Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1667-75. 89

six thous^d Pounds of Tobacco yearly from the date hereof to be
paid out of the dues or fees Received or to be Received by
reason and means of the said Offices and Employments and
also further the Liberty to sell vend and dispose of any County
Clerks Place within this Province when they shall happen to
be void by death absence Misdemeanors or otherwise and the
said Ridgly to have the whole Profits of the same to his own

proper Use excepting only the County of Saint Marys unto

Liber A. M.

M^r James Thompson or his Assigns and to no other Person
and further I do hereby declare that for the maintainance and
Sallary of such Clerks as shall be necessarily employed by
and under the said Robert Ridgley in and about the doing and
Executing the Offices and Places aforesaid that besides what
I have before Given and Granted to the said Rob^t Ridgley I
will out of the fees arising from the said Places or otherwise
be at the whole Charge In witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and Seal this fifth day of Iune in the 39^th Year of
the dominion of Cecilius &c^a Annoq Dom 1671

Instructions and Powers for Robert
Ridgley

Imprimis You are hereby Empowred and Required after
my departure diligently to attend the management of all
Business that shall Come to your hands to be dispatched by
you as you are deputed and Authorized by me either as I am
Secretary or Publick Notary of the Province or chief Iudge
for Probate of wills not omitting at the signing of all Testa-
mentary business to incert that you sign it by my Order and
Appointment
Secondly You are to get the Books of fees ready early and
deliver them to the several Sheriffs of the several and Re-
spective Counties with an execution general at the end of each
Book signed and Sealed by his Excellency
Thirdly You are hereby impowred to take the Proof of all
such rights for Land as shall be Offered by any Persons
demanding Benefit of his Lordships Conditions of Plantation
hereby requiring you to admit of no rights unless by oath of
the Party entring them it appears such rights are Originally

p. 67

due to them as Persons either transported by or Consigned
that shall demand Benefit of the Conditions of Plantation & of
this you must take a special Care from time to time
Fourthly You must be Carefull to delay no man at such
time when Business Ought to be done and suffer not the Clerk
or Clerks under you to exact unlawfully upon any Person either
for Expedition money or otherwise but readily dispatch Peoples
business at times Convenient as Occasion shall require
Fifthly You are impowred to sign Letters of Administration

p. 68