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

His L^dsp Commands the reheareing of the Letter or instruc-
tions to the severall Collonells or Princip" Military Officers
within this Province in relation to their last Commission w^ch
was accordingly done and had the consent & approbation of
all present.

The Dutch Docto^r according to appointm^t appeareing and
averring to be true what Capt. Bourne had by his Letter
informed his L^dspp The same is now taken into Consideration,
and resolved that Application be made to the Governm^t of
New York desireing them for the preservation of the lives
and propertyes of his Maj^ties Subjects here to prohibitt any
trade with the Northern Indians but upon tearmes of their
keepeing peace with us an approoved and effectuall meanes
for the Inhabitants of Delaware preserving them thereby from
the insolency of those Indians, ordered therefore that a Letter
of the same purport be written to Captⁿ Anthony Brockolls or
other present Commander in Chiefe there, and that Captⁿ
Richard Hill of Anne Arrundell County be by a Letter from
this board empowered and Required in behalf of this Governm^t
to manage such address, viz.

Liber R.

S^t Maries City in Maryland March 4^th 1681:
Hon^b" S^r
The Northern Indians with whom some time since this Pro-
vince by Coll Henry Coursey their Agent at ffort Albany
entred into a league of peace & Amity haveing lately violated
their Articles with us not onely by plundering the houses and
destroying the stocks, but also murdering the persons of some
of the Inhabitants of our frontire Plantations hath given us
cause of Suspition that they have either forgotten or are
resolved noe longer to preserve their league with us, which
called for and hath occasioned our most serious and Delibe-
rate consultations in such case to prevent as much as in us
lay the Effusion of more Xtian blood, and to contrive (if
possible) the future peace and tranquility as well as the lifes
and Safeguard of his Maj^ties Subjects here; And amongst
other expedients calling to our minds the effectuall care by
your Governm^t taken for the preservation and security of the
Inhitants of Delaware (otherwise equally obnoxious to the
Assaults and attempts of those Indians with the people of this
Governm^t by affording to those Northern Indians a free trade
(without which they cann hardly subsist) onely upon those
very tearmes of keepeing peace and Amity with them, We
from thence tooke encouragem^t and found ourselves obleiged
to request the like favourable aid and Assistance from you for
and in behalf of the Inhabitants of this Province alike Subjects

p. 309