & Port of Annapolis in the    Lib. X.

     27th day of June in the 12th year of his Majestys Reign &ca

     Annoq Dni 1700

                               Present

                    His Excellency the Governor

                   Collo Hen Jowles Colo    John Hammond

     the honble    Collo Jno Addison             &

                   Tho Brooke Esqr          Tho Tasker Esqr

      Mr William Dent his Majestys Attorney Genl being ordered

     to give his Attendance came and was present

       His Excellency acquaints the Board that he has received

     some Letters from the right Honble the Comsrs of trade &

     Foreign Plantations which are of very Great Importance

       Which his Excellency produced to the Board & first their

     Lordships Letter of   in Answer to his Excellencys of          p. 244

     the 16th of August 1699 which was read with the reasons

     offered against the Act of Religion &Ca afterwards his Excel-

     lency is pleased to produce & read to the Board his Majestys

     Royal Instructions relating to the Revising the Laws of this

     Province

       And is pleased to take Notice that upon the Revisal of the

     said Laws in the General Assembly 1699 all the said Laws

     then transmitted for transmitted save One were in Force be

     fore that Assembly though several of the same nature were

     then united under one Titbe and that at that time there was

     all Possible due care taken that nothing should be incerted in

     any of them infringing his Majestys Prerogative or otherwise

     against his Interest but that as to the act of Religion &ca it

     having so long slept & Being a Law so essential to the pros

     perity & wellfare of this Province it was even absolutely

     necessary to be reenacted

       His Excellency is pleased to shew the Board his own Letter

     to their Lordships in answer to theirs & this Board upon

     further consideration had of their Lordships said Letter

     reflecting they had run into the like Error as to the Law for

     Ascertaining the Laws &ca do propose advise & resolve that

     upon the next meeting of the Assembly it be Recommended

     to them to Repeal & make void that Law which is not at all

     doubted

       And further that this Board will write to their Lordships in

     answer to their Letter aforesaid about Revising the Laws &ca    p. 245

     & accordingly do write the following letter

                              Annapolis I  1700

     May it please your Lordships

       It is not usual nor are we desirous to trouble your Lord

     ships with any of our Lines knowing that all Affairs relating