Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 147

      At a Councill (by Speciall Sumons and appointmt) met Lib. H. D.

     and held at the Port of Annapolis the sd day of July in the

     Ninth Year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord King William

     the Third &ca Annoq Domini 1697.

                          Present

      His Exncy ffrancis Nicholson Esq Capt Genll &Ca

     Sr Thomas Thomas Tench Esq Coll: John Addison Thomas

     Laurence Baront Secyr Brooke Esq Produced and Read a Letter by his

     Coll:     Henry Exncy recd: from the Rt honrble Wm Stoughton EsqJowles Coll:    .

     Nicho Green- Lieutent Governr & Comandr in Chief of his Mats

    berry    Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England

     Dated from Boston May the 29th last past; Setting forth the

     great impoverishmt of his Mats Subjects there, through means

     of the Warr and the failing of the two last years Crops, whereby

     they are not in a Capacity to Comply with his Mats Royall

     Comands (by Letter to him Signifyed) in Assisting with men

     Ships and Provisions in Ordr to the Recovery of the Island of

     Newfound land &ca therefore desired Some Encouragemt

     might be given here by his Exncy for Sending Provisions need-

     full for the Supply of his Mats Land and Sea forces sent

     thither An Attested Copy of his Mats sd Letter being also

     produced and Read whereupon the following Ordr issued and

     an Answer was given to the sd Governrs Letter as follows Viz

            By his Exncy the Governr & Councill.

                     July the 2d 1697.

       Produced and Read a Letter at the Board here this day Sent

     from the Rt honrble Wm Stoughton Esq Lieutent Governr &

     Comandr in Chief of his Mats Province of the Massachusets

     Bay in New England, Dated Boston May the 29th last past

     (together with an Attested Copy of a Letter by him lately

     recd: from his Sacred Maty Dated at Kensington the 18th day

     of March 1696/7. Requiring assistance of men ships and

     Provisions from that Governmt in Ordr to the Recovery of the

     Island of Newfoundland and the Reestablishmt of his Mats

     Subjects in that Trade and ffishery in which they have been

     lately disturbed by the ffrench &ca) Signifying the very great

     impoverishmt of his Mats Subjects in those parts through means

     of the Warr and the ifailing of the two last years Crops; where

     by they are incapacitated to Comply with his mats Royall Com

     ands the Expectacons therein by which he does desire of his

     Exncy and this Governmt some Encouragemt may be Given for

     sending such Provisions Vituals and Refreshmts unto New

     foundland as may be Needfull for his Mats Ships and Land