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

P. R. O.

Colonial
Papers.
B. B.

cates could not be found, wherefore I requested the then
Govern^r M^r Thomas Notley deed to speak to them to be more
carefull, and he thereupon desired me from that time to take
the certificates from the Masters unto my owne Custody and
to signifie under my hand from time to time to my L^ds said
Collector that the Masters had produced and left such certifi-
cates with mee, and assured me, it would be kindly lookt
upon by my Lord and taken as very good service to his Lo^p
wherefore I did use this course in the Port of Patuscent untill
his Lo^p last returned from England, at w^ch tyme he seeing the
method told me he liked it very well soe I proceeded for two
yeares longer, his Lo^p never in all that time speaking one word
to me against it. Nor was this one farthing benefitt to me or
any under mee but on the contrary it caused (besides the
trouble) considerable Charge to me to enterteyne such Masters.
As to endeavouring that noe Master of Ship or Vessell should
make Entry with his Lo^p Collector untill they had satisfied my
unjust and unreasonable Demande. I doe averre I never
endeavoured any such matter, nor doe I know what his Lo^p
meanes by my unjust and unreasonable Demande. But I
confesse I did endeavour that such vessels or ships as came
from other plantacons or England without Certificates might
not be entered and permitted by his Lo^p Collector to trade,
before they had performed such matters as by the Law and
your Hon^rs Instruccons to mee they ought to doe. And this
it seems troubles his Lo^p and makes him add that if he should
suffer mee to proceed noe ship would be able to trade there
without my leave. I deny not but that some new England
vessells have quitted the province because I looked strictly to
them that they should exactly performe what I had in charge
from your Hono" and this his Lo^p is pleased to call my prowd
haughty insolent humour. But I utterly deny that ever his
Lo^p in his life spoak to me about any such ill carriage. Much
more that ever I gave his Lo^p such irrevend language, or
sleighted his Goverm^t as in his letter is suggested. As to the
allegacon of my wicked life profane language and Debauchery,
and that when I was on board London Ships my comon Dis-
course was Treason. I thank God my life was never soe
wicked as to cofnitt any Treason against my soveraign Lord
the King in thought, word or deed. And I cannot but admire
his Lo^pp should add such a Clause against mee for which if it
had been true, doubtless his Lo^pps great prudence, justice and
loyalty would not have suffered mee to have escaped his Gov-
ernm^t unpunished, but he never was the man that ever charged
mee in Maryland with any such matter though my name was
sett up at the Court house there (as the manner is) to signifie
my departure above foure months before I came away. And