374 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97.

     Lib. H. D. determined to get to England & to wait vpon his Mary and

            give him a full Accot of the State of that Countrey & the dis

            position of the people there, herewith is also transmitted a

            List of severall prisoners belonging to your province, in the

            hands of the ifrench, besides some that are with the Indians,

            I am

                                 Yor Excell affectionate ffriend

            Boston, November 25th 1695   & very humble Servant

                         A true Copy        Wm Stoughton

                         David Jamison

                                       C of Concil.

        p. 280      To his Excellency Benjamin ifietcher &Ca

            Monsr De The information of Mathew Carey received from

            Laragterie severall ffrench Protestant Officers & Soldiers at

            Marine Quebeck

            Detachmt

                    ffirst of the great oppression they now lye vnder,

         Copy   counting themselves more as slaves than Christian Subjects,

            Reasons for which is.

              That all Officers through the ffrench Kings necessity are

            Ordered a stop to the halfe part of their yearly Sallary towards

            the maintenance of the Warr.

     Whitehall The poor Soldiers so imposed on that their Wages is so

            stopt towards the paymt of their Cloaths, has not remaining

            more than a penny p day which with the scarcity of provision

            & other necessaries compells them to live in miserable poverty

            besides the great severity & oppression of an Arbitrary

            Governr who compells them at all Seasons, without respect to

            quality, Age or youth to sacrifize their lives to the Rage of the

            cruell and merciless heathen, which (if they escape) often

            perish by hunger & cold. These with a great desire of the

            protestant Liberty does create in them an earnest desire to be

            vnder the English protection. To Effect which they have

            proposed these following methods. As New-York being the

            most nigh, and the way they are most acquainted with thither,

            they would daily desert, had they a sure protection from the

            Maquass Cruelty, who have already murdered severall in

            making their escape to Us; so that it might be very necessary

            for the Governr of New-York & Albany to forbid the same &

            rather encourage & cherish all those not coming in a hostile

            manner part of these disaffected soldiers & Officers are now

            Garrisoned at the ffort of Cadaracqui, which secretly sent me

            intelligence that if the Governr of New-York would Ordr a

            party of Men to Attack them, and before an Assault, made to

            send a summons for the surrender with promise of fair quarter

            & Christian like Usage they may expect it to be delivered

            without blood shed, wherein may be found good store of