Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1684-89. 499

This Pet: was preserved & order upon itt made the 15th Sept: and ought to have been entred as the first thing done in Councill that day being here, by mistake.

Addresseth himself to your Honrs and sheweth that your Petr being accused and legally convicted and condemned to suffer death for the felonious stealing and taking away a Horse Bridle and Sadie before the Honble the justices of the

Liber B. P. R. O.

Provinciall Court hath nothing in mitigation or extenuation of
his crime to offer to your Hon^rs Butt humbly prostrates himself
att your Feet for Grace and Mercy for a motive inducing you
thereto only his own contrite and penitent spiritt for this and
all other his miscarryes of his life past with a firm Resolution of
amendment for the future (if your Hon^rs shall put him in a
capacity for soe doing) the poor distressed condition of his poor
wife and your Pet^rs tender yeares capable of doeing his Ldp
and your Hon^rs good service therefore humbly implores your
Hon^rs serious and compassionate consideration of his deplor-
able condition soe as to grant him the benefitt of his Ldps.
most gracious pardon.

Pardon offered upon condition he be comon Hangman.

And as in duty bound shall ever pray &c. Ordered that James Douglas have a generall Pardon with the Provisoe that he shall be comon Hangman for this Province for the future, this Pardon to be kept private and secrett untill

such time as the said Douglas shall be carryed to the place for execution and the rope putt about his neck att which time the said Pardon to be produced and not before. Order for the same issued as followeth. Maryland ss./ By the Councill Sept: 15th 1686.

p. 47

Order for a pardon,

Upon the humble Petition, acknowledgement and submission of James Douglas Itt is hereby ordered

that he have his Lords^ps most gracious and free pardon upon
condition that he shall for the future be the comon Hangman
for this Province.

signed p order

To the hon^ble the Secretaryes             Jam. Heath Cl. Consil.

or their Chief Clk.              These.

Att a Councill held at the Citty of S^e Maryes the 15^th day of

Sept: An: 1686.

Present

Coll: Vincent Lowe
Coll: Henry Darnall

The hon^ble

Coll. W^m Digges
Maj: Nich^o Sewall
M^r Clement Hill.