February 17.
"Mr. Locke Reported to the Councill, That attending Mr. Secretary Coventry wth the papers concerning Rodney's Case ordered by this Council the 10th of this Instant February, Mr. Secretary Coventry told him, That the Order of the Privy Councill being to transmitt the said papers, to his Maty in Councill, that itt was not proper to do itt by his hands, Butt that they should bee sent to one of the Clerks of the Councill to bee by him delivered.
Ordered thereupon, That the said papers bee delivered to one of the Clerks of the Councill, to bee by him pesented to his Maty in Councill.
Ordered That the Address of this Councill to his Maty concerning Sr. Jonathan Atkins and other Governors. and Deputy Governors. takeing the Oathes &c: here, bee delivered to the Earle of Arlington to bee by him pesented to his Maty.
Two Addiconall Instruc︢c︣ons for Sr. Jonathan Atkins, The one about the Comns. of Justices of the Peace, and the other about Marshall Law read & agreed.
A Copy of an Order of the Presidts. & Councill of Barbados, concerning the Provost Marshall's place, was brought in by my Lord Culpeper, who assured the Councill hee had rec̃ed itt in a Letter from the Clerk of the Councill there, which letter hee had not now about him. The considerac̃on thereof adjourned till this Copy bee made appeare to this Councill to bee more authentique.
Upon Reading the Addiconall Instruc︢c︣on to Sir Jonathan Atkins concerning the reenacting of Laws. The Councill entred into a debate about the best way for his Maty to confirme the Laws made by the Plantac̃ons, which being often tymes ill worded by the Assembly there, and some tymes faulty in some part though the maine deserves to bee established. Which being found to bee a matter of great moment, The farther debate thereof was adjourned till another opportunity, when the Earle of Shaftesbury should bee present." (Shaftesbury Papers, Div. X, 8 (9); Cal., § 1221. These minutes are the only complete record that we have of the proceedings at council meetings. They show how much has been lost in the disappearance of the original journal.)
March 6.
Letter from Lord Willoughby read. (Cal., § 966.)
Petition of William Helyar regarding woodland purchased by him in Jamaica. (Cal., § 1236.)