Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1681-85. 289

28^th Aprill last directed to my Lord Privy Seale & transmitted
to yo^r Honors by the Lords Comissioners of his Ma^ties Treaty
pursuant to an Order in Councill thereunto annexed. I doe
humbly offer in my owne defence.
That whereas my Lord Baltemore sath Hee hath had great
cause of complaint ag^t mee w^thin these two yeares and hath
writt to yo Hono^r but suspects I have intersepted his letters.
I utterly deny that I ever did interupt any Letter of his Lopp
in my life nor was it in my power to do it. And further as to
this matter I humbly referre my selfe to what I have already
said in this point in my Answere to his Lop^s letter of the 29^th
of Aprill directed to yo^r Hono^rs
2. Whereas his Lopp says hee may tearme me a Divell for that
I have carryed my selfe with that pride to West country men
& New England Trade that many have quitted a Trade they
long have had there. I humbly affirme that I have ever
carryed my selfe w^th due Respect to all Men according to the
best of my Judgment & Discretion and am not guilty of any
such pride as is alleaged nor ever deserved soe foule a Char-
acter. But further I say as in my answere to his Lo^ps said letter
to your Hono^rs that possibly some New England men (and
perhaps others not qualified to carry Tobacco out of the prov-
ince) have quitted a Trade they have long had there (as his
Lo^p says) which Trade was in truth to lade Tobacco there, &
to carry the same whether they pleased without paying his
Ma^tie any Custome at all. And for such irregular and illegall
Traders or Dealers to leave his Lopp^s province will be
Diminution to his Ma^ties Revenue, but the Contrary for that
the Tobacco notwithstanding such mens leaveing it will all be
brought to England, Wales or Barwick (as it hath been for
these two yeares last past) and consequently his Ma^ties
Customes will be paid for the same. And now because I have
used all lawfull endeavours to suppresse and prevent that
Course & Trade of defrauding his Ma^ties Customes, and to
reduce the Traders and Dealers in that Province to a compli-
ance w^th the Law (which if I had not done I should have
thought my selfe altogether unfitt for yo^r Hon^rs employm^t, or
to be in any way intrusted in his Ma^ties service) My Lord Bal-
temore goes about to persuade my Lord Privy Seale that this
is a Crime in mee for w^ch I ought to be turned out of my
place to make roome for his Ladys sonne-in-law.
3. I deny the imposeing of fees exacting of presents seizing
or troubling of Masters in any respect whatsoever to force
them to comply with my unjust demands as is alleadged, or
ever troubled any master in any case but where I conceived
absolute necessary for his Ma^ties Interest. And I deny that
ever I forwarned Masters of Ships or vessells from entring w^th

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