in the Years 1689-90. 197

Captain Nicholson's letter to M^r Coode etc.
1. Aug. 1690.

Gentlemen,
The sixth of Iune last, by the advice of their Majesties'
Councill I wrote a letter to you, in which amongst other
things I desired that you would send me an account of the
names of the persons that take upon them the preserveing the
peace and administring the Laws in their Majesties' province
of Maryland that if any ocasion were for their Majesties'
service I might know to whom to direct my Letters, but have
not yet received any answer to the Letter nor account of the
persons but since received a Letter from Captain Iohn Coode
dated the 24^th of Iune wherein he acquaints me, that the per-
sons were to meet the 8^th of Iuly last and that he would then
communicate the same and his Majestie's Letter to you and I
should then receive a full answer to my Letter and in that
intimated to me that one Richard Hill was fled into Virginia
for speaking treasonable words against their Majesties and
raiseing men etc This Hill before I received the Letter was
with me and made great complaints of hard usage by Captain
Coode but was gone before his Letter came to me intending
as he said for England. Pray lett me have a full account of
th^t and all other matters and the particular times of speaking
the words and raiseing men. I would have all speedilie
because the Fleet will be goeing for England and will saile
about the 10^th inst.
Gentlemen, I did in my letter to you desire th^t you would
take care according to his Majestie's commands, that all shipps
that were ready in Maryland should repaire to Poynt Comfort
by the 3^rd instant to depart with the Fleet under the convoy of
their Majesties' shipps of Warr sent hither on that purpose
but I hear of noe shipps come down yet, hope they are
comeing.
I am alsoe to give you notice th^t in persuance of his Majes-
tie's commands, that noe shipps be permitted to goe for
Europe but in Fleets, my selfe and their Majesties' Councill
here, have thought fitt to order that those shipps that are not
ready to goe with the Fleet, shall not be permitted to saile
unless the Iamaica Fleet arrives here to take them under their
Convoys or till a number of shipps are ready and further
order and desire you that you will give me notice what shipps
are in Maryland that will not be ready to saile with the Fleet
and that you take order they are not cleared untill the
other shipps goe here and I will give you timely notice when
they are to sayle.
In that letter from Captain Coode he sends me a coppy of

P. R. O.
Maryland
B. I. Vol. 2,

B. E.
p. 24