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

          Lib. it. i.    an Indian of Pomunkey in Maryland call'd Esq Tom & his

                 party consisting of about Eight or Ten Indians of that Nation

                 of wch all but himself by the Care of Capt Mason and the

                 ffreindship of the Emperor were under our Examination and

                 the sd Indians were made so Conscious of their Guilt by the

                 sd Emperor that they laid the ffact from One to the other of tht

                 partye but never used an Argument or Excuse tht it was any

                 other Indians but at last One of the sd Indians did Confess to

                 the Emperor in our prsence tht this sd Esq Tom before his

                 Coming out of Maryland did declare to his sd Party that he

                 must Cause to be killd some Englishman to the End it might

                 be laid upon the Emperor & Consequently a Warr made

                 him by the English and further the sd Indian, being promised

                 Indemnity, did Own he was one of them that did goe & was

                 Actually there at the prpetracOn of this Villany, Whereupon

                 both us the Subscribers the Indians Empr & all the English

                 doe Conclude tht the sd Esq Tom and his sd Party of Indians

                 are the Rogues tht Coniitted the ffact and this we in all

                 humility represent to his Exncy the Governr of Virginia and

                 having in Safe Custody all the sd Indians Esq Tom Excepted we

              P. 117     most humbly propose that for the Ease of the Publick Charge

                 nor less than the quiet and Satisfaction of the people who

                 with noe small Difficulty have been Govern'd on this Occation

                 that his EXnCY will be gratiously pleased to Grant a Commis

                 sion of Oyer & Terminer directed to such persons in this

                 County as his Exncy shall think fitt to Honr with such Commis

                 sion and that which gives us Confidence to begg this ffavour

                 is the Accomodation such Tryall will here Receive by reason

                 Indian Testimony & other Circumstances may here be had

                 which perhaps may much wanting at a greater Distance to

                 bring the Offendrs to Condign punishmt & lay a foundation

                 for Peace and Tranquility and the prservacon of his most

                 Sacred Mats Leidge people wch is most heartily prayed by

                        Vera Copia Test Jno Withers Clk: Stafford 1697.

                       Stafford July 28th 1697.

         Capt Geo:       Sr

                 Masons Lre                   .

                 to his Exncy Yesterday we sat on Examination of the Indian

                 abt the Indians prisonrs & doe now think my bounden duty in

                         short to give yor Exncy an ACCOt of our proceed

                 ings therein wch will Come to yor Exncys hand by Mr Addison,

                 being in a hurry of Business Cannot Inlarge only to acquaint

                 yor Exncy that I shall at noe time hereafter be slack in giving

                 your Exncy Accot as matter arises and in manifesting my Self

                 to be                   Yor Exncys most

                                            humble Servant

                                               G. Mason