530 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98.

         Lib. H. D. To his Excy Francis Nicholson Esqr Capt genll and Comand

         in Chiefe in and over the Province of Maryland &c.

                 We whose Names are Subscribed being prsent on Saturday

               last being the 3d Instant in the Provinciall Court att which

               time Your Excy was pleased with his Matys honble Councill to

               Come and declare to the Court and Country then prsent the

               Severall Devices and wicked Machinations that of late had

               most malitiously and falsly been Invented Studied and Spread

               abroad to the Defameing and Scandall trouble and disquiett

               of this Happy Governmt &c. And the Honor and Verassity

               of the Government as well by what you were then pleased to

               produce and make publick as by Severall other pregnant

               reasons and proofs being so fully and Clearly Vindicated and

               the Malitious designes afd so palpably detected And theire

               Contrivances (we hope) Ailmost brought to nought and Sup

               prest. We Conceive ourselves obliged in gratitude and good

               Maners to yor Excy and in love and good will to our Countrey

               humbly to reprsent the Same to your Excy and Lu pray,

                 1st That you will Continue this your Goodness and Care of

                That you will by Some Proclamacon or other publick

               Instrumts (as yor wisdom shall Advise) make the Same known

               through the whole Province not onely to quiett the minds of

               those that may have any distrust or doubt but to warne and

               Caution all others to Avoyd such wicked designes & Contri

               vances or the least to Engage or be Seduced by them that

               thereby they may Avoyd those Just punishmts that Some are

               deservedly fallen into for the Same In this we Speake our own

               hearts and minds and we verily believe of all those that heard

               the Same and humbly subscribe our names.

                           Sept 5th 1698

                 Robert Smith, John Hammond, Richard Hill, Thomas Tas

               ker, John Pollard, Thomas Staly James Keech, John Thompson

               Hawkins Justices.

                 Wm Turlo, Andr Parker Richard Jones Thomas Coursey,

               Sam' Howard, A Miller, Gab” Parrott, William Round, Gilbert

               Clark, Edwd Green, Iohn Hurst, Lanc: Todd, John Duvall,

               Hugh Riley, Cornelius Howard, Charles Hammond, John Wil

               lowby, Philip Lynes Elias King, Samll Holdsworth, John

               Holdsworth, Thomas Jones and George Layfield     . .

               Grand & Pet. Iurors

            p.     235 George Plater William Dent Robert Gouldsborrough Wil

               liam Bladen, Samll Watkins