Preface. xi

the shallop was safely carried back to Maryland, and took refuge in the
country near his manor on the Susquehanna. The hue and cry was at
once raised throughout the Province, and in April Talbott surrendered
himself to the Maryland authorities. Effingham thereupon demanded
him ; but the Council refused to give him up, declaring their intention
of having him tried at the next Provincial Court, unless orders from the
King arrived ; and from this determination Effingham could not move
them. Talbott remained in close custody until October, when the
Council received a letter from Baltimore stating that it still remained
the King's pleasure that Talbott should stand his trial in England, and
directing them to deliver him to Effingham, who had orders to send him
over. On receipt of this letter Talbott was sent under guard to
Effingham.

But he was not sent to England. In April 1686, the King sent out a
commission to Virginia for a Court of Oyer and Terminer to try the
case. The trial was held, and Talbott was found guilty of murder, and
sentenced to death. But apparently other instructions were received
from England, and Talbott was admitted to bail on his own recogni-
zance. In September the King signed his pardon, which he pleaded at
a General Court at James City, in April 1687, and was set at liberty.
Little is known of his subsequent life. He was in Maryland in June
1687, as there is on record a petition of his of that date to the Land
Council. It is said that he returned to England, fought on the Jacobite
side, and afterwards entered the French service and was killed in battle.

This was an unfortunate incident for Maryland. Baltimore's enemies
were ready to lay hold of this murder of Rousby, followed not long after
by the killing of another collector in a brawl, to represent the Province
as the seat of lawlessness and disaffection, and the insinuating Penn was
ever at the King's ear. Breaking charters was congenial work to James,
and he took steps to have that of Maryland revoked ; but before the
case could come to trial, an indignant and disgusted people had hurled
the worst of the Stuarts from the throne.