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

           Lib. H. D.     against yor Peticonr and that yor Peticonr may be there with

                 his Books which he hath brought to that purpose, to manifest

                 his Innocency they being most materiall (Since all men are

                 mortall) that his dearest Relations as wife and Children must

                 Stand and ffall by, may stand in Vindication of his Integrity,

                 and that since the last Assembly hath granted to yor Exncy the

                 prolonging the Sherriffs Comissions for three years as a Sig

                 nall mark of their ffair Just and honest dealing, That yor

                 EXnCY will be pleased to Assign a day in Order thereunto that

                 he may make his Just Defence, and not being a Publick

                 Officer be Repudiated by an Insinuateing way which without

                 any foreknowledge or being acquainted by either the persons

                 nominated or those in Commission to whom yor Exncy was

                 pleased to Condiscend to appoint, Humbly likewise Requir

              p. 537 ing Copy of the Peticon and Return made, that yor Peticonr

                 may be thereby the better Enable'd to answer the prmises

                 after the hearing of yor Peticonr he withall humbly prostrates

                 himself at yor ffeet to deal according to his demerritts and as

                 in Duty Bound yor Peticonr

                                             Shall Ever Pray

                   Ordered that a Copy of the Reptsentation sent from the

                 Grand Jury of Somerset County which was laid before the

                 House this last Sessions of Assembly be sent to that County

                 Court in Augt next, together with a Copy of the Houses

                 Answer to the Same, the which are to be then and there pub

                 lished in Open Court with this Remark thereon that if the

                 Grievances there Represented were not Redressed, they may

                 thank their own Burgesses for it.

             p. 96                 William R.

                 His Mats Lre Trusty and well beloved We greet you well.

                 to Govr

                 Stoughton Whereas in Order to the Recovery of the Island

                 about sending of Newfoundland and the Establishmt of our

                  Subjects in that Trade and ffishery, in which they

                         have been lately disturbed by the ffrench, We are

                 sending a Squadron of Ships with Land fforces under the

                 Comand of our Trusty and well beloved Colonell John Gibson.

                 And it being requisite that all our Loving Subjects do Con

                 curr in opposing the Comon Enemy, And the possessing of

                 Newfoundland by the ifrench being of most near concern to

                 our Colony of New England. We do therefore Expect &

                 think fit that you give all the Assistance that lyes in yor Power

                 towards the better Success of this Expedition and that such

                 Ships and Land fforces be sent from our sd Colony as may be

                 Spared with respect to the Safety thereof to joyn with our