102 ~  [8 November 1692]  Instruction from Governor Copley to Edward Green concerning drift whales and other items cast up by the sea.

LIONEL COPLEY ESQ. Cap’t Gen’rl Governor in Chief & Vice Adm’rl of their Ma’ties Province of Maryland and the Islands & territories thereunto belonging.  To Edward Green of Somerset County Gent’l Greeting. Whereas I am informed and complaint hath to me been made that severall persons Inhabitants of Pennsylvania  & other neighbouring Collonies & Plantations doe annualy at a certaine season of the year, come into, intrench & enchroch upon & within the limits & bounds of this Province, on the Seaboard Side, as whalemen, and doe there seize, cutt up and try the blubber of Drift Whales, and carry away the same, without the leave, license or consent of me or any other person thereunto authorized so to doe, to my particular apparent loss damage & injury, and in contempt of the their Ma’ties Government as also to the disturbance & prejudice of the inhabitants of this Province (who in Right & Justice ought rather principally to be employed therein) by coming upon their lands, disturbing & driveing away their stocks and destroying their woods and timber.  WHICH to prevent for the future I the said Lionel Copley reposing especial trust & confidence in the integrity fidelity & circumspection of you the said Edward Green Chief & Only Officer under me for the taking seizing cutting up and trying the blubber, & making sure other use & benefit as you shall think fitt or posssibly cann for the most advantage of all such drift whales or other fish, and of all or any other Drifts, Wastes or Wrecks whatsoever, as shall any time hereafter happen to come or be cast on shore on the Seabord Side within the Limits & Jurisdiction of this Province. HEREBY fully authorizing & impowering you the said Edward Green by your self or lawfull Deputy, together with the aid or assistance of such and so many other person or persons as shall be necessary or you shall think fitt to employ therein, accordingly, to take, seize, cut up & try the blubber, of all such drift whales or other fish, and also to seize & take into your charge  & custody all such other Drifts, Wastes and Wrecks as shall be driven or cast on shore or be found floating within the limits & bounds aforesaid & the same to keep or dispose to sale, barter away or otherwise dispose of as to you shall seem meet & convenient for the most benefit and advantage. You the said Edward Green keeping an exact account of the real and true profitts, incomes, perquisits & advantages thereby yearly arising & accrueing, which account together with two thirds parts of the said profitts incomes perquisits & advantages you are from time to time & shall at all times hereafter as occasion shall offer, or you shall be thereunto required to render & make good to me or my assigns,  and the remaining third part thereof,  to reserve & keep to yourself for your care pains & trouble therein & I do hereby strictly prohibit & forbid all & all manner of other persons whatsoever, others than such as shall be authorized & empowered by & under you, to medle with act or doe anything, in or relating to the premises or in any wise to disturb interrupt molest or hinder you the said Edward Green in the due & full execution hereof, willing & requiring in their Ma’ties names all Officers & Magistrates Military & Civil within this Province & others the inhabitants of the same to suffer & permitt you the said Edward Green & such person or persons to be by you authorized & empowered as aforesd quietly & peacably to execute & performe the powers & authorities herby given & granted you,  and to resist, oppose & prevent all others ~ strangers, intruders or interlopers whatsoever that shall presume or at any time hereafter, to intermedle or concern themselves therewith, without leave or license so to doe first legally had & obtained  TO HAVE & TO HOLD the place & office aforesaid and the powers & authorities herein & hereby given & granted to you the sd Edward Green for and dureing pleasure, you first giving Bond with sufficient security in the sum of      pounds sterling to James Round, Gent’l, one of their Ma’ties Justices of the Peace for the said County of Somerset to my use, for your true & just  performance hereof, according to the severall Covenants Clauses and Articles therein contained, which on the part & behalf ought to be done & performed.  GIVEN at the Citty of St. Maries under my hand and seal this eighteenth day of October in the fourth year of the Reign of our Soverign Lord & Lady King William & Queen Mary   Anno Domini 1692

                                                                                                ¤     L. Copley