Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696 / 7-98. 217

    I do not hear of any mischief done by the same except the Lib. H. D.

    taking of five open Sloops, three of which he burnt & car

    ryed the other two away. Prisoners tht were Landed on

    Shore by him (which he had some time before taken in fishing

    Vessells at Cape Sables) inform that there is another small

    Privateer Ketch from Placentia, with no Guns and Twenty

    odd Men come upon this Coast of which I have not yet had

    any further intelligence, hope one of our ifrigats may meet p. 132

    with them, if they continue vpon this Coast.

      On the currant a party of Indians Surprized a Garrison

    house in Lancaster a ffrontier Town, burnt the same, kil'd

    Sixteen persons and Nine more are wanting. If any News

    from Europe or other parts shall Arrive here I shall communi

    cate the same to yor Excy and am

    Boston                Sr

    September 13th 1697.        Yor Excys

      Govr Nicholson. Most affectionate ffriend & Servt

                                Wm Stoughton

                    Septr30th1697

       Sr

    Coll Addison This day came the Lievtent of the Garrison and

    Lre to Sr Tho:

    Laurence abt informs that on Tuesday last the pasture ffence at

    the Garrison the Garrison was pulled down & all the horses

    ffence being

  pul'd down. .    tht were in the pasture drove out and cannot yet

            be found. The Captain & all his Men are of

    Opinion that the Indians have done it to draw them from the

    Garrison that they may. have their opportunity of them—the

    whole people from the Branch is Resolved to draw off being

    all fully perswaded that the Indians lye not farr from them,

    waiting their opportunity. Here is not Men in these parts

    to strengthen the Garrison nor to Assist the Out plantations;

    being both here & there most of them single Men (or at

    most) two in a house what to do in this case I desire yor

    Honors Ordr herein whether to draw the Men at the Garrison

    to the Out plantations or to give OrcP to Lievtent Coll

    Thomas Holyday to send some Men out of the stronger &

    lower parts of the County to strengthen both, which must

    be speedily done before the inhabitants draw off, to stay them

    there till his Excys Return. If yor Honor will please to give

    yor Ordr to Coll. Holyday or any other tht you think fit with

    what speed possible I will in the interim get what few Men in

    these parts in a readiness to defend themselves as well as

    they can; which will be but slenderly. I cannot Express the

    fears tht people is in, and I wish there may not be a Cause

    for it, and if they should once begin to draw off, it would