Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1692-1694. 337

private capacities by pressing seizing and violently takeing
away and makeing use of their horses, boates, goods and ser-
vants without paying or making any satisfaction for the same,
otherwise than in the returne of ill language, that indeed
should he bring a cause never soe plausible before any jury
though of the best principles and inclinations, his insolent and
too well known behaviour w^d soe dimm and obscure their
eyes that they could not make a right inspection thereinto but
look upon the same as the effects of his hot and inveterate
braine, especialle with those of his acquaintance, which I must
confess few or none covet, unless those of wicked principles,
their Majesties open professed enemies, papists and others
disaffected to all, especially the present, Government, who are
his only associates and companions and they barely for cor-
respondency in malignancy and aversion to the authority,
scarcely any one of them cann afford him a good word behind
his back or covett his company for any other end or designe,
but to promote and put in practice their damnable inclinations
and designes, of disturbing the peace and tranquility of the
Province, so that he hath indeed effected here what he hath
done in all other parts of the world (where ever he sett foote)
made the whole Country weary of him, boastingly vaunting
that he thanks God he has lived these five and twenty years
upon the curses of the people which truly I am apt to believe,
nay am pretty confident he never wants, and with such pro-
visions may grow fatt; the subject matter is soe large that
without a syllable of falsity or suggestion onely, I could easily
comment a volume, without offering the least violence to
myself or the truth, I humbly beg pardon for this progression
assureing your Lordshipps that the vindication of myself and
those Gentlemen of their Majesties Councill assigned me here
(whom I find to be persons of loyalty, candour and integrity)
from the vile calumnies and aspersions of soe ungrateful and
turbulent a man as he is, that they may have noe effect or
influence upon your Lordshipps to our prejudice without better
proofe then his base allegations together with the propagation
and promoteing of their Majesties service and interest, is the
onely ultimate end and designe of
My Lords
Your Ldps most humble servant
L. Copley.

(Endorsed)
Rec^d 29^th November 92.

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