Assembly Proceedings, April 30-May 14, 1696. 297

Captain Barbar Commander of a London Ship being in
Town was sent for as also Several Masters and Merchants of
Ships who accordingly came and it being proposed to the said
Captain Barbar that Considering his Ship was a Ship of Force
whether he would undertake to Convoy the Ships now in the
Country which can be gott ready to sail to which after some
small Liberty Granted he put in the following answer in
writing viz^t

Maryland ss'
In Answer to a Proposall by his Excellency the
Governor & Council unto me made relating to the Convoying
Ships (now in the Country for England this Comes humbly,
to signify that I shall be most ready & Willing to do all the
Service in me lyes towards the Convoying the said Ships and
will undertake by the blessing of God to Conduct the same to
within sixty Leagues of Ireland but dare not Presume so far

U. II. J.

as to hazard the Prejudicing of my Owners by Going to any
other Part then the Particular Business wherein I am intrusted
leads me to all which is humbly submitted to by
Your Excellencys most humble Servants
Steph" Barber

The other Masters and Merchants after the several dis-
courses and questions put to them withdrew awhile and then
came and presented the following Paper viz^t

May it please your Excellency and your honourable Council
That Considering our Provisions will fail the Worms harm
our Ships and fearing our mens being sick in the summer time
and that this Convoy Proposed will not Conduct us nigh our
Port but leave us in our Greatest danger and several other
inconveniences that will follow upon our being detained longer
in the Country we humbly beg that it may please your
Excellency & honble Council to Allow us the Liberty of Sail-
ing when we are ready which is the humble request of
Your Excellencys most humble Servants
Thomas Thompson Joseph Younger
Edw^d Lamplugh Jerem. Lewis

At a Council May 7^th 1696

Several other Masters and Merchants of Ships came also
in Pursuance of a former Summons from this Board and pre-
sented the following Petition viz^t

Maryland ss^t
To his Excellency Francis Nicholson Esq^r Captain General
& Governor in chief of the said Province &c.

p. 862