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

            Lib. H. D.     the Fronteirs: And I'm endeavouring to gett 200 Men on

                  each Shore, to be in readiness: but tis verry difficult to raise

                  men if not altogether impossible: The latter of wch I fear will

                  be found by

                                                  ffr: Nicholson

              p. 147 Govr of New Sr

                  Yorks Letter

                 to his Exncy Having no news to offer yett I could not omitt

                          the opportunity by Mr Antill going your way to

                 acknowledge the favour of your correspondence

                    I am in dayly Expectation of the Earle Bellamonts arrivall

                  wch is so late in the year tht it putts some inconveniency upon

                  me as to the ordering the affairs of my ifamily the winter

                  coming on & having neither house nor Land in the Govern

                  ment of my own to retire unto If there is anything wherein I

                  can be serviceable to your Exncy in England I shall readily

                  imbrace the opportunity of using my outmost endeavours to

                  approve my selfe Sr

                    New Yorke              Yor Exncys most humble

                    Novemr the first       Servant:

                     1697                         Ben: ffletcher.

                  Geo: Lewis Maryland, Port of Annapolis: Novemr the 29th

                  Comandr of       .  .

                  the Shipp 1697 1 having just now received the Petition of

                  Flyes Petition George Lewis Commander of the Ship ffly, a

                  to his Exncy and Order Copy whereof follows in these words Vizt

                  thereon. To his Exncy ffrancis Nicholson Esqr Capt

                  Gener” & Governr in chief in & over his Majtys Province &

                  Territory of Maryland.

                    The humble Petition of George Lewis Marriner Sheweth

                    That your Petitioner by the death of Captn Robt Roberts

                  Comandr of the Ship ffly, now riding in Leonards Creek in

                  Petuxent River is become Master thereof.

                    That by one of the owners instructions he finds himselfe

                  obliged to ship another Mate that may be a carefull sober

                  man & tht understands the Guinea Trade & has a family in

                  England else not proceed to Guinea but trade between Bar

                  bados & Maryland, till further orders Received from his said

                  owners WCh said instruction your Petitioner finds it morally

                  impossible to be complyed with for these following reasons.

                     Such a Mate enjoyn'd to be shipt not being to be had;

                  he knows not any way or means whereby to purchase a

                  proper loading to go to the Barbados with having neither

                  credit nor effects sufficient wherewithall to do it, besides the

                  Ship is indebted above 240 lb for Seamens wages wch if your

                  Petitioner should carry the Ship to Barbados, must necessarily

                  be paid there, and for want of effects and creditt to discharge