Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 161

       Informant had with any Warrant nor that he need trouble Lib. H. D.

       himself about them however told him afterwards that if he

       would write a warrant himself he would sign it, Wch accord

       ingly this Informant did by direction of the Governr Order

       ing the same to be made directable to the Sherriff with a

       blanck to be left for other prsons names to be inserted by the

       sd Sherriff, whom he thought fit. That this Informant carryed

       the sd Warrant to the Sherriff and acquainted him with the

       Governrs Comands, relating thereto, but he utterly Refused to

       fill up the Warrant and said he would not go unless this Inform

       ant went with him, by which means the Warrt was left unexe

       cuted, neither would be Rëcd by the Sherriff, and the persons

       thereby made their further Escape. That there were Warrants

       out for apprehending Charles Goss, Edmond Duke Castle

       George Thompson, Adam Birch and James Miller known Pri

       vateers and Pyrats, notwithstanding which they were publickly

       & dayly seen up and Down the Streets of Philadelphia, without

       any notice taken of them and that one Edward Shippen—a

       magistrate, and one of the Councill of that Governmt (as this

       informant believes) was at the same time known to be in

       Company of Adam Birch & others of the sd Privateers; at the

       sd Adam Birch his house, wch he also confessed to this Inform

       ant being asked the question.

        That about the 19th of June past, one John Mathias came

       and Surrendered himself up to this Informant upon their Exncys

       the Lords Justices Proclamation as being one of Every's Crew,

       whom this informant deliver'd up to the Governr & was by

       him Comitted to prison. That upon the 21th of June After,

       the sd Mathias was brought before the Governr & Councill &

       Examin'd (this informant being likewise there prsent) where

       he Confessed & delar'd tht he was a Swede belonging to a

       Ship that had the King of Denmarks Comission to Trade upon

       the Guinia Coast a Hamburger, there being another Ship then p. 99

       in Company with them that had also a like Commission both

       which Ships the sd Capt Every tooke Riding at an Anchor in

       the Island of Prince, and plunder'd them and took to the Num

       ber of Sixteen men out of both Ships & carryed them away

       with him, whereof he the Mathias was one.

        That from thence they went directly to the Red Sea, where

       they took two large Persian Ships, richly laden as he Supposed

       by the great quantity of Gold and other plunder they brought

       with them after they Came from Rifling the sd Ships. That

       Chinton was Everys Chief Lieutent & Lassell some sort of

 Officer belonging to the sd Ship, but could not tell of any more

       of them tht were in Pensilvania, Save the Dutchman that was

       in Prison and belong'd to the other Hamburger Ship; but as

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