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

Lib. R. R. R.

At a Councill held at the City of S^t Maries the third Day of

October Anno Dmi. 1684:

Coll George Talbott
the hon^ble Coll Henry Darnall
Coll William Diggs
Coll William Stevens
Majo^r Nicholas Sewall
the hon^ble 1 M^r John Darnall
Maj^r Thomas Trueman
Present

At which time was produced and read a Lett^r from the
hon^ble M^r Edward Pye a member of this board, with one
Inclosed from Coll Spencer of Virginia, which are as foll viz.

M^r Pyes Letter to Councill

Portobacco October 2^d 1684:
May it please your Hon^rs
I was desired to present before your Hono^rs the contents of
the Inclosed, which I received by the hands of Cap^t Brent of
Virginia: but I thought it necessary to send it in Specie for
feare the high strained complements that are given me therein
(if afterwards they should have come to view) might have
made me appeare a concealer of too greate a correspondency
with the author thereof to the prejudice of Maryland.

p. 116

Cap^t Brent amplifyed upon the Letter most largely but the
summe of all that was materiall amounts onely to this, that if
such an Offence were not taken notice of by this Governm^t it
would be an ill precedent to the Virginians, and breed ill blood
in some hott headed fellows, who might by this Example
attempt the like here, the consequence of which would be
dangerous; and that the prevention would be soe easie (they
requireing nothing else but the Offend" Submission in Staf-
ford County Court) that he did not question but it would
appeare rationall to the Governo^rs to ord^r it
I am sorry that I am forced to trouble your Hono^rs with soe
tedious a Letter, and yett I cannot without Injustice lett pass
a report that goes in this County very favourable to the
Offend^r ffor whereas it is expressed in the Letter that he
intended to Surprise Mathena, it is almost quite contrary; He
understanding that his Atto^rney and the Sheriff designed to
surprize him with an arrest for what was not due to the said
Atto^rney, whom he employed onely in the County Court,
where Judgem^t being given against him, he was willing to
pay Mathena, in ord^r to which he then came over, and was
likewise contented to Satisfie the said Atto^rney for what he had