Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1681-85. 295

since his Lo^p is pleased to affirm as afores^d that Treason was
comonly spoaken by mee on board London ships. I wish he
had specified the words and named the shipps that the Masters
and officers might have been examined, either to have cleared
or condemned mee. And your Hono^rs can not easily beleive
if I were such a person as his Lo^p would insinuate, that I should
be soe foolish as well as wicked to speak treasonable words or
any thing like them on board any of the London ships the
Commanders of whom would be equally guilty with mee if they
did not imediately apprehend mee or complaine of mee here
in England, which they have not done but I am sure might cleare
my Innocense in this particular charge. As for his Lo^ps tearmes
against mee of knave, rogue and raskell &c: wherewith his
whole letter is besprinkled I conceive them but words of course
and soe passe them by.
I must confesse I received the Commission and Instructions
for the Colleccon of his Ma^ties Customes in Maryland upon the
particular recomendacon of my Lord Baltemore, for which I
have returned him as I doe your Hono^rs all due respects. And
if I mistake not his Lo^p hath not charged me w^th the least
breach of trust in my said imployment or with any neglect or
omission in the execucon of your Comands which I hope I have
performed to you^r Hono^rs Content. And I am confident that
till you find mee guilty of some misdemeanour you will not
think fitt to remove mee to make room for M^r Willm: Diggs,
sonne-in-law to his L^ps Lady. And I am abundantly satisfied
that my care and industry in my imployment and preferring
the Kings service therein before his Lo^ps humour and interest
will in the end appeare to be my greatest cryme.
I shall only make bold to add further that I humbly conceive
his Ma^tie may be as well or better served in that affaire by
others, who derive noe part of the power from his Lo^p rather
than by his Lo^pps Collectors, because his Lo^pps Eye nor his
cheife officers will not be soe likely to over awe them to pro-
mote the Interest of him and his province, before that which by
the duty of their place they are oblidged to doe. All which I
submitt to y^r Hono^rs Consideracon, and remaine
Your Hono^rs
most faithfull and humble
servant
Chris: Rousby.

P. R. O.

Colonial
Papers.
B. B.

M^r Johnson's Affidavit about Rousby.
21^st September 1681.

William Johnson of London Merchant aged about twenty
four yeares maketh oath that hee being in Maryland the last
shipping tyme & trading and Merchandizing in severall parts

p. 36