Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 487

      several Depositions to them referred in relation to the afore- Lib. X.

      said persons by all which your Exllcy may see what ill designs

      they have on Foot against this, his Majestys Government &

      the apprehensions we have thereof; therefore with the advice

      of his Majestys honble Council & the Assistance of three of

      the Justices of the Provincial Court within this Province I

      desire your Excellency will be pleased Immediately to give

      such Orders as you shall think necessary for the apprehend

      ing of Cood Sly Mason Clark Cooksey & Harpam if found

      within your Government; as for Mr Cood he is an Inhabitant

      & seen publickly in Virginia every day therefore ‘tis very

      strange he should not be secured & delivered up to ansr

      according to Law, for want of which, if this his Majestys

      Government here, should sustain any damage, it will be laid

      to their charge who are the cause thereof, it is said Mr Sly is

      gone down to York river on pretence to look after some

      Business there, but those that know him better Conceive no

      otherwise but that he will there Imploy himself as he did last

      year to forge Articles & make disturbance to amuse the

      people here & to invite them to Rebelln the said Sly is now

      under two Recognizances the one of 40000 l of Tobacco upon

      the Grand Jury's presentment against him & the other of one

      thousand pounds Sterl being taken by a warrant from the

      honble his Majestys Council here for his appearance at the p. 122

      next Provincial Court which is to be held God willing the last

      Tuesday in August next

       Therefore hope your Excellency (in regard to what he &

      the others stand charged with for which in this his Majestys

      Government they may be proceeded against according to Law)

      will give your orders to the several Masters of Ships & Vessels

      now within your Govt not to take them on Board & Carry

      them away & that you will take Effectual Care to have them

      apprehended & delivered up to this Govt as your Excellency

      may see in the Journals of the Council in my time was done

      by Woodcock & others who were delivered to this Province

      or otherwise upon Notice care will be here taken to send for

      them by

                  Your Excellencys humble

       Governor of Virginia      Servant

                        Fra: Nicholson

      Sir                    Virginia the 13th July 1698

       I have received your Excellencys Letter of the 2d Instant

      with a Copy of your former of the 19th of February 1696 &

      presentment of your Grand Jury agst Mr John Cood fled for

      Blasphemy which I thought had then been Effectually answered