176 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1681-85/6.

Lib. R. R. R.

M^r Edward Pye Sworne privy Councello^r

Ordered to be read a Letter from Coll Lloyd to his L^spp
which he is pleased to communicate to this board being as foll
(viz.)

Coll Lloyds Lre.

Decemb: 22^d 1683:
Please your L^sp:
Being at John Edmondsons on Wednesday last came an
information and complaint to me by William Troth an Inhabi-
tant of Dover in Choptank River, that on Monday before there
came an Indian to his house, who besides other insolent beha-
viour, and without any other provocation then being turned
out of a womans roome, who was in the paines of travell, and
after curb'd from hollowing and noise, cockt his gunn and
fired at him the said William Troth, who happily seeing the
motion of the gunn started aside, thereby avoiding the Shott,
though soe narrowly that the powder singed his Clothes upon
his breast, then the Indian seconded his Attempt with his Axe,
untill seeing William Troth have his gunn, he boulted out of
the house and rann away, yett not soe fast, but that he did
Suppose he had wounded him, for haveing shott after him he
found some blood neere where he stood; ffor many more
pticulars of the information I must referr your L^dsp to this Mes-
senger.
My Lord when I weighed the whole matter, and consid-
ered from what small (& not unlike) beginnings, your L^dsp
and wee have had soe tedious and vexatious troubles, I
thought it needfull to apply some Early care to save our repu-
tation in this, and prevent such insolencies for the future, and
for that end I sent away the Information to Coll Coursey
desireing his Advice, and sent orders to Maj^r Sayer to rayse
some few horse, and forthwith make search into all their
winter Quarters for a wounded Indian with Gunn Shott,
where I Supposed he would flye if wounded and a stranger; or
to the Indian Towne if one of their owne Nation, whereto
Immediately went my Self with some half a score men &

p. 8

searched their ffort for him, but not finding him there I
acquainted Tequassino & other their greate men that were at
Towne with the whole matter, to which they made themselves
strangers, then I produced to them the Indian Gunn, w^ch he
lett fall when he made his Escape, and demanded the knowl-
edge of him by that Gunn, which haveing shewed to what
Indians were in the ffort, they all still denyed to know whose
it was, but after some threats which I thought upon this occa-
sion to be but necessary, and demanding that they would
immediately send out some trusty Indians to discover whose