Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1681-85/6. 303

Now may it please your Exncy upon mature consideration
and consultation had thereon, Wee doe humbly conceive that
the fact being committed within the jurisdiction of this Pro-
vince, noe other Collony cann take cognizance thereof, and
therefore that a crime soe barbarous as this, in all its circum-
stances may not escape the hands of Justice, but may receive
the punishment justly due thereunto, We have thought fitt,
and hold our selves in Law and Conscience obleiged by these
our Emissaryes in as humble civill & obleigeing tearmes as
may be to apply our selves to your Exncy, and in behalf of the
R^t hon^ble the Lord Prop^ry of this Province, to make our just
demands to have the prisoner safely returned to this Gov-
ernm^t where the ffact was committed, and where alone (wee
conceive) the same is cognizable, and to the End that noe
failure of justice may be for want of witnesses wee also humbly
desire that your Exncy: will command such persons on board
the Ketch as cann any waies testifie against the prisoner to
come and give in their Evidence upon the tryall; which upon
returne of the Malefacto^r wee intend (god willing) speedily to
goe upon.
Your Exncys: greate wisdom, prudence and integrity as
well as neighbourly affection and kindness for this Province
manifested and expressed, will (wee doubt not) spare us the
labour of straining for argum^ts to moove your Exncys conde-
scention, to this our soe just and reasonable demand; Wee
shall therefore (in full assurance and confidence thereof) not
trouble you with Impertinencies, onely to insinuate to your
L^sp, that if in the like (w^ch God avert) or upon any other occa-
sion, Maryland may be serviceable to your Collony, it may
freely be required of, and readily complied with by
Your Exncys most humble Serv^ts
To the R^t hon^ble ffrancis Lord Howard Thomas Tailler
Baron Effingham Cap^t Gen" and Henry Darnall
Chiefe Govern^r of his Maj^ties W^m Digges
Collony of Virginia Nicholas Sewall
Present W^m Burges

Lib. R. R. R.

M^r Clement Hill and M^r Ant. Underwood messengeres to Virg^a

Ordered that M^r Clement Hill and M^r Anthony Under-
wood of St. Maries County be the Messengers of the said
Letter to the Lord Howard, and they are hereby appointed to
beare the same to his L^sp accordingly, and to Receive his
answer, and that the sheriff of S^t Maries County (if occasion
be) press boate and hands to sett them over.
Ordered also, and it is Desired that the hon^ble Coll: William
Digges give them C^r in Virginia for their necessary expences
and charges there in this affaire

p. 144