Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 189

     Especially the ifrontier Plantations & other Small ifamilies on Lib. H. D.

     whom they Comitt most of their Extravagancies.

       I must acknowledge this Information Comes not soe suit

     able from my Pen as it would from theirs that have the mili

     tary Power in Charge but understanding they had not as yet

     given yor Exncy an Accot of it (the Reason I prsume) as not

     thinking it worth while to trouble yr Exncy with Complaints of

     so small a Magnitude esteeming nothing worthy of Informa

     tion less than some Act of hostility wch not Squaring with my

     Opinion that an Evill prevented is at any time farr better

     then after an Evill Comitted to seek for Redress is the Reason

     I prsume at this time to trouble yor Exncy herewith and if upon

     prusall it shall appear there is nothing therein materiall or

     worthy yor Exncys Cognizance I hope yor Exncy will pardon my

     presumption & attribute it to no other then the Effect of my

     Zeal for the publick peace & tranquility of the Province.

       The ffirst Complaint I Recd: was at Patapsco how that upon

     their passing by the Inhabitants they had destroyed severall

     of the Inhabitants hoggs & though no positive proofe can be

     had as Catching thm in the ifact yet the Circumstances are

     pregnant to prove thm tardy for they have been seen with

     ifresh Pork, & Catcht singing seveall hogs feet at their ffiers

     besides it is remarkable that they never pass but the inhabi

     ants receive some Signall dammage in their Stocks more

     then Vsuall.

       The second Complaint I rëcd: was at middle River where

     I was Inform'd that Some Indians passing by a poor mans P• 122

     plantation one enter'd the house where he seeing none but

     the Woman (the man as happen'd being in an Inward Roome

     unknown to the Indian, the Indian Sate down & with a stern

     Countenance bid God dam her for a whore fetch him some

     thing to eat repeating such and the like language Severall

     times which the man of the House hearing thereupon prsently

     appear'd and the Indian perceiving him fortwith Started up &

     runaway but left them notwithstanding full of Apprehension of

     Some farther Intended mischief such insolencies being

     unusall tho: God be praised noe further Evill has hitherto

     happened to them and I wish it may so terminate.

       The third Complaint I recd: was at Gunpowder from

     whence these Comes to yor Exncy how that an Indian or two

     coming to the House of one Robert Love who had some

     Venison hanging up in the House the Indians took down the

     meat & told him he would have it for his Dog the man

     endeavouring to hinder him the Indian grew more Roburst &

     told him he would have the meat and his Kettle to boyle it in,

     the man Endeavouring still to hinder him the Indian pull'd

     him downe by the hair & was Stooping for a Stone to