Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1707. 225

     The petition of Severall Masters of Ships now in this       Lib. C. B.

    province was Read as follows Viz.

    Maryland ss

     To his Excy John Seymour Esq her Majestys Govr and

    Comander in Chief of the province of Maryland &c. and the

    honble her Majestys Councill.

 The humble petition of Severall Masters of Ships Trading         p. 89

               from England to this province

 Most humbly Sheweth

     That your petrs with their Severall Ships have Layne Some

    months under a Tedious Imbargoe, a Convoy from England

    which was advised to have been Ready to Sayle in Aprill last

    not being yett arrived or any the least assureance thereof,

    And now the winter Comeing on your petirs are very appre

    hensive of hard & Dangerous passages and the most of them

    being of the out ports and under Charter partys the ownrs

    of their Vessells not being Concerned in their Respective

    Ladings—if they are Detained here never so Long they can

    not Expect any other Satisfaction then their first Agreement

    wth the Respective Merchants, And if Yor petrs are not Ad

    mitted to Sayle but kept two months Longer they will not

    only Loose the Benefitt of the next Yeares Trade but Suffer

    far more than even when taken by the Comon Enemy Pro

    vided they could be Admitted to Ransom, thô Yor Excys

    petiors most of them being bound home North about are not

    any ways apprehensive of that Misfortune wch really a Con

    voy to the Lands End would not prevent. And whereas it is

    dayly Experienced that her Maty has been Graciously pleased

    to Indulge her Subjects upon Application with her Leave to

    returne at pleasure from these provinces without being Im

    bargoed or Stoped for Convoy Wee humbly Begg your Excy

    & the honble Councills favorable Consideration thereof and     p.90

    that you will be pleased to Reflect on Such her Majestys kind

    Inclinations and prevent the Ruine of our Severall Interests

    and Voyage by giving Directions for our Clearance

                         And &ca

     To which the Councill Say they are Sencible that the Sub

    stance of the petition is True & that their Case is very hard,

    Yet they will not Advise his Excy to Direct them to be

    Cleared unless the Trade in Virginia be also Admitted to

    Sayle thence, of which when his Excy is Certified they thinke

    it will not only be for her Matys Interests but prevent the

    Ruin of the petrs Severall Voyages that they be also Admitted

    to Clear.

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