in the Years 1689-90. 119

tlemen who lately tooke up armes heere in Maryland in their
Majestie's names, (to pull down the lawful authority of the

Lord Baltemore heere, which he held under theire said
Majestys) makes for my confinement in prison along with
your husband the which I hope neither you nor any good
Christian or morrall honest man or woman which ever had
any acquaintance with my Life and conversation will credit,
and that you and all persons to whome this shall come may
know what I have done whereby they ground theire pretence,
I therefore heere after wright downe the heads of the whole
(viz^t) at the first of my knowing of their taking up armes
which was sometime in July 1689. I endeavoured with what
arguments I could use to persuade all people but chiefely
Col: Jowles (my now chiefe enemy) to lye still and keepe the
peace of the Countrey untill their Majestys pleasure should be
knowne, for that I looked upon it to be rebellion for persons
heere without order from theire Majestys to take up armes
against the lawful authority which then rested in the Lord
Proprietary under theire Majestys as I did conceive, which
arguments with some I presume prevailed so that they lay
still, but not with Col: Jowles. Then afterwards when they
besieged Mattapony I went first to the Gentlemen's camp and
afterwards to Mattapony & as an instrument of peace soe farr
as I could with my weake endeavours M^r Markham being
with me persuaded both parties to comply without sheading
blood and accordingly they did, at which time Mattapony and
the Governors being surrounded & the magazines of armes &
amiunition all over the Country as soon as possibly they could
seized on by those Gentlemen so that they had the strength
and command of most of the Countrey in theire hands, and all
Papists in Generall desisting to act any further in Govern^t and
Office, but Col: Jowles and the rest of those Gentlemen not
content to rest there or not thinking themselves safe in what
they had done sending out precepts in theire Majestys
names requireing the Sherifs of each County to warne the
people to meete together and chose delegates and representa-
tives to meete and assemble together under pretence of
settling affaires and also a Proclamation that all Officers not
being Papists or haveing beene in actual armes nor any ways
declared against their Majestie's service, honour and dignity
should continue in theire places & alsoe a declaration of
theire owne agreevances to be publiquely read and Col:
Jowles shewing me some of those papers being directed to me
as Sheriff of Calvert County I not being willing to execute
theire Commands endeavoured to excuse myselfe saying I
lookt upon myselfe by the surrender of the Government to be
discharged of my Office, whereupon Coll: Jowles tooke some

P. R. O.
Colonial
Papers.