Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 491

      as for the 400 men which were order'd last Fall to be drawn P. R. O.

      out of all the Militia upon the Account of the Indians, and to

      be in readiness upon all extraordinary occasions; I have not as

      yet had an account of their being compleated in all respects.

       And with humble Submission to yor Lordps I don't think it

      for his Majestys Service at prsent, to alter the method that I

      have taken concerning the Militia; for fear that if they have

      particular Commissions under my hand & seal, they may make

      use of that power to his Majesty's prejudice. For I think

      some have endeavoured to raise a Rebellion; or at least, have

      made very great disturbances: The account of wch your

      Lordps may please to see by the Depositions of several

      Persons upon oath, in the last Journal of the Council. Some

      are of Opinion that my Lord Baltimore will have his Govern

      ment again: and others hope so. From the first account we

      had of the likelyhood of a Peace, especially when the happy

      News thereof came, these things have happened here. For

      some were very willing that his Majesty should deliver them

      from Popery and slavery, and protect them in time of War:

      because they were not then able to preserve them selves. But,

      now it hath pleased God, by his Majesty's unimitable Valour &

      Conduct, and indefatigable pains, that these troubles and fears

      are ceased; they are not satisfied wth his Majestys Govern

      ment; because it curbs them in their former atheistical, loose,

      and vitious way of living; and debars them of their Darling,

      illegal trade.

       The Papists joyne with them as doe allso the Jacks, both

      Jurors, and Hon's. but I think them selves may be esteemed

      such sort of Jemmys: and I suppose, some of the Quakers too.

      If my Lord Baltimore should have this Government again, they

      hope (as formerly) these things would be suffered. For I

      suppose my Lord must comply with the Iesuits in the point of

      Religion; who, no doubt, will take more vigorous Resolucons,

      and put them in Action for the promotion of their damnable

      tenets. And I believe his Lordp will consider that the best,

      if not the only way to promote his temporal Interest here, will

      be not to disturb them in their illegal trade, or other ill prac.

      tices: for fear that if they can not injoy them under his Lordps

      Government; they may assume it to them selves: which will

      be no very difficult thing for them to doe: except his Majesty

      will be pleased to protect his Lordp but whether yt be advice.

      able for his Majesty so to do, or no, your Lordps are very

      proper Judges. And I imagine that his Lordp. will not be

      against their being easy (as they call it) so long as the several

      Branches of his Revenue doe but increase, and are well payd.

       I fancy that these dissatisfyed People here, design to have a

      tryal of skill, whether they can by their own, and their accom