Provincial Court Proceedings, 1658. 87

The Oath of Sheriffe.

Yo^u shall well & truly serue the Lord Proprietary of this prouince
in the Office of Sheriffe of N Yo^u shall truly & rightfully treate
the poeple of yo^r Sherifwick, & doe right as well to poore as to rich
in all that belongeth to yo^r s^d Office. Yo^u shall doe noe wrong to
any man, for any gwift, fauo^e, hate or other affection. Yo^u shall
duely exequute, soe far as yo^u may, all such writts, & warrants as
shall bee to yo^u directed by lawfull authority, & therof yo^u shall make
true returne, according to the tenor of the writt. Soe helpe yo^u
God &c :

Liber

P. C. R.

p. 52

Caecilus Absolute & Prop^e of the Prouinces of Maryland & Aualon,
Lord Baron of Baltemore &c: To John Hatch, James Lindsey Henry
Adams, Edward Parks, James Walker & Robert Hunley Gent"
Greeting, Know yee That Wee for the ease & benifitt of the Poeple
of this o^e Prouince & for the spedyer & more exact Admistraon of
Justice haue erected, & doe by these p^esents Erect all th^t Tract of
Land of this o^e Prouince of Maryland Bownded with West Wicoco-
moco Ryuer, up to the head thereof, & Sowth w^th Patowmeck
ruyer from the mouth of Wicocomoco up as high as any Plantaon
under o^e gouerm^t is now seated, And from thence w^th a right Line
drawne from such plantaon as afores^d to the head of Wicocomoco
Ryuer, into a County, By the name of Charles County, in honou^e of
Our only Sonne & heyre apparant Charles Caluert Esq^r And for the
great trust & confidence, Wee haue in yo^r fidelities, circumspections,
prouidences, & wisdomes haue constituted, ordeyned & appointed &
doe by these p^ents constitute, ordaine & appoynt yo^u John Hatch,
James Lindsey, Henry Adames, Edward Parks, James Walker &
Rob^t Hunley, Gentⁿ Commissioners Joyntley & seuerally to keepe the
Peace in Charles County afores^d And to keepe & cause to be kept all
Lawes & Orders made for the good & conserua5n of the Peace, & for
the quiett rule and gouerm^t of the Poeple in all & euery the articles
of the same, And to chastice & punish all persons offending agst the
forme of any the Lawes & Orders of this o^e prouince, or of any of
them in Charles County afores^d as according to the forme of those
Lawes & orders shall be fitt to be done. Wee haue allso constituted
& ordayned yo^u & euery fowre or more of yo^u, of w^ch yo^u the s^d John
Hatch (unlesse some one of o^e Councell bee p^esent) are allwayes to
bee one; Commis^es to enquyre by the Oath of good & lawfull men of
yo^r County afores^d of all manner of ffellonies, Withcrafts, In-
chantm^ts, Soceries, Magick arts, Trespasses fforestallings, Ingross-
ings, & Extortions whatsoeuer & of all & singular other misdeeds &
offences of w^ch Justices of the Peace in England may or ought law-
fully to enquyre by whomsoeuer, or whensoeuer done or perpetrated,

Commission
Charles
County
Vide 3 Md.
Arch. 341

or w^ch hereafter shall happen to be done or perpetrated in the County
afores^d agst the Lawes & Orders of this Our prouince, Prouided yo^u

p. 53