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

         Lib. H. D.     that you would likewise give Notice to all Masters of Ships

               within yor Governmt that they ptsume not to take on Board

               and Convey away the sd Coll: Cood; whereby he may Escape

               unpunished for such his Enormous Crime, and likewise

               defraud his Maty of the Debt Claim'd from him which appears

               by the proceedings in my Last Letter to yor Exncy inclosed.

                The afore matters being thought of absolute Necessity for

               his Mats Service to be done, Occasions thus much at prsent

               from

                                    Yor Exncys humble Servt

              Govt of Virga                    ffr: Nicholson

           Maryland Port of Annapolis ffebry 19th 1696/7

               His Exncys    Honrble Sr.

               Lre to the      .

               Comodore abt rhere being a Person belonging to this Province

               Searching (by name John Cood, lately Lieu tent Colonel) of

               for Coll: Cood           .   .

               &cathe County of St Maries) within this Province;

               who being informed against here, for Blasphemy

               and a bill found by the Grand Jury thereon, as also sued for a

               debt of 400 and odd pounds Sterl. due from him to his Maty is

               for avoiding the payment of the sd Debt and the punishmt due

               for such his Crime, fled for Virga and Supposing he may be

               got on Board Some Ship or other under yor honrs Convoy this

               Comes (in his Mats behalf) to desire that you would Cause the

               Severall Ships to be Searcht for him before the ffleet Sayles,

               And if in Case he should be found, that he may be Surrendered

            p. 462 up into the hands of the next Magistrate of that Governmt in

               Ordr to be delivered up into the hands Justice here which

               will be a Peice of good Service done to his Maty and soe lookt

               upon and Esteemed by

                                       Yor humble Servant

              Capt Charles Wager Comodore.     ffr: Nicholson

               Ordr to the Ordered tht the Collectors and Navall Officers

               Collrs & Navll     . .

               Ofiicrs to within this Province do fforwarn all masters of

               Mastrs of Shjps Ships (at their Clearing) from taking on Board

               from taking (either in this Province or Virga) CoIl: John Cood,

               on board Coll Cood &ca he being prosecuted here for Blasphemy, as also

                       process out against him at the suit of his Maty for

               a debt of flour hundred and odd pounds Sterl. found to be

               due from him to his sd Maty whereof they are all to take due

               Notice and heed, under penalty of being Lyable to pay the

               sd debt whosoever shall Carry him away, according to the

               directions of the Law in such Case.