Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1681-85. 291

ernm^t & that by my Example Comand^rs of London ships are
growne to that persuasion that treason is their coraon discourse
I say (as in my said former answer to which I referre) that if I
had been guilty as is pretended his Lo^p would in all probability
have questioned mee for it before I came out of his Govern-
ment and not have suffered me to have come away unpunished
and unquestioned hee knowing of my designe to come at least
three months before I took shipping w^ch was the eleaventh of
May last and his Letters of complaint being dated fourteene days
before that.) All which appears by severall affidavits of Mar-
chants Masters and others taken before one of the Judges in the
Kings Bench & hereunto annexed. Nor hath his Lo^p sett downe
the words pretended to be spoaken ether by mee or by any
Comand^r of London ships, nor names any of the said Comand^rs
nor ever questioned one of them for any such matter. Soe
that it is plaine this allegacon is meerly feigned and contrived
to compasse his designe of getting mee turned out of my
place.
9. As to his Lo^ps importunate Begging to have mee turned
out, and his owne Collector viz his Ladys Sonne in law (as he
says to yo^r Hono^rs) placed in my stead; I humbly say that it
appearing by all his Lo^ps letters ag^t mee, as also by those

against M^r Badcock that his cheife ayme and designe is to

gett those offices of Collector and survey" in Maryland into the
hands of his owne Creatures and Depend". I hope his allega-
cons and charges against mee will be considered and construed
accordingly and for as much as I have constantly endevoured
to the utmost of my power and knowledge to serve his
Majesty faithfully in this employment in the due Execution of
yo^r Hono^rs Instructions and comaunds (w^ch I hope I have per-
formed to yo^r Hono^rs content) I can not at all doubt of yo^r
Hono^rs Justice in continueing and confirmeing mee in my
Office, which will be noe small encouragem^t to yo^r Hono^rs
Officers in other remote parts as well as to mee to act with
Courage and Cheerefulnes in the due management and execu-
con of our offices being noe way detected of unfaithfulnes or
Breach of Trust.
10. And whereas his Lo^p seemes to inferre to my Lord
Privy seale from the Practise in Virginia where the same
Collector of the two shillings p hogshd, is alsoe Collect^r of the
penny p pound. That therefore it ought to be soe in Mary-
land. I humbly say that Virginia is his Ma^ties Collony in his
owne Goverm^t by his imediate Govern" there. That all writts,
proves and precepts run there in his Ma^t!es name and that
the two shillings p hogshd there belongs to his Ma^tie as well
as the penny p pound. But Maryland is my Lord Baltemore's
province where all wills, proves and precepts run in his L^pp

P. R. O.
Colonial
Papers.
B. B.