Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1647-1648. 191

right & tytle here, soe clearely due to him, to the will & malice
of such rebellious spiritts: & shall not doubt but the aduiso^rs
abetto^rs & euen the most priuate suggesto^rs as well as the open
acto^rs of such outrages, will in their due time bee brought to
light shame & confusion. Thus in a confident exspectaon of
some speedy stay by yo^r Authority to these intended mischeifes
of Cap^t Hills, uppon this Colony so much recommended to yo^r
protection & assistance by his Ma^tyes Ires. I rest,
Yo^r humble seru^t
Tho: Greene.
Edors. To the R^t Hon^ble S^r Will^m
Berkeley Kn^t Gouerno^r
of Virginia these p^rnt.

[Commission to John Price.]

Liber A.

Locus + Sigilli Whereas sundry the Inhab^ts of this Prouince
haue susteyned diuers great losses in their estates by the
Indians of Nantacoke & Wicomick (enimies of this Prouince)
who making incursions here, haue assayled & sett uppon diuers
the Inhab^ts of this Prouince afores^d exequuting (as far as in
them lay) their barbarous intentions & mischeifs. And whereas
diuers insolencies, rapines, murthers, & other barbarous cruelties

p.75

haue bene committed committed by the fores^d Indians, uppon
diuers the Inhab^ts of this Prouince by the way of trade. And
whereas likewise uppon satisfaction to be gyuen by the Indians
afores^d the s^d Indians haue had diuers ouertures of Peace made
unto them, by the late Gouerno^r who not w^thstanding still
persist in their wicked, & barbarous intentions towards us. By
uertue of his L^ps Commisⁿ in th^t behalfe granted to his Gouerno^r
for the time being bearing date att S^t Maries ffort Ano 1647.
18^th Septemb^r I doe hereby authorize Cap^t Jn^o Price to take 30
or 40 such able men, as he shall thinke fitt, & make choyce of,
for th^t purpose, w^th sufficient Armes, prouision, & Ammunition
& them to imbarke in such Vessell or Vessells, as he the s^d
Cap^t Jn^o Price shall thinke fitt & conuenient: And w^th the s^d
men to goe ou^r unto the Townes & Plantaons of the Indians of
Nantacoke & Wicomick afores^d lying to the Eastward of this
Prouince, & then & there to imploy his uttmost endeauo^r, skill
& force, by what meanes hee may, in destroying the s^d Nations,
as well by Land as by water; eyther by killing them, taking
them prisoners burning their howses, destroying their Corne,
or by any other meanes, as (in his best discretion) he shall iudge
conuenient. And I doe hereby requyre him the s^d Cap^t Jn^o
Price, th^t hee make noe destribution, or diuision of any plunder,
or pillage w^tsoeuer w^ch shall be gayned, or taken by any soldier
or soldiers, during the s^d uoyage, from any the fores^d Indians,

p. 76