Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 5
      
       of each County with Ordrs to Shew the same to all the Lib. H. D.
       Masters of Ships and Merchts and that publication be made
       and Notice Given thereof to all the inhabitants of the Province
       in generall commanding all Persons to Conform themselves
       accordingly; the sd Ordr being Drawn up was Read and
       Approved off his Exncy asking Capt Daniell if he could think
       of any thing further for his Mats Service in this behalfe, who
       Says he thinks the same is sufficient. His Exncy is pleased to
       give Ordrs to Mr Plater for to shew a Copy of the sd Letter
       &ca to the Masters of Ships in South River Herring Creek
       and Petuxant River.
         The Copy of the Lre and Ordr followes in these Words
       Vizt
         Part of a Letter by his EXnCY the Governt recd: from the
       honrble Capt Charles Wager Commodore of the Virga and
       Maryland ffleet dated the 27th of Janry 1696/7 Vizt
       Comodores Sr
      
       Exncy the I recd: your Exncys Letter by Lieut Ockman who
       Ships Sayling I kept longer then I intended having no News p. 452
       before now to send to yor Exncy here is at last two Ships
       Arrived from England but no Ordrs for me I understand by
       Letters that the King has Ordered in Councill two men of
       Warr which are supposed to be the Weymouth & Woolwich
       to be sent hither to bring home the latter Ships Nevertheless
       I have sent an Ordr to Capt Daniell to Continue in Maryland
       till the 1st of March, by which time I hope all the Ships that
       Came in with Us will be Ready to Come Down with him &
       J oyn the ffleet here; I suppose yor EXnCY hath an Accot of the
       Men of Warr bound hither who may be Expected here the
       latter End of ffebry here is noe News here but what yor Exncy
       will have in yor pacquets by Leiut Ockman; Capt Rhodes tells
       me there was fforty saile of men of Warr bound to the
       Streights and about three hundred Sayle of Merchtmen to
       all parts; that were most of them under Sayle at Spithead
       the 2d of Novembr Sr Clowdsly Shovell Adm” bound to the
       Streights that an Express Came that day and Stopt them and
       the next day they Came away with all the Mercht Ships and
       only ffive men of Warr Commanded by Vice Admll Nevill, he
       says there was great talk of a Plott being found out, and a
       designed invasion but knows noe particulars.
       Ordr to the Sherriffs to Maryland: ss
      
       shew the I do hereby, in his Mats Name Strictly OrdT and
       Comodores Command the Severall Sherriffs of the Province
Lettr to all        .
       Mastrs &  that immediately (upon sight hereof) they per
       Coniandrs sonally shew the above Letter to all Masters of
       Ships and Merchts within their respective Counties as also