Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 179

   Court would not grant it because there was Criminell matter Lib. H. D.

   mencon'd in the bill nor would the Court grant an Attachmt

   agt the sd Cood for the Kings Dt sued for till a Dec. filed

   Coppy left and two Writts return'd the sd Cood not found

   and every part of the Act of Assembly Answered,

     (2)     In Saying that the Governr Came Down to the Court

   four days together and did there Endeavour to prove the

   Peticonr guilty of Crimes that might deserve Imprisonmt but

   that after all his threats the Evidences not Swearing what he

   desir'd was disappointed of his Design Wee say its des

   perately false and Untrue for the Governr did not Come four

   days to the Court nor more than two and the Cause of his

   Coming he declar'd to bee to give the Countrey an Accot tht

   he had Recd: Severall advices which induced him to believe

   there was some ill minded prsons in St Maries County

   Endeavouring to Raise disturbance and disquiet in the Gov

   ernmt and because he said there was some prsons in Court tht

   could prove severall detracting and Villifying discourses and

   Expressions of the Government which is generally the fore

   runners and Instrumtt of disturbance he Caused them to be

   Examined before the Court and Countrey which by their

   Evidence did most Effect and therefore the Governr did

   charge the sd discourses upon the sd Clark but tht the Governr

   did Either threaten or prswade Either the Court or Evidence is

   most Impudently false and wee do verily believe tht the

   Governrs principall motive to be so Carefull in tht matter was

   to prevent disturbance and to preserve Peace & quiet in the

   Province for so he Declar'd.

     (3)     In saying tht Proclamacon was issued out promissing

   a Reward of twenty pounds to any tht would Swear the Petr

   was Endeavouring to raise a Rebellion in St Maries County

   We can only say tht we never heard of any such Proclamation

   and prsume if any such had been some of us should have seen

   or heard of it we have all heard and seen a Proclamacon

   about that time issued declaring that in Regard there was

   Suspission of some practices on foot in St Maries County to

   Raise Rebellion That therefore if any prson knew thereof and

   would Come and discover the Same they should have twenty

   pounds Sterl. Reward and if they had been Engaged therein

   should have their pardon for the Same by which Proclamation

   We Conceive tht the Peticonr might reap as much benefit as

   any other prson the promise being Genll and the Saying tht

   the Proclamacon was or had Relation to the Petrs particular

   person is basely false and Scandalous. This we affirm for p. 8o

   undoubted truth of our own knowledge & which we thought

   necessary to declare to the Countrey for detecting the ffalsi