34 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1687/8—89.

Liber B.
P. R. O.

and now worthy Sirs you will be apt to reply to me (why they
are the best wee know of) To this I will presume to offer a
Remedy if you please to adheare to my Advice which is to
graunt a Comission to those persons hereafter named viz^t
Coll. S^t Leager Codd M^r James Frisby, M^r William Dare of
the Quorum, M^r Edward Jones, M^r Giddeon Gundry, Cap^t Wil-
liam Peirce and M^r George Warner, these men are the most
prudent and the most salvendst in the County and I question
not will ease both you and me and keep the County in a good
Decorum. I doe very well know that Jones and Warner were
left out in the last Comission by the meanes of Edward
Inglish but I much doubt he did not tell you the cause why it
was, because they would have M^r Inglish punished for a bas-
tard child layd to him by Gundry's wench, besides that he had
by Wroth's wife. I heard about four dayes since that there
was a new Comission come into the County They that were
named to me by report of them that knew them as bad if not
worse then them there already I have cause to think that
they who takes upon them to name Comiss^rs to you runs too
much upon the Byas It is truly my opinion the County had
better pay for two Comission^s then to have this stand. I have
discoursed Coll: Codd about it and he says if you please to
entrust him in the peace for that County with them before
named which indeed are of his own chuseing he will faithfully

p. 164

serve my Lord and his Country; but he would humbly desire
you not to mention him in any Comission with such stuff as
are there already, for with them he will not sitt, and now
worthy Sir I am come to request for myself that you would
please to send me word in writing where you would have
Sarah Vanhack plac'd for I only keepe her till I heare from
you for I will not medle with the bringing up any Orphan or
their Estates haveing trouble enough with my owne Our law
says the next of kin shall have them, the law of England sayd
noe because they are heirs to them. Now the children of this
M^rs Pope which she had by John Howell are the onely heires
to the said Sarah and yet the tenderness that I see in the
Aunt towards this girle persuades me that there is noe danger
in letting her have the tuition according to our Law for she
keepes one in the house on purpose to teach her & Her owne
children, I have faithfully and truely discovered to you what
I think is the best to bee done in all these affaires craveing
pardon for my plixity & desireing your speedy order in what
you would have done with this girle and I shall remaine as
ever your honours humble servant Henry Coursey—
Burnet and Coleman were cofnitted but I heare the Sheriffe
hath taken bayle to appeare at the next provinciall Court.